Kate waited for the car to stop, before climbing out and proudly unfastening her four-week old son from his car seat and passing him to Ben. ‘There you go, go to Daddy.’
Hugging the baby close to his chest, Ben held an arm out towards her, pulled her into his body and circled her with love and as though it had been planned, they both turned in unison and looked up at the church.
‘I can’t believe we’re about to christen him, Kate, here in Bedale,’ Ben whispered as he dropped a kiss lightly against her lips. ‘And I can’t believe that it’s a whole year since you wound your window down and called me a moron!’ He pointed to the very spot where Kate had pulled up, and the very place where they’d first met.
‘Well, for what it’s worth, you’re the nicest moron I ever met.’
* * *
The sound of ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ echoed throughout the church, making both Gloria and Elizabeth smile. Their mothers had become close, much to the disapproval of both William and Gerald, who both counted the cost after every shopping trip they took, but who also benefitted from the hours they both now spent on the golf course. Eve and Eric sat together, hand in hand, and Kate smiled, knowing that the next time they entered this church would be in the summer, for their wedding.
The singing stopped and the vicar walked from the front of the church to the back, where he lifted a jug of holy water and poured it into the font.
‘Could I have the parents, grandparents and the godparents please?’ he asked.
It was a moment for Ben and Kate to step forward, but also for Gloria, William, Elizabeth and Gerald. And as Eric pushed Eve into position, Kate smiled with pride as Eve stood up and slowly walked the last few steps to take her place at the font.
The vicar then held out his arms. ‘May I?’ He took the baby from Ben and with a smile, he walked around the font, then paused and turned to Kate. ‘We name this child?’
Kate locked eyes with Ben, who nodded. She looked up and then individually at each member of her family, before turning back to the vicar. ‘With my parents’ permission, I’d like to name him James Benjamin Parker, in honour of the brother that I lost.’
Cries of delight filled the church and baby James was held over the font, where holy water was slowly dribbled over his tiny head.
* * *
Kate’s world was now complete, but as she stepped out of the church, the rain began to fall and full of parental concern, and with James in her arms, she quickly headed towards the car.
‘Kate, wait.’ Ben’s words followed her and with a soft shake of his head, he held his arms out for their son.
‘But he’s getting wet.’ She smiled with concern, but did as Ben asked and then laughed as he took James in his arms and began spinning him around in the rain. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked as both of their parents began to join in, along with Eric, who spun Eve’s wheelchair around and around.
‘Come on.’ Ben held a hand out to her, ‘We once made a promise that whenever we could, we’d dance in the rain.’
Kate thought of all the nightmares she’d lived through. The accident, of how her brother had been killed, Eve paralysed and the scar on her face; of how Isobel had risked her own life to save hers, but who was now behind bars for her involvement in the drug deals and of how Rob had fallen to his death.
‘Kate, come on, trust me,’ Ben shouted and held a hand out towards her making it more than obvious that Ben was doing all he could to turn her worst nightmare into one of her happiest days. A day where her whole family were together, and they all danced in the rain.