Page 54 of Salvaging Christmas

How much later he had no idea, but he woke with a gasp and a jolt to someone hammering a fist loudly and repeatedly on their bedroom door. He shot up in bed, rubbing his eyes, about to shout expletives at Ingram.

“What the f—”

Rudy took a little longer to awaken but quickly jumped out of bed.

“Who the hell’s there?” shouted Trevor.

“Trevor. Rudy,” came Karl’s muffled but terrified voice. “It’s Mary. I think she’s gone into labour. Can you open the door?”

“Shit, shit, shit,” said Trevor, trying to hop into his jeans and falling back onto the bed. Rudy, who had already managed to dress, got to the door first, unlocked and hauled the portal open. Without stopping to talk to Karl, Rudy pushed past and headed straight for the kitchen. Karl stood open mouthed, watching Rudy go, probably wondering why he had said nothing.

“It’s too early,” said Karl, his attention swinging back to Trevor. “She’s not due until March.”

“We need Mrs M,” said Trevor, doing up the top button of his jeans. “She used to be a nurse. If anyone’s going to know what to do, it’s her.”

But they didn’t need to wake her. They met Mrs M and a bleary-eyed Cheryl in the hallway as they were hurrying towards the stairs.

“Look, just so you know. I’ve had no specific training in midwifery, Karl,” said Mrs M without stopping. “But I have had some experience dealing with childbirth—not just my own—during my days as a nurse. I’ll do whatever I can. How far along is she?”

“Thirty weeks,” murmured Karl. Trevor had never seen him look so pale and terrified. Until a blood-curdling cry of pain issued from the bedroom, and Trevor thought Karl might faint.

“Around ten weeks early?” Mrs M breathed out a sigh. “Then we really need to get her to a hospital with good maternity facilities. Let me check on her first of all, but if she is about to give birth to a preterm, then both she and the baby will need specialist help.”

“Where is the nearest hospital?” asked Cheryl as they approached the room.

“I don’t know. But I’m guessing Rudy will,” said Trevor. “Did you see where he went?”

“He flew past me like a bat out of hell, heading towards the kitchen,” said Mrs M, opening the door.

Without hesitation, she hurried over to Mary’s side. Trevor faltered at the doorway, unsure how he could be of help, and noticed Karl had stopped there, too.

“Listen,” said Mrs M, turning to address them both. “There’s not much you two can do right now. And we’re going to need a little privacy. So maybe Cheryl can stay and help while you go and make everyone some tea. Off you go.”

Trevor thought Karl would object, but he nodded mechanically and quickly backed away from the room. After a quick shrug to Cheryl, Trevor followed suit.

“Well. That’s told us,” said Trevor, heading back down the stairs. “Are you okay, Karl?”

“I—I have no idea.”

Trevor thought he might collapse, so he grabbed him beneath the arm and led him forward.

“I think maybe you need something stronger than tea.”

“No,” said Karl. “Need to keep a clear head. Tea’s good, though. I’ll make it. I need something to—”

“What the feck is going on?” came Johnny’s voice, the man appearing out of nowhere with Frank trailing behind, taking them both by surprise. “All this crashing around in the middle of the night and people screaming like a banshee. S’like being back home in Finglas with me feckin’ family.”

“We think Mary’s gone into labour,” said Trevor. “Cheryl and Mrs M’s at her bedside right now.”

“Jesus, Mary. Has anyone summoned a priest?”

“Not funny right now, Johnny,” said Trevor, who had also noticed Karl wince and turn away. “Sounds like she’s in a bad way.”

As they approached the kitchen door, Rudy came marching out.

“Where’s Brenda?” he asked.

“In Mary’s room,” said Karl.

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