Page 41 of Christmas Games
‘Not even a lowly stable?’ Rory asked.
Clive sighed theatrically. ‘Well, I suppose you could use it as long as you stay out of the way of the oxen. It’s back down yonder high street in the community centre.’
‘Thank you,’ Rory replied. ‘We shall travel there forthwith.’
He turned the cows in a slow circle and they started back down the road.
Zoe closed her eyes. She couldn’t take anything else in. Shewas vaguely aware of singing and laughing, and Bandit licking her hand, but most of her concentration was taken up in preparing for the battering waves of agony that relentlessly assaulted her. She was lost in a turbulent sea of pain that crashed through without mercy.
‘Behold!’ yelled Brad into his megaphone.
Zoe opened her eyes. In front of them, at the end of a small car park, was the entrance to the community centre. A large sign above the door read ‘LOWLY STABLE’, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood to the side. The crowds fell silent as the choir sang ‘Oh Tannenbaum’.
Another contraction slammed into her, and she screamed.
‘Zoe?’ Rory dropped the halter holding the cows and rushed to the side of the carriage. ‘What’s wrong?’
She panted, unable to get any words out, her eyes scrunched closed.
The carriage lurched forwards.
Bandit barked loudly.
Zoe opened her eyes to see the cows heading straight for the tree.
Rory leapt up next to her. ‘What’s happening? Is it the baby?’
There was a crash, and the carriage stopped with a jolt. The cows had knocked the tree over and were investigating the decorations.
‘Let’s get you inside,’ Rory said, then lifted her out of the carriage and carried her into the building.
Zoe could hear Bandit snarling and growling at the door, preventing anyone from following them.
The community centre was small and had only one main room, which had been decorated to look like a stable, with loose straw and bales on the floor.
Rory placed her gently onto a bale and she fell forwardonto her hands and knees, circling her hips and lowing like a cow.
‘Is this labour?’
She nodded, her whole body undulating with pain.
‘Fuck! Hang on. I’ll go get help.’
Her hand shot out to grip his wrist. ‘Don’t. Leave. Me,’ she panted.
‘But—’
She dug her nails into his arm.
‘Okay. I won’t leave. I promise. What can I do?’
‘Need. Pyjamas. Off,’ she managed.
‘Someone call an ambulance!’ Rory shouted. ‘I think she’s having the baby!’
Zoe clung to him as he held her up and tugged off her pyjama bottoms. Her body had been completely taken over by labour, and all she could do was hang on for dear life as the pain moved down in waves.
In the background, she could just about make out people yelling her name and Bandit barking and growling.
