Page 48 of Christmas for the Village Midwife (The Village Midwife #2)

Zoe nodded in thanks as Emilia handed her a glass of water with a straw. She held it up for Georgia to drink. Georgia pushed it away.

‘Have a bit,’ Zoe insisted. ‘You don’t want to be dehydrated.’

‘I don’t want it.’

‘Have some,’ Brett said, and Georgia glared at him.

‘You have it if you’re so bothered!’

Brett looked so shocked that in less stressful circumstances Zoe would have burst out laughing.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘Things will be said and done here that might be a bit out of character. Names…’ she reminded them. ‘We still haven’t thought of a name.’

‘How about Sod Off?’ Georgia shot back, and this time Zoe did laugh.

‘Will that be Sod Off as two words or one? What about a middle name?’

Georgia’s only reply was to let out another howl.

Zoe grabbed a towel to mop her brow. ‘Another one?’ she asked.

Georgia nodded, and Zoe glanced at Emilia.

‘Do you want to examine her again?’ Emilia asked.

‘I think we’re getting close. I could do with checking.’

Emilia went to get the sheet, leaving the vicar to scurry away again. At that same moment, there was a rap on the doors of the church that echoed around the space. One of the church helpers rushed to see who was there.

‘Don’t leave the doors open for long!’ Zoe shouted.

‘It’s nice,’ Georgia said. ‘I like…I’m boiling.’

‘I know. Brett, could you…?’

At Zoe’s bidding, he grabbed the damp cloth and mopped Georgia’s face.

Despite having done this many times before, Zoe was relieved at the prospect of the ambulance arriving.

She could deliver Georgia’s baby, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be glad of some proper equipment to help things along.

A heart monitor, blood pressure monitor, maybe some painkillers…

all of it would help to make her job easier and to make Georgia more comfortable.

Not to mention the reassurance it would give to Brett and everyone else in the church.

Perhaps they had unshakeable faith in Zoe, but she realised she was just one person when many births – in hospital at least – had a team in attendance.

She wasn’t watching the doors as they opened, her attention wholly on Georgia, but had to do a double take when she heard Victor’s voice and turned to see him come in with Billie.

‘What the hell…?’ Alex leaped up from the seat where Zoe had asked him to wait and hurried over. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked Billie. ‘How did you get here? I told you to stay home!’

‘I know, but I wanted to come.’

‘Don’t blame her,’ Victor said. ‘I offered to bring her down.’

Alex looked as if he wanted to have a sharp word with Victor but then seemed to swallow it back. ‘How the hell did you manage that?’

‘Farm vehicles’ll get through most anything.

Leon told me he’d brought you and Zoe down.

Corrine and me went to see if Billie wanted to come and sit with us while you were missing, but she wanted to come here to see if she could help.

Said I could sort it. It’s Christmas, after all – she doesn’t want to be sitting all on her own in that house not knowing what time you might be back. ’

‘I appreciate it,’ Alex said, sounding as if he didn’t really appreciate it one bit. He turned to Billie. ‘There’s not a lot you can do here, though. We’re all just sitting around waiting – it’s Zoe and Brett doing most of the work.’

‘I can make drinks. Or hold stuff. Don’t be annoyed, Dad.’

Alex held his arms out, and Billie stepped in for a hug. ‘I’m not annoyed. I wanted you to be safe, and that’s the reason I asked you to stay at Hilltop, not because I wanted to leave you out.’

‘I was safe. Victor’s really good at driving in the snow.’

‘Either way, you’re here now, so it’s a moot point, isn’t it? Come on,’ he added. ‘Shall we go and see if we can help with drinks or something? We might as well be useful.’

Zoe wasn’t annoyed either, and she tried to let Billie know with a look as they walked past, but she could have done with less of a crowd here.

Or at least, she could have done with the right sort of crowd.

All these people were no use to Georgia and perhaps a bit too distracting.

Not only that, but Billie was very pregnant herself, and it was just another thing for Zoe to worry about.

Having people to chat and make tea was all very well, but what they really needed was those paramedics with all that lovely equipment.

Georgia slapped a hand down on the wood of the balustrade and began to whimper.

‘Another one?’ Zoe asked.

Her reply was a sharp grunt, and her legs almost buckled as she gripped the wood. ‘Bloody hell!’ she wailed. ‘I don’t know how much more I can take!’

‘I know, I know…I think you’re getting close. Do you want some more water?’

‘No! I want to be done!’

‘Sorry, but there’s no hurrying. Baby will come when baby is ready. You’re almost there, and you’re doing so well.’

There was another loud knock on the doors, and this time the vicar opened them to the ambulance team.

Zoe looked to see Emilia race over, filling them in on the situation.

They seemed mildly surprised to see so many people in the church, and Zoe could see why – she’d have been surprised too.

But then, everyone was being so sweet, and they just wanted to help, and knowing that was a reminder of why Zoe was beginning to see Thimblebury as a special place, the likes of which she didn’t believe existed anywhere else.

A few minutes later, she had all the equipment she needed.

It was basic compared to what she’d have in a maternity unit but perfectly adequate for what she hoped would be a trouble-free birth.

Georgia had dilated rapidly over the previous half hour and Zoe was getting her mentally prepared for the big moment.

‘Any time now,’ Zoe said to her. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘You’re seriously asking me that?’

‘Well, yes. What else am I supposed to ask?’

‘Ask me if I want to push.’

‘Do you?’

Georgia nodded. ‘But I don’t know how. I mean, when? How do I know it’s the right moment?’

‘You’ll know.’

‘Argh, that’s such a midwife thing to say! It’s all right for you – you know how this all works!’

‘Technically, but I’ve never given birth, so…that bit is where you’re about to be the expert.’

If there had been time, perhaps Zoe would have reflected on her own words. She’d never given birth, but she’d once looked forward to the prospect. But there wasn’t, and Zoe had more urgent worries.

Georgia wanted to stay on her feet, and Zoe began to guide her as the final stages of her labour began.

The paramedics had erected a proper screen, and they were on hand, but now, as Georgia’s baby finally arrived, she had only Zoe and Brett close by.

There was a moment of uncertain silence, punctuated only by the sound of Georgia’s efforts, and then, a second later, there was a sharp cry, and the baby was in Zoe’s arms.

Her eyes were everywhere, practised, making swift observations as she made the baby safe and warm.

‘You’ve got a boy,’ she said.

‘A boy?’ Brett repeated.

‘He’s all right?’ Georgia asked.

Zoe smiled. ‘Looks perfect to me.’

‘How much does he weigh?’ Brett asked.

Zoe laughed lightly. ‘Give me a minute! He’s only just come out!’

‘Right, yes… sorry.’

‘You’re excited – it’s fine, I get it. You want to text everyone to let them know.’

‘Yeah.’

Georgia took the baby from Zoe and held him close. And then she looked up at Brett. ‘Are you OK?’

‘God!’ he said, tears spilling from his eyes. ‘You’re asking me that? You’ve just had a baby!’

‘I have, haven’t I? We’ve had a baby.’

‘You did the work.’ He leaned to kiss her. ‘You’re brilliant. Amazing. I love you so much.’

‘You mean that?’

‘I’ve never meant it more. I’m so sorry for how I’ve been.

I didn’t realise…seeing him now, our baby, right here…

I want to be better. I’m going to be the dad he needs and the husband you need.

This is it, today, me, turning over a new leaf.

I’ll get a job, quit the booze and it’ll be fine, you’ll see. ’

Zoe watched them. She wanted to believe him. She believed his words had come from a place of good intent, but changes were rarely that straightforward to make. She also believed, however, that his words of love were true, and if there was enough love, anyone could do anything.

‘So,’ she asked. ‘Are we still without a name?’

‘What’s the church called?’ Brett asked.

‘St Cuthbert’s.’

‘Bloody hell, we’re not calling him Cuthbert!’

Zoe laughed. ‘That’s probably for the best. Unless you’re going to send him to school in 1932. Any other ideas?’

Brett looked at Georgia, and she raised her eyebrows. ‘I suppose Miles is still out of the question?’

‘I love you but not that much.’

‘Come on now,’ Zoe said. ‘She’s done all the work. Let her have it.’

‘We’ll have a think,’ Georgia said. ‘Later. Right now, I’ll take that cup of tea if it’s going.’