‘But—’
‘Hang on – we’ll be right up there!’
15
‘It might be those practice contractions, right?’ Billie paced up and down the kitchen as Alex raced to collect the hospital bag she’d packed only the day before, at Zoe’s insistence, from her bedroom.
‘You’ve been having them for a couple of weeks now,’ Zoe said. ‘So you’d know if they were the same, wouldn’t you? These are different, aren’t they?’
‘I think so. I’m not sure. I thought they were, but now…’
‘You wouldn’t have phoned if you didn’t think they were different.’
‘But what if I’m wrong and we go to the hospital for nothing?’
‘Billie…’ Zoe put an arm around her and pulled her close. ‘There’s no point in being in denial. If it’s time, then it’s time. I’m going to examine you before we go, but I think we both know that you know really. Trust your gut.’
Billie gave a faint nod. ‘You’re right. I don’t know why I was saying that. Zoe…’
‘Yes?’
‘I’m a bit…is it OK to be scared? Is that how everyone is? I mean, you see this all the time, right?’
‘I’ve never done it, though. If I ever do, I’m sure I’ll be scared too. It doesn’t matter how many births I’ve seen because seeing it and doing it are not the same. You have no clue what to expect – it’s natural you’re going to be nervous, and completely normal.’
‘I’m sorry you had to come back. Was the wedding nice?’
‘Lovely. A bit crazy, though.’ Zoe was about to elaborate when Billie’s expression became a grimace and she clutched at her belly. ‘Never mind that now,’ she said briskly. ‘Let’s take a look at you. Can you make it up to your bedroom so we can have a bit of privacy?’
Billie nodded. ‘I think so.’
But then Zoe decided she wasn’t so sure.
She called out to Alex. ‘Give us a minute in here? I have to take a look at Billie – I’ll call when we’re done!’
Alex’s reply was mostly muffled as it came from upstairs, but Zoe got the gist. She spread a towel onto the sofa and indicated that Billie should get comfortable on there.
A few minutes later, she completed her checks with a grin. ‘You’re going to have a baby, and I think we ought to get on the road ASAP. How long did you hang on before you called us?’
‘I don’t know…I didn’t like to disturb the service.’
Zoe tried not to roll her eyes. ‘It’s all academic now – we are where we are. Alex! You can come down now! We need to go!’
Alex returned with a bulging overnight bag. Zoe could see he was trying to stay calm for Billie’s sake, but inside he was obviously as nervous as she was. ‘Ready?’
Billie nodded. As Alex went out with her bag, she turned to Zoe. ‘You don’t mind that I’m having the baby at the hospital, do you? And not here?’
‘God, no!’ Zoe offered her most reassuring smile, supporting Billie as she led her to the door. ‘We’ve got time for the drive, and I’d much rather you were there! I’m only too happy to helpdeliver, but this is your first, so I’m also happy to have a team around us and lots of hospital equipment. Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you. In fact, I’ll let you into a secret…’
‘What?’
‘I was scared you’d ask me for a home birth. Given who you are to me now, there would have been a lot of pressure on me to get every call right. I mean, there always is, but imagine how much worse it would have been!’
‘I never thought of that.’
‘Trust me, I did. Come on then – I imagine your dad’s getting impatient waiting at the car for us. We’d better go and have this baby!’
‘Unbelievable!’ Alex thumped his fist onto the car horn. ‘All the time we’ve lived here, I’ve never seen one single sheep anywhere near the road, and I was actually kind of disappointed…But the minute we need to get somewhere…A whole bloody flock of them! Right in the way.’
