Page 60 of A Little Bit More

“There’s a doctor coming,” Mairi told them with a grin. “I’ve always wanted to shout ‘is there a doctor in the house?’.”

“We’re thrilled for you,” Agnes said.

Isobel flopped back, her head banging on the hard floor. Callum cursed. At least this was something he could help with.

“I’m going to let go of you for a second,” Callum said to Isobel. “I’m just taking my jacket off. Okay?”

She nodded, her eyes glued to his, as though he were her lifeline. He quickly removed the jacket, rolled it up and put it under her head. Damn, he hated seeing her in pain.

He leaned into her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’d take all the pain if I could. Bloody hate seeing you like this. I read up on the drugs you should have had. I thought I had it covered.”

“You’re here. That’s all that matters. Just don’t let go of my hand.”

“I won’t. I promise.” He kissed her lips. “Don’t you know I’d do anything for you?”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Except let me have a girls’ night out without you.”

“Except that.” He wasn’t even going to mention how glad he was that he’d elbowed his way into joining them.

There was a commotion behind them, and Agnes got up to deal with it. Callum was vaguely aware of her talking to the manager before calling out that the doctor had arrived. A middle-aged woman in a black cocktail dress smiled at them as she made herself comfortable on the floor beside Donna.

“Well,” she said, “you really are having this baby.” She looked past Callum to the door. “We need the house medical kit. Inform the ambulance that the baby’s being born right now and to prepare for a newborn.”

Someone darted off behind them.

“You’re doing great,” the doctor told Isobel. “I’m Michelle. I’m an emergency resident at the Royal London Hospital. Is this your first baby?”

Isobel shook her head. Her face red, sweat dripped from her brow, smudging her makeup and making her mascara run. “Third.”

“How long has she been in labor?” the doctor asked as someone pushed into the room and handed her a case with a red cross on it.

The sisters shared a look.

It was Agnes who answered. “We have no idea. It came on out of nowhere. She didn’t mention having contractions. The first we knew of it was when she lay down on the floor.”

“It can sometimes happen like that. Are you ready to push?” the doctor asked Isobel.

Her reply was a groan, and her body spasmed, almost as though curling in on itself.

“You’re doing great.” Michelle kept her attention firmly on the baby. “That’s the head out. Well done, you. Now let’s get those shoulders.”

“The head’s out,” Mairi shouted to the audience, and there was a cheer.

“Okay,” the doctor said. “Let’s have another push. We’re nearly there.”

Callum held Isobel’s hand tight, feeling more helpless than he’d ever felt in his life. He was supposed to protect her from all kinds of pain, even this. Donna came around to kneel on Isobel’s other side and flashed Callum a look filled with understanding before smiling her encouragement at Isobel.

A chant started in the theater: “You can do it. You can do it. You can do it…”

A flash went off behind Callum, but he kept his focus on his wife. “Agnes,” he rumbled.

“I’m on it. No photos,” Agnes raged as she rushed for the door. There was a thud, a squeal, and then the door slammed shut with Agnes back in the box. “Don’t worry, I deleted it.” She positioned herself in front of the door. If anyone else wanted in, they’d have to go through her.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Isobel wailed. “I don’t want to have another baby.”

The doctor chuckled. “If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard that.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Callum said. “You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you.”