Clearly feeling useless, Jake visibly deflated.
‘Why don’t we go and chase up the conductor?’ Brian asked him. ‘He can sort us out with some towels.’
At last, Lexi’s contraction subsided.
‘When you’re ready,’ Alex said. ‘You need to take off your…’ He indicated Lexi’s nether region.
Julia grimaced. ‘Thank God she’s wearing a dress.’
I spun round and glared at her. ‘If that’s your only contribution, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.’
I turned my disapproval on Gideon, who sat there wide-eyed and silent. I shook my head, realising what a lucky escape I’d had. He was utterly useless.
A mix of horror and panic crossed Lexi’s face. ‘I need to push!’
As she latched on to Alex’s hand, he winced at the strength with which Lexi gripped it.
Martha worked even faster.
‘Now!’ Lexi added.
As Alex nodded for me to get into position, I blew my fringe out of the way and crouched down.
Alex flinched as Lexi squeezed his hand even tighter. Using her other, she grabbed the headrest of the seat next to her. Lexi screwed up her face and she turned red as she held her breath and bore down. Finally, the contraction subsided and she, at last, breathed again.
‘You’re doing brilliantly,’ I said.
‘Remember to pant.’ Taking short breaths, Alex demonstrated what Lexi needed to do.
Keeping her eyes on him, she followed his lead.
The carriage doors swished open, and Jake, Brian and the conductor appeared.
‘I haven’t missed it, have I?’ Jake asked, rushing forward.
‘Don’t you dare come near me,’ Lexi said, her voice hissing.
Jake stopped still.
‘No towels. But we have a first aid kit and a foil blanket.’ Holding them out, like Jake, Brian was hesitant to take another step closer.
Awestruck, the conductor had no such problem. ‘This is one Christmas Eve I’m not likely to forget.’ His face beamed as he looked around the group. ‘The wife’s not gonna believe it when I tell her.’
‘Jake,’ Alex said. ‘We need you to keep an eye on the time.’
Jake appeared confused.
‘So you have a record of when your baby’s born.’
As Jake frantically dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone, I thanked God for Alex’s foresight. Not something I’d have thought of, it was good to know one of us had a clear head. And now Jake had a role.
‘Here comes another one,’ Lexi said, grimacing. Again, she pushed with all her might.
With her contractions coming thick and fast, the poor woman worked hard through them all. ‘I can’t do this,’ she eventually said. Growing weaker, her energy levels seemed to border on empty.
‘Yes, you can,’ Alex said, his voice calm and encouraging. ‘You’ve got this.’
Lexi steeled herself as another contraction took hold of her body.
