us in a state won’t help the process at all.’
Grif glanced from one to the other. ‘Can I suggest a compromise? Sheen, dear daughter, soon you’re going to be too uncomfortable to walk very easily. You probably don’t want to be carried to the hospital, so how about this: we all come with you, then some of us will stay there and some will come back to be with Juno.’
She said it was a suggestion, but it wasn’t really – not when she used that tone. Mother screwed up her face. ‘Very well. I will comply.’
Creen and Trebe were waiting when we got there. Trebe laughed. ‘Well, it looks like this child will break my perfect prediction record by arriving early.’
I went with Mother to her room, but I didn’t want to stay. I hated seeing her in pain, and I hated seeing the worry Dad tried to hide.
Danyat walked home with me. ‘She’ll be fine, Juno. You’ll see.’
Yes. She would be, I knew that, but I also knew that I’d go crazy if I didn’t have something else to think about while I waited.
We were nearly at my house when we stopped to talk to Vima, Oban and Kalta. At the end of the exchange of the same old news, Vima said, ‘Danyat, if you’d like to go back to the hospital, I’ll stay with Juno.’
That caught my attention. ‘Oh, yes! Thank you Vima!’ We could talk about her work and that would keep my mind occupied.
Danyat tipped up my chin with a finger and considered my expression before he nodded. ‘Very well. Keep out of mischief, Juno.’ I knew what he meant by that but I didn’t think Hilto would bother me tonight.
‘I’ll take good care of her,’ Vima promised. ‘And tell Creen to take her evening meal with us.’ She tapped Kalta on the chest. ‘You can do without her for one evening.’
Kalta clutched at his heart and moaned, but his eyes twinkled. I didn’t think many of Vima’s stratum would gainsay her.
We’d begun to walk on when I thought of something and called back, ‘Danyat! Shall we bring food to the hospital for all of you?’
‘Thank you, dear child, that would be most appreciated.’
Good. That would give me something to do.
We made rabbit pies. Vima was fun to work with – full of light-hearted humour. My nerves settled as she ordered me about, pretending to be the bossy chef in an Outside restaurant.
We cooked sweet cakes and chose a selection of fresh fruit. I thought that perhaps raspberries might tempt Mother to eat.
We took the baskets and walked through the darkening day to the hospital. ‘I wonder if she’ll be born today or tomorrow,’ Vima said.
I shrugged. Who knew – I only hoped it would be today so that Mother wouldn’t have to bear the pain much longer.
Vima glanced around to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. ‘You’re not happy about this sister?’
If it hadn’t been Vima, I would have denied it. Instead, I said, ‘She’s going to be just like Silvern. Would you be happy?’
Vima pulled a face. ‘Give her a chance. She might surprise you. She’s arriving early and that’s a surprise for a start.’
I cheered up. One day I might tell Vima about how I’d tried to make my sister the child of Derrick and Margaretta, but not yet, not now. I shuddered when I thought of what could have happened if their embryo had been viable.
Creen met us as we entered the hospital. ‘Food! Fantastic! I’m starving.’
‘This isn’t for you.’ Vima shook a finger at her. ‘You’re coming back with us to eat your meal.’
‘If Trebe can spare you,’ I said. The hospital made me nervous. Maybe Mother should have stayed at home longer. ‘Is she all right? When will the baby come?’
Creen tucked her arm through mine. ‘Not for a few hours yet, but she’s doing well. They both are. Come and see.’
We found Mother sitting up in a comfortable chair. She smiled at me but I thought she looked tired.
Trebe told Creen to go back with us, and to stay away for a couple of hours. ‘It’s going to be a long night.’ She
Grif glanced from one to the other. ‘Can I suggest a compromise? Sheen, dear daughter, soon you’re going to be too uncomfortable to walk very easily. You probably don’t want to be carried to the hospital, so how about this: we all come with you, then some of us will stay there and some will come back to be with Juno.’
She said it was a suggestion, but it wasn’t really – not when she used that tone. Mother screwed up her face. ‘Very well. I will comply.’
Creen and Trebe were waiting when we got there. Trebe laughed. ‘Well, it looks like this child will break my perfect prediction record by arriving early.’
I went with Mother to her room, but I didn’t want to stay. I hated seeing her in pain, and I hated seeing the worry Dad tried to hide.
Danyat walked home with me. ‘She’ll be fine, Juno. You’ll see.’
Yes. She would be, I knew that, but I also knew that I’d go crazy if I didn’t have something else to think about while I waited.
We were nearly at my house when we stopped to talk to Vima, Oban and Kalta. At the end of the exchange of the same old news, Vima said, ‘Danyat, if you’d like to go back to the hospital, I’ll stay with Juno.’
That caught my attention. ‘Oh, yes! Thank you Vima!’ We could talk about her work and that would keep my mind occupied.
Danyat tipped up my chin with a finger and considered my expression before he nodded. ‘Very well. Keep out of mischief, Juno.’ I knew what he meant by that but I didn’t think Hilto would bother me tonight.
‘I’ll take good care of her,’ Vima promised. ‘And tell Creen to take her evening meal with us.’ She tapped Kalta on the chest. ‘You can do without her for one evening.’
Kalta clutched at his heart and moaned, but his eyes twinkled. I didn’t think many of Vima’s stratum would gainsay her.
We’d begun to walk on when I thought of something and called back, ‘Danyat! Shall we bring food to the hospital for all of you?’
‘Thank you, dear child, that would be most appreciated.’
Good. That would give me something to do.
We made rabbit pies. Vima was fun to work with – full of light-hearted humour. My nerves settled as she ordered me about, pretending to be the bossy chef in an Outside restaurant.
We cooked sweet cakes and chose a selection of fresh fruit. I thought that perhaps raspberries might tempt Mother to eat.
We took the baskets and walked through the darkening day to the hospital. ‘I wonder if she’ll be born today or tomorrow,’ Vima said.
I shrugged. Who knew – I only hoped it would be today so that Mother wouldn’t have to bear the pain much longer.
Vima glanced around to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. ‘You’re not happy about this sister?’
If it hadn’t been Vima, I would have denied it. Instead, I said, ‘She’s going to be just like Silvern. Would you be happy?’
Vima pulled a face. ‘Give her a chance. She might surprise you. She’s arriving early and that’s a surprise for a start.’
I cheered up. One day I might tell Vima about how I’d tried to make my sister the child of Derrick and Margaretta, but not yet, not now. I shuddered when I thought of what could have happened if their embryo had been viable.
Creen met us as we entered the hospital. ‘Food! Fantastic! I’m starving.’
‘This isn’t for you.’ Vima shook a finger at her. ‘You’re coming back with us to eat your meal.’
‘If Trebe can spare you,’ I said. The hospital made me nervous. Maybe Mother should have stayed at home longer. ‘Is she all right? When will the baby come?’
Creen tucked her arm through mine. ‘Not for a few hours yet, but she’s doing well. They both are. Come and see.’
We found Mother sitting up in a comfortable chair. She smiled at me but I thought she looked tired.
Trebe told Creen to go back with us, and to stay away for a couple of hours. ‘It’s going to be a long night.’ She
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