The Greek Doctor's New-Year Baby

She swallowed hard. ‘I know.’

He stroked her hair. ‘But it’s easier when you’re reassuring someone else. When it isn’t your baby.’ He drew her over to the sofa. ‘When did the midwife ring?’

‘This morning.’

‘Why didn’t you call me then, matia mou?’

She sighed. ‘You were busy at work. In clinic.’

‘I’m never too busy for you. Ever,’ he told her, his eyes glittering.

She dragged in a breath. ‘Sorry. I was trying to do the right thing. Be professional.’

‘Sometimes you need to put yourself first,’ he said gently. ‘So what do you want to do?’

‘It’s been going round and round in my head all day. I…’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Right now, we don’t know what’s happening. You could have an amniocentesis so we know for sure—so we can either relax and stop worrying—or we can prepare ourselves for our child’s possible special needs.’

But the idea of it clearly worried him sick. Although he tried to mask it, she could see it in his face. ‘You’re thinking about the risks, aren’t you?’

He sighed. ‘It’s an invasive procedure.’

One where a needle would go through her abdomen to take a sample of amniotic fluid containing the baby’s cells, which would then be grown and studied in a lab. The procedure meant there was risk of tiny amounts of the baby’s blood mixing with her own bloodstream. And if the baby’s blood group was rhesus positive, there was a chance her body would start making antibodies—which would cross the placenta and attack the baby’s red cells. And Madison knew they were both well aware of what that could lead to. Anaemia…and even foetal death.

‘They can give me anti-D as a preventative measure.’

‘True.’ He paused. ‘The chances are, everything will be fine.’

‘But we won’t know for sure. And I don’t want to spend the next eighteen weeks worrying.’ She swallowed hard. ‘The only way we’ll know for sure is if we have the amnio.’

‘Is that what you want?’

She nodded. ‘I’ve been thinking about it all day. I know there’s a risk because of the blood thing and there’s a risk of miscarriage with an amnio, but I think this is the right thing to do.’

‘Then that’s what we’ll do. Do you want me to call the midwife?’

‘No, I’ll do it.’

‘I can do the procedure, if you want me to,’ he offered. ‘I’ve got a lower than average record of miscarriages.’

‘No. You’re a brilliant doctor, Theo Petrakis. But you’re also the father of my baby so it would be unethical.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘And anyway I want you right beside me, holding my hand while that needle goes in. Do you know how big that needle is?’

‘I do, honey.’ He kissed her lightly. ‘It’ll be a scratch, that’s all. And, of course, I’ll be there with you, holding your hand all the way through it.’

‘Think of it as a practice for labour. When I’m going to crush your hand and scream at you during every contraction.’

He laughed. ‘That’s my job as a dad-to-be.’ He sobered slightly. ‘Whatever happens, Maddie, remember I’m always going to be there. Right by your side. So go and call the midwife, matia mou. I’ll make you some hot blackcurrant.’

By the time he’d returned from the kitchen, everything was arranged. ‘Tomorrow afternoon, half-past two.’

‘Fine. I’ll book some time off.’ He paused. ‘And maybe I can distract you a bit with some news.’

‘What news?’

‘Doug isn’t coming back. He’s fine—it’s not a relapse or anything,’ Theo hastened to reassure her, ‘but he’s decided he wants to move out of London with his family and take a bit of time to smell the roses.’

‘So what happens now?’

Theo shrugged. ‘Applications for the job are invited.’

She went very still. ‘Are you going to apply?’

‘That,’ he said, ‘is entirely up to you. I can apply for the job—or I can apply to a different hospital in London. Or we can move down to Suffolk to be nearer your family and I’ll find a job there.’

‘You’d move? For me?’

‘If that’s what you want, agapi mou.’ He smiled at her. ‘Now stop worrying. Everything’s going to be fine.’

Just as he’d promised, he took time off to be with Madison for the amniocentesis. He held her hand while she lay on the couch, talking softly to her. ‘Just try to relax. You’ll feel a sharp scratch but it’s not going to hurt, and it’s not going to hurt the baby. The ultrasonographer’s going to take just a tiny, tiny little bit of amniotic fluid, and the baby won’t even miss it.’