Michael – Thirty-Eight Weeks
Charlotte waddles into the lounge. And it’s a slow waddle. Her feet drag and her breathing’s heavy, her face flushed.
I stand, offering my arm to help her sit. “You okay, Babe?”
“I suppose.” She reaches around herself, trying to rub at the small of her back. “I’m so tired all the time. And so hot…”
Just as well it’s winter…
“… And my back’s hurting.” She’s drooping almost as I watch.
I follow her hand with mine to the base of her spine, feeling for the pressure-point; where she’s tense. “Why don’t I give you a massage? Let’s see if we can ease this up for you a bit.”
“That would be nice.”
I slide my arm under hers, trying to help her back up again. She heaves upwards, then drops back. So instead, I stand, this time giving her both hands to haul her onto her feet. “C’mon, let’s get you upstairs onto the bed and I’ll see what I can do.”
*****
On the bed, she’s so quiet. Lying on her side, her back turned to me, head on a pillow, her hands rest by her face.
“Would you like a pillow to your front? Or between your knees?”
“Mmm…” She nods sleepily.
Was that a yes to one or the other or both?
But she’s drifting and I don’t want to disturb her, so I give her both, lifting her leg to push one between her knees and another under ‘Bump’.
My oil is pre-prepared. I thought this would come and I’ve made sure to keep what I need on hand. Almond base with a little lavender and chamomile, to help to calm her, relax her.
My position on the bed is a little awkward. It’s a bit low and I’m having to twist as I sit beside her. I would have preferred to have her on a proper table, but I don’t want to ask her to walk to the hotel. As for comfort, which of us is more uncomfortable?
Long smooth strokes…
Up and along… either side of her spine… Her muscles are knotted tight.
Ah… you’re hurting, Babe…
Taking my time, I smooth the tension away. “That good?”
Drowsily, “Mmm, yes.”
“I’m not hurting you at all?”
A slow shake of the head. “No.”
Her belly ripples and she hisses.
“Another one?”
“Yes.” She robs over her stomach. I don’t think it’s the real thing yet, but…”
“How does it feel?”
“Sort of crampy.”
I thumb over her shoulders. “I know it must be uncomfortable, but it’s right on target. You can expect to get these intermittent contractions over the next few days. It’s your body softening up your cervix for real labour.”
She groans; quietly, softly. “How will I know when it’s real labour?”
“Instead of being one-offs that die away, they’ll keep getting stronger. Don’t worry. I’ve got your hospital bag packed and ready. And one for Cara too. Just have a think about if there’s anything else you would like in there.”
She reaches behind herself, takes my hand and squeezes. “My Golden Lover. You’re always there aren’t you. Knowing what’s needed.”
I squeeze back. “I know James is the one going to the clinic with you, but I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading myself. And I talked with some of the staff. A couple of them have a nursing background. And your mother too. So I know what to expect.”
“Is he happy? With how it’s going?”
“Who? James? He’s walking on sunshine. I don’t think there is anything you could have done that would have made him happier than this. What makes you ask?
“He’s my Master but your friend. You see a different side of him to me.”
I glide palms over the length of her. “Where’s your back hurting?”
“Lower down.”
Shifting down, “There?”
“Lower. Base of my spine.”
I press the heel of my hand over her coccyx, circling, easing the pressure away. “That helping?”
“Yes, it is. It’s lovely.”
A movement at the door: James. He hovers there for a moment, watching me with our naked, pregnant, exhausted beauty. His eyes are soft, and he blinks a little, then moves to the other side of the bed to sit beside her.
She shifts as he joins her, looking up to his face. “Sorry, Master. I’m just so tired. I never expected it to be this hard, but it is.”
James strokes her swollen belly, then takes her hand, kissing the fingers before replacing it on the pillow. “Hardly surprising. Just a few more days and you can introduce us all to Cara, then you can get back to feeling more yourself.”
“There’s the labour first. I’m… I’m not looking forward to that.”
He takes the hand again, this time holding it in his. “Almost every woman goes through it. Everything and everyone will be there to be sure it all goes as it should for both of you.”
She shifts, half turning, trying to face both of us. “You’re sure it’s better in a hospital? I’d really like…”
James’ voice turns a little firmer. “If you really insist, I’ll arrange for you to birth at home, but for your first, I would be much happier if you were in a hospital. Just in case.” He eyes me in a very obvious and intended cue. “What do you think, Michael?”
“I agree. I’d prefer you to be in a hospital too, this time round. And if, as we all expect, everything goes smoothly, then you can do it at home next time.”
I expect her to argue, but she doesn’t, simply sighing and nodding.
Then she jolts under my touch. “You will both be there won’t you?” She grows insistent, a panicky edge to her voice. “Both of you.”
James meets my eye over her but stages a chuckle. “Yes, we’ll both be there. You don’t pay for private health care to have midwives argue over something like that.”
She eases again, relaxing back to my touch. “Good. That’s alright then. If you’re both there, I know everything will be fine.”
James regards her for a long moment, lips pursing. “Tell you what,” he says. “We’ll be at the hospital for your check-up tomorrow. I’ll be taking you, of course. But afterwards, we could go out. Somewhere nice, a restaurant, Francesca’s. Anywhere you like.”
“That sounds nice, Master.” I can’t see her face, but now I hear the smile in her voice.
“Where would you like to go?”
“Anywhere. You choose.” Her head twists as she tries to look back to me, but her body doesn’t move with her and I still only have a side view. “Will you come too?”
“‘Course I will. What time’s your appointment?”
James turns brisk. “We should be done by two. You can meet us at the hospital.”
*****