Chapter XVI

When they saw each other through the steam of the train in which she returned to Glen St Mary, everyone at the station would later think of that scene of their reunion with smiles on their faces. Di threw all of her suitcases aside and ran, flew it seemed, straight into Una's arms. They embraced each other and laughed together at something neither would later remember, and tears of joy ran down their faces. It was in that very moment when Una understood how much Di meant to her as a friend, as a person, as a soul-sister. "You have not changed at all!" Di exclaimed and then looked closely at Una's face one more time "But then, something about your eyes is different… They're happier, I think. Are you happy, Una?"

Una kissed away the question as she left a soft kiss on Di's freckled cheek. "Well, I will say that you, Di, have never looked happier yourself. It's a truly beautiful image." she said merrily to her friend as the two collected the three suitcases of Di's and started to head towards the exit of the station where they were to meet Di's mother and father for a ride back to Ingleside.

"Oh, Una, I am." Di said, her cheeks flushed, her eyes dancing and her spirit floating inside and out of her. "And just imagine that: my own twin sister shall have her first baby very, very soon. That does add much of happiness to my being."

Before Una could reply, Anne Blythe and her husband arrived at the station and ferociously started to hug their daughter. Una stood and observed the heartwarming scene and she herself started to lose the track of time. A common occurrence during every one of her visits back to Glen St Mary, especially the ones she made during the summer, right after the exams.

The welcome dinner at Ingleside was loud, but the loud-merry kind, the kind that Una would always consider calming and wonderful. In the spotlight were the Blythe twins, or rather Diana Blythe and her twin sister Mrs Meredith. They were bubbly, flushed with joy to be reunited and concentrated on this new stage that Nan was about to enter in her young life.

However, in Una's eyes, someone else was in the spotlight. Dalvir, a warmly welcomed guest for a whole month at Ingleside, was sitting between Jem and Carl, chatting away and glancing, as if out of habit, at Una with a look that always made her head whirl with a dilemma. Una was happy he was there, that she could talk to him and pretend that everything was as it always has been. She was very worried, though, about him going back to India for the remainder of the summer at the end of July. It so happened that her diary had no more pages left for her to cover everything she felt. And metaphorically, she felt like this too, she had too many thoughts on her mind, if that was even possible.

"Come, walk with me, darling." a tap on the shoulder woke her up from people-watching and daydreaming. Rosemary extended a hand towards her with a neverending, sweet smile. Una took her hand without a question and stood up, glancing for a moment at Dalvir who was deep in conversation with Jem over something only they knew. She was disappointed their eyes didn't meet this time.

Rosemary took Una's arm under her own and started to walk outside, into the garden of Ingleside. Una realised then that despite her being in Glen for the past four days, Mother Rosemary and herself didn't have much time to spend only with each other, talking about everything like they always used to. In moments like this, upon realisation how rare those moments have been ever since Una moved away to Kingsport, it was then that she would feel eternally homesick, despite being at home.

"Una, I wanted to have some time alone with you to ask you something very personal." Rosemary started, her voice tender and a soft smile never leaving her lips. Una looked at her and knew at once from the glow in Rosemary's eyes what the question will be. She nodded, giving up into their inevitable conversation. "From your letters and from the memorable Christmas which Dalvir also attended, I have started, for some time now, to gather questions regarding whether you, Una, have the kind of feelings for him that might go slightly beyond those that one has for a friend, even a bosom one?" she asked, her voice gentle as the summer breeze brushing against their faces.

Una sighed a little, in preparation. "I figured that you'd think that. I don't lie, as you know, not even in letters, and I suppose my very being doesn't lie either so I thought it impossible for you not to notice. So, the answer to your question is yes, I do have those feelings for Dalvir." it felt almost surreal for Una to say those words out loud, she hasn't yet until that very moment. It made her feel warm inside and safe but she also felt a hint of anxiety which pulled strings on her lungs as she looked at Rosemary again. "However, I am in a dilemma, as I think you might have guessed also. I don't know how to put our two very different backgrounds into one. I don't know how to plan for the future, how to please us but also our families. I just… don't know." Una felt her eyes filling up with tears and she quickly pushed them away with her hand.

Rosemary stopped in her tracks to stand right in front of Una. She placed her slender hands on Una's cheeks and smiled at her, in a way a mother smiles at her silly children. "Dearest Una," she said gently yet decidedly "-I agree that in your case those dilemmas are truer and more serious. But believe me, everyone has those when they feel love, that special kind, towards another person. What I've just learned from your answer, however, is that you do have your confusions but not about Dalvir. He is the most certain part of it all. And so my advice to you is: choose him, not the things you are uncertain of."

Una didn't realise but tears started to roll down her eyes and her pink lips formed the widest smile Rosemary had ever seen on her face. "You have our blessing, Una. You always have and always will." Rosemary added and chuckled at the surprised face of Una's "Why, Una darling, of course, I've talked to your father about my little observations. And how else would your father respond to his daughter who loves a kind man who too loves her back?"

Una chuckled merrily, through her tears and immediately embraced Rosemary tightly. "Thank you, mum." she whispered into Rosemary's ear, her eyes closed, as she thought about two mothers her life was blessed with. The two shared a look of happiness and then Una galloped back to Ingleside, through the green grass and tall, green trees. She felt as if she was flying and that nothing in the whole, wide world could take that away. Rosemary was right. Her heart was always certain, it was her brain that wasn't. But now she understood that when it came to love, the brain has to give in to the desires of one's heart. And at that moment, she felt, and was, the bravest person in the world.

However, as the luck would have it, as soon as she opened the back door to the dining room, she entered a scene full of panic, excitement and rushing people, back and forth. Una's eyes searched for Dalvir nonetheless but before they could find him, Di grabbed her hand fearfully "Una, there's something wrong, there's something wrong!" she whispered swiftly, her face pale and eyes in bewilderment.

Una's train of thoughts was lost at once "What? What is it?" she said, terrified.

"Nan just went into labour but she's in so much pain, Una. I saw father's face and he looked worried. I don't know what's happening. You have to help me."

"Of course, Di, of course." was Una's reply and her heart was heavy twice over.

The night was long and it seemed like the morning sun would never rise again. Di never let go of Una's hand and both were cuddled up against each other, in the hallway of Ingleside's first floor. Nan was screaming and moaning inside the old Blythe twins' bedroom where Dr Blythe and Jerry were located also all evening and night long. Una, Di, Mrs Dr Blythe, Susan and Rosemary were just outside, talking and listening, trying to be there but to also leave some space for Nan's big moment.

All of them were exhausted, terrified and pale, sitting on the floor, one against the other. Una's mind was travelling from the present moment to the thought of Dalvir. She was split in half and would like nothing more but to be in two places at once. The lack of sleep made her emotions feel numb yet they were still noticeable within her heart and from time to time she felt guilty that she thought about Dalvir while Nan was in a difficult and painful labour.

Eventually, they all heard a cry, a newborn cry and everyone, Una included, immediately started crying. It was as if all the feelings and emotions that they all tried to hide under their skin now resurfaced in the form of their tears. All the women embraced one another and chatted away about how wonderful to know that it's all over and wondering about how Nan is doing. However, right before Anne knocked on the bedroom door, another squealing sound was heard, a little different from the one that appeared in the air five minutes earlier. All the women looked at each other with wide eyes and then all without any exception started to laugh and cry happily.

It was then when Anne opened the door to the bedroom, stuck her head through it and said audibly: "Nan, darling, did you just have twins?".

It was Jerry who answered the question by coming out of the room, flushed, tears streaming down his eyes, with two bundles in each of his arms. Sounds of joy and relief could be heard from Una, Di, Anne, Susan and Rosemary. "One of each." Jerry announced merrily, pride sparkling in his eyes like stars.

"Now, that is a surprise!" Di exclaimed joyfully whilst peeking at two little heads, calmly nesting against their father's shirt "How did we not know?"

Gilbert now stuck his head out for a moment and smiled tiredly "Now that is a question for the ages." he said and laughter followed.

"This is little Epiphany Diana." Jerry held up the little bundle in his right arm and looked expectantly at Di. She chuckled with gratitude and took her namesake in her own shaking hands, looking at Epiphany as if she was the most precious thing in the entire world. "And this is tiny Tobias John." he now looked at Rosemary who with tears in her eyes instinctively took Toby in her arms, looking at him lovingly. The lack of words from all the women spoke for themselves. They were all overflown by joy and relief.

Suddenly Una gasped with excitement "Oh, what a coincidence!" she cried "It's already past midnight so that means that your twins share a birthday with Bruce!"

Jerry's smile widened and he kissed his little sister's cheek "Thirteen years between them. What tricks does fate play on us all?" he smiled gratefully.

"Can we see Nan yet, Gilbert?" Anne asked hurriedly whilst admiring her new set of grandchildren with her loving eyes.

"Come on in!"

The door opened and everyone but Una came in. She prefered not to enter that special room as she felt that she did not quite belong in it. She observed how everyone gathered around Nan who was now comfortably sitting up in her old bed. Nan looked like she had seen death and then came back to life. In the morning Una would learn from Gilbert that that was actually the case and that it was a true miracle that Nan managed to survive the delivery of her twins and with a smile on her face at that.

Una smiled at the view, the view that symbolised unconditional love, devotion and strength and she felt as if she had just woken up again. Thus, she quickly ran upstairs and knocked on Jem's old bedroom's door. In a matter of seconds, the door opened and before her stood Dalvir, fully awake and attentive in his blue nightgown. "Is the baby born? Did I hear the baby crying or was it all a dream?" he asked nervously and melted Una's heart completely. She remembered how he was so eager to stay with them all to wait for the baby (or now the babies) to be born but was very politely commanded by Mrs Dr Blythe to go back to his room and rest as he, as their guest, could do it and should do that also.

She smiled at him in a way that she never thought she could: fully and without hesitation. "Yes, but it's two babies. A complete but wonderful surprise." she told him, breathlessly as her eyes started to swallow up with tears for the fourth time that day.

Dalvir's smile of relief turned into a concerned look as he put his hands on both of her shoulders "What is it, Una, are you alright?" he asked softly.

She looked up at him and despite thinking seconds beforehand that she would be anxious and scared, she was calm and ready to choose love over the world. She put her hands on his cheeks and looked deeply into his coal eyes. "I've never been better." she whispered and kissed him on the lips. Dalvir was surprised at first but quickly rejoiced and put his arms around her waist, returning the kiss with a passion Una never thought she'd be blessed to experience. It could have been minutes, hours, days or seconds but when their lips parted Una did not know how long that kiss lasted. It was the kind of mystery she always hoped to have in those small, meaningful moments of life.

Dalvir's hands touched Una's cheeks softly and his face radiated with something more than happiness itself, it radiated with love for her and Una felt it through the look he gave her. At that moment, there was nothing and no one else for her but Dalvir Singh. "Thank you for this answer." he whispered to her gratefully.

She chuckled "You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it." she replied and allowed him to kiss her again, and again and again until she completely lost the track of real time and the only time she now knew was set by Dalvir's love and his kisses.