A Baby at the Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond

Author:Lucy Diamond [Diamond, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447278320
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Chapter Nine

Evie

There was just a week to go now before my due date and I had already felt a few contractions, where my belly became so hard it took my breath away. ‘They’re called Braxton Hicks contractions,’ my midwife, Maria, said when I phoned in a panic the first time. ‘It’s perfectly normal. Just your body having a practice, that’s all.’

I raised my eyebrows, astonished that anyone would feel the need to practise extreme pain. ‘Err . . . right. Does that mean Walnut – I mean, the baby – will be here soon?’

‘It means your body is getting ready for the birth. You could still be waiting a good few weeks yet, though. First babies are often late.’

A few days passed and then it was Saturday. I was starting to lose track of time, now that I no longer had a regular routine. Saturday was ‘Change-Over Day’, though – the day lots of people left Carrawen Bay at the end of their holidays, swiftly followed by a huge influx of new arrivals in their place. A quietness fell on the village after ten o’clock in the morning, as most people had to be out of their holiday cottages by then. Across Carrawen, beds would be remade and carpets hoovered in the guest houses, while here in the café we would write menus, check stock and plan for the next busy week ahead.

On Saturday afternoon lots of customers would pour in, and the café always became very busy. We also ran a popular evening dinner service on Friday and Saturday nights, which booked up very quickly.

Saturday, in other words, was about the worst day of the week that Walnut could pick to be born. And so, when I felt a few strange twinges around midday on this Saturday, I chose to ignore them. Probably just more Braxton Hicks contractions, I told myself. Yet another practice session before the big day. There was no way I was going to get Ed flapping, when he had so much to do already, not least with a fully booked restaurant that evening. ‘Just hang on until tomorrow, will you, Walnut?’ I said, typing up the menu for that evening.

In reply came that strange gripping, squeezing sensation again and my attempt to type ‘Cornish ale-battered haddock’ became Ccornnnishaaaa, before my hands fell off the keyboard.

‘Right,’ I said, taking a few deep breaths. ‘Like that, is it? Hmm.’

I busied myself typing the menus and printing them off, then began ironing the tablecloths and napkins for that evening. Friday and Saturday nights were the only times we dressed up the café in restaurant finery – tablecloths and nice cutlery and tealights on the tables. We allowed dinner guests to bring their own alcohol and served a simple menu, and there was always a lively, relaxed air.

It made me feel really proud, seeing the place full of so many people enjoying their evening, especially when the Carrawen locals came to dine here. Tonight, for instance, I knew that Ruby Woodward’s family had booked a table for ten to celebrate her eighteenth birthday.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.