‘Yes.’ I could hear the boat engine start up from across the water. Jack was frantically gunning the old engine for more speed. I lay down in the flower meadow and disappeared into the long grass. I felt strange, as if I was floating above myself.

‘Are you lying down?’ Sam’s voice.

I looked up at the sky through my dark glasses. Not a cloud. Very peaceful. I smiled.

‘Nikki? Answer me! Come on! Keep talking to us, there’s a good girl.’

But I was very sleepy. Then the pain came again and I cried out.

‘OK, sweetheart. We’re coming into the jetty now…Can you still hear me?’

I turned slightly to the phone, sweating profusely. ‘Yes.’

‘Good. You’re doing great. Jack’s rung the emergency services. The helicopter will be with us before you know it…Nik?’

Everything was beginning to slide away from me…

Wake up! Don’t you dare go to sleep! Saffie’s voice; indignant.

She was always saying that to me. I liked to sleep longer than she did.

Very tired, Saff…Just the wind through the grass whispering and then a heavy silence and faraway sounds from down on the water…

Jack was leaning over me…‘Nikki! Nikki! Oh God!’

Then I heard Sam’s calm voice. He lifted the lids of my eyes and then took my hand and listened to my pulse. I heard him rustling with something, then a sharp prick in my arm. I heard him saying to Jack, ‘Listen, Jack! Listen! You must keep calm. I’m going to need your help. She’s had a small bleed and this baby is going to arrive quickly.’

I began to feel better and opened my eyes.

‘Nikki?’ Sam’s voice was loud. ‘Right, sweetheart, we can’t do this without you. Stay with us…’

The pain came again, violently, and I groaned and passed out. When I came back, Mum was putting a pillow under my head and lower back and covering my legs with a thin sheet. She made me sip water. Both Sam and Jack were talking on their phones. Fleur stroked my hair.

‘It’s going to be all right, darling. Jack is guiding the helicopter in and Sam is talking to the paramedics. Help is coming.’

I closed my eyes. Jack was giving grid references. ‘Yes, there’s room to land…sloping meadow…southwest of Paihia…Yeah, that’s it! Straight line at twelve o’clock up from the bay. Great. How long? OK. Please hurry.’

I could hear Sam talking on the phone now. ‘We need…No chance! She won’t make it to Auckland, she’s dilated. Yes, if we have to…but she’s had a small bleed. The baby’s in some distress…Yes, it might be an emergency caesarean…if I need to get him out fast. Yes, I have…I would appreciate all help pronto…’

Baby in some distress. I gripped Fleur’s arm, fighting sleep.

I’m going to lose my baby.

‘Nikki!’ Fleur’s voice was firm. ‘Come on, darling, you must stay awake. This baby needs all the help he can get.’

I groaned and waited for another contraction. ‘You never told me it was this bad!’ I yelled at Fleur as she wiped my face. ‘Where’s Jack?’