Perfume. Magpie Tales#33

‘Come on you,’ shouted Greg to his wife, as he bounded up the steps to the pretty, white painted clapperboard house, ‘you can see the lake from the top step, it’s glorious.’

‘I am nearly nine months pregnant you know, so running up steps to see the view is just about outside my capabilities,’ Clara replied. But she was smiling as she spoke so Mike knew she was happy.

‘It is lovely here,’ she said, ‘perfect for our new home and this little bundle of joy when he or she arrives. I love it already.’

Going into the house, she screamed with delight, ‘Oh look Greg, Aunty has arranged our throw over the settee that was with the rest of our bits and pieces delivered last week, so it looks like home already. I am so happy we decided to take up her offer of staying here.’ She sat down rubbing her extended tum and whispered, ‘We’re here little one, our new home.’

They unpacked the car, Greg now being careful of his very pregnant wife, carried their bags up the three steps and into the one big open plan room.

Later that evening they sat together with scented candles and just the glow of the sunset lighting the room.

Greg left the early next morning for the city, it was only an hour’s drive and before he left, he made sure Clara had her phone charged and there was a signal.
‘I’ll be fine, Aunty is only a short walk up the lane if I need anything. I am so looking forward to sitting outside on the veranda with my knitting and enjoying the view don’t worry about me I’ll see you later this evening.’ Said Clara.

‘Well take care and don’t do anything silly like unpacking the boxes, I ‘ll be back by six to do it all and you can sit and give the orders as to where you want things.’ Greg smiled and he leaned over to kiss his wife.
Clara dozed in the sunshine and feeling overly tired after getting herself a small snack for lunch went into the bedroom to lie down. Strangely the scent of the candles were still in the room and she soon was asleep. The room darkened as clouds scattered across the sky.

She was woken by a sharp pain and caught her breath, ‘it can’t be the baby there’s another three weeks to go,’ she thought. But, as the pains increased she knew she was indeed in labour. ‘Where is Greg?’ she thought, ‘he should here.’ A very sharp pain caused her to cry out and she struggled to get off the bed and find her phone. But another pain worse than before caused her to flop back on the bed. She closed her eyes and tears welled down her face. ‘Where are you Greg’ she cried out loud.
Through her half open eyes she could see that here was someone there beside her, wearing a delicious perfume that made Clara feel extra-ordinarily happy and she knew what ever happened she’d be fine. The quiet lady held her hand and bathed her head as the pains increased. The scent seemed to waft over her and gave her a feeling of complete calm. As the pains got to point where Clara was ready to push the lady murmured encouragement to Clara. ‘Push now Clara, your baby is coming, she wants to be born.’ With one last effort the baby slipped out and Clara now spent, lay back on the pillows.

‘Give her to me,’ she said and the lady carefully placed the baby in Clara’s arms. ‘Is it a girl?’

‘No, not just a girl she is a beautiful girl.’ Was the reply.

Clara closed her eyes, her arm tightly round her little one.

And then there was running footsteps and Greg’s urgent call.

Clara, Clara where are you? Your phone is off are you all right, Aunty has been trying to phone you for hours.’

The bedroom door flung open and there to Greg’s surprise was his wife and a baby.

‘I ‘m fine, someone was here and she helped me, can’t you smell her perfume?’ She was so kind and quiet and she had on this wonderful perfume. Is she there in the living room I want to thank her’

‘There’s no one here, who was she?

‘I don’t know, but she was so graceful and loving and kind and she helped me, look at your new daughter, I‘d like to call her Grace, is that all right?’

‘It’s perfect, you’re perfect, she’s perfect’ Greg almost shouted. There is no one else here now only us, only us and our perfect daughter Grace.’