Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ one in Intensive Care, the special baby care unit or where there’s a lot of equipment being used—places where there’s a high risk of electromagnetic interference or where a ringtone might sound like an alarm tone on medical equipment and there’s a chance it might be missed.’ Mr Perron gave her a rueful smile. ‘And I have to admit, it drives the staff crazy if phones are going off all over the place, disturbing patients’ rest or drowning out a discussion about someone’s health-care plan. But you’re taking a photograph of your own scan so it’s not breaching patient confidentiality—and you’re far enough away from any other equipment that it’s not going to hurt anyone. Go ahead.’

      ‘Thank you,’ Dragan said, pulled his phone from his pocket, switched it on and took a couple of photographs.

      ‘I’ll be in touch with the blood results,’ the consultant said. ‘I think the chances are that you’ll be fine, but if there is a problem we can start treatment immediately.’ He handed Dragan some paper towels.

      Dragan cleaned the gel off Melinda’s stomach and restored order to her clothes. When she sat up, he held her close.

      ‘I’ll give you a minute or two,’ Mr Perron said softly. ‘It’s always emotional, the first time you see the baby on a scan.’

      Melinda had no idea how long they stayed like that, just holding each other. But when they pulled apart and she looked at Dragan, she could see that his eyelashes were wet, too. The scan had moved him just as much as it had moved her.

      ‘I’ve missed you so much,’ she said. ‘And I didn’t do this on purpose, Dragan.’

      ‘I know that now—and I’m sorry. I thought you were using me.’

      She shook her head. ‘I’d never do that. And besides, we didn’t make the baby that night. It was long before then. I know we used condoms, but you know as well as I do that the only one hundred per cent reliable method of contraception is abstinence.’ She looked at him. ‘I wouldn’t use you like that. I love you.’

      He stroked her face. ‘I love you, too. Volim te.’

      ‘Do you?’ She wasn’t so sure. He’d walked away from her.

      ‘Yes.’ He brushed his mouth against hers. ‘These last few days rank among the most miserable of my entire life. When I thought I’d lost you—and the baby—it felt as bad as when I lost my family.’

      ‘So why did you walk out on me?’

      ‘Pride. Stupidity, because I let my pride get in the way. I should’ve stayed to fight for you.’

      ‘Me, too.’

      ‘Let’s go home,’ he said softly.

      ‘Home?’

      ‘To hell with the papers. They can print what they like. You and the baby are the only ones who matter. Before you went back to Contarini, we were planning to move in together. Get married. So let’s do it.’

      ‘You still want to marry me?’

      ‘I never stopped wanting to marry you,’ he said softly. ‘But I tried to do the right thing. To let you go back to Contarini so you weren’t cut off from your family.’

      ‘They chose to do that anyway.’ She closed her eyes.

      ‘We can sort it out. Because I’m on your side,’ he reminded her.

      ‘My mother—’

      ‘Will be fine. She’ll be reconciled with us. I have a plan.’ He stroked her hair. ‘Your official dating scan is…when?’

      ‘Wednesday.’

      ‘And your next time off is…?’

      ‘The weekend after.’

      ‘Mine, too,’ he said. ‘I’ll book Bramble in with Lizzie and we’ll fly over to Contarini. Pay your family a visit. I think it’s time your mother discovered that family is more important than duty. And, faced with you and a certain photograph, I think she’ll soften.’

      Fear tricked down Melinda’s spine. ‘What if she doesn’t?’

      ‘She will. Trust me.’

      ‘Because you’re a doctor?’

      He laughed. ‘Or so the saying goes. Sve ce biti okej. Everything will be OK,’ he translated. ‘And we’ve got a wedding to plan. Last Saturday of April.’

      Her eyes went wide. ‘You what?’

      ‘Unless you’ve talked to Reverend Kenner to call it all off, the wedding’s booked for the last Saturday in April.’ He smiled wryly. ‘That’s the one thing I didn’t think to do. Speak to the vicar to say it wasn’t going to happen any more. I suppose subconsciously I still hoped it would work out.’

      ‘It’s going to work out. Because I’m never, ever going to keep anything from you again.’

      ‘No?’

      ‘No.’

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