Noah pulled into the passing place on the road from Port Kara, where the view of Port Agnes below was at its most open. This was the first time he’d be overseeing a parish outside of London. It might never have been in any doubt that he’d follow in his father’s footsteps and become a vicar, but he’d never envisaged being the sort who’d open country fetes or oversee a conveyor belt of summer weddings in a pretty parish church that the bride and groom had selected mainly for how good it would look in the wedding photographs. But when the bishop had told him he was being sent to cover Reverend Sampson’s absence in Port Agnes, there hadn’t been any room for debate. And when the bishop who’d engineered the move was also your godfather, it didn’t help. Jeremy had thought this was the best thing for Noah, as had his father apparently, and so that was that. It would only be for four months, though, six at the worst, if Reverend Sampson’s recovery was slower than he hoped. Then Noah would be free to go back to where he could really make a difference.
There was no denying the beauty of Port Agnes, though. The sun was dancing on the water and the sea was as smooth as a mill pond, beneath an azure sky that seemed to stretch into infinity. It was perfect and if he’d been thirty years older, it might even have been the sort of place where he’d want to drift slowly towards retirement. His father was based in a similar sort of parish in Devon, where nothing much ever happened, and the local vicar was still held in high regard. Noah liked a challenge though. He somehow felt more alive when he was being told to ‘eff off’ by someone he was trying to help get off the streets, than he did at any other time. It was those sorts of interactions which could make the doubts that sometimes crept into his mind – about treading the expected path – disappear, and he was already longing to get back to it.
‘Come on then Pabs, let’s go down and get this thing started.’ Noah looked at the little sausage dog, curled up on the front seat, who opened his eyes briefly before going straight back to sleep. Noah might not be thrilled about their temporary move to the seaside, but he had a feeling that Pablo was going to love it. The dog had become his shadow, ever since they’d first clapped eyes on one another and Noah could just picture him, his tiny little legs carrying him with surprising speed across the sandy bay in Port Agnes. Maybe he should treat this like an extended sabbatical and work out what he really wanted to do next. Port Agnes might even be good for them both.
Ten minutes later, Pablo trotted along behind Noah into the vicarage that would be their home for the next few months. There was still plenty of evidence of its previous incumbent – a reminder that Reverend Sampson had every intention of coming back to take over his parish as soon as he could. Noah would be more than happy to leave most of the rooms undisturbed until then. As long as there was a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and a couple of comfortable armchairs for him and Pablo, Noah didn’t need anything else.
After he’d finished unloading their stuff from the car, the next stop was to have a look at the church and the grounds surrounding it. It didn’t get fully dark in Cornwall until well past nine at this time of year and he was keen to see whether the church was everything he was expecting. Pablo was determined not to be left behind. His narrow body made him very adept at squeezing through the smallest gaps and following Noah, even when his so-called master didn’t want him to. They both knew who was really boss, but this time Noah didn’t even try to stop the little dog from coming with him.
The pathway down to the church was dotted with dried flower confetti, which must have been from the last wedding St Jude’s had hosted. Reverend Sampson had left the keys and a long list of instructions, which James, the verger, had passed on when he’d been waiting to greet Noah’s arrival. Noah had no intention of going against any of his predecessor’s guidelines, but he was hoping there’d be the chance to add in a few more things to the agenda – even temporarily – to stop him going completely stir crazy down in Cornwall. He’d heard about the sing-a-thon that the church had run the previous Christmas, to raise money for the school in Tanzania where Reverend Sampson’s daughter had worked in the past. Maybe there’d be the chance to carry on that initiative, and to introduce some more outreach work like food banks and a debt advice service. Just because Port Agnes and the surrounding area looked picture-perfect, it didn’t mean there weren’t any problems.
Pablo clearly felt comfortable already and had trotted off down the path ahead of Noah. Then suddenly he stopped, about ten feet back from the porch at the front of the church, his tail going ramrod straight as he started to bark.
‘What’s up boy, is there something there?’ It was probably a squirrel or something. Back in London, he’d discovered people sleeping rough in church porches quite a few times and then there was the day when… He couldn’t think about that. It wasn’t going to happen again, especially not here. It was much more likely to be some local wildlife making itself at home down here.
‘Sorry if I set him off.’ A woman suddenly appeared beneath the arch at the entrance to the porch. By Noah’s reckoning, he’d have put her in her early seventies and she clearly didn’t look like she was in the habit of sleeping rough. Despite all his bravado that there’d never be a repeat of what had happened in London, he still breathed a sigh of relief.
‘No problem at all. Pabs likes nothing better than barking at whatever crosses his path – anything from a feather to his own shadow can do it! I’m sorry if we made you jump. I’m Noah, the new locum vicar covering for Reverend Sampson, and this is Pablo.’ Noah held out his hand as he drew level with the woman.
‘It’s lovely to meet you both, I’m Eileen. I was hoping to go inside the church, but I didn’t realise it would be locked up.’
‘Ah yes, the verger said he’d locked up after Reverend Sampson left, but I’ll let you in now, if you like?’
‘That would be great, thank you.’ Eileen smiled, her shoulders visibly relaxing at the prospect. ‘I suppose it’s a bit of a security risk leaving it open?’
‘Most churches are locked overnight and some of them only open for set services, but I’d like to keep St Jude’s open as much as possible. There’s actually a school of thought that open access keeps the church safer and, more than that, it’s important for the community to be able to visit their church whenever they want to.’
‘That’s a nice idea and I’ve certainly felt the draw to visit church a lot more lately.’
‘Anything you want to talk about? I’m told I’m a half-decent listener, although Pablo’s a lot better if you’d rather just have him for company.’ The little dachshund had earned himself a reputation as an unofficial therapy dog. When people put him on their laps, he’d turn to lie full-length up their chests instead, nuzzling into their necks, as if he was actually trying to hug them back. There was no doubting that his actions had comforted more people than Noah’s words ever had and, if Eileen could benefit from some time with Pablo, the little dog would be more than willing to oblige.
‘I’m dying.’ Eileen had uttered just two words, but the impact was huge. It didn’t matter how many times Noah was faced with a situation like this, it was impossible to find the right response, but he had to say something.
‘I’m sorry.’ Sometimes keeping it simple was the best he could do and he really was sorry about the pain Eileen was clearly going through; it was etched on her face.
‘It’s not so much about me. I’ve come to terms with it in many ways and I’ve had a good life, with a very good man. It’s leaving him and our beautiful granddaughter behind that’s the hardest part of accepting I have to go. I’m the only mother Izzy’s really known and I’d have loved to have stayed around long enough to be there when she starts her own family. When I think about not being there for her, it’s the only time I really panic, but just being inside the church somehow helps. I think it’s the sense that thousands of others have sat in those pews before me over the years, each with their own troubles and burdens, that somehow lessens what I’m going through.’
‘Don’t feel you need to try and minimise things. What you’re facing is incredibly hard and you’re already thinking about everyone but yourself.’
‘Do you ever wonder if there’s actually a God?’ Eileen’s voice echoed in the emptiness of the church as they stepped inside, and Noah swallowed hard.
‘I think almost everyone questions that from time to time, or at least faces an event that makes them question their beliefs. I also think it’s a good thing.’ Noah still found it hard not to picture his father’s face when he’d first questioned his own faith. Disappointing his father seemed to have been his default position growing up, but that moment had undoubtedly been the worst.
‘I thought you’d tell me that God works in mysterious ways or something.’ Eileen smiled, hooking her arm through his, as if they’d known each other for years. Yet, somehow, it didn’t feel awkward at all. ‘But I much prefer that sort of honesty. Now tell me, what makes a young man like you want to run a parish somewhere like Port Agnes.’
‘I just go where I’m told to go, but I’m already glad they sent me here. How about I leave you to have a bit of thinking time alone like you planned and I’ll put the kettle on over at the vicarage? The verger even left me some walnut cake.’
‘How can I say no to that?’ Eileen smiled again and Pablo trotted after her, as she headed towards the pews. He might be Noah’s shadow 90 per cent of the time, but the little dachshund instinctively knew when someone needed him more. Some things couldn’t be explained rationally and the joy that dogs brought into the world was one of them. Not even freshly baked walnut cake could compete with that.
When the call finally came through that all the midwives had been waiting for, it took Izzy by surprise.
‘Toni’s in labour and I wondered if you were free to come in and help out?’ Ella sounded breathless. ‘She wants to have the baby at the unit and Gwen and Jess are already on a home delivery. Anna wanted to come in, but Brae’s got some sort of virus and she can’t leave him on his own with the twins.’
‘I can be there in ten minutes.’ It was another one of the benefits of living in Port Agnes and she was already putting on her shoes before she ended the call. Bobby was probably the other midwife she’d got closest to since starting at the unit. She’d spent a lot of time shadowing him when she’d joined the team and Izzy was really excited she was going to get to be there to see his child come into the world. There was always a rush of adrenaline too, anticipating a delivery, but she couldn’t have asked for a better midwife than Ella to work alongside. Given that the baby’s parents were both midwives as well, there certainly wouldn’t be any shortage of expertise in the room.
True to her word, Izzy was at the maternity unit on the edge of Port Agnes less than ten minutes later. Frankie was there too and Toni had apparently already been in labour for several hours before deciding to come in. It didn’t surprise Izzy that Toni was proving to be pretty stoic; she was definitely the no-nonsense sort and Bobby looked far more panicked than his wife. They’d only been married a couple of weeks before, in late June, and the honeymoon was on hold until after the baby arrived. The two of them had been through a tough time over the last few years, but they had so much to look forward to now.
‘Can you stop breathing so loudly?’ Toni pulled a face as Bobby leant over to kiss her on the forehead.
‘It’s all I can do not to hyperventilate, but I’ll do my best sweetheart.’ Bobby took his wife’s comments with good humour and she was almost certainly in more pain than she was letting on.
‘If you don’t, I’m sending you down the end with all the action and I don’t care what horrors you have to see!’
‘It’s good to see it’s business as usual with you two.’ Frankie laughed. ‘Maybe a cup of tea would help. At least it would give Bobby something else to think about.’
‘He can have the tea; I’ll stick to the Entonox.’
‘Izzy, Ella, can I get either of you a drink?’ Frankie asked.
‘Not for me, thanks.’ Ella shook her head.
‘I’m fine too, thanks, Frankie.’ Izzy’s grandparents constantly seemed to have a pot of tea on the go and just lately she felt as if she was awash with the stuff.
‘Never mind the tea, I’m having another contraction.’ Toni clamped the mask over her face and took in another huge breath of gas and air.
‘They’re coming every two minutes now. I think we’d better have another look and see where we’re at.’ Ella waited for the contraction to ease. ‘Is it okay for me to examine you again?’
‘Go for it.’ Toni lay back against the pillows, not raising any objections as Bobby kissed her again.
‘We’re at eight to nine centimetres already. Did you want to try moving position?’ Ella kept her tone light; they all knew Toni well enough to realise that she’d only do what she thought was right.
‘I would, but I can barely sit up with the SPD now, let alone stand.’ Toni had been diagnosed with symphysis pubis dysfunction, caused by the pregnancy hormones loosening the ligaments in her pelvis and resulting in pain and discomfort. Izzy and the rest of the midwives had witnessed what it had put her through.
‘You could go on all fours, or maybe we could support you to stand?’ Izzy was aware that Toni would know all the options as well as anyone, but in the midst of labour, and after hours of inhaling Entonox, some women had even been known to forget their partner’s name.
‘I’m not keen on the all-fours position.’ Toni managed a smile. ‘It’s a good job Gwen’s not here to jump on that one! But I’ll try to haul myself onto one side. It might not speed things up, but it should at least ease some of the pressure.’
‘I’ll give you a hand, Tee.’ Bobby was the only one who called Toni that and they exchanged a look that made Izzy smile. There might be three other people present at their baby’s delivery, but this was a moment just for the two of them.
‘I’ve got your tea here, Bobby.’ Frankie came back into the delivery room, just as Toni’s latest contraction eased off.
‘Stuff the tea, I need you to keep my mind off all of this by giving us an update on the latest with your love life.’ There was no arguing with Toni, especially not when she was in labour.
‘Sadly there’s not much to tell.’ Frankie shrugged.
‘Did you reply to the guy who looked like Danny de Vito?’ Izzy had felt sorry for the poor man after Gwen’s harsh critique, and she couldn’t help hoping he’d turn out to surprise them all.
‘I am still talking to him, but the pictures of Princess Leia he keeps sending over are hard to get past!’ Frankie screwed up her face. ‘I think I might just stop trying to make it happen. If I meet someone, that’s great, if not I’ll just have to live vicariously through you and Emily. Dating is definitely easier without all the baggage of having been through thirty years of marriage.’
‘You’ll be dining on scraps if you’re living vicariously through me, but I reckon Emily will have enough stories to keep us going.’ Izzy laughed. Emily still hadn’t given up trying to persuade Izzy to join her at speed dating, but she could nag all she liked, it wasn’t going to happen.
‘Come on, some of you must have some gossip.’ Toni twisted the last word as another contraction took hold and she gripped Bobby’s hand from across the bed. The contractions were barely a minute apart now.
‘I don’t think it’s going to be long.’ Ella put a hand on Toni’s leg. ‘Let me know if you feel like you’re ready to start pushing.’
‘Oh, you’ll know!’ Toni spoke through gritted teeth. ‘But if one of you doesn’t come up with something to distract me from waiting for the next contraction, you’re all in trouble.’
‘I told you about Mum and Dad’s latest plans for the wedding, didn’t I?’ Ella rolled her eyes.
‘I don’t think so.’ Toni’s face was still contorted and she didn’t seem to be getting any significant relief between pains now.
‘Dad was planning to talk to Reverend Sampson about Dan exchanging vows with him and Mum before he does it with me.’ Ella pulled a face that couldn’t even come close to expressing how horrified she must have been at the prospect.
‘Having to exchange vows with the in-laws, now that would cut down wedding bookings pretty drastically!’ Izzy couldn’t help laughing. Either way, Dan was clearly marrying into the entire Mehenick family.
‘Well vows is probably too strong a word, but they – mostly Dad if we’re honest – wanted Dan to make them some promises about always taking care of me.’ Ella shook her head. ‘I did try to tell them that those things were more or less written into the wedding vows anyway, but Dad was still determined to try and get Reverend Sampson on board. Thank goodness the new guy has taken over. He might be gone before we get married in February, but it will be too late to add anything new into the ceremony by then. At least that’s what I’ve told Dad.’
‘Owwwww ahhhhh!’
‘Are you all right sweetheart?’ Bobby asked the question, as a guttural groan from Toni broke through the laughter.
‘If this baby isn’t crowning, someone must have set my pubes on fire, because everything down there’s burning.’ Toni dropped her chin to her chest and grimaced again, as Izzy tried to fight the laughter bubbling inside her. There was nothing funny about their friend being in this much pain, but Izzy could see that Frankie and Ella were struggling not to laugh either.
‘You’re amazing, Tee, and our baby’s going to be here soon. I love you so much.’ Bobby was gripping his wife’s hand and even if he hadn’t declared his love for her, it would have been written all over his face.
‘You’re right, the baby’s crowning, so there’s no need to call the fire brigade.’ Ella grinned. ‘If you’re happy to stay lying on your side, Izzy could hold up your leg if you’re comfortable like that, to make baby’s exit a bit easier?’
‘Uh huh,’ was all Toni could manage.
‘Let me know if this gets uncomfortable at any point.’ Izzy took hold of Toni’s leg, standing on the opposite side of the bed to Bobby.
‘I’ll get everything ready for when this very special little person arrives.’ Frankie sniffed, obviously fighting back the tears. It was the first time Izzy had been at the delivery of someone she was friends with and there was a pretty big lump in her throat, too. When she’d first started her midwifery training, she’d struggled to hold back the tears at every delivery she’d attended, the emotion was always so heightened. But it had been a long time since she’d been as emotional as she was right now.
‘Okay Toni, this is it, the next push is going to do it.’ Ella’s tone was as calm and reassuring as ever.
‘Tee, I think the baby’s got my hair!’ Bobby grinned. He was still clutching her hand, but he was looking down the bed towards where Ella was ready to guide his and Toni’s baby into the world. ‘I’m just hoping the rest is all like you.’
‘You’re about to find out, because baby’s head is all the way out now.’ As Ella spoke, Izzy could see the baby’s face from her side of the bed, because of the position Toni was in. The battle to hold in the tears was well and truly lost.
‘Thank God for that because I don’t think I can do much more of this.’ Toni sounded as exhausted as she looked.
‘You’ve already done the hard bit, lovely, just let your body do what it needs to and I promise it will.’ Frankie was the only one in the room who could speak from personal experience and Toni nodded in response, dropping her chin to her chest again as another urge to push took hold.
‘That’s it, baby’s out, you’ve done so brilliantly.’ As Ella took the baby, who had a very healthy sounding pair of lungs, Izzy released Toni’s leg and she turned onto her back. ‘Let’s get baby up onto your chest and you can see what you’ve got.’
‘Oh, Bobby look.’ Toni peeled back the blanket. ‘We’ve got a little girl and I already know she’s going to be a daddy’s girl.’ She leant her head against Bobby’s as they gazed down at their daughter, who’d stopped crying – unlike everyone else in the room – as soon as she was placed on her mother’s chest.
‘Oh Tee, she’s beautiful.’ Bobby wasn’t even trying to hold back the emotion that was choking his voice. ‘This is everything I’ve ever wanted and I’ve got the two best girls in the world.’
‘She really is beautiful.’ Izzy looked at the little girl, who had her father’s dark curly hair, olive skin and was already very alert looking, as if she couldn’t wait to take in everything the world had to offer. ‘Congratulations, you guys.’
‘She’s totally gorgeous.’ Frankie sniffed again. ‘Have you got a name?’
‘Yes, she’s going to be Ionie, after Bobby’s great-grandmother.’ Toni stroked her new daughter’s hair.
‘We lost her a couple of years back, but every time I went to Jamaica with Mum to visit her family, being with Gee was always the best thing about it.’ Bobby was still staring down as his daughter. ‘She was just the best, so we couldn’t think of a better name. Her middle name is really special too, isn’t it Tee?’
‘We’ve chosen Aryn, as a tribute to Aaron; it just felt like the right thing to do. Thank you all so much for getting her here safely, we really never thought we’d have all of this.’ Toni exchanged another look with Bobby, who dropped the tenderest of kisses onto her forehead. Izzy and the others knew all about Aaron, Toni’s former fiancé who’d died of a sudden brain haemorrhage six years ago. For a long time, Toni had blamed herself for not being able to stop the tragedy and then for moving on by finding love with Bobby, but now they were finally enjoying the life together they both so deserved. What they’d been through made baby Ionie’s arrival all the more magical.
‘Okay, that’s it. I need to get more tissues!’ Ella had spoken for them all, but Izzy had already had to resort to wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. There was nothing as special as moments like this and she could hardly wait to tell Nonna the news. It was the only thing that could make her day even better than it had been already.