Page 90 of Samuel

“A little, but like I told Sam, he couldn’t use that as an excuse. I would have hoped he’d realise that what she did was wrong but I wasn’t the same type of person as her.”

“It must have still been pretty fresh for him at that time I guess.”

Elijah leaned forward, rested his forearms on his knees and stared down at the floor.

“Even so, thank you, Maisie,” he said without looking up. “You allowing Sam to be a dad to Frankie and letting him come into our family has been the best thing to happen to Sam.”

Elijah finally looked up at me and the tears in his eyes caused my throat to tingle with emotion.

“He’s going to be okay,” I said softly, not sure I believed it.

As Elijah nodded and gave me a weak smile, the door to the waiting room swung open and before I knew what was happening, Frankie was throwing himself at me. As he landed on me, I heard Amy.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. “He heard me on the phone to Eli earlier. I thought he was still asleep, but he’d gotten up to go to the toilet and since then he’s been really upset, so as soon as I thought they were awake I dropped Bella off with my mum and dad and brought him here. I didn’t know what else to do, I couldn’t console him.”

Elijah grabbed Amy’s hand and pulled her to him, resting his head against her stomach and as he looked down at the floor she bent forward and kissed the top of his head.

“It’s fine, Amy,” I replied as I pulled Frankie closer to me.”

“Where is he Mummy, I want to see him,” Frankie cried, verging on becoming hysterical.

“He’s being looked after by the doctor baby, so I’m not sure you’ll be allowed.”

“Please Mummy, please,” he begged, shaking my shoulders with his little hands. “I want to see Daddy. I want to see him.”

There was movement beside me and Elijah appeared, placing his hand on Frankie’s shoulder.

“He’s sleeping buddy, but if you want me to I’ll go and ask if you can go in there.”

Frankie’s chest heaved as he nodded and tears dripped from the end of his wobbling chin. I looked up at Elijah, hoping he saw the thanks in my eyes.

“Hey, come on,” I soothed, rocking him gently. “Uncle Elijah is going to ask, so try and stop crying, okay.”

Frankie nodded again, but the tears and hiccupping sobs continued.

“I’m so sorry,” Amy mouthed as I glanced at her.

“It’s fine, I’d have had to tell him at some point.”

We waited, the silence of the stark waiting room only broken by Frankie’s sniffles. Finally, Elijah came back with his dad following. As soon as James Cooper walked through the door, his eyes immediately went to Frankie still shaking in my arms. He paused, visibly flinching and then taking a deep breath and pulling back his shoulders came over to us. As he reached Amy he cupped her cheek gently and gave her a soft smile. Once she smiled back, he continued to me and Frankie.

“Hey Frankie,” he whispered, leaning down to his level. “You okay?”

Frankie looked up at him with tear filled eyes and shook his head. “Can I see Daddy?” he asked.

James looked over to Elijah who rubbed a hand over his head and then back to his grandson. His eyes searched Frankie’s features and I saw his Adam’s apple bob sharply.

“Yes, come on.” He held his hand out to Frankie, who placed his tiny one in it instantly.

“Dad-.”

He didn’t look at Elijah, keeping his eyes on Frankie.

“No, Eli. He needs to see him. Come on, let’s go and see your dad. You should come too, Maisie.”

I nodded and pushed up from the hard chair and followed him toward the door.

“Amy,” I said, turning just before we left. “Do you want to go in before me?”