Midwives On-Call. Alison Roberts

did want because half an hour later, instead of collapsing on the sofa and being grateful that it was the start of Friday night and the end of a long week, Isla was up on NICU with Jessica.

      There was no place she would rather be, though. Watching as Jessica’s fear was replaced by smiles, seeing little Archie’s eyes flicker and possibly, possibly a hint of a smile on his lips was time well spent indeed. They took photos and Jessica let her friends know all about her two brothers via social media.

      ‘I’m off.’ Alessi stood by the incubator. He had changed out of scrubs and was wearing black jeans and a gunmetal-grey top and he looked like the man who had made her heart flip over on sight all those months ago. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said to Isla.

      ‘There’s a big ball tomorrow night,’ Isla explained to Jessica. ‘Alessi’s getting an award.’

      ‘And I’ll see you on Monday,’ he said to little Archie. ‘In the meantime, behave.’ He nodded his head in the direction of the corridor and Isla excused herself from Jessica, who was holding her brother’s tiny hand. ‘It’s good she’s had some time with them.’

      ‘I know.’ Isla smiled. ‘It’s going to be tough on her. How do you think Archie—’

      ‘It’s minute by minute,’ Alessi interrupted, the inevitable answer because there were no guarantees in NICU and especially not with a baby who was so fragile and small. ‘Just take the good times, that’s all you can do sometimes. Are you off now?’

      Isla paused before answering; she had a feeling, more than a feeling that they were on the edge of something. That if she said yes, then she’d be joining him for dinner tonight, or for drinks, or for …

      Isla looked into his black eyes and there was an absence of fear. Yes, she knew, given his reputation, it could only ever be fleeting. She knew, too, that she couldn’t tell him her truth—he would surely run a mile—yet she knew she was ready.

      For him.

      Yet, while she wanted to say yes, some things came first. ‘I think I’m going to be here for as long as Jessica wants me to be.’

      ‘Fair enough.’ Alessi smiled. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then.’

      ‘You shall.’

      ‘Funny, but I’m actually looking forward to it now.’

      She knew what he meant and her answer told him the same. ‘So am I.’

       CHAPTER SEVEN

      ISLA WASN’T FEELING quite so brave the next morning, though there was still a flutter of anticipation in her stomach for the coming night as she downed a grapefruit juice before heading into work for a couple of hours.

      ‘Haven’t you got a ball that you’re supposed to be getting ready for?’ Darcie teased as they headed out the door.

      ‘I’m getting my hair done at two,’ Isla said.

      ‘I guess you’ve got this type of thing down to an art. Still, if I were going to a ball instead of working this weekend, I’d need more than a hair appointment to get me ball-ready! What are you wearing?’

      ‘Black,’ Isla said. ‘Or red, I haven’t decided. All I know is that I’ve got a mountain in my inbox that needs to be scaled. The weekends when I’m not officially there are the only times I can get anything done on the paperwork front.’

      Instead of taking the tram, they walked. Darcie wasn’t on until nine and Isla wasn’t officially working anyway, so they took their time, enjoying the morning and stopping at Isla’s favourite café. She picked up a coffee and a pastry to have at her desk and Darcie did the same.

      ‘I love the food here,’ Darcie groaned. She’d really taken to the café culture of Melbourne and Isla was only too happy to show her her favourite haunts. Once on the MMU, Darcie took her breakfast to the staffroom to get handover from Sean, and instead of saying hi to the staff Isla headed straight for the quiet of her office. She was just unlocking the door when she saw Alessi walking down the corridor.

      ‘I thought you were off this weekend?’ Isla frowned.

      ‘Not any more—I got called in at four,’ Alessi said. ‘I’ve just been speaking with Donna and her husband.’

      He followed her into the office. ‘Archie had a large cerebral haemorrhage overnight. We’re taking down all the equipment and letting nature take its course. Emily is about to take them up to NICU to have some time with him.’

      ‘Oh, poor Donna …’

      ‘Poor Archie,’ Alessi said. ‘He’s such a fighter …’ And then, to Isla’s surprise, Alessi cried. Not a lot, but he’d been tired already and being called in at four to find hope had gone and sharing the news with Archie’s loving family all caught up with him and Alessi did let out a couple of tears.

      Isla just stood there, more than a touch frozen. She wasn’t very good with her own emotions, let alone dealing with Alessi’s, and her lack of response didn’t go unnoticed.

      ‘You’re much kinder to your patients when they’re upset,’ Alessi pointed out, and gave a wry smile as he gathered himself back together as Isla still stood there.

      She could cope when it was a patient; she could survive only by staying a step back. Alessi made her want to take that step forward but she just didn’t know how.

      ‘I just hate it that he had everything stacked against him. Had he been a girl he’d have been stronger,’ Alessi said. ‘Or had it been a single pregnancy at twenty-four weeks … even if he’d been the first to be born, he’d have had more of a chance, but everything that could go wrong went wrong for him.’

      ‘Maybe he’s getting to you because he’s a twin, too …’ Isla offered.

      ‘They all get to me,’ Alessi said. ‘Though Archie has more than most—he really did want to live.’ He looked at Isla. Was it exhaustion that made him be honest, or was it simply that it was her? ‘I’m not actually a twin. I was the second born of triplets, with Allegra the last. My brother was the firstborn and died when he was five days old.’

      The same age as Archie.

      ‘Is that why you’re so driven?’ Isla asked.

      ‘Oh, I’m driven now, am I?’ Alessi teased. ‘Last week you were warning me away from your staff.’

      ‘It would seem you’re both.’

      Alessi shrugged. ‘I guess. You feel you have to make up for all the opportunities that they never had.’

      She remembered the black-sheep comment that Allegra had made about Alessi, and curiosity got the better of her now for she wanted to know more about him. ‘Did your parents push you?’

      Alessi nodded. ‘You know, apparently, Geo, my brother, would never have spoken back to them. In fact, he’d be married by now and would have given them grandchildren.’

      Isla smiled.

      ‘And he wouldn’t have given up piano at fifteen or …’ Alessi shook his head. Things were moving closer to a painful part of his past than he would like, so he wrapped it up there. ‘The list goes on. I really feel for Elijah, too. If he makes it.’

      She watched as Alessi yawned. She could see he was exhausted and if it were any of her staff Isla would have told them to go home.

      ‘Shouldn’t you let Jed take over Archie’s care?’ Isla ventured, referring to the neonatologist on this weekend. ‘You’ve been here all week and you’ve got a big night tonight. Surely you need—’

      ‘What I need,’ Alessi interrupted, ‘are three things from you.’

      ‘Three