In years to come

[Bee]

Ahh that was beautiful Sophie!! cant wait for more!!

[kate]

Oh Sophie! Stop being such a good writer.

This is so emotional. Favourite chapter I think.

[suse]

That was a wondefrul chapter ;D. You capture a 12 year old Indy to perfection...well what I think she would be like.

Can't wait for the next part .

[sophie]

Thanks guys!

The baby hadn't been born yet.
India mooched round the outside of the house with Declan, pacing up and down - hobbling rather, in her case.
"Why isn't it here yet?"
"It's She, India, not It and you know how babies are born. It's hard work and it can take hours - sometimes days."
"Days?"
"For some women. You were born reasonably quickly but it was very scary."
India always felt somehow strange when she imagined her baby, new-born self in the tent and then rushed to a hospital by airlift due to poorly lungs, with her terrified father by her and Mum, poor Mum, left behind waiting to be airlifted too. She hadn't even been able to hold her new daughter. Indy always felt a little guilty about it even though she knew it wasn't her fault.
"Can we go for a walk, Dad?"
"A walk?" he repeated doubtfully.
"I'll be fine with my crutches."
"Why don't you go ahead?" suggested Miranda, who had heard from the kitchen. "I promise to ring you if there's any news about the baby."
"Well...all right. But not too far. You still need to rest it, you did break it after all."
"He said it was a 'clean break' and would heal quickly."
"Fairly quickly," Declan corrected. "And he didn't mean that as an invitation to go hiking."
"We're not going hiking!"
"Where do you want to go, anyway?"
India thought for a moment and the answer sparked in her mind.
"The tree!"
"Mum's tree?"
"What other tree would I mean?" she scoffed.
"Are you sure?" Declan asked. "It won't upset you?"
"Why would it upset me?" India asked in surprise. "It's where she is. Don't worry, Dad," she continued as Declan looked worried. "I don't mean that I think she's come back to life there. I mean...what you said whenever I asked you about where she was when I was little."
"The part which made her Mummy is with us," Declan remembered. "Not in the ground, not gone away. With us."
"That part of her. She's with us and she's there too."
She smiled at Declan and he couldn't help but smile back. The sky was blue and shining that day.
The two set off, somewhat slowly, but it didn't matter. Queensland glowed in the sun and India didn't want to think about going back yet. Back to Victoria...her stomach turned over.
Focus on the now she thought.
The tree stood there as dependently as it always had. Solid, unmoving, unchanged. You wouldn't have guessed that such a friendship had been forged then separated there, India thought. And there were no signs that she had fallen out of it either. The storm had not harmed it.
Declan put his hand on it. Was Didge there? India was right - part of her was anyway.
Suddenly there were voices and a couple moved into view.
India felt angry - who was it ruining her and her father's time with Mum's spirit?
It was a man with a little boy, both with chestnut hair.
"Daddy, Daddy can I play?" asked the boy. "Can I paddle?"
"Of course you can, but near the bank, okay?" replied the man and his son nodded vigorously, shook off his sandals and jumped with a splash into the water. India brushed off some droplets.
"Sorry," said the man to her and then his voice stopped in his throat and he stared at her. India stared back, confused.
He shook his head and smiled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare at you, it's just that you look exactly like someone I used to know a long time ago."
India wondered.
"John," she said and he looked astonished. "Is your name John?"
"How do you know my name?"
"Did you know someone called Bridget?" she asked, excited. "Didge?"
"Who are you?" he demanded, puzzled. "How do you know this?"
"You're John," she said, elated. "John from Mum's diary."
"Mum's diary?"
"Bridget's."
"Bridget's diary...you're Bridget's daughter?"
She nodded and didn't know what to say.
"But you're....how old are you?"
"I'm twelve," she said and, knowing what he was thinking, said, "Yes. She had me really young."
"What's you name?"
"India."
"That's a beautiful name. I'm not surprised she named you that - Didge liked things that were special."
"I'm married to her," Declan said protectively. Never could he say I was married, or we were married. They still were. They still were.
"I'm India's dad."
"I don't believe this!" exclaimed John. "India, you're Bridget's daughter and she kept a diary about us?"
"I found it. I never knew about you until I read it - neither did Dad. No one did."
"So she kept her promise," he said softly. "I knew she would. Good old Didge. Where is she, anyway? I'd love to talk to her after all these years."
There was an awkward silence.
"Mum died," India said finally. "She died when I was a baby in a car crash."
He went pure white and put his hand against the tree.
"Oh," he said softly. "Oh no."
For a moment Declan felt very angry. How could he be grieving for her? How could he call her 'good old Didge' after three short weeks? He hadn't loved her like he had. He hadn't felt the pain and agony of her dying.
Then he rebuked himself. He had still been Didge's friend, a very important friend and he had liked more than in a friendly way. She had still been special to him too. He had the right to mourn her.
"Was she happy?" John asked slowly. "Before she died? What was her life like?"
"Mum was happy," India said. "Wasn't she, Dad?"
"She was very happy," Declan agreed. "She moved to Victoria when she was sixteen and that's where she lived for the next two years. She had some tough times - she hurt herself in another car accident but she was okay. She had great mates and a great life. We got married just before Indy was born."
"Congratulations mate," John said and held out his hand and Declan shook it. Covered in dirt still.
"She was going to be a doctor," India added. "She was going to go to different countries and help people. That's how she found my name - she wanted to go to India. We're going to go there for her one day."
"I knew she had it in her," said John. "She was going to be a vet first. She would have made such a good doctor though, I know that, and not just because she had the brains."
"She would have been amazing," said Declan. "More than amazing..."
"I was sorry I never saw her again," John said. "But there was nothing I could do."
"What happened to you?" India asked, curiosity bursting out.
"We were on the run for a few more years. We moved to the outskirts of Queensland that time after I left her. We stayed in Queensland the whole time we moved though."
"You said you'd never leave the state."
"Well, Mum did go on about going to Darwin at one point, or that she'd like to, anyway, not that we could really afford it. So we'd be really safe. But the thugs caught up with us and beat Mum up pretty badly.
"My older brother flipped then. He told Mum we just couldn't go on like this and he couldn't stand the risk of losing her like we'd lost Dad. He couldn't bear seeing her so hurt - none of us could. Mum finally went for the police. She got in a little trouble but nothing much. Nothing like we'd feared. But she gave them information and the other guys got arrested and finally we were safe."
He smiled in memory.
"That was such a wonderful day. And then nothing really happened for a few years. When I was eighteen I went to university and studied Art. Everyone was really pleased, I was the only one who went. I went to Rome for a year, like I'd always hoped, and I met a girl from Australia as well who was doing a year out before uni. I married her and then a year later Davy came along."
He smiled at his son.
"He's four now."
"He's adorable," India said.
"I'm glad Didge was happy," John said again. "She deserved to be. I'm happy she found you and had you," she said to Declan and then to India.
"What happened to your leg?"
"I fell out of the tree."
He looked horrified.
"Be careful doing that," he said in a fatherly way. "I'm happy you were okay - apart from the leg, I mean."
"Yeah. But I was happy I climbed it - before I fell."
"Well done then."
"Where do you live now?" asked Declan.
"Just back there," John said, jerking his finger backwards. "Not far from where we lived when I met Didge. It was my favourite place out of everywhere we lived."
Davy splashed India again and she laughed.
Suddenly Declan's phone beeped.
"Sorry," he said, and took it out. The text was from Miranda and said simply NEWS!
"We'd better go back," Declan said. "Nice to have met you, mate. There's some news about Riley and Marie."
"Is she born, is she born?" India jumped up and down excitedly as best she could.
"Settle down Kanga! I'm not sure."
"Riley was Bridget's brother, wasn't he?" asked John.
"Yes, he was," confirmed India. "And he did see you that time," she added. "And he knew you liked each other."
John laughed.
"Brothers are such sneaks and she moaned about Riley a lot - but I envied her in a way. Her family cared for her a lot and so did mine, but they seemed to have more time for her. I felt angry about it all - angry that we always had to move and we didn't have time to just muck about like her family did. I was so moody with her one day," he remembered. "But I felt sorry about it. I did like her," he said thoughtfully. "But I just didn't know what to do about it."
"But you gave her a kiss," reminded India.
"I did, didn't I? I would have liked to have kissed her for longer."
Declan didn't feel angry anymore. He hadn't stolen Didge. He had just liked her for a little while and she him. He was happy they'd had each other for a short while (though obviously he felt happy that they had meant to be and not her and John). They had only been children. And any way you looked at it, it was sad that they had been split up.
"Come on Indy, we have to go now. It was nice meeting you John."
"You too. Here's my phone number." He still had pen and paper in his pockets and scribbled some figures down. "I do have a mobile now!"
"Goodbye," India said and she hugged him suddenly and bemused, he hugged her back.
"Enjoy the rest of your stay."
Declan and India left John, Davy and tree and started back. India felt as light as the air and she laughed happily.
Miranda was at the doorway when they were home and they knew from her smile before she told them,
"She's born!"

[rebeccag]

aww what a nice chapter and glad that Dec wasnt angry at John
And yay Rileys babys born ^_^

[Bee]

Oh that was great Sophie!!!

best chapter yet!!

cant wait for more!!

[mellochino]

Finally caught up with this! Good work, Sophie!

[sophie]

"Isn't she beautiful?" Riley demanded. "I just don't know Marie did it. She was incredible."
"It was hard work," Marie agreed. "But worth it!"
"Here," Riley said, passing the baby to Miranda. "Have a cuddle with your new granddaughter!"
Miranda's face lit up.
"Oh aren't you gorgeous?" she whispered. "Aren't you a gorgeous girl?"
"What are you going to call her?" asked Declan.
"Bridget," said Riley. "If that's okay with everyone. Bridget Miranda."
"Oh, Ri," said Miranda, welling up. "That's beautiful of you."
She kissed her son.
"It's perfect, mate," said Steve gruffly and then he gave a watery smile to his new granddaughter.
"Who wants to hold her now?" asked Miranda a little while later. "Honestly, I could hold her all day but I think she needs to meet everyone else as well!"
"India?" asked Marie from the bed. "Would you like to hold her?"
India felt a little unsure.
"What if I drop her?"
"You won't drop her." Miranda came over and carefully placed her in India's arms. "There, support the head, that's it. Say hello to your new cousin."
India looked down at the new Bridget. She was red and her eyes were clamped shut but for a moment they opened, and India saw a pair of bright, wondering blue eyes before they closed again.
"She looked at me!" India said with excitement. "She did!"
"Well, she must like you!" Riley said. "You're her new cousin."
India held little Bridget a lot longer than Miranda had but no one seemed to mind. She stopped worrying about dropping her and relaxed. Bridget snuffled a little and wriggled about but India knew she was okay.
"I'll look after you," she promised. "I'll teach you stuff. When you're big enough to talk you can ask me about anything."
Bridget moved around a little more and then her breathing settled down and she calmed.
"I think she's gone to sleep," India whispered.
She gave her back to Riley and he gently gave her back to Marie.
"It's been a big day, hasn't it?" she said comfortingly to her daughter.
They stayed a little longer and then Declan said,
"I think we might go back now and get some dinner. We can meet you there if you like."
"Okay," said Miranda and Steve softly, rapt in their new granddaughter.
"Wasn't it lovely that they called her Bridget?" said India as they left the hospital.
"Yes, it was. Mum'd be thrilled. It's funny that she and Riley fought so much when they were younger, you'd never guess it now."
"But they did like each other as well," argued India. "Back then. He looked after her. And they had fun at the beach. I think they'd still tease each other now."
"They probably would," Declan agreed. "They were close even though they fought."
India thought back to how happy everyone had looked when they had left them at the hospital. The pain of losing Mum; Bridget, would never go away but she knew that the birth of new little Bridget had helped soothe it in ways people couldn't imagine. She had a new cousin, Riley had a daughter, Nan and Grandpa Steve had a granddaughter and Mum and Dad had a niece. Mum could see her too - she was sure, and happy wherever she was.

[kate]

Beautifully done Sophie!

Is this the end then?

[sophie]

No, not yet,a few more chapters to go!
Thanks for the comment!

[rebeccag]

aww that was so sweet Sophie esp naming the baby Bridget

[Bee]

beautiful Sophie!

I actually got a shock when he said Bridget...it didnt register in my mind that he'd name his baby after his sister haha..but it's nice!!

cant wait for more (:

[suse]

Awww they called her Bridget. What a lovely touch .

Love it ;D.

[sophie]

Thanks guys!

"I don't want to go back," said India miserably.
She was sitting out at the front with her father as the sun started to go down.
"I know you don't," said Declan. "But you've got to. We've got to. We can't stay on holiday forever, tempting as it is."
"Why can't we?"
"I have school and you have work."
"It was special this year."
"I know it was. But we'll come back again."
He sounded like Miranda in Bridget’s diary.
"It won't be the same..."
He put her arm round her.
India cycled to the tree one last time as the sun set. Everywhere looked golden and the river sparkled. She pressed her face to the bark.
“I will come back,” she mumbled. You know I will.”
She looked at John and Bridget’s branch and took out a little penknife. Beneath their initials she carved a tiny I.
“I’m here too,” she whispered.
She sat against the tree and put her feet in the water. She didn’t fall asleep but went into a sort of trance, a daydream, though really it was nearly dusk. She felt like Mum was there holding her hand.
Finally India got up to go and as she did she heard movement in the water. Looking down, she saw, for a quick moment, the platypus.
The world seemed to sigh as she rode back.
As she lay in her mother’s room it still seemed to be filled with the essence of her.
“Stay with us when we go back,” she mumbled and dropped off to sleep.
The next morning was mania but with Miranda’s help it wasn’t too dreadful – nowhere near as bad as on the way. During a quiet moment Miranda led India out into the hall.
“Here,” she said, pressing Bridget’s diary into India’s diary. “I want you to have it.”
“Oh, Nan. You should. Mum’s your daughter and I’ve read it.”
“I’ve read it too,” said Miranda firmly. “And it was so special to read, but I have so many memories of her. I only need to think for a moment and twenty jump out, like when she rolled in the mud in her brand new pink dress, tried to climb into the kangaroo enclosure at the zoo on her tenth birthday, or just being there. And she is still there, part of her. I don’t need her diary for that. You can’t remember her and that’s the most unfair thing in the world. I’m telling you to keep it.”
India looked down at the diary, traced the mermaid picture and her throat swelled up.
“Okay, Nan,” she whispered. “But when I come back up I’ll bring it with me so you can read it again.”
They gave each other a hug.
Too soon it was time to go. Marie and Riley and Little Bridget had come too and they had just finished lunch when Declan said that they had to get moving.
“Goodbye,” sniffled India and she hugged everyone in turn.
They all talked and hugged a little longer and then Declan and India finally went to a car, after India had rushed back to give Little Bridget another kiss.
“You look after her,” she told Riley.
He laughed. “You sound so much like your mum.”
She gave him an extra hug too, and Marie.
“Goodbye, goodbye!” everyone called as they drove away and India leaned back and waved and waved until they could no longer be seen.
“It won’t be too long,” promised Declan and she gave him a wry smile and rammed in her earphones.
He was surprised at how grown up she had looked with that expression and so much like Bridget, older than just twelve, but the feeling went again as the music was suddenly incredibly audible.
“Turn that down!” he called to her. “You’ll ruin your ears!”
Miranda sighed, but she wasn’t unhappy. It had been a wonderful visit and there had been another gift from darling, surprising Bridget. A little snuffle to her right and she looked over to this new, little life. Little Bridget. She missed her granddaughter already but here was her new one to get to know. Things changed but some changes were indescribably wonderful. They sat down and looked out at the view.

[Bee]

that was brilliant Sophie..please dont tell me that was the last one!?