Families and Friendships (34 page)

She woke up again after a few more hours with a very different sort of sensation in her abdomen. She glanced at the luminous dial on the clock; it was quarter past five. It would not be fair to wake Simon until she was sure, so she lay still and waited. The babies were not due for another month or so, but babies were not aware of the date they were supposed to arrive. She waited … and five minutes later the pain came again, a stronger one this time.

Simon was sleeping peacefully, snoring gently; a sound she had come to accept, knowing that he needed his sleep. It never disturbed her or stopped her from dropping off to sleep again. But not this time. A few minutes later she knew that she was definitely in labour, and that she must waken him.

‘Simon … Simon …' She nudged him gently, and he stirred at once.

‘What? What is it? Are you all right, darling?'

‘Well, yes … I'm all right, but I think I've started. In fact I'm sure I have.'

‘What? Started with the baby … I mean, babies? But you can't have. They're not due for another four weeks.'

She laughed. ‘I don't think they know that! Oh … oh, help!' A sudden pain made her cry out. Instantly Simon was wide awake. He leapt out of bed.

‘We'd better get moving; get you to hospital. Have you packed your bag, like they told you to?'

‘Fortunately, yes. They advise you to get ready early, just in case …'

They scurried around, washing and dressing at speed. ‘We'll have to wake the others,' said Simon. ‘Our visitors. What a blessing it is that they're here. Do you think Debbie will be able to cope with Stella?'

‘I'm sure she will,' said Fiona. ‘And we must let Josh know what's happening.'

Simon knocked on the lads' bedroom door, and Fiona knocked and entered Debbie's room.

‘Debbie, love. I'm sorry to disturb you …' The girl sleepily opened her eyes. ‘I've started … in labour, so Simon's taking me to hospital. We don't know how long he'll stay there. Could you see to Stella's breakfast please, love?'

Debbie was sitting up now and listening intently.

‘And see to her getting washed and dressed? She'll show you what to do!' Fiona laughed before she doubled up with another pain.

‘Fiona!' Debbie jumped out of bed. ‘Oh dear!' She put an arm round her. ‘Are you all right?'

‘Of course I am. It's quite normal, but we'd better get moving. You go back to bed. Stella won't wake till half past seven or so. Thank you, Debbie love. See you later …'

Simon alerted the young men and told then what was happening. ‘Here's the curate's phone number,' he told Greg. ‘Ring him, about nine o' clock if I'm not back, and tell him to take charge. He's preaching today, so that's one less worry. I must dash now. Fiona's ready and waiting.'

They drove at speed to the hospital. At six o'clock in the morning there was nothing else on the road. Fiona's waters had broken as she got into the car so there was no time to lose.

It was all go when they arrived. Fiona was wheeled off to the maternity ward with Simon walking anxiously at the side of her. He was told, very politely, that he could wait in a side room whilst they attended to his wife. He gave her a quick kiss, then watched in a daze as she was wheeled away. It had all happened so quickly, and in a little while – not too long, he hoped – he would be the father of twins. He did not want to go back home. He knew that Debbie and the lads were quite capable of managing, and Stella was not likely to make a fuss because her mummy was not there. Simon wanted to be near his wife. Something, or somebody, was telling him that he must stay.

Fiona was soon in the second stage of labour. She had known what to expect as she has been through it all before. But this time it was happening very quickly. She was given an injection which eased the pain a little, and the gas and air helped.

‘Push, Fiona, push, there's a good girl,' she was exhorted. A moment later there was the sensation that she remembered so well, of being torn apart. Then she heard the voice of the midwife.

‘Well done, Fiona. It's a boy! A tiny one, but he's all right.' There was a feeble cry from the infant.

‘Can I see him?' asked Fiona.

‘Not just now, dear. We've not quite finished yet, have we?'

Fiona was exhausted by the first effort but there was no time to relax. A little while later – she could not tell how long; five, ten minutes? – she was told to push again. It seemed just a fraction easier this time as she felt the second baby slip out of her.

‘Another boy!' said the midwife. ‘Well done, Fiona; you've got twin sons. Isn't that great?'

Fiona smiled weakly. ‘Are they both alright?'

‘Yes … small, as we expected. But their lungs are working well,' said the doctor who was in attendance, as well as the midwife and an auxiliary nurse. ‘Now, just the afterbirth, Fiona. You're doing splendidly.'

There was silence in the delivery room as the midwife and nurse looked after the babies. The doctor was staying close to Fiona. She lay still, exhausted but very contented. Twin boys! Simon would be pleased, she knew that. She heard the doctor's voice. ‘Just a little push, dear, then it will all be over …' He hesitated, then he said, ‘Here, nurse, if you please … I do believe … Yes, there's another one! Fiona, another big push, there's a good girl.'

She tried to do as she was asked, but she was unbelievably tired and felt that she had no strength left. She gave a shout. ‘Oh … oh! What's happening?' as she felt another pain. Despite her weariness she had to push down again, and she felt something … slide out of her body.

‘It's a little girl,' said the midwife in a hushed voice. ‘Heavens above! Who'd have believed it?'

Fiona lay back, scarcely aware of what was happening. Then she heard the doctor's voice. ‘Fiona, my dear, you've just given birth to a baby girl. You've had triplets! We had no idea … Just lie still whilst we see to everything.'

Fiona was feeling too drained and exhausted to think coherently. ‘A little girl as well?' she whispered. ‘Three babies …' Her eyes closed and she drifted off into unconsciousness.

‘She's losing too much blood,' said the doctor. The afterbirth was released, but the haemorrhaging did not stop, ‘She needs a blood transfusion. Quickly, nurse. Have you got her blood group?'

‘Yes … it's group B.'

‘Damn! That could prove tricky … We had that emergency yesterday, you know – the road accident – and I know we're running low. But you must go and tell the husband that he's got triplets. And … try not to scare him, but tell him his wife needs a blood transfusion … and that we're looking after her.'

‘Triplets! I don't believe it!' exclaimed Simon, ‘Three of them? Two boys and a girl? That's wonderful! May I see her now?'

‘No, not just yet, Mr Norwood,' the nurse told him. ‘Your wife lost quite a lot of blood – only to be expected, of course – and she's having a blood transfusion. Don't worry, she'll be fine, but it was necessary.'

‘But Fiona has a rare blood group; well, quite uncommon, I believe. She's group B … Are you quite sure she'll be alright?' Simon knew that the doctors and nurses would do their best and that he should not interfere, but he suddenly felt extremely anxious about Fiona. It was something in the nurse's facial expression. She was smiling and trying to reassure him, but he had the sense that she might be keeping something back from him.

He knew he had to ask; if she thought he was out of order, then so be it. It was his beloved wife whom he feared might be in danger. ‘Do you have enough … of group B blood?' he asked.

‘Yes, of course,' she answered hurriedly, ‘but it is, as you say, Mr Norwood, rather uncommon.' Then, of her own volition, the midwife asked, ‘Does your wife have any relatives who might have the same blood group? It does run in families. It's not likely that yours is the same, I suppose?'

‘No, I'm group O,' he replied, ‘Fiona has no sister or brothers and her parents are dead.' A thought struck him. Could it be possible? He said a silent prayer that it might be so. He had a feeling that Fiona might need all the help she could get. ‘She has a daughter,' he said. ‘Debbie … she's not my daughter. She's sixteen. She's staying with us at the moment; but I don't know her blood group.'

He thought the midwife looked relieved. ‘It's worth a try, Mr Norwood,' she said. She was smiling. He knew she was trying to reassure him. ‘We are not worried, you understand, but it might be as well to find out. Could you contact Fiona's daughter … just in case?'

‘Right away,' he said. ‘She's at my home now, waiting for news, with … the rest of my family. I'll bring her back with me … if it is so … just in case, as you say. Please take care of Fiona, won't you? She means all the world to me.'

He drove home, not quite as speedily, although time was of the essence now. The two lads and Debbie looked up anxiously as he entered the kitchen. ‘Daddy!' said Stella, holding out her arms to him. ‘Where's Mummy?'

‘I've told her she's gone to hospital,' said Debbie. ‘She's been quite happy, but she doesn't understand.'

‘Mummy's in hospital, darling,' he said, ‘Like we told you, to get the babies.' He put her down again. ‘Great news!' he said. The good news first, he decided. ‘You'll never guess! Fiona's had … triplets! Two boys and a girl!'

There was an outcry of joy and excitement before they enquired about Fiona.

‘I've not seen any of them yet,' said Simon. ‘I'm afraid Fiona has lost quite a lot of blood. Only to be expected, but she was being given a blood transfusion when I left. Debbie … do you happen to know your blood group?'

‘Of course,' she replied. ‘I'm group B. I've given blood a few times, when there was an appeal. My mum persuaded me that it was something I could do, with it being rare. Why? Do you mean …? Fiona's not in any danger, is she?'

‘No, I don't think so. But I got the impression that they weren't entirely happy. The nurse asked me about Fiona's relations, and their blood groups. Just in case, she said. But … Debbie, I think you had better come back with me, that is, if you're willing?'

‘To give blood? For Fiona?' Simon saw tears forming in her eyes. ‘Of course I will. Come on; let's go now!'

‘I was just about to phone your curate,' said Greg. ‘You said nine o'clock, didn't you?' It was just about nine now, and the table was strewn with the remnants of a hastily prepared breakfast.

‘Don't tell him anything yet,' said Simon, ‘except that Fiona's in hospital and I want him to hold the fort. Could you take Stella to the crèche, please … and ask Josh to say prayers for Fiona, although I know that he will. We'll save the news about the triplets for later.'

Simon could tell by the worried look on the nurse's face when they arrived back at the hospital that they had been waiting anxiously for Debbie.

‘It's OK, she's group B,' said Simon.

‘Well, that's good news,' said the nurse. ‘Come along, my dear. If you could oblige us with a little of your blood we'd be most grateful.'

Debbie returned to where Simon was waiting about half an hour later. She didn't tell him, but she felt that they had taken rather more than a little. The nurse brought her a cup of hot sweet tea, which she sipped gratefully. She felt weak and wobbly, but it was partly because she was concerned about Fiona.

They waited together for what seemed ages. ‘So I inherited Fiona's blood group,' said Debbie. ‘I often wondered …'

‘And thank God you did,' said Simon, ‘I think you helped to save her life, Debbie. I don't know for sure, and they probably won't admit that there was a shortage of blood, but that is what I believe. I'm so glad you are a part of our family, Debbie. I know now that there was a purpose to it all. It was meant to be. ‘All things work together for good. I've always believed that to be true.'

The doctor appeared eventually. ‘Your wife has come round, Mr Norwood,' he said. ‘You may come and see her, only for a moment, you understand. She is still very tired. And you, of course, Debbie. We're very grateful to you for what you've been able to do. Fiona doesn't know yet. We'll tell her when she's a little stronger.'

Fiona opened her eyes as they entered the room. She gave a weak smile but her eyes shone with happiness. Simon bent to kiss her gently whilst Debbie hung back. This was a time for husband and wife.

‘We have three babies, Simon,' said Fiona. ‘I can hardly believe it.'

‘It's true, my darling,' he said. ‘But you are all right, and that's the main thing. And here is Debbie to see you …'

Debbie kissed Fiona's cheek. ‘Congratulations!' she said. ‘Two boys and a girl! It couldn't be better. Stella's got a sister and two brothers.'

‘You mean two sisters and three brothers,' said Fiona. She sounded tired, but her mind was as alert as ever.

‘We must go now,' said Simon. ‘Doctor's orders, but I'll be back later. God bless you, my darling … I love you,' he added.

‘Would you like to come and see the babies, Mr Norwood?' said the midwife.

He and Debbie followed her to the special unit for premature babies. They were in three separate cots, tiny little infants, like small baby dolls, their heads no larger than a tennis ball, with a fine covering of downy hair. There were tubes attached to them, but the nurse assured them that it was normal procedure. They were doing well and there was no cause for alarm, but they would need to stay in the hospital for a few weeks until they were stronger and had gained sufficient weight to be allowed home.

‘It's a miracle,' whispered Simon. ‘Birth is always a miracle … but three of them! It's an unbelievable blessing. Come along, Debbie. Let's go and spread the good news!'