Page 60 of A Wish For Wilma
After Archie had bashed the spuds into submission they settled round the tree, Jinnie gingerly lowering herself onto the sofa. Sam sat next to her, arranging cushions behind her back. Rob busied himself piling the presents into stacks according to name tags.
‘I couldnae find any labels,’ said Wilma, ‘but I ken who they’re for by their shapes.’
‘You start, Jinnie,’ said Kath, handing over a large square parcel. ‘As you’ll soon be a mum, we thought these would be useful.’
Jinnie tore away the glossy pink paper to reveal a pile of books:Surviving Early Motherhood, Babies: All You Need To Know (Or Prefer Not To),andHelp! Will I Ever Sleep Again?!!
‘Aw, thanks Mum and Dad.’ Jinnie pushed herself upright, then groaned and slumped again.
‘Eww! Did you just, like,peeyourself?’ Archie shuddered and pointed at the sofa, where a damp, dark stain seeped between Jinnie’s legs.
Sam seized the books, dumped them on the floor, and looked around in panic. ‘We need to get Jinnie to the hospital right now!’
‘Because she lost control of her bladder?’ scoffed Archie.
‘No, Archie.’ Kath looked the epitome of calm, unlike Rob. He’d dashed to the kitchen, either to give the turkey another poke or find something to mop up with. ‘Her waters have broken, meaning the baby’s on its way.’
‘I’m not ready!’ Jinnie gasped and clung to Sam. ‘My hospital bag’s at home and Mum and Dad have gone to all this trouble and now I’m ruining it for everyone!’ Tears streaked down her ashen face.
Rob ran back into the room, wielding a cloth and looking like a headless chicken. Or turkey.
With almost nine decades in the bag, Wilma stepped up to the plate. ‘You’ve a while yet, lass. However, Sam, it might be wise to take Jinnie home for her bag and swing by the hospital. If she’s not dilated enough, they’ll tell you.’
Bundling Jinnie into the car, Sam spewed apologies in all directions. ‘Sorry, everyone. Rob. Kath. Wilma. Um, Archie. Carry on as normal. Enjoy the meal and I’ll keep you posted.’
Waving them off, Wilma craved a ciggie, but not as much as she craved a cuddle from Gus. Both were unhealthy, though, in different ways. At any rate, this would certainly be a Christmas to remember.
CHAPTER35
‘We’ve called her Dahlia.’
‘Oh, like the flower?’
‘Not exactly.’ Jinnie squirmed in the bed, her body protesting at the earlier gruesome assault. She’d tried to give birth ‘au naturel’, squatting and panting as Sam urged her on. When he’d asked if she wanted a mirror to view progress, she’d uttered words that would never pass the TV watershed rules.
‘It’s a pretty name.’ Wilma stroked the baby’s head, all soft and downy, but Dahlia’s rosebud lips sought sustenance. She latched on quickly and Jinnie squeaked in pain.
‘You’ll get used to it,’ said the kindly nurse, trying to find space for the water jug on the tiny bedside table. ‘I breastfed all four of mine, and by the last one I had it down to a fine art.’
Once the nurse had departed, Jinnie pulled an anguished face. ‘I doubt I can face having a second baby, never mind four.’
‘Relax, pet. It just takes practice. And if it disnae work out, there’s no shame in using a bottle.’ Wilma had insisted on having first dibs on the baby, pulling the matriarchal card and telling her son and daughter-in-law that overcrowding in an already cramped hospital wasn’t a good idea. Rob and Kath had reluctantly stayed home, bombarded with photos of Dahlia and Jinnie, in the knowledge that they would see their granddaughter very soon.
Sam bustled in, bowed under the weight of a baby car seat piled high with paraphernalia. ‘I hope I haven’t forgotten anything,’ he panted, offloading his burden and planting a kiss on Jinnie’s cheek. ‘You look gorgeous.’ He placed a tentative hand on the baby’s tiny back. ‘And she’s absolutely beautiful.’
Jinnie squirmed around, trying to find a better position to feed. ‘Liar liar, pants on fire,’ she grumbled. ‘The only gorgeous thing about me is my genie-wish hair. I’m fat, unwashed, and afraid to go for a pee in case bits of me tumble into the toilet.’
‘You’re gorgeous to me.’ Sam kissed Jinnie again, this time firmly on the lips. ‘What do you think of the names we chose, Wilma?’
‘Names, plural?’ Wilma finished unwrapping the biscuit that had arrived with her tea.
‘Sorry, I forgot to say,’ said Jinnie. ‘Her full name is Dahlia Jasmine Addin.’
‘That’s quite a mouthful, but it seems fitting. Would I be right in thinking…?’
Jinnie and Sam nodded. ‘We wanted to recognise Dhassim and Aaliyah’s contribution to our lives. Dahlia is a twist on their names. And Jasmine has genie connotations, and the initials…’
‘DJ.’
