One Night With The Italian Doc. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ had all the bloodwork done as well.

      ‘Aren’t you going to book the counsellor?’ Susan asked.

      ‘Why would I need to see one?’ Louise said. ‘You didn’t have to see one before you had your three children.’

      ‘True,’ Susan responded, ‘but before we went in you said that you were going to do everything he suggests.’

      ‘And I am,’ Louise said, ‘apart from that one.’

      Louise’s cheeks were unusually pink as they walked down the corridor. Her mind was all ajumble because even as little as a couple of weeks ago she’d have happily signed up to talk to someone. She was one hundred per cent sure that she wanted this.

      Or make that ninety-nine point nine per cent positive.

      ‘Have you got time for a quick lunch before your shift?’ Susan asked.

      She did have time but unfortunately that point one per cent, or rather Anton, was already in the canteen and Louise was very conscious of him as they got their meals. Fortunately the table that Susan selected was quite far away from where Anton sat.

      ‘Well, all I can say is that he was a lot better than the GP,’ Susan said. ‘Do you feel better for having seen him?’

      ‘I do.’

      ‘You’re very quiet all of a sudden.’

      Louise didn’t know whether or not to say anything to her mum.

      Actually, she didn’t know if there even was anything to discuss. She and Anton had returned to business as usual after the other night. She was being far less flirtatious and Anton was checking up on her work even more than usual, if that was possible.

      ‘I think I like someone, Mum,’ Louise admitted. ‘I’m a bit confused, to be honest.’

      ‘Does he know that you like him?’

      Louise nodded. ‘And he also knows I’m doing this but I think if I continue to go ahead then it takes away any chance for us. I don’t even know if I want us to have a chance.’

      Susan asked what should have been a simple question. ‘What’s he like?’

      ‘I don’t really know.’ Louise gave a wry laugh. ‘I know what he’s like at work and I find him a bit …’ She hesitated. ‘Well, he’s very thorough with his patients and I’m pretty used to doctors dismissing and overriding midwives …’ Louise thought for a long moment before continuing. ‘I’ve just fancied him for a long time but nothing ever happened and now, when I’ve decided to do this, he seems to want to give us a try.’

      ‘How long have you liked him for?’ Susan asked.

      ‘About six months.’

      ‘And if he’d tried anything six months ago, what would you have done?’

      ‘Run a mile.’

      ‘If he’d tried anything three months ago, what would you have done?’

      ‘Run a mile,’ Louise admitted.

      Only now was she truly healing.

      ‘Do you want to give it a try?’

      ‘I think so,’ Louise said, ‘but I want this so much too.’

      She wanted back her one hundred per cent and her unwavering certainty she was finally on the right path. Unthinkingly she looked across the canteen and possibly the cause of her indecision sensed it, because Anton glanced over and briefly met her gaze.

      ‘I don’t see a problem.’ Susan picked up her knife and fork and brought Louise back to the conversation. ‘You don’t have an appointment till the second week of January and Richard did say to go and enjoy Christmas. Have some fun, heaven knows, you deserve it. Maybe just try not to think about getting pregnant for a few weeks.’

      Louise nodded, though her heart wasn’t in it. Her mum tried, she really did, but she simply couldn’t get it. Getting pregnant wasn’t something Louise could shove in a box and leave in her wardrobe and drag it out in a few weeks and pick up again—it was something she had been building towards for a very long time.

      She glanced over and saw that Anton was walking out of the canteen. There had been so little conversation of late between them that Susan could never have guessed the topic of their conversation had just walked past them.

      ‘Think about counselling,’ Susan suggested again.

      ‘Why would I when I’ve got you?’ Louise smiled.

      ‘Ah, but since when did you tell me all that’s going on?’

      Her mother was right, she didn’t tell her parents everything. ‘Maybe I will,’ Louise said, because this year had been one of so many changes. Even as little as a month or so ago she’d have died on the spot had Anton responded to one of her flirts. She was changing, ever changing, and every time she felt certain where she was heading, the road seemed to change direction again.

      No.

      Louise refused to let go of her dream.

      ‘I need to get to my shift.’

      ‘And I need to hit the shops.’ Susan smiled. ‘Come over at the weekend, I’ll make your favourite.’

      ‘I shall,’ Louise said, and gave her mum a kiss goodbye. ‘I’ll give you a call. Thanks for coming with me today.’

      Louise’s patient allocation was a mixed bag between Stephanie and Anton’s patients and all were prenatal patients, which meant no baby fix for Louise this shift.

      ‘Hi, Carmel, I’m Louise,’ she introduced herself to a new patient. Carmel had been admitted via the antenatal clinic where she had been found to have raised blood pressure. ‘How are you?’

      ‘Worried,’ Carmel said. ‘I thought I was just coming for my antenatal appointment and I find out my blood pressure’s high and that the baby’s still breech. I’m trying to sort out the other children.’

      ‘This is your third?’

      Carmel nodded. ‘I’ve got a three- and a five-year-old. My husband really doesn’t have any annual leave left and I can’t ask my mum.’ Carmel started to cry and, having taken her blood pressure, Louise sat on the chair by her bed.

      ‘There’s still time for the baby to turn,’ Louise said. ‘You’re not due till January …’ she checked her notes ‘… the seventh.’

      ‘But Stephanie said if it doesn’t turn then I’ll have a Caesarean before Christmas.’

      Louise nodded because, rather than the chance of the mother going into spontaneous labour, Caesareans were performed a couple of weeks before the due date.

      ‘I just can’t be here for Christmas. I know the baby might have come then anyway but at least with a natural labour I could have had a chance to be in and out …’ Carmel СКАЧАТЬ