Please Don’t Take My Baby and I Miss Mummy 2-in-1 Collection

I phoned Jade’s mobile; she didn’t answer. I hadn’t really expected her to. I left a message on her voicemail: ‘Jade, it’s Cathy. I need to know where you are. Please phone me.’

Jade didn’t return my call, so I phoned again at six o’clock and left another message: ‘Jade, it’s Cathy. I want you home by nine o’clock at the latest. Do you understand?’

I hid my concern from Adrian and Paula and continued with the evening as best I could. I told them only that Jade was out with her friends and would be home later – probably after they were in bed. They accepted this, although Paula said she would have liked Jade to be at home more often so that she could play with her; Adrian said she was probably with Ty. I hoped she was but I doubted it.

Then shortly before seven o’clock the doorbell rang and, leaving Adrian and Paula in the sitting room, I went down the hall and checked the security spyhole before answering the door. To my surprise I saw Jade standing in the porch.

‘Hello, love,’ I said, opening the door. ‘Good to see you. Did you forget your key?’

‘I’m ill,’ she said, coming in and leaning against the wall for support.

My delight at her early return quickly disappeared. I assumed she’d been drinking again, as she heaved herself off the wall and without taking off her coat lumbered to the foot of the staircase. I went over, ready to help her up the stairs and into bed. I was anxious and annoyed that she was in this state again and this time Adrian and Paula would see her. However, instead of climbing the stairs Jade sat on the bottom step, bent forward, and with her arms looped around her knees, groaned loudly.

‘I’m ill,’ she said again.

‘How much have you had to drink, Jade?’ I asked.

‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Only water.’

I wasn’t convinced, although I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

‘Perhaps it’s indigestion,’ I suggested, patting her shoulder reassuringly. ‘What have you had to eat?’

‘Just chips for lunch,’ she said, still bent forward.

‘Where exactly is the pain?’

‘Here,’ she groaned, pointing to her bump.

‘It could be Braxton Hicks contractions,’ I said. ‘Do you remember I talked to you about those?’

‘Na,’ Jade said and groaned again.

‘They are little contractions that go on throughout pregnancy. They’re nothing to worry about and you can usually feel them if you put your hand on your stomach.’

‘Yeah, I can feel them,’ she said, clutching her stomach. ‘Here, you feel.’

I gently placed the palm of my hand on the outside of her jumper. At first all I could feel was the warmth of her body coming through her taut jumper, but after a moment I felt her stomach wall tighten hard. Jade groaned with the pain.

‘Is that a branston hiccup?’ she asked, mispronouncing the word.

‘I think so,’ I said, although the only experience I’d had was when I was expecting Adrian and Paula. ‘How long have you been having them?’ I asked.

‘It started this afternoon,’ she groaned. ‘Even before I ate the chips. Do you think I’m going to have my baby?’

‘I don’t think so,’ I said, my calm manner belying my racing heart. ‘You’ve still got quite a few weeks to go yet, but I think we’ll get you checked by a doctor, just to be safe. I’ll help you into my car and take you up to the hospital.’

‘Na. I want to go in an ambulance like you see on television,’ Jade said.

‘I don’t think that’s necessary,’ I said. ‘How did you get here?’

‘On the bus, but the pain’s worse now. Supposing I have my baby in your car?’ And to prove her point Jade doubled over and groaned loudly.

It’s very difficult to judge another person’s pain; our thresholds are all different, and I didn’t know if or how much Jade was exaggerating. If she’d been my daughter, whom I obviously knew very well, I would have helped her into the car and driven her to the hospital to be checked over, but I couldn’t take the risk with a foster child, especially as Jade was asking for an ambulance. If I refused and something went wrong I’d be responsible and I’d never forgive myself.

‘I’ll phone for an ambulance,’ I said.

Jade uncurled and stopped groaning.

As I went to the phone on the hall table Adrian and Paula appeared from the sitting room; they stood at the end of the hall, looking very worried.

‘It’s all right,’ I said. ‘Jade’s not feeling so well so I am going to phone for an ambulance.’

I lifted the receiver and keyed in 999 for the emergency services. The control answered immediately and asked which emergency service I wanted. ‘Ambulance,’ I said.

‘And the number you are calling from?’

I gave my landline number.

‘I’m putting you through now.’

‘I’m a foster carer,’ I began as soon as I was connected to the ambulance service. ‘I’m fostering a seventeen-year-old girl who is seven months pregnant. She appears to be having regular contractions.’

A calm male voice on the end of the phone asked for my name and address, which I gave.

‘And you want the ambulance to this address?’ he confirmed.

‘Yes please.’

‘An ambulance is on its way,’ he said. ‘Stay on the line, please, while I take a few more details. What’s the full name and date of birth of the young person?’

I told him.

‘Have her waters broken?’

‘I don’t think so,’ I said. ‘I’ll ask her.’

I looked at Jade, who had stopped moaning and seemed to be revelling in the drama.

‘Jade, have your waters broken?’ I asked her.

‘Dunno,’ she said. It should have been obvious to her if they had, and her leggings were dry.

‘I’m sure they haven’t,’ I said to ambulance control.

‘All right. Stay with her and reassure her. The ambulance will be with you soon.’

‘Thank you.’