“It’s all happening so quickly.” Ma looks like she’s about to collapse.
“Okay,” a loud clear voice climbs above the ringing in my ears. It’s Loncey. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Maeve, you call an ambulance. Cynthia, can you find as many clean towels and washcloths as you can and take them to the bathroom. And James, I believe that’s your name?”
Da seems to snap back into the hallway and holds out his hand with a welcoming smile that feels ridiculous in this moment. “It is indeed. Pleasure to meet you, Loncey.”
Loncey shakes his hand firmly. “Good to be here. Can you find out if Marty and Jenna already have a hospital bag packed and get it ready by the door for when the ambulance gets here? And if they don’t, could you maybe throw one together. A quick Google will help you figure out what to pack.”
Da nods. “I can do that.”
Loncey pulls out their phone. “Okay, time to call my mom.”
“Your mum?” I ask, bewildered while also dialling 112.
“I may need her to help me deliver a baby,” Loncey says in a low voice and I’m about to reply, to tell them that’s madness, but Loncey is already following my mam up the stairs and an operator comes on the line.
Chapter Forty-Five
Loncey
“Momma, I’m sorry to wake you,” I say as I reach the top of the stairs. My eyes follow Cynthia as she walks to the left toward a cupboard on the landing that she opens. She starts piling up towels in her arms. I turn to the right and what I quickly realize is the bathroom on account of the light coming from the gap in the door and the kneeling figure of Marty on the floor, partially visible.
“It’s okay,” Mom mumbles. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m good. But I need your help.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I’m with Maeve’s brother and his partner, Jenna, who’s having a baby.”
“I remember,” Mom says.
“I mean, she’s having a baby now. Right now.”
“Oh, I see.” Mom sounds a lot more awake now. “Where is she?”
“In their bathroom. Her waters broke about thirty minutes ago and she says she’s in too much pain to move off the toilet. Says she wants to push.”
“Leave her there. Best place for her,” Mom says. “No midwife? A doula? Any help on the way?”
“Maeve’s calling for an ambulance. Doula can’t get here right now.”
“Okay, okay. Are you with Jenna now?”
“No, I’m just outside the bathroom.”
“Okay, put me on video and let’s go see how she’s doing.” Mom sounds completely calm and in control and my heart swells with love and gratitude for her.
I push a button on my phone and a second later my mom’s face appears on my screen, her hair wrapped up in bonnet and her glasses on, barely hiding a pair of bleary eyes.
“I appreciate you, Momma,” I tell her as I reach a hand up to the bathroom door and knock.
“I know you do, Lawrence.” She smiles.
“Can I come in?” I call out. “I have my mom on the phone, she’s a midwife. Maybe she can help you.”
“Sure, yeah, just a sec—”
There’s a lot of shuffling around and then the door opens fully. Marty is there looking disheveled and panicked, and I barely know the man but I want to scoop him up into a big hug.
