Healed By The Midwife's Kiss: Healed by the Midwife's Kiss

He had to smile at that. ‘The Midwives of Lighthouse Bay. Sounds like a serial on TV.’

She laughed a little self-consciously and he regretted making light of the one stable thing she had in her life, hadn’t meant to embarrass her. ‘Don’t get me wrong. It’s another good ending to a story.’

Catrina seemed to relax. ‘It really was. Ellie’s husband, Sam, had been involved in research into preventing extreme premature birth in Brisbane, and thankfully he was here when she went into labour. Marni and Bob are a lovely couple who’d already lost an extremely premature baby daughter.’

Finn wasn’t so sure. She already had twins and he wanted someone who could concentrate on Piper. ‘How could she care for Piper as well?’ Finn was more uncertain now. ‘Sounds a bit hectic. She has twins and she’s doing day care?’

He caught Trina’s encouraging smile and suddenly saw how she could be a good midwife. Her empathy shone warm—he felt she understood and was reassuring him that he would conquer his fear of letting Piper out of his sight. All without putting on pressure. Encouraging him to test his own strength without expectations. Treating him like a woman in labour battling her own fear. Wow. She had it down pat.

Then she said, ‘She loves minding babies. And babies love her. Usually she’s minding them for free. We keep telling her she should become a midwife and I wouldn’t be surprised when the boys go to school if she’ll look at it. But, for now, she’s just starting up official day care.’

Absently he bent and stroked Piper’s leg at his side. ‘Maybe I could meet her before I talk to Dr Southwell? It’s a good idea to see if Piper likes her before I commit to work, though. You’ll have to give me her number.’

‘Or we could visit her. Meet her and her husband. See their house. They’re a lovely couple and live only a few doors up from you. In the blue pastel cottage.’

It was all happening too quickly. He could feel the panic build and squashed it down again. He could do this. Just not today.

Catrina touched his arm—the first time she had physically connected with him of her own volition—and again that frisson of awareness hummed where they touched. He glanced at her but her expression still showed only compassionate support. ‘It’s something to think about. Marni is just the one I know. There will be others when you’re ready.’

His relief made his shoulders sag. She must have seen it on his face. Was he that transparent? He’d have to work on his game face before he went back to work or his patients’ parents would run a mile.

He tried to make light of it. ‘I imagine every parent must feel like this when they have to go back to work. Torn.’

‘Absolutely. We see mums that can’t stay in hospital for one night after birth because they hate leaving the other child or children too much.’ She looked towards Piper and smiled. ‘I’d find it hard to leave Piper if she were mine.’

His face tightened. He could feel it. Some women could. Piper’s mother had no problem. And he’d be the one who had to break his daughter’s heart when the time came to tell the truth.

Catrina opened her mouth—he didn’t want to talk about Clancy—but all she said was, ‘The cave’s just around this next headland.’ He was glad she’d changed the subject.

The cave, when they arrived, curved back into the cliff and created an overhang half the size of his house. A few round boulders acted as seats for looking out over the ocean out of the sun. Or rain. Plenty of evidence suggested people had camped and made campfires there but on the whole it had stayed clean and cool, and dim towards the back. The sort of place young boys would love to go with their mates.

He could stand up in the cave easily and they stomped around in it for a few minutes before Catrina suggested they go the small distance further to the glade so Piper could be released from the backpack.

The glade, when they arrived, had a park bench and table at the edge of the slope down into the bowl-shaped dip of grass. The bright sunshine made the grass lime cordial-coloured and the thick bed of kikuyu and daisies felt softer and springier than he expected when he put Piper down to crawl. Because of the sloping sides of the bowl Piper tended to end up back in the lowest point in the middle even when she climbed the sides and he could feel his mouth twitching as she furrowed her brows and tried to work out what was happening.

He pulled a bright saucer-sized ball from her backpack and tossed it in the centre of the glade while Catrina set their picnic bag on the table and spread the cloth. Piper crawled to the ball and batted it. Of course it rolled back down the side to her again. She pushed it again and crowed when it rolled back again.

‘Clever girl,’ he said to his daughter, and ‘Clever girl,’ to Catrina, who grinned at him as she finished laying out their treats and came to sit next to him on the side of the grass hill. ‘I can’t remember when I last had a picnic,’ he said as he passed an arrowroot biscuit to Piper and took one of the apples for himself.

‘I know. Me either.’ She handed him the can of drink and took a sip of her own. Then he heard her sigh blissfully.

‘We couldn’t have had more beautiful weather this afternoon.’

‘A bit different to this morning.’

‘That’s the beauty of Lighthouse Bay. We’re temperate. Not too hot for long or too cold for long. Always leaning towards perfect weather.’

‘Always?’

Catrina laughed. ‘Well, no. We do have wild storms sometimes. That’s why I have shutters on my windows and doors. But not often.’

The afternoon passed in a desultory fashion and once, when Piper dozed off in his arms, he and Catrina lay side by side watching the clouds pass overhead in companionable silence. He’d never met anyone as restful as she was. It would have been so simple to slide closer and take her hand but the man who could have done that had broken a year ago.

An hour later, on the way home from their walk, he asked again about the exact location of the day care mum.

‘I could come with you to knock on the door? Maybe meeting the family would help?’

‘Just drop in?’ Despite his initial reluctance, he could see that an impromptu visit could be less orchestrated than one when they expected him. And he had Catrina to come with him to break the ice.

It made sense. Not fair perhaps, but this was his baby he was considering leaving in their care, and he wanted a true representation of the feeling of the household.

When the door opened to answer his knock, a smiling red-haired man answered. Past him they could hear the sound of a child squealing and the smell of a roast dinner drifted out to tantalise his nose. He hadn’t had an old-fashioned roast for years. His mouth watered.

‘Can I help you?’ Then the man saw Catrina and smiled beatifically. ‘Trina!’

‘Hello, Bob. How are you?’ The man stepped forward and hugged her and Finn was surprised.

When they stepped back from each other she said, ‘Something smells divine. Lucky you—Sunday roast.’

‘You’re welcome any time, Trina.’ He grinned and looked at her companion.

‘This is Finn Foley. He’s a friend and I told him about Marni offering childcare and—’ she indicated Piper ‘—he and Piper have just started looking.’ Finn glanced at Catrina. Took a second to savour that she’d claimed friendship. She really was his only friend here.

She still spoke to Bob. ‘I wondered if he could have a chat with Marni?’

‘Absolutely. Any friend of yours and all that.’ Bob grinned at Finn. ‘Come in. Marni? There’s a dad here looking for information about childcare.’

Finn liked the way he said that. To his wife, with deference, and that he wasn’t committing to anything. Just asking. His nerves settled a fraction as he followed Catrina, with Piper on his back, in the door.

The room had been divided into two, with a kitchen and lounge on one side and a wall with doors on the other. Bedrooms, he guessed, unlike his one-room cottage. An extension had been built out the back with a big play room that overlooked the tiny fenced garden. Everything sparkled; even the toys strewn on the floor in the play room caught the sunlight and looked new and well cared for. The family warmth in the little abode made the tension drop from his shoulders and his eyes met Trina’s in acknowledgement.

A young woman crossed to them, drying her hands on a tea towel. She too hugged Catrina, and her shy smile eased the tension in Finn’s stomach like magic. ‘Trina. Great to see you.’

‘This is Finn, Marni.’ She turned to help Finn extricate Piper from the backpack—which he was pretty darn good at, but he had to admit it was quicker with help. And he liked her touching him.

‘Nice to meet you, Finn. You live a few doors down, don’t you?’ she said as she held out her hand. They shook briefly and he liked that her fingers were cool and dry, her grip confident.

‘Welcome.’ She smiled at Piper, who now sat on his hip, then turned around and pointed to two boys as if introducing her to them not Finn. ‘The one on the left is Olly, and the cheekier one is Mikey.’ She looked at Piper. ‘And what is your name, beautiful?’

Previously fascinated by the smaller humans, Piper looked back at the lady’s face, realised everyone was looking at her and then she clutched at his neck and buried her face.

Finn rubbed her back. ‘Piper can be shy.’

‘Of course she can.’ Marni indicated the rear of the cottage. ‘Come and sit out on the deck at the back and we’ll show you the play area and I can answer your questions.

‘So Catrina told you I’ve started doing childcare?’ The smile Marni gave Catrina lit up her face. ‘The midwives are my cheer squad. They’re all champions up there. If it wasn’t for them and the younger Dr Southwell, we wouldn’t have our gorgeous boys.’

Finn looked at the two chubby-faced little boys, one sitting in a blue tub of a chair kicking his feet and the other lying on his back on the patterned play carpet with a red spiral rattle. The little boy—Finn thought it was Olly—began to screw his face up, dropped the rattle and began to rock until he rolled over and lay on his stomach. The mischievous chortle he let out at the feat made Finn smile.

‘Clever boy, Mikey,’ his dad said. So he’d got that wrong, Finn thought. And then Bob gestured to his wife. ‘I’ll finish the potatoes. You take our guests and Piper out and have a chat.’

Finn liked that too. He could see they were a team and, despite having two babies, the air of serenity as Marni smiled made his trepidations settle. This sort of calm atmosphere looked perfect for Piper to learn about other babies and new adults.

A heck of a lot different to the busy, efficient childcare he’d had her in before. But Piper still clung to him like one of the stripy shells on the side of a rock pool and he remembered the hard times at the big kindergarten when he’d tried to leave.

Marni pointed to a scrubbed wooden table and four sturdy chairs. Two highchairs took up the other spaces. They all sat down and Marni put a soft-sided squeaky farm book on the table in front of Piper without making a fuss of it.

‘I am looking for two more toddlers. That will give me enough to cover the wage of the girl working with my husband at the dry-cleaners and then there’s no rush for me to go back to work. I’m hoping to stay home for the next year at least. In a perfect world, I won’t go back to work until the boys go to school.’

She smiled calmly at Finn. ‘But we’ll see what happens.’

So a stable place, Finn was thinking, and he wondered, if he offered to pay twice the rate, would Marni consider having Piper by herself, at least at the beginning so the young mum wasn’t pushed by the demands of four children? Piper would benefit and money wasn’t a problem. Finding someone caring and kind for Piper would be priceless.

He tried to think of a question. ‘Catrina said you’ve just been registered. Having two babies seems intense to me. Piper can keep me busy and there’s only one of her.’

She glanced lovingly towards the two gurgling on the floor and then across at her husband. ‘I mind lots of children. Have always loved them and thought for a while we’d never be able to have any. But then the boys came along, though I spent a couple of months in hospital hanging onto them, so they are beyond precious.’

She shrugged ruefully. ‘I’m worried I might spoil them and want them to learn to share, not just with each other but with other children. Some extra income would help and my husband and I are both the eldest from big families. Our families are in Western Australia so we miss having lots of kids around.’

‘I guess childminding makes sense in that case.’

Piper reached out and picked up the book. Scrunched it with her inquisitive fingers. Barely audible squeaks erupted when she squeezed and a crooked smile tipped her mouth as she battled between shyness and delight.

All the adults looked at her fondly. ‘So, information-wise, what sort of minding were you looking for?’

‘I’ve been offered a position three days a week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.’

Marni nodded. ‘Three is better than five for Piper. Especially in the beginning. Has she been in care before?’

‘Yes, poor baby, most of her life, when I worked. About fifty hours a week. But not for the last six weeks and she was becoming unhappy before that. I was thinking to start a half-day, as a trial, just until Piper gets used to it. If she gets too upset I’d probably not go back to work for a while.’ He shrugged his apology.

Apparently she didn’t need it. That serene smile drifted across her face. ‘Being adaptable is good around kids. One of the secrets. She’ll miss you if she’s had you to herself for six weeks.’ A quirked brow made that question.

‘I’m not even sure it’s what I’m ready to do.’

‘That’s fine. You’re fact-finding, which is very sensible.’

Well, he’d better glean some facts. This was harder than he’d thought it would be. He glanced at Catrina and she sat tranquilly beside him, lending moral support, not interrupting. Just there. It felt good not to be on his own through this. ‘What hours do you have available?’

Marni laughed. ‘As I haven’t started yet it’s hard to say. Big picture—Monday to Friday, no more than forty hours, but the hours are flexible. And I get to keep the weekends for the boys and Bob.’

‘Where would she sleep in the daytime?’

‘We’ve a little room next to the boys’ room. Bob put two new folding cots in there and I think it’ll work well. And I’ll supply all the food. No hardship to make for one more and that way nobody wants what others have.’

It all sounded too good to be true. Plus they lived a few doors away from his own house. Even in this short time Piper seemed relaxed here. He gently swung her off his lap, book still in her hands, and rested her bottom on the floor. Just to see if she’d go.

As soon as she hit the floor she dropped the book and crawled curiously towards the two little boys. Stopped about a body’s length away and sat up. The three tiny people all looked at each other.

The adults smiled and Finn felt the tension leave his shoulders. The gods, or Catrina, had saved him again.

‘What about if I go and talk to my prospective employer tomorrow? Perhaps leave Piper here just for an hour and see how she goes while I negotiate? Then we’ll all know more.’

‘Why don’t you make it two hours? That will be a quarter of the time of her next visit, if you decide to go ahead. Just to give her time to settle. And take the rush out of your appointment. She’ll be fine. It will give us all a chance to trial the fit.’

‘I think that sounds like a plan. Yes, please.’ Finn stood up. Blew out a breath. ‘Phew. Thank you. I do feel better for asking and talking to you. That would be great.’ He glanced at Catrina, who stood as well. She smiled at him as if he’d just done an excellent job. It felt good. Reassuring.

Marni went across to the dresser and picked up a business card. ‘Here’s our phone number, and it’s got my mobile on it as well. You can ring or drop in when you know your time. The sheet has information about my business.’ She handed him a sheet of paper with her numbers and the payment rates. Easy.

‘That’s great.’ He picked up Piper, who had crawled over to him as soon as he stood up. She didn’t cling, more curious than panicked he’d leave her. ‘I’ll leave one of my own cards when I bring Piper. Then you can contact me any time.’

‘Give yourself ten extra minutes before you leave her tomorrow. To help her settle.’

He nodded. Then Bob came and shook his hand. Then they were outside and the door closed.

He felt like sagging against it. He’d done it. Another step towards a new life.

‘You didn’t say much.’

Catrina laughed. ‘I didn’t have to. You’re all made for each other.’

CHAPTER TEN

Trina

TRINA’S FIRST MORNING as Midwifery Unit Manager, and her first day shift for a long time, proved too busy to worry about a man she’d met on the beach and declared her friend. Though she had spent a fair time mulling over all the things she’d learnt about Finn the night before.

This morning, in her new world, the midwife coming off shift had celebrated a birth at five a.m., so still lots of settling of mother and baby for Trina to help with before mother left at lunchtime to go home. Another mother who preferred to rest at home, not separated from her toddler, and it made her think of her conversation with Finn yesterday. Finn again. She pushed those thoughts away and concentrated on the new tasks.

There were Monday pharmacy orders and sterile stock orders, and a hospital meeting and a visit from Myra, her neighbour, which lightened a busy time with a quick break.

‘Hello there, new midwife in charge.’ Myra’s serene face peered around the corner of the nurses’ station, where Trina typed efficiently into the discharged mother’s electronic medical records.

‘Hello, Mrs Southwell, what have you got there?’ Myra had a steaming cup and a white paper bag tucked under her arm. Ellie had said that Myra always brought something when the place got busy.

‘A long black with extra water, the way you like it.’ She smiled mischievously. ‘And a savoury tart with spring onion in case you haven’t had lunch.’

Trina glanced at the clock, the hour hand resting on the two. ‘An angel. That’s what you are.’ Though she would pack lunch tomorrow to make sure she had something. She hadn’t realised how hard it could be to get away from the ward to the cafeteria. She’d expected that on night duty but not through the day.

Myra tilted her head to scrutinise her. ‘Have you had time to stop for a few minutes?’

Trina sat back and gestured to the chair beside her. ‘Not yet. But I do now. And I will.’ She took the china mug Myra carried and took a sip before she put it down on the desk beside her. ‘Ah!’ She smiled at the older lady. ‘I seriously needed that.’ She looked at the mug again and picked it up. Took another sip and closed her eyes. ‘The world won’t stop turning if I don’t achieve everything today.’

Myra laughed. ‘Something I’ve learnt since I came here. So how is it going? Is it strange to be on the ward in the daytime?’

Trina glanced around the sunlit reception area. The windows that showed the gardens. The sunlight slanting across the polished wooden floors. ‘It is. And there are so many people I need to talk to.’ She pretended to shudder. ‘Business requirements have given me interaction overload. Present company excluded, of course.’

‘I won’t be offended.’ Myra looked at her with concern. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer sitting in the tea room and I could answer the phone for you while you finish your tart?’

Trina laughed. ‘No. This is a social conversation. Much more fun. Besides, I haven’t seen you for days. How are you? How is married life? Any adventurous plans?’

‘I’m well. Ridiculously content, and I’m trying to talk Reg into coming away with me on a cruising holiday. There’s a last-minute deal that’s breaking my heart not to take.’

Trina could see Myra at a Captain’s Cocktail Party, dressed to the nines in those stunning vintage outfits she seemed to source at will. Trina could never find anything when she looked in the pre-loved section. Or if she did she looked ridiculous. But Myra looked soft and elegant and stunningly stylish. She sighed and let the envy go. She hadn’t really thought much of clothes since Ed. ‘That sounds fun. Does he like the idea?’

‘More than I thought he would. But it all depends if he finds locum relief for the practice. I’m a little keen for him to scale right back but he’s become immersed in the bay and the hospital.’

Trina could see why Myra wanted to play. ‘I haven’t seen him out on his surfboard lately.’

‘He still goes out every Sunday with his son. It’s lovely to see. Says he doesn’t have the need to get out of bed at the crack of dawn now—especially with me in it.’ Myra smiled with just a hint of pink in her cheeks and Trina smiled back.

‘Understandable.’ She thought of Finn. Her own cheeks heated and she dipped her head and took a sip from her mug to hide it. Of course he was the locum Myra hoped for, and of course she wasn’t blushing just because of Myra’s mention of mornings in bed. ‘Is he hopeful of the locum situation?’

Myra sighed. ‘There’s a young doctor in town he’s had a chat with. Some family issue that’s keeping him from starting, but hopefully that will sort soon. If not, I think he should advertise.’

‘I met the one I think he’s talking about. Finlay Foley. He’s a single dad. Has a delightful little one-year-old.’

Myra unwrapped the tart from its white paper bag and pushed it towards Trina. ‘That’s the one. That’s right—Reg said he had a daughter. What’s he like?’

‘He’s an amazing dad. Anyone can see that. It’s a wonder you haven’t seen him walking along the beach with his little girl on his back.’

Myra’s eyes brightened. She lifted her head in delight and glanced towards the general direction of the beach way below, though she wouldn’t be able to see it. ‘Oh. I have seen him. Younger than I expected. I didn’t think of him as a doctor. Looks too young.’ She lowered her voice and said suggestively, ‘And handsome.’

Trina laughed. ‘I used to see them in the mornings after work when I walked. Been here for a month but I’ve only really talked to him this weekend.’ Funny how it felt as if she’d known Finn for ages. What was that? ‘His little girl turned one yesterday. And I did mention Marni as a suggestion for childminding. He’s thinking about it.’

‘Oh, that’s marvellous news. And a really good idea. Marni is the perfect mother to those tiny boys. I might get Reg to give him a nudge—not a big nudger is my Reg. But I would like to catch that sailing if possible.’

Trina laughed. ‘You might have a surprise when you get home, then.’ She picked up the tart and bit into the buttery pastry with slow enjoyment. The tang of Parmesan cheese, fresh spring onions and cream made her eyes roll. She took another bite and savoured. Before she knew, the tart was gone. ‘Goodness, Myra. I should have a standing order for those.’

Myra laughed. ‘My man is a bit pleased with my cooking.’

Trina picked up her coffee and then paused as a thought intruded. If Finn took over Dr Southwell’s practice while he was away, he’d be working in the hospital. And he’d probably walk through Maternity. Might even seek her out as a friendly face. Not that everyone wasn’t friendly at Lighthouse Bay. Maybe he’d even come over if they needed a third for a tricky birth. Their own personal paediatrician.

Her belly seemed to warm and it had nothing to do with food and hot coffee, though they had been good. She finished the last of the coffee not quite in the present moment. It was all positive because he was a paediatrician. Good for those babies that didn’t breathe as well as you expected them to. Oh, my.

‘You look much better for stopping and eating,’ Myra said with some satisfaction. She stood up. ‘I won’t bother you any longer and let you get on before your afternoon midwives come on.’