Virgin Midwife, Playboy Doctor. Margaret McDonagh

meetings since Nick had learned of Jem’s paternity had been fraught and awkward.

      ‘Would you rather I took the meeting on my own and brought you up to date on Monday?’ Chloe offered, wanting to spare her friend and colleague further distress.

      Kate shook her head. ‘No, my love, thank you. I have to face him and I’m not going to run away. I’ve known him a long time and he has his own way of dealing with things. He can be so stubborn,’ she added with a sad, resigned smile.

      ‘If there’s anything I can do…’

      ‘Actually…’ Kate straightened, a frown of consideration creasing her brow. ‘I hate to impose, but are you busy tonight?’

      ‘No, I’ve nothing special planned.’

      ‘You’re not going out with the girls?’

      Chloe shook her head. ‘Not this Friday. I’m meeting Lauren at the farmers’market tomorrow morning before my lunchtime parents’ class, then we’re getting together with Vicky in the evening. What did you have in mind?’

      ‘I think I should see Nick away from work, explain things from my point of view, and leave him to mull the situation over on his own.’ Kate paused as if uncertain of her plan. ‘It may not work, but I feel I have to try. If you don’t mind me dropping Jem off at your place for an hour or so—he does so love seeing you and playing with your cats—then I could go and talk to Nick.’

      ‘That would be fine,’ Chloe agreed as they arranged a convenient time.

      Chloe hoped Kate knew what she was doing. As the older woman had rightly said, Nick could be extremely stubborn and difficult. She didn’t want to see Kate hurt even more. Before she could express her concerns, the door swung open and Chloe saw that Kate’s surprise matched her own when it was Oliver and not Nick who walked into the room. He was carrying a tray, and Kate hurried to clear a space on the desk so he could put it down.

      ‘I brought refreshments,’ he explained with a smile, handing around mugs of tea before passing Chloe the sugar bowl and a spoon, clearly having noted her sweet tooth. She wasn’t sure what to make of that. Removing the tray, he replaced it with a biscuit tin. ‘I snaffled the last of Hazel’s Cornish fairings, too!’

      Kate smiled at him, ever gracious and polite. ‘Thank you, Oliver, this is very welcome.’

      Hooking a spare chair towards him with one foot, Oliver sat and reached for his own mug. He was far too close. Her stomach tightening, her pulse racing alarmingly, Chloe drew in a ragged a breath and battled the urge to edge her own chair further away. What was he doing here? And why did he always make her feel so strange?

      ‘Any news on Avril?’ Oliver asked, opening the tin and taking out one of the delicious ginger spiced home-made biscuits.

      ‘Yes. I was going to tell you but you were still with patients.’ Chloe bit her lip cursing her defensiveness. Oliver’s gaze met hers, a smile playing around his mouth, and she looked away, setting her mug down to mask her trembling fingers. ‘They are monitoring Avril but it is looking increasingly likely that a Caesarean will be necessary. Probably on Monday…if she remains stable over the weekend. I’ll let you know when I hear anything.’

      ‘Thanks, I’d appreciate that. Let’s hope mother and baby are both fine.’

      Chloe nodded, noting how Kate sipped her tea and glanced anxiously towards the door. Her friend met her gaze and then looked at Oliver. ‘Nick’s not coming, is he?’ she asked, undisguised hurt in her brown eyes.

      ‘No, Kate, I’m afraid he isn’t. I’m sorry.’ Oliver sounded sincere and understanding. ‘He’s asked me to stand in for him with the antenatal work for the next couple of weeks because he has extra responsibilities on the town twinning committee.’

      ‘I see.’

      Kate’s smile was strained and Chloe wasn’t sure which she wanted to do more…hug her friend or give Nick a piece of her mind. This was a public slap in the face for Kate but Chloe had to admit she had been surprised by and grateful for Oliver’s sensitivity. It sounded as if he thought Nick’s behaviour was wrong and the town twinning work an excuse, but he was polite enough not to say so. She met his warm gaze, a confused mix of emotions swirling inside her. At the moment, however, she was too worried about how Kate was feeling to concern herself with the prospect of having to work more closely with Oliver.

      With evident effort and fierce determination, Kate raised her chin. ‘Shall we get on, then? We have quite a bit to cover and I don’t want to be late home for Jem. I have plans this evening,’ she added, meeting Chloe’s gaze.

      ‘Of course,’ Chloe agreed after a moment of hesitation, still concerned at the thought of Kate going to confront Nick. ‘If you’re sure.’

      ‘Positive,’ Kate insisted firmly.

      Oliver put his mug on her desk and took out a notebook, seemingly unaware of the undercurrents. ‘OK, ladies. Be gentle with me!’ His cheeky wink made Kate smile, and for that Chloe was grateful. If only she herself didn’t feel so awkward around him.

      ‘We’ve covered Avril Harvey, one of our new patients. There’s nothing more we can do there until we hear from the hospital,’ Chloe began, opening the file and making her own notes. ‘All being well, mother and baby will come home safely in the days ahead.’

      ‘We’ll keep an eye on them for a few weeks before handing them over to the health visitors,’ Kate agreed.

      Oliver concurred. ‘Fine. Who’s next?’

      For a while they discussed their ongoing cases, including local vet, Melinda, married to GP Dragan Lovak, who was five months pregnant and maintaining excellent health.

      Kate selected the next file and filled them in on one of her cases. ‘I’m regularly seeing Stephanie Richards. All is going well with her pregnancy but she’s twenty-two and nervous about having this baby on her own. Her boyfriend left her and isn’t interested in being a father. Stephanie’s in a rented flat in Bridge Street, and there’s not much help from her own family so she needs extra support from us. Her baby is also due at the end of October—the same as Melinda’s.’

      ‘As far as potential problems are concerned, I have one mother showing signs of possible placental abruption,’ Chloe informed them, waiting while Oliver made a note of the name and details. ‘Angela Daniels had some discomfort and spotting. She was checked out at St Piran where they did an ultrasound and full blood count, plus a Kliejaur test to detect the presence of foetal red cells in maternal circulation. It was determined that the problem was mild and Angela was sent home on bed rest once the bleeding had stopped. She’s in her twenty-ninth week now.’

      ‘So we keep a close eye on her,’ Oliver commented, busy with his notebook.

      ‘Absolutely. She’s on my list and she has my pager and mobile numbers in case of an emergency.’ Chloe informed him. ‘Angela’s also having more regular checks with the consultant at the hospital. Likewise Susan Fiddick. Didn’t you see her yesterday, Kate? What is the update on her?’

      Her concern for the young woman evident, Kate referred to her file. ‘The breech was spotted at her thirty-six-week appointment and they tried to turn the baby at the hospital this week, the thirty-eighth. It wasn’t successful and the procedure was abandoned. St Piran is predicting difficulties and have offered Susan an elective Caesarean next week. However, Susan and her husband want her to have the baby at home by vaginal delivery. While we’re all for keeping things natural whenever possible, I’ve advised them to reconsider…there could be problems in the next week or two,’ Kate warned them.

      ‘We’ll give you any help you need,’ Chloe promised.

      Kate smiled. ‘Thanks. Let’s hope they make the decision for themselves. Now, what about our new babies?’

      ‘I understand there’s a detailed newborn screening programme in operation throughout the region.’ Oliver glanced up at Kate,