Page 65 of A Chance to Believe

Not important?He thought her telling him she wouldn’t be in a relationship with him wasn’t important. That told her where she stood. Though going into labour was enough to put a lot of things into perspective. ‘I need to ring Doctor Reece.’

‘I’ll do that while you clean up.’

The trickle was almost to her ankles, so he was right, again. Luckily, the trackpants were absorbing most of it. ‘You have the number?’

He nodded, already pulling his phone from his back pocket.

Dawn was back with a bundle of cleaning cloths. ‘Off you go. I’ll take care of the drips.’

It was a relief to freshen up. Dawn had put some sanitary napkins with the clothes to catch any further leakage. She thought of everything. It was hard to imagine her losing the plot after the death of her daughter. Her second daughter. But grief did strange things. Cassie knew she’d been unlike herself for years. Maybe she still was. She’d been fearless as a child. Now she was letting herself be ruled by fear.

She pressed her palm against her belly. ‘I’ll change, I promise. I won’t let your lives be ruined by my fears.’

Shayne was still on the phone when she returned to the lounge. Not the doctor. It sounded like Kimberley. He hung up.

‘I’ve asked Kim to grab your bag and Ben will bring it into the hospital. Doctor Reece is on his way. He was still in Bialga. He said he’d call ahead and organise things with Jen Parker.’

‘He’s coming here?’

‘Yes. He said something about tossing a spare crib into the back of his car and he’d be on his way.’

‘I thought I’d have to go to Bialga.’

‘He would rather you weren’t on the road.’

A ripple of pain crossed her stomach and the ache in her back eased momentarily. ‘I think I’d be happier at the hospital. Contractions have started. That’s the third one so far.’

‘Doctor Reece wanted to know. I said you hadn’t had many, only back pain and one when your waters broke. He seemed happy with that, but said he wanted you there as soon as contractions became regular.’

Cassie hadn’t been to the hospital apart from the evening when she’d come with Shayne for a birthing class. They hadn’t gone into the main building; the classes being held in the Community Hub next door.

A man in pale green scrubs rushed up with a wheelchair as they walked through the Casualty entrance. It seemed like Doctor Reece had warned them she was coming because once he confirmed her identity, they headed through Casualty and down a long corridor and then around a corner to face another similar hallway. ‘I hope everyone else knows where we’re going.’

Shayne touched her hand on the arm of the wheelchair. ‘Maternity is in a separate wing at the back. It has a view over the creek.’ He grimaced, as if the random comment had embarrassed him. He probably thought a water view wouldn’t interest her. Now, any distraction was welcome.

Of course he’d know. Even if it were sixteen years ago, not much would have changed apart from the technology. She hoped the technology was up to date. Though Doctor Reece wouldn’t be happy about her giving birth here if it wasn’t.

Another contraction had her gritting her teeth.

Shayne’s brow creased. ‘That seems quick.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Definitely closer. Those first few were ten minutes. This was more like seven.’

The wardsman seemed to pick up pace and the automatic doors at the end of the corridor slid open.

A couple of nurses were setting up the delivery room when they arrived. The wardsman helped her onto the bed and then took the wheelchair away. Leaving her with two strange nurses and Shayne.

The two women introduced themselves. Audrey was a midwife and Kate a paediatric nurse. She was setting up for the babies while Audrey did the checks on Cassie. Things sped up from there. Not only had Cassie needed to change, but they put a gown on Shayne as well.

It was a relief to see Jen Parker arrive, tugging on a gown over her scrubs. ‘Nice to see you again, Cassie. All ready to meet your babies?’

‘Well and truly.’

The doctor spent some time with the Doppler, checking the heartbeats, monitoring them through a contraction. She beamed at Cassie when she finished. ‘They are both sounding fine. A little stressed during the contractions but recovering well after.’

Jen chatted as she checked Cassie’s blood pressure and then there was the sting of a needle with little wings she said was in case she needed an IV line.

Something she said struck a chord. ‘Are you related to Parker from Maidens Hill?’

The doctor paused. ‘Of course. He’s my uncle. Small town stuff. You’ll get used to it.’

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