Part 6 (1/2)
”I must remember that,” said Matthew.
At the end of the cla.s.s Joan gave her rallying speech.
”So people, hopefully you have now had a chance to think about what is going to happen during labour and how you will make the most of this glorious experience as you prepare to welcome your new baby into the world. Remember millions of people have gone through this before, but your birth will be totally unique and should be treasured and cherished as one of the most important experiences of your life. Think about it like that and not something to be blocked out at all costs by artificial means. You ladies are blessed, truly blessed to have a body that has performed the miracle of conceiving a child, don't doubt your body now. Don't doubt that it can't complete this phenomenon. You can do it on your own if you really want to; I have absolute faith in all of you. Now any last questions before we leave?”
”So if the first epidural doesn't block out all the pain, will they give me another one?” asked Charlene.
Joan stared at Charlene for a few seconds before saying, with a sigh, ”They will give you whatever you and the doctor think is necessary and good for you and the baby. OK guys that's enough for today. Can you just stack the chairs on your way out and we will see you next week.”
”I so want to have a natural birth but I'm scared that I won't be able to, then I'll feel like I've really let these two down,” said Alison to Katy, almost in tears as they shuffled towards the door.
Katy looked at her for the first time as just another woman, petrified at the thought of giving birth, rather than Matthew's wife who needed to be avoided at all costs.
”You'll be OK. It's twins after all. You'll be a hero however they come out,” Katy found herself saying.
”Do you think so? You sound just like my friend Karen. She's always telling me not to be so stupid whilst being really nice at the same time,” said Alison.
”I guess you must be missing your friends at the moment,” Katy said before realising that she was entering into conversation with the one who should not be spoken to.
”Desperately,” said Alison as a tear slid down her left cheek. ”I thought moving up here was going to be perfect. I've planned it so carefully because you have to don't you, when you have a family to think about. But it's hard without friends and family around you. And Matthew works really long hours now he's a partner so I spend a lot of time on my own.” Another tear leaked out of her left eye.
”Please don't cry,” said Katy, panicking for the second time that evening. ”You've only just moved. You'll make new friends once the babies have arrived, that's what everyone says always happens,” said Katy, now desperate to stop the substantial leakage down Alison's cheeks.
”You're right; I know you're right. Sorry to be such a cry baby. Look I know I don't know you but Matthew told me that he remembered you went to school together so you know him, though not very well he said. Why don't you and Ben come round for dinner this weekend? I think I'll scream if I don't get some adult conversation with someone other than Matthew and the midwife,” said Alison.
The invitation hung in the air as Katy stared at Alison in horror. How had this happened? How was she standing here being invited to dinner by the wife of the man who may have made her pregnant?
It was then that she saw something move very fast in the corner of her eye as someone or something came hurtling towards them. She turned and saw that it was actually Matthew, who appeared to be going for the record in sprinting across a hospital room.
He arrived at where Alison and Katy were standing narrowly avoiding the embarra.s.sment of stopping via a skid.
”What's wrong? Why are you crying?” asked Matthew, just a little bit out of breath.
”Oh it's just me being silly darling,” said Alison. ”I was just telling Katy that she reminds me of Karen and then I started missing her and I just couldn't help it. Stupid I know. Anyway tell Katy that she and Ben must come to dinner on Sat.u.r.day to stop me going out of my mind with boredom. You can reminisce about old times and Katy can tell me all your secrets about what you were really like at school. I bet he was good looking wasn't he?”
”Well they must already have plans,” said Matthew, blind panic written on his face. ”You can't just expect them to drop everything to entertain us.”
”No a no plans,” came a voice from behind them. ”We'd love to come. You can show me that signed cup programme you were bragging about earlier,” said Ben.
”Perfect, that's settled then,” said Alison getting a pre-printed address card out of her bag and handing it to Katy. ”We'll see you at 7.30pm.”
And with that she whisked off down the corridor, dragging Matthew behind her, leakage miraculously cured and a pleased smile on her face.
Chapter 10.
”We'll have to get a move on, Rick and Braindead will be waiting,” said Ben as soon as they were outside.
”What?” asked Katy, barely listening after the turn of events in the last five minutes.
”Remember? We're going for a beer with them so we can organise Rick's stag-do,” said Ben.
”Oh G.o.d I'd completely forgotten. Don't you want to go on your own? You don't need me there do you?” asked Katy.
”Of course we do. If you're not there we'll never get it sorted. We got p.i.s.sed last time and couldn't remember a thing we decided,” said Ben. ”Besides we said we were going to the Red Lion in Otley. The guys are really looking forward to it.”
”I bet they are,” said Katy with a sigh. Her determination not to let the pregnancy affect their social life had been fully welcomed by Ben and his mates who suddenly found themselves with a free taxi service. However lately to her dismay she had found herself longing to be tucked up in bed by 9 o'clock, rather than having a night with the boys, even if it was usually highly entertaining.
”Let's go then,” she said, fumbling for her keys.
”You're a star,” said Ben. ”After the baby arrives I'll drive you all the time, I promise. Braindead's even offered his babysitting services to us. He says he loves kids apparently.”
”Ben, I like Braindead, you know I do, but I doubt he even knows where babies come from never mind being able to look after one.”
”Are you implying that my very good friend Braindead is a virgin?” asked Ben. ”April 3rd 2001, Nicola Sherwin at precisely 11.56pm in a bus shelter in Headingly.”
”How did he know it was 11.56pm?” Katy barely dared ask.
”Because the bus stop had one of those electronic sign thingies,” explained Ben. ”He said as he was givin' it some when he saw the sign flash up that his bus would be arriving at 11.57pm. He didn't want to miss it so he put his foot down and just managed it with one minute to spare. Don't think Nicola was impressed though. He got on the bus and just left her standing there. Braindead idiot.”
They reached the car and Ben leant over and gave Katy a quick squeeze around her shoulders.
”Come on love, a dose of insanity will do you good. You need to relax. This pregnancy malarkey is getting you all stressed out, I can tell,” said Ben giving her a sympathetic smile.
You have no idea, she thought as she got into the car. Still, maybe he was right. Perhaps a night out with Ben and his mates would take her mind off what the h.e.l.l she was going to do about Alison's invitation to dinner.
They picked the boys up outside Whitelocks pub in the city centre.
”Alright.”
”Alright.”
”Alright.”
”Katy, when G.o.d made you, he took a star out of the sky and gave it a heart,” declared Rick.
”Then he chopped the moon in half and gave her the most glorious t.i.ts,” muttered Braindead.
”I heard that,” said Katy. ”Are you both drunk already?”
”Soz Katy,” said Braindead. ”But you do have glorious t.i.ts now you are pregnant and everything. I was just stating a fact,” he slurred slightly.
”So what about my t.i.ts before I was pregnant?” asked Katy indignantly.
”Well I can't say they were in my top five or anything. They were more like your kind of average everyday t.i.ts then. But yesterday I put you in my top five.”
”Yesterday? You mean you were thinking about my t.i.ts yesterday?”