One month later
It was a day for rejoicing, it had been a month since Victoria had gone free and today Emily would finally leave the confines of the hospital and begin her new life.
Over the month, after her operations were finished, Emily had grown stronger by the day. She was allowed out of the horrible plastic crib that separated them both. The machines were taken away one by one and finally Victoria could hold Emily in her arms. The ache in her breast was gone now, but the ache in her heart would never leave.
Today was Victoria's birthday and the day they released Emily she had been persuaded by her mother and Eddy to have a little birthday bash and coming home party for Emily at the hotel.
Victoria had never liked parties, especially birthday parties, they held too many painful memories, but today nothing could dampen her spirits. Today she wanted to celebrate, with balloons, cake, and streamers - all the trimmings.
Gently putting Emily into her pram, Victoria smiled at Emily's frilly pink party dress. As if anticipating the color and exciting noises Emily beamed a big toothless grin at Victoria, she couldn't help but grin back at her.
"Yes, we will have a big party, with lots of balloons, yes we are, oh what fun," cooed Victoria as she wheeled Emily out of the room. As they left she waved to the nurses at the station as she passed.
Outside the sun shone and a cool sea breeze tickled her face as she looked at the lush green surroundings of the hospital gardens as she wheeled Emily along the path to the end of the hospital boundary. At the edge of the road she stopped and looked once more at the hospital.
"Emmy, we are free, well almost." she said looking down at the baby and back at the hospital.
There was one more thing left to do, next week she had to attend a court hearing to get custody of Emily. She dreaded it, she didn't want to go back to court and have to fight Danny all over again. But if it was what she had to do to keep Emily, she would do it.
She arranged to stay at the hotel for a few weeks with Marilyn and Eddy until she got the court case organized and everything in order and she would see where things went from there.
Putting her face up to the sun she sighed. It wasn't important, she would not let little things bother her, or stand in her way of having fun. Today would be carefree.
Victoria turned the pram around, with her back to the hospital and crossed the road towards the hotel where Marilyn and Eddy waited for them.
Streamers and balloons with smiley faces and Happy Birthday written on them decorated the lobby, to the side a sign said "Thorne Birthday Party, dining room 1."
Victoria entered the dining room and gasped.
"It is beautiful."
A red cake took pride of place in the center of the room, decorated with icing roses and a pink teddy bear to the side. There were two massive posters with "Happy Birthday and Welcome Home," written on them, stretching from one side of the room to the other. Balloons covered the floor, ceiling and sides of the table. Emily wriggled, opening and closing her hands trying to grab hold of the balloons and streamers.
Marilyn rushed up to Victoria and kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday darling."
"Thanks Mum," then seeing Eddy she motioned for him to come closer, "Come here and give me a hug too."
As they hugged Victoria whispered in his ear, "You aren't so bad for some old geezer!"
"Gee thanks," grinned Eddy.
Stacy was next to Eddy. Victoria hugged her tightly.
"I'm so glad you are here, it means a lot."
"What are friends for Vic, besides I love cake!" she smiled and winked at her.
There was a knock at the door and all of them looked up, Danny, Demi, Trevor and Amanda stood at the door waiting to be invited in.
Victoria stood frozen not knowing what to do at first. Amanda rushed into her arms.
"Mummy Vic, I missed you so much, Happy Birthday."
She hugged the girl tight.
"I missed you too Amanda."
"Daddy says we can't stay for long, but I wanted to give you your present," she said producing a long flat gift wrapped in red paper with a golden bow attached.
"Thank you, shall I put it on the table?"
"Open it now," pleaded Amanda clapping her hands excitedly.
Victoria opened the gift to find the picture of her, Danny, Amanda and Emily taken the day they were in town after Emily was born. Tears welled up in her eyes and she and hugged Amanda again.
"I will treasure it always, if you go over there to Marilyn, and tell her I sent you, she will give you a nice big piece of cake, any bit you want."
Amanda smiled and Victoria watched her skip over to Marilyn and tug at her top.
Victoria turned her attention to Danny, Demi and Trevor, Demi approach her first, pushing Trevor along with her in his pram, she hugged her tightly.
"Happy Birthday Vic."
"Thanks Dem, it's good to see you and Trevor, how are you doing?"
Demi took a step back and smiled weakly.
"Oh you know... I'm going to be fine, we all are and that is what really matters, isn't it."
Rubbing her back she guided her into the room.
"Come in, have some cake, if you want a drink just let Marilyn or Eddy know."
Demi smiled politely and walked towards Amanda and Marilyn who were cutting cake together.
Victoria looked up at Danny and smiled.
"Well they finally let us out of the hospital, thanks for coming... did Marilyn invite you?"
"Yeah, I guess Marilyn might have mentioned something" said Danny, lifting his arms up to hug Victoria, thinking better of it he let them fall loosely to his sides.
They stood staring at each other for a few moments, neither sure what to say, Victoria broke the silence.
"Would you like to go for a walk in the garden?"
"That would be great, I hoped to talk to you in private for a moment."
They walked outside, back in the brilliant sunshine, Victoria was happier than she had in a long time, as they walked around the garden together, until they found a small bench under a leafy tree. They both sat, looking at one another.
Danny took her hand and squeezed it.
"Vic I have missed you so much, have you considered coming back home to us."
"I missed you too Danny, but I can't come back, I thought very hard about this and I tried to put it behind me, but - I'm sorry."
"I had a feeling you would say that," said Danny fumbling around in his jacket pocket, "Well Happy Birthday, here is your present," he said handing her a plain white envelope.
"Danny, you didn't need to...."
"Yes, I did. Open it," he said quickly.
Victoria opened the envelope, pulled out a letter and read it, looking up at Danny with tears in her eyes she said," But why?"
"I figured we had all spent enough time inside a court room, so I signed the papers granting you sole custody of Emily. She is all yours...maybe in time you may want to visit us?"
"Thank you," said Victoria as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Hey it is the least I could do," he smiled sadly, "Well it's getting late, we should be going...."
Victoria and Danny walked in silence back to the party. Danny leaned down and kissed Emily in her pram, she beamed up at him and did his favorite star fish jerking motion. He gently touched her cheek to make her smile one last time before herding Demi, with Trevor and Amanda out of the room, and towards the front desk.
Victoria wheeled Emily out to the lobby door to see them off, as they walked out of the building and into the car park Victoria had an urge to run after them. The only family she had ever known was walking out the door, leaving her....
Stacy and Marilyn both looped their arms around her waist and Eddy squeezed her shoulder, she looked at them all and then down at Emily and realized she was wrong, she already had her family right beside her.
THE END.