Christmas Eve: Doorstep Delivery (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 7)

‘Congratulations. You have a daughter.’ The baby gave a little wail and then Sally was crying and when Patrick looked at Tom he saw that his colleague’s face was wet.

‘Congratulations,’ he said huskily, and Tom pressed his fingers to his eyes and then bent to hug his wife.

‘You clever, clever girl.’

Smug and proud of herself, Sally glanced up from admiring her daughter. ‘You see? Sisterhood. We women can do it without you.’

Hayley grinned. ‘Actually, we could do with their help to get you out of the pool now, Sally. Then we can clamp the cord and cut it.’ She reached for a towel and gently dried the baby. ‘We need to keep her warm.’

As Hayley calmly checked the baby’s Apgar score and finished the delivery, Patrick found himself watching her work.

‘I’ve never witnessed such a calm delivery,’ he said softly, and she smiled as she tucked the baby up warmly against Sally’s breast.

‘It’s the way it’s supposed to be.’

‘Only without the water,’ Tom muttered, and Sally grinned.

‘I told you I wasn’t going to get out of the water.’

‘I thought you were joking. If I’d

known you were serious I would have made you give birth in the middle of a desert.’

‘Everything looks fine, Sally,’ Patrick said quietly, ‘but, given that you delivered under the water, I’d like a paediatrician to check the baby.’

‘I’d like that too.’ Sally smiled at him. ‘Thank you for letting me do it. Thank you for not panicking and thinking about your legal position.’ She turned to Hayley, her eyes misting. ‘And thank you for making it all so special. When I have my next baby, I want you there.’

‘Next?’ Tom was incredulous, his expression comical as he dragged his hands through his already untidy hair. ‘Sal, a moment ago you were saying never again.’

‘That was then and this was now.’ Sally’s happiness was infectious. ‘I want lots of babies, Tom.’

Patrick grinned. ‘And she wants them all underwater.’

CHAPTER SIX

IN THE car on the way home, Hayley shut her mouth tightly and kept it shut. Once or twice she felt Patrick glance towards her but she kept her eyes straight ahead, staring at the snow that swirled across his headlights.

He seemed unconcerned by the horrendous weather conditions, his hands firm and confident on the wheel as he negotiated the snow and ice. ‘You were amazing with Sally.’

‘Mmm.’

‘Is that all you’re going to say? “Mmm”?’ His tone was amused and she sneaked a look at him and then immediately regretted it as her body responded in its usual predictable fashion.

She concentrated her attention back on the snow.

Was it normal to feel like this about a man? After her outburst earlier he was probably terrified to be alone with her. The situation was so embarrassing it made her squirm.

She shifted slightly to the far edge of her seat so that she was as far away from him as possible.

‘Hayley, you’re worrying me.’ He eased the four-wheel drive through the gate and pulled up in front of the barn. ‘Are you ill? Tired?’

Actually, she did feel tired. Bone-achingly weary, but that was hardly surprising, was it?

‘I’m fine.’ They were the only words she allowed herself but he gave a sigh and switched off the engine.

‘You’re upset about earlier.’ With the engine off the cold immediately penetrated the car and he looked at her profile for a moment and then sighed. ‘Come on. We can talk inside.’

Hayley Hamilton, you are not talking, she reminded herself fiercely. You are not saying a word. Nothing.