The Midwives of Raglan Road by Jenny Holmes

Author:Jenny Holmes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2016-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The word was out. Sylvia was in hospital at risk of miscarriage. Norman was at her bedside.

Rose was the first to praise the part Hazel had played in events. ‘It’s a good job you stood up to Mabel and made her call the ambulance when you did,’ she told her amongst the sawdust and makeshift furniture of Sylvia and Norman’s kitchen. ‘Goodness knows what would have happened otherwise.’

‘Let’s all keep our fingers crossed,’ Robert added, still at work with saw and screwdriver. He’d stayed on after Norman had got the call to go to hospital, determined to get the place shipshape.

No one knew the real reason why things had gone wrong for Sylvia and, as always, Hazel kept her own counsel. She’d simply handed over the empty pill box to the ambulance driver and watched him take the patient away. Now it was in the hands of the doctors and all she could do was hope and pray.

‘What was Mabel thinking?’ Rose handed out the tea after she’d poured it from a vacuum flask. Then she picked up a broom and started to sweep. ‘Anyone could see that poor Sylvia was in a bad way.’

‘That’s the trouble with these old girls.’ Rarely one to criticize, on this occasion Robert considered their neighbour to be in the wrong. ‘They reckon they know everything and they’re too stubborn and set in their ways to call the doctor. But they only have herbal remedies and such like. What’s the use of them in this day and age?’

Hazel smiled warmly. It was a long speech from her father and showed touching faith in the training she’d gone through.

‘That’s right,’ Rose agreed. ‘I’ll make sure everyone knows how lucky it was for Sylvia that you were passing.’

‘I didn’t do much,’ Hazel pointed out. She looked out of the window at the gathering dusk and at a stray ginger cat weaving its way between over-filled dustbins. Through the open door she heard the sound of approaching footsteps then voices exchanging goodbyes. Soon after, a weary-looking Norman appeared in the doorway.

‘How is she?’ Rose rushed to greet him and made him sit down. ‘What did the doctor say?’

‘He gave her something to stop her being sick. They’re going to be all right – both her and the baby.’ Norman spoke the word ‘baby’ with an air of disbelief. ‘She just needs to rest.’

‘Was that Ethel we heard outside?’ Robert asked. ‘Was she at the hospital with you?’

‘Yes, there were three of us there – me, Sylvia’s mother and Gladys – all crowding round the bed. In the end they chucked us out so Sylvia could get some sleep.’

‘Right you are; I’ll make myself scarce.’ Deciding that Ethel would be a better source of more detailed information, Rose hurried away.

Hazel was about to follow her but was only a few steps across the yard when Norman came after her.

‘I want to say thank you,’ he began stiffly.

‘There’s no need – honestly.’

He chewed his lip and frowned. ‘You knew, didn’t you? That she’s having a baby, I mean.

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