Page 2 of Special Delivery
‘I see,’ said Wenda, studying it.
Like a sucker for punishment, Poppy watched as Wenda’s eyes flicked to the ‘Baby’s Father’ section.Not present, it said. Two words that summarised the result of a nine-year relationship and life together.
‘Fantastic.’ Wenda folded the card and handed it back to her. ‘You’re in good health and your baby is growing well. Now, is there anything you’d like to ask me?’
Poppy had so many questions. ‘No,’ she replied, looking at the floor.
The older lady scrutinised her and Poppy could feel it in her eyes: the pity. She was searching for clues but Poppy wasn’t going to give her any. There were things you could share with strangers at a first encounter, and then there were stories that had to be told over days and nights, preferably over bottles of wine with Taylor Swift in the background. Stories that unfolded over years couldn’t be relayed in a thirty-minute appointment. They had to be let out slowly, in drips and bursts, otherwise the torrent would drown you. Poppy didn’t know much, but she knew this.
Wenda patted the raised bed against the wall, her kind eyes still searching Poppy’s closed face. ‘Alright,’ said the midwife gently. ‘Let’s check when this baby is coming out.’
CHAPTER 2
Aeroplane mode was a wondrous thing. A tiny icon transporting people to a liberating time when phones weren’t smart and TikTok was aPlay Schoolsound effect. Poppy needed aeroplane mode for her brain. During her half-hour with Wenda she’d already missed four texts.
Mum:Dear Poppy, how did it go? Remember you are my STRONG BRAVE GIRL and this will be a WONDERFUL ADVENTURE. Lol, Mum.
Mum:Dear Poppy, did you receive this? I thought the appointment finished at 11.30.
Poppy checked her watch. It was 11.36 am.
Mum:Dear Poppy, just thinking—the appointment may run over time if they want to discuss Patrick, family health history, mental health, services for single mothers etc etc. Make sure you stay and listen to that information. IT COULD BE IMPORTANT.
Dani:Call me when you’re done, my dear. Love you xx
Poppy began walking and dialled her best friend.
Dani picked up on the first ring. ‘PARPEEEE!’
Poppy laughed. ‘DARNEEEE!’
What had started as a stupid joke while they were travelling around Croatia after uni had morphed into a years-old ritual—one that made Poppy smile every time she spoke to her friend.
‘Dude, we may need to cut that shit out soon,’ Dani said. ‘The other mums in the park already think I’m a weirdo because of Nella’s fixation with chewing the pram wheels. They don’t need any more ammo to use against me.’
Poppy laughed. ‘Dan, if I didn’t say your name like that you would legit think I was mad at you.’
‘True,’ Dani agreed. ‘And for that, we have to thank old mate in Croatia for his gift of loud and shit pronunciation.’
‘Such a gift,’ Poppy said.
‘Unlike the visual of his belly button hair.’
‘And the memory of his body odour.’
‘And the sex lessons.’
‘STOP!’ Poppy gasped, giggling as the memory of the beer-bellied restaurateur humping a plastic chair flashed behind her eyes. ‘I’m actually dying! You will make this baby pop out of me.’
‘Mate, that would be my gift to you,’ Dani said. ‘If your baby just pops out, I will be so bloody jealous. If you get anything less than an eight-hour labour, I’ll be pissed. You need to know what I went through or our friendship will be missing this deep level of understanding.’
‘Thanks, Dan. So selfless of you.’
‘I’m the Dalai Lama in Lululemon,’ deadpanned her friend. ‘So how did the appointment go? Was it okay?’
‘It was fine.’ Poppy sighed. ‘I’m walking out of the hospital now. It was the same as my appointments in Sydney. No big deal. The midwife was okay, the hospital seems normal. Literally, it’ll be the same as having a baby in Sydney—just no good options for Uber Eats afterwards.’
‘That’s a pretty big deal-breaker, you know. You sure you don’t want to have the baby here? I’ll deliver RaRa Ramen to the ward and comb your hair and change nappies and stuff. I’m ace at that shiz now.’
