The January Wish (33 page)

At a quarter to four, Sylvia checked her appearance in the mirror, and walked down the road towards the main street, and towards the charming, funny, unpredictable and irritating man she was somehow falling in love with.

When Sylvia crossed the road and stepped onto the footpath she almost collided with a woman pushing a large pram. ‘Samantha!’

‘Hi, Dr Greene!’ Samantha Roseford stopped and smiled, though she kept swaying the pram back and forth.

‘I see your little munchkins have come into the world, they’re gorgeous! How are they?’ Sylvia asked.

‘Yes, they’re finally here. I only got out of hospital two days ago, and they’re happiest when they’re moving, so I’m getting lots of exercise walking with them, or waddling more like it!’ Samantha said. ‘I ended up having a natural birth, I can’t believe it. When Scarlett came out it was such a relief, but then I had to keep pushing, and Sophia soon followed. Sophia’s a little smaller, but they’ve both been given a clean bill of health.’

‘Two girls? How lovely!’ Sylvia hadn’t been able to tell. They were both dressed in white, with tiny white beanies on their heads, and each wrapped in a thick grey blanket.

‘I know. But I reckon they’ll send me bankrupt. If they have my genes, they’ll be shopaholics by the time they’re five.’

Sylvia laughed. ‘And how are you going with it all?’

Samantha exhaled. ‘I’m exhausted, but loving it. I can’t believe how time consuming two little people can be though. I keep trying to tackle my To Do List, but it just gets away from me!’

‘Yeah, tackling doesn’t always work. I prefer to tie mine up and force it into submission,’ Sylvia replied.

Samantha laughed. ‘I’ll have to give that a try. Something tells me I’ll need to sort out a consistent routine if I’m to get anything else done around the house.’

‘But just remember, the most important thing, apart from looking after your babies, is to look after yourself. Don’t try to be Supermum. Take any offer of help, and don’t forget to call me at the clinic if there’s anything concerning you.’

‘I will Dr Greene, thanks.’

Sylvia looked at Scarlett and Sophia’s tiny faces and realised how amazing life was. How one baby, let alone two, could live and grow inside another human being was truly remarkable. Medical science had an explanation for everything, but no words could describe the wonderment that was human reproduction, and how each new little person brought their own unique personalities to the world.

As Sylvia watched Samantha cross the road using all her effort to walk and push the double pram, she realised that not only was Samantha’s motherhood just beginning, hers was too.

Mark stood from behind the table near the window when Sylvia walked into Café Lagoon, and greeted Sylvia with a hug. ‘What would you like, a coffee?’ he asked, heading to the counter to place their order.

Sylvia was about to say ‘yes’, but changed her mind. ‘Actually, I’ll have a dandelion chai.’

Soft arcs formed in Mark’s coffee-coloured cheeks as he smiled. He ordered two dandelion chai’s, and two slices of hummingbird cake. ‘I hope you’re hungry,’ he said as he sat down at the table.

‘Starved,’ she replied, resting her elbows on the table and clasping her hands together.

Their order was set down on the table by a waiter Sylvia hadn’t seen before. He’d probably been hired to replace Jonah, she thought. ‘Mmm, this is good,’ Sylvia said, sipping her drink. ‘I think I may have found myself a new addiction.’

‘It’s better for you than coffee. Although not many cafés serve it. Café Lagoon is one of a kind,’ Mark said, sipping his drink too.

As they devoured their drinks and cake, Sylvia talked about her trip to Melbourne with Grace, and how she’d be returning in November for an audition. Mark told Sylvia how his four day nonstop writing binge had produced a complete first draft of his health book for athletes. Sylvia offered to read it and cast her perfectionist’s eye over the draft to edit any mistakes and provide constructive feedback. Mark looked suitably terrified, but agreed anyway.

When they’d both eaten their final mouthful of cake and emptied their mugs of the remaining tea, Mark took Sylvia’s hands in his. ‘I’m sorry I’ve messed you around this year. As you know, I’ve had a few issues to deal with.’

Sylvia’s hands melted at his touch, and she tingled all over as his thumbs stroked the back of her hands. ‘You’re forgiven. And I hope you’ll forgive me for my occasional…irrational outbursts,’ she replied.

‘Occasional?’

‘Okay, frequent. But you forgive me, right?’

‘I forgive you.’

‘And have you…
dealt
with those issues?’ Sylvia asked tentatively.

‘I won’t lie, Cindy’s memory will always be a part of me, but I no longer have any regrets. I know that what happened was meant to happen, and it wasn’t my fault. The infection was rapid and aggressive, and even if I’d got her to the hospital earlier, there’s no guarantee she would have survived.’ Mark looked down at their entwined hands, then into Sylvia’s eyes. ‘I’ve said my goodbyes, I’ve made peace with what happened, and now I’m ready to move on. For real this time.’

Mark’s eyes spoke the truth. They didn’t hold sadness anymore, only hope. And his hands told her what she wanted to hear. That he wanted to be with her. And he was ready to give their relationship a go.

‘I’m glad,’ Sylvia whispered.

After a moment, a curious curve crawled up the side of Mark’s mouth. ‘You know, we never did finish that game of scrabble, the night of the blackout.’

‘You’re right, we didn’t.’ Sylvia thought back to the inconvenient return of electricity just as he’d been about to kiss her.

‘How about we play it tonight, at my place this time?’ Mark asked.

Sylvia had never been to Mark’s house; he’d never invited her over until now. ‘Will it be candlelit scrabble?’ she asked with a glint of charm in her eye.

‘That can be arranged. I’ll even switch off the mains power if that helps make it more authentic.’

‘Nah, then we can’t have a warm cuppa.’

‘True.’ Mark nodded.

Sylvia crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. ‘If we’re going to play, I think we should mix up the rules a bit this time. That bonus fifty points gave you an unfair advantage.’

‘You’re just a sore loser.’ Mark grinned.

‘Am not.’

‘Are too.’ Mark’s grin widened as he leaned over the table. ‘Okay, maybe there
should
be a price to pay for getting a bonus. How about, for every triple word score, or triple letter score, we have to remove an item of clothing?’

A jolt surged through Sylvia’s body. ‘You mean,
strip
scrabble
?’

‘Shhh,’ Mark said as a couple of people looked their way. So much for maintaining a strictly professional image in public at all times. ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.’

‘In that case, you
better
leave the mains power on, we’ll need the heater.’

‘Oh, I don’t think we’ll have any problem generating heat tonight.’ Mark winked.

Three hours later they were playing scrabble by candlelight on Mark’s living room floor. They didn’t manage to finish that game either.

The Following January

‘C’mon, let’s line up at the Wishing Fountain.’ Mark tugged at Sylvia’s hand.

‘Nah, I don’t need to make a wish.’

‘You don’t?’

Sylvia shook her head. ‘You go ahead though.’

‘I will,’ he said, walking over to the line.

‘Be careful what you wish for, Mark,’ Sylvia called out. ‘It just might come true.’

‘That’s what I’m hoping!’ he called back, holding up a pair of crossed fingers.

Sylvia smiled as she waited under the cool shelter of a tree, watching the people in line anxiously waiting their turn while the summer sun burned above them. She wondered what each would be wishing for. Recovery from an illness perhaps, a secure financial future, or to find the love of their life, who knew? What she did know, however, was that their wish coming true was certainly possible.
Anything
was possible. Life was always changing, and Sylvia’s life had changed into something more amazing and magical than she could ever have imagined. Nineteen years ago she’d given birth to a beautiful baby girl who’d grown up into a beautiful young woman. Now, it was like she was giving birth to a new life of her own, filled with peace, happiness, and excitement. Peace with the past, happiness with the present, and excitement for the future.

After tossing a coin into the fountain and walking around it three times, Mark strutted over to Sylvia with a proud expression on his face. ‘I think I’d like to find out now if my wish is going to come true.’

‘How do you plan on doing that?’

Mark didn’t answer. He bent one knee to the ground, and looking up at Sylvia, produced a black velvet box from his pocket. He flicked it open, and a single diamond glinted in the afternoon sunlight. ‘Will you marry me, Sylvia Greene?’

Sylvia’s heart skipped a beat. She knelt on the ground and met Mark’s eyes. ‘You know I will,’ she whispered, accepting the ring as he slid it on her finger and engulfing him with her arms.

She
could
have made another wish, done her bit for charity as she’d done last January. She could have wished for a year off to travel to exotic countries, or a three million dollar mansion with a housekeeper and personal chef. But right now, Sylvia was exactly where she wished to be.

Eleven months later

Sylvia and Mark shuffled sideways into their allocated seats in the auditorium, next to David Forrester and Sylvia’s parents. They were in the fourth row and had a perfect view of the stage. The Conservatorium of Music’s end-of-year student showcase was sure to be a treat. Sylvia’s nerves tickled with anticipation.

Being the first performer for the night, Grace must have a thousand butterflies in her stomach by now, Sylvia thought. She too could feel them. Only they weren’t butterflies. Quickly, she grabbed Mark’s hand and placed it on the small mound of her belly. ‘Can you feel it?’

Her husband sat still as he waited for the subtle rippling sensation. When it came, an expression Sylvia had never seen before graced his face. Love lit up his eyes, but a different kind of love. A fatherly love. While Sylvia had been experiencing firsthand the indescribable sensation of her baby growing inside her, this was his first encounter with their unborn child.

‘Wow!’ Mark said, as Sylvia’s mother reached over in an effort to join the party. ‘She might grow up to be dancer,’ he suggested.

‘She?’ Sylvia raised an eyebrow.

‘Or he. I’d have no problem with my son being a dancer either,’ Mark said, smiling.

They didn’t yet know whether the baby was a boy or girl, and Sylvia didn’t mind either way. All that mattered was that early next year she’d be taking this little angel home with her. And Mark would be right by her side.

‘What’s the name of Grace’s composition?’ Sylvia’s father asked as the lights dimmed and his eyes strained to read the program. ‘I forgot to bring my glasses.’

‘
A New Beginning
,’ Sylvia said proudly, just as the curtains slid open and a spotlight illuminated Grace’s red curls, while a sweet melody danced joyously throughout the auditorium and sparkled like the stars in the sky.

THE END

Fast Forward

by Juliet Madison

Aspiring supermodel Kelli Crawford is on the fast-track to fame: she’s beautiful, she’s popular, and she’s dating the perfect guy. But the morning of her 25th birthday dawns with a surprise. She’s no longer 25, in shape, in style, and in demand. She’s 50, wrinkled, weary, and wed to a bona fide nerd.

Trapped in the opposite life of the one she planned, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her choices and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband and hideous support underwear forever?

Chaos Bound

by Rebekah Turner

The long-awaited sequel to
Chaos Born
takes us back into the Applecross, where Lora faces increasing threats to her survival and her chance at love.

Lora Blackgoat—mercenary and smuggler—has only just recovered from the last threat on her life and hasn’t even begun to sort out the mess of having both a nephilim warrior and a reborn hellspawn as potential lovers. Work should be a refuge, but a job finding missing persons puts her in the crosshairs of a violent gang and a merchant with a taste for blood sport.

Reluctantly, Lora turns to the two men in her life for help. Roman—the nephilim—professes to be her soul mate and turns to her when he feels the darkness of nephilim madness descending. But though Lora is drawn to Roman, it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora must ultimately ask to protect those she loves. Can she trust Seth to save Roman and her adoptive family, or will this be a fatal mistake?