LITMIR.BIZ

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Freudian about that.

      She sighed. ‘I keep meaning to get them done. Maybe I’m not ready to tell the world.’

      She saw him glance at her stomach and raise his eyebrows. She looked down, too. And didn’t think it showed much yet.

      He was frowning and he rarely frowned. That was one of the things she liked about this guy. One of the many things.

      ‘I’d like you to do them today, if you could, please. Outside the hospital if you want to. But if you have them done internally there will be no charge for the pathology.’

      And pathology tests could be expensive. Expenses she needed to cut back on. ‘Big incentive.’ She nodded. Just so he knew she meant it. ‘I’ll go after work.’

      He stayed where he was. Looking so calm and collected and immaculate. She felt like a dishrag. Her back hurt. What else did he want?

      ‘And could you make an appointment to come and see me in two days? I’ll let my secretary know.’

      Lucy laughed for the first time that day. It actually felt good. She could even feel the tension drop from her shoulders and reminded herself she needed to shed a few chuckles more often. She didn’t want to forget that. Her mother had rarely laughed while she had been growing up.

      But two days? It seemed she wasn’t the only one who was tired. ‘Two days is a Sunday. I don’t think your secretary will be take an appointment on that one. But I will make it for Monday.’

      Nick smiled back at her and she felt her cheeks warm. She frowned at herself and him. He shouldn’t smile at emotional, hormonal women like that. Especially ones who were planning to be single mothers of twins.

      She was never going to feel second best again and he made her feel like she wanted to be better than she was. The guy was just too perfect. For her anyway.

      ‘Thanks for the reminder. Have to go.’ She turned and walked back to the desk and she could hear his footsteps walking away. She could imagine the sight. The long strides. The commanding tilt of his head. Not fair.

      ‘You okay there, Palmer?’ Flora May was staring at her under her grizzled brows. She glanced at the receding back of Dr Kefes. ‘Is he giving you a hard time?’

      ‘No. Of course not. He’s been very kind.’ Though she smiled at her fierce protector. ‘I’m just tired.’ Flora May did not look convinced. Lucy tried again. ‘Not sure if I’m not coming down with something.’

      Flora and Lucy were very similar in the way they viewed their vocation, and Lucy appreciated having Flora on her side. Never warm and fuzzy, Flora’s no-nonsense advice was always valid, and usually made Lucy smile.

      ‘You do look peaky. Pale and limp probably describes you.’

      Lucy had to smile at the unflattering description. ‘Thank you, Sister.’

      ‘If you’re unwell, go to the staff clinic at Emergency. Nobody else wants to catch anything. Either way, you can leave early. I’ll do your handover. You get here fifteen minutes early every day and you’re the last to leave. You’ve earned some time in lieu.’

      The idea was very attractive.

      Flora’s lips twitched. ‘But don’t expect it every week.’

      ‘I certainly won’t.’ Lucy looked at her mentor. Maybe now was a good time. She’d hate Flora to find out from someone else or, worse, through a rumour. ‘Can I see you for a moment, Sister? In private.’

      ‘Of course.’ Flora gestured to her office.

      Lucy drew a deep breath and Flora frowned at her obvious trepidation. ‘Spit it out, Palmer.’

      ‘I’m pregnant.’ Lucy searched Flora’s face for extreme disappointment. Anger. Disgust. She’d suspected Flora had plans for her training and knew she had been instrumental in choosing Lucy over other applicants. But Flora’s expression didn’t change. Except to soften.

      She stepped forward and put her arm around Lucy’s shoulders and gave her a brief, awkward hug before she snapped back into her professional self.

      ‘That explains a lot,’ she said gruffly. Cleared her throat. ‘You’ve been a little more preoccupied than I expected.’ To Lucy’s stunned relief she even smiled. ‘When, in fact, you’ve been a lot more focused than you could be expected to be.’ Flora gazed past Lucy’s shoulder while she thought about it.

      Then she concentrated on Lucy again. ‘And Dr Kefes is looking after you? He knows?’

      Lucy blinked and nodded. How did Flora know this stuff? ‘I forgot to have some tests and he was reminding me.’

      ‘He’s a good man.’ Then she said something strange. ‘Don’t go falling for him. Easy people to fall for, obstetricians.’

      Didn’t she know it! A mental picture of Dr Kefes, five minutes ago, smiling down at her and her own visceral response highlighted that dilemma. No way was she going down that demoralising path. ‘I won’t. I’m not that stupid.’

      Flora sniffed. Her piercing gaze stayed glued on Lucy’s face. ‘Is there a man on the scene? Some help coming?’

      Lucy shook her head. She wasn’t anxious to go into it but, judging by the sigh, it seemed Flora had expected that. ‘Your family?’

      Lucy shook her head again. She could dream her mother would turn into a supportive, caring, helpful shoulder to lean on but it was highly unlikely. She so dreaded that conversation but after surviving telling Flora today, maybe she could even hope a little that it would be as bad as she dreaded.

      ‘I’ve got your back, Palmer. Go home now. Rest. You still look peaky. And if you want help or advice—ask!’

      Lucy nodded past the lump in her throat. How had she been so lucky to end up with Flora as a boss?

      Flora smiled at her. ‘Look after yourself, Palmer. I still have big plans for you.’

      Now she felt like crying, and if she didn’t get out of here quickly she’d disgrace herself by throwing her sobbing self onto the starched front of her boss.

      Lucy almost ran from the ward, past Cass who was on day shifts for a few weeks, and in her hasty departure she didn’t see the speculative look that followed her.

      She also forgot all about the blood tests she was supposed to get as she pressed the button for the lift and escape.

      The doors opened. When she stepped in Nikolai was standing at the back of the lift like her nemesis. ‘Are you going to Pathology now?’

      Lucy blinked. She felt like smacking her forehead but instead refused to be goaded into saying she’d forgotten again. ‘Are you following me?’

      Thick, dark, eyebrows lifted. ‘I imagine that would be difficult from the inside of a lift. Not being able to see through the walls.’

      She played the words back in her head and winced. Impolite and ungrateful. It wasn’t Dr Kefes’s fault she felt physically and emotionally exhausted. ‘Sorry. And, yes.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll go to Pathology now.’

      The lift stopped on another floor and two intense, white-coated doctors entered, and the conversation died a natural death.

      Lucy recognised one of the newcomers, Callie Richards, the paediatrician who was looking after Sally’s baby. They both nodded at Nick but the tension between them was palpable to the other two in The lift and, fancifully, Lucy decided the air was actually shimmering.

      It seemed other people had dramas, too. The man raised his eyebrows at Nick, who didn’t change his expression, and Callie offered a forced smile to Lucy, who smiled back awkwardly.

      One floor down the late arrivals stepped out and as the doors shut Lucy let out the breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding in a little whistle. She looked at Nikolai. ‘Who’s the guy?’

      Nick

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