Page 34 of Lessons in Love at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘Hmm, last time I did that, she told me to be upfront and just ask the guy what it was he was looking for.’ Amy was already laughing.

‘Dare I ask what he was looking for?’ Gary raised his eyebrows.

‘Someone to call mummy.’ Aidan was laughing so much as he interjected, that Wendy wasn’t sure she’d heard him right.

‘Please tell me you’re joking.’

‘I wish he was.’ Amy shook her head. ‘What makes it worse is that he was nearly ten years older than me, and somehow he still saw me as a mother figure. I need to get rid of this hairstyle, because it’s clearly making me look old before my time. Although I’m beginning to think I should give up on dating altogether and just get more dogs.’

‘More dogs are never a bad thing.’ Isla put an arm around her friend’s waist. ‘But if you decide you want to find someone, you will, and they’ll be incredibly lucky that they get to be in your life. Just look at Lijah, he’s still pining for you after all these years.’

‘Is that what you want?’ Wendy looked at Amy as she waited for her to respond. When she’d first split from Mike, some of her friends had assumed that all she wanted to do was replace her ex with another man, someone to become the new permanent fixture in her life, and that would somehow make everything okay. It was as if being in a relationship was the only goal in life, but back then tying herself to another man who might well turn out to be just like her husband had been unthinkable. Her decision to date had been more of a knee-jerk reaction to the way Mike had made her feel, rather than a desperate need to find a partner and she hadn’t expected to ever want to livewith another man, let alone marry one. Meeting Gary again, and discovering that she felt just as strongly about him as she had in her teens, had been an unexpected surprise. But, as much as she loved him and as grateful as she was to him for the part he’d played in rebuilding her self-esteem, her relationship with Gary still didn’t define Wendy, and she’d never go back to allowing her self-worth to be measured by the man she was with. It was why her job, her family, and her friends were all so important to her. And she didn’t want Amy to feel like being with someone was the only thing that mattered either.

‘I guess so, but I’m telling myself if it’s meant to happen it will.’ Amy grinned again. ‘I thought I might be in with a shot of being yours and Gary’s daughter-in-law one day, when he introduced me to his son. But it looks like Drew’s hitting it off with Chloe.’

Wendy looked towards where Chloe and Drew were chatting animatedly. She was laughing at something he’d said, and she looked happier than she had since before she’d lost Beau. Wendy didn’t think for a moment that anything would come of it; Drew was a lovely lad and the whole family had gone above and beyond to make Chloe feel welcome. But whatever it was that was making her smile, Wendy was just glad to see it. Mike had been responsible for so much pain over the years, and Chloe deserved to find true happiness, whether that was with someone else, or because she realised it was every bit as possible to love being single. Either way, Wendy just hoped that Chloe knew she had a family now, and that she didn’t need to settle for anything less than the best, if she did eventually embark upon another relationship.

20

During one of Danni’s antenatal classes, the discussion had got around to how many of the women were planning to have their mother in the delivery room, as well as their partner. There was a mixture of responses, with around half saying they would have their mother there, and one woman who was intending to have both her parents with her. It had been another moment when Danni’s heart had contracted, and that familiar emptiness had threatened to swallow her from the inside out. But then Charlie had reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly, as if to remind her that he was there and that she didn’t really need anyone else. She might notneedanyone else, but the conversation with the other expectant parents had made her realise she wanted them.

On the way home, she’d asked Charlie if he minded Esther being at the birth. Maybe she should have felt odd about her best friend seeing parts of her that even the closest of friends didn’t usually get to see, but they were both medically trained and there wasn’t much that fazed them. Charlie had said he was happy as long as she was, and she’d asked Esther if she wanted to be there. It still made her smile when she thought about her friend’s reaction: she’d run around whooping like she’d won thelottery. And it clearly meant every bit as much to her to be there, as it did to Danni. The only thing that worried her after that was that no one in the room, other than possibly her midwife, would actually know what it was like to give birth. So when she’d discovered that she could have a third person, at the discretion of her midwife, Danni had known she wanted to fill that gap.

She’d considered asking Caroline, who’d been so much like a mother to her. But she hadn’t wanted to take that moment away from Esther, who would no doubt want her mother with her when the time came for her and Joe to have a baby. Someone else had immediately sprung to mind, though. Who better to have with her, than a friend who not only had children of her own, but who also had almost five decades’ experience as a midwife, not to mention the fact that she was a mother figure to almost all the staff at the hospital. Having Gwen there also allowed Danni to avoid having to choose between her two mothers-in-law. Charlie was so lucky to have two loving mums, but it would have hurt Connie or Gilly if one of them had been left out, and Danni wasn’t entirely sure she’d have felt comfortable with either of them being there. At least this way all four parents on Charlie’s side could start their lives as grandparents on an equal footing. They’d all be in the baby’s life from day one, and it would be like a fresh start for Connie and Richard.

When the labour pains first started, Danni had grimaced, telling a concerned Charlie that it was probably just Braxton Hicks, the practice contractions she’d been having for almost four weeks. Maggie had known before she did that something more serious was happening. As she’d rested her head on Danni’s lap, as was her habit, and looked up at her with the big soulful eyes that said more than words ever could, Danni had been forced to acknowledge that this pain was different. Itsuddenly felt as though it was gripping her insides in a vice, and she knew these weren’t practice contractions any more.

‘Charlie,’ Danni had called out to him, concentrating on keeping her voice as level as she could, even as the wave of pain continued to build, ‘I think the baby’s coming.’

She’d never doubted that Charlie would rise to the occasion, and his actions had been urgent and calm all at the same time. He’d got her into the car, making sure that her carefully packed bags weren’t left behind, and he’d proceeded to call everyone they’d promised to let know, while they were en route to the hospital. Esther and Gwen had both said they’d head straight to St Piran’s, and Connie and Richard would come over to collect Maggie and Brenda. Thankfully the baby had decided to hold off until a week after his aunt and uncle had returned from their honeymoon. He was going to be a little bit early, but not drastically so, and there was no reason why he wouldn’t be leaving hospital with his mum a few hours after delivery, as long as everything went according to plan.

‘Can you believe this is it?’ Charlie had gripped her hand when they arrived at the hospital and she’d nodded.

‘It feels like the moment I’ve always been waiting for.’ She’d kissed him then, before drawing in the longest breath and readying herself to start the next phase of her life, as a mother. Now here they were, in the labour room – six hours, and what felt like half a lifetime, later – and it finally looked as though that moment was about to come.

‘You’re doing so well, Danni, you just need to carry on with what you’ve been doing and listen to your body when you get that next contraction. Just a few more and you’ll get to meet your little boy.’ Jess was such a reassuring presence as a midwife, and Danni had been so grateful that she’d gone into labour while she was near the start of her shift. Danni hadn’t felt the need for an epidural, and although she’d tried the gas and air it hadmade her feel spaced out and horribly sick. Jess had said there were other painkilling options she could try, but she’d decided to hold off until she got to a point when the pain was too much. She was almost certain she’d have reached that stage already if it hadn’t been for Jess encouraging her about how well things were progressing, and making her believe she could do it. Charlie, Esther and Gwen were all still there too. The plan had been that Gwen would leave when Danni got this close to delivery, but it had turned out to be a very busy day in the maternity unit, and Jess seemed grateful for the additional support that her former colleague and old friend could offer. Danni had wanted her to stay too, knowing that there were no better hands she could have been in. Gwen had done everything Danni could have wished for if she really had been her mother, from whispering words of encouragement, to tracking down iced water from somewhere when Danni got so hot it had felt as if she might pass out.

‘Oh Dan, you’re so brilliant, I can’t believe you’re about to become a mum.’ Esther was already crying, and the baby hadn’t even put in an appearance yet.

‘Are you sure this is not going to put you off for life? Some people have said it’s worse watching it than going through it.’ Danni was getting close to exhaustion, but she still managed to raise a smile at the expression that crossed Gwen’s face.

‘Oh yes and I bet they were all men.’ Gwen gave Charlie a pointed look, as if it was his fault that his fellow men had dared make that kind of comment. ‘Let them try passing a golf ball, or an avocado, down their urethra, and then they can say what’s worse.’

‘To be fair, that probably would be quite traumatising to watch!’ Esther laughed. ‘But this has been nothing but magical to be a part of, and I’m so honoured you’ve allowed me to be here.’

‘I think she was worried I wouldn’t cope on my own.’ Charlie dropped a kiss on to Danni’s forehead as he spoke. ‘I’ve always known you are the stronger of the two of us, Dan, but watching you today has taken my breath away.’

‘Thousands of women do it every day and I’m just—’ She couldn’t finish the sentence, gritting her teeth as another contraction took hold, and dropping her chin to her chest to focus all her energy on pushing, as Charlie held her hand.

‘That’s it, Danni, the baby’s head is crowning, keeping going like that.’ Jess’s words tapped into a source of energy Danni didn’t even know she had, and a sound filled the room that she would have sworn hadn’t come from her, even though it must have done.

‘Oh Dan, his head is out, he’s here.’ Charlie’s eyes were shining as he looked at her, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her, but she had to keep going.

‘There’s another contraction coming.’ Danni clenched her jaw, ready to get this baby out, but Jess put a hand on her leg.

‘Okay sweetheart, I want you to try not to push. Blow out through your mouth in short breaths when the pain comes, and let your body do the rest.’ Jess’s tone was calm and she made it all sound so easy.

‘That’s it, you’re doing great.’ Gwen was her cheerleader on the opposite side of the bed to Charlie. ‘Taking this bit nice and slowly is best for your body; it allows the muscles to stretch. Just keep breathing exactly the way you are.’

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