AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Not merely alive, but her face was glowing as she gazed happily down at the little bundle in her arms. And when she looked up to Seth again, she was smiling like a radiant Madonna. ‘We did it, Seth. I pushed and you caught.’
Chapter Six
His house feltso empty with them gone.
The ambulance had taken Polly and Summer to the base hospital, with Seth following, after he’d first collected Polly’s overnight bag from his flat in town. At the hospital, he’d hung around to make sure that all was well and that both mother and bub were settled and comfortable.
The doctor and nurses seemed very impressed by Summer’s condition. Apparently, she was a good weight for a thirty-six weeker and she was breathing okay without assistance and she’d even managed to breastfeed, which a nurse told him was definitely an achievement to celebrate.
Polly was stoked about this, of course, and relieved and glowing with pride. Seth realised he’d rarely seen her looking so happy.
As for him? Hell, he was sure he’d been changed by this experience. Over and over, he kept remembering how he’d looked down into Summer’s little face, all red and wrinkled, how he’d watched her open her eyes for the very first time. He’d seen the tiny, quivering tremble of her lower lip, just a beat before she opened her mouth to give her first cry. And right then, he’d lost his heart.
It was as if his life had changed in some significant way. And yet, in reality the kid had no valid claim on his heart and his life would continue as if none of this had happened.
As soon as Polly and Summer were released from hospital—which would not be for at least a week, apparently—they would go back to the poky little flat in Melbourne and he, Seth Ramsay, would get on with his life here, just as he always had.
Now, it was dusk as he walked from room to room through his house, where he’d worked so hard and for so long. The scent of freshly sawn timber lingered and Seth was conscious of all the work still to be done. But the hardest tasks were behind him now and the jobs that remained were small by comparison. Doors on kitchen cupboards and wardrobes, light shades, eaves on the windows to the west, a wood stove in the lounge room to keep the place cosy in winter.
Winter. Seth thought again of Polly and her baby in the winter months, in that tiny flat in a city tower block with grimy corridors and creaking lifts. His house felt emptier than ever.
*
Polly was tired,but so, so happy now that Summer had been bathed and swaddled and was tucked into a little cot at her bedside. The doctor and nursing staff had all been amazed that the baby was so fit and well, given her early arrival. Summer would be fitted with an intravenous tube carrying antibiotics for the first couple of days, but Polly was assured that this was only a precaution.
Also, with the help of a nipple shield, Summer had managed to suckle at Polly’s breast, which was a definite achievement, apparently. But Polly had been told she would also need to get busy with a breast pump to make sure she had a good milk supply, as pre-term babies weren’t usually lusty feeders. A little pumping was a small price to pay, Polly decided, especially as Summer was well enough to sleep by her side.
And, of course, Polly couldn’t tear her gaze away from her babe. Summer was so, so perfect in every way—with her little cap of soft dark hair, her neat, little nose and perfect, tiny ears. Polly loved watching the miracle of her baby’s gentle breathing as she slept.
How lucky am I?Not only was her baby healthy, but Polly was fit and well too, albeit a tad sore and tired.
Of course, she couldn’t help thinking about that treasured photo of her lovely, laughing mother, who had never experienced this precious joy. Fate could be so cruel. Polly had no idea why she should enjoy such amazing good luck when her dear, beautiful mother had been the victim of tragic misfortune.
Polly had already cried heaps over this, in the shower where no one could see her. Such a nice, long, warm shower she’d had. And while the water streamed over her, she’d had so many reasons to howl—with relief for herself, with gratitude for Seth’s help, joy for Summer’s safe arrival, but mostly with grief for her mum.
Afterwards, changed into a clean nightgown, Polly had slept for a little while and then she’d eaten a hospital dinner of grilled fish and steamed greens with mashed potatoes, washed down with two cups of tea.
She was just finishing the tea when a nurse popped into the room to take her blood pressure and check that all was well with Summer.
‘She’s such a cutie,’ the nurse said, smiling as she peeked into Summer’s cot.
Of course, Polly had to agree. ‘She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?’
‘Not surprising, though, with such a hot-looking dad.’
Polly frowned. What would the nurse know about Summer’s father? She must be confusing her with another baby.
‘The guy who was here this afternoon?’ the nurse queried. ‘He brought your suitcase?’
‘Oh.’ Polly feared she might be blushing. ‘You mean Seth Ramsay.’ And, at the mere mention of Seth’s name, she was remembering all over again everything that her good mate had done for her—beginning with bringing her to Wirralong, because he cared and he wanted to give her a pleasant getaway weekend, but also then stopping her from over-the-top panicking once her labour started. And blitzing all else, the way he’d delivered Summer so safely and beautifully.
Polly doubted she could ever forget the shimmering emotion in Seth’s hazel eyes as he’d held Summer for the very first time.
She was fighting off another deluge of tears as she told the nurse, ‘No, Seth’s not Summer’s father. He’s just a good friend.’
‘Oh, sorry. Maybe I should have known that, but I’m new to the district. He delivered your baby, though, didn’t he?’
‘Yeah.’
