‘Hans left me some bread and jam before he went to work but I haven’t felt much like eating.’ Ursula settled on to the cushions with Clara’s assistance. ‘He said he’d try to come home early, but you know how it is.’
Clara nodded, though privately she hoped Herr Müller would return soon. First babies could be unpredictable, and given Ursula’s history, she much preferred having the father there for support and to help with any decisions that might need to be made.
‘You should try to eat, even if it’s something small. You need to keep your energy levels up,’ said Clara. As she rose from kneeling on the floor beside Ursula, a wave of dizziness hit her and she had to sit quickly on the chair, dropping her head down.
‘Clara! Are you all right?’ Ursula’s voice was full of concern.
Clara lifted her head. ‘Yes. I’m fine. Sorry.’
‘You’re not fine. You looked like you were going to faint.’ Ursula got to her feet and brought over a glass of water. ‘Should I call the clinic? A doctor, for you?’
Clara shook her head. ‘No. I don’t need a doctor.’ She took the glass from Ursula and sipped it. ‘Thank you. I just got up a bit too quickly.’
‘I used to be like that when I was first pregnant,’ said Ursula. ‘Light-headed.’ She stopped speaking and looked at Clara with sudden understanding.
Clara watched the realisation settle on Ursula’s face. Then the German woman smiled at her, her eyebrows lifting questioningly. Clara nodded slowly. ‘Yes. I believe I’m pregnant.’
‘How wonderful,’ exclaimed Ursula. She hugged Clara gently, as if embracing something precious and delicate. ‘Congratulations.’
Clara was both surprised and heartened by the display of affection. She couldn’t help laughing. ‘Thank you. But I haven’t told anyone yet. I haven’t even told my husband. I want to be sure first.’
Ursula stood up and winced as a contraction tightened across her. Clara jumped to her feet and insisted Ursula sit back down.
‘We both should sit down,’ said Ursula. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘There it’s gone. Just a short one. Now, please, Clara, sit down.’
Clara sat next to Ursula. ‘I am fine, I promise.’
‘So, how far do you think you are?’
‘Very early days. About two months. I want to wait a bit longer to tell Friedrich.’ She smiled at the thought. ‘I didn’t think it would happen. He will be thrilled.’
‘I’m very happy for you,’ said Ursula. ‘We shall both be mothers at the same time.’ Her face dropped as she turned her gaze to the window. ‘Although, I do worry what sort of world we are bringing children into.’
Clara reached over and squeezed Ursula’s hand. ‘Then it’s up to us to make it better for them, isn’t it? To protect them however we can.’
Ursula’s eyes glistened with tears. She placed her free hand over her stomach. ‘Our children deserve a world where they are safe.’
‘Where all children are safe,’ Clara said quietly.
Ursula nodded. ‘All children,’ she whispered.
The afternoon stretched on with a steady rhythm. Clara prepared the bedroom upstairs where ultimately Ursula wanted to give birth but didn’t as yet want to be confined to the room. Clara encouraged Ursula to walk around when she felt able, supporting her around the living room during the milder contractions. Between the waves of pain, they talked quietly about simple things, such as the weather, Kaiser’s amusing habits, Ursula’s hopes for the baby.
‘Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?’ Ursula asked during one of the calmer moments, stroking her belly tenderly.
‘What does your heart tell you?’ Clara smiled, checking her watch again. The contractions were now coming every seven minutes, lasting nearly a minute each time.
‘A girl, I think. Hans wants a son, naturally, but I dream of braiding a little girl’s hair, teaching her to play the piano .?.?.’ Ursula’s voice trailed off as another contraction began building. She reached for Clara’s hand, gripping it tightly.
‘Breathe through it,’ Clara coached gently. ‘In through your nose, that’s it, and out slowly through your mouth.’
As the afternoon wore on, Clara noticed the subtle changes that meant labour was progressing. Ursula’s face grew more focused, more inward looking. Her jokes became fewer, her movements more deliberate. Clara prepared hot water and her instruments all the while keeping up a steady stream of reassuring conversation.
‘The baby’s head is engaged properly,’ she told Ursula after another examination. ‘Everything is progressing beautifully.
It was nearly six o’clock when they heard the key in the front door. Kaiser immediately began barking, his tail wagging furiously.
‘Hans!’ Ursula called out, relief evident in her voice.
