Page 3 of Return to the Waratah Inn

Mima glanced down to see a puddle forming beneath Kate’s chair. “Are you contracting?”

“I’ve had this cramping feeling for a while now. Do you think that’s what it is?”

Mima shuffled over to Kate and took her hand. “How long has the cramping been going on?”

Kate bent over in pain, her eyes squeezed shut. She held her breath at first until Mima encouraged her to breathe. Then she burst out with, “It started yesterday, but I didn’t think it was a big deal. I’ve had those Braxton Hicks pains for weeks. It didn’t seem much different to that.”

“You’ve had contractions for twenty-four hours?” Mima didn’t want Kate to panic, but she was starting to feel the beginnings of it swirling in her own stomach.

Kate offered her a wan smile. “I guess so.”

“Okay, honey. We have to get you to the hospital.”

“Really? Can you call Alex first? He wants to drive me. He said so this morning when he was getting ready for work. He’s not supposed to be at school since it’s summer holidays, but he went in today to get ready for the new school year. He’s got my overnight bag in his truck.”

“Of course,” Mima replied. “I’ll call Alex. You just stay right here and relax. It’s your first baby, so I’m sure you have plenty of time. I’ll let the hospital know you’re coming as well. Can I get you anything?”

“Maybe a pillow for my back. I have this horrible aching pain…”

“Coming right up,” Mima replied. She shouted instructions to one of the waitresses, who ran to get Kate a pillow, while Mima hurried to the office to make phone calls.

Mima dialled Alex’s school, but no one answered. The next time she called, it went to voicemail. And the third time, a receptionist took a message and promised to pass it on to Alex, but there was no one else around, and she couldn’t be sure when she could get away to walk around the campus and locate him. Mima did her best not to get frustrated with the young woman, but it really was irritating that she seemed so nonplussed by the whole situation.

After she hung up the phone, she listened for the dial tone and called the hospital to inform them that Kate would be on her way soon. Then she called Reeda at home. Reeda declared that she’d been tasked with bringing the music for labour, so they couldn’t start without her. After that, Mima found Bindi tidying up in the library at the inn and let her know what was going on. Bindi promised to come as soon as she’d finished helping a guest find the book they wanted. Mima chortled to herself as she traipsed back to Kate, who was now swaying on her hands and knees on the floor. It was finally happening, they were having a baby.

“Oh, honey,” Mima said, pressing both hands to her own cheeks. “Everyone’s on their way. Look at you. Are you in pain?”

Kate nodded, her face scrunched up. Bindi burst into the room, her eyes wild. “Where is she?” She spotted Kate on the floor and hurried to embrace her. “Are you okay? Why are you on the floor?”

She helped Kate to her feet. Kate was breathing hard.

“I’m fine. It hurt, so I got down on the floor. I don’t know why. I can’t think straight. We should go. Is Alex close? He’s going to drive me.”

“Alex will be on his way shortly, but I don’t think we can wait for him, love.” Mima exchanged a worried look with Bindi, whose face had lost all its colour.

“No, we’ve got to get you to the hospital. Now,” Bindi added.

Mima took one hand while Bindi took the other, and they led Kate through the back door and onto the verandah, where she stopped for another contraction.

Kate groaned. “I don’t want to be here. I can’t do this. Let go of me—I’m leaving.” She threw Mima and Bindi off and staggered towards the stairs leading down to the garden.

Mima followed her. “Honey, stop! You can’t go anywhere. You’re in transition. You’ve got to stay put. The baby is coming.” She reached for Kate’s hand. “It’s too late to go to the hospital now—if you get in that car, you’ll give birth on the side of the road. Come over here. We’ll get you some towels. You’re going to be okay.” Mima nodded to Bindi, who rushed inside.

Kate followed meekly, letting Mima pull her by the hand. “How do know I’m in transition?” She let out a loud cry, which devolved into a groan.

Mima rubbed a circular motion on Kate’s lower back. “Because you’re acting nutty and trying to escape.” She tutted softly. “It’s a classic sign. I was a midwife, remember? I’ve seen it a thousand times. And I know you’re going to be fine because I’m going to help you deliver this baby.”

Kate pressed her hands to the verandah railing, and leaned forward to breathe deeply. “Okay.” She didn’t say anything more, her eyes squeezed shut. She was focused and had retreated into herself. Mima recognised the look. The baby was coming.

Seagulls called in unison in the distance, followed by the keening of the hooded plovers that often camped out in the parking lot. Someone had arrived at the inn and disturbed their day. Mima often wondered why these plovers had the instinct to build their nests and then raise their very vulnerable young chicks running around a car park, but they returned every year without fail. She’d grown fond of the little plover family and prayed each year that at least one of their babies would make it. These were the thoughts that flitted through her head as she helped Kate get comfortable on a cushioning of towels.

Just then, Reeda burst through the back door, frantically waving a discman with headphones about. “I have the music!”

“There you are, sweetheart. I need your help over here.”

Reeda froze, swallowing. “What’s going on? Why are you sitting on the verandah?”

“We’re about to have a baby,” Mima said, pressing one finger to her lips in the universal sign to be quiet.