Chapter 5
'Bert, I need you to come and take a look at my washing machine.' Martin barked at Bert as Bert let himself in through the back door.
'Oh no can do, Doc. You'll have to get yourself a plumber for that.' Bert laughed proudly.
'You are a plumber. Please don't behave like an imbecile, Bert.' Martin always felt like he was caught up in these pointless, inane conversations. 'Will you do it, or won't you, Bert? I have to keep my clothing and linen hygienic. Unlike you, so it seems. It's making an awful racket!'
'Sorry, Doc, no. The reason I'm here Doc is that I would like to discuss with you the issue of garden peas.'
'Bert!'
'Ok, Ok. £75 to look at the washing machine. Just a look. Not making any promises mind.'
Martin sighed. Why was absolutely everything a battle with these people? He was also aware how kind he had been to Louisa. '£45. Final offer. And I want it done by tomorrow evening.'
How could Bert turn down £45? 'Ok, Doc, twist my arm' he laughed. 'Now garden peas. The thing is this; I would like homegrown, fresh produce for my eatery.' Bert thought he sounded posh if he used the term 'eatery' instead of restaurant or café… 'But, I have no land whereas you,…you've got the land, you just don't use it.'
'What are you getting at, Bert?'
'I'd like to rent your garden, Doc. Well, when I say rent, I mean er, could I borrow it?'
'Borrow it? It's not a second-hand novel! You want to use my garden to grow fresh produce to fund your latest deluded ambition, for free?'
'Yes.' Bert looked hopeful.
'no.'
XXX
The was a kick. Then a flutter. Then another definite kick. There was a little protest happening- it didn't like being disturbed.
Louisa and Emily giggled as Emily poked and prodded to see exactly what baby was up to. Emily was the community midwife and Louisa loved her; she was so gentle and understanding and Louisa wholly trusted her.
'Well, looks like baby's head is engaged!' Emily announced excitedly and smiled at both Louisa, and the ever so bouncy baby.
'What?' This took Louisa by surprise! '….Isn't it too early for that? There's still 3 weeks to go. Is it something I've done?'
'Well, yes, it is something you've done. You've perfectly carried to almost full term now, and baby just can't wait any longer for a cuddle' She smiled sweetly.
She always made Louisa smile and feel relaxed, she definitely had that magic midwife touch and Louisa was so grateful. She knew she was being a bit uptight and any little thing, especially to do with the baby, pushed her into a wave of panic and fluster. She was feeling more and more nervous about the birth as each day flew past, and she was nervous about doing it alone. And the news that the baby's head was nicely tucked into her pelvis in preparation, just made it all so real.
'It's always easier said than done, but try to spend these last few weeks nice and relaxed, Louisa. Everything has been text-book-perfect up until now and there's nothing to suggest that delivery will be any different.'
'Yes, of course.' Louisa stroked her tummy, She felt as thought it was now physically impossible to grow any bigger! Every inch of her body felt heavy and it didn't help that she felt so incredibly guilty all the time. Just as Emily began to gather her things after measuring, weighing and performing a blood pressure check, completely out of the blue, Louisa just felt it all too much and shed a little tear.
'Oh, sweetheart! What is it? Are you concerned about the baby? Because it's not too early you know, some babies engage well before their due date. We'd expect to see some movement at this point' She put gently touched Louisa's arm.
'No, no. I'm fine, I'm so sorry. I just don't know what came over me then' She tried to laugh, but it all had been too much; arranging a speedy wedding, inviting all of her loved ones and then not feeling able to go ahead with it, the shame, the sadness, moving to London and absolutely hating it, the unconventional, intermittent contact she had with her family, the shock of the pregnancy, the shock of Martin and now feeling so completely ill-prepared for her first-born.
'Louisa, I want you to know that the way you feel now, is completely normal. It's the apprehension mixed with very unruly hormones!' she tried to make Louisa laugh again. 'You're doing all the right things and we'll be right with you at every stage of delivery.'
'Thank you. It's just all very realnow, isn't it. And not really ideal circumstances' then at that moment, she told herself to firmly snap out of it. There were mothers in a much worse situation than her- poor souls. She didn't have the right to feel this way, she thought. 'No. I'm completely fine, Emily. Thank you so much again!'.
'This is all part of the process, try not to worry. You're doing marvellous and if there's anybody trained to look after little ones, it's you!' Emily had the most contagious smile. 'So, if there's anything at all, or any sign of labour, you just call my work mobile number. If I happen to be on a day-off, you call out-of-hours, you have the number? Oh and before I forget, how are your breasts?'
XXX
Martin lay flat on his back in bed, in complete frustration. The washing machine. All he could hear was that machine! 'Bert!' he cursed. Martin always put the washing on at 5.00pm; that gave him plenty of time to prepare and eat his meal, and by the time that was finished, his washing was ready to hang on the clothes horse to dry overnight. He had done exactly this, this evening but now at 23.45, it was still spinning as if ready to take off. Martin sighed heavily. Why would you ask Bert to do anything? Anything at all?
The bedside clock barely turned to 3.00am and with that, came the highest, loudest, most screeching alarm. Martin almost jump out of his skin and slid to the floor in an attempt to detangle himself from the duvet. As he tried to catch his breath after such a fright, he wondered why his alarm clock was going off. He looked at it for a minute, old and broken now maybe?. As he came around more and more each second, he realised it wasn't his alarm going off. Something in the house just was not right.
Martin made his way down the stairs and when he stormed into his living room, there it was. Staring at him. Tearing through his house like some sort of wild creature. Destroying everything as if it owned the place. Martin was startled and felt a surge of adrenaline. How did this happen?
Martin couldn't see very much at this point now, but he could see that his kitchen was no more and very soon, would be without a living room too. Things that made his home, things that he had bought and enjoyed, were perishing right in front of his eyes and there was very little he could do.
Everything was on fire.