Unable to speak or move, Lisa waited for the pain to pass – her knuckles white as she clung to the sink and rocked her hips. When it eased, she began to cry with relief, grateful that Felicity had arrived.
She heard Felicity call from the stairs,‘Dom’s here too. I found him outside.’
‘You didn’t show up to walk Jack. After your call I was worried,’ Dom explained.
Lisa grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her lower half. Pushing the sweat covered strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail back from her face, she moved to the bathroom door.
Felicity and Dom were on the stairs, the children standing behind them, eyeswide. ‘You sounded like a lion.’ Fred sniggered as he and Callum began replicating the noise Lisa had been making just moments before.
Felicity turned to the children. ‘Megan, will you take them and keep them downstairs? Put on the TV, feed them snacks, let them explore the garden, whatever it takes just keep them busy.’ Returning her attention to Lisa, Flick continued. ‘Have your waters broken?’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you called the hospital?’
‘Yes, before. They told me to take a bath.’
‘They always say that.’ Felicity rolled her eyes. ‘Have you called Nathan?’
‘No, there’s an accident, theGazettesaid emergency services were attending.’
‘A lorry’s overturned on the A27, nobody’s hurt, but the road is closed; everywhere’s rammed,’ Dom affirmed.
‘Right well I’m callingPete to see if he can get hold of Nathan. While I do that, why don’t you let Dom come and see how you’re getting on? You know, assess the state of play.’ Felicity motioned to Lisa’s bump.
‘What? No.’ Lisa pulled her towel tighter around herself.
Dom moved further up the stairs. ‘Lisa I can help you. It’s my job. This is what I do.’
‘But you can’t see my foof!’
‘Let’s just focuson making sure you and the baby are all right. You might have hours yet. And if it comes to it, I promise to clear your foof from my memory.’
‘No. If you see my foof, it will change everything.’
Felicity looked between them. ‘Why do you both keep saying foof?’
‘They mean vagina!’
Felicity gasped and spun around. ‘Good grief Alice, will you go and help Megan with your brothers.’
Alice stood, reluctant to remove herself from the action.
‘I promise I’ll call if we need you.’
Alice turned on her heels and went to find the others, her grin suggesting she welcomed the prospect of a responsibility not bestowed upon her siblings.
Lisa began to moan as another contraction took hold. Dom ran up the stairs to steady her. She gripped his hands as the pain startedto intensify.
Felicity looked at Dom. ‘Let’s wait until this one passes and then move her to the bedroom.’
‘I’m not sure she’s going to make it to the hospital. The roads out of town are in chaos; I think we’d be mad to try. I’ll call and speak to the delivery suite,’ Dom affirmed.
Lisa growled more deeply.
‘Judging by that noise, I’d say this baby wants to come out. So how aboutif I do the looking and you tell me what to do?’ Felicity suggested.
‘It’s a plan. But seriously, I am happy to look.’
