Mary's Child (47 page)

Chrissie soothed, ‘I did and I haven’t forgotten. But never mind that. You’re going to be fine.’ She talked to Millie, comforted her, worked and waited with Dickinson all through that afternoon and into the evening. Until the child was born – and at the end Millie cried out weakly, ‘
Jimmy!
’

Afterwards Chrissie saw to Millie and then Dickinson said, ‘I’ve signed the certificate and I’ll tell the undertaker.’

Chrissie put on her coat, took the child from his cot and wrapped him in a shawl that had belonged to the mother now still and silent. Dickinson gave her a lift in his car as far as the station. She took a taxi from there up to the house and paid off the driver at the gate. Then she walked up the drive with the child in her arms. There had been a fresh fall of snow in the last few minutes and her shoes crunched on its white crispness.

All the windows of the house were ablaze with light and she could hear the lilting music. She climbed the steps to the front door and it was opened as she reached it by a maid set there to watch for her. Chrissie walked straight through to the long room, where the table was set against the wall and the couples circled in the dance.

She paused in the entrance. This was the party to celebrate her birthday and her engagement. She was late but she had warned Jack that she might be, and told him why. She saw him standing by the fireplace, talking to old George Ballantyne and Sally Youill. At that same instant Jack saw her, had been looking for her every minute, and weaved his way through the dancers to wrap his arms around them both.

So Chrissie brought the child home.