The Midwife's Little Miracle by Fiona McArthur Page A

Montana’s words before she nodded. This time she met Montana’s eyes. ‘That does make sense. Thank you.’
    That was when that Montana saw the first glimpses of the girl that Andy had spoken of with such admiration so she pushed on. ‘Have you any brothers or sisters?’
    Emma sniffed. ‘Three older brothers who wanted to beat up poor Tommy.’ Emma looked up and her chin tilted. ‘But I wouldn’t let them.’
    Montana liked her more every second. ‘I have an idea you could be a pretty strong-minded young woman when you want to be.’
    Emma rolled her eyes. ‘Men are so dumb sometimes.’ She shook her head in disgust. ‘As if thumping Tommy would help. Tommy’s the only one who understands.’
    Montana bit back a smile. ‘Well, that’s a good thing. Lots of younger men wouldn’t be able to get their head around being a father.’
    Emma even went so far as to grin then. ‘I don’t think he’s even thought of that, just that it’s happened, and we are the ones who have to make the best of it.’
    ‘And your mum?’ Montana hoped Emma didn’t mind her asking.
    ‘Mum’s been sick lately.’ Emma frowned. ‘I am sorry she’s had this worry as well but if she’d tried to get better I wouldn’t have been away from the house so much and this might not have happened.’
    Montana left that statement lie where it fell and moved the conversation around to why they were there.
    ‘OK. Then I’ll start with a little about myself and why I think I can help you. I really do know about having babies because that’s my job. As a midwife I deliver babies in a hospital and help the mum and baby learn to breastfeed and get used to each other. And I have a baby of my own.’
    Emma looked interested at the news of Dawn.
    Montana went on. ‘I thought we’d talk about pregnancy so you could be comfortable with what will go on in your body as it changes.’
    Emma looked out from under her lowered brows. ‘So you’re not going to try and talk me into not having the baby?’
    Montana’s gaze locked with the girl’s and shookher head emphatically. ‘No. That’s your decision, Emma, and it seems to me that you are pretty sure what you want to happen. But with that decision comes a responsibility that you do the best for the baby inside you. Is that how you feel?’
    ‘I suppose so. I know I want my baby to grow healthy, even if it’s going to hurt when I have him or her.’
    The fear she’d expected was there and Montana nodded. ‘Try and remember women are designed to give birth. You’re young and young women usually bounce back from birth even better than older women, but we might leave that to talk about another time.
    ‘Did Dr Buchanan tell you we could have another session if you want later? I think there’s too much to cover in one day.’
    Emma met Montana’s look with a sheepish grin. ‘He said that. I only came today because he’s been so good to me and Tommy, but you’re not too bad, so far. I’ll probably come back.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Montana said, biting back a smile, ‘then we’d better get started before I fall out of favour.’
    Emma grinned again and the tension lessened noticeably in the room.
    ‘Today I thought we’d talk about where you are in your pregnancy now. How many weeks pregnant are you, Emma?’
    Emma unfolded her arms and chewed her nail.‘The ultrasound man at the base said twenty weeks yesterday.’
    Montana picked up the book of diagrams she had and pointed to the twenty-week foetus. ‘Your baby is fully formed and you should be nearly able to feel his or her movements.’
    Emma craned her neck and studied the picture and Montana gave her the book and reached for another copy of the same publication.
    ‘So when are you due?’ Montana flicked forward to the picture of a woman with a full-term baby and showed Emma the page number so she could skip forward if she wanted to.
    ‘Andy says the seventeenth of July.’
    Montana nodded. ‘Right in the middle of the year. So