I'm sorry it's taken me this long to continue this story. My grandmother passed away two weeks ago, and last week was half term and I had the kids with me all day.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this next chapter.
The morning flew by fast. Patient after patient. It was a calm morning, no emergencies. And now it was time to go to the clinic.
Walking into the big hall, she felt more nervous than she had been all day. What if she did something wrong? This morning, she had mostly watched, and handed Patrick the instruments he needed.
Emma stayed silent while Nurse Crane handed out the assignment, but frowned when her name wasn't read out. "What about me?" She asked.
"Why don't you help Nurse Mount?" Shelagh suggested. "She'll be doing pre-natal checks all afternoon. It would be a perfect place for you to start."
Emma smiled and nodded. "Of course."
"Don't worry, Nurse Turner." Nurse Mount smiled, winking at the teenage girl. "Emma will be quite safe in my hands."
Emma smiled at the nurse.
"All that's left to do now, is book your appointment for a home visit. To make sure everything is really for when the baby comes."
"Thanks, nurse." The woman replied. "Can't wait to see this baby." She rubbed circles on her belly. "And I want our baby to be born in our bed."
"Of course you do." Nurse Mount replied. "And as long as one of the midwifes signs off, that's exactly what's going to happen."
Emma waited until the expectant mother had left, before turning to Nurse Mount.
"She'll deliver at home?" She asked, shocked. "Not in a hospital?"
Nurse Mount smiled. "Of course. They're more comfortable in their own home. They prefer it that way." She hesitated, looking around to make sure no one could hear them. "Don't they do it that way, you know, where you're from?"
Emma shook her head. "It's very uncommon to have a home birth. People say it's dangerous, having a homebirth with no one there to help you if things go wrong."
"They won't be alone." Nurse Mount assured her. "We will be there. We always are"
"Midwives work in hospitals, now." Emma said. She hesitated. "I had never heard of a maternity home, before coming here."
Nurse Mount frowned. "They don't have them anymore?"
Emma grimaced. "I'm sorry."
The afternoon passed quickly. Emma had enjoyed helping out. She even got to hold a few babies.
"You're a natural, Emma." Patrick said, smiling.
Emma smiled.
"Have you ever thought about being a nurse?" He continued.
Emma snorted but faltered when she saw his expression. "Are you serious?"
Patrick nodded. "Very."
"I'm only lending a hand." Emma smiled shyly. "I'm not a nurse."
"You could very well be one."
Emma smiled shyly. She wasn't sure what to think of it. Could he be right? She looked around the room. She could imagine herself doing this, when she was older. Maybe he was right. Maybe this could be her future. In any case, it would give her something to do. Something to pass the days.