The Midwife's Child

‘Not yet.’ A muscle worked in Jed’s jaw and he looked tired. ‘I’m going to try and induce your labour first by giving you two pessaries. One now and one in another six hours.’

‘OK.’ Fiona was clearly putting her faith in Jed and Brooke commented on it as they both sneaked off to the staffroom for a well-deserved cup of coffee, leaving her in Gill’s capable hands.

‘Yeah, I know. Daunting, isn’t it?’ He rolled his eyes and gave a shrug. ‘Well, better that than have her refuse treatment.’

‘She’s going to end up with a section,’ Brooke said flatly, sipping her coffee and wincing as it burned her mouth. ‘Ouch. I wonder what it’s like to have a job where you can drink coffee at the right temperature.’

‘Don’t ask me, I haven’t got one,’ Jed responded dryly, checking his watch and frowning. ‘You might be right about the section but let’s see how she goes. She’s so nervous I’d rather she laboured if she can. Her clotting times are normal at the moment and we’re getting a good reactive heart pattern so we can afford to wait a bit. I need to go down and see a patient on the gynae ward. Bleep me if you need me.’

Brooke stayed with Fiona for the rest of the afternoon and gradually the woman started to thaw, telling her about her first pregnancy and how devastated she’d been when the baby had been stillborn.

It was nearly time for her shift to end when the door opened and Gill put her head round the door.

‘Brooke, can I see you?’

Brooke excused herself and followed the sister into the corridor. ‘Problems?’

‘Sort of. Don’t panic, dear, but I’ve just had a phone call.’ Her voice was gentle. ‘Your Toby’s had a fall at school. He’s downstairs in A and E.’

CHAPTER FOUR

HER heart pounding with anxiety, Brooke ignored the lift and sprinted down the stairs to Casualty. Was he badly injured?

‘Where is he? I’m looking for Toby Daniels.’ Panic showing on her pale face, she grabbed the arm of the first nurse she saw.

‘Daniels? He’s the little boy who had the teacher with him? They took him to Paediatric Resus,’ the girl told her. ‘But he’s OK, I think. It’s not serious.’

Feeling physically sick, Brooke followed the girl through A and E and fought back tears as she saw Toby lying on the trolley.

‘Oh, sweetheart!’ She rushed forward and stroked his hair, forcing a smile. ‘What have you been doing?’

‘I fell off the climbing frame,’ he mumbled. ‘And my head hurts.’

Brooke looked anxiously at the casualty officer but at that moment Jed strode into the room, his expression worried.

‘Brooke? Gill told me about your little boy—how is he?’

Jed was here? Why was he here? Another surge of panic hit her but this time for a different reason.

‘I don’t know.’ Her heart was thumping so hard she was aware of every beat. Why did Jed have to turn up now? Taking a deep breath, she concentrated her attentions on the casualty officer. ‘What happened?’

‘He fell off the climbing frame—from quite high up by all accounts—but he wasn’t knocked out and he seems fine, apart from a laceration to his scalp. His teacher was with him a moment ago but she’s just nipped off to phone the school. We’ll glue the scalp and keep an eye on him for an hour or so.’

Brooke swallowed. ‘And then he can go home?’

‘Should be able to.’ The casualty officer scribbled on the notes. ‘I’ll give you a head injury form, although if you’re medical I don’t suppose you need it.’

Toby grinned. ‘Can I have another go with your stetha-thingy?’

‘Sure, why not?’ The doctor handed it over and even obligingly let Toby listen to his chest. ‘Toby was telling me his life history. I know that he’s nearly six and that he was born prematurely.’

Brooke felt her breathing stop and closed her eyes. Oh, dear God, no. No!

There was a long silence and then Jed cleared his throat. ‘You’re nearly six, Toby?’ His voice sounded strange. ‘And you were premature? How premature?’

The little boy wriggled importantly, delighted to be the centre of attention. ‘Eight weeks. I had to go in an in-inc—that thing that keeps you warm. What was it called, Mummy?’

‘Incubator,’ Brooke prompted faintly, not daring to look at Jed. What was going to happen now?