Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [135]
`At the hospital. While I'm doing the panting and yelling bit.' She looked hopefully at Miranda. `I'm supposed to have a designated birth partner, you see. They keep asking me at the hospital if I've chosen anyone yet. And…well, if you're happy to be involved, I'd really like it to be you.'
Miranda stared at her, dumbfounded.
All that blood.
And awful stuff gushing everywhere.
Agonising screams of pain.
That hideous disinfectanty smell that all hospitals have
The sight of needles and, oh God, forceps…
The very real likelihood of fainting during a grisly bit and crashing to the ground, sending all the sterile instrument trolleys flying and probably fracturing her owr skull into the bargain.
`Of course I'll do it. I'd love to be your birth partner,' said Miranda.
Will you? Really?' Reaching over, Chloe clasped her hand and squeezed it with delight. `Oh, thank you! I'm so glad.'
`Me too,' Miranda fibbed. Touched and flattered, maybe. Squeamish, definitely. But glad? Not really.
Oh well.
Florence raised a knowing eyebrow as soon as Chloe had disappeared into the kitchen to fetch the blackberry tart. `Liar.'
`If she wants me to be there, I'll do it,' Miranda whispered back. `Maybe it won't be so bad after all.'
With wicked relish, Florence murmured, `What if it's worse?'
Miranda shrugged. She had to be brave, she couldn't give in.
Basically, when someone does you the honour of asking you to be their birth partner, how can you say no?
The next day, after work, Miranda was sitting in the window of a cafй on Montpelier Street when she saw Danny making his way along the pavement towards her. Without thinking, she tapped on the glass.
When he came in, Miranda admired his dark suit and lavender-blue shirt.
`Look at you, all dressed up.'
`Business meeting. I've been holed up all afternoon in offices over in Rutland Gate. Just finished five minutes ago.' Pulling out a chair, Danny ordered coffee from thepretty waitress, then glanced at his watch. `What are you doing here anyway? I thought Fenn dropped you home from work these days.'
Miranda shrugged. `It wasn't worth going home. I'm meeting Chloe at the Chelsea and Westminster in half an hour. We're being given a guided tour of the maternity wing.'
Danny leaned back in his chair.
`Well, I can understand it being helpful to Chloe, but why do you have to go too?'
Bravely, Miranda said, `I'm her birth partner.'
She might have known she couldn't expect to fool Danny, who wasn't taken in for a minute.
`Oh dear.' He looked amused. `And you can't think of anything worse.'
Miranda's resolve - to be strong and cheerful and lie valiantly through her teeth - promptly collapsed. Indignantly she demanded, `Well, can you?'
Danny started to laugh.
`There are lots of worse things and you know it.' His espresso arrived and he began heaping sugar into the tiny steel cup. `Come on, birth is a miraculous thing. It's the most moving experience in the world.'
`That's easy for you to say.' Miranda gave him a wry look. `You aren't the one Chloe's asked to be there, are you?'
`But if she did ask me, I'd do it,' said Danny, surprisingly. `Like a shot.' He held up his hand before Miranda could open her mouth. `And no, don't even think it. Chloe wants you to be her birth partner, not me.'
Miranda sighed and with her index finger scrawled her initials in the foam on her cappuccino.
`It's not that I don't want to be there for Chloe. I'm just terrified I'll faint or be sick or something. I don't want to ruin her big day.'
Danny smiled and shook his head.
`You won't do that. Once it's all happening, you won't even think about passing out. Seriously,' he reassured her in a trust-me voice. `You'll be fine.'
To her amazement, Miranda realised that she was reassured. Not totally. But a bit. Danny had psyched her up, like a boxing coach. Oh yes, she could do it, she could, she really could
'You'll be an honorary aunt,' Danny told her with a grin. `Auntie Miranda.'
She pulled a face. `Mad Aunt Miranda.'
`Don't worry about that. Mad aunts are the only