A Proposal to Remember

Helen laughed. ‘She’s great. My favourite person, as you know.’

‘Well, if you need a real midwife just press the buzzer.’ Kim adjusted her antlers and grinned at her friend. ‘Go and grab a coffee and a mince pie from the staffroom. I’ll stay on twin watch.’

Suddenly desperate for a cup of coffee, Zan did as Kim had suggested and had just poured herself a strong cup of coffee when Carlo strolled into the room.

He looked sexy and dangerous and the look in his eyes made her heart-rate take off. Last night it had been as if they were in a separate world where reality would never intrude. Seeing him now in the staff-room, looking overwhelmingly male and very, very real, she felt suddenly shy.

‘This wasn’t exactly how I planned to spend the morning,’ he said huskily, stepping closer to her and curving a warm hand around the back of her neck.

She glanced nervously at the door. ‘We can’t—not here.’

He chuckled. ‘I was only planning to kiss you. If Kim can get away with wearing antlers to work, then I can certainly kiss you under the mistletoe.’

With that he lowered his head and took her mouth, exploring her fully, his free hand pulling her against his hard body.

When he finally lifted his head she was flushed and breathless and desperate for more.

More of what they’d shared last night.

‘Carlo—’

He put a finger on her lips, a wry smile touching his mouth. ‘I know—I feel the same way. Let’s hope these twins are delivered soon so that we can both go home.’

She looked into his dark eyes, wondering what he was thinking.

He’d said that he loved her but did he really mean it?

And what did the future hold?

Did they have any sort of future?

* * *

Just after lunch Helen’s husband John arrived, clutching a huge box of food, including a pile of turkey sandwiches.

‘I managed to cook the lunch,’ John Hughes said proudly, and Helen grinned.

‘Has anyone been sick yet?’

‘Charming.’ He smiled at Zan. ‘Have you eaten? I brought you a box of goodies for the staffroom.’

Zan thanked him and left them alone for a few minutes while she took the food to the staff room.

When she arrived back Helen was having another contraction and her husband was looking anxious.

‘She says she wants to push.’

‘Really?’ Zan washed her hands and pulled on a pair of sterile gloves. She examined Helen carefully and then gave a smile. ‘You’re fully dilated, Helen, and the first head is already descending nicely. Let’s try and get you a bit more upright and then I need to call in the cavalry.’

Helen gave a grunt. ‘Why do we need cavalry?’

‘I need to call Mr Bennett and the anaesthetist and we need to have two paediatricians—one for each twin,’ Zan told her as she hit the buzzer.

Kim’s antlers appeared round the door. ‘Do we have lift-off?’

Zan nodded. ‘Can you call the team, please?’

Kim vanished and Zan grabbed a bean bag. ‘Let’s try putting this behind you for a moment. It might help if you have something to push against.’