The Playboy Doctor’s Surprise Proposal

Anne Fraser

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

About the Author

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Copyright

ANNE FRASER was born in Scotland, but brought up in South Africa. After she left school she returned to the birthplace of her parents, the remote Western Islands of Scotland. She left there to train as a nurse, before going on to university to study English Literature. After the birth of her first child, she and her doctor husband travelled the world, working in rural Africa, Australia and Northern Canada. Anne still works in the health sector. To relax, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, walking and travelling.

CHAPTER ONE

HE PLUCKED her out of the sea. One minute she was floundering in the water, the next she was being manhandled to shore by a stranger with bronzed muscles and nutmegcoloured eyes. It was by far the most embarrassing thing that had happened to her for as long as she could remember.

Ten minutes earlier, Caitlin had plunged into the Pacific, gasping as the cold water chased the heat of the Australian sun from her skin. She had ploughed through the water for a few moments until life had returned to her frozen limbs, then turned on her back and floated.

Her sister, Brianna, and the rest of the group were on the beach. Niall was fussing around lighting the barbecue, while Brianna relaxed with a book. The children were making sandcastles on the startingly white sand, and the sounds of their laughter drifted over to Caitlin on the perfectly still air. She could still scarcely believe that she was here in Brisbane. Months of planning followed by a forty-eight-hour journey from Dublin and finally here she was. She only wished her trip could have been made under happier circumstances. Flipping over onto her stomach, she swam for a few more minutes, then trod water. Brianna’s husband, Niall, had promised her that she was safe from sharks this close to shore, but Caitlin wasn’t going to take any chances. She’d keep the beach within easy distance.

Looking towards the shore, she could see Niall and Brianna waving to her. Without her glasses, they were slightly fuzzy shapes against the glaring white of the sand. Caitlin waved back. Just a few more minutes then she’d return to shore and help her sister with lunch.

Her stomach gave the familiar flutter of anxiety that she always experienced these days when she thought about her older sister. Although Brianna was recovering well from her treatment, the sight of her nearly bald head with the wispy tendrils of hair had brought tears to Caitlin’s eyes when she had first seen her at the airport. It had taken all her resolve not to show how shocked she was when she had hugged her sister and felt the fragile bones. Still she was here now. When she wasn’t working, she’d be around to help, at the very least offer moral support.

The next time she looked up the beach had receded. She became aware that Brianna and Niall were still waving and Caitlin waved back again. They probably wanted her back on shore.

Flipping over on her stomach once more, she struck off towards the beach. She was a good swimmer, managing twenty lengths most mornings at her local pool before she left for work. Caitlin believed that routine and discipline were essential parts of life.

Stopping for a moment, she lifted her head out of the water to check the distance to the beach. To her dismay, she didn’t seem to have made any progress. In fact, if it was possible, she appeared to have moved away from the shore and further out to sea. For the first time, Caitlin felt a flutter of anxiety. Niall had warned her about the currents but she hadn’t paid too much attention, putting his concerns down to him being an anxious brother-in-law. Now, she realised grimly that he hadn’t exaggerated. Clearly she was caught in a current that was dragging her out to sea. She felt the first flicker of real alarm.

She had read somewhere that the best thing to do was to swim across the current rather than against it. That way you’d eventually reach a point where the current would disappear. From there it should be easy to swim back.

By this time Niall had waded in up to his thighs and was gesticulating wildly. He had been joined by another figure, and although it was too far for Caitlin to see more than blurry outlines, she could see enough to know that the figure was tall, topping Niall by a good couple of inches, although her brother-in-law was no slouch in the height stakes. Caitlin had just enough time to wonder if the new figure was Andrew, her new colleague, who she’d been told was to join them for lunch, before she started swimming again.

Don’t panic, she told herself as she cut through the water. You’ve been in difficult situations before, and panicking never did anyone any good. Just swim parallel to the beach and everything will be fine. Eventually.

She had only been swimming for another couple of minutes, but already she could feel the energy sapping out of her limbs. Swimming in the safe confines of her local pool was not the same thing as swimming in the sea. If she were to make it back safely she would need to conserve her energy. She would tread water for a few moments, just long enough to get her breath back, then start swimming again. She shuddered as she saw a mass of translucent blobs float past her. That was all she needed—jellyfish. She’d been told that Australian jellyfish could be lethal, along with hundreds of other snakes, sharks, spiders and goodness knew what else that seemed to favour the continent. And Caitlin didn’t do dangerous animals. But typical of the way her luck had being going lately, she felt a sudden pain in her calf, as if she’d been stung by a thousand wasps. She cried out in pain and shock, swallowing water, and as she grabbed her leg, she felt herself go under.

She popped up again, gasping and choking. Now she was really worried. What if she had only a few minutes to live? One way or another right now her chances of survival seemed grim. At that moment she felt something touch her shoulder. What now? She twisted her body round to face this new threat and found herself looking into a pair of unfamiliar brown eyes. She guessed immediately it was the man she had seen standing with Niall.

‘I’ve always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress,’ he drawled. His wide grin made Caitlin furious. What on earth did he find amusing about her situation? Couldn’t he see she was in trouble?

‘I need to get ashore,’ she panted. ‘I’ve been stung.’ She spluttered as a wave rolled over her, forcing more salt water down her already choked-up throat.

Hands reached for her. All trace of amusement vanished. ‘Just do as I tell you and don’t fight me,’ he said, his deep voice calm. ‘Just roll over onto your back and relax. I’ll take you in.’

Caitlin hesitated. Despite her terror there was no way she was going to be dragged ashore like so much flotsam.

‘Or, so help me, I’ll knock you out if I have to,’ he threatened as if he read her mind.

The hardness in his tone made Caitlin realise he was deadly serious. He would knock her out—she didn’t doubt him for a second! The last thing she had the strength for was a brawl. And she did need help. Her leg was agonising and she was finding it difficult to breathe. Giving up all pretence of being able to get herself out of her predicament, she rolled over on her back and let herself float. She felt firm hands grasp either side of her head, and then she was being tugged towards the shore.

It could have only taken a few minutes but, exhausted and mortified, it felt like hours to Caitlin before she was being helped up the beach and onto a blanket. She dropped to her knees while Brianna dropped a towel around her shoulders.

‘My God, Cat. Are you all right?’ Brianna pressed a tumbler of water to her lips and Caitlin drank the liquid gratefully, washing away the taste of sea water. Over her sister’s shoulder, Caitlin was conscious of the curious gazes of her niece and nephew. She shivered, trying to catch her breath, acutely aware how close she had come to being swept out to sea. Her rescuer knelt beside her and to her consternation gently lifted her calf and examined the place where she had been stung. Caitlin had the briefest impression of broad shoulders the colour of toffee and thick black hair.

‘How’s her leg, Andrew?’ Niall asked, sounding concerned.

‘It’ll be okay. As soon as I get some vinegar on it.’ Caitlin’s embarrassment deepened. So she’d been right. The man who had been forced to come after her to bring her ashore as if she were some helpless female was her new colleague. Dr Andrew Bedi. What a way to make a good first impression, she berated herself. He must think her all kinds of an idiot.

‘I’ve got some vinegar in the boot of my car. If you could fetch it, Niall?’ Andrew continued. He turned to Caitlin and smiled sympathetically. ‘They’re always getting me. It will sting like crazy for a while, but I don’t think there’s any lasting damage. You’re lucky that you got stung by these babies. Now, if it had been the ones up north, you’d really be in trouble.’ He raised his eyes to Caitlin’s and once again she was aware of the intensity of his gaze. She felt a tingle in her leg, but whether it was from the feel of his hands or the shock of her recent experience, she didn’t want to know. He was tall, at least six feet four, with short black hair. He was only wearing Bermuda shorts and Caitlin was acutely aware of his bronzed, muscular chest. Deep brown eyes, framed by impossibly thick lashes, glinted as if he found the whole world amusing. His features were perfectly sculpted, high cheekbones and a full, generous mouth. People might have called him beautiful, if it weren’t for his nose, which looked as if it had been broken and badly set. He was simply by far the sexiest man Brianna had ever seen—and she was to be working with him!

‘Did no one warn you not to go too far out?’ he said, frowning at her. Although he looked as if he was of Indian descent, his accent was Australian.

Caitlin prickled at the disapproval in his voice. She wasn’t used to people telling her off. ‘Yes. But I didn’t notice how far the current had taken me until it was too late.’ Caitlin pulled her leg out of his grasp, annoyed. Okay, so he’d had to rescue her, that was embarrassing and she owed him, but there was no need for him to talk to her as if she were a naughty child. ‘Thank you for helping me out. I am very grateful…’ She was aware that she sounded less than appreciative, but she desperately wanted to regain some dignity as quickly as possible. She wasn’t used to feeling at a disadvantage, as if she was in the wrong. ‘And I can promise you, I will never ever put myself, or any one else, in that position again. Okay?’ She tried a smile and tugged her leg from his grasp. It was still stinging like hell, but she would just have to grit her teeth until the pain subsided.

‘Oh, Caitlin,’ Brianna was saying as Niall returned carrying a large brown leather bag. ‘You gave us all such a fright.’

Caitlin hugged her sister. ‘I’m sorry, sis. Particularly seeing as it’s me that’s supposed to be watching out for you.’

‘Anyway, all’s well that ends well,’ Andrew said, taking the bag from Niall. After hunting around for a few moments, he pulled out a bottle and a dressing. He reached for Caitlin’s leg once more and propped it on his knees. Caitlin was deeply aware of the heat of his skin on hers. Once again there was that tingle. Dismayed, she tried to pull her leg away again. Equally determined, he pulled it back and held it there with a steel-like grip. Caitlin gave up, knowing that if she entered into a tug of war with this man she was likely to come out the loser, and would look even sillier than she felt right now.

He glanced up at her and Caitlin could see laughter in his deep brown eyes. ‘Just do as you’re told for a few minutes,’ he drawled. ‘Brianna did warn me that you were a stubborn woman. Goes with the red hair, I guess.’ He looked from Brianna to Caitlin. They both had auburn hair—or at least until Brianna’s had fallen out as a side effect of her treatment. But where Brianna’s hair had been a mass of curls, Caitlin wore hers longer, tamed into a silky curtain of thick waves. But adding to her discomfort, Caitlin was conscious that as her hair dried in the heat of the sun it was beginning to frizz. At the moment she was as far away from the sleek professional she liked to present to the world as was possible.

‘I did not!’ Brianna protested. ‘I said she was determined—not stubborn.’

‘Well I guess we both know who the other is, then,’ Caitlin said, feeling ridiculous as she held out her hand. She in her bikini, frizzing hair plastered to her scalp, her leg in the lap of her colleague and now here she was holding out her hand as if they had just met at some cocktail party. It was so ludicrous she had to smile.

‘Dr Caitlin O’Neill,’ she said with a grin.

He stopped what he was doing for a moment and engulfed her hand in his. ‘Dr Andrew Bedi. At your service.’ Then he too smiled. The effect was devastating. His teeth were a flash of white against the darkness of his skin, his dancing eyes crinkled at the corners. He really was the most incredible-looking man. Caitlin’s pulse, which had been beginning to resume its normal rhythm, uncomfortably started pounding again.

Eventually, having dressed her leg, he placed it back on the blanket. ‘It’ll feel a little bruised,’ he said, ‘and might be sore for a day or two, but that’s all. You’ve been lucky. If it had been one of the brutes up the coast a bit that had stung you, you’d have been a goner for sure.’

Caitlin shuddered, her gaze shifting to the clear blue Pacific. There was no way she was going back in there unless she was sure it was perfectly safe. Once stung twice shy.

‘I think we should go back to the house,’ Niall said. ‘And have our barbie there. Andrew, if you could take the girls, I’ll follow with the kids once I’ve packed up here.’

‘Please don’t,’ Caitlin said. ‘I don’t want to spoil everyone’s day. If Andrew thinks my leg is okay, we should just carry on as if nothing has happened. C’mon, Niall. Please. I don’t want to spoil it for everyone.’

‘Yes, Daddy. Let’s stay,’ Caitlin’s nephew, Ciaran, begged. ‘We haven’t been down to the beach since Mummy got sick. And Siobhan and I have only half finished our castle.’

Caitlin was stricken with remorse. She was supposed to be here to help make things easier for the family. Now it looked as if she had ruined their first proper day out.

‘I insist we stay,’ she said firmly. ‘Brianna and I will lie on the blanket here and chat. We still need to catch up properly. And as Andrew said, my leg will be perfectly fine.’

‘Yippee,’ Siobhan yelled in delight. ‘Uncle Andrew was going to show us his tricks on his board. Now he can.’ Now the drama was over, the little girl flung herself at Andrew, who pretended to be knocked over. He fell back in the sand, taking Siobhan with him. Seconds later, Ciaran had jumped on top of him too. Andrew seemed used to this behaviour. After a few minutes of horseplay he picked up Siobhan and threw her over his shoulder.

‘C’mon, then. You kids can help me get my board set up. Your dad has to help too.’

As the two men walked away, two excited children off their shoulders, Brianna turned to Caitlin.

‘Well, what do you think?’ she said, her green-grey eyes twinkling.

‘About what?’ Caitlin replied, although she knew full well what her sister meant.

Brianna smacked Caitlin playfully on the shoulder.

‘About Andrew, of course.’

‘What about him? He seems very nice. Rescuing me and all that. Very civil of him,’ Caitlin said dryly.

‘C’mon, Cat,’ Brianna said warningly. ‘Don’t you think he’s gorgeous?’

‘I suppose some people would think he’s good looking,’ Caitlin replied slowly, studiously ignoring her sister’s look of incredulity. ‘But he’s a bit Crocodile Dundee for my liking.’

‘I don’t believe you don’t find him sexy as hell,’ Brianna retorted. ‘Every single woman I have ever seen meet him gets that same ga-ga look as you have. It’s written all over your face.’

‘Okay.’ Caitlin laughed. ‘He’s a hunk. But he’s so not my type.’

Her sister sighed. ‘Just as well, I suppose, because I hate to tell you, sis, you haven’t a hope as far as Dr Andrew Bedi is concerned.’

Caitlin popped a sun hat on her head and scrabbled around for her glasses. The world swam back into focus. Andrew, Niall and the two children had returned to the beach carrying a board and a sail. It looked like a windsurfing board to Caitlin, although she wasn’t an expert. Andrew had pulled on a wetsuit over his Bermuda shorts and the fabric clung to his body, emphasising his height and muscular build.

‘Why do you say that?’ Caitlin asked. ‘Not that I’m remotely interested, of course.’ The two sisters shared a smile. ‘You know me, Bri, I’m much too happy with my life as it is to want to get involved. Men and kids aren’t part of the plan. Not for a few years anyway. But I’m a bit offended that you think I haven’t a chance. What makes you think he’s so out of my league?’

Caitlin had never really thought about whether men found her attractive. She had been happy with David for the last few years and, until a few weeks ago, had thought that one day they would marry. Undemanding and not the least bit resentful of the time she spent at work, they had rubbed along well enough. And if it hadn’t been the most exciting relationship, at least it had been comfortable. However, Caitlin had been surprised at how easily they had parted when she’d told him she was coming to Brisbane for six months. David had told her that she was mad to jeopardise her career just when it was really taking off. But to Caitlin there was no competition. Her sister needed her and that was that. They had split up with surprisingly little regret on either side.

‘Oh, you’ll find out about Andrew in good time. But let’s just say he’s a man who likes women and seems determined to have as much fun with as many as possible before settling down—if he ever does. And you, my darling sister, are far too serious for a fun-loving guy like him.’

Caitlin let out a low whistle, then wrinkled her nose disapprovingly. She looked over to the water’s edge. Niall and Andrew had rigged the sail on the board and were pointing it towards the sea. Then with a push of his foot, Andrew was on the water and heading out away from the shore. Within seconds he was racing across the sea. With her glasses back in place, Caitlin could see him attach something that looked like a rope to the sail and then, as he leant back, the board seemed to leap forward, skimming over the waves. Within minutes he was a speck on the horizon.

‘No, you’re right. Men like Andrew have never appealed to me. If I marry, it will be to someone who likes the same things I do. Someone solid and steady.’

‘Someone boring, you mean. Like David. That didn’t work very well either.’ Brianna laughed.

Brianna had met David on the one occasion she and her family had come back to Ireland for a visit to show off the children to their mother when Ciaran had been two. Caitlin realised that they had never discussed David. She’d assumed Brianna had liked him. Everyone did.

‘Hey, you never said you didn’t like David. I thought you two hit it off.’

‘I didn’t say I didn’t like him, Cat. I just never thought he was right for you. If you ask me, he squeezed the fun right out of everything. You two were like a couple who had been married for years. You never really struck me as two people in love.’

Caitlin was taken aback. She’d had no idea that Brianna had thought that. But she was right. She had never felt anything more than a deep fondness for David.

‘Ah, excitement and passion. Surely that fizzles out in time anyway? Isn’t that why marriages fail? Once it’s gone, couples are left with nothing to say to each other,’ she said. But a tiny bit of her, a side she didn’t care to acknowledge too often, wondered what it would be like to experience an all-consuming passion. She pushed the thought away. She was a scientist, and scientists were ruled by their heads—not their hearts.

Brianna looked at her sharply. ‘Maybe you and Andrew have more in common than I thought. But, love Andrew as I do, I would advise any sane woman to keep her distance, particularly someone like you, who would have no idea how to handle a man like him.’

‘Don’t worry, Bri. By the sound of it, he is not my type either.’ Caitlin felt a momentary stab of regret. Dismayed at her reaction, she shook her head. Good looking he may be, but her sister was right. Even if she were interested in a relationship so soon after David, the last man on earth she would be interested in would be Andrew Bedi. She didn’t think men like him still existed in this day and age. She picked up a tube of sun block, keen to change the subject. ‘Fancy putting some on my shoulders?’

Brianna smiled. ‘Oh, Cat, I’m so glad you’re here. I know I told you not to come, but now that you’re here, I’m so happy.’ Her voice shook slightly.

‘You know I would have been here sooner if I could.’ Caitlin took Brianna’s cool hand in hers. ‘If you hadn’t convinced me not to come. Shouldn’t I have believed you?’

‘But I was fine. After all, I had Niall—and Mammy.’ The two sisters shared a smile. Although they loved their mother dearly, they both agreed she could be a bit much after a while. Mrs O’Neill insisted on treating her daughters as if they were still about twelve years old and incapable of managing without her. ‘I have to admit, Cat, that I was glad when she told me she had to go back home to Dad. She fussed so much, it drove me mad. She would never have agreed to go back to Ireland if you hadn’t been coming out.’

Caitlin could only imagine how much her mother had fussed over Bri. Since her elder daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer, their mother had been determined that Brianna wouldn’t face her illness alone. If it weren’t for the fact that her three sons were needed back home to help on the horse farm their parents owned, Caitlin was sure that their mother would have ordered her whole brood to Australia. Strapping young men though her brothers were, they were no match for Mrs O’Neill when she made up her mind about something.

‘I should have come sooner, Bri,’ Caitlin said softly. ‘I can’t believe it’s been three years since we saw each other! Why on earth did we leave it so long?’

The sisters shared a look. Why had they left it so long? They had always been close, and when Brianna and Niall had decided to emigrate to Australia, they had promised each other that they would visit at least every couple of years. But it hadn’t worked out like that. Apart from that one visit to Ireland three years ago, Brianna hadn’t made it back. And Caitlin had never managed to come to Australia. Work had always got in the way.

But then, three months ago, Brianna had phoned with the devastating news that she had discovered a lump in her breast. A biopsy had confirmed their worst fears. It was cancer. Caitlin wanted to fly to her sister’s side immediately, but her mother and Brianna had persuaded her to wait and apply for a sabbatical. That way her career wouldn’t suffer while she was away. Indeed, having secured a post at the prestigious Brisbane hospital, there was every chance her career would be helped by her time in Australia.

Despite being pleased at the way it had worked out and delighted to be in Australia with her sister at last, Caitlin wished the circumstances had been different. She couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if Brianna didn’t get better. Caitlin shook her head to get rid of the negative thoughts. They all had to remain positive and believe that Brianna would make a full recovery.

‘If it hadn’t taken so long to arrange the work visa, I would have come as soon as I heard. Or at least been here to help you through more of the chemo.’

Brianna reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘You’re here now and that’s what matters.’ Caitlin saw the tears in her sister’s eyes before she could blink them away. ‘You know we have Andrew to thank for getting you the job,’ Brianna continued.

‘It seems that I’m in his debt quite a bit,’ Caitlin said reluctantly. She hated being beholden to people.

Both women turned their gaze seaward. Niall and the children were finishing off the sandcastle. Out at sea, Caitlin caught her breath as Andrew and his board somersaulted into the air, turning over before landing and shooting along the water.

‘What is he doing?’ Caitlin asked, impressed. ‘I’ve never seen anyone windsurf like that before.’

‘It’s called kite boarding,’ Brianna replied. ‘It’s a bit like windsurfing, but with tricks. Andrew’s very good. He’s been trying to teach Niall, but it’s not as easy as it looks.’

‘It doesn’t look easy at all,’ Caitlin said as Andrew did another series of flips. ‘What happens if he crashes?’

‘He crashes fairly often.’ Her sister laughed. ‘But it doesn’t put him off. He just climbs back on, and away he goes again.’

The two women watched in silence for a while.

‘He says the Queensland Royal is delighted to have someone of your calibre there even for six months. It was good luck that one of the specialists wanted to spend time in the UK. I guess you’ll see a fair bit of Andrew at the hospital.’

Caitlin knew she would. As a specialist obstetrician she would be working a lot with the paediatricians, of whom Andrew was one. She wondered what kind of doctor he was. An image of him lounging around flirting with the nurses and female doctors flashed across her mind. She felt unreasonably disappointed. She had no time for doctors who didn’t take their work seriously. However, it was none of her business.

The sun had dried her damp skin and she slipped on her sundress. She stood, wincing slightly at the stab of pain in her calf.

‘It’s getting late, and everyone’s bound to be getting hungry. Shall we go back to the house and make the salads?’ When Caitlin had seen where her sister and her family lived she had been gobsmacked. Their house, an enormous lowslung affair, was perched on a hill just a few metres from the beach they were sitting on. It had several rooms, a hot tub and an infinity pool and views out over the sea. She had known her brother-in-law was doing well but had had no idea his fledgling business had been so successful.

‘Good idea,’ Brianna said, unwinding her long legs. ‘I’ll call Niall to start the steaks.’

‘No need to disturb him,’ Caitlin countered. ‘We can put them on when we get back.’

‘A word of warning, sis,’ Brianna said, laughing. ‘Men out here take their barbies seriously. Women are allowed to make the side dishes, but that’s it. The cooking of the meat is a man’s job.’

Caitlin laughed, then, seeing Brianna was perfectly serious, stopped. ‘Fine by me. You know I hate cooking anyway. Salads are about my limit. If the men want to cook, more power to them.’

By the time the two women returned with salads and rolls, Niall and Andrew were by the fire, flipping burgers and steaks. As the smell tickled her nostrils, Caitlin realised she was starving. She had taken a couple of minutes back at the house to have a shower to rinse the sand out of her hair and off her body, and a little longer to blow-dry her hair, returning it to its smooth waves. She had tied it back in a ponytail to prevent the breeze that had whipped up from blowing it into her eyes and finally had changed into a pair of lightweight trousers and T-shirt. Impulsively, without examining her motives too closely, she applied some lip gloss in the lightest shade of pink. Putting her glasses back on, she looked at her reflection and wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. Not normally concerned with make-up, for the first time ever Caitlin wished she took more time and care with her appearance. To impress Dr Bedi? a small voice niggled at the back of her mind. Caitlin dismissed the thought immediately. Definitely not! she told herself. The important thing was that she felt and looked in control once more. Back to Dr O’Neill, obstetrician and consummate professional.

When she returned to the beach, the scent of cooking meat was drifting tantalisingly on the slight afternoon breeze. The two men seemed to be taking their cooking duties very seriously, Caitlin thought, amused as she heard them discuss whether a steak needed more marinade. Andrew had turned his wetsuit down to his hips, revealing his muscular chest. Despite herself, Caitlin felt her eyes travel over his torso, admiring the tautness of his abdomen and the defined muscles of his chest. Andrew turned, as if sensing her approving look, and caught Caitlin’s eye before she could look away. He winked and she felt herself grow flustered again. Damn the man, she thought crossly.

‘How’s the leg?’ he asked innocently.

‘As you predicted, it feels a bit bruised, but otherwise fine. Thanks again. I feel such an idiot.’

‘Australia can take a bit of getting used to. I’m sure once you’ve been here a bit longer you’ll know what’s safe and what isn’t. The coast here has some fantastic beaches, as you will see, but you have to be very careful about where you swim.’

Niall heaped food onto plates and everyone helped themselves to salads and buttered rolls. Niall had set up a table and chairs under the shade of an orange bougainvillea and as Caitlin ate she breathed in the tang of sea air. For the first time in months she felt energised. There was something about being here that made her realise how boring her well ordered life back in Ireland had become. As if he’d read her thoughts, Andrew turned to Caitlin.

‘I understand you’ve been working at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Dublin for the last few years. Your colleagues must think highly of you. From what I hear, it’s very difficult to get accepted onto the permanent staff there. And you couldn’t be more than, what—thirty?’

Caitlin flushed under his frank scrutiny. Did he think after what had happened that she was some airhead who had managed to secure her position because of who she knew rather than on her own merits? Little did he know what sacrifices she’d had to make to earn her position.

‘Caitlin is being considered for a chair in obstetrics there,’ Brianna said proudly. ‘If she gets it, she’ll be one of the youngest professors in the country.’

Catching Andrew’s raised eyebrow and look of amusement, Caitlin cringed at her sister’s unembarrassed boasting.

‘My sister-in-law is a bit of a workaholic,’ Niall added through mouthfuls of salad. ‘She never stops. We’ve asked her to come and visit us many times since we moved here, but she’s refused to take time off from work.’ He smiled to show Caitlin there was no malice behind his words. He of all people knew what getting the chair in obstetrics meant to Caitlin. It seemed as if all the years of hard work were about to pay off. Not that she was there yet, but the position was within her reach. As long as she kept focussed and continued to spend her few spare hours working on publishing papers. As she thought back to her hectic life in Dublin, she appreciated for the first time just how exhausted working the hours she had, had made her. Perhaps her time here would help recharge her batteries, not that she expected an easy time of it at the Queensland Royal. Far from it. She intended to apply herself to the post here with exactly the same dedication she applied to all her jobs. At least she didn’t have any research on the go at the moment. Any spare time she had here would be spent with Brianna. Of that, Caitlin was determined.

‘Andrew works pretty hard too.’ Brianna joined in the conversation, having returned from sorting the children out with food.

‘Ah, yes, but he also plays hard,’ her husband said mischievously. ‘Where you get the energy is beyond me. I am far too exhausted after a day’s work to do anything except read the paper and potter.’

‘But you have a wife and family to keep you busy,’ Andrew replied. Caitlin wasn’t sure but she thought she heard a note of envy in his voice. ‘Once I’ve finished work I’m free to do what I want.’

‘Lucky devil,’ Niall said, but as he smiled at his wife, Caitlin knew that he wouldn’t swap what he had for the world.

By the time they had finished eating the sun was beginning to drop, turning the sky red-gold. Niall and Andrew, helped by the children, started packing up the barbecue. Caitlin sneaked a look at her sister. She looked tired. The circles under her eyes had deepened. Caitlin felt a pang of anxiety. ‘Are you sure you’re up to socializing, Bri?’ she said. ‘Shouldn’t you be taking it easy? I could have waited and met Andrew when I started work. Probably would have been better anyway. God knows what impression he has of me. Not that I care,’ she added hastily, catching her sister’s amused look.

‘I wouldn’t call having Andrew over as socialising,’ Brianna protested. ‘He’s part of the family—he’s Ciaran’s godfather after all.’ She smiled briefly then grew serious. ‘Brianna, you must listen to me. As soon as I was diagnosed, I made up my mind. I’m going to carry on as normal whenever I can. For the children’s sake, if nothing else. I’m a bit tired, but as long as I rest whenever I can, I cope.’ Caitlin could see the determination in the green eyes which were so like her own. ‘I wouldn’t have let you come at all if it hadn’t been for the job. Love you as I do, the last thing I need is you fussing over me all the time like Mammy. Caitlin, I need you to support me on this and not fuss. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ Caitlin agreed reluctantly. ‘Whatever you say. But I’m here to help whenever you need me. You just have to let me know. Promise?’

Back at the house a little later, Caitlin insisted on clearing up while Brianna went to organise the children for bed.

‘I could put the children to bed if you like after I finish clearing away. You have an early night.’ Catching the warning look her sister threw her, Caitlin raised her hands. ‘I’m not fussing, honestly, Bri. It’s just that I’m still on Irish time and suddenly wide awake. No doubt it’ll hit me for six soon, but in the meantime, let me help.’

‘I’m putting my children to bed,’ Brianna said firmly, ‘but if you want to clean the kitchen, be my guest.’

As she was stacking the dishwasher in her sister’s enormous American-style kitchen, Andrew appeared, carrying some plates. Caitlin had assumed he’d left.

‘Has Brianna gone to bed?’ he asked, laying the dirty dishes on the granite worktop.

‘She’s seeing to the children,’ Caitlin replied. ‘Is Niall still outside?’

Andrew shook his head. ‘He must be helping to put the children to bed. I should be going too.’

‘How does Bri seem to you?’ Caitlin asked anxiously. ‘You know her well, I understand.’

Andrew looked at her sympathetically. ‘She was—is—the best paediatric nurse I ever worked with. We really missed her when she stopped working to look after the kids, and then this…’ He shook his head. ‘But you know your sister better than I do. If anyone can beat it, she can. And I know how pleased both of them are to have you here.’

It must have been tiredness, but suddenly Caitlin felt a lump in her throat. In many ways she wished it had been her, not Brianna, who had been diagnosed. After all, it wasn’t as if she had a young family depending on her. She swallowed furiously. Caitlin O’Neill did not show her emotions. Not publicly and certainly not in front of a man she barely knew and who was to be a colleague.

Andrew must have noticed. He patted her shoulder awkwardly. ‘They found it early enough, you know. She’s really very lucky. Everything is going to be fine.’

Caitlin wasn’t convinced. But she was here and would ensure that her sister got through the next few months as painlessly as possible.

‘Brianna tells me you’re a paediatrician,’ Caitlin said, keen to get the conversation onto neutral ground.

‘Yep, for my sins,’ he replied.

She flicked the kettle on. ‘Would you like some coffee before you go?’

‘Sure,’ he said.

Caitlin looked around for where Brianna kept the mugs. Behind her Andrew reached over her to the top cupboard. For a moment she was imprisoned between him and the worktop. Acutely conscious of the heat of his body, she felt her heart begin to thud. She would have given anything to move away from him, but that would have only drawn attention to the awkwardness she felt. Thankfully, as soon as he had grabbed two mugs, he stepped away. He spooned coffee into the mugs, and then held out the jug of milk and raised one eyebrow in question.

Once their coffee was poured, Andrew sat at the kitchen table and stretched his long legs in front of him. ‘Tell me about you,’ he said, looking at her intently. At that moment Caitlin felt as if her world had shrunk to the kitchen and him and her. Every nerve in her body seemed to be tingling in response to him. She couldn’t remember when she’d last had such an immediate reaction to a man. No, strike that. She couldn’t remember ever having had a reaction like this to a man. It wasn’t just his dark good looks, although he was pretty hot, it was the aura that surrounded him. As if he was pulling her into his magnetic field and she was powerless to resist.

‘There’s not much to tell,’ Caitlin said, desperate for him not to see how he was affecting her. ‘I am Irish—but you know that,’ she said as his mouth quirked. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, well, since about twelve anyway. I have three older brothers, whom I love but drive me mad. My mum and dad breed horses. That’s about it. What about you?’

‘I’m an only child.’ For a moment a shadow darkened his eyes. ‘My parents are from India, they’re retired and live in Sydney. They came here years ago. I was born here but they’re still pretty traditional. I didn’t know what I wanted to do until my final year at school, but I know I made the right decision to become a doctor. I like all watersports, but am useless on a horse. Anything else you’d like to know?’ He grinned at her. Caitlin wondered if he too felt the electricity that was fizzing around them.

‘Hey, you started this,’ Caitlin rejoined. ‘The question-and-answer session, that is…’ Oh, dear, what if he thought she meant something else?

Suddenly he frowned, then got to his feet. Caitlin looked up to find him towering above her. What had she said to cause the change? One minute he’d seemed relaxed, the next…as if he wanted nothing more than to get away from her as quickly as possible. A thought struck her. Did he think she was flirting with him? Did he think she had misread friendly interest for something else? She felt her toes curl with embarrassment. She stood too, feeling dwarfed by his size.

‘I’ll pick you up on Monday morning and take you in to the hospital if you like,’ Andrew offered. ‘I can give you the lowdown on the way in.’

Caitlin smiled at him gratefully. ‘I’d appreciate that,’ she said. ‘Niall has said I’m welcome to use one of their cars whenever I need to, but I’m not sure I can find my way on the first day. I’ve a hopeless sense of direction. Oh, and thanks again for arranging the job for me.’

Andrew looked down at her and smiled. ‘As I said, no sweat. It’ll be great to have you. We’re all looking forward to seeing the renowned Dr O’Neill in action. I’ll see you on Monday.’

‘No pressure, then,’ Caitlin mouthed at his retreating back.

As Andrew pulled away from the house and headed towards the freeway that would take him home, he let out a low whistle. Dr Caitlin O’Neill was nothing like he’d imagined. He didn’t know what he had expected when he’d offered to help by organising a job out for Brianna’s sister. He was thinking about another doctor—a colleague—that was all. But when he had literally fished her out of the sea, he had been immediately struck by her stunning good looks. That incredible hair and those eyes! Although similar in colour to Brianna’s, Caitlin’s eyes had an intensity that reminded him of a cat pinning its prey. He laughed out loud at the image. Recalling the feeling of the silky-smooth skin under his fingertips, he almost groaned. This was a woman he would like in his bed. Not marriage—no, never that—but an affair. And why not? She looked like the kind of woman whose heart would be difficult to break.

CHAPTER TWO

CAITLIN dressed carefully for work on Monday. She knew that Australian hospitals were less formal than Irish ones, especially given the heat, but she wanted to create the right impression. She chose a floaty skirt that, while cool, still looked smart and teamed it with a short-sleeved white blouse. She twisted her hair into a chignon and then she was ready.

Breakfast was a far rowdier affair than Caitlin was used to. Living alone, she was used to a quiet breakfast with the paper, not this hive of activity. How could such small children make such a racket and how could Brianna think straight with all the noise?

Niall collected his briefcase and slung an overnight bag over his shoulder. He kissed his wife and sister-in-law goodbye. ‘I’ll be back on Friday,’ he told Brianna. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right?’

‘Go on, you big softy.’ His wife pushed him towards the door. ‘I’ve Caitlin here if I need anything—which I won’t.’ As husband and wife smiled at each other Caitlin felt a pang. What would it feel like to be loved like that? she wondered. Not that she really wanted to find out, she reminded herself. She liked her uncomplicated life back in Dublin exactly the way it was. She had work, loads of friends and plenty of hobbies to keep her busy. The last thing she needed in her life were complications, and if ever she wondered whether she was leading the right life, she just thought about her mother. Although she loved her mother fiercely, her whole life had been taken up with bringing up her large family of three boys and two girls. Caitlin had never seen her mother do anything just for herself. That wasn’t the life Caitlin had mapped out for herself.

She had just finished breakfast when she heard a toot from the driveway. Looking out, she saw Andrew had arrived in a sports car. He jumped over the door and came to meet her. Unlike on Saturday, he was dressed more formally, in a white shirt and light-coloured chinos. He looked fresh cool and very handsome. He opened the door for her with a flourish.

‘Your carriage awaits,’ he said.

‘Why, thank you, sir,’ Caitlin quipped back. ‘You are too kind.’

Soon they were leaving the leafy suburbs behind and were on the freeway. As he drove, Andrew pointed out various landmarks so that Caitlin would find her way the next day. They crossed a bridge, passing modern skyscrapers. Everything seemed as different from Ireland, with its green rolling countryside and the Georgian architecture of Dublin, as it could be.

‘What do you think so far?’ he asked.

‘Apart from the heat? I think it’s wonderful,’ Caitlin answered.

‘It’s not just the beaches, although you have to admit they are the best in the world. The Sunshine Coast is an hour to the north and the Gold Coast about the same distance south. We do some outreach work in both areas, so you’ll get a chance to see them.’

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Caitlin replied, gripping onto her seat as Andrew passed a car. Catching her nervous look, he laughed. ‘Hey, don’t worry. You’re in safe hands.’

Caitlin smiled weakly in response. ‘Tell me about the hospital,’ she said.

By the time they had pulled up in front of the Queensland Royal, Andrew had given her a brief overview of how the medical system in Australia worked. He was a specialist paediatrician, which Caitlin already knew, and had a special interest in heart problems in neonates. The hospital was a gleaming, modern affair, all glass and stainless steel. Andrew told Caitlin that it had some of the best facilities in Australia.

As they got out of the car, an ambulance pulled up, its lights flashing. A trio of nurses was waiting at the entrance, ready to receive the casualties. Caitlin and Andrew were about to leave them to it when a nurse noticed his arrival.

‘Could you hold on a minute, Dr Bedi?’ she said. ‘We might need you.’

Unsure where to go, Caitlin watched as the patient was unloaded. Immediately she could see that it was a woman in advanced pregnancy. From the look of distress on her face, it appeared she was in labour. Suddenly she felt her reflexes kick in. She moved towards the group, making a rapid judgement.

‘Mrs Roland is in the end stage of labour,’ the paramedic intoned. ‘She was due to have her baby at home, but the midwife felt that labour wasn’t progressing quickly enough and decided to call us. The baby’s heartbeat has dropped.’

‘I’m Dr O’Neill,’ Caitlin introduced herself. ‘One of the obstetricians. Let’s get her inside so we can assess her.’

Once inside Caitlin carried out a rapid examination of the woman. It only took her a few seconds to realise that the placenta was lying in front of the baby. It was something that every obstetrician came across on a regular basis. Nevertheless, if they didn’t get the baby delivered there was a chance the woman would bleed to death. In every country there were several maternal deaths every year due to the condition. There was no time to lose. Every second counted if they were to save the woman and her unborn child. ‘Placenta praevia,’ she said. ‘She needs to go to Theatre immediately.’

‘I’ll tell Theatre to expect us,’ one of the nurses said, turning towards the phone.

‘I’ll scrub in too,’ Andrew said. Even if they managed to get the baby delivered safely there was every chance it might need resuscitating. ‘C’mon, Caitlin, let’s go.’

Caitlin struggled to keep up with his long strides as they rushed towards Theatre. A nurse handed her some scrubs and clogs and she scrubbed up beside Andrew, mentally counting off the minutes.

‘Right in at the deep end,’ Andrew said sympathetically. ‘We didn’t even manage to get you up to the ward.’

By the time they were scrubbed and gowned, Mrs Roland had been anesthetised and was lying prepped on the theatre table.

Caitlin cut into the abdomen from left to right just above the pubic bone. As the skin separated, she made another incision into the uterus, careful not to damage the precious contents. As she pulled the baby out, she glanced at the clock. Ten minutes had passed since the patient had arrived at the hospital. She was pleased to see none of her speed had deserted her.

The baby, a little boy, was slightly floppy and blue. Caitlin handed him to the midwife, who rushed the baby across to the resuscitator.

‘He’s a bit flat,’ the midwife called out. As Caitlin started to close she was aware of the tension in the room. Andrew needed to get oxygen into the baby, and soon. Across the woman’s abdomen she watched as he tipped the baby’s head back gently before slipping in a paediatric endotracheal tube, feeling his way through the larynx and into the lungs. Then he attached an ambu-bag and started feeding oxygen into the tiny lungs. Every movement he made was calm and assured, and this fed into the atmosphere of the theatre. There was no panic. Everyone was simply going about their jobs quietly and efficiently. Caitlin was impressed. She guessed the team had worked together many times before.’

‘Heart rate 140 and he’s a good colour now,’ Andrew announced to the room to a collective sigh of relief. ‘I think baby is going to be fine. We’ll get them up to Special Care, but I think we should be able to reunite mother and baby quite soon.’

‘Maybe not tonight,’ Caitlin said. ‘I’ll want to keep an eye on her in the labour ward overnight, in case of postpartum haemorrhage.’

While the baby was being taken away to the special care nursery, accompanied by the paediatric nurse and Andrew, Caitlin finished closing the wound. She felt a trickle of perspiration run down her forehead and was grateful when one of the nurses wiped it away. Once Mrs Roland had woken from the anaesthetic, she would see her and let her know what was happening. She was pleased that her first case had gone well—not that she doubted her ability, but Caitlin knew that sometimes even straightforward cases could suddenly go wrong.

After she had finished in Theatre, she asked one of the nurses to take her to Special Care. She wanted to check on the baby before she spoke to the mother.

She found Andrew bending over the infant, listening to its chest. He looked up at her, his deep brown eyes warm. ‘He’s going to be fine, I think,’ he said. ‘We’ll know better in a few days. You did a good job back there.’

Caitlin looked around the small high-tech unit. It reminded her of the one back in Dublin, but she guessed that there was a uniformity with all hospitals in the Western world. There were five babies in at the moment, with anxious parents sitting by their incubators. Her heart went out to them. It must be so hard to feel so helpless, to know that the life of your child depended on the doctors and nurses.

Having finished examining the baby she had recently delivered, and announcing himself satisfied for the time being, Andrew suggested he show her around.

‘We have around four thousand deliveries a year here,’ he said. ‘We get difficult cases from quite far away. The air ambulance brings mothers and kids in on a regular basis. You might like to go out with the team some time.’

‘I’d love to,’ Caitlin said enthusiastically. ‘I’ve never been on anything like it before. I guess in a country of this size, it happens a lot.’

‘Often enough,’ Andrew said. ‘We take turns being on call for the air ambulance. I’ll rota you in for the same time as me. Okay?’

At Caitlin’s nod he went on. ‘I’ll take you up to Personnel. I know you sent all your paperwork in advance, but there may be one or two pieces they need from you. After that I’ll give you the tour.’

After she’d completed the necessary paperwork, Andrew introduced her to the midwives and doctors she’d be working with. There were too many faces for her to remember everyone’s names straight away, that would take time, but all the staff seemed very welcoming.

Her first afternoon was to be spent in Theatre. One of the senior midwives, a cheerful woman called Linda, took her on a round of the antenatal ward. Andrew left them to it while he went to do his own rounds. After the ward round Linda took Caitlin to the general gynaecology ward and introduced her to the patients she had scheduled for Theatre.

After seeing all the patients on her afternoon’s list, Linda stopped in front of a woman who was perched on the end of the bed and looked as if she was ready to run a mile.

‘This is Mrs Mary Oliphant,’ Linda introduced the woman. ‘She’s in to have her tubes examined. She and her husband have been trying for a baby for a year, and their family doctor thinks she should have her tubes checked before they think about IVF.’

‘Good idea,’ Caitlin said. Mrs Oliphant seemed to relax a little. ‘It’s a very quick procedure,’ Caitlin said. ‘We’ll take you down to the scanning room and pass a catheter through your cervix, squirt some dye and have a look. We don’t even need to anaesthetise you, but we’ll give you a couple of painkillers as it can be uncomfortable. The good news is that you’ll have the results straight away.’

‘And if my tubes are blocked? What then? Does that mean we won’t be able to have children?’ Mary’s lip trembled. ‘We really want a baby.’ A tear slipped down her cheek. ‘I blame myself. I was determined to wait until my career was established before we started a family. But what if I’ve left it too late?’

‘Hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ Caitlin said soothingly. ‘Let’s do the echovist first and we can talk again then.’ She took her hand. ‘Anyway, you’re not that old.’ She smiled. ‘Although a woman’s fertility does decline markedly after the age of thirty-five, you’re still on the right side of forty. And there is a test we can do which will tell us just how well your ovaries are responding. I’ll take a blood sample today, and I should have the results for you soon. I also suggest that we test your husband. That way, if you need to think about IVF you’ll be ready to go. How does that sound?’

As she spoke a thought slipped into her head. Time was passing for her too. It was quite possible that if she changed her mind about wanting children, she too would find she’d left it too late. It was one thing not to want children, quite another to have the choice taken away. She squeezed the thought to the back of her mind. Why was she suddenly thinking children might be an option in the future, when until now she had been sure children weren’t for her? She forced her attention back to her patient. It was Mary who she had to think about. She deserved her full attention.

Mary smiled, seeming reassured. ‘That sounds great,’ she said. ‘I just want to know so we can decide our next step. Thank you for taking the trouble to talk to me.’

‘Hey, that’s what we’re here for.’ Caitlin smiled. ‘I’ll see you down in the scanning room shortly. First let’s take that blood sample.’

Quickly, Caitlin took a sample of blood from Mrs Oliphant’s arm and passed it to Linda.

As they moved away Linda said, ‘There’s one more lady I’d like you to see. I’ve already spoken to Dr Bedi about her, and he’s interested to know what you think.’ Curious, Caitlin let herself be led across into one of the single rooms. Sitting up in bed, reading a magazine listlessly, was the patient Linda had asked her to see.

‘This is Mrs Levy,’ Linda said, passing her chart to Caitlin. ‘As you can see, she’s twenty-nine weeks pregnant. She was admitted earlier today with an elevated blood pressure of 160 over 100, plus protein in her urine. In her first pregnancy she had to be delivered prematurely because of high blood pressure.’

Caitlin had seen the condition often. It was always a difficult judgement call. On the one hand, there was no treatment and the only sure way of preventing the condition from getting worse was to deliver the baby. However, Mrs Levy was only twenty-eight weeks pregnant and although Caitlin knew that the hospital had the necessary equipment to look after a pre-term baby, there was always a chance that the baby would suffer brain damage or even worse if it was delivered so early.

‘What does Dr Bedi think?’ she asked Linda as they moved away from the patient.

‘He’d prefer us to wait and monitor her closely over the next few days.’

It wasn’t an unreasonable decision, Caitlin knew. Every day the baby stayed safely in the mother’s womb increased its chances of survival.

‘Could we arrange to have Mrs Levy scanned?’ Caitlin asked, making up her mind. ‘I’ll do it myself before Theatre.’ She went back to her patient.

‘You’re probably well aware of our concerns, Mrs Levy. I’m sure they have been discussed with you.’

‘Please call me Patricia. Mrs Levy always makes me think of my mother-in-law.’ She smiled, before the anxious look returned to her eyes. ‘That nice Dr Bedi came to see me and explained everything.’

Did he, now? Caitlin thought, wishing that he had spoken to her before discussing options with the patient. She decided to wait until she had spoken to him and had the scan results before speaking to Patricia again. ‘I’d like to scan you as soon as we can get a scanner up here,’ she told the patient. ‘I’ll see you in a little while, okay? Then we can decide on the best way forward.’

Patricia clutched Caitlin’s hand. ‘I really want this baby,’ she said. ‘They told me it’s a girl and as I have two boys, it will make my family complete.’

Caitlin patted her hand reassuringly. ‘We’ll do our best for you, I promise. In the meantime, the best thing you can do for your baby is try and relax.’

After rounds Linda took Caitlin into the staffroom for a cup of coffee. ‘What do you think so far?’ she asked as she poured them mugs from the pot that had been made earlier.

‘I’m impressed,’ Caitlin admitted. ‘The facilities, at least what I’ve seen so far, are impressive.’

‘I hear from the others that you know Dr Bedi. He’s lovely, don’t you think?’

Caitlin wasn’t quite sure how to answer. What was she supposed to say to that? That, yes, he was gorgeous and that she fancied the pants off him? ‘He seems very nice,’ she said noncommittally.

‘Half the nurses and doctors here are in love with him. The other half are married.’ Linda laughed. ‘Thank goodness I’m in the second half. Otherwise I’d be doomed to have my heart broken, like the rest.’

Caitlin wasn’t used to such frankness and wasn’t sure how to respond. Thankfully, as she was searching frantically for a more neutral subject, Andrew himself appeared.

‘They told me I’d find you here,’ he said, pouring himself a glass of water from the cooler and gulping it greedily. ‘I wondered if you wanted to see the paeds wards before we have lunch. Your theatre list starts at 1.30. Right?’ She eyed him, mentally readjusting her opinion of him in light of what Linda had told her.

Caitlin stood. ‘I’d love to see the children’s ward,’ she said. ‘And meet the staff.’ She finished her coffee and rinsed her cup. ‘Thanks, Linda,’ she said as she followed Andrew out of the staffroom. ‘I’ll see you after Theatre.’

She followed Andrew out of the staffroom.

‘I don’t think we should leave Mrs Levy any longer,’ she said. ‘She’s showing all the signs of pre-eclampsia—raised blood pressure and protein in her urine. If we don’t deliver her and her condition gets worse then there is a chance she’ll start fitting and we’ll lose her. I’m sure neither of us want to be faced with a maternal death.’

Andrew turned and looked at her. ‘The last two scans place her at twenty-eight weeks,’ he said. ‘There’s not been much growth since then.’ He frowned. Caitlin wondered if he was unused to having his opinion challenged. Underneath his easygoing exterior she thought there was a man who, once he had made up his mind, was loath to change it. It was clear in the way the staff acquiesced to him that he was used to being deferred to. On the other hand, so was she. She trusted her instinct, and if she were back in Ireland nobody would have questioned her decision.

‘If we deliver her now, then there is a chance the baby won’t survive,’ he continued. ‘Even another couple of days would give it a better chance.’

Caitlin held her ground. ‘If we wait another couple of days and the mother develops full-blown eclampsia then there’s a good chance that we’ll lose the baby as well as the mother. Is that a risk you’re prepared to take? Because I’m not sure I am.’

They stared at each other, neither willing to give an inch.

‘We should go and speak to the patient at least,’ Caitlin said eventually. ‘We should give her all the facts and let her decide.’

‘Do you think that’s fair?’ Andrew countered. ‘If she decides to go ahead and let us deliver the baby, and the baby dies, she’ll carry that burden always. She’ll always wonder if she made the right decision.’

‘And if she takes your advice and waits, and she and the baby both die, then what about the rest of her family? She has two children under the age of five. Do you think it’s fair to leave them without a mother?’ Caitlin felt her voice catch on the last words as an image of her niece and nephew growing up without their mother flashed across her mind.

Andrew looked at her sharply. ‘Are you sure this isn’t becoming personal, Caitlin?’ he asked softly.

Caitlin gritted her teeth in frustration. She never let her personal feelings or emotions interfere with her professional judgement. But that didn’t mean that she looked on her patients just as obstetric dilemmas—she prided herself on taking all aspects of their lives into account when making a clinical decision. How dared he suggest otherwise? Even if he already thought of her as some sort of pathetic female that needed rescuing. Now he was accusing her of being over-emotional and letting her worry about her sister cloud her judgement. Well, she would soon put him right.

‘Let me make one thing absolutely clear, Dr Bedi. It’s important we understand one another if we are going to be making joint decisions about patients.’ Her voice was cold and clipped, even to her own ears, but she made no attempt to soften her tone. ‘The decisions I make are always—’ she emphasised the last word ‘—made on the basis of what is good for my patient. I never let personal feelings cloud my judgement.’ Aware that she had curled her hands into fists, she made herself relax. What was it about this man which caused her to have such strong reactions?

‘I’m glad to hear it, Dr O’Neill,’ he said calmly. ‘Because if I ever had reason to think you weren’t up to the job, believe you me, regardless of the friendship I have with your family. I wouldn’t hesitate to have you removed from the case. Now, do I make myself clear?’

CHAPTER THREE

STUNNED, Caitlin could only stare open-mouthed at Andrew.

‘Well, now that we understand each other,’ she said stiffly, ‘shall we continue?’ She marched off in what she hoped was the general direction of Paediatrics, not caring whether Andrew was following or not. Of all the insufferable, conceited, big-headed…She was fuming to herself when Andrew caught her arm and stopped her in her tracks.

She glared at him, before seeing the look of apology in his deep brown eyes.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘that was unforgivable of me.’

‘Yes, it was,’ Caitlin said. Then she softened at his look of genuine remorse. ‘Do you really have doubts about my clinical judgement?’ she asked, puzzled. ‘I know you had me checked out thoroughly before you arranged the job for me.’

‘I did,’ Andrew said. ‘And I don’t have doubts. It’s just…’ He hesitated. ‘Let’s just say that I have my reasons.’

‘Shouldn’t you tell me what they are?’ Caitlin said.

‘There’s no need. I agree we should wait for the scan results before we decide what to do. Okay?’

Caitlin was tempted to press further, but she could tell from the set of his chin that she was unlikely to get anything more from Andrew. But she was a patient woman. Whatever it was, she would find out soon enough.

‘Okay,’ Caitlin said. ‘Now, let’s go and see this paediatric ward of yours.’

After a quick tour of the children’s ward, Caitlin left Andrew checking his patients and made her way to the scanning room where Mrs Oliphant was waiting for her.

‘Hey, how are you doing?’ Caitlin said. Mary just smiled weakly.

Caitlin passed the catheter then turned the monitor towards her patient and pointed to the screen.

‘Look,’ she told the anxious woman. ‘You can see both the ovaries. That’s the left one and there’s the right. And see that little blob there? That’s a follicle with an egg developing inside. So far so good. Everything is normal.’ She withdrew the catheter. ‘You can get dressed now.’

Once Mrs Oliphant was dressed and sitting down, Caitlin turned to her. ‘I’ve also had the blood results back. And they’re consistent with the scan we’ve just done. Your ovaries are looking good. And the embryologists have told me that Richard’s results are also normal. So I’m going to suggest that you go home and keep trying for another six months. If you’re still not pregnant by then, we’ll talk about IVF. But I’ve got a feeling that you won’t need it.’

Mary relaxed and smiled broadly. ‘It’s such a relief to know,’ she said. ‘I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been.’

‘Sometimes,’ Caitlin said gently, ‘I find that once couples relax, nature just takes it course. And if it doesn’t, well, you can come and see me again. But for now I want you and Richard to go home and have plenty of sex.’

She saw a happy and relieved Mary out, and then asked whether the scanner could be taken to the antenatal ward for Mrs Levy’s scan.

Once back on the antenatal ward, Caitlin prepped Patricia’s abdomen with gel, apologising for the cold sensation. Then she placed the wand over her abdomen and turned the screen towards the patient so that she was able to see what Caitlin was seeing.

‘See that over there.’ She pointed to the heart. ‘That’s the baby’s heart. As you can see, it’s beating strongly.’ Patricia looked entranced as Caitlin proceeded to point out arms and legs. The image was so good that she was even able to show Mrs Levy her baby sucking her thumb. ‘And as you’ve been told already, she is a healthy little girl. I put her at about twenty-eight weeks and three days.’

Mrs Levy lay back on the bed, looking thoughtful. ‘It makes it seem more real, seeing her there on the screen.’ She closed her eyes and Caitlin watched as tears slid out from underneath her eyelids. ‘I just don’t know what to do for the best. If only my Jack was here to help me decide.’ Caitlin knew from the notes that Mrs Levy’s husband had been killed in a traffic accident early on in the pregnancy. Her heart went out to the distraught woman. ‘My other two, my boys, they are my first husband’s,’ she went on. ‘We divorced when my youngest was two. I thought that was me. That it would just be me and the boys. And then Jack came along, and that was that. We fell in love and married a few months later.’ She opened her eyes and Caitlin could see the memories brighten her eyes.

Caitlin perched beside her patient on the bed. ‘Go on,’ she said softly.

‘As I say, we got married, once the children had got to know him, and then started trying for a baby. It took a couple of years for me to get pregnant, you know. I was getting close to forty by this time.’ She paused, her eyes misting over. ‘He was so excited, he didn’t have children of his own, never having married before. He was just like a little kid himself. He even went out and bought a crib the day after I took the pregnancy test.’

Caitlin was aware of somebody coming to stand behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Andrew. Patricia went on.

‘Then just a couple of months later he was dead.’ She started to cry in earnest. Wordlessly, Andrew passed her some tissues and they waited in silence while she fought for control. Eventually, she blew her nose.

‘So, you see,’ she said once her sobs had subsided, ‘I can’t risk losing this baby. It’s all I have left of Jack.’ She looked from Andrew to Caitlin, her eyes begging them to understand. ‘Dr Bedi knows all this,’ she said quietly. ‘That’s why he said we might be able to risk waiting a day or two.’

‘But,’ Caitlin said gently, ‘you do realise if we wait too long there’s a risk you could develop full-blown eclampsia and might die. What about your other children? They’d be left without a mother.’

‘I don’t want to die,’ Patricia said fiercely. ‘I don’t want to leave my kids, but Dr Bedi says you’ll watch me carefully.’

‘Okay,’ Caitlin agreed reluctantly. ‘We’ll watch and wait. But I’m warning you, if there is the slightest sign of your condition worsening, I’m getting you delivered. Agreed?’ She looked at Andrew for confirmation and was relieved when he nodded.

‘I’ll ask them to call me at home if there’s any change,’ he said.

‘As will I,’ Caitlin added. ‘I’ll do the section myself.’

‘I’d feel so much better if you’ll both be there,’ Mrs Levy said, hope brightening her eyes.

‘But they might have to go ahead and deliver you if I can’t get here in time,’ Caitlin warned.

‘I understand,’ Patricia said. ‘Thank you both for taking care of me and listening.’

Andrew and Caitlin left Patricia to get some rest. A glance at her watch told Caitlin that she was due in Theatre.

‘Did you know all that?’ she asked. ‘Is that the reason you wanted to wait?’

‘Partly,’ Andrew said. ‘At the end of the day I want the same thing you do. A healthy baby and a mother who survives to look after it. But,’ he said, ‘I don’t think we should ever look at patients as if they were simply their medical problems. We need to see them as people, all with different needs requiring different solutions.’ Caitlin bristled. Was he suggesting that she didn’t see her patients as individuals? He had no right to make that assessment of her. But, she admitted to herself, was there just the tiniest bit of truth in it? Was that why she was so drawn to the academic side of her chosen speciality? Because it was easier than dealing with real people and real emotions? He grinned down at her, and Caitlin’s heart gave a curious flip. ‘You and I are on the same side after all.’

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