Page 51 of Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife

Alex’s visit – while part of the routine of a hospital maternity unit – was nevertheless disruptive, and had clearly knocked Mrs Duffy out of her flow. This was why home births went better – or at least, one of the reasons. Peggy was lucky to be starting properly on the district next week; it would likely be months before Maisie was offered the same privilege – but if she did well in labour ward today – and any other days she got the opportunity – it would certainly help.

Mrs Duffy was now pacing anxiously, having lost the calmness of just twenty minutes ago. Still, Alex had listened in to the baby’s heartbeat, confirming as Maisie had, that all was well. Now Maisie would use silence, occasional soothing words and gentle touch when appropriate to get Mrs Duffy back into the right frame of mind again. That was her job – the job of a midwife. Supporting the women, no matter what.

* * *

Alex returned to the labour ward staffroom, exhilaration flowing through him. There was something really special about officially sharing a case with Maisie. Mrs Duffy – despite her sad history – had seemed unexpectedly calm and relaxed, which was probably at least partly Maisie’s doing. The woman had tensed up when he was auscultating the baby’s heartbeat – hardly surprising, really. But he had confidence in Maisie’s ability to calm her again.

Dan wasn’t there – presumably he was still in room 2 with the woman who had both diabetes and raised blood pressure. Alex reached for the seemingly eternal pile of paperwork and began reviewing and signing forms, his mind drifting to other things. Maisie was almost like a puzzle to be deciphered, and just now he had received another clue. I’ve no intention of grabbing him – or any other man, she had said. I’ve had my fill of handsome lads and I’m sticking to my own company!

While Alex, naturally, had no objection at all to being grabbed by Maisie, perhaps her response to Mrs Duffy had been nothing more than light-hearted deflection. Or maybe she genuinely had sworn off men? So the Anglican was no longer her boyfriend. Confirmed.

And if she had sworn off all men, it was likely because someone had hurt her. Someone handsome. The Anglican.

Had she also been indirectly implying that she thought he, Alex, was handsome? Perhaps. Or maybe he was doing too much thinking. Maybe none of it meant anything and he was well on the way to making an eejit of himself.

‘Well!’ It was Dan, pulling him out of his reverie. ‘How did you get on?’

Alex gave a summary on Mrs Duffy while Dan updated him on his own case. It was so helpful to have someone else to bounce things off – particularly someone at the exact same career stage. After checking on the women in rooms 1 and 5 they met again in the staffroom, idly chatting while doing paperwork.

‘Oh, here! I meant to say to you earlier,’ Alex kept his tone light. ‘That dance – the first fundraiser in the Orpheus – it’s this day week. Should we go, and try to persuade the girls to go?’

Dan sent him a knowing glance. ‘The girls? Peggy and Maisie?’

‘Aye. Just them.’ Not Priscilla.

‘Nice girl, Maisie Canavan. Isn’t she?’ There was a twinkle in his eye as he said it.

Alex narrowed his eyes in mock aggression. ‘Back off, a kara. You already have one!’

Dan laughed. ‘Nice use of Irish there, Alex – though you’d have been better saying mo chara there, rather than a chara.’

‘Let me guess. “My friend”?’

‘Exactly! Jaysus, we’ll make a gaeilgeoir of you yet!’

‘And that means . . .?’

‘Someone who speaks Irish. Like Henry Joy McCracken did. And Eddie Carson!’

‘That’s Lord Carson to you, son!’ Alex shot back with a fake patronising air.

‘Nah.’ Dan laughed. ‘We don’t hold with no lords where I come from. Every man on his own merit.’

Alex nodded. ‘Fair enough. But who’s this McCracken boy?’

‘You’re joking, right?’

Alex shook his head. While the name was familiar, he couldn’t recall exactly where he’d heard it.

‘He was one of yours – a Belfast Presbyterian. Founded the United Irishmen to rebel against English rule. Wanted a free independent Ireland to unite Catholic, Protestant, and dissenter. He led the 1798 rebellion here.’

Alex was frowning. ‘I know who you mean now, but I don’t think he’s approved of in my church. They don’t talk about him much.’

‘Aye, doesn’t surprise me. But he was proof that politics and religion don’t have to be tied together. There’s Catholics that are content to be part of the British Empire, and I know there’s Protestants who would rather have an independent united Ireland.’

‘You might be right.’ Alex thought for a moment. ‘What would you say would be the advantages of a united Ireland, then?’

Dan leaned forward, his eyes shining. ‘You might be sorry you asked me that, for I’m going to tell you, in great detail.’ He grinned. ‘I’ll tell you the disadvantages, too, never worry.’