Page 65 of Escape for Christmas
‘Can you pant for us, Anna?’ Agatha asked. ‘Just while we check the cord?’
‘It’s OK,’ Brody said, ‘I think we’re ready. You can push the baby out now, Anna. Big, big push!’ He needed his brow mopping too, his forehead glistening with perspiration.
Pete kept saying, ‘You’re doing brilliantly,’ over and over again, and Anna kept swearing at him for putting her through this.
‘One more push,’ Brody urged.
Then suddenly Anna let out a huge groan and the baby was born, a writhing pink bundle.
‘One little girl, as ordered!’ Brody declared, wrapping the baby in a waiting towel. She didn’t yell, and Sophie’s skin went cold. Why wasn’t she crying? Weren’t newborns supposed to scream the house down?
‘What’s wrong?’ Pete panicked.
‘Is she OK?’ Anna asked anxiously.
Sophie heard the operator asking for an Apgar score, which seemed to be some way of assessing the baby’s condition. She heard Brody give the baby an eight and mention that she was a bit blue and slow to respond.
The baby sputtered and coughed. Sophie held her breath. Then the baby let out a huge yell and Sophie said a silent prayer of thanks, tears pouring down her cheeks. Mostly they were tears of relief, but seeing new human life being brought into the world in front of her eyes had reminded her of Ben and Naomi. They were going to be parents too, and she couldn’t help but think of what might have been: of what she’d lost.
Immediately she checked herself. Having a baby was the greatest commitment anyone could make, and when she did do it – if she did – she wanted it to be with a man she could rely on and respect … and love.
‘I’ll cut and clamp the cord, then you can hold her properly,’ Brody said, taking the sterile scissors from the pack and then handing the wrapped baby to Anna. ‘There you go! Congratulations!’
Pete burst into tears as he and Anna cuddled their newborn daughter.
The emergency controller was talking about placentas, and things Sophie didn’t want to know about. All she cared about was that baby Nowak had arrived safe and well and that miraculously Anna – so far –was OK.
Someone banged on the bedroom door and Sophie opened it a crack.
It was Nico. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not coming in. But the mountain-rescue team is here.’
‘Thank God for that!’ said Sophie.
Brody heaved a sigh of relief. ‘They can deliver the placenta and take care of you now, Anna.’
‘Well done,’ Sophie said. ‘To you all. I’ll go and show the rescue team in.
‘Is it a girl or a boy?’ Nico asked as she hurried through the sitting room. ‘We’re all on tenterhooks!’
‘A lovely, gorgeous little girl,’ Sophie replied, feeling elated now that the baby was safely here.
Nico flung his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. ‘Well done! Congratulations!’
Sophie blushed, taken aback by what had just happened. ‘Thanks, but I didn’t actually do the work.’
The hall was suddenly filled with people in red jackets and boots, brushing snow off their faces and shining powerful torches, whose light hurt her eyes.
‘Hi, I’m Dr Kumar. Can you update me on the situation?’
Sophie almost fainted with relief. ‘Oh yes, the baby girl seems fine, and I think we’re all about to have a total meltdown.’
The doctor patted her shoulder. ‘It sounds like you’ve done an amazing job. Where are they then?’
Sophie showed them through to the bedroom, where Brody, Agatha and Pete were looking after Anna and the little one.
‘Boy, am I glad to see you!’ Brody murmured.
‘Are you trying to take over my job?’ the doctor asked, jokingly. ‘Not content with foals and lambs.’
