Page 101 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
She took one side and Brett the other, and they led Georgia back to her previous perch.
‘Floor’s nice,’ Georgia said.
Zoe glanced down to see she was barefooted. ‘Cold?’ she asked.
‘Hmm. Lovely.’
‘Shouldn’t she lie down?’ Brett asked. ‘Will the baby come soon?’
‘Not for a bit. Gravity will be her friend for now. It’ll help speed things along, and standing up is clearly less painful for her. If she wants to give birth standing up, then it might also be easier on her.’
Brett’s eyes were wide in disbelief.
‘Did you miss that bit in the antenatal classes?’ Zoe asked wryly.
‘I didn’t…I didn’t go to all of them,’ he said. ‘I should have done, I know.’
‘You went to one,’ Georgia said.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘You didn’t want the baby.’
‘Of course I did! It was only…the timing…’ he finished lamely.
Zoe rubbed Georgia’s back. ‘Do you want anything? A sip of water? A damp flannel? Anything at all?’
‘I want this to be over. Can you get me that?’
‘We’ll get to it, don’t worry. It’s hard, but you’ll have to be patient. Before you know it, you’ll be done, and you’ll have a beautiful baby in your arms. Did you decide on that name?’
‘Not really.’
‘All bets are off now, aren’t they?’ Brett said. ‘Christmas Eve, in a church… It’s got to be something fitting, hasn’t it? I’ll have to think of something that suits. Like Noel? Or Holly?’
‘A bit predictable, though?’ Zoe asked, driving to keep the discussion going to take Georgia’s mind off her pain. ‘Surely you can do better than that between you. How about something biblical?’
‘Hannah…’
There was a shout from across the space, and they were reminded that they weren’t quite alone.
‘Why Hannah?’ Zoe asked.
The vicar got up and walked over with an apologetic smile.
‘Sorry to butt in,’ he said. ‘Only I rather like the name. I had two boys, you see, no need of it. Hannah means gift from God. It seems right, doesn’t it? For a baby born in His house.’
‘As long as it’s not a boy,’ Brett said. ‘Got any thoughts on that eventuality?’
Georgia let out a growl of pain. ‘It’s getting worse!’ she cried. ‘Where are those drugs?’
‘They’re on their way,’ Emilia said. ‘They’ll be here soon.’
Georgia shook her head desperately. ‘I don’t think I can hang on…’
‘You can,’ Zoe said patiently. ‘Don’t forget your breathing. Was that a contraction?’
Georgia nodded, and Zoe checked her watch.
