A Second Chance

by Shayne Parkinson

  She studied Beth’s face, puffy and swollen as it was, and with threatened tears. ‘It might get easier nearer your time, as the baby shifts. But I think you need to start resting more. How about you go and have a lie-down?’

  Without giving Beth the chance to argue, Amy coaxed her upright and led her through to the bedroom. ‘I think you should start having a lie-down every afternoon. Is that when things hurt most?’

  ‘They hurt all the time,’ Beth said in a small voice.

  And it was only December. The hottest months of summer were still to come, with Beth getting larger and more uncomfortable every day. ‘Well, perhaps it won’t be as bad if you keep the weight off your feet more,’ Amy said, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt. ‘See if you can sleep for a bit. That always helps.’ She kissed Beth’s cheek and went out, closing the door behind her.

  *

  That Friday, Lizzie sent Danny to David’s with a message, inviting them over for Sunday lunch if Beth felt up to an outing. When they failed to appear on the Sunday, Lizzie showed a lack of concern that only increased Frank’s annoyance.

  ‘Beth probably just felt like stopping in,’ said Lizzie. ‘She’s getting big now, she’s not going to feel like going out much.’

  ‘She might have been too scared to ask him,’ Frank said darkly.

  ‘Oh, don’t talk rot. Who could be scared of Dave? Benjy’s over his teething for now, you can take me over there on Wednesday or Thursday and see her for yourself.’

  Frank remained unconvinced. The following Tuesday he was loading his empty cream cans back onto the spring cart when he saw David bringing his own cart up to the factory. Frank marched over, and accosted the boy as David swung down from the front of the cart.

  ‘You were meant to bring Beth over for lunch on Sunday,’ he said without preamble. ‘Why didn’t you turn up?’

  ‘Sorry, Uncle Frank. Beth didn’t feel well, so we ended up staying home.’

  An image of Beth, bruised and frightened, rose in Frank’s imagination. ‘Didn’t feel well? What’s wrong with her?’ he asked sharply.

  He could see that David had caught his implication. David opened his mouth as if to snap back an answer, then turned away before speaking. ‘She just said she was too tired, and she had a headache. She’s not the best today, either. I’ll bring her over as soon as she feels up to it.’

  ‘You just see that you do, or I’ll have something to say about it.’

  Frank fully intended to follow through on his warning, but he was not given the chance. Later that very morning, the back door opened and Beth walked in, closely followed by an anxious-looking David.

  ‘Beth!’ Lizzie said. ‘I didn’t expect you on an ironing day.’

  ‘I’ve come to be inspected,’ Beth announced, with a meaning look at her father.

  ‘Sit down,’ David urged. He dragged a chair back from the table and took Beth’s arm to help her to it, but she shook his hand off.

  ‘Don’t fuss. I’ve told you, I’m sick of being fussed over.’

  Frank saw dark rings under Beth’s eyes that spoke of broken nights, and a tightness around her mouth quite foreign to its familiar sweet expression. His guilty awareness that he was the reason she had come out today did not improve his mood. He found a target near at hand.

  ‘You didn’t need to bring her,’ he told David. ‘You could have let her come on her own.’

  David met his eyes, then looked away. ‘Beth’s not used to driving the gig. And I don’t think she should be riding just now.’

  ‘You’re quite right, Dave,’ Lizzie said, darting a frown at Frank. ‘You don’t look the best, girl. How are you keeping?’

  ‘I’m all right,’ Beth snapped. Her eyes widened at the realisation of how she had spoken to her mother. She looked warily at Lizzie. ‘I’m just sick of people fussing over me. And I can’t seem to get comfortable.’

  David fetched a low stool from near the bench and put it in front of her chair. ‘You might be better with your feet up.’ He carefully placed Beth’s feet on the stool. ‘Her legs get sore,’ he said to Lizzie over his shoulder before turning his attention back to Beth. ‘Is that all right? Or would you rather have them up on a chair?’

  ‘They’re all right like this. Stop flapping around me like an old chook.’

  Lizzie passed Benjy over to Frank. ‘There’s still tea in the pot. I’ll get a couple more cups.’

  ‘Would you rather have a drink of water?’ David asked. ‘How’s your head? Do you want a damp cloth for it? She’s been getting bad headaches,’ he added to Lizzie.

  ‘I have not!’ Beth protested. ‘Just the odd little one. Don’t you go talking about me like that.’

  Lizzie was studying Beth thoughtfully. She poured them all a cup of tea, and talked about inconsequential matters while it was being drunk.

  Beth finished hers quickly, then lowered her feet to the floor and rose ponderously upright, leaning on the edge of the table for support. ‘Right, you’ve seen me. Dave, take me home.’

  ‘I think you’d better have a rest first,’ said Lizzie. ‘How about you stay on for a bit and have a lie-down? Your father can run you back later.’

  ‘That’s a good idea,’ David said. ‘I’ll give you a hand up the passage. Aunt Lizzie’s right, you could do with a lie-down.’ He reached out a hand towards her, but Beth batted it away.

  ‘I don’t want to,’ she said, her voice rising in irritation. ‘Take me home, Dave.’

  Undeterred, David put his hand on her arm. ‘I really think you should stay here for a bit. You might feel better if you have a rest.’

  ‘Stop nagging at me!’ Beth cried shrilly. She swung her hand at his face.

  David flinched, but made no move to avoid the slap aimed at him. Beth jerked back her hand just before it connected, then reached out again and stroked his face. ‘I’m all right, Davie,’ she said softly. ‘You mustn’t keep fussing.’

  David took her hand and planted a quick kiss on the palm. ‘Sorry,’ he murmured. ‘I’m just trying to look after you.’

  Frank looked away, feeling awkward at having witnessed such a private moment. He caught Lizzie’s eye, and could see she felt much the same. He also saw a certain smug satisfaction.

  David and Beth left soon afterwards. Frank and Lizzie watched as David lifted Beth carefully into the gig and then drove away at a walk.

  Lizzie coaxed Benjy to wave at the departing gig. ‘Well,’ she said, looking over at Frank, ‘I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t call that scared. Not her, anyway. I thought he looked a bit worried she might give him a clout. But if you think—’

  ‘All right, don’t go on about it,’ Frank interrupted. ‘I’d better get on and see what those boys are up to.’ As he walked away, he could feel Lizzie’s eyes following him. He did not need to see her face to know its expression.

  She was right, of course. Try as he might, in the face of the tender scene he had witnessed Frank could not maintain the notion that David was anything but kind and thoughtful to Beth. It was hard to see anything of Charlie in the boy who had quietly waited to see whether he would be slapped or caressed.

  That afternoon Frank did his best to assume a casual air when he remarked to Lizzie, ‘I thought I might pop up and see Bill this afternoon.’ It was true enough; he did intend to pay a quick call on Bill. It was convenient that that meant passing David’s farm.

  ‘Don’t be late back for afternoon tea,’ said Lizzie. ‘And while you’re talking to Dave, tell him I said Beth had better stay home while she’s not the best. I’ll get you to take me over to see her later in the week.’

  ‘I didn’t say…’ Frank began, but there was no use denying what they both knew was the main reason for his outing.

  He soon found David, checking his potato paddock. David looked at him warily, clearly expecting a confrontation of some sort.

  ‘You don’t need to cart Beth down to see us again, not when she’s not feeling the best,’ Frank said. ‘I c
an see you’re looking after her.’ It seemed to him that he owed David more than this. ‘Look, I’m sorry I’ve been giving you a hard time, Dave.’

  He had expected suspicion, and at best a gradual return into David’s confidence. What he had not expected was the relief that flooded David’s face, and the way he immediately thrust out his hand to shake Frank’s.

  ‘Thanks, Uncle Frank.’

  Frank let his own hand be engulfed in David’s, and patted the boy’s shoulder with his free hand. David’s ready forgiveness shamed him far more than resentment would have done.

  ‘Well, you might have a daughter yourself one day. Then you’ll know how worried you get about them.’

  ‘A daughter.’ David smiled at the notion. ‘I’d like that.’ His face fell. ‘I’d like this business to be over, too.’

  ‘Beth doesn’t look too good, does she?’

  David shook his head. ‘No. I don’t know what it’s meant to be like for a girl, but I think Ma’s a bit worried about her, too. She’s that tired—she hasn’t been sleeping well, that makes it worse. And everything seems to hurt her. I just wish I could do something to help.’

  Frank studied David’s anxious expression, remembering all too well his own feelings during Lizzie’s illness. ‘It can be hard on them sometimes. She might have a bit of what her ma had with Benjy. Something to do with her blood. Richard had a fancy name for it—he seemed to know a lot about it.’

  ‘Do you think I should get Richard to take a look at her?’

  Frank gave him a rueful smile. ‘Good luck to you getting her to let him. Your Aunt Lizzie wouldn’t have had a bar of it.’

  ‘I might give it a go,’ David said thoughtfully.

  *

  ‘Richard’s come to see you,’ David announced a few days later, standing to one side to let Richard into the kitchen.

  Amy saw David and Beth exchange a look. He wore a set expression; Beth’s suggested that she would have more to say on the subject when they were alone.

  ‘I’m sorry you’ve come out specially,’ Beth said, turning her attention on her brother-in-law. ‘I told Dave I didn’t need to see you.’

  ‘That’s quite all right, Beth,’ Richard said. ‘I was coming out this way anyway, so I thought I’d call in and see how you were keeping. Dave did happen to mention the other day that you were feeling a little under the weather.’

  ‘Oh, did he just?’ Beth shot a rapid glance at David.

  ‘You’ll have a cup of tea with us, won’t you Richard?’ Amy said, forestalling whatever Beth might have said next. ‘We can have it in the parlour. Then you can have a talk with Beth afterwards.’ She slipped her hand over Beth’s. ‘I think it’d be a good idea for you to talk to Richard. Tell him about your headaches—he can probably give you something for them.’

  Beth looked down at the floor. ‘I’m not going to take any clothes off.’

  Richard almost succeeded in hiding a smile. ‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary.’

  Beth and David were both silent while the four of them had their tea, with Amy and Richard managing to keep up a semblance of conversation. When they had finished, Amy put their tea things on a tray and rose to leave the room.

  ‘I’d just like to ask you one or two things,’ Richard told Beth. ‘Would you be happier if Dave stayed while we talk?’

  ‘No, thank you,’ Beth said loftily, but Amy saw how nervous she was.

  ‘Would you like me to stay?’ she asked. Beth nodded, sending her a look of gratitude. Amy passed the tray to David, who took the hint and left the room.

  Amy sat as far away as the tiny parlour permitted, trying to give the impression that she was devoting all her attention to a baby gown she was hemming.

  Richard spoke quietly, but Amy could not help overhearing everything that was said. She heard him draw out of Beth admissions that she was unable to sleep properly at night, her head hurt much of the time, and she was having occasional dizzy spells.

  ‘Thank you, Beth,’ Richard said when he had asked all his questions. ‘From what you’ve told me, I believe you have a blood disorder that sometimes occurs during pregnancy.’

  ‘Is there something wrong with the baby? Is it something I did wrong?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Richard assured her. ‘It strikes without apparent cause—there’s certainly nothing to blame yourself for. It’s an unpleasant condition, but there are measures we can take to help you through the worst of it. I’ll give you a mild sleeping draught, and something for the headaches.’

  ‘But will the baby be all right?’

  ‘As long as you take the proper precautions, there’s every reason to think so. May I call David in, please? I’d like to discuss this with you both.’

  ‘All right.’

  Richard returned a moment later with David, who had clearly gone no further than the kitchen. ‘I can give Beth some medicines to help with the discomfort,’ Richard said, ‘but the most useful thing I can prescribe is bed rest.’

  ‘I’m doing that now,’ said Beth. ‘Aunt Amy gets me to have a lie-down every afternoon.’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s not quite what I meant. What’s required is total bed rest. From now until your baby’s born.’

  Beth’s mouth opened in astonishment. ‘Stay in bed from now till April? I can’t do that!’

  ‘Yes, you can,’ said David. ‘If it’s what you need to do so you’ll be all right.’ He turned to Richard. ‘She’ll do it.’

  Beth shot him a reproachful look. ‘But what will I do all that time?’

  ‘We’ll keep you company,’ said Amy. ‘You can do some sewing if you feel up to it. And you can read my books if you like.’

  ‘I’ll have time to read them all if I’m stuck in bed for four months,’ Beth muttered. ‘Even the dictionary.’

  Richard smiled at her. ‘I can see you’ll be well looked after.’ He glanced into the bag at his side. ‘Before I go, I’ll just listen to your chest if I may? Just in case there’s any congestion.’

  Beth nodded, and Richard pulled out his stethoscope. David was holding Beth’s hand and talking quietly to her, but Amy had a clear view of Richard’s face as he placed the stethoscope against Beth’s chest. She saw his smile disappear abruptly. He listened, frowning, then moved the instrument and listened again.

  He removed the stethoscope and put it away in his bag, then sat for a few moments as if gathering his thoughts.

  ‘I’ve a favour to ask you, Beth,’ he said at last.

  Beth looked up, startled. ‘A favour? What do you mean?’

  ‘Will you allow me to attend the birth of your baby?’

  Beth’s eyes widened. She clutched at David’s hand. ‘No,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘No, I couldn’t do that.’

  ‘It’s your decision, of course,’ said Richard. ‘And perhaps Dave’s, also,’ he added, earning himself an indignant glare from Beth. ‘But I hope you’ll consider it further. I’ve observed an irregularity in your heartbeat.’

  ‘What’s wrong with her?’ David asked.

  ‘Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing serious—or at least it wouldn’t be, if there weren’t Beth’s condition to consider. I doubt very much if it’s ever caused a problem up till now. But childbirth puts a severe strain on the body—particularly if it becomes drawn out.’ Richard held Beth’s gaze. ‘I don’t want you subjected to a long labour.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Beth asked in a small voice.

  Richard sighed. ‘I’m so sorry, I should have thought… Amy, perhaps you could explain some of this to Beth later?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Amy. She would have to find a way to tell Beth as much as she needed to know without frightening her unduly.

  ‘For now, let me just say that sometimes the process of childbirth takes longer than I think your heart should be made to cope with,’ Richard said. ‘If that were to happen, there are certain measures I can take to hurry matters along. But they’re measures that require a doctor—it’s not something a midw
ife could do for you.’

  Amy gave a sharp intake of breath. ‘Do you mean forceps?’ She immediately regretted having spoken. But when she risked a glance at Beth, the girl looked puzzled rather than frightened.

  ‘What’s forceps?’ Beth asked.

  ‘Simply a tool for making childbirth easier,’ Richard said smoothly. ‘Don’t worry yourself over the details. Beth, I know you’d rather be attended by a woman, but please think this over. You’ve plenty of time yet.’

  ‘We’ll have a talk about it,’ David said, still holding Beth’s hand. ‘We’ll do what’s best for Beth.’ David would talk Beth into it, Amy was sure, though it might take him some time.

  Richard rose to go, and Amy showed him out to the kitchen, leaving David and Beth to talk in private. She stood at the back door and watched Richard walking down the path, but when he was halfway to the garden gate she hurried out after him.

  ‘Richard, do you really think you might have to use forceps on Beth?’

  He turned to face her. ‘I do think it’s likely, yes. If her labour shows signs of being protracted, which is probable enough with a first baby, then I’ll intervene.’

  ‘But…’ Amy closed her eyes for a moment, and heard again in memory the harsh voice of Sister Prescott with her dire threats. ‘But won’t that be awful for Beth? And does it mean the baby will die?’

  Richard looked startled. ‘No, nothing of the sort! What makes you say that?’

  ‘It was… I heard it once, a long time ago. A nurse told me. She said it was awful. She said it meant ripping the woman with things like butchers use, and pulling the baby out in bits. I’d hate that to happen to Beth.’

  She saw Richard’s face cloud with anger, but when he spoke his voice was controlled. ‘I can assure you, Amy, that I have no intention of harming Beth or her child. Quite the reverse, in fact.’