A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,54
had a problematic birth a couple of months ago, and I think he was reliving the memories.’
I shake my head in amazed disbelief. ‘That was very quick thinking.’
‘Thanks. How is she?’
‘Terrified. I don’t think the baby’s staying put for much longer.’
We go inside and I introduce Ronan. My phone rings just then and it’s the ambulance service informing me that the helicopter has had clearance to land on the green and medics will be with us shortly.
I nod, relieved, watching Ronan hunkered down, chatting to Nora and even managing to make her laugh.
‘Listen.’ I point upwards, as I end the call, and we all strain to hear. And sure enough, the whirr of the helicopter blades can be heard, some way over to the east.
‘Where are they, though?’ demands Nora, panicking again.
‘They’re landing on the green, so they shouldn’t be - ’
‘But the baby’s coming now, Carrie! The medics will have to walk and they won’t get here on time!’
I glance at Ronan, worried. He looks at Nora and murmurs, ‘How do you feel about a ride on the back of a snowmobile?’
‘Yes!’ Nora immediately starts trying to heave herself up, getting ready to go. ‘Seriously, if it would get me to a medic faster, I’d bloody ski there!’
Ronan glances at me. ‘What do you think? Is it safe?’
‘As long as you go slowly, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be,’ I say, looking anxiously at Nora, who’s clearly getting very distressed. ‘I think it would be less safe to stay here and risk the medics arriving too late.’
‘I agree!’ yells Nora at the door. ‘So what are we bloody waiting for?’
She’s so eager to get moving, we find it hard to make her take it slowly – and very soon, she’s sitting on the back of the snowmobile, pleading with Ronan to jump on board and get moving.
Ronan leans towards me. ‘The paramedics will be on foot with a stretcher, I guess. So even if we can make it a few hundred yards, it might save some crucial time,’ he murmurs in my ear, before climbing on the snowmobile and turning to check Nora is safely on board. ‘Put your hands around my waist and hang on. We can stop any time you like, okay?’
‘Go slowly,’ I beg, feeling quite shaky. ‘I mean, really slowly.’
He grins back at me. ‘Don’t worry. We’re talking snail’s pace.’
‘No!’ shouts Nora. ‘Ignore Carrie and put your foot down, Ronan. This baby of mine is in a hurry!’
‘Okay. Let’s go.’
Slowly, slowly, they move off, Nora gripping Ronan’s waist as best she can with her precious cargo getting in the way. And I rush inside, grab my coat, take the key from the back of the door and go out again, closing the front door behind me and following in the wake of what would likely qualify as the slowest snowmobile ride in history…
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Next morning, I’m woken at eight by a call from Nora telling me she gave birth to her baby girl an hour after arriving at the hospital. And she’s still calling her Snow White until she’s settled on a name.
I laugh. ‘Oh, Nora, that’s fantastic news!’ I struggle to a sitting position. ‘Are you both okay?’
I sigh with relief when she says it was an easy birth and the nurses have been great, making sure she got some much-needed sleep.
‘I really want to come home but I know I can’t with the roads still blocked,’ she says.
‘So you’ll just have to stay where you are and enjoy being fussed over by those nurses.’ I cross to the window, pull back the curtain and glance at my car, which still has a foot of snow on the roof. ‘Once the road through Silverbells is passable, I could come and pick you up.’
‘No need. I’m going to get a taxi. It’s just ten miles or so. But thank you for the offer, Carrie.’
I go to tell Ronan the news, but he’s in the shower, belting out a version of the old Frank Sinatra classic, My Way. I smile to myself. He’s actually really good.
Later, the delicious scent of frying bacon wafting up the stairs draws me down to the kitchen, and Ronan is pleased to hear my news about Nora.
‘Want a bacon sandwich?’ he offers, lifting the pan.
‘Yes, please. By the way, you sing really well.’
He grins sheepishly. ‘In the shower? I didn’t realise I was serenading you by accident.’
‘You can serenade me any time. No-one’s ever sung to me in my life