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Tillie helped Verona into the back seat of Martin’s van. “It isn’t far, but it’ll take too long to walk.”
“If you have doctors on hand, I will be superfluous,” Verona said.
“I don’t think Ruth is back to work yet which leaves us with a male doctor who is actually a neurosurgeon,” Tillie explained. “I’m sure that Bridget would appreciate the presence of a real midwife.” When Verona had offered her services, Tillie had snatched her away from the meeting.
It was the first time Verona looked at ease. “I’d be delighted.”
Martin drove up the street too fast jostling them mercilessly, but Tillie didn’t care. She wanted to be there when Bridget and Wisp’s child was born. Aside from the excitement of a new baby, she was more than curious about what the child would look like. Angus had assured her that Wisp was completely human and nothing in his DNA would cause complications. But he’d still had Kyle run the most sophisticated tests they could manage looking for any oddities.
“Is this the first birth you’ve had to deal with?” Verona asked.
Tillie heard the curiosity in her voice. “No, we’ve had quite a few. The parents are dear friends, so I want to be there for them. It’s their first. And...” Tillie hesitated, but that was silly because Verona had already met Wisp. “The father is a biobot.”
“Oh.” Verona gave a surprised twitch. “Oh. I didn’t know that they could reproduce.”
“They aren’t animals,” Martin grumbled sourly from the front seat.
“They’re human,” Tillie said watching Verona’s face. “And many of them have been horribly mistreated.”
“Oh. Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You’ve met the father,” Tillie said.
“Oh.” Verona shook her head as if shaking off dust from the road. “Um, you’ve given me quite a lot to think about.”
Tillie hoped that meant she was going to be helpful. Martin jolted to a halt nearly knocking Tillie out of her seat, but he hurried around the van to help them both out. She led Verona down the hall and into the room filled with Sleepers. Someone had arranged some screens around Bridget’s bed. As they made their way down the row of cots, a howl of pain split the air.
“Sounds like we’re right on time,” Verona said with a smile.
Tillie stayed at the edge of the screens. There were more than enough people crowded around the bed. James supervised, Wisp hovered, and Helen collected supplies as Verona rattled off a list of things she’d need. The midwife shifted Wisp out of the way with firm hands sending him to the head of the bed. Verona looked very much in her element, and her calm attitude spread to them all.
James stepped back leaving Helen at Verona’s bidding. He smiled at Tillie. “Where did she come from?”
“New neighbors,” Tillie said. “Professional midwife.”
“Excellent.” He glanced over the screens at the rest of his charges. “In that case, I’ll do my rounds. Call if you need me.”
“We haven’t had any more poisonings?” she asked.
“Not since the main group of women woke up. I think the panic has passed. Maybe they don’t need it anymore.
Tillie nodded, keeping her eyes on Bridget. From the panting and grunting, she didn’t think it would be much longer. She heard some more people arrive and stepped away for a moment. Angus, Kyle and Ruth, Nick, Ted and Nixie had arrived. Ted was carrying flowers. Nixie had a baby blanket. Tillie herded them all back to the cafeteria. “She needs to concentrate right now, so she doesn’t need a big crowd watching her at her most vulnerable.”
“Why isn’t James with her?” Ruth asked. She was still a little pale and worn looking.
“We have a midwife visiting,” Tillie said. “Verona,” she said to Nick’s curious glance.
“I guess that’s one way to win her over,” Nick said with chuckle.
“It’s good to have a midwife,” Nixie said. “I’ll want her there when I give birth.”
Ted paled, then blushed. “Are...are you...”
“Not yet,” Nixie said teasingly.
“Stay here,” Tillie said gesturing them over to a table. “I’ll check in and let you know how it’s going.” By the time she’d returned, the head had crowned. She stood out of the way as the child was helped into the world.
“A girl,” Verona announced lifting up the squealing, wriggling bundle.
Wisp scooped her up protectively. Helen did the usual clean up and check up while Wisp watched. “She’s perfect,” Helen announced.
“Her eyes are the color of the first willow leaves in spring,” Wisp said dotingly.
Verona did the same sort of clean up for Bridget who was then tucked into clean blankets. Wisp handed her the baby, slipping behind her to enfold his wife and child in protective arms.
“Willow is a perfect name,” Bridget said.
Tillie wiped a tear away at the sight. She hurried back down to the cafeteria to bring them the happy news.