Songbird (23 page)

A short, sharp pain almost brought her to her knees. “Oh, God! I think the baby’s coming. I can’t…” As she turned toward them, she felt the darkness envelop her.

As Maddy slumped forward, Grandad and Ellen caught her in their arms, and half-carried her back to the car, step by gentle step.

“The Infirmary’s nearest.” Having settled her in the back seat with Ellen holding onto her, Grandad lost no time. Shifting the car into gear, he put his foot down and made for Blackburn Infirmary.

In the back, Ellen was praying that all would be well. If, as Maddy suspected, the baby
was
on its way, that could not be good. The poor little thing wasn’t even due for another month.

On arrival at the Infirmary, Maddy was rushed straight to the maternity ward.

“The baby is in difficulties.” The consultant was specific. “We have to perform an emergency caesarean.”

The next three hours were a nightmare for Ellen and Grandad. “I blame myself,” Grandad said as he relentlessly strode up and down. “Only a madman would take a woman across bumpy lanes in an old bone-shaker when she’s eight months’ pregnant.” Raising his arms in frustration, he ran his two hands through his red hair. “I’ll never forgive myself if anything goes wrong with her and the child.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Ellen entreated. “It was nobody’s fault. Maddy is a strong, determined girl. They’ll be fine, you’ll see.” She could not bring herself to tell him the truth — how she and Maddy had escaped London in fear for their lives, and now it was all brought back by what they had seen and heard.

It was a ghost from the past which had obviously caused Maddy to go into premature labor.

Certainly, none of this was Grandad’s fault, and Ellen could not let him believe that. Yet he must not know the truth, in case he reacted in a way that would put
his
life in danger as well as Maddy’s.

Everything had happened too quickly for Maddy to be afraid. But now, as they wheeled her to the operating room, the fear was like a tangible thing. Though it was not for herself, because as things were now, if there was no baby, there would be little reason to live. “The baby… will it be all right?” she mumbled. Already the pre-med was beginning to take effect. “Please… Don’t let my baby die.”

As the anesthetic took hold and her senses fell away, she heard the doctor assuring her, “Relax now. We haven’t lost one yet.”

Having been informed of the situation, Ellen and Grandad were directed to the small waiting room beside the maternity ward, where they waited nervously.

After what seemed a lifetime, the doors swung open and the doctor arrived to tell them the news.

“Just to let you know, Mother will be fine. As for the baby, he’s in an incubator; it’s too early to say whether there will be any long-term problems. We just need to keep a wary eye on him.”

“So, it’s a little lad then, is it?” Grandad asked shakily.

“Six pounds four ounces,” the doctor informed them cheerily. “And look, try not to worry. He managed to fight his way into this world, so now, all we can do is hope he can overcome anything untoward. He’s a strong little fella, don’t forget that.”

Ellen had a question. “Does Maddy know about the baby being in an incubator?”

“Not yet. She will be told though, as soon as she wakes.”

“So, she doesn’t even know that she has a son?”

“No.”

“When can we see her?”

“Soon.” The doctor was noncommittal. “Give it a few hours, then we’ll see.” He urged them to go home and come back later. “You might want to bring her toiletries and such?” he suggested.

“There’ll be time enough for all that.” Grandad was adamant. “But for now, it might be better if we’re here when she wakes. If that’s all right?”

“Of course. In that case, I’ll see if we can rustle you up a cup of tea. Try not to worry too much,” he repeated. “The incubator is merely a precaution, but you must understand, we do need to be prepared for all eventualities.”

With that sobering remark he went on his way, leaving Elllen and her grandfather to reflect on all that had occurred.

A short time later, they were brought a tray of piping hot tea and a plate of biscuits. “You ought to consider yourselves lucky.” In her early twenties and dressed in a kitchen pinny and floppy net-hat, the nursing auxiliary had a distinctive Scottish accent. “Not everybody gets tea brought to them. Still, I’m told you’ve been here a long time, and things haven’t gone too well.” She regretted saying that, so, attempting to rectify her gaffe, she declared brightly, “But you know, things are never as bad as they might seem.”

Placing the tray on the side table, she went on, “Nobody told me if you needed sugar or milk, so I’ve brought both.”

She left with a sound piece of advice in Ellen’s ear. “I’ve known babies be put in an incubator, and in a matter of days they’re right as rain, and back with their mammy.”

While Grandad poured the tea, Ellen fretted. “I can’t bear to think how Maddy would take it, if her baby was damaged in some way.”

That would be a blow too far, she thought. Even for Maddy.

It was growing dark when a nurse came to fetch them. “Mrs. Delaney is awake. You can go in now, but try not to stay too long. She’s very tired.”

Looking pale and gaunt, Maddy’s face lit up when she saw her friends coming toward her bed, and when they each gave her a hug, the bittersweet tears ran down her face. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me,” she said, “but they won’t let me see my baby. They say the doctor will be round soon. What’s wrong? Why won’t they let me see my baby?” She began to sob.

“Ssh!” Seeing how distressed she was, Ellen feared for her well-being. “Have they told you anything yet?” she inquired.

“Nothing.” Maddy shook her head forlornly. “The orderly said there would be someone along to talk to me, but I haven’t seen anyone yet. Oh Ellen, what’s happened? Is my baby all right? Is it… oh, please, Ellen, you have to tell me!”

Ellen relayed as much as she had been told. “Firstly, the baby was having problems, so they had to do a caesarean.” She gave Maddy another hug. “Oh, Maddy! You have a son — six pounds four ounces. A fine boy — what do you think of that, eh?”

Maddy’s heart leaped with joy, but then she cried, “But where is he? Why haven’t they brought him to me?”

Ellen allayed her fears. “Don’t be afraid, Maddy. He’s being well looked after. They had to put him in an incubator — as a precaution, that’s what they said. Just because he was a little bit early.”

Maddy was fearful. “Tell me everything you know.”

She listened intently while Ellen repeated what the doctor had said. “The doctor assured us it was necessary to monitor him, simply because he came along a little early, that’s all.”

Grandad confirmed Ellen’s explanation. “The doctor said he was a strong little fella to have fought his way into the world,” he told her “All we can do now is wait for him to prove that he’s made of the same stuff as his mammy — strong as they come.” He held Maddy for a long, emotional moment. “
Will
him to come through for us. Can you do that, lass?”

And that was exactly what Maddy did. When later, the nurse wheeled her away to see that small measure of life, she reached down and touched the tiny fingers, and with all her heart she prayed to the Lord that her baby would survive.

“You’re some kind of a miracle,” she whispered to her newborn child. “The two of us have been rejected, chased and hounded — and look, here we are now, you and me together.” She gazed on that small face and was filled with such love it hurt.

“I shall call you Michael Robert Delaney,” she told him. “Michael after your grandfather who died, and also after the Archangel Michael, who protects us all — and Robert after Ellen’s Grandad Bob, who rescued us and saved our lives.”

She bent and kissed his hand. “I’ll always be here for you,” she whispered. “You’re my special little gift, and you will never truly know how much I love you.”

She gave thanks for being blessed in so many ways; she had such wonderful friends, and now a son. And though she was still fearful for her child, in her heart she had the warmest feeling that the Lord had heard her prayers, and that in His wisdom He would help her.

On the way home to Blackpool, to collect nightclothes and toiletries for Maddy, Ellen told her grandad how moved she had been by his kind words to Maddy. “You took us in when we needed a friend,” she murmured, “and we love you for that, and for being the warm, caring person you are.”

“And why wouldn’t I take you in?” he demanded. “You’re both lovely lasses.” He paused meaningfully. “Being there when you’re needed — that’s what families are for.”

There was a brief silence between them, before he gave her a sideways glance. “I’m not an old fool though.”

Ellen was taken aback. “What makes you say that?”

“Happen it’s because I know you’re running from something,” he confided quietly. “But I won’t pry, you know that. All I will say is this: just remember, I’m here for you and Maddy, if you need to talk. A trouble shared is a trouble halved, isn’t that what they say?”

He looked away, and concentrated his attention on the road ahead; while Ellen quietly came to terms with the stark realization that he had known all along how she and Maddy had fled London, looking for sanctuary. And, yet again, she had been made to recognize what a wily and wonderful old fox her grandfather was.

Raymond was delighted.
“It’s taken a long time — a good four months — and a lot of work and worry, but look at you now, he told Alice as they strolled round the Cambridgeshire village where Raymond had rented a house for her to recuperate in. With their savings, and the wages he got from pulling pints in the Wagon and Horses pub four nights a week, things were going pretty well. He observed how confident she was, and how sprightly, as she walked alongside him. “You’ve mended well, my darling. It’s so good to see you back to your old self again.”

He took hold of her hand and squeezed it fondly. “Maybe now, you can start thinking about… well, you know?”

Alice knew exactly what he meant, because hadn’t he inundated her with his idea for weeks now “About getting wed, you mean?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“That’s it.” Relieved, he pursued it, “So, what do you reckon?”

Alice took a moment to answer. “Well, I don’t think we need to rush. I’ve agreed to be your wife and we will get wed. But not just yet.”

“When, then?” He had to know. “A month, a year… give me an idea, that’s all I’m asking.”

“Don’t push me, Ray,” she entreated. “I’ve got too many other things on my mind to be planning a wedding.”

Realizing what she was referring to, he said, “Aw, Alice, I’m sorry. I know how upset you’ve been, about deceiving Maddy. But, you know what I think? Even with Drayton under lock and key, the danger is still there.”

Alice readily acknowledged it. “I also know it would be a terrible hurtful thing for Maddy to find out how she was lied to, in such a terrible way,” she sighed. “Day and night, she’s never far from my mind. I desperately needed to be with her when the baby came!”

“Alice, listen to me. What good will come of tormenting yourself? What you did, you did for Maddy’s sake, not your own. And if there ever comes a day when she finds out, Maddy will know that, and she’ll understand.”

Alice wasn’t so sure. “Think of the pain I must have caused her,” she sorrowed. “Think of how my poor girl was sent on her way, pregnant and frightened, with the belief that I… her only close friend… was dead and gone. How could she ever forgive me for that?”

Raymond would have spoken again, but she stopped him. “No, Ray. Whatever you say, you can’t ever ease my conscience.”

“But we have to move on,” he argued. “Punishing yourself won’t help anybody — not you, and certainly not Maddy.”

When they arrived at the garage, Alice stood aside while Raymond handed over a small sum of money. “Another three months payment for storage,” he told the clerk.

“I could have sold that Mini a dozen times over.” The clerk rang the amount up on a greasy cash register and handed over a receipt with a large black thumbprint on it.

“Well, I don’t want it sold,” Raymond replied, pocketing the receipt. “I’ve already told you my daughter has gone abroad for a year or two, and she doesn’t want to part with her car. She asked me to look after it until she gets back, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Afterward, Alice said, “We daren’t sell it, and we can’t use it. Cars and their details are traceable to the owner, and Steve Drayton is nobody’s fool. He’s bound to put two and two together and surmise that where Ellen is, you’ll find Maddy. I reckon the best place for that blessed car is at the bottom of a deep lake, miles from anywhere.”

Raymond said nothing, but he thought that Alice was right. Moreover, paying storage was becoming a burden on his modest finances. So, at some time in the future, running it into some deep dark lake, might be just the thing.

It was visiting time in Brixton Prison, and Steve Drayton had been brought down to meet his visitor. “Hands flat on the table, Drayton. You know the rules!”

The hard-faced prison officer had already experienced numerous confrontations with this “cock of the roost.” And knowing how Drayton manipulated everyone around him, it was his avowed aim in life to watch him like a hawk.

“What’s his problem?” The visitor was a little man who had been a friend to Drayton in their younger days. Now older and wiser, wizened and sharp as a shrew, he had bright eyes that darted left and right, seemingly to cover every corner and exit, as though looking to escape.

“Take no notice of him,” Drayton snarled. “He’ll get his comeuppance soon enough. What I need to know is, why are
you
here, Danny Boy?”

“Hmh! Charming way to greet an old friend,”

“Old friend, be damned! It’s been nigh on fifteen years since we’ve set eyes on each other, and as I recall we did not part on good terms. You and I might have started out on the same side, but you managed to change all that, with your ideas of taking over my patch.” He grinned wickedly. “You should have known you’d be the one to come off worse.”