Page 15 of Love Beyond Repair
The three of us cram into a black cab. Our driver weaves through the London traffic masterfully, as I breathedramatically in the back seat. Every so often, his eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, and he smiles. It’s warm, comforting, and a little unspoken support from a stranger I didn’t know I needed.
When we arrive at the hospital, I’m admitted to the maternity ward. Breathe. Push. Repeat. The midwife coaches me through every contraction. With each one, the pain rises another notch, and my body contracts that bit harder. But I don’t care, I focus on my son, the little boy I wasn’t meant to have, and I push. I push, knowing both his and my life depend on it.
Exactly five hours, thirty-two minutes, and fifteen seconds later, after more agony than I ever thought I could have handled, my son, Liam Benjamin Corrigan, entered the world. He screams as if he’s waited an eternity to make noise. The nurse places the little blood-covered bundle in my arms, his face screwed up tight in disgust.
But then, I look down as he opens the brightest blue eyes, teamed with a shock of black hair. Ben left his mark in every way that counts. He’s given me my son, and he can never know. But there’s no doubt who his father is, and as I glance at Terry and my sister, we all know it. Liam is Ben’s son. Nothing has ever been clearer.
Part Two
The Spark
When forever felt possible…
London
September 1996
Chapter eight
Bex
Today, we moved into our grown-up apartment, all newly graduated and stepping into the big, chaotic world of full-time employment. The four of us—Ben, Kelsey, Amy, and me—have been friends since high school, spending most weekends of the past decade together. Inseparable, that’s what people say we are. And I have to agree, I can’t imagine life without my friends.
Located in the center of a lovely little bustling community in London, our apartment is spacious and bright. Within meters of our front door, there is a pub — The Smoking Goat, an express supermarket, a budget liquor store, and a hair salon, everything a twenty-three-year-old graduate teacher requires to live, work, and enjoy life inthis fabulous city.
Never mind the fact that I’m sharing this experience with my three best friends in the world. I can’t wait to be lounging around the house, having TV dinners, and putting the world to rights with them.
Amy graduated in kinesiology in June. What that means to you and me is she learned how the human body moves. She’s working at a local gym while studying toward her personal training qualifications. Amy is an all-out health addict. Her dream is to own a gym one day. Being the success-driven person she is, I have no doubt she will achieve everything she wants.
I used to be jealous of Amy. She was the sister who won all the trophies and had all the friends.
Feeling like the odd one out is something I became used to. With my strong features, it was harder to be one of the girls. It still is. I don’t have the same feminine beauty to work with, never finding a method to make the best of my canvas.
But Amy always makes sure I’m included. She’s looked out for me since we were in our teens and I didn’t have a date to prom. Being a twin isn’t easy, especially when you’re the ugly one.
Ben and Kelsey were high school sweethearts. It’s a bonus, because it meant we only needed a three-bed apartment, but the rent is still split four ways.
In school, they werethebeautiful couple, Prom King and Queen, captains of the soccer and basketball squads, etc.,etc. How they ended up friends with me, the class geek, I’ll never know. Ben is a doctor, and Kelsey is a nurse. I mean, they are so fucking textbook perfect, it’s cringeworthy.
Even now, when Kelsey gets out of bed, her loungewear matches, and her eyeliner is always on point. I wonder how she does it.
Ben’s the kind of guy who looks good even in a scruffy t-shirt. He graduated top of his class and is destined for great things in the medical world. Various positions across the UK, and even in the States, were offered to him, but he turned them all down to stay with Kelsey. I sometimes wonder what would’ve happened if he didn’t.
Kelsey said she told him to go. I’ve always doubted if he really had a choice. She wouldn’t move because her dad is on his own now. Her mum passed away when she was in her teens. I don’t think either of them has ever gotten over the loss. She speaks to her dad every day at least once. The organization of his house falls to her, with fresh meals delivered daily and weekly cleaners.
It’s almost as if she still lives with him but from a distance, overseeing his well-being. The four of us hang out together all the time. We’re all friends, and it just so happens two of us are fucking. Not me, obviously. But it works. We support each other and will have a great time. I think this living arrangement can only go well.
Our first night as roommates is a Friday, the ideal pizza and beer night. I pin a note to the fridge, telling everyone to be there.
The party is starting tonight! Pizza and beer!
Rendezvous in our living room at seven!
Wear your pajamas!
I laugh at myself as I read the message back. We’re so boring. Years of partying have made us dull. None of us start our new roles until Monday except Amy, who is already working, so we have the weekend to unpack and settle in.
Right now, our apartment looks as if the delivery men dumped all the boxes in our living room. Which they did. Instead of being proactive, Kelsey, Amy, and I built castles with them this afternoon. We drank wine, then pretended to be princesses waiting for a dashing knight to save us. It was silly and perfect. For once, even Kelsey let the mask slip.
