It Shouldn't Happen to a Midwife! by Jane Yeadon

Author:Jane Yeadon [Yeadon, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Perseus Books Group
Published: 2012-03-05T23:00:00+00:00

15

MISSION VAN

The van had slewed round. Marie was crying, which seemed unnecessary since Seonaid, apparently sound in wind and limb, was asking the driver what had kept him.

With timing better than in any B-movie the driver had cranked down his window, saying in a familiar voice and with the cool grace of a man accustomed to walking on water, ‘Hop in!’

I never thought I would be so pleased to see Raymond – or his old beat-up truck, even if since our last trip it had acquired a large crack that fractured the windscreen. The pink sticking plaster attempting to cover it added a rakish look, but still I thought it had more appeal than a Rolls-Royce.

The roar of the crowd faded as, scrambling aboard, we slammed the door behind us. ‘Let’s go then,’ he cried, throwing a devil-may-care arm out the window to slap the van side by way of encouragement.

We roared full throttle down the Falls Road. Cautiously, I felt around. Apart from football supporters robbed of their quarry something else was missing. ‘It’s too comfortable in the back. What have you done with the pelvis?’

‘Oliver took it. He and his girlfriend were planning some study and thought it might come in handy.’

‘I thought they’d gone their separate ways,’ said Seonaid. Sitting in the front, she had assumed the brace position. ‘And I see from the side we’re on, you’re practising for driving in France.’ She gripped her knees. ‘Personally, in case anybody feels like asking, I’d just like to survive here in the Oulde Country.’

‘Ah, don’t you be worrying now. This way makes cornering easy.’ Raymond pulled so hard on the steering wheel the van began to list in such a fashion it seemed impossible not to capsize. ‘Oliver and Bridie have made it up – seems she’d second thoughts after watching him play a big part in a recent delivery.’

‘She should have seen him playing an even bigger one in the sluice,’ I could have said had I not suddenly been jammed into Marie who was squeaking enough to show she was still alive. The van righted itself in time for another corner.

‘Look,’ boasted Raymond, ‘Grosvenor Road.’

‘I know,’ said Seonaid. ‘We’re so close to the road sign, I could have read it without my lenses and isn’t this the road that takes you to the main hospital and Maternity entrances? Since we girls are meant to take the tradesman’s entrance we’d hardly know this was here – not unless we were on a special tour.’ She sounded full of disapproval.

Wheels spun and we swayed as if in a drunken waltz. Then, making a crazy burst along a straight stretch, we screamed along before two-wheeling into a smaller road fronted by square buildings. They’d a liverish colour and were so utilitarian and uniform-looking we must have reached the hospital complex. With a sigh of relief Seonaid read out a sign on the first building. ‘Maternity! Well thank the Lord for that.’

‘Hitherto an unseen treasure,’ I said, taking in

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