‘I hope she manages it this time, though why it was such a big secret I don’t know. Let’s face it, Michael, you could have told me! Anyone would think I was a stranger on the street instead of your own mother the way you treat me these days. I suppose the house is piled up with baby powder and nappies again. If she had a squad of ten, she couldn’t use half the stuff she buys. It’s ridiculous.’
Michael had heard enough. With Hannah, it was a constant barrage of complaints – then she wondered why they didn’t want her around. Her snide remarks about grandchildren broke Josephine’s heart. She made him feel guilty because he didn’t seek her out every day, even though it was her own fault. She was so fucking bitter and twisted. As if he didn’t have enough to deal with in his life without listening to her going on.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mum! Will you give it a rest!’
Hannah shut up. Her son’s voice was full of anger and irritation. She pursed her lips together tightly, so she wouldn’t react. Her son was worried about his wife, and that was natural. But he should still remember who had reared him, fed him, clothed him all his life.
Michael felt the urge to throttle his mother. She could make a saint swear. She was sitting there now, acting like butter wouldn’t melt, while his poor Josephine was being examined by the doctor.
He made his way back to his wife, wondering why on earth he had bothered to go and update his mother on Josephine’s progress. It was a complete waste of time.
He walked into Josephine’s hospital room, a bright smile nailed to his face. He couldn’t let her see how worried he was. If it went wrong this time, she would never get over it – he knew that much.
Lana was holding her daughter’s hand, and he was pleased to see that Josephine was laughing at something her mother had said to her.
‘Hello, Michael. The doctor said that everything is going fine! We heard the heartbeat, didn’t we, Mum?’
Lana grinned. ‘We did. Strong as an ox by the sounds of it.’
Michael sat on the bed. ‘How long do they think?’
Josephine shook her head, and shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Don’t know. Still waiting for my waters to break. Could be here for ages!’
She would happily stay there for days if necessary and he knew that. All she wanted was for everything to be all right.
‘Is your mum OK?’
Michael rolled his eyes. ‘Same as always, Lana – about as much fun as a broken back.’
Lana laughed at him. ‘No change there then!’
Josephine was watching her husband sadly. She knew how much he loved his mum, but she was not the easiest person to be around. Josephine was well aware that Hannah had never liked her much, but it had not mattered at first. If she had given her a few grandchildren, it would have made a big difference to their relationship. ‘She doesn’t mean it, Michael.’
Michael waved his hand impatiently. ‘Sod her, Josephine.’
The midwife came in, and Michael automatically stepped away from his wife. He watched as she smiled and nodded, as always eager to please, to do the right thing. He prayed once more that this time God would bless them with a living child. He wanted a baby, of course, but if it wasn’t meant to be, then, for him, that was that. He couldn’t watch her go through this again. This time it seemed to be going normally but, with their track record, he wasn’t going to let himself get excited about it.
The midwife was a heavyset West Indian woman, with a loud voice, and an infectious laugh. Josephine loved her, and he watched as the woman examined his wife, while chatting and joking with her, putting her at her ease. He was glad that he had paid to go private, it was worth every penny. Only the best for his Josephine. He loved her more than life itself.
‘Did you hear that, Michael? My waters have broken! It’s all go now.’
Carmen Presley was pleased with her charge’s progress; the girl had been so unlucky in the past, and no one was taking any chances. But everything seemed to be going as planned.
Michael smiled happily, but he was relieved when Lana said pointedly, ‘Get us a cup of tea, Michael, will you, darling?’
As much as Lana disliked her son-in-law, she felt sorry for him. She could see that he was terrified, and she knew that it was fear for her daughter. Whatever he was, she believed he loved Josephine.
As he left the room, she clasped her daughter’s hand, and said another Hail Mary. Like Michael, she wanted this baby for her daughter more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
Chapter Fifty-Nine