They all know what to do, she thought, in panic. Supposing I can’t cope.
She was afraid Norah would think her inadequate, and sweep in to take over and David would realize that she, Rita, was a useless mother. She confided her dread to Delia, who hugged her and said, ‘Don’t worry about it, darling, everyone’s nervous at first, but you’ll be amazed how quickly you get the hang of it.’ And when she saw that Rita wasn’t convinced she added, ‘And don’t worry about Norah, David won’t let her bully you. He won’t want her in the house any more than you do!’
It was one night, three weeks later, that Rita was jolted awake from a restless sleep as a contraction seized her. She sat up in bed, gasping as the pain lanced through her, trying to relax and breathe her way through it, as she’d been taught. As the contraction passed and she felt herself relax, she announced to the darkness of their bedroom, ‘Well, all that deep breathing stuff’s a waste of time, ain’t it!’ And having checked the time on the bedside clock, she lay back waiting for the next contraction. She’d been having twinges on and off all day and not knowing quite what to do, had rung the maternity hospital.
‘First baby, dear?’ asked the midwife on duty.
‘Yes.’
‘Fine,’ replied the woman. ‘No need to come in until the contractions are about fifteen minutes apart. First babies always take their time.’
Now they were definite contractions and they seemed to be coming pretty often. The next made its attack exactly eighteen minutes after the last.
This is it, Rita thought, surprised at how calm she was feeling. I’m going to be a mother, and it’s time we went.
She reached over and shook the still-snoring David awake. ‘Think we’d better go, David,’ she said and then groaned, clutching herself as another contraction gripped her.
David shot out of bed, panic in his eyes. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘All right, now, all right, yes…’ and started dragging on his clothes.
As the contraction released its grip Rita said, ‘It is all right, David, they aren’t that close yet. We’ve plenty of time. First babies always take their time.’
But David wasn’t having any of it. As soon as he was dressed he picked up the suitcase that Rita had packed, ready. ‘I’ll just put this in the car and then I’ll come back and get you. All right?’
Rita assured him that she was, but stopped in the middle of dressing to get through another contraction. David reappeared at the door.
‘Come on, darling,’ he said, panic in his voice. ‘Oh Rita, you aren’t even dressed yet!’ He helped her struggled into her coat. It was cold outside, and she shivered as she walked to the car, David clutching her arm to steady her.
‘It’s all right,’ he kept saying, ‘it’s all right. Won’t be long till we’re there. It’s all right.’
It wasn’t far and one contraction later, they arrived. At the front door Rita was gathered up by a smiling nurse.
‘All right, dear? First baby? Don’t worry, first babies always take their time, and we’ll soon have you nice and comfy.’ She looked at David standing awkwardly by the door, holding the suitcase. ‘Hubby can wait here,’ she said, and pointed to a small room off the hall. She gave David a little push and taking Rita’s case from him, said, ‘I’ll be back in a while to tell you how things are going.’
David pulled Rita to him and hugged her tightly. ‘Love you, darling heart, love you always.’
Rita reached up and kissed him. ‘Don’t worry, David, I’ll be fine,’ she assured him a little tremulously. ‘You’ll be a dad very soon.’
It wasn’t as soon as she’d hoped.
An hour later the nurse went back to David and said, ‘It’s going to be some time yet, Mr Harris, I suggest you go home and get some sleep, and come back in the morning.’
But David knew he could never sleep with Rita going through whatever it was she was going through upstairs, and said he’d rather stay.
‘Up to you, of course,’ returned the nurse, ‘but it may be a long wait. First babies always take their time.’
If anyone else says that… David thought, gritting his teeth, but he knew the nurse meant to be kind and he managed a smile. ‘Thank you, nurse. I’ll wait.’
She smiled back. ‘Difficult for the dads, I know. I’ll get someone to bring you a cup of tea, shall I?’
It was more than seven hours later when the nurse finally reappeared in the tiny waiting room and beaming at David, told him that he had a beautiful son.
‘Is Rita all right?’ demanded David. ‘Can I see her?’
‘She’s fine,’ the nurse assured him. ‘We’re just getting her tidied up and then you can come in and see them both. You can’t stay long, though. She’s very tired and needs her sleep.’
David crept into the delivery room and found Rita, pale but radiant, sitting up in bed, a tiny bundle cradled in her arms. She held the baby up a little and murmured, ‘Say hallo to Daddy, little one.’
David bent over and kissed her cheek, his face pressing against hers. ‘Oh darling,’ he whispered, ‘you’re safe. You’re safe, and you’re beautiful.’
He looked down at the red, crumpled face of his son, topped with a head of thick, black hair, and added, ‘and he’s beautiful, too.’
‘Isn’t he?’ Rita agreed, her face alight with joy. ‘Just beautiful. Oh, David we’re so lucky.’ For a long moment they both stared down at the tiny form in the blanket, marvelling at the wonder of him.
‘Are you still happy with the names we chose?’ Rita looked up and asked, and David nodded.
‘Yes.’
‘Donald Andrew,’ she said, smiling down at her son, ‘for your two grandfathers.’ She held him out to David. ‘Here, you hold him,’ she said and looked on with love and pride, as David took the little bundle awkwardly in his arms.
‘He’s too small to be called Donald just yet,’ she said softly, ‘so I’ve been calling him Donny.’
‘Donny he is then,’ agreed David. He looked down again into his son’s face, saw the wee snubbed nose and the eyes screwed up in slumber and whispered, ‘Hallo, Donny, mate. I hope you have the most wonderful life.’
The nurse bustled back into the room. ‘Time for Mother to get some sleep. You’ll have to go now, Mr Harris. You can come back and see them again later, after lunch. Fathers only the first day, other visitors from tomorrow.’
David could see that Rita was exhausted and made no demur. He placed Donny back in her arms and then leaned down and kissed them both.
‘I’m so proud of you both,’ he said softly, ‘you’re the two most special people in the world and I swear I’ll do everything in my power to look after you.’
Rita caught his hand to her cheek, and for a moment their eyes locked. Then David pulled his hand away gently and said, ‘I must go.’
‘You will ring Deeley, won’t you?’ Rita reminded him. ‘Straight away?’
‘Course I will,’ he promised, ‘and my parents. I can’t wait to tell them all. You get some sleep now and I’ll be back to see you both after lunch. Promise.’
When he left the hospital he headed straight for a phone box and dialled Delia’s number. There was no reply, and he realized that it was now mid-morning and she would be at work so he headed for the nursery.
‘Delia’s in the Yellow Room, with the fours,’ he was told. ‘Don’t be too long.’
David went in and found Delia beside a sink, wiping red paint off a little girl’s face. She froze for a moment and then, seeing the broad smile on his face, crossed the room and was enveloped in a massive bear-hug.
‘It’s a boy,’ he told her ecstatically, ‘a beautiful boy, with a mass of dark hair. Mum and Baby both fine.’
‘Oh David,’ cried Delia, ‘that’s fantastic news! Oh, I’m thrilled to bits! It’s so exciting, I can’t believe it. And, Rita, is she really all right?’
‘She’s fine,’ David assured her. ‘A bit tired, that’s all. She’s asleep now, but I can go back again after lunch.’
‘When can I go?’ demanded Delia. ‘When can I see them? I can’t wait to hold my grandson.’
‘Tomorrow,’ promised David. ‘Grandparents are allowed to visit tomorrow.’
‘Have you got a name for him yet?’
‘Yes,’ replied David proudly, ‘he’s called Donald Andrew for his two grandfathers. Rita’s calling him Donny.’
‘Donald Andrew Harris,’ Delia said slowly, as if trying it for size. ‘Little Donny Harris. Oh, David, I’m so happy for you both. Give Rita all my love when you go back, and tell her how thrilled I am.’ She beamed up into his face. ‘And if you want to, come round this evening, after visiting, and I’ll cook you tea.’
‘Thanks, Deeley,’ he said, ‘that would be great. I must go now, I’ve got to tell my parents the news.’ He drew her to him, kissed her on the cheek and then left her standing in the middle of the Yellow Room, exulting in the news he’d brought, and the fact that he’d brought it to her first… because she was, truly, Rita’s mother.
David had rung his office and told them he wouldn’t be in, and now he had the rest of the morning to fill before he could go back to the hospital. He didn’t know if his father would be at home, but he was pretty sure his mother would be, and decided to go and tell them in person too, rather than give them the news over the phone.
By the time he reached his parents’ house he’d begun to wish he had phoned. It would be an awful anti-climax if they weren’t there; but a car was parked in the drive. Dad must be working at home today, he thought. Brilliant!
His mother opened the door and one look at his beaming face told her that she had a grandchild, and she was shouting for Andrew almost before David had got into the house.
They were as thrilled as Delia, both of them hugging him in delight.
‘Tell me all about him,’ Norah begged. ‘Is he beautiful?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘And what does he weigh?’ she demanded.
‘Seven pounds thirteen.’
‘A good-sized baby, then. You were only six pounds eight ounces.’
‘And how’s Rita,’ asked his father. ‘No problems for her?’
‘Rita’s fine, Dad,’ said David. ‘Tired, but absolutely… well, you can imagine.’
‘Donald Andrew, you said?’ queried Norah.
‘Yes, Mum,’ David answered. ‘Donald was Rita’s father’s name, and Andrew for Dad of course.’
‘I’m honoured,’ his father said simply. ‘Tell her so, when you go back in to see her. And give her my love.’
‘You can go and see them both yourselves, tomorrow.’
‘Not too early in the day for a glass to wet young Donald Andrew’s head, is it?’ asked his father, and minutes later they were raising glasses to the new arrival.
Just before David left to return to the hospital, his father said, ‘There’s something I want to show you in my study, David, if you’ve got a minute before you go.’
David was itching to be back at the hospital, but with only a glance at his watch, he dutifully followed Andrew into his study.
‘Sit down for a moment, son.’ Andrew closed the door behind them. ‘I’ve had an idea I want to run past you, just to see what you think. Haven’t mentioned it to your mother yet, as I wanted to know what you thought about it first.’
David was intrigued. ‘What is it, Dad?’
‘You know I’m very fond of your Rita, don’t you?’
David nodded. ‘Yes, and I’m delighted. It’s made things easier for her than they might have been.’
Andrew laughed. ‘Oh, you mustn’t mind your mother, she’s coming round now she knows her better. And young Donny will be a big help. No, what I had in mind was something I hope will please Rita, but I wanted to see what you think before I did any more about it.’
When David left the house his mind was reeling.
‘Talk to Mrs Watson about it, if you like,’ Andrew had said. ‘Don’t want to put my foot in it.’
‘No,’ agreed David. ‘I’ll have a word with her. I’m seeing her later.’
Back at the hospital David found Rita sitting up in the ward with Donny in a crib beside her. She had more colour in her cheeks now, and looked a little less tired. When she saw David her face lit up with such happiness that his heart contracted with love for her.
‘I’ve just fed him,’ she told David as he peered into the crib. ‘He’s a hungry monkey. I’m quite sore.’
‘You don’t have to feed him yourself,’ David said. ‘You could give him bottles.’
‘No,’ returned Rita firmly, ‘I’m going to feed our baby myself. Part of the job. Were they all pleased?’ she asked when he’d drawn up a chair to the bedside.
‘They’re all thrilled to bits,’ he told her. ‘They all send you their love and I think all three will be in to see you, and admire Donny, at visiting tomorrow afternoon.’
‘Will you bring me in an air letter when you come next time?’ Rita asked him. ‘I must write to Gran and Rick to tell them about Donny. They’ll be so excited.’
‘Of course,’ David promised. ‘You must write and tell them all about him, but I’ve already sent a telegram with the news.’
Rita looked at him, her eyes sparkling with love and happiness. ‘Oh David, have you? Oh darling, thank you.’
The next afternoon both his parents and Delia came trooping into the ward. Norah was carrying a teddy bear wearing a blue bow, Andrew a huge bunch of flowers, and Delia with a blue, crocheted matinee jacket, wrapped in white tissue paper.
‘Oh, Deeley, it’s beautiful!’ cried Rita when she unwrapped it. ‘Were you that sure it was going to be a boy,’ she teased, ‘or did you make another one in pink, just in case?’
‘No, darling,’ Delia said, ‘this was Harry’s. It was the only thing I kept.’
Tears sprang to Rita’s eyes as she reached up to hug her mother. ‘Oh Deeley,’ she whispered, ‘thank you. Thank you for everything.’
As Norah was at the bedside, gazing down at her new grandson, trying to see a likeness to David in his tiny features, Andrew drew Delia to one side.
‘Has David had a word?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ replied Delia, ‘we discussed it last night.’
‘Do you think she’d like it?’
‘I think it’s a wonderful idea,’ Delia told him.
‘I’ll go ahead, then,’ he said. ‘Mum’s the word.’
42
The letter arrived in Hampton Road one Saturday morning.
‘Hey, Gran,’ Rick cried, passing it over, ‘there’s one from Australia.’
‘Not Rita’s writing, though,’ Lily said, putting on her glasses and looking at the name of the sender. It just said Harris with an address in a place she’d never heard of.
‘Perhaps it’s from David,’ she said. ‘I hope Rita’s all right, and the baby.’ Sudden fears flew through Lily’s mind. Suppose something had happened to Rita, to the baby. Complications after the birth. Unexpected infection. Were Australian doctors any good?
‘Shall I open it, Gran?’ asked Rick.
‘No,’ she said, ‘I will,’ and slitting open the envelope she pulled out the letter. Glancing at the bottom she saw the signature. ‘Andrew Harris,’ she read. ‘It’s not David. Perhaps it’s his father? Wasn’t he called Andrew?’
‘Can’t remember. Come on, Gran, read it out,’ begged Rick. ‘What does he say?’
‘He says… “Dear Mrs Sharples, I am your granddaughter Rita’s father-in-law.”’
‘You were right,’ said Rick. ‘It’s him. Go on, Gran.’
Lily continued to read aloud.
You’ll know by now, that Rita and David have a beautiful son, born a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure Rita will be sending you some photos of him very soon. I have become very fond of Rita, she is a girl of great character, and I know she had to travel a difficult road in her childhood. I would like to reward her for her courage and steadfastness, and I wondered if you and her brother Richard wou
ld like to fly out and see her and the baby…
‘Wouldn’t we just,’ groaned Rick. ‘Chance’d be a fine thing.’
‘Just a minute,’ said Gran, her eyes widening as they took in the rest of the sentence.
‘What?’ demanded Rick seeing her expression. ‘What?’
‘“…and if so,”’ Gran read, ‘“whether you would consider accepting your airline tickets as a gift from me.”’
‘What!’ shrieked Rick. ‘Gran, we’re going to Australia!’
Lily looked up at him, equally incredulous, but said, ‘Wait a minute there, Ricky, let’s finish reading the letter, eh?’
Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see Rita reunited with you both after all these years. I have discussed it with David and Rita’s foster mother, Mrs Watson, and they both think it would be the most wonderful surprise for Rita if you agreed to come.
I hope you won’t be offended by this offer. I’ve heard from Rita that Richard is working hard to save up to come over sometime in the future, but I am fortunate enough to be in the position to send you tickets immediately. I know it is a long journey, taking nearly two days, but if you were able to come, you would be able to stay for several weeks and so make that journey worthwhile.
Obviously we’ve said nothing to Rita about this. We didn’t want to get her hopes up, in case you didn’t feel able to make such a long journey. One way or the other, we’d be glad if you would keep the secret too. Perhaps you’d reply to the address at the top of this letter, and if you have a phone number, let me have it, so I can ring you and we can discuss arrangements more easily. I would be happy to phone you at a convenient time in the future.
I hope that you will feel able to accept this gift, and that we shall all see you in Sydney before very long.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Harris
Lily put the letter down on the table and looked at Rick.
‘That’s fantastic,’ he breathed. ‘Just amazing. Us going to Australia!’
‘It would be wonderful,’ agreed Lily, ‘but I’m not sure it’s on.’
Rick stared at her stupefied. ‘What d’you mean, not on, Gran? Why not? This bloke, Rita’s pa-in-law, is offering to pay for us to go. Don’t you want to go, Gran?’
The Throwaway Children Page 49