A Risky Business #SYTYCW15 #CarinaPress

Chapter Twenty Nine

June – English summertime – Kate has an appointment with the midwife ...

*Kate*

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay at home with you and see the midwife?" Damien had asked.

"There's really no need," I'd told him. "It's just a routine visit, nothing to worry about."

"Positive?"

He obviously really wanted to be there.

"I'm positive,"" I said, trying to reassure him. ""Go on, get to work, stop hanging round here making the place look untidy."

"Alright, alright," he said, standing up and gathering his things together. "I'm going."

He kissed me gently on the lips.

"Call me if you need me. I'll see you later."

I walked with him to the front door, where he kissed me again.

"Bye," I said. "Have a good day."

*

I had about an hour until Karen, my midwife, was due to arrive. It really was just a routine visit and nothing to worry about, which was why I didn't want Damien to be there fussing. He was such a fuss pot about the baby, although I suppose better that than total disinterest. He had certainly kept to his word and he had come along to the ante natal classes, had read all the leaflets and information, and I think he knew more about my birthing plan than I did! But sometimes I just wanted a little bit of time by myself to try and enjoy the experience of being pregnant, and sometimes there were questions that I wanted to ask Karen that he probably didn't need to hear the answers to!

I could have a bit of a tidy up while I waited for her, or put a load of washing in, or I could just have a little rest on the sofa. This being pregnant thing was quite exhausting, you know.

*

"Kate, Kate, are you home?"

I thought I could hear a voice, but it was just for a moment. I listened carefully. Everything was quiet. Must have dreamt it. I shifted position a bit and my eyes started to close again.

"Kate! Kate, are you alright?"

I definitely hadn't dreamt it that time. Suddenly I was aware of movement in the hallway. I panicked and tried to get up, but my leg had gone to sleep.

"Damien?" I called out, trying to pat around the sofa and down on the floor in an attempt to find my mobile.

Karen's face appeared around the door looking, well a bit frantic, to be honest. She rushed over to me.

"Kate," she said. "Thank goodness. Are you alright? What happened?"

"I'm fine," I said. "I've just got pins and needles that's all. Nothing's happened," I said, feeling, and probably looking, a bit confused.

"I've been knocking on your front door and ringing the doorbell for ages," she explained. "In the end, I came round the back and let myself in. I thought something dreadful might have happened."

I looked a bit sheepish,

"Sorry," I said. "I think I might have dozed off."

We smiled at each other.

"No harm done then," Karen said. "And I'm sorry for breaking in!"

"No problem," I replied. "At least you didn't have to shoulder the door in or smash a window I suppose."