Positively Yours (35 page)

Beth's heart sank, she had forgotten her bags were in her dad's car.

‘I don't have them,' she almost cried.

Joe looked a little shocked, but he knew it was important not to let her get upset.

‘It doesn't matter. The hospital will give you anything you need, and the baby won't care what you, or it, is wearing. Don't worry.'

Beth went into the bedroom to get her handbag and shoes. She saw on the locker her mother's Immaculate Medal on its old silver chain. Her dad had given it to her to protect her while she was pregnant. It meant a lot to her. She put it around her neck, and said a quick prayer that everything would go OK. Then she slowly staggered down the stairs and into the taxi. They headed into town. Joe was very kind and tried to
help her by playing Lyric FM and rolling down all the windows. As Mozart blared out, Beth tried not to scream every time she felt a contraction. She prayed she wouldn't give birth in the back of the taxi. Finally they were in Holles Street. The door man ran out to her with a wheelchair. He helped Beth into it, and said he would bring her straight up to admissions.

Beth opened her handbag and tried to find money to pay Joe.

‘As if I'd take money off you! You've enough to worry about,' he said. Beth thanked him for his generosity and kindness.

‘I just hope it all goes well for you. Take care.' And with that Joe was gone.

Beth was whisked up to admissions, and as she gave the lady her details confessed she didn't have her bags.

‘That's OK. We can give you a gown and anything else you need later. I'll bring you up to a room now, and one of the doctors will be with you straight away.'

Soon she was hooked up to the ultrasound machine. The nurse was very kind and kept reassuring her.

‘I know on your first it's hard not to panic, but you'll be fine. We deliver thousands of babies a year. You just relax, let us do the worrying.'

Before long the doctor came in and explained to Beth what was going on.

‘Now, we can see on the screen that the baby is very far down and his heartbeat is good. But you're not dilated just yet, so technically you're not in labour.'

‘I'm not?' said Beth, shocked.

‘I know it feels like you are, but you're not quite. But I would say once those contractions get a little stronger you will be, and we'll transfer you to the labour ward. You just might have another couple of hours to go before that.'

Beth couldn't believe it, she'd thought she was very far along.

‘The nurse will bring you one of the yoga balls, they are great to help with movement, and plenty of walking the corridors is good, too.'

‘Can I get some pain relief?' she asked.

‘Only paracetamol for now.'

‘My back is so sore,' Beth said, almost crying. ‘When can I get the epidural?'

‘Not until you're dilated. But I promise the minute you are you can have it.' And with that the doctor's pager beeped, and he was off to help someone else.

Beth was being transferred to a ward, and as she waited with a nurse for the old-fashioned lift to arrive she felt nervous. As mothers in their dressing gowns passed by with their newborns she began to feel panicky. They all looked so calm and relaxed, but Beth didn't think she could do this, she wasn't ready. Just then she heard her name being called. She turned around to see Grace Miller, one of the girls she'd met at her ante-natal classes. Grace looked great in denim cut-offs and a pink top. She was being followed by her husband Ethan, who was carrying a car seat. Inside the seat, peeping out from under a primrose-yellow blanket, was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.

‘This is Ava!' exclaimed Grace proudly. ‘She's only three days old.'

Beth looked at the tiny curled-up little girl. Ava had fair hair and big blue eyes, and was gorgeous.

‘We're heading home now,' said Grace. ‘The last few days here have flown by. I still can't believe I'm a mum!'

‘I've just been admitted,' said Beth, who could suddenly feel her back and stomach tighten.

‘We'd better let you go,' said Ethan, sensing they should leave her alone.

Grace gave Beth a quick hug.

‘You'll be fine,' she said. ‘If I can do it, anyone can!' she added.

‘Best of luck,' wished Ethan, and with that he and his new family walked down the stairs.

Beth felt so happy for them, but seeing Grace with her husband by her side made her feel very alone. The nurse reassured her that everything would be OK, but she wasn't listening as the pain in her back was strengthening. She couldn't wait for this to be over.

Once she got to the ward, Beth tried to rest but she couldn't, due to the strong contractions. There were three other girls in the room, all at the same stage as Beth. But the big difference was that they had husbands to rub their backs and get them water. Beth looked at her watch, it was now 6 a.m. She had waited long enough. She rang her dad.

‘What?' he screamed. ‘Jesus Christ, this is really happening. Why didn't you ring me earlier?'

Beth almost laughed, it was so unusual to hear her dad curse.

‘OK, I'm getting into the car this second. Don't you worry, pet, I'll be there as fast as I can. You hang on.'

Beth put down the phone and swallowed some more paracetamol. She tried to sit on the ball, but her back was just so sore. She kept checking her watch to see what time it was, and wondered when her dad would be in. She had never needed or wanted him so badly.

Half an hour later, she heard the sound of her dad's shoes.

‘Beth? Beth?' he called out.

She pulled back the blue curtains. There stood William Prendergast with his hair sticking up, his face unshaven, and
his clothes looking crushed. He had her hospital bags in his hands.

‘I don't think I even locked the house,' he said, aware that she'd noticed how dishevelled he was. ‘But don't you worry, pet. I'm here for you now.'

He bent down and gave her a big hug. Beth dissolved into tears. She had never needed one more.

‘You'll be fine,' he said, as he passed her a bottle of cold water and began to rub her back, the way he had been told to in the ante-natal class. Beth felt herself relax, she wasn't alone. She had the best man imaginable by her side, her dad.

THE NEXT FEW
hours were very tough. Beth paced the corridors, bounced on the yoga ball and prayed as hard as she could – anything to help her get things moving. She was in immense pain, but finally she was transferred to the labour ward.

‘This is it,' said a young nurse. ‘You can change into this gown now, as things will get a little messy.'

Beth thought she would have been embarrassed sitting in a small gown in front of her dad, but once her waters broke, there was nothing left to be embarrassed about.

‘I've seen it all before,' was all William needed to say, to remind Beth that this might be her first time, but it wasn't his.

Once Beth knew the end was in sight she calmed down, until she heard it was too late to get the epidural.

‘I'm sorry, Ms Prendergast, but you've progressed so quickly that it's too late for that now. But you can still use the gas and air.'

Beth started crying; she had crippling back pain. But, encouraged by her dad, she tried to soldier on. And really, labour was not as dramatic as films made it out, there was no shouting, roaring or fighting.

‘Childbirth is a natural thing,' said the nurse reassuringly.

Her dad held her hand as the nurse and doctor explained what was happening. Beth trusted the experienced staff and knew they had her baby's best interests at heart, although that still didn't ease the intense pain she was in. At times she couldn't help but cry out. She often felt like she wouldn't be able to continue – the pain was too much. But with the encouragement and support of her dad she found the strength to carry on. And at this point she just couldn't wait to see her little child, and find out if it was a boy or girl.

‘OK, Beth, you're doing really well, but soon we are going to need you to push. Wait until I tell you, and then push very hard.'

Beth held her dad with one hand and had the other firmly grasped on the holy medal around her neck.

For a few minutes the room seemed to spin, she was pushing and pushing and listening to the doctor, but it all felt like an out-of-body experience.

‘Well done!' shouted the nurse.

‘It's all over,' said another.

‘That was quick for a first-time mum,' said the doctor. ‘You've done great. Congratulations.'

Beth tried to look down but couldn't see properly. She gazed at her dad. There were tears rolling down his face.

‘It's a boy. A beautiful little boy,' he said, as the nurse placed the little bundle into his arms. Beth felt as if she had just won a hundred million euros. She was the luckiest person in the world. The nurse checked the baby and wiped him clean, and though Beth tried to listen as the doctor explained what was happening, she couldn't concentrate. All she wanted was to hold her son. Finally her dad walked over to her.

‘He's amazing. I'm so proud of you, Beth. And I know your mum is, too.'

William placed the little baby into Beth's arms. Beth felt
the world grind to a halt as she looked into his eyes for the first time. She was in love. He was beautiful. He held her gaze. Beth suddenly felt complete. All these years she had been lonely, without a mother, siblings or a real man in her life, but now that was over. She had her family right here. And when her dad put his arms around them both she knew her son was safe. He would be protected by them both for ever. Herself and her dad would do everything to love, care and provide for him.

Beth snuggled her son into her. She could feel his heartbeat. She touched his soft skin. She was amazed that this thing of pure beauty and perfection had come out of her.

‘I've been dying to meet you,' she said to him. ‘I'm going to mind, protect and love you for ever.'

The baby snuggled deeper into her chest. Suddenly he moved his hand and it brushed against the medal hanging from her neck. Beth was sure it was a sign from her mum. Tears of joy rolled down her face.

‘Welcome to the world, William,' she said. Her dad looked at her, surprised.

‘Yes, Dad. I want to name him after you. I love you,' she said. ‘Thank you for the last few months, I couldn't have survived without you.'

William stood looking at his only child and his grandchild. He felt he would burst with emotion. ‘I'm your dad, what else could I have done? I adore you. And now we have this little man to love. We're very lucky.'

Beth knew he was right. Her situation with Tom had not worked out, and bringing up a baby alone was not ideal, but as she looked at her son she knew she wouldn't change a thing. He was all she needed and wanted.

Beth was wheeled down to her own room. As the nurse helped her into the bed, her dad was whisked off by an older midwife to help clean, wash and dress the baby.

‘The men have to get used to helping out from the start,' insisted the nurse, as she pushed William and the baby into the nursery.

Beth sat up in bed, still amazed at how much her life had changed in the last months – and again in the last few minutes. It wasn't long before her dad returned, talking to little William.

‘Now I'll teach you all about rugby, football and golf. You're going to be great at sport, and I can tell by your eyes that you'll be clever, too. I'm so proud of you,' he said, hugging the baby tight.

Beth suddenly saw that little William could be the son her dad had always wanted, someone to talk to about sport, someone to kick a ball around with. Her dad had made mistakes when Beth was growing up, but she could tell now that he would be a better grandfather than father, and that her son would be so lucky to have him around.

Later on, when her dad had gone home for a well-earned sleep, Beth sat in her bed staring at her new son. He was curled up, dozing in her arms. He was like all the Prendergasts, and had her fair hair, but it was the shape of his eyes that surprised her. They were Tom's. It seemed to her that there was the faintest hint of green to them. Beth knew she would need to ring Tom, to let him know he had a son, but that phone call could wait. Little William might have driven Tom and Beth apart, but he had also helped cement the bond between Beth and her own dad. And for now the only man in her life that she wanted to talk to was him.

Beth smiled at William Prendergast Junior. She knew he hadn't been born into the most idyllic family set-up, and that
rearing him alone would be hard work. But as she looked at his little nose, eyes and mouth she knew she couldn't possibly love anything in the world more. She squeezed him tight. He was all hers. He was her little boy. She couldn't ask for anything else, she had it all right here.

‘
I OWE YOU
an apology, Ciara.'

Erin Delany stood on the doorstep of her former client's house. Through the open door she could see the kitchen extension that she'd helped design. But a lot had happened since she'd last been here.

‘I should have been more available to meet and work together with you on the job I started. I'm sorry,' said Erin. Ever since Ciara Ryan had announced her pregnancy and decided she needed help decorating a playroom and designing a nursery, Erin had been avoiding her. She always found excuses not to call in with fabric or flooring samples, instead sending them by post or with her partner, Paula. And she tried to do most of their communicating by phone even when she knew Ciara would prefer to see her in person. Erin had let her jealousy cloud her judgement and professionalism.

‘It's OK, I understand you were so busy with other work. We were very happy with how the house turned out, and the way it was done just in time, before baby Jake and all the madness came upon us,' said Ciara, who, rather than looking her usual immaculate self, appeared a little frazzled in her tracksuit. Her hair was tied back and her face pale.