Penrigan Hospital Maternity Ward
‘I am so happy it’s a boy,’ Star said, looking up at Jack lovingly from her hospital bed as their tiny tot slept soundly in his baby bed alongside her. ‘He looks like you with all that black hair.’
‘Poor little mite,’ Jack teased. ‘If he’s going to be short with wonky teeth like me too, I’m not sure that a huge name like Storm will fit the bill.’
‘It’s fine – I know exactly what I want to call him.’
‘Scare me,’ Jack dared her.
‘Matthew James Murray.’ Star delivered each name slowly and deliberately before explaining: ‘Matthew for obvious reasons and Jim is short for James, so Flo will be so happy that her late husband, my wonderful great-uncle Jim, is getting a nod. Plus of course, James is your dad, too.’
‘I love it.’ Jack kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. ‘Dad will be made up and I think it sounds very distinguished.’ As the baby began to stir, he carefully lifted the little bundle and handed the tiny boy to his mum.
‘Hello, Matthew Murray,’ she cooed, then on kissing him gently on the top of his soft little head, she awkwardly positioned him for a feed.
Jack produced a jewellery box from his pocket. ‘We kind of forgot it was your birthday today too, didn’t we, with all of this going on.’
‘Oh, Jack. Open it for me, can you?’ And then: ‘A ring? Aw. Aquamarine to match my necklace. It’s beautiful.’
Getting down on one knee next to the hospital bed, Jack said, ‘To celebrate two special birthdays today, I think the only thing that will trump that is an engagement, don’t you? Star Lilian Bligh, I’m so happy that your heart had a reason which reason knew not. Will you marry me, and of course not forgetting Skye in all of this, make our precious little Murray family complete?’
‘I will.’
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Turn over for a sneak peek at RAINBOWS END IN FERRY LANE MARKET, the next book in Nicola May’s gorgeous FERRY LANE MARKET series.