The Original's Return (Book 1) Read online

  “Where’s my wife? Where’s Katie?”

  Bill looked at Jack in surprise. “Sorry, Mr Stadler, I thought you’d been told.”

  “Told what?”

  “When she heard that you’d had an accident her waters broke. She’s gone into labour.”

  Chapter 2

  1

  The drive to the hospital was interminable. The paramedic took his blood pressure (normal to a little low) and monitored his heart rate. She kept prodding Jack and saying, “Does this hurt?”

  Jack told the truth: nothing hurt, he felt great. She was mystified and kept asking the questions. Had he been unconscious? Any pain in his back or legs? What day was it? After half an hour, they arrived at Barnstaple hospital and Jack leapt out of the ambulance, ignoring any protestations. Two doctors were waiting for him in the bay.

  “Mr Stadler? I’m Doctor Baxter. Could you come this way please? We need to examine you,” the younger and infinitely better looking one said. The other one took a deep drag on a cigarette.

  “I need to see my wife,” Jack said. “Then you can examine me all you like.”

  “But we need to make-”

  “I’m fine. Look, I’m not hurt, I’ve been walking around for hours so I’d know if anything was wrong.”

  “Adrenaline does funny things to a person.”

  “I’ve heard that,” Jack said. “But really I just need to see Katie.”

  Baxter looked at his colleague who nodded, stubbing his cigarette on the grill of the bin next to him. The younger man sighed. “OK, but as soon as the baby is born, I want to examine you fully.”

  “No problem.”

  Jack started to run towards the maternity unit. He and Katie had been there for two scans, so he knew where he was going. His feet pounded the floors whilst the ripped t-shirt and jacket made him look like a tramp after an eventful Friday night. He increased his speed, flying past different departments. The maternity unit was in a separate building so he ran into fresh air and across a small car park.

  When he stopped at reception, he wasn’t out of breath at all. The receptionist eyed him up and down with a sneer on her face.

  “I need to see Katie Stadler.”

  “And you are?”

  “Her husband.”

  “Oh.” The receptionists’ face changed for the better. “You fell down a hole.”

  That’s not something you expect to hear every day. “Yes. Please, I need to see my wife.”

  “Follow me, Mr Stadler. She’s in room four.” The receptionist led the way down a stark white corridor. She stopped outside a plain wooden door but didn’t knock. “I’ll get you some scrubs. You look a bit of a mess.”

  Jack could hear panting and groaning from the other side, but couldn’t argue with the woman. She opened a cupboard he hadn’t noticed and gave him a green tunic. He took his clothes off, momentarily perplexed by the admiring look she gave him, and slipped the tunic on. She knocked on the door.

  “Come in!” a woman called, her voice muffled by the thick door.

  “You can go in, Mr Stadler.”

  Jack walked into the room. A curtain hung just inside the door as an extra privacy measure and he pushed past it. The room was dominated by two features: the bed and a water bath. The bath was empty, but the sides were wet and shiny and small pools of water were gathering on the bottom of the bath. A large crane and harness were folded into the wall next to it. Just how big do these women get?

  On the bed was Katie. She was lying on her back with her legs bent at the knees. She was holding a face mask over her mouth and nose. Clear plastic tubes ran away from the mask into a cylinder standing in a cupboard next to the bed. Two other women, both in green scrubs, stood looking between Katie’s legs. All three looked up when Jack walked in.

  Katie dropped the facemask to the bed and he rushed over and kissed her.

  “You could have shaved.”

  He laughed. “Gas and air?”

  “Yeah, it’s shit.”

  “You’ve had a bath then.” The birth plan, that they’d only completed a week ago, had requested a water birth. They’d seen a film clip where a woman had given birth in one and the baby had just popped out with no fuss. It had seemed easy.

  “Yeah, that's shit too.”

  They both started to laugh but Katie gasped. “Another one.”

  The older woman spoke then: “Ok Katie, just let this one come. Try to breathe through it and use the gas and air.”

  Katie screamed then. Jack could feel the blood leaving his face and his earlier elation fading. “What’s happening? What’s wrong with her?”

  “It’s just a contraction,” the younger midwife said. “She’s doing really well.”

  Just a contraction? Jesus.

  “I’m Ronnie,” the younger one said. “This is Sue. We’ll be looking after you today. Katie is five centimetres dilated, so we’ve got a way to go yet. I think the baby was waiting for you.” Ronnie smiled and Jack felt some of the colour return to his face. Katie’s breathing slowed to normal.

  “At what point does she get a caesarean?”

  Ronnie laughed. “Not for a long time, Jack. She’s doing well, let’s just let nature take its course and see what happens.”

  Katie clutched his hand and smiled at him.

  “You fell down a hole,” she said.

  Twice in one day, Jack thought. What are the odds of that?

  2

  Katie’s contractions came every four minutes like clockwork. Every time they arrived, Ronnie told her to breathe which didn’t seem to help with the pain.

  “Get me an epidural,” Katie gasped.

  “Are you sure?” Sue asked. “It’s not on your birth plan.”

  Katie screamed as another contraction tore into her.

  “She’s sure,” Jack said.

  Sue left to call for an anaesthetist, and Ronnie made herself busy, looking at the various monitors that Katie was hooked up to. She left the room to get all the equipment that was needed for the epidural.

  An hour later, the anaesthetist arrived. “Sorry it’s taken so long, there was a pile up on the A377. I’m Greg, how are we doing in here today?”

  On cue, a contraction arrived and Katie wailed. “Please, it hurts.”

  He spoke to Ronnie for a moment, a brief conversation that left Jack wishing he’d paid more attention to ER. Greg inspected all the equipment that Ronnie had got out and seemed satisfied.

  “Ok, Katie – do you mind if I call you Katie – do you know about the dangers with epidurals?”

  She groaned, face pale. “Yes, please just make the pain stop.”

  “Ok, there is a very small chance that –“

  “I know. Please just get on with it.”

  Jack held Katie’s hand and nodded at Greg. “Just do it, doc. We know.”

  Greg didn’t bother to correct Jack, but he started preparing for the epidural with impressive speed. He spoke as he worked: “An epidural is an injection into the spine and the drug is like a liquid. It might not go to the right place. There is a very small chance that you will be either temporarily or permanently paralysed as a result. Please turn onto your side.”

  Jack helped Katie roll over gently. Greg lifted the back of her gown. “You might feel a small scratch and then it will go cold.”

  Seconds later it was done. “Is that better Katie?”

  She nodded. “I can’t feel anything.”

  Greg produced an ice cube and started to run it up her back and legs, reminding Jack of an evening on their honeymoon. This didn’t look like half as much fun. Katie didn’t react at any point. “I think this will help Katie. It’s a good epidural. I’ll just wait for the next contraction and see what happens.”

  He didn’t have to wait for long, and this time Katie didn’t make a sound. “Excellent. Well good luck folks.”

  “Thank you.” Jack thought he heard a pathetically huge level of gratitude in Katie’s voice. As he left, she said “I’d do anything
for you!”

  Ronnie laughed, and Jack felt himself getting embarrassed. “Ok, now you’ve got the epidural in, we can add some hormones that will speed all this up. It won’t be long now.”

  3

  She was right. Baby Stadler was born two hours later at 5:05 pm. As Ronnie lifted the baby, the room became still. Jack could hear himself breathing. Katie's face drained of all colour and time stretched. Suddenly, the baby made a noise somewhere between a hiccup and a burp and started crying. The tension dissipated instantly and everyone started to smile. Jack cut the cord, taking two goes to cut through the spongy mass. Ronnie put the baby straight on Katie where he latched on and started feeding.

  “That’s excellent,” Ronnie said. “Congratulations!”

  Jack stared at the baby feeding from his mother. He was purple and covered in bits of blood and thick mucus. He looked so small and frail. Tiny fingers grasped at the air, opening and closing on nothing. The top of his head pulsed as he breathed in and out and Ronnie covered his head with a small white hat. Beautiful. Jack swallowed hard as his eyes welled up. Katie was crying as she looked at him.

  “He’s perfect.”

  “Yep, just like his mum.” He kissed her head, tasting salty sweat. Ronnie wheeled a see through cot next to the bed.

  “We’ll come and weigh him later and give him a bit of a cleanup.” She left the room quietly.

  “What a day,” Jack said.

  “A perfect day. You’re ok and we have a son.” She squeezed his hand. “You can tell me about it later.” The baby’s head lolled to one side, his eyes closed in blissful sleep. Katie suddenly looked exhausted.

  “Get some rest, babe.” He lifted the baby and put him in the cot. “I’ll go phone your mum.”

  “Great, thanks Jack. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He kissed her forehead again and walked to the door. She was already asleep. He crept back into the room, found her bag and took her mobile out. He would have to get his fixed, but he’d worry about that later. He crept out of the room and went to phone the world.

  4

  Jack got home just before nine pm. He had phoned everyone he could think of and had managed not to cry when he told them about his son. Katie had been advised to stay in overnight as her epidural had left her left leg numb. Nothing to worry about, according to Sue. Jack had waited for as long as possible, then left them both sleeping on the maternity ward.

  Ginny barked when he opened the door. She was curled up on her bed, big brown eyes looking sad at being left on her own so long. Terry had dropped her off whilst he phoned the emergency services. He also got a little more than he bargained for as Katie’s waters broke, but Jack would make it up to him with a pint next time he saw him. Jack bent to stroke Ginny, but she growled a warning at him.

  “It’s alright girl,” he said, reaching to stroke her again. This time she bared her teeth, a gesture that Jack knew meant back away now. He stood up and left her alone. Probably miffed at her crap day.

  He opened a bottle of red wine and poured a large glass for himself. He had contemplated ringing the lads and wetting the baby’s head, but the truth was that he was exhausted. The last time a baby had been born, the lads (all six of them) had gone on a massive bender. The night out had involved the top shelf at The Kings Arms. Some of the drinks came out of bottles that probably had last been opened twenty years ago. The night ended with tequila, which was never a good way to start a night, let alone end it. John, who was the new dad, had been so ill the next morning that he was sick twice on the drive to the hospital. His wife, Karen, had got out of bed to feed their baby, so John got in. He’d then fallen asleep and Karen had taken the baby for a nappy change, just as the doctors did their morning rounds.

  The memory made Jack smile, but also confirmed that he had made the right decision. Now that the adrenaline had left him, tiredness and anxiety had taken over.

  “Ah shit!” I forgot to see that doctor.

  He stripped off in the bathroom, taking a large glug of wine as he turned the shower on. Moonlight streamed through the window – a great advantage of living in the country, you can see by the light of the moon and stars – as he inspected his body. There were no marks anywhere on him, not even a scratch where the bone had been.

  No bullshit, Jack, that bone went through you.

  Jack downed his wine with a shaking hand. He got in the shower and wondered what the hell had happened to him.

  5

  The shower was almost scalding temperature, but it felt good. He washed then stood under the spray for a very long time. Once dried, he pulled on a thick towelling robe and went back downstairs. He opened the back door to let Ginny out, but she stayed on her bed almost glaring at him.

  “Please yourself.” He left the door open and poured another large glass of wine. The crystal glass felt heavy in his hands, a far too generous wedding present from a wine loving friend of theirs. He strolled through to the living room and picked up his guitar.

  When year nine were pissing him off and his boss was being a pain, his guitar calmed him down. Katie had bought it on a whim last Christmas, but it had been one of the best presents he had ever received. He played every day and had improved hugely since the first hesitant days.

  Still, Hendrix is not in danger of losing his greatest guitarist ever status just yet. Jack started strumming, losing himself in the progression of chords. At some point he practised a couple of other songs, but he had drunk most of the bottle of wine so he was kind of hazy on exactly what he had done because somehow it was morning and he was lying naked on the floor of the living room.

  Tuesday

  Chapter 3

  1

  He felt terrible. His head hurt and he was trembling. His dressing gown was on the sofa where he had sat last night so he pulled it on. He felt warmer and after a couple of seconds the trembling stopped. His wine glass lay empty on the coffee table, a dark red stain in the bottom the only evidence that it had been used last night.

  His guitar lay in two pieces next to him. He swore for a couple of minutes before picking up the neck; the strings were the only thing connecting the two halves of guitar. A large scratch scarred the body through the veneer into the wood underneath. He put it in the wood pile next to his fire: the snap and crackle of burning wood being the only sound that it would make now. How had that happened? Must have rolled over it in the night, snapping the neck. Even as he thought it, Jack knew that it sounded impossible, but what else could have happened?

  Annoyed with himself for being so stupid, Jack went to the kitchen. The house was cold and he saw why. The back door was wide open. He reached to close it and his hand touched something sticky. Black mud caked the handle and his hand.

  Great. Just great.

  He collected some kitchen towel and wiped the handle clean, only then realising that the dog’s basket was empty. Jack swore again. He went into the garden, calling her name and whistling. Jack climbed the steps that led out of the shade of the house and up to the flat lawn of the garden. The sun was high in the sky and it was warmer outside than in. The garden was bounded by three thick, well established but low hedges and beyond the hedge at the back fields rolled into the distance. Normally there were sheep in the field, but not today.

  He found Ginny under a hedge. She was trembling. A large cut meandered across her chest, and she had blood around her mouth. She bared her teeth at him again and started barking.

  “Hey Gins.” The barking grew more frenzied. “Gins!” She was on her feet now, alternating barks and snarls. Jack backed off and went back the house. What am I going to do?

  He was saved from answering that question by a knock at the door.

  2

  He opened the door to see Frank Cooper standing there with his cap in his hands. Frank was the farmer who owned the land behind Jack’s house and it had amused both Jack and Katie to see that he always wore a flat cap. Right now, though, Frank wore a very stern expression on his miserable face.r />
  “Hey, Frank, what’s up?”

  “Morn’ Jack. I were wondering if you ‘eard or saw anything las’ nigh’.”

  “Last night? Why what’s happened?”

  “One of me sheep been killed. Found ‘er this morn’.”

  “Jesus, Frank.”

  “She’s been taken apart by a dog, Jack. Ripped ‘er throat out.”

  Jack stared at Frank in horror. Dogs were known to attack sheep but Jack hadn’t heard of it actually happening here: people kept their dogs on leads if sheep were around. Ginny. Oh, God.

  “I’m really sorry Frank.”

  “Someone say they ‘eard a dog barking las’ nigh’.” He paused, adjusting his cap. “Your dog.”

  “What, Ginny? She wouldn’t hurt a fly!” Jack said. “I’ve seen her try to catch a few, but never actually succeed.” He knew he was babbling now. “Besides she was in all night.”

  “In all nigh’?”

  “Yeah, Katie had the baby.” God, Katie – she would be wondering just where the hell he was.

  “Good f’you Jack. You must be pleased.” There was that famous Devon understatement.

  “Yeah, I’ve got to go actually, I’m late to see her.”

  “Sure, sure. I’ll see you later then.” Frank turned to leave but thought better of it. “Jus' so we’re clear Jack, I see your dog on my land, I’ll shoot ‘er.”

  “What?” Jack’s turn to pause. Had he heard that? “Frank? Do you think my dog did this, because I can assure you-”

  “Assure me nothing, boy, I lost a sheep to a dog. You got a dog, I just sayin’.”

  “Jesus Christ Frank. Don’t you dare come to my house and threaten my dog. You come near her and I will rip your head off. Is that clear enough for you?” Jack was now towering over the farmer, voice raised, but not shouting.

  Frank did not take a step back, but regarded Jack with clear blue eyes. He nodded once. “It weren’t no threat Jack.”