Problems came up at night when Phryne was in pain and got up again and again. Even sitting down couldn't ease the pain. She stood at the window for half of the night. She did not want to wake Jack, he had enough stress during the day and needed his sleep.
She did not want to wake him because of a bit of pain, which disappeared anyway when she's walking through the bedroom.
"Hello, my little one," Phryne said, staring at her belly in the darkness. "I know, I'm not the typical mother, but you are mine and I will protect you. " Phryne whispered, staring at the bed where Jack was still asleep. "He is a great person and will be a great father, trust me."
After a short one-sided conversation, Phryne tried to sleep again but without success.
"Phryne," Jack began, eyes closed in the darkness. " If you can not sleep, please tell me." and Jack opened his eyes. " I was wounded at the war, I know pain," Phryne nodded but did not look at him.
"I'm scared of childbirth," she whispers. "I know it's a natural process, but it scares me," Jack pulled her into his arms and talked to her until she fell asleep again.
That's what Jack did every night from now on, he also got up with Phryne in the middle of the night. The conversations in the shelter of the night were different. Phryne talked about her childhood and Jack about the war. Tears flowed and jokes were made, a very private moment.
While Jack and Phryne were still talking to Hugh and Dottie in the kitchen, Phryne joked for weeks, how it will be, to get the first sign of labor. Dottie drank her last sip of cocoa and Hugh smiled.
Phryne was nine months pregnant and had her first signs of labor at the kitchen table. "Jack," Phryne said afraid. Hugh jumped up in shock and on Dottie's face was a smile. Jack told Mr Butler to call Dr Mac.
Jack stood at the stairs and stared at the bedroom door together with Cec, Bert, Hugh and Mr. Butler. The hours passed and nothing happened.
Mrs Stanley disappeared a few minutes ago into Phryne's bedroom. Dot had called her, Phryne wanted Aunt Prudence by her side.
When Jack heard Phryne's first cry of pain, he flinched and Mr Butler handed Jack a glass of Scotch. "Everything will be fine," said Mr Butler, touching Jack's shoulder.
"Phryne, everything will be alright, remember your mother, she had two births," said Aunt Prudence and Phryne looked at her aunt with rage in her eyes and Mac grinned. "That's right Phryne, press all your anger out, show us your anger, I want to see your anger ," said Mac at the end of the bed.
Phryne screamed in pain and Jack got up from the step he was sitting on. He wanted to see her, but Aunt Prudence had forbidden it. No men in the room while Phryne was in labor. How long can a woman be in labor?
He'd never thought about that. Phryne had been in labor for ten hours now, the moon almost welcoming the sun. But Jack still did not hear the first cry of his child.
When Dot left the bedroom, she forgot to close the door completely and Jack looked through the open crack into the bedroom. Phryne laid on the bed with a sweat-soaked sheet on her body, tears ran down her cheeks as Aunt Prudence held her hand. Phryne's sweaty hair stuck to her face and Jack stood petrified at the door, trying not to make a sound.
"Inspector," said Dot, closing the door.
After another 4 hours and cups of coffee, he still heard nothing. Cec and Bert cleaned their taxi for the second time and Mr Butler cleaned the kitchen.
Phryne screamed again and then there was silence. Nothing, not even Mac saying something. Then after minutes, he heard the first cry of his child and the door opened.
"His name is John, he is a bit small but healthy," Mac said.
"Inspector, hello," said Aunt Prudence with his son in her arms. "Say hello, to the new member of the Fisher family, John William Fisher."
"Aunt P," both heard it from the bed.
"Yes, of course, I apologize, this is your son Inspector," she said, and laid the little bundle in Jack's arms.
Jack looked at his son for a long time, long eyelashes, long fingers and a light smile on his lips. One look and Jack forgot that he wanted a girl.
"You really called him John?" Jack asked, looking at his son.
"Inspector," said Aunt Prudence, "I think John is an excellent name for the little one." Phryne smiled and looked at Jack.
"Aunt P," said Phryne exhausted from the bed.
"Of course my dear," said Aunt P, leaving the bedroom with Dot and Mac.
"John," Jack said, sitting down on the bed next to Phryne.
"I think the name is perfect, just like his father," Jack smiled, he could not believe his eyes and laid John back in Phryne's arm.
" You are now a mother," Jack said.
"I know," and Phryne smiled at her son.