-31- A family to love
A few months passed and then a few more. I was eight and a half months gone when I went into labour. Cliff had built a nursery section in our bedroom and he had made all the mobiles by hand. It seemed he could not wait for the day our daughter was born. Neither could I. My belly stretched over my feet by two inches. It was like carrying twins. Also our bond had been interrupted by the pregnancy so he didn't like me to go out too much.
Lisa had added another parlour room onto the house for my birthing and my dad had helped with getting a birthing bed. One of the priestess' from the pagan society was a trained midwife. And as my contractions increased she helped me into my night gown while Cliff sat me up for her to ease the small shift over my head and as I sat back another contraction gripped me. Cliff put his hand on my tummy as the pain rode through my body.
A few hours later my waters broke and the contractions increased. Cliff was sitting behind me massaging my back as the pain ripped through me. "I can't do this" I wailed. "You can, love, it's nearly over" he soothed.
The priestess motioned to the gas and air and Cliff handed me the tube to breathe on.
"Prudence, the head is crowning, it should not be too long now my dear." Cliff reached down between my legs to feel the head of his baby daughter. He grinned and kissed me then. "Right, prudence, when I say push, just push as hard as you can" I nodded and gasped for breath. "Now, push my girl!" I sat up using his knees for leverage and pushed with all the strength I had left in my body. The midwife had a blanket ready as the baby left my tired body. We both cried as she cleaned the babies eyes, ears and nose then she placed my wondrous child on my tummy for me. "I have the perfect name for you my darling child." Cliff and I both sniffled and decided to call her Athena as we gazed at her with love. She opened her eyes and looked at me then.
"My heart is full of joy, Cliff , how can our lives get much better than this?" He looked at me with happy tears then. "I love you so much, Prudence" he ran to get Stanley and the rest of the family. We had lost Joe two months ago to cancer. Stanley held little Athena in his arms so gently and kissed her little cheeks as two tear drops made their way down his cheeks. "Oh Stanley, don't be sad, he is always watching us." I said smiling at him. "I know, I wish he had been here to see me hold my niece." I nodded knowingly.
My mum and my dad guided him so Cliff and I could rest up.