Kisses at Sunset

The kindness in his voice brought tears to the surface. ‘Thanks, Will.’

Fortunately Will had the wisdom to leave her alone then, giving her time to pull herself together before surgery. But as she buzzed for the first patient, something he’d said nagged in her brain. The stomach bug only lasted for twenty-four hours—so why was she still feeling sick?

She went through surgery on automatic, looking in ears and throats, listening to chests, writing prescriptions for antibiotics and seeing more people with the stomach bug, and as her last patient shut the door behind her she reached for the calendar, her hands shaking.

Carefully she counted the days, then checked again and closed her eyes. Dear God, her period was late and in all the stress she hadn’t even noticed. How could she not have noticed? She’d been due the night she and Sean had made love, which was why she’d thought she’d been safe. For a moment she sat and stared at the calendar, totally numb, and then a flame of excitement sparked inside her.

A baby. Sean’s baby.

She put the calendar down on her desk and stared out of the window at the mountains, a smile starting on her face. What was the matter with her? She should have been feeling horrified! She was expecting a baby by a man who didn’t want children or commitment. So why was she smiling?

She placed a hand over her abdomen in an instinctively protective gesture. Because it was part of Sean. Part of her love for him. There was no question of her not keeping it. The only question was what to do about Sean…

Her smile faded. He didn’t ever want children, he’d made that clear enough, and he didn’t want her either—not long term, at least. As she stared out of the window she saw that it had started to snow heavily and suddenly she felt more peaceful. She’d survive. Of course she would. And she wouldn’t tell Sean about the baby. What was the point? He didn’t want her and he’d made it clear that he didn’t want a child. She’d manage with the help of her family and friends. After all, she’d managed with Charlie…

* * *

It snowed heavily for another three days and most of Cumbria was paralysed.

‘Nothing’s moving on the roads, but the patients still seem to manage to turn up for surgery,’ Helen grumbled, checking the appointments to try and squeeze in another extra.

Ally gave her a wan smile. ‘I expect they’re bored so they want to come and see us.’

‘Yes, well, I wish they’d—’ Helen had glanced up and stopped in mid-sentence. ‘Ally, are you all right? You look dreadful!’

‘Thanks.’ Ally gave her a wry grin. ‘You know how to make someone feel better, I’ll say that for you. Any extras for me?’

‘Two more with the stomach bug,’ Helen told her, her eyes reflecting her concern. ‘Do you want Will or Sean to see them?’

‘No!’ Ally took a deep breath and picked up the notes. ‘I’ll see them. Send the first one in, will you, Helen?’

She settled herself in her consulting room, wondering whether she’d survive three months of nausea. She thought back to the number of times she’d glibly told patients that it would pass in time, and vowed never to be so dismissive again. She felt ill, totally drained of energy and exhausted, and sooner or later she was going to have to think of a new excuse because the ‘stomach bug’ routine was wearing thin.

She forced herself to concentrate as her first extra of the morning tapped on the door, another victim of the stomach bug. After examining him and giving him advice on rehydration and managing diarrhoea, Ally showed him out and then suddenly lifted her hand to her throat. She was going to be sick. She made it to the staff toilet just in time, and when she staggered out ten minutes later she found Sean standing there, his expression grim.

‘Helen told me you still aren’t well.’

Oh, not now! She just wasn’t up to a confrontation. ‘I’m fine, Sean.’

‘You look it!’ His wry tone made her shrug ruefully.

‘I’ve just picked up the same bug everyone else has.’

He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze measuring. ‘Except that everyone else seems to have recovered in half the time.’ There was a strange light in his eyes and for a brief moment of panic Ally wondered if he’d guessed.

‘Dr McGuire!’ The urgency of Helen’s voice carried down the corridor and Ally breathed a sigh of relief, excused herself and walked briskly to Reception.

‘What’s the matter?’

Helen was just replacing the receiver, her expression worried. ‘That was Felicity Webster. She’s gone into labour and there’s no way she can get to hospital in time. The roads are impassable and she’s contracting every two minutes. She’s in a total panic.’

‘Where’s the midwife?’ Ally was picking up her coat even as she asked the question.

‘Stuck with a woman in premature labour the other side of the Kirkstone pass.’

‘You can’t go—you’re not well.’ Sean picked up his bag and made for the door.

‘Wait!’ Ally caught up with him, her expression determined. ‘Of course I’m going—she’s my patient.’