Chapter 18

“Shane I need to talk to you,” Hollie said a week later as they were getting home from a restaurant. They were now stood on their porch.
“What’s up?” Shane asked looking at her and putting his arms around her.
“Shane I’m pregnant.”
“That’s great!” Shane hugged her.
“But…” Hollie’s voice trailed off. Shane saw the look in her eyes and somehow knew what she was going to say next.
“But you don’t know whether it’s mine or Kian’s,” he finished for her.
“To be honest, no. I want it to be yours Shane. Could you tell Kian for me? I don’t know if I can.”
“Yeah sure. So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to keep it. But I have to know. I want a DNA test when it’s born.”
“I’m up for that.”
“Does Kian know we’re back together?” Hollie asked him.
“I told him yesterday.” Shane pulled Hollie towards him and kissed her. They stood on the porch like that for ages.

‘Eyes like a sunrise,
Like a rainfall, down,
My soul.
And I wonder,
I wonder why you look at me like that,
What you thinking,
What’s behind.
Don’t tell me but it feels, like, love.

I’m gonna take this moment,
And make it last forever,
I’m gonna give my heart away,
And pray we’ll stay together.
Cos you’re the one good reason,
You’re the only girl that I need,
Cos your more beautiful than I have ever seen
I’m gonna take this night and make it evergreen

Touch like an angel,
Like velvet to my skin,
And I wonder,
I wonder why you wanna stay the night,
What you dreaming
What’s behind?
Don’t tell me but it feels, like, love.

I’m gonna take this moment,
And make it last forever,
I’m gonna give my heart away,
And pray we’ll stay together.
Cos you’re the one good reason,
You’re the only girl that I need,
Cos your more beautiful than I have ever seen,
I’m gonna take this night and make it evergreen.

Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah

Don’t tell me but it feels like love
I’m gonna take this moment,
And make it last forever,
I’m gonna give my heart away,
And pray we’ll stay together.
Cos you’re the one good reason,
You’re the only girl that I need,
Cos your more beautiful than I have ever seen,
I’m gonna take this night and make it evergreen
I’m gonna take this moment,
And make it last forever,
I’m gonna give my heart away,
And pray we’ll stay together.
Cos you’re the one good reason,
You’re the only girl that I need,
Cos your more beautiful than I have ever seen,
I’m gonna take this night and make it evergreen

Ohhh make it evergreen.’
(Evergreen, Westlife, World Of Our Own, 2001)

Claire, Mark, Shane, Kian and Hollie moved back to Sligo while Narna, Bryan, Nicky and Anna went back to Dublin to make a fresh start. Shane had been sober for four months now and he, Hollie and Kian had decided it was best for Kian not to be part of the baby’s life if it turned out to be his.

Mark’s parents had organised a surprise party for his 23rd birthday. Everyone pitched in and Claire had the job of getting mark to go to the hall. In the end she told him that there was a dinner and dance there so he would dress smartly. It was nearly midnight when a sharp pain darted across Anna’s stomach and back. The pain disappeared as fast as it had come. She decided to go outside and get some fresh air. She hadn’t been drinking at all that night.

Emily noticed Anna walking out of the hall on her own looking rather upset about something and decided to follow her out. She got to the door just in time to see Anna double over and fall to the ground. Emily ran back inside and searched the crowd for Nicky. The hall was crowded and it took a while for her to find him but she eventually did way at the back talking to Anto. “Nicky,” she gasped, out of breath. Nicky saw the panic on her face as she pulled him through the hall and out into the parking lot. He saw Anna sat in tears by the side of the road.
“Ann, what’s wrong?” Nicky asked her.
“It all hurts,” she replied through gritted teeth. Nicky lifted her up onto her feet and helped her over to their new, shiny blue BMW. “I’m gonna take you to the hospital.

“I can’t talk about it now,” Claire said into her mobile. She waited while the other person was speaking. “He can’t stay with me. This was all your idea and now you have to take responsibility for what happened. It was your choice for things to end out this way. Deal with it.” Claire disconnected the call and went back inside the building to dance with Mark. He had already had too much to drink but carried on despite the fact he was falling about everywhere. “You have to stop drinking now Mark,” Claire said.
“I can’t. I’ll hurt people’s feelings if I don’t accept them. You know what? I haven’t brought a single one tonight.” Mark looked up at the ceiling and suddenly looked intrigued. “There are aliens in this room.”
“What?” Claire asked confused.
“Look. There are UFO’s dancing round the ceiling.”
“Ok, You definitely have had enough now,” Claire said taking his glass from him and giving it to Kian behind her.
“They’re my friends,” Mark said with a smile.