Before he’d put a foot on the stairs, Kathy Bates, the local midwife, appeared on the small square landing, her plump face red and perspiring. ‘Oh, it’s you, lad. That time already, is it? By, the afternoon’s flown by.’

Ignoring that, he said, ‘What’s happening?’

‘The babby’s coming, that’s what’s happening.’

‘But it’s not due for another two weeks.’

‘Well, it clearly didn’t get the message ’cause it’s on its way, lad. I dropped by mid-morning and Rose was having pains then so I stayed. It shouldn’t be much longer from the look of things. Now you’re here put some water on to boil and while you’re about it, make a pot of tea. I’m fair parched.’

‘In a minute, I want to see Rose.’ He took the stairs two at a time and when he entered the bedroom he saw his wife lying amidst the tangled sheets, her face flushed and her big eyes expressing the pain of a wounded doe. The bedroom was uncomfortably stuffy, the June day was a hot one, and as he reached the bed and kneeled beside it, he said softly, ‘I’m here, lass, I’m here. Why didn’t you send word to the shipyard?’

‘Send you word?’ It was the midwife who answered, having followed him into the room. ‘Don’t be daft, lad. What would have been the point of that?’

‘I could have come home to be with her.’

‘Oh aye, and likely lose your job in the process? Where would we be if a man came home before the end of his shift just because his wife’s having a bairn? No foreman would stand for that and rightly so. Now get out of my way so I can see to her.’

David had always liked Kathy but right at this moment he could have cheerfully throttled her. Rose was clutching his hand and trying to stifle another moan, and as he stroked the damp tendrils of hair from her brow, he murmured, ‘You’re doing fine, lass, just fine. I love you so much.’

Kathy shifted her feet behind him, clearly uncomfortable at the show of affection, and her voice reflected this when she said, ‘All right, she knows you’re home now. Go and put that water on and make yourself useful. This is no place for a man. And don’t forget the tea.’

He didn’t answer the midwife directly, but as he stood he said to Rose, ‘I’ll bring the water up shortly and then I’m staying with you till it’s born.’

‘You are not.’ The midwife’s voice was sharper now. ‘I’ve never heard owt like it in all me born days. You’ll stay downstairs like any other man and I’ll call you once it’s all over and I’ve got Rose cleaned up. All right?’