‘I’m not going out with him any more, okay?’ Charlene slams the files in her hands on her desk ‘so you can stop asking and dropping hints and stuff!’ She sits down heavily on her chair and swivels away from Ingrid’s stare.
‘Oh, Charlene’ Ingrid whispers sympathetically ‘What went wrong?’
‘Nothing went wrong! I dumped him, that’s all’
‘But why?’
Charlene shrugs. ‘I just did, alright?’ She lowers her head to concentrate on what she is writing.
‘I thought you were getting on so well’ Ingrid says as she crosses the office to stand next to Charlene’s desk ‘Did it turn out he lives in a filthy squat and picks his nose when he thinks nobody’s looking?’ she suggests with a small laugh.
Charlene lifts her head and stares, her eyes glittering angrily. ‘No, he don’t!’
‘But you were really looking forward to that weekend, what happened?’
‘Nothing happened. I just don’t want t’go out with him no more’
‘Did you have a row?’ Ingrid presses.
‘No, we dint! I don’t want t’go out with him no more and that’s that, so stop asking stuff, cos I int gonna say nothing’ Charlene swivels to the low filing cabinet behind her and yanks out the top drawer, rattling the hanging files on the rack.
Ingrid heaves a deep sigh. ‘Okay, fine, I was only trying to find out what was making you so miserable!’ she turns away to go back to her own desk.
‘I int miserable neither!’ Charlene retorts, slamming the top drawer closed and yanking open the bottom one.
‘But you are sad’ Ingrid persists ‘And something’s put you in a temper’
‘Yeah, you!’ Charlene glowers ‘Keep asking questions all the time’ she mutters as she turns her head back to the filing.
‘I’m concerned about you, that’s all’
‘Well, don’t be! I’m all right’ She says angrily and gets up from her chair to pull her jacket from the hook on the wall ‘It were for the best, okay? I gotta check summat in the store’ She answers Ingrid’s questioning look. ‘And I don’t want t’hear nothing about it when I comes back neither!’
Charlene picks up a clipboard from her desk and clangs open the outer door.
Samms Plant Hire, Oatfield
Chapter Twenty-two
Tawny House, Manor Road
‘So, it’s goodbye again!’ Lynn laughs as she kisses Harriet’s cheek. ‘Thanks…thanks for everything’
‘It has not been a very restful time for you’ Harriet observes with a faint sigh and touches her hand to Lynn’s cheek. ‘When you most needed it too’
‘Don’t you worry about me. It’s been…. unusual, shall we say?’ Lynn laughs softly.
‘I do so want for you to see us as we really are. Regrettably, a state of uproar or siege seems to have become the norm for your every visit’
‘I feel we’ve taken advantage of your kindness’ Lynn glances to the open front door ‘and I know Chris…’
‘Poppycock!’ Harriet dismisses immediately ‘Pulling together at times of crisis is what being a family….a proper family is all about! And what, may I ask are you finding so funny?’
‘Oh, Harriet…I’ve only ever seen that written. I have never heard anybody actually say ‘Poppycock’ in my life!’
‘Right…that’s the bags in the car’ Chris automatically wipes his feet as he steps into the hall. He stands and grins at them laughing. ‘What’s got you two?’
‘I was…. merely….saying…’ Harriet snorts involuntarily sending Lynn into another paroxysm of giggles.
‘Lynn…shush….and breathe for goodness sake’ Chris laughs along with them ‘You’ve gone purple!…And mother..’ he says, turning his attention to Harriet ‘You will make yourself ill’
‘I’m fine, darling’ Harriet assures, smiling as she dabs her eyes ‘Oh dear’ she tries to control another, smaller giggle ‘I rather think we shall have fun when things get back on an even keel’
‘I know we will. Thanks again, Harriet’
‘I’ll give Ellis a call….’ Chris says, looking up the staircase.
‘I’m here…’ Ellis appears from the sitting room, hands thrust into his trouser pockets and he lounges casually against the doorjamb.
‘We’ll see you soon?’
‘I think you’ve probably got enough on without me….’
‘Ellis, you’re welcome anytime, stay as long as you like, right Lynn?’ Chris turns to her for confirmation.
‘Absolutely!’ Lynn grins, still amused and trying to control her giggles.
‘Right…come on, let’s get you home’ Chris puts his arm around her shoulder, smiling indulgently.
‘Oh!’ she looks startled.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing…’ she bites her lip, looking slightly embarrassed and makes for the stairs. ‘I won’t be a moment…. all this laughing…’ she chuckles again. ‘Oh!’ she stares down at the puddle still forming on the parquet floor. ‘Oh Harriet…I’m sorry! Oh, God!’ She turns fearful eyes to Chris.
‘What’s happening?’ Ellis pushes himself to upright, sensing the slight panic in Lynn’s voice.
‘I do believe your future step-mother’s waters have just broken’ Harriet says mildly.
‘But I haven’t got any pain…’ Lynn shakes her head obstinately as if disputing what has happened.
‘None at all?’
‘Usual backache but nothing….Oh God!’ A sudden spasm hits her and her eyes grow wider as it becomes more intense. ‘Chr-i-i-i-s!’ she groans and starts to puff shorts breaths.
‘Guess I’m getting the bags out of the car again’
‘Is that all you can say!’ Lynn snaps before drawing another sharp breath through gritted teeth.
‘Sorry’
Ellis hovers, unsure of what to do but needing to do something. ‘999…a doctor… hospital…or what?’
Lynn glares at him, her ‘I don’t want a bloody ambulance. I’m not going to any hospital. My suite!’ she moans.
Chris turns back from giving Ellis a reassuring smile. ‘It’s okay, I’m here’
‘Nooo!’ Her fists clench with annoyance when he does not understand the importance of what she is saying. ‘My SUITE! I’m having the exclusive, gold class, super-duper lap of luxury suite! It can’t come now!’
‘Lynn darling’ Harriet smiles, softly amused. ‘I do not think you have any choice in the matter…. And if you are refusing to go to hospital, then we had better get you upstairs’ she takes charge of the situation ‘Ring Doctor Cameron, Ellis. The number is on the pad next to the telephone… Christopher, help Lynn to the bedroom while I get some plastic sheeting from the studio’
‘I’m having a baby not building a bloody tent!’
‘Of course you are, darling. Come along…chop chop’
‘Chris…’ Lynn looks towards him, her voice wavering. ‘I’m not ready for this. We’ve got nothing here. Everything is at… Oh God!’ Her eyes close and she breathes through another pain.
‘We’ll worry about that later…come along’
‘I can’t…I really can’t’
‘I expect we have more time than you imagine’
‘Harriet…I don’t think we have’
‘Then we must get you comfortable’
‘Comfortable? Comfortable! Oh God….Ohhhhhh….Chris!’ Lynn clings to his arm, her fingernails biting deep.
‘It’s okay…come on…breathe properly’
Ellis returns from the sitting room. ‘An ambulance is on its way’ he mumbles, glancing at Lynn and expecting her response.
‘I said I didn’t want a bloody ambulance!’
‘The doctor said to ring one…’
‘Never mind that now’ Harriet touches her hand to Ellis’s arm. ‘Help your father get Lynn into the sitting room…no…’ she changes her mind. ‘The study, there’s a day bed in there, much easier’ she decides.
‘Easier? You call this easy?’
‘My sweet girl, if your child is announcing its imminent arrival with not so much as the briefest of warnings, there are many, many women who will envy you’
Jeannie bustles into the hall from the kitchen, undoing her coat. ‘Och…I’m sae pleased I got here afore ye went’ She stops dead, a smile spreading over her face. ‘Oh ma word! Is the bairn on its way?’
‘No, Jeannie’ Lynn snaps, her anxiety manifesting as impatience. ‘I wet myself and now I’ve got wind and I am being walked around to clear it!’
‘Aye….sae ye are’ Jeannie’s smile grows even broader.
‘Don’t laugh at me!’
‘Och nae then, we’ll see’s yer all right’ she says, laying a cool and reassuring hand against Lynn’s cheek before turning to Harriet ‘What’s tae be doing?’
‘This child is not going to wait for any ambulance! The usual things…sheets, towels…and some plastic sheeting from the studio,. Anything you can find which might prove useful…. Antiseptic liquid is in the bathroom cabinet…and a bowl, we’ll need a bowl’
‘Right ye are’ Jeannie gives Lynn’s hand a quick squeeze before bustling away, her coat being flung on the hall chair in her hurry.
‘Shall I put the kettle on?’ Ellis offers.
‘Not sure now is the right time for a cup of tea’ Chris grins at him.
‘Don’t you have to have hot water or something?’
‘Well done, Ellis…’ Harriet pats his arm and beams up at him. ‘Jolly good idea. Yes, as soon as Lynn is settled. Help your father for now. Come along darling’
