Free Danny Boy by Anne Bennett

that crossed Rosie’s face.
    It was as they were gathering the plates after the meal that Connie snatched a quiet word with Rosie. ‘Have you got pains?’
    ‘Aye,’ Rosie said, ‘not so bad yet, though.’
    ‘Still, I’ll take Elizabeth and make up the bed. Then if things get worse, we’ll be ready.’
    Rosie nodded and went on collecting the pots until a sudden contraction caused her to double up in pain and the plates fell from her hands, clattering back onto the table.
    ‘Oh dear Lord! Leave the pots. Go and sit by the fire while I see to this bed,’ Connie urged.
    ‘God, Mammy, I’ve no need for a fire, one thing I’m not is cold.’
    ‘Well, sit anyway,’ Connie said. ‘That last one was big enough. It might not be so long after all.’
    It was as Connie was helping Rosie to a chair that Danny and Phelan came in the door, each with a bucket full of water they’d got from the pump in the yard. There was only their mother and Rosie in the kitchen: Elizabeth was helping Sarah get ready for her date and their father was sitting on the wall outside, having a smoke. Danny took in at once the grey pallor of Rosie and sprang forward. ‘What is it?’ he immediately demanded.
    Rosie was unable to answer for another wave of pain washed over her and Connie said, ‘Nothing is wrong. It’s just that she’s about to give birth to the child she’s been carrying for months, a day you knew would come.’
    ‘Oh God,’ Danny cried and he fell to his knees before Rosie. ‘Are you all right?’
    The pain had passed and Rosie smiled at Danny seeing his face creased with concern and nodded. ‘I’m fine,’ she assured him.
    ‘What can I do?’ Danny asked his mother.
    ‘Nothing but wait,’ Connie said. ‘It’s all in hand. Phelan, you run up to Abigail Mehan’s house now and tell her Rosie’s time has come. She knew it would be any day now and will probably be ready to come straight down with you.’
    Phelan set off without a murmur. It would be different having a baby in the house, he thought, and he was glad to be doing something to help. As for Danny, he’d got to his feet and could barely stand still. His nerves were jangling inside him and Connie said, ‘For Heaven’s sake, Danny, will you relax. Sit down by your wife and keep her company while I make up the bed with Elizabeth.’
    Danny sat obediently, but could think of little to say. But Rosie had no need of words and was just grateful to have a hand to hold. The pains were a lot stronger now, but, though it showed in her face and eyes and she gripped Danny’s handtight, she didn’t utter a sound. When Connie told her all was ready for her, she followed her mother-in-law gladly and sank onto the bed with a sigh of relief.
    Danny sat in the chair Rosie had vacated. Around him, life went on. His father came in. Phelan had told him the reason for his errand as he had left the house and Matt knew what Danny would be feeling, for he’d felt it himself. They had no need of speech and sat in a companionable silence.
    When Phelan returned with Abigail she gave the briefest of greetings to the two men before hurrying to the room Phelan directed her to.
    Sarah, dressed for her date with Sam, went in to see her sister-in-law and wished her all the best, and Elizabeth said she’d be on hand if she was needed. Danny felt useless and said so to his father. ‘That’s the way of it, son,’ Matt said. ‘Sure, don’t all fathers feel the same, especially when it’s the first?’
    Danny couldn’t imagine any other potential father being as worried as he was, but he was glad of his own father sitting with him, and even of Phelan whittling at a piece of wood while Elizabeth got on with washing and drying the dishes.
    Later, there were groaning sounds from the bedroom and it was only his father’s hand on his that stopped Danny from leaping up and into the room to find out what was happening. ‘Let them get on with it, lad,’ he advised more than once.