Riverside

Mary and George welcome the newest addition to their family . . .

SUSAN’S having her baby right now?” Mary screeched. Dave nodded and took hold of his mother-in-law’s arm, as if to steady them against the shock of the news.

“She’s on the maternity floor. They brought her in around lunchtime. I’ve been trying to call you both for hours, but I couldn’t get hold of either of you. Finally I got hold of Dad who told me all about . . .”

Dave glanced sheepishly at George.

“He told me all about how he had to hide in the wardrobe after you had the accident with the paint, then George found him hiding under the shirts . . .”

“There’s no time for any of this,” George declared. “We’ll follow you upstairs, Dave. Susan needs us!”

Mary gave George one of her looks.

“Dave will be going into the delivery room with her, won’t you, Dave? Susan won’t want us in there with her, George.”

Dave looked from George to Mary.

“I wasn’t planning to go in with her,” he said.

“Of course you’ll be going in,” Mary said firmly. “Susan needs you. You want to see your baby born, don’t you?”

George and Dave exchanged a look.

“Mary’s right,” George said. “Come on, you lead the way and we’ll follow.”

Three hours later, a nurse came into the waiting room where George and Mary were sitting.

“Brennan?” she called. “Parents of Susan?”

“Here!” Mary cried, jumping up from her seat. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine.” The nurse smiled. “Susan’s asked to see you both.”

George stood and took hold of Mary’s hand, and together they walked behind the nurse along the corridor towards the maternity ward.

As they turned into the ward, they saw Susan lying on her hospital bed, her face flushed. At her bedside sat Dave, holding her hands.

Between them, Mary saw the top of the baby’s cot. Her breath caught in her throat and George gently squeezed her hand.

Susan beamed brightly when she saw them. Dave sprang from his seat, offering it to Mary.

“It’s a girl,” Susan whispered as Mary leaned in to see her grandchild. “A very healthy baby girl.”

George’s eyes darted to the cot. He leaned over Susan and gave her a kiss.

“Well done,” he said. “She’s a little beauty.”

“Go and say hello to her, then, Grandad,” Susan replied.

George joined Mary at the baby’s cot.

“They’re moving me to the postnatal unit later this afternoon,” Susan said. “And I should be able to come home tonight.”

George leaned in to see his granddaughter.

“She was born right on schedule,” Susan continued. “Today was the date the doctor gave me as my due date. She’s as punctual as they come.”

“She gets that from me,” George said, not taking his eyes off the baby.

Just then, Mary felt George’s hand tremble.

“You all right, love?” she asked.

George sank down into the chair that Dave had vacated for Mary.

“I’ll be fine,” he replied, running a finger underneath his left eye. “I think I’ve got something in my eye, that’s all.”

Susan reached across and laid her hand on top of her dad’s.

“Thought of any names?” Mary asked.

Susan smiled at Dave. “We’ve decided to call her Sarah,” Dave replied.

Mary had to squeeze back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Of course. It was your mum’s name. That’s beautiful,” she said. “Our little Sarah Brennan.”

“Sarah Georgina Brennan.” Susan beamed. “Another George in the family.”

George thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a linen handkerchief which he used to wipe the tears from his eyes. Susan turned to Mary. “I need your help, Mum,” she said. “We’re both going to need all the help we can get. I mean, we’ve read the books, but –”

“Don’t you worry,” Mary reassured her. “I’ll be there whenever you need me. We both will, won’t we, George?”

But George couldn’t reply, being too choked with emotion.

The nurse bustled over to Susan’s bedside.

“We’re ready to move Susan and baby down to the postnatal unit,” she said to George and Mary. “So, if you wouldn’t mind . . .”

“Of course.” Mary nodded. “Dave, give us a ring to let us know when you’re coming home and we’ll have some dinner ready for you in the flat.”

“Can you put the heating on, too?” Susan asked. “Make it nice and cosy.”

“Thanks, Mary,” Dave replied. “Thanks, George.”

George grasped hold of his son-in-law’s hand with both of his and shook it tightly.

“Congratulations, lad,” he said.

Then the emotion of the moment swept over him and he pulled Dave tightly to him in a bear hug.

It wasn’t the first time the nurse had seen men crying in the maternity ward, and she very much doubted it would be the last.

More next week.