Page 77 of The Pearl Sister
‘Leave her!’ Kitty had shouted, as Camira hummed under her breath and rubbed Kitty’s back.
Andrew shrugged his shoulders at the doctor and nodded. After a fast examination, Dr Blick told her there was plenty of time to go and that she was to call if she needed him. Then he left the room. So it was Camira who encouraged her to stand up, to pace the floor ‘and walka the baby outta there, as I singa it here’.
At four in the morning, the clouds finally burst and the rain started to pelt on the tin roof.
‘He’s-a coming, he’s-a coming, Missus Boss, very soon now . . . dunna you worry.’
And as the lightning flashed above them, illuminating the garden outside and Camira’s trance-like expression, with a huge push and a crash of thunder, Kitty’s baby arrived into the world.
Kitty lay there, unable to do anything but pant with relief that the pain was over. She raised her head to see her baby, but instead saw Camira between her legs, biting on something.
‘What are you doing?’ she whispered hoarsely.
‘I’m-a settin’ him free, Missus Boss. Here.’ She swept the baby up in her arms, turned it upside down on her palm and slapped its bottom hard. At this indignity, the baby gave out a loud shriek and started to cry.
‘Here now, Missus Boss. Holdum your baby. I get docta fella.’ Then she stroked Kitty’s forehead. ‘He big strong boy. You clever woman.’
And with that, she left the room.
Dr Blick, who had obviously been sleeping off last night’s entertainment in the drawing room, staggered through the door.
‘Good Lord! That was a fast labour,’ he commented, as he tried to wrestle the baby out of Kitty’s arms.
‘He is well, Doctor, and I wish him to stay with me.’
‘But I must check him over. It is a “he”?’
‘Yes, and he is perfect.’
‘Then I shall tidy you up down below.’
She watched as Dr Blick lifted the clean sheet that Camira had placed over her.
‘Well now, I see there’s no need.’ Dr Blick had the grace to blush as he realised he’d slept through the entire event.
‘Would you ask my husband to come in to see his son?’
‘Of course, dear lady. I am glad for all that it was such a smooth and fast process.’
Yes, it was, because Camira was here and you were not,thought Kitty.
As Andrew entered the bedroom, Kitty thanked all of the stars in the sky that Camira had returned to her.
Broome, Western Australia
December 1911
16
‘My dear, I need to discuss something with you,’ said Andrew, folding his copy of theNorthern Timesand putting it neatly by his breakfast plate.
‘And what might that be?’
‘Father wants me to sail to Singapore in the new year, and from there travel with him to Europe. He wishes me to meet his contacts in Germany, France and London, because he has finally had enough of travelling and wants me to take over the sales side of the pearls too. We will be away for nearly three months. I had thought of asking you to accompany me, but it will be an arduous trip at that time of year when the seas are so rough. Especially for a child not yet four years old. I presume you wouldn’t be prepared to leave Charlie behind with Camira?’
‘Good Lord, no!’ replied Kitty. Charlie was the sun in her morning and her moon at night. She missed him after an hour, let alone three months. ‘Are you sure he couldn’t come with us?’
‘As you know yourself, life on board ship can be dull and unpleasant. We shall not be stopping at any port for longer than a day or two. I must be back by the end of March for the start of the new season.’
