Connie was lying across the sofa wearing a pair of shorts and one of Cal's shirts. It was only 11 o'clock in the morning but she was feeling tired and wanted nothing more than to go back to bed. She had some music playing from the kitchen on the radio as she lay there not doing anything. Cal was at work and Grace was at school leaving Connie on her own.
She stretched out placing a hand to her ever growing bump. She was just past the three month mark and they'd had a scan the previous afternoon. Connie was spending more days at home, using the holiday she always had but never touched. Everyone was relieved that Connie seemed to be taking a step back so early on in her pregnancy, it meant it would be easier to get her to stop later on.
Her phone began to ring from the table beside her, a smile passing across her face. "Hello Dr Knight" "Good morning Mrs Knight. How are you feeling this morning?" Cal had left way before she was even considering waking up so she wasn't surprised he was calling her. "I'm alright, just tired…" she began to yawn just thinking about it causing Cal to laugh. "You laughing at me-" "Laughing? Never baby. Listen Charlie's asked if you want him to have Grace this weekend, give us a chance to sort things for when baby gets here."
Connie had been meaning to sort through everything so that it wasn't some mad rush leading up to the birth. "That would be amazing, thank you." Connie could hear someone talking in the background. "Get back to work, I'll see you when you get home. I love you-" "I love you too." She put her phone back on the table before spreading out on the sofa again.
It was a strange feeling for Connie to be lying around doing nothing with her day, it wasn't something she'd ever done. Connie sat up before moving to the kitchen and making some toast. It wasn't exactly breakfast but she hadn't eaten yet. Half way through her phone began to ring again, this time it was Rita.
"Rita-" "Connie it's Iain, we're on the way to the hospital baby number 2's on the way." Connie swallowed her mouthful before moving from the kitchen and running up the stairs. "Tell her I'll be there as soon as I can, okay bye." Connie chucked her phone to the bed before pulling on a pair of jeans and doing the buttons up of Cal's shirt. She pulled a jumper up from the bed unsure of whose it was until she put it on and the sleeves fell past her hands. Definitely Cal's.
Connie grabbed her phone running back down the stairs before swinging past the kitchen picking up the other piece of toast. She held it one hand while slipping on her shoes with the other. Standing back up she felt strange being in heels after being off her feet for a few days. Wandering out of the kitchen Connie grabbed her keys from the table and left the house.
The drive to the hospital was quick and Connie pulled up outside the ED. She went around the side and in through the main entrance making her way up to maternity. By the time she made it upstairs Iain was pacing back and forth across the corridor. "Hey is everything alright?" Iain went to speak as the corridor was filled with a loud cry. "Could say okay, could also say a complete nightmare." Connie smiled as she placed a hand on Iain's arm.
"We always knew Rita had a mouth on her… Are you not coming in?" Iain followed Connie into the room to see Rita resting her head back against the pillows. "Anyone would think you're having a little trouble there-" "Hilarious you are-agghh…" Connie moved to stand beside Rita while Iain stood on the opposite side.
She'd already been up there for an hour but nothing seemed to be happening. Rita was having contractions and her waters had broken but this baby did not want to come. "This is all your fault Iain!" Connie tried hiding the smile on her face as Rita continued to argue with him. "I think it's bo-" "I wouldn't be in here if it wasn't for you! Why have you even come back in here?"
Iain looked across at Connie who was just laughing. "Rita shut up you'd think-" "Do not start." Connie raised her hands in surrender before sitting in the chair beside the bed. Rita glanced across at her noticing Connie rubbing her stomach. "You okay?" That was all she could manage to say before another contraction came. "Yes I'm fine, I think it's you that's not so much." Rita smiled briefly before speaking to the midwife.
Yet another hour passed and Rita wasn't much closer to meeting her baby boy. "I'm just going to get a drink and call Cal anything you need?" Rita shook her head. "I'll get you a coffee Iain." He smiled his thanks before Connie slipped from the room.
It was almost 3 o'clock and Connie had been at the hospital for 3 hours with Rita. She yawned as she took her phone out of her pocket. "Hey is everything okay I saw your car out the front-" "It's fine I'm upstairs with Rita and have been all afternoon." She walked through the corridors of maternity before leaning against one of the walls and taking a breath. "You okay-" "I'm fine just really tired… Listen I'll call you if there's any more news."
Connie grabbed two drinks before taking them back through. "Thanks" Iain accepted it gratefully as Connie turned to the midwife. "Anything?" She smiled back. "Almost there… How long it takes to finish off is another matter." Rita groaned from the bed before sitting up. Iain watched her sitting forwards himself. "Woah Rita this isn't something you can just walk out of-" "I'm not walking out you idiot."
Rita let her legs fall over the edge of the bed as Connie put down her drink and helped Rita up. "I could really do with the toilet while I'm up." Connie nodded and walked with her across the room helping her the whole way.
Another hour went by as Connie watched Rita pace the room. "You can laugh but this, this will be you in 6 months." She laughed again before Rita straightened up slightly. Connie noticed and got up supporting her once more. She continued to walk back and forth across the room with her until Rita's breathing slowed. "Come on I think that's enough walking for now."
Rita lay back down before another contraction came. The midwife had disappeared from the room and nobody seemed to be coming. "Connie-" "Shut up Rita, it looks like you're ready… Just hold on and I'll find someone-" "I swear to god if you walk out of this room I'll kill you!" Connie turned back around to face Rita. "I need to push Connie this baby is coming now whether you want it to or not."
Connie nodded "Right." She lifted the blanket before glancing back to Rita. "Okay I can already see the head… You're going to have to push on the next contraction." Rita nodded taking a deep breath of entinox. "Okay-" "Okay push!" Rita cried out as she continued, Connie standing at the end of the bed while Iain held onto Rita's hand.