Midwives On-Call. Alison Roberts

      They were just so completely into each other that this conversation had only been a matter of time but Isla was grateful for the very small reprieve he had just given her.

      ‘Yes …’ She knew she should tell him there was no need for tests on her part and she would, Isla decided. She was moving closer and closer to opening up to him, just not now. Now she could feel his exhaustion, now it was so easy to be bold, to just move her lips from his mouth and kiss downwards, to hold him in her hands and feel him grow.

      For Alessi it was heaven.

      Her tentative lips did not alert him to her inexperience. Instead he just revelled in her slow explorations and the trail of her damp hair down his body.

      Isla tasted him for the first time, loved the feel of his hand on her head and the gentle pressure that pushed her deeper. Selfish was his pleasure and that she revelled in. She could feel his occasional restraint, when he tried not to thrust.

      Then there was the turn-on when he stopped trying and just gave in. The power, the feel, the taste, the rush of him coming had Isla come, too, at the intimate private pleasure, and then afterwards, feeling him relaxed and sated beside her, it was the closest she had ever felt to another person.

      And Alessi felt it, too, for there in the dark, as pleasure receded, a deeper connection flowed in as she lay in his arms.

      ‘I was wrong to accuse you of holding back when there are things that I haven’t told you.’

      Isla looked at him as he continued speaking.

      ‘Talia was pregnant.’ It was with Isla that he shared for the first time. ‘When she told me I asked her to marry me and we decided to tell our parents about the pregnancy after the wedding.’ He liked it that her face was still there, though her smile had gone, and he liked it that she didn’t ask questions. ‘We had a big dinner at the restaurant on the Saturday …’

      He tried to explain better. ‘In Greek families you establish a connection before the man asks the woman’s father, so even though we weren’t officially engaged, it was a given that it was to come. On the Wednesday Talia missed lectures. I went over to check if all was okay and it was clear she was unwell. I thought she was losing the baby. I wanted her to go to hospital but she told me there was no need …’ He watched Isla’s slight frown. ‘She told me then that she’d had an abortion that morning.’

      ‘Without telling you?’

      ‘Yep. She thought I would try to talk her out of it. She said that she wanted to have children one day but that she knew she couldn’t study to be a doctor and be a teenage mum … Alessi turned from Isla and looked back at the ceiling. ‘I get that, I understand that. I get that it was her body …’

      ‘It was your baby, though?’

      Alessi nodded and he waited and hoped for Isla to share.

      ‘Go to sleep,’ Isla said, and Alessi smiled into the darkness.

      If it took for ever he would find out what went on in that head, and then he smiled into the darkness again. ‘Jed and I have swapped. I’m working this weekend.’

      ‘But you’re already on call twice next week,’ Isla pointed out sleepily.

      ‘I know,’ Alessi said, ‘but it will be worth it to have next weekend off. You know what next weekend is?’ he checked. ‘Valentine’s Day. The anniversary of when we first met.’

      ‘And?’

      ‘I have plans for us.’

      ‘Such as?’

      ‘You’ll find out,’ he said. Yes, he’d had plans when he’d swapped the work arrangements with Jed—an intimate meal with Isla, perhaps a night in a gorgeous hotel, but right now those plans were getting bigger and he gave a wry laugh.

      ‘Hopefully it will end better than the last one.’

       CHAPTER TWELVE

      IT WAS THE promise of the weekend and the fact that her period was due that had Isla knocking on Darcie’s office door on the Monday morning.

      ‘Hi, Darcie …’

      ‘Hey, Isla.’

      ‘I was wondering …’ Isla started, but then she changed her mind. She would make an appointment with her GP, Isla decided, and turned to go. Except her period was due any time and for it to be safe she’d need to start the Pill on her first day. She also knew that she needed to have her blood pressure checked and things … So Isla took a breath. ‘Have you got a moment?’

      ‘Sure,’ Darcie said. ‘I’ve got precisely six.’ She frowned when Isla didn’t smile. ‘I’ve got all the time you need, Isla. Is everything okay?’

      ‘Oh, it’s not a biggie,’ Isla said. ‘It won’t take long. I was just wondering if you could write me a script for the Pill …’

      ‘Sure,’ Darcie said. ‘Have a seat.’

      Isla did, though again she was tempted to change her mind. ‘What do you usually take?’ Darcie asked, pulling out a blood-pressure cuff. When Isla didn’t immediately answer, Darcie said, ‘Sorry, Isla, but I’m not just going to give you a repeat without checking your blood pressure.’

      Isla nodded. She knew that Darcie was thorough and was starting to realise what a stupid idea this had been as Darcie quickly checked it. ‘All good.’ Darcie nodded. ‘So, what are you on?’

      ‘I’m not,’ Isla said.

      ‘What type of contraception do you usually use?’

      ‘Condoms,’ Isla said, and then cleared her throat.

      ‘Okay,’ Darcie answered carefully. They both knew that condoms weren’t the safest of choices.

      ‘Look, sorry, Darcie, I should have gone to my GP. I just—’

      ‘Isla, it’s fine.’ Darcie interrupted. ‘I’m not just going to write out a script, though, if it’s something that you haven’t taken before.’

      Isla nodded.

      ‘Have you any history that I should know about?’

      Isla shook her head.

      ‘Blood clots, migraines …’ She went through the list of contraindications.

      ‘Nothing.’

      ‘Good.’ Darcie smiled. ‘When did you last have a smear test?’

      Isla sat there, her cheeks on fire.

      ‘Sorry, I keep forgetting I’m in Australia,’ Darcie said into the silence. ‘When did you last have a Pap?’

      Isla had never had a Pap because she’d never been sexually active.

      ‘It’s been …’ Isla gave a tight shrug. ‘It’s been a while.’

      ‘I’m not going to tell you off for leaving it too long,’ Darcie said. ‘Let’s just get it over and done with. When is your period due?’

      ‘Today or tomorrow.’

      ‘Have you had any unprotected sex?’

      ‘No.’ Isla shook her head, but more to clear it. What the hell was she lying for? ‘Once,’ she amended. ‘But he …’ She let out a breath in embarrassment. God, no wonder the patients loathed all the questions. ‘He withdrew.’

      ‘Did you do it standing up?’ Darcie grinned as she teased. They’d both heard it all before and knew that withdrawal was far from safe.

      ‘I’m not pregnant,’ Isla said. She knew that she wasn’t—her breasts had that