The Guest List (5 page)

‘Forgive me for asking, but are you are at all worried about . . . you know, what happened before . . .’ Cara wasn’t sure how best to put it, but luckily Kim seemed to know exactly what she was referring to.

‘You mean the messy bit at the end?’ She looked sideways at Cara. ‘Well, after the last time, Ben and I had a chat about it, and we decided that this time, we should think about heading all of that off at the pass.’

Cara frowned. ‘I don’t get you.’

‘I’m going to plan a C-section for the delivery.’

‘Oh.’

Kim looked at her hard. ‘Don’t tell me you’re one of those? Too posh to push – natural is best and all that? I’ve been through the whole palaver twice and believe me there’s nothing natural about it.’

‘No, of course not. I think you’re absolutely right to do what you think is best.’ Notwithstanding that Cara didn’t have the first notion about the realities of childbirth, she wouldn’t dream of judging Kim for deciding to take a different approach. She was actually just surprised that she was so open about her plans, given that people generally kept these things quiet. As Kim had mentioned, people tended to be sniffy about the idea of planned C-sections and the whole ‘too posh to push’ attitude still prevailed.

‘After what happened with Olivia, I probably should have arranged one with Lindsay, but of course it wasn’t really the “done thing” back then,’ Kim went on. ‘Not that it is now either, and my doc took quite a bit of persuading from the outset, let me tell you,’ she added and Cara smiled, struggling to imagine anyone trying to stand in the way of the force of nature that was Kim Clancy. ‘Of course after fifteen hours of labour with Lindsay, I ended up having one anyway, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m pretty much au fait with the pros and cons of both. Either way, my consultant’s agreed and Ben and I are happy about it, so that’s all that matters.’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Must admit it’ll be a nice change too. This time there won’t be any waiting around at the end, trying to figure out when it really is show time. The hospital will give me a date to go in, and all being well, I’ll come out with Clancy number three, not feeling like I’ve done ten rounds with Freddy Krueger.’

Cara grimaced at the notion; she still remembered how ragged Kim had been after Lindsay’s arrival five years before. ‘Actually, when you describe it that way, it sounds like the right idea.’

‘Of course it does. But you know yourself . . . wait for the fireworks and lectures to start once your mother finds out. I love Betty, but you and I both know she’s a real traditionalist.’

That was true, Cara agreed. Irrespective of Kim’s entirely rational reasoning, she could only imagine what her mother would say once she found out that her daughter-in-law was planning to intentionally bypass the labour ward.

But she also knew (and hoped) that any criticism Betty might level at Kim would simply roll off her. She was possibly the only woman Cara knew who truly didn’t care a fig about what people thought about her and, not for the first time, she wished she had some of her sister-in-law’s chutzpah.

Always calm and unruffled, Kim rarely seemed to have a problem keeping day-to-day life in check, and never once complained about having to juggle a busy career with being a wife and mother. She hadn’t even freaked out the time Lindsay used her satin Louboutins as a bathtime toy or when Olivia got chocolate ice cream on a white Gucci dress. Cara had been there at the time and Kim’s response was classic. ‘Bloody hell, that was the last of the ice cream.’

‘So how’s my brother taking the news?’ Cara asked. ‘Delighted I’m sure.’

‘Yep, and secretly hoping this time his swimmers will figure out how to make it a boy.’

Cara laughed, knowing that the baby’s gender would be the last thing on her brother’s mind. Ben happened to be just as laid-back as his carefree, sophisticated wife. ‘Nah really, he’s over the moon, and like I said, we weren’t trying or anything. But what the hell, what’s one more? The more the merrier, and of course I’m not getting any younger either, so this is the last chance to produce a Clancy heir.’

‘Well congratulations again, I’m so thrilled for you all, and I can’t wait to meet my next niece or nephew in when . . . October?’ Cara asked, trying to mentally calculate Kim’s due date.

‘Mid-November actually and thanks, but enough about us, what’s happening with you?’

‘Oh, just up to my eyeballs with work. Feeling a little behind, truth be told, but it’s OK. Everything is good, nothing to complain about.’

‘And how’s the lovely Shane?’ Kim smiled as they reached a nearby Eddie Rockets burger restaurant. The two women went inside, taking a seat at the counter with the lunch crowd.

‘The same.’ Cara smiled. She wasn’t going to bring anything up about the night before, especially since there was nothing to worry about, but it was almost as if Kim could read her thoughts.

‘What’s that look for?’ she asked, shrewdly narrowing her eyes. ‘What’s up?’

‘Oh nothing bad,’ Cara assured her. ‘It’s just . . . well, we had an interesting conversation this morning – about marriage.’ She couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

‘Really? Tell me more. Although, with the way that you two go on, I would have thought that was decided a long time ago.’

Cara grabbed a menu and looked it over briefly before deciding to make it easy and just order whatever Kim was getting. The waitress behind the counter took a small pad and pencil from her apron.

‘You ladies ready?’ she asked.

Kim raised her eyebrows. ‘Yep. I think I’ll have the house burger, medium, with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, jalapeños, mustard, ketchup and mayo. And then a side of cheese fries with some bacon. With extra cheese. And a large Coke.’ She looked up at the waitress and smiled. The girl raised her eyebrows, probably wondering where the hell Kim was going to fit it all. Then she turned to Cara. ‘And yourself?’

‘Ah, I think I’ll just have the burger and a Coke. We can share the fries.’

‘No we cannot,’ Kim said quickly. She smiled at the waitress. ‘Two portions please.’

The waitress took their menus and walked away to get the drinks. Cara laughed, turning to Kim. ‘You know she hates your guts don’t you? She’s probably thinking “skinny bitch”.’

Her sister-in-law waved a hand. ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll come back when I’ve ballooned up and weigh fifteen stone. I’m sure that’ll make her feel better. Anyway, we were talking about Shane?’

Cara briefly recapped what had happened the night before, as well as their conversation this morning. When she was finished, Kim shook her head. ‘Well, I think it all sounds good, you both seem to be on the same page anyway.’

‘I know, I can’t believe how silly I felt after he told me all that this morning.’

‘Well, I’d be willing to bet it will happen soon, a proposal I mean. You two have been together for a while now. But I’ll say one thing – when Shane pops the question, do yourself a favour and just elope,’ Kim said. Cara wondered why. From what she could remember of Kim and Ben’s wedding, eight years ago, it was a big affair but nothing elaborate or ostentatious. Then again, she briefly recalled some . . . strife surrounding Betty and her level of interference in the build-up. While Cara knew her mother could be . . . persuasive at times, Betty had always been massively supportive of her and Cara knew she would want her very much involved in her own wedding plans.

‘Oh, I could never do that, Kim! I’d have to have everyone there on the day,’ Cara replied. ‘I can never understand people who do that – head off to Vegas and get married on their own with nobody there to celebrate with them. What’s the point if you can’t share it with family and friends?’

At that moment their food arrived and both women tucked in, Kim wasting no time launching in to her cheese fries.

‘OK then, but if a wedding is on the cards try and pick a date before I get whale-sized at least.’

‘Yes, having seen you with the other two, I think dolphin-sized is more like it,’ Cara replied drolly, ‘especially since it appears you share a gene pool with the likes of Heidi Klum.’

‘I wish!’ Kim laughed. ‘But in all seriousness,’ she continued, ‘when it happens, the proposal I mean, just do what is right for the two of you. Trust me, you will get plenty of “advice” from everyone and anyone on the best way to do things, and remember that you don’t have to take any of it. Know that whatever you choose, the people who love you and support you the most won’t make the day about them, they’ll make it about you and Shane, and show up to celebrate your special day regardless of what you decide to do. Just do what feels right for you. Ben and I did and we couldn’t be happier today. Set the precedent early and go on to have a happy life.’

‘Thanks, that’s good advice.’ Cara smiled at her. She really couldn’t ask for a better sister-in-law. This is what sisterhood should really be like, she thought as her mind briefly turned to Heidi and Danielle. ‘Course there isn’t anything to plan, seeing as he hasn’t asked me yet.’

Kim patted her hand. ‘Just promise me that when he does, I’ll be one of the first to know.’

‘Goes without saying,’ Cara said, thinking about how she had been the first in the family (besides Ben of course) to know Kim’s big news. She turned her attention back to her food as Kim waved down the waitress again.

‘Excuse me?’ she asked. ‘Can I get some more of these cheese fries?’

Cara’s eyes widened. ‘Seriously?’

‘What?’ Kim looked at her. ‘I can’t eat like this at business lunches so I need to make the most of it. It would scare off all my clients.’

As Kim pulled away from dropping Cara off back at her office, she smiled fondly as she thought about the conversation with her sister-in-law. She hoped it all did work out between Cara and Shane, as she not only appreciated her relationship with Ben’s sister and wanted her to be happy, but truly thought Cara and her lovely boyfriend made a good match.

She was also glad that her sister-in-law hadn’t given her any grief about the decision she’d made regarding the baby’s eventual delivery. Not that she’d expected her to; Cara was typically non-judgemental and open-minded about everything, but of course there was also the fact that she hadn’t yet had a baby of her own.

And Kim knew from experience that it was certain to be fellow mums who had the most to say about anything to do with motherhood.

She also knew that once news of the planned delivery was open knowledge she was likely to get it with both barrels. However, Kim couldn’t care less about what people thought of her decision, and she could never understand why people got on their high horses about planned caesareans. After all, pretty much all forms of delivery nowadays necessitated major medical intervention, so the ‘Momtyrs’, as Kim liked to call them, had nothing to be judgemental about.

Given that she’d experienced both sides of the coin, she felt perfectly placed to be able to decide which option would be best for this baby and she wasn’t leaving anything to chance.

Of course, many of her friends who’d gone down the same route (and swore by it) generally preferred not to be quite so upfront about the decision, but there was no question of that for Kim. Why should she have to hide or feel ashamed about a decision that she knew for sure would be the best thing for her family?

She would go in to the hospital on her prearranged delivery date, and be able to see her baby within hours. It would all be peaceful and efficient, and having a calm non-traumatised mother would give her newest son or daughter the best possible start in life.

Unlike poor Lindsay, who’d spent much of her first week being looked after by nursery staff because Kim had been in such a terrible state after the long and utterly excruciating labour.

Recovery from her eventual emergency C-section had been slow and very painful as the preceding hours of labour had already taken so much out of her. Three years before that, delivery with Olivia had also been drawn out and dangerous, and she recalled how she’d needed two separate blood transfusions afterwards.

Kim longed for the moment when she would be able to hold her newborn in her arms without crowds of medical staff frantically rushing around, terrifying all concerned. She remembered how frantic and upset Ben had been when she’d been rushed off to theatre with Lindsay and there was just no time for anyone to fill him in on what was happening. It had made for a horribly fraught experience, so much so that it took them both a few days to be able to get their heads around the arrival of the newest member of the family, never mind celebrate it.

Kim was determined that this time it would be different. She knew of course that there were risks involved, as in any surgery, but she was prepared to take those risks over the others she’d already experienced, any day.

Her thoughts turned to her beloved husband. Even after eight years of marriage, Ben still did it for her. She knew that she could be a handful, was never shy with her opinions, and always called it like she saw it.

However, she also knew that those parts of her personality were exactly why she and Ben worked so well together. While they were both laid-back about most things in their lives, Kim was forthright whereas Ben usually kept his counsel. They were a perfect balance and their happiness proved just how well they meshed.

This balance also overflowed to family life and their children. Olivia and Lindsay, eight and five respectively, complemented their lives. Olivia had shown up considerably shy of nine months after the wedding, and then three years later Lindsay had introduced herself.

Both were their mother’s daughters in every imaginable way. While Ben was a handsome man with distinguished dark good looks that Mr Darcy would envy, both girls had inherited their mother’s blonde locks and lanky, gazelle-like proportions. Ben regularly teased them that he would bemoan the day they reached their teens and would be surrounded by countless male admirers.

As Kim drove, she glanced at her watch, realising the girls would soon be getting home from school. She thought of the lovely news that she and Ben had to share with them, which was why they had both arranged to take the afternoon off and meet the girls when they arrived home.