The Midwife's New-Found... Page 9

Tammy frowned as if the reality of it had only just occurred to her. 'I would have been an orphan.'

  Misty smiled. 'I'm glad you're not.'

  Tammy finally smiled back with a genuine smile. 'So am I. He's not perfect but, you know, neither am I.'

  Misty picked up the last article of clothing off the floor. 'None of us are,' she said dryly. 'You know your dad wants to spend more time with you and get to know you again. He's just got to learn how.'

  Tammy paused as she closed a drawer. 'Does he? Or does he want to get to know you more?'

  Misty stared at the back of Tammy's head. 'Maybe he wants to know both of us. But you'll always be special to him because you're his daughter.'

  Tammy turned to face her. 'But I'm not really, am I? And if I wasn't pregnant, I'd still be at school.'

  Misty finally felt she could see Tammy's unhappiness. 'You can't wipe twelve years of parenting out with a blood test. Of course you're his daughter. I think he's secretly glad to have you to himself.' She looked around and realised they'd finished tidying up. 'Let's have something to eat before I have to go to work.'

  Ben had left an hour ago. Louisa was missing in action but the table was set and the breakfast room was empty except for them.

  'What have you planned for today, Tammy?' Misty said, as she poured her juice. The young woman had pushed her sweater sleeves up her arms and already she was fiddling with the neckline because of the heat.

  'Nothing.' Tammy grimaced. 'I hate this heat.'

  Misty didn't comment on that yet! 'Well, so far I have no one in labour and we have a working bee happening at the unit today.'

  Tammy didn't say anything and Misty went on, 'Some of the women from the community are coming and I've asked Emma to come in today to help me. Your dad mentioned Emma, didn't he? She's nineteen and her baby is two years old now.'

  Misty waited but Tammy still didn't say anything. 'We're opening a day room, somewhere the women can sit, if they want to, and chat. It's a great opportunity for you and Emma to get to know each other better. Why don't you come and help?'

  Tammy shrugged. 'What can I do to help? I'm pregnant.'

  Misty glanced at Tammy's big belly. 'I can see that. It gets boring towards the end, doesn't it?'

  Tammy pulled a face. 'You bet.'

  'Well, because you're pregnant, you could give us ideas about what's comfortable and what's not. Your input into what you think would make pregnant ladies feel better would be great. And you could meet Emma's daughter, Grace, who's a real delight. Get used to handling little children.'

  Tammy looked up and finally a glimmer of interest showed. Misty had hopes she was getting through to her.

  'The birth centre is where you'll have your baby and it's always good to get to know the place, rather than turning up in labour there for the first time.'

  Tammy looked at Misty and then she frowned. 'Why are you being so kind to me?'

  Misty buttered her toast. 'Can't I be? I thought I was asking you to be kind to me.' She took a bite of her toast and left Tammy to decide.

  Tammy mulled it over and finally a shy smile appeared. 'If you really think I could help?'

  Misty nodded. 'I do. That's excellent. You're the perfect person for the job. On one condition.'

  Tammy's eyes narrowed as if she'd known it was a trick. 'What?' Distrust was back in full force in her voice.

  Misty shrugged apologetically. 'You have to take your jumper off. Honestly, you make me perspire just looking at you.'

  To Misty's relief Tammy laughed, and it was a genuine one. 'OK. Gladly. I'm so over being hot.'

  Tammy pulled the sweater over her head then and there and she and Misty both giggled as she draped it over a chair with a sigh of relief.

  They both contemplated Tammy's stomach. 'You have a really neat tummy, you know.'

  'Yeah. I'm getting used to it.'

  * * *

  An hour later at the centre, Misty looked at Montana, drinking tea at the desk, and the few chairs they had. There would be more women coming. The buzz of excitement promised a productive day.

  Misty gazed at the small crowd. 'We may as well do a clinic while we're all here. I think I'll ring Sue and Sara and then they can ring other clients if they want to.'

  She turned to Montana. 'It'll be great when we have a women's waiting area to use in early labour. They can relax and chat and it would give us somewhere to meet and we can all sit together.'

  Montana nodded. 'Maybe we could hold the antenatal education there instead of the school hall. Make it child friendly.'

  Misty thought of Ben and grinned. 'The Women Friendly Centre.'

  Montana smiled and stood up. She rubbed her back. 'I need to walk. I'll pop over to Matron and see what else she has for us. There's furniture in storage from when we cleared this room that we could use, but I don't know how comfortable it is. The orderly and one of the gardeners would be happy to help move it.'

  Misty could feel the excitement. This was a good idea.

  Twenty minutes later Matron sent over two cleaning staff to help spruce the room and a water cooler she had in her office.

  Louisa arrived and donated two squashy beanbag seats left by a past guest of the residence, plus a huge basket of fabric and threads and patchwork magazines.

  Gradually there was purpose and comfort and direction in the room as the women began to plan quilts to cover lounges and use as throws.

  Tammy started off keeping her distance but was soon found entertaining the toddlers that had begun to collect at their mothers' skirts.

  When Emma arrived with her daughter the two young women drew together naturally, and Misty sighed with relief to see Tammy look even more comfortable.

  Women brought cushions and plants, paintings, and rugs to throw over vinyl hospital lounge chairs. Children's toys arrived from the tiny old children's ward that had closed down and the hospital gardener brought two glorious tubs of petunias to put on a stand outside the window.

  Suddenly it was a beautiful room, with women quietly quilting, and at one point Misty looked across and Tammy had Emma's Grace tucked into her shoulder asleep. The look of wonder on Tammy's face did more to reassure Misty that all would be well than anything else could have.

  Tammy would be fine. By lunch the old annexe had turned into a comfy day room and the hospital kitchen had sent up trays of sandwiches to accompany the tea Tammy and a couple of others began to make in potfuls.

  On his lunch-break Ben walked into the new day room and saw what Misty and the women had achieved. Then he saw his daughter, smiling and at ease with other pregnant women, and saw that for the first time in public she had shed her heavy pullover and dressed in a spotted maternity blouse that made her look very young and pretty.

  How had Misty achieved so much when he hadn't been able to? Ever since her mother's death he and Tammy hadn't regained their closeness. Not only did he feel he'd failed her mother but that he'd failed Tammy, too.

  Now Misty was doing what he couldn't. Communicating with his daughter and bringing a smile to her face. She'd broken through Tammy's reserves. And his.

  But after Tammy's baby was born they'd have to move on. What would happen then? The pressure would be on because he couldn't fail his grandchild as well.

  Misty saw Ben hesitate at the door. She saw the way his eyes flickered over his daughter and the look of pain he tried to hide. What were his demons? She wished she knew because he should be counting his blessings, not rueing his past.

  He looked up at her and smiled and his pleasure seemed to wrap around Misty like a hug. Suddenly he was the only person she could see in the room. Just a smile and he had her.

  Ben crossed the room to her and took her hand in his. 'Thank you, Misty. It's great to see Tammy out of her jumper and looking so at ease.'

  Misty looked across at his daughter. 'Tammy's been a wonderful help and has hit it off with Emma. I'm really pleased about that.'

  Ben squeezed her hand once more and she looked down at their fin
gers, entwined in front of everyone in the room. She returned the pressure before she eased herself free.

  'So am I,' Ben said. 'I really appreciate your help, Misty. I was at my wits' end.'

  When Misty looked up she saw Tammy's face and the frozen look his daughter wore hinted that all the good work they'd achieved this morning had just been undone by Ben's attention to her.

  Unintentional it may have been, but it was the last thing either of them would have wanted.

  * * *

  By three o'clock people started to drift away to gather children from school, but the sense of community from their achievement thrilled them immensely.

  Tammy had returned to the residence not long after Ben's visit and Misty looked around at the almost empty room and realised that Montana was missing.

  She circled the unit and finally found her friend staring out the window of the bedroom. 'Hello, there. You OK?'

  Montana turned to face her. 'It's time. I think you need to call Andy. My contractions have started.'

  Misty had wondered how she would feel at this moment, because Montana's last birth had been over in less than an hour and it was her job to keep her friend safe, but she felt calm and focussed, thankfully.

  Montana was a month early but she'd been the same with Dawn. She would be fine but Andy had better get there quick. 'I'll ring him now.' She paused and looked back at her friend. 'Do you feel well?'

  'Perfect. Excited but worried Andy won't get here. Tell him to hurry. Safely.'

  Misty had checked Montana antenatally that morning and her baby had been positioned perfectly for birth, with a wonderfully reassuring heartbeat.

  Misty picked up the Doppler for a quick listen and the baby's heartbeat filled the room until both women smiled at each other.

  'Just to hear my baby makes me feel calmer,' Montana said, then she grimaced as the next contraction arrived. 'I'll stand in the shower while the bath fills up.'

  'I'll ring Andy.' Misty went through the doorway and ran chest to chest into Ben, coming the other way.

  'Whoa, there.' Ben put his arms up to stop her falling and he couldn't help enjoying the firmness of her arms as he forced his hands to let go.

  Memories rushed in to remind him how she would feel, could feel, if he could just get past the frustrating barriers she'd erected. His hands tingled and his brain felt fogged from just that contact. It was ridiculous what this woman did to him.

  Her clear green eyes stared straight into his and her sharp words shattered his daydreams. 'I don't have time for this, Ben.'

  Ben stepped back. 'Sorry.' He held up his hands as if to say, See, I let you go. 'I thought you'd fall. Where are you off to in such a hurry?'

  'The phone.' Misty looked around him towards the desk. 'Montana's started labour and we need Andy back here.'

  Andy's wife. He remembered the illogical fears he'd held when Bridget had gone in to have Tammy. Surely Andy would want him to be there until he came.

  He'd met Montana again briefly at lunch in the midst of Misty's collection of ladies. A female gathering that had him beating a hasty retreat back to casualty, though it had been good to see Tammy so socially comfortable. He'd figured Misty wouldn't have time to talk to him then and hoped to catch a few minutes with her now. But that wasn't going to happen.

  Mind on job, he warned himself.

  CHAPTER NINE

  'I HAVE to get back to Montana.' Misty stepped away.

  'Of course,' he said. 'May I stay until Andy arrives? Where is she?'

  Misty paused, surprised how glad she was that Ben would stay until Andy came. Everything would be fine but here was where it was tricky when you were close to someone you were looking after.

  Just the reassurance that Ben offered as a very skilled professional took all the worry from her shoulders. She could handle most things but Ben was there for back-up for the unthinkable.

  'That will be good. Thank you.' She spun on her heel and then looked back over her shoulder. 'Actually, you could ring Andy for me so that he knows Montana is in labour, and I'll go back to her.'

  Now it was all about Montana and her baby and Andy. She was so fortunate to be here for their special event, Misty reminded herself as she knocked on the bathroom door.

  Montana stood in the shower with her back against the wall, and the water streamed over her stomach as she breathed through a contraction.

  Misty waited for her to drop her shoulders in a sigh and open her eyes.

  'You can listen now. The pain's just finishing,' Montana said, and she twisted her body to face Misty so she could place the Doppler again to hear the baby.

  The clop, clop of Montana's baby's heartbeat was clear and true. They listened for a minute and then the next pain began and Montana closed her eyes.

  Misty stepped back to check the level of water and temperature in the big square bath.

  She remembered Montana telling her of Andy's horror when the bath had been donated. He hadn't been thrilled when a grateful member of the town's only family of plumbers had installed it free of charge. Montana had been ecstatic.

  Andy's reluctance at the thought of water births had diminished over time with the excellent results, and Montana had chosen this mode for her own birthing experience.

  The bath was big, a four-person spa with no jets, and the temperature was set to suit the baby as he or she entered the world.

  Misty slipped from the room and turned the volume up on the slow rhythmic music Montana had chosen for the birth.

  'I don't know what to do in a water birth.' Ben's voice came from behind her, quiet but with an unmistakable thread of uneasiness.

  'You don't have to do anything.' She smiled at him. 'Though I admire your honesty. That must have been hard for you to admit,' she teased.

  'Yes.' Ben smiled back.

  'Montana will do it all. Since they installed the bath fifty per cent of all births are in here. It's hands off.'

  'Oh, Lord.' Ben screwed his face up. 'I can see my learning curve is going to be huge here.'

  Misty grinned at him. 'Andy's was. Keep having an open mind.'

  He really was trying, Misty thought, and it took a big man to accept he had a lot to learn from people less medically qualified than he was. She was proud of him, which seemed a proprietorial thing to be when she thought about it. Her heart thumped. Best not to think about it.

  Montana breathed quietly with her eyes closed and Misty drew Ben out of the room in case they disturbed her space.

  At that moment Andy arrived, out of breath and quick to strip off his shirt and tie. His shoes and socks went one by one as he hopped on alternate legs towards the sink to wash his hands. Andy's head swivelled as he looked for his wife.

  His brow creased. 'How is she? Where is she?' He had no time for pleasantries.

  Misty felt the catch of tears in her throat as she saw how concerned her big strong brother was for the most important person in his life. 'Montana's fine. In total control and in the shower. We've run the bath.'

  Andy winced. 'Oh, goody.'

  Misty grinned. 'You're outgunned, big brother.'

  'Don't I know it.' He looked at Ben. 'Never fall in love or they change your world.'

  Without waiting for an answer from Ben, Andy reached for the towel. 'Contractions?'

  'Contractions started fifteen minutes ago. She'll be glad to see you. Foetal heart rate 140.'

  'I'll leave you, then.' Ben's quiet voice made Andy pause.

  Andy frowned. 'Stick around. Please. Don't go too far. I may have become more used to this over the last twelve months but this is my wife and child. You know how paranoid medical people are. It's nice to know you're here.'

  Ben smiled. 'Of course. I'd be honoured.' He looked at Misty and she smiled, too.

  'You'll get used to water births,' she said, and Ben just nodded, but deep inside he guaranteed he wouldn't. No way.

  Andy opened the bathroom door and as he paused, Misty could almost see her brother's love pour across the
room to wrap around his wife. Andy stripped off his belt and trousers and unselfconsciously, dressed only in his underwear, he stepped into the water so that he could support Montana against his body in the shower.

  Even from across the room Misty could hear the sigh of relief from Montana as she rested back into Andy's arms.

  'You OK, love?' Andy said.

  'Now I am.' Montana looked across at Misty as the contraction eased away. 'Now's good for a listen.' And she smiled as Misty placed the Doppler again and Andy, too, could hear his baby.

  When they'd listened to the heartbeat and were satisfied all was well, Misty stepped away. She turned off the bath and checked the temperature again before she and Ben withdrew outside the room.

  'Now what?' Ben said as he glanced at the door Misty had closed behind her.

  'Now we wait for fifteen minutes until I check baby again or until she wants to get into the bath. If they need me sooner, they'll ask.'

  Misty had the equipment she needed in the bathroom and at that moment there was nothing to do except wait. She glanced at Ben and a smile tilted one side of his mouth as he caught her glance.

  'I'll be good,' he teased softly, and she grinned.

  There was something precious about sharing that moment outside the door with Ben, despite his obvious reservations, which she hadn't expected.

  They smiled at each other and the connection she tried to tell herself didn't exist glowed between them until she looked away.

  Ben leaned against the wall and studied her face. 'So are you going to talk to me for the next fifteen minutes?'

  She looked incredibly beautiful to him but still so painfully distant. He ached to reach out and touch her but, of course, he couldn't.

  There were so many moments he'd thought they were getting there and then she'd back off again. The trouble was he couldn't stop feeling the way he did and he didn't believe she could either.

  Whenever he tried to steer the conversation to them she redirected it to some other topic or left his presence. He needed to know if she too had memories she ached to relive like he did.

  'I've talked to you every night on the veranda this week.' Misty's voice remained even and she picked up Montana's chart and began to fill it in.