Always the Midwife. Alison Roberts

       MIDWIVES ON-CALL

      Welcome to Melbourne Victoria Hospital—and to the exceptional midwives who make up the Melbourne Maternity Unit!

      These midwives in a million work miracles on a daily basis, delivering tiny bundles of joy into the arms of their brand-new mums!

      Amidst the drama and emotion of babies arriving at all hours of the day and night, when the shifts are over, somehow there’s still time for some sizzling out-of-hours romance …

      Whilst these caring professionals might come face-to-face with a whole lot of love in their line of work, now it’s their turn to find a happy-ever-after of their own!

       Midwives On-Call

      Midwives, mothers and babies—lives changing for ever …!

       Eight special stories to collect and treasure:

      Just One Night? by Carol Marinelli

      Meant-To-Be Family by Marion Lennox

      Always the Midwife by Alison Roberts

      Midwife’s Baby Bump by Susanne Hampton

      Midwife … to Mum! by Sue MacKay

      His Best Friend’s Baby by Susan Carlisle

      Unlocking Her Surgeon’s Heart by Fiona Lowe

      Her Playboy’s Secret by Tina Beckett

       These titles are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ALISON ROBERTS lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, and has written over sixty Mills & Boon^® Medical Romances™. As a qualified paramedic she has personal experience of the drama and emotion to be found in the world of medical professionals, and loves to weave stories with this rich background—especially when they can have a happy ending.

      When Alison is not writing you’ll find her indulging her passion for dancing or spending time with her friends (including Molly the dog) and her daughter Becky, who has grown up to become a brilliant artist. She also loves to travel, hates housework and considers it a triumph when the flowers outnumber the weeds in her garden.

      Always

      the Midwife

      Alison Roberts

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Dear Reader,

      One of the perks of being a writer is the joy of including things that are special to me in my stories. Or exploring things that have always intrigued or inspired me.

      I got to do this a lot in Aiden and Sophia’s story for the Midwives On-Call continuity, and that made it a real joy to write.

      I adore Melbourne. I’ve spent a lot of time there in the last decade or so, because it’s home to some of my very best friends and my daughter has been living there for the last three years. So I got to include places like the Southbank, in the central city, and Queenscliff—which isn’t part of the city but is gorgeous, and so worth a day trip if you’re ever lucky enough to be spending time in Melbourne. I even gave one of my friends (and her dog) a cameo appearance in the Queenscliff chapter! :)

      I also got to learn a lot more about Murderball, or wheelchair rugby, and I find that totally inspiring. Throw in some babies, a gorgeous motorbike paramedic for a hero and a ‘three dates’ rule that’s begging to be broken and it’s no wonder I had so much fun writing this book.

      I hope you have just as much fun reading it.

      With love

      Alison xxx

      For Annie, Carol and Linda—who will always make Melbourne a very special place to visit for me.

      Love you all xxx

      Table of Contents

       Cover

       About the Author

       Title Page

      Dear Reader

       Dedication

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       Endpage

       Copyright

       CHAPTER ONE

      THE BLIP OF the foetal heart monitor had definitely slowed down. Her decision might be a no-brainer but Sophia knew it wasn’t going to be popular.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ she told her patient, ‘but I’m not happy with the way things are going. We need to get you to hospital.’

      ‘No-o-o …’ First-time mother Claire Robinson had her heart set on a home birth. ‘You said I’m almost fully dilated. It can’t be much longer.’

      ‘You’re exhausted, sweetheart. Every contraction is harder for you and things are slowing down.’ She still had the hand-held Doppler against the distended abdomen of the pregnant woman. ‘Can you hear that the baby’s heartbeat has slowed down, too? It’s a sign that baby is getting distressed.’

      ‘What does