Christmas Eve: Doorstep Delivery (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 7)

she reminded Patrick of the young single mothers he sometimes saw in the antenatal clinic. Occasionally they were excited, but often they were overwhelmed and daunted by the enormity of it all.

He felt a twinge of guilt.

She was probably worrying about being alone and pregnant and she had no idea how to bring up the subject.

Instinctively he took charge of the situation.

‘Hayley, I didn’t mention the children because we had other things on our minds. Which brings us neatly to the reason for your visit.’ Deciding to make it as easy as possible for her, he turned briefly to make sure the kitchen door was shut. ‘I’m sure you’re feeling really mixed up about the whole thing. I’m sure it’s come as a shock. I’m sure you’re scared.’ Were there any other emotions he’d missed? She’d called him insensitive and he was doing his best to be as sensitive as possible. ‘But I don’t want you to be scared. I take full responsibility. It was my fault. To be honest, I don’t understand how it happened because I thought I’d protected you, but we’ll work something out, I promise you that. You’re not on your own.’

‘Protected me?’

In the circumstances he couldn’t blame her for sounding stunned. He hadn’t protected her, had he? Clearly something had failed that night. And she blamed him. She had every right to be angry.

‘As I said, I take full responsibility. But we need to talk about this calmly. We need to work out a solution together.’

‘What are you taking responsibility for? It was my decision to come here. You had nothing to do with it.’

‘But I’m glad you came.’

‘Are you?’ Her voice faltered and she looked at him carefully. ‘Really? I thought I’d made things awkward for you by coming.’

‘Well, obviously it’s a shock.’ He wasn’t going to tell her just how much of a shock. She obviously needed reassurance that he wasn’t going to overreact. ‘But we’ll work something out. Let’s start with the practicalities. You’re sure you’re pregnant? It’s pretty early on. There’s no mistake about that?’

‘Pregnant?’ The word seemed to echo around the kitchen and Patrick winced, hoping that Alfie wasn’t listening outside the door.

‘Hayley, could you please try not to—?’

‘You think I’m pregnant!’ She backed away from him, so agitated that her breath came in uneven jerks. ‘Is that why you think I’m here? Because I’m pregnant?’

How many times did she have to say the word?

‘Yes, of course. Why else…?’ His voice tailed off as he registered the shock on her face.

‘Why would you think I was pregnant?’ Her tone made it obvious that he’d made the wrong assumption and Patrick pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, wishing he’d broached the subject differently.

‘It was a shock to see you on my doorstep. I just assumed—’

‘I didn’t know it was your doorstep! And what did you assume? That the only reason I’d come to find you is because I was pregnant?’ She made a distressed sound and started to pace around his kitchen, breathing so rapidly that Patrick eyed her with concern.

‘You’re hyperventilating, Hayley, and—’

‘I am not hyperventilating,’ she gasped, her hand pressed to her chest. ‘I’m trying to control my emotions. It’s all down to the breathing.’

‘Right.’ He watched her carefully, sure that she must be making herself dizzy. ‘But you’re breathing a bit fast. I’m a doctor, and I can see that you—’

‘Oh, shut up, Patrick!’ She groaned his name and turned away, digging her fingers into her hair and shaking her head in disbelief. Then she took a long deep breath and let her hands drop, as if she’d come to a decision. ‘All right, I’m going to make a really big effort to think the way you seem to think. So—the sequence of events goes like this. Boy meets girl, boy sleeps with girl who conveniently lives in a foreign country so boy is never going to see her again, girl turns up on doorstep—girl must be pregnant.’ She looked at him. ‘That’s what you’re thinking?’

Given that that was exactly what he was thinking, Patrick didn’t utter a denial and she made a faint sound in her throat.

‘So, still thinking like you—although I have to confess that’s a challenge—presumably the next demand I’m going to make is for money, is that right? Or marriage. Oh, God, now I understand your remark about married men being unable to give me what I want. Is that why you think I’m here? Because I’m looking for a meal ticket? God, that’s truly awful.’ She plopped back down on the nearest chair, as if her legs couldn’t be trusted to hold her. ‘You’d get on really well with my stepbrothers. They think life is all about money and using people, too.’

Feeling the situation spinning out of control, Patrick intervened. ‘Judging from your reaction, I assume I’m wrong.’

Her breathing still far too rapid, she stared sightlessly at a spot on his kitchen floor. ‘Yes,’ she snapped. ‘You’re wrong. Of course you’re wrong. I haven’t even missed a period, for goodness’ sake.’ She broke off, her face scarlet, and Patrick sighed.

‘You don’t have to be embarrassed,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m an obstetrician.’

‘I know you’re an obstetrician!’ She squirmed in her seat, the look she flung him suggesting she wished he was in a different profession. ‘Is that why your mind went off on that track? Because you’re obsessed with babies?’