Chapter 46
It was Sunday afternoon and Cami had brought Boo out for a walk so they could both stretch their legs after a hard day’s transcribing and editing (her) and lying in the shade of the mulberry tree dozing and snoring whilst twitching her paws (Boo).
Lizzie was up at the Savoy in London, attending the forty-ninth birthday celebrations for an actress friend who was actually fifty-four, so Cami had taken the opportunity to get some catching-up done. Now it was time to relax and give her body a break, after hours of sitting hunched over her laptop.
As a single parent, she was undoubtedly going to find money an issue. Having somewhere to live was another issue, as was the entire unknowable future, and she knew she should be worrying about it more than she had been. Lizzie would be heading back to LA soon. Her own baby would be arriving within weeks. If she stopped to really think about how she was going to cope, it wouldn’t be good for either of them. So she’d wrapped herself in self-preservation mode, veering away from the problem instead. Having always been a worrier, she now felt cocooned from reality, possibly by the pregnancy hormones flooding her body. It was probably nature’s way of preventing panic attacks.
Then again, nature hadn’t yet invented a way of staving off the various aches and pains that went hand in hand with pregnancy. Her back was protesting, those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions were still happening, preparing her for the big day, and her ankles were aching too. As Boo raced around in ever-widening circles, Cami made her way across Potter’s Field to the playground area, currently empty of children, and surveyed the equipment on offer. If she sat down on the grass she might not be able to get up again. OK, not the slide, not the spinny roundabout and definitely not the bucking bronco on a central giant spring. To give her back a rest, she eased herself down onto one of the swings . . . Ah, bliss.
The seat was a bit of a tight squeeze, but never mind, she was on it now. Holding on to the chains on either side, she pushed with her toes and began to swing gently back and forth. It had to be twenty years since she’d last been on a swing, and it was bringing back happy memories, like being a child all over again. Only pregnant. Actually, though, the motion was easing the griping pain in her spine, so she carried on doing it; nothing too strenuous, but stretching her legs out now, tipping her head right back and watching as a flock of birds flew overhead, swooping and dancing effortlessly against a cloudless blue sky—
Oh!
What in God’s name was that?
It became apparent soon enough, with the sound of liquid dripping through the narrow slats on the seat of the swing, splashing down onto the soft rubber mulch below. You heard about it happening to other people, but now it was actually happening to her . Her waters had broken, her blue cotton trousers were drenched and still it was coming; surely a small bucketful by now, but how could you measure it?
The next moment she heard a panicky high-pitched yelp and looked up to see Boo hurtling past at warp speed, her little legs a blur. A few metres behind was a russet fox, his tail flying behind him as he chased after her.
‘GET AWAY FROM HER!’ Cami bellowed, and incredibly it did the trick; startled, the fox veered to the left and slunk off, like a commuter pretending he hadn’t just missed his train. Except Boo, too terrified to look back over her shoulder, had no idea she was no longer being chased and carried on racing across the dry grass.
‘BOO, COME BACK!’ Cami yelled in desperation, but this time it didn’t work. Intent on escape, the little dog was making for the five-bar gate at the end of Potter’s Field, which opened onto the lane leading to Starbourne Manor. The next moment she shot beneath it, and Cami heard the roar of a car engine followed by a sickening screech of brakes. Oh God, please no, not Boo . . .
She squeezed clumsily off the swing and tried to run across the grass, but her stomach was seizing up with cramp, her throat tight with terror as she stumbled and almost hit the ground. Perspiration was trickling into her eyebrows whilst another type of water trickled down her legs. When she saw the gate open and Tristan Peverell stride through it holding a tiny bundle in his arms, the blood rushed from her head and she thought she might pass out.
Then Tristan was close enough for her to see that Boo was wriggling in his grasp. When he lowered her to the ground, the dog shot across the grass towards her and Cami gave a strangled sob of relief. As she scooped Boo up, Tristan said curtly, ‘If you can’t control your stupid animal, you need to keep it on a lead. I only just managed to miss her, for crying out loud. She ran into the ditch on the other side of the road.’
‘Oh no, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.’ He was horrible, everyone knew that, but at least he’d brought her dog back. Overcome with emotion, hot tears sliding down her cheeks, she showered Boo’s face with kisses, then let out a groan as the overwhelming cramping sensation started up again.
‘Jesus, what’s going on?’ Staring at her in horror, Tristan pointed to her groin. ‘What’s the hell’s that ?’
‘I think I’m having a baby.’
‘You think ?’ He was grimacing. ‘You make it sound like it’s come as a surprise.’
‘I mean it wasn’t meant to be happening y-yet.’ Cami doubled over and breathed through the cramp as it grew in intensity. ‘But it looks like it is.’
‘And you’ve wet yourself.’
Someone really hadn’t been paying attention during their human biology classes at school. ‘My waters have broken.’ She let out another low groan.
He wrinkled his nose. ‘You sound like a cow.’
‘Thanks. Look, I need to get back to the house. Could you give me a lift?’
‘No chance. Look at the state of you!’ He gestured towards her sodden trousers and shook his head. ‘You’ll wreck my seats.’
‘But I’m . . . having . . . a baby.’ God, it hurt. Everything she’d read about giving birth had indicated there was no need to rush off to the hospital because first babies took ages to arrive, like hours or even days. But this felt as if armed police were battering a door down from the inside. Through a wall of pain, Cami heard herself say, ‘P-please . . .’
‘Look, no offence, but if you mess up the seats I’d have to sell the car. It’s just the thought of it, so gross. And you haven’t even thanked me yet for not running over your dog.’
Unbelievable. Panting hard, she said through gritted teeth, ‘Th-th-thank you.’
‘Anyway, I’m supposed to be meeting some mates in Cheltenham and I’m already late. Tell you what I’ll do.’ Pulling his phone out of his jeans pocket, Tristan pressed a button and after a few seconds said, ‘Hi, you busy? OK, you know that pregnant one who’s staying with Lizzie Rafferty, she’s having a baby in Potter’s Field and— What? Yes, right now, you should hear the noises she’s making. And I can’t hang around, Jasper and Bruno are waiting for me at the Alchemist. Right, great, I’ll tell her. Cheers!’
The contraction subsided and Cami gave him a quizzical look. ‘ That pregnant one ?’
‘Sorry, couldn’t remember your name.’ Tristan slid the phone back into his pocket and took out his car keys. ‘Anyway, my brother’s on his way over and he’ll do whatever needs doing. So I’ll leave you to it.’ With an airy wave, he turned away. ‘Bye.’
Cami said drily, ‘Say hello to Jasper and Bruno from me.’
Tristan swung back, surprised. ‘Do you know them?’
‘No.’
‘Oh, right.’ He smirked a bit. ‘Thought not.’
Cami hugged Boo and watched him leave, casually jangling his keys as he sauntered back to his car without once glancing over his shoulder to check on the woman in labour behind him. What a charmer, what a catch. Luckily it was only a minute or two later that Hugo arrived, hurrying across the grass towards her.
‘My brother. My God, he’s a lost cause. Never mind, I’m here now. Shall I call an ambulance? Can you walk as far as the gate? My car’s parked there and we need to get you to hospital. If you want me to carry you, I can do that.’
‘My trousers are wet . . .’
‘So? Don’t worry about that. Here, lean on me. Is there anyone you need to call?’
She’d left her phone on charge back in the house, because unexpectedly going into labour hadn’t been on her agenda for today. She shook her head, and Hugo put a supportive arm around her. For a moment it occurred to her to ring Simon to let him know his child was on its way, but what would be the point? It wasn’t as if he was likely to jump on a plane and race back from Marbella to mop her brow and cheer her on while she pushed their baby out. She imagined herself making the call, asking him if he wanted to meet his brand-new son or daughter, and in her mind heard him say, ‘God, no, why would I? No, thanks!’
Which was fine. Millions of women on this planet had given birth alone and she could do it too. Who needed a man?
Except it turned out she did, when the next contraction built up less than a minute later, seizing her in its vice-like grip and taking her breath away.
‘Right,’ said Hugo. ‘You hold Boo. I’ll hold you.’ And to her amazement and relief, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Well, fairly effortlessly. His biceps might be well defined, but he was still beginning to puff a bit by the time they reached the car.
‘D’you have anything I can sit on?’ Cami panted. ‘Like a newspaper or something?’
‘Will you stop fretting? Let’s just concentrate on getting you to the hospital.’ He leaned over and fastened the seat belt for her. ‘You’re what’s important here, not the car seats.’
She tilted her head to look at him. ‘Can I tell you something? You really are so much nicer than Tristan.’
Hugo grimaced as he started the engine. ‘Couldn’t be any worse.’
They stopped off at Pine Lodge to collect the hospital bag she’d packed and positioned near the door, as instructed by her midwife, then at Maeve and Matthew’s cottage to leave Boo with Maeve until Lizzie and Matthew arrived back from the party in London. When they reached the maternity unit, the friendly middle-aged receptionist on the labour ward said cheerfully to Hugo, ‘And are you excited, Daddy? Is this your first time?’
‘It’s my first time,’ Hugo agreed, taken aback, ‘but I’m—’
‘Excited but nervous? Panicking a bit? Most men are!’ The receptionist had a loud laugh. ‘My advice to you, once things really get going, is to stay up at the top of the bed, keep away from the business end, then you won’t faint. I tell all the fathers this. My husband passed out when our first one was being born. It’s a messy old business getting them out and he—’
‘Marjorie,’ called a passing midwife, ‘maybe don’t tell people that story, OK? Remember what Dr Mason said to you.’
‘Ooh, sorry, I forgot!’ Still beaming, Marjorie turned back to Hugo. ‘It’s only my first week here. Lots to learn in this place! I’m sure you’ll be fine .’
Minutes later a room was ready and it was time for Cami to be taken through by the midwife. While they’d been waiting, Hugo had been holding her hand through the contractions. Now, as he helped her to her feet, she found herself not wanting to let go.
As if reading her mind, he said, ‘I can come in with you if you want.’
‘Would you? You wouldn’t mind? Are you sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure. Like Marjorie said, I’ll make sure I stay clear of the business end.’ He gave her a brief smile. ‘Best to leave that to the experts.’
As they made their way past the reception desk, Marjorie gave them a double thumbs-up. ‘Good luck, Mummy and Daddy! Hope it doesn’t take forty-nine hours like it did when I had my Trev!’
After that it became an utterly surreal adventure, a mixture of unimaginable pain, wild excitement and mounting anticipation as doctors and midwives popped in and out of the room and assorted items of machinery monitored what was happening to her body. It no longer seemed out of the ordinary to have Hugo in there with her; it was just lovely to be able to squeeze his hand until his poor fingers turned white, and to hear his reassuring words of encouragement as he held a cold compress to her perspiring forehead.
‘Not much longer to go now,’ one of the midwives told them two hours later. ‘You’re nine centimetres dilated.’ To Hugo she added, ‘Doing a great job there.’
‘Well, I’ve helped a few sheep to give birth.’ He gave Cami’s arm a pat as he said it.
‘Baaaaaa,’ said Cami, dimly aware that she’d probably had enough gas and air for now. She dissolved into giggles, then noticed Hugo and Patsy, the midwife, exchanging a look of amusement.
‘It’s the Entonox,’ Patsy said.
‘I guessed.’ Hugo nodded. ‘We don’t give it to the sheep. This one seems to be enjoying it, though.’
Cami was feeling deliciously light-headed. She took one more suck on the mouthpiece and wagged a finger at him. ‘Are you being flirtatious?’
Hugo said, ‘I wouldn’t know how.’
‘You can flirt with me if you want.’ Ha, she’d said something funny and it had made his cheeks go pink. ‘But look, Patsy’s wearing a wedding ring. You shouldn’t flirt with women who are married, that’s what bad men do.’
‘I’m not bad.’
‘I know. You’re lovely.’ Was it wrong to tell him this? It felt right to say it. She laughed again at the look on his face. ‘Sorry, now you’re really blushing.’
‘Are you thirsty?’ Hugo was visibly flustered. ‘Why don’t I go and get us a couple of cold drinks from the vending machine?’
‘Gin and tonic for me, please. I’ll have a large one.’
‘Or maybe a can of orange Fanta.’
Cami waved and blew him a kiss as he left the room. ‘Missing you already!’
‘So he’s not a boyfriend?’ said Patsy when the door had swung shut behind him.
‘No.’
‘And is he single?’
‘Yes.’
‘Gay?’
Cami did a double-take. ‘Don’t think so.’
‘He seems very nice.’
‘He is. He’s lovely.’ Uh-oh, she’d been feeling wonderfully light-headed and euphoric, but now the next contraction was building, a giant fist tightening around her insides, and how was such intense pressure not crushing her poor defenceless baby? As pain overtook euphoria, Cami let out a loud groan and found herself reaching for Hugo’s hand, but in his absence had to make do with Patsy’s instead.
‘Yow,’ said Patsy, rubbing her knuckles once the contraction had passed. ‘If that’s how hard you’ve been squeezing, it’s a wonder Hugo has any fingers left.’
Then he was bursting back into the room, but there was no time to even open the icy cans of Fanta he’d brought with him. Overwhelmed by a new sensation, Cami gasped, ‘I need to push,’ and Patsy said, ‘Right, it’s showtime.’
And now Hugo was bellowing encouragement and Cami was gripping his hand tighter than ever whilst taking huge breaths and pushing, pushing, don’t stop, keep on pushing, and it felt like the hugest, most impossible task in the world but don’t give up, take another breath and hold-it-hold-it-hold-it-hold-it and push again, and she pushed until it felt as if her face would explode.
‘Here we go,’ said Patsy, ‘here comes the head . . . Ooh, lots of dark hair. OK, take a breath, and now let’s have one more big push . . .’
‘Yaaaahhhhh,’ Cami gasped, grabbing Hugo’s wrist and vaguely aware that he was trying not to flinch.
His gaze fixed on hers, he willed her on. ‘Come on, you can do this!’
‘GAAAAAHHH,’ Cami bellowed, feeling something momentous happening, and seconds later it was done. Patsy grasped the baby, and the sound of a reedy cry filled the room. Lifting the infant so that Cami and Hugo could see her, she said, ‘Congratulations, Mum, you have a gorgeous baby girl!’
Cami felt a surge of love so all-encompassing she couldn’t believe that much emotion could exist inside her. She held out her arms and Patsy placed the baby onto her chest. Skin to skin, eye to eye, heart to heart. She gazed in wonder at the absolute perfection of her daughter, at those tiny fingers, the whorls of damp dark hair on her head, the sheer beauty of those surprised brows and that tiny rosebud mouth . . .
‘Look at her,’ she whispered, then glanced up at Hugo and saw tears brimming in his eyes.
‘Sorry, she’s just so beautiful.’ He was shaking his head in amazement, rubbing his face with the back of his hand. ‘One minute she’s in there, the next minute she’s out here. An actual person .’ His voice cracked as he stroked the perfect curve of her daughter’s head. ‘It’s like magic.’
Touched that he was so affected, Cami joked, ‘Almost as good as a newborn lamb?’
Hugo nodded, smiled down at her and wiped his eyes once more. ‘Better.’