Doctor at The Chatsfield

‘Roughly how far apart?’

‘Five, maybe six minutes,’ Natasha said. ‘Maybe less.’

‘Is there any other way you can get her to hospital,’ the operator enquired and it was then that Natasha remembered the train emergency. ‘We’ve got a lot of emergency services diverted and so there may be some considerable delay for something not life-threatening. Is there someone who can give her a lift?’

‘I don’t know,’ Natasha said, ‘Possibly. I’ll try and speak with her again.’

Natasha did try again, asking the woman if there was anyone she could call but it was futile. Maya wasn’t even carrying a handbag, and then another contraction hit.

‘Deep breaths,’ Natasha said, because wasn’t that what everyone said? But just as Maya seemed to come out of the contraction she went into another.

‘James,’ Natasha popped her head out of the door. ‘Can you call for an ambulance again and tell them that things seem to be happening a lot more quickly.’

‘Of course,’ James said and, given the possibility of delays, Natasha moved straight to the next solution and looked up who the doctor on call tonight for the hotel was.

No doubt he wouldn’t be too pleased if it turned out that Maya wasn’t a guest but as she pulled up his details on the screen, Doctor Joshua Mason having to forgo his call out fee tonight, was the least of Natasha’s concerns as she rang his number.

‘Yes.’

He had a very clipped voice and Natasha rolled her eyes at his brusque introduction as she watched Maya pacing the room.