Page 111 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘I don’t want to!’ Chloe wailed.

‘I know, but we’re going to have to.’ Ottilie nodded to Stacey. ‘Come and help me.’

‘I should leave,’ Heath said, but Ottilie stopped him.

‘Could you get some things for me. Towels, a bowl of warm water, a glass of water for Chloe.’

‘Some paracetamol?’ he asked.

‘I think we might be a bit beyond paracetamol,’ Ottilie said grimly, ‘but you might as well bring them if you can find them.’

She could hear Heath race down the stairs, and then opening and slamming cupboard doors while she and Stacey got Chloe propped up on her pillows and Ottilie tried to examine her.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said gently. ‘This isn’t very dignified.’

‘I feel sick,’ Stacey said, and Ottilie looked up, holding on to a frown. She’d had a lot to drink and she supposed this was all a bit much, but if anyone had to be strong now for Chloe, it was her mum.

‘All I need you to do,’ Ottilie said, ‘is be there with her. You can do that. Tell me you can do that.’

There was a knock on the open door, and when Ottilie turned to look she could see Heath was there, his face turned away.

‘Do you want to take this stuff from me? I don’t think I ought to be in here.’

Ottilie pulled a sheet down over Chloe’s legs. ‘It’s fine – she’s decent.’

He turned with a look of profound relief as he put the supplies down on the end of the bed.

‘Could I just get some air?’ Stacey asked.

‘A minute,’ Ottilie replied, realising that if Stacey was going to be in any state to help she was going to have to sober up. And though midwifery wasn’t Ottilie’s strong suit, she hadn’t seen anything to make her think that Chloe was going to give birth in the next few minutes. ‘I’ll call you if anything happens.’

‘Where’s Mum going?’ Chloe looked panicked as Stacey left the room. She seemed a bit out of it. Pain and fear could do that, Ottilie supposed.

‘She’ll be back in a minute.’ Ottilie reached for the glass of water still in Heath’s hand and put it up to Chloe’s lips. ‘Take a sip; you’ll feel better.’

Chloe pushed it away. ‘The baby’s coming, isn’t it?’

‘I think so.’

‘It’s too soon.’

‘I think someone needs to tell Baby that,’ Heath said, looking shell-shocked, and despite everything, Ottilie had the sudden urge to laugh at him.

Chloe started to squeal again, grabbing hold of Ottilie’s hand so hard that she had to try hard not to cry out. She gestured for Heath to sit at the top of the bed where Stacey had been.

‘Let her have your hand for a minute.’

Heath looked uncertain, but then Chloe grabbed it anyway. Ottilie could see the nails digging into his flesh, but he made no attempt to move away. At that moment, Ottilie didn’t think she’d ever been prouder of anyone than this man who had no reason to be there, who owed none of them this and yet hadn’t uttered a single word of complaint, not even when someone was trying her best to break all the bones in his hand. There was a beat of silence, something profound passing between them, and he managed a small smile which she managed to return, and her heart gave a skip before settling into its normal rhythm.

‘It’s coming!’ Chloe cried, breaking the moment.

‘I don’t think…’ Ottilie began, but Chloe screeched at her.

‘Yes. It. Is! I want to push!’

‘But you can’t…’

There was no time to worry about Heath’s presence. Doing her best to keep Chloe covered from his viewpoint, she ducked down to check and sucked in a horrified breath.

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