Page 61 of Prognosis Temporary

Callie gripped Ginny’s hand hard. ‘It. Will. Be. Fine.’ She let go of the hand. ‘Now, let’s meet this little girl who’s in such a hurry.’

Ginny’s face screwed up as the contraction intensified. ‘Oh, God,’ she groaned, gripping the backs of her thighs.

The wail of a distant ambulance siren penetrated the intense little circle. ‘Hear that?’ Sebastian said. ‘The cavalry are almost here.’

Callie would have cheered out loud had she not been totally focused on the action. Ginny’s loud prolonged bellow combined with the agitated trampling of her feet against the lounge cushions heralded the fully crowned head, which popped out completely in a matter of seconds.

The sight took Callie’s breath away. It was a miracle. A beautiful, amazing miracle.

Ginny collapsed back against Sebastian with a loud ‘Oof.’ She sucked in a couple of gasping breaths, recovering from the mammoth effort. ‘Is it out? Is it out?’ she asked frantically, reaching down to feel.

‘Yes,’ Callie said, watching as Ginny’s hand ran over the contours of her baby’s head.

Ginny started to cry again and tears filled Callie’s eyes at the reverence of Ginny’s touch.

The front door banged. ‘Ginny?’

Ginny rallied instantly. ‘He made it,’ she said to no one in particular. ‘Brad? Brad! In here.’

Brad strode into the room and threw himself down beside the couch. ‘Oh, my God,’ he whispered as he gazed down at his daughter’s head. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, pressing kisses to Ginny’s face.

Ginny half laughed, half choked on a sob. ‘I’m better now.’

Callie averted her gaze from what should have been a private moment between a husband and wife sharing one of the most intimate things it was possible to share and reverted to nurse mode.

The baby’s head was out. The shoulders came next. But what did she do while they waited for the next contraction?

Cord.Check for the cord.

With her heart rate rocketing and no idea what she was doing, she inserted a finger, feeling for the neck. When it came into contact with something rope-like she almost had a heart attack.

No, no, no.

Her head snapped up, her gaze colliding with Sebastian’s. ‘What?’ he mouthed.

‘Cord,’ she mouthed back.

‘Okay,’ he said quietly and calmly but Callie could see the reflection of her own concern in his peridot eyes. ‘You’ll be fine.’

Would she? She was a mental health nurse, not a midwife. Or a magician. She sucked in a calming breath pleased that Ginny and Brad were too wrapped up in each other to be paying them too much attention. She’d seen a delivery that had involved the cord being wrapped around the neck. The midwife had very calmly slipped the cord over the baby’s head before the shoulders were delivered.

She looked at Sebastian and he gave her another encouraging nod. His confidence in her gave her the boost she needed. With her heartbeat sounding almost as loud in her ears as the nearby squealing siren she took a deep breath and with a trembling hand she felt for the cord again, running her finger along it.

It appeared to be wrapped only once and didn’t seem to be too tight. She manoeuvred her finger under it and slowly worked it loose enough to pull it up and over the baby’s head. She closed her eyes briefly as the success of the procedure sank in.

She opened them again, her gaze seeking Sebastian’s. His smile lifted her heart and she smiled back.

‘Okay, Ginny, let’s not wait till the next contraction.’ Callie had no idea if the baby would be compromised because of the cord problem but she didn’t want to delay in case. ‘Let’s get this baby out, okay?’

‘I can push?’ she asked.

Callie nodded. ‘With all your might.’

Ginny looked at Brad. He kissed her head. ‘Hold my hand, babe, you can do this.’

So with Sebastian supporting her from behind and Brad holding her hand, Ginny’s shut her eyes, screwed up her face and bore down, bellowing loudly as the baby was completely expelled from her body in one smooth, slippery movement.

Ginny was crying as she slumped back against Sebastian. Brad was pressing kisses to her temple, saying, ‘You did it, you did it.’

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