Page 63 of Escape for Christmas

‘How are Baxter and Maria?’ Sophie asked.

‘They’re fine. I made them banana smoothies and wetold them they’re going to have a sleepover until the baby arrives.’

‘Thanks. I do hope Anna hangs on until the emergency services arrive,’ Sophie replied. Beam me up, she pleaded silently; please let me wake up, because this cannot be happening. I cannot be trapped in a snowdrift in the dark with a woman in labour in my bed and only a retired nurse, who’s been on the cocktails all night, and a vet to help.

Anna cried out again and swore ripely when Sophie and Brody went back inside with Agatha, while Pete went to the lounge to reassure the children. Sophie closed the door behind her.

‘Is this the doctor?’ Anna asked hopefully, lying back on the bed between contractions.

Brody sat down. ‘I’m afraid not. I’m a vet,’ he said.

Anna gasped. ‘This is meant to beCall the Midwife, notAll Creatures Great and Bloody Small! Arghhh!’

‘I can help you until the ambulance arrives,’ Brody said calmly.

‘Great! Shame I’m not having bloody kittens!’ Anna shouted. ‘Sorry, but a vet?’

‘Brody’s very experienced,’ Sophie assured her, thinking it was the best she could do and that Anna was lucky he lived so close by.

‘With cows!’

‘Yeah, with cows, puppies, kittens … I delivered a foal last week,’ Brody said.

‘Oh my God!’

‘But if I can ask you a few questions, it will help me updatethe emergency services. They’ll get a medic on the phone to advise us too,’ he said, taking charge of the situation.

‘Just do whatever you need to, if it’ll help the baby,’ Anna pleaded.

‘I think it’s a good idea, my dear,’ Agatha soothed, patting Anna’s hand.

‘Would it be OK if I examined your – er – bump?’ Brody said awkwardly. ‘To see what position he or she’s in? ‘

‘She,’ Anna grunted. ‘And yes, it’s fine. Anything that will help is fi-i-i-ne!’

‘Shall we leave?’ Sophie asked.

‘No! I think at least one of you should stay, if Anna agrees,’ Brody said. ‘It won’t take me long.’

‘I’ll stay,’ Agatha offered.

‘Thank you. Oh God, another one …’ Anna grasped Agatha’s hand as a powerful contraction bore down on her.

‘I might need to use the landline phone,’ Brody called back to Sophie. ‘I don’t think the mobile signal’s working.’

‘OK. I’ll bring the cordless in here.’

After returning to the bedroom with the cordless phone, Sophie decided to check how everyone was doing in the guest lounge. To her relief, Suzanne was showing Maria aPeppa Pigvideo on her mobile, while Baxter bashed Nico and Hugo with the inflatable flamingo. Una was soothing Pete.

Amber walked in. ‘I found some battery tealights in a kitchen cupboard,’ she said, handing a box to Sophie.

‘Thanks, that’s a big help,’ Sophie said before asking Pete. ‘Do you want to come to see how Anna’s getting on?’

He nodded and turned to the children.

‘I’ll be back in a little while. Just going to look after Mummy,’ he said, though the kids were too engrossed to worry. Once out of earshot, his brave face crumbled. ‘How’s Anna?’ he asked on the way back to the bedroom.

‘Doing well,’ Sophie replied, more hopefully than anything. ‘Brody’s checking on her now. If you want to go in?’

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