Gideon appeared shocked.
‘You didn’t expect me to deny it, did you?’ Alex laughed. ‘I’m not blind.’
Gideon’s lips curled. ‘The truth always comes out.’
‘Shame you didn’t think about that before you started up with her.’ Alex indicated Julia.
Gideon scowled. ‘I always knew there was something going on between the two of you.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jake suddenly said. ‘But I can’t listen to anymore.’ He rounded on Gideon. ‘Stop judging people by your standards, will you? I’ve never met a more arrogant, selfish individual.’ He looked to Julia. ‘I don’t even know what to say to you. You’re just cruel.’
‘Hear! Hear!’ Martha said.
Brian patted his wife’s hand. ‘You stay out of it,’ he said.
Martha laughed. ‘Why? The man’s a buffoon.’
Lexi let out another yelp.
‘Now look what you’ve done,’ Gideon said to me.
‘Jake…’ Lexi said.
‘I’m sorry, babe.’ He scratched his forehead. ‘But it needed saying.’
‘No, Jake…’ Panic-stricken, she slowly looked down at her feet.
Following her gaze, everyone’s eyes widened at the pool of water she stood in.
CHAPTER36
The seconds we all stood there staring at the pool of water seemed to go on forever.
‘That’s not what I think it is, is it?’ The colour drained from Gideon’s face.
‘Ew,’ Julia said.
Gideon’s eyes began to roll, and passing out, his head landed on Julia’s shoulder.
‘This was not on my Christmas bingo card,’ Brian said.
Finally snapping into action, I reached for my bag and fumbled for my phone. ‘I’ll ring for an ambulance.’
‘But we’re in the middle of nowhere,’ Jake said. ‘What if it can’t find us?’ He raced to the window and peering through the glass, scanned our surroundings. ‘It’s pitch black out there. We’re miles from a station.’ He looked back at us. ‘I doubt there’s even a road.’ Fear all over his face, he put a hand up to his head. ‘Think, Jake, think.’
Lexi whimpered.
‘Don’t worry.’ Alex stepped forward, his expression one of confident reassurance. ‘We have plenty of time before the baby comes. Labour might not kick in for twenty-four hours.’
Lexi appeared less than convinced. ‘Which suggests it could also start sooner.’
‘One step at a time,’ Alex continued. ‘For now, we just need to monitor your pains to see if there’s a pattern to them.’
Wondering what made him the font of all midwifery knowledge, I gave him a questioning look.
‘My sister had home births,’ Alex said. ‘You don’t forget these things.’
‘Did you hear that, Lexi? Alex has done this before.’ Jake moved to comfort his wife.
