The Midwife's Christmas Baby. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ his friend really that shocked by the news of Oliver’s impending fatherhood? Oh, hell. That didn’t bode well for his family’s reaction. Sebastian was much more laid back than Oliver’s parents.

      ‘Sorry, Olly. Someone needed me for a second. You were saying, half of your department’s having babies?’ Sebastian asked.

      ‘Not half of us—that’s the virus wiping everyone out—though it does feel as if everyone’s going on leave. Just Sienna. Obviously you know her from when she did the training at the hospital for you.’

      ‘Yes. She did a good job—thank you for recommending her.’

      There was something in Sebastian’s voice that Oliver couldn’t quite work out. Or maybe it wasn’t the best line. He didn’t always get great mobile phone reception in his office.

      ‘So Sienna got married when she came back to England?’ Sebastian asked.

      ‘No, she’s still single. But she knows we’re all there for her and she’s got a very willing rota of babysitters when the baby arrives. It’s due somewhere around the beginning of February.’

      ‘I see.’ There was a pause. ‘So you’re going to be a dad. Should I be offering congratulations or commiserations?’

      ‘Both,’ Oliver said wryly. ‘Though at least this one’s definitely mine.’

      ‘Not a repeat of Justine, then.’

      Trust Sebastian to come straight to the point. It was one of the things that Oliver appreciated about his friend: his ability to focus on the important thing and cut through all the irrelevancies. ‘No. And Ella’s nothing like Justine. She’s open and honest. And very independent.’

      ‘So she won’t let you boss her about.’

      Oliver knew his friend was teasing him—or was he? Was he really as overbearing and bossy as Ella said he was?

      ‘When’s the baby due?’ Sebastian asked.

      ‘In seven and a half months.’

      ‘It’s very early days, then.’

      ‘Yes. Ella only told me a few days ago. She had the dating scan yesterday. Seeing the baby’s heart beating on the screen...’ It had been a real game-changer. Because now everything was real. His baby. And he wanted to be a much better father than his own father had been.

      Yet wasn’t he making the same mistakes? Insisting that everything should go his way? It was a knee-jerk reaction to the way Justine had behaved—and Ella deserved better.

      ‘So what’s the complication with the baby’s mum?’ Sebastian asked.

      Trust the prince to ask the awkward question. ‘It’s tricky. I’m not her direct boss, but I’m the Assistant Head of the Department.’

      ‘Well, it wouldn’t be the first workplace romance in history.’

      When Oliver didn’t reply, Sebastian continued, ‘I assume it is a romance?’

      ‘Yes and no.’ Oliver sighed. ‘I admit, I’ve been attracted to her since the moment I met her. She’s gorgeous—all soft curves and red hair and green eyes.’

      ‘The way you describe her makes her sound like a Picasso painting,’ Sebastian commented dryly.

      Oliver laughed. ‘Hardly. It’s not just how she looks—I’m not that shallow. She’s nice. I can be myself with her. But you know I don’t do relationships. So I’ve kept it platonic.’

      ‘Obviously something changed, or you wouldn’t be preparing for fatherhood in seven and a half months’ time,’ Sebastian pointed out.

      ‘I danced with her at the annual Hallowe’en charity ball. Then I gave her a lift home.’ Which sounded pathetic. ‘I meant to see her safely indoors and leave, but she invited me in for coffee. And then I just gave in to the urge to kiss her, and...’ Oliver sighed. ‘I guess one thing led to another.’

      ‘How does she feel about you?’

      Good question. One Oliver had been asking himself rather a lot, and he hadn’t quite worked out the answer. ‘I don’t honestly know. Obviously there’s something there between us, or we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in now. But the baby has complicated things a bit. I don’t know whether she wants me for me,’ he said, ‘or if she wants me for the baby’s sake.’

      ‘Have you tried asking her?’

      ‘No—because, if I’m honest, it’s the same for me. I don’t know if I want to be with her because I want her, or because I feel responsible for the baby.’ Though he wasn’t going to tell Sebastian about the kiss during the scan. That complicated things even more. Had they both been caught up in the moment, the excitement of seeing the little life on screen? Or were they both trying to deny the inevitable? Were they meant to be together?

      And then there was the issue of why she’d been so sure that he hadn’t needed to use contraception. He still hadn’t got to the bottom of that. He didn’t think Ella was a gold-digger, but there was definitely something she was keeping from him, and he hadn’t found the right way to ask her about it without causing a fight. ‘Right now, everything’s mixed up.’

      ‘I guess only time will tell,’ Sebastian said. ‘Just make sure you keep the lines of communication open.’

      Oliver knew that was sound advice. ‘I will.’

      ‘Have you told your family yet?’

      ‘No. It’s too early.’

      ‘Fair enough.’ Sebastian paused. ‘Does Ella know about your family?’

      The crunch question. Sebastian knew Oliver kept his background quiet at work, and why. ‘No,’ Oliver admitted.

      ‘You’re going to have to tell her at some point. And them. Especially if she’s going to be a part of your future.’

      ‘I know.’ He’d been thinking about that. He needed to introduce Ella to his family; and, given that they seemed to be reaching out to him right now, maybe their attitude towards his career might have mellowed and they’d accept him for who he was rather than who they wanted him to be. ‘My mother wants me to go to the annual Darrington pre-Christmas cocktail party.’

      ‘Then go,’ Sebastian said.

      ‘You know I haven’t been for years.’ He hated all that meet-and-greet stuff.

      ‘Things are different now. You need to introduce Ella to them. And,’ Sebastian counselled, ‘a party where there are a lot of people around would be a useful way of doing that.’

      ‘You mean, it’s in public so my parents will have to behave impeccably, and there will be enough other people there to dilute them?’

      ‘I didn’t say that.’ But Oliver could almost hear the smile in his friend’s voice, because they both knew what his family was like. Appearances mattered to the Darringtons. Sebastian, being a prince, was perfect friend material in their eyes. Ella СКАЧАТЬ