By Request Collection April-June 2016. Оливия Гейтс

‘I’ll check again in thirty minutes and if you’re still having contractions we’ll give you another then.’

      June was well settled before the sound of voices drifted to her room. Emily completed her paperwork and put the chart in the tray at the end of the bed. ‘Ah. Here’s your doctor.’ Lily brought Dr D’Arvello into June’s room.

      Lily winked from behind his shoulder and Emily chewed her lip to keep back the smile.

      ‘Hello, there.’ His eyebrows rose when he recognised Emily. He glanced at her badge. ‘Sister Cooper?’

      ‘Doctor.’ He looked less immaculate than he had earlier today, with a subtle darkness of new growth over his strong chin and his hair unruly across his forehead as if he’d repeatedly pushed it back. Unfortunately he looked even more wickedly attractive.

      ‘Ah.’ She saw him file that away before he turned to their patient with a smile that had June relax back into the bed. Nearly as good as calming breaths, Emily thought, with a tinge of sardonic amusement.

      ‘And this is June, who is expecting twins?’ He shook June’s hand. ‘I am Marco D’Arvello. Congratulations.’ He pulled the chair across and sat down as if it wasn’t really midnight and he hadn’t been at work all day.

      Like he had all the time in the world to talk to June. Emily liked that. Not what she needed—to find something else she liked about this guy—but she was pleased for June.

      June breathed through another contraction, though this one lasted less than twenty seconds. Marco frowned. ‘She still threatens labour?’

      ‘That one was shorter after just one dose of the Nifedipine.’

      ‘Good.’ He smiled at June. ‘Your babies are better off inside at their age so we hope the contractions stop. I’ve looked at your ultrasounds, June, and your twins have a problem that I think I can help you with.’

      June squared her shoulders. ‘What sort of problem.’

      He smiled. ‘I like a woman who gets straight to the point.’ Emily tried not to file that away.

      ‘Because your babies share the one placenta, even though they use their own part of the placenta, it seems there’s an extra blood vessel connecting their blood supply that shouldn’t be there. The problem with that is one twin often gets the lion’s share of oxygen and nutrients while the other can be quite disadvantaged.’

      ‘Is it dangerous?’ June was nothing if not focussed. Emily felt like hugging the girl.

      ‘For the less fortunate foetus, it certainly can be.’

      June turned to look at Emily and then back at Marco. ‘You said you can help?’

      He nodded. ‘I offer you the option of an operation with a small instrument that enters your uterus through the abdomen and seals off the unwanted blood vessel between the twins. We use a tiny laser.’

      June’s eyes widened with distress? ‘A laser? Near my babies? And you’ve done this before?’

      ‘Dozens of times.’ He smiled and Emily felt soothed just watching him. ‘Believe me …’ he smiled again ‘… I would do it very carefully but the risks are greater if I do not attempt this closure of the extra vessel.’

      He was skilled with reassurance, too, Emily thought, but she could see June’s apprehension so she tried to help with the little she knew. ‘It sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it?’

      She gestured to Marco. ‘Dr D’Arvello is consulting here on a secondment. Intrauterine surgery is his specialty and he’s here to help our obstetric and paediatric surgeons increase their skills.’

      June narrowed her gaze. ‘So you’re the expert?’

      ‘Si.’ Marco nodded.

      ‘So you don’t deliver babies, then?’ June frowned. ‘Just laser them?’

      White teeth flashed as he grinned, and Emily could feel her own mouth curve because he just made her want to smile. ‘But no. I am present for many births. Thankfully, only few babies need what I offer and a normal birth is always a joy.’ He glanced at Emily. ‘You would agree, Sister Cooper?’

      ‘Of course.’ Emily wondered if he did see many normal births. Nowadays, at Sydney Harbour Hospital anyway, obstetricians were usually only called when complications occurred. Or for hands-on service for their private patients, but perhaps it was different in Italy.

      June had thought it through and now she nodded. ‘So what happens now?’

      ‘Tonight we give you the second injection to encourage your twins’ lungs to mature in case premature labour cannot be stopped.’ He glanced at Emily who inclined her head in agreement. ‘And please, no more food or fluids until after we operate tomorrow morning.’

      June chewed her lip as the closeness of the operation sank in. ‘What time will they come for me?’

      ‘It will be soon after breakfast.’ He smiled. ‘Which is not for you.’

      She pretended to sigh at that and Emily wanted to hug her for being so brave, though the anxiety lay clearly behind her joking manner. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’

      Marco narrowed his eyes and studied her. ‘You have a mother’s courage. Would you like something to help you sleep? Sister could give you something to help you relax.’

      ‘No. Thank you. I guess I won’t be doing much tomorrow and I can catch up then.’

      Marco stood up. ‘Bene. Goodnight, then.’ He caught Emily’s eye. ‘May I have a word with you, Sister?’

      Emily nodded. ‘One minute.’ And smiled at June. ‘I’ll be back soon. Would you like a drink of water before I take it away?’

      June swallowed half a glass and Emily collected the water and followed him out to the desk, where he was writing up his orders for the night.

CHAPTER TWO

      EMILY glanced at the clock. A quarter to one. Dr D’Arvello would have little sleep before his surgery day. She wondered if he was as used to lack of sleep as she was.

      From her height above where he sat at the desk she couldn’t help noticing the thickness of his dark hair. No sign of grey but he must be in his mid-thirties. A few years older than her and so much more experienced with the world. That deficit hadn’t bothered her before. Why should it now? Silly. ‘You wished to see me, Doctor?’

      His dark eyes swept up from the notes and over her face. He smiled and she found herself grinning back like a goose before she could stop herself. ‘I did not know you were a midwife at your daughter’s visit this morning.’

      It felt so long ago. ‘It’s not important?’

      He frowned. ‘But I would have offered more explanation if you wished. Is there more I can tell you?’

      ‘No. Thank you.’ She shrugged, a little embarrassed to admit it. ‘Of course I have researched the internet and read what I can find. I think I understand the operation well enough.’

      He nodded. ‘Sometimes I wish my clients would not look up on the internet but I am sure you picked well with your sites. The procedure is fairly simple. Perhaps a little more complicated than June’s surgery, but over almost as quickly.’

      He stood up, towered over her again, and seemed to hesitate. ‘And will you have to come to work tomorrow night after your daughter’s operation?’

      Her stomach dropped with a tinge of alarm. Was there bad news he hadn’t mentioned? ‘Actually, I’m not.’ Did he think she would be too upset?

      Still he frowned. ‘So when will you sleep?’

      ‘I’ll go home