LITMIR.BIZ

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in a position to offer the support he deserved because she had a labouring woman to deal with.

      Afterwards, she promised herself, forgetting the awkwardness that had suddenly emerged between them. After this was over she’d make sure he had the opportunity to talk.

      Before she could examine Sonia, another contraction consumed her and suddenly Evanna was in absolutely no doubt that the arrival of the baby was imminent. There was going to be no time to get her to the mainland. No time even to track down Ethan, the other island doctor.

      Somehow she was going to have to do this by herself but make it look as though Logan was helping. She didn’t want the inhabitants of the island gossiping.

      ‘I don’t want to do this any more! I’ve changed my mind.’ Sonia started to sob and thump her husband. ‘This is all your fault. All of it. I hate you. I really hate you. You were the one who wanted children!’

      ‘You said you wanted them, too. Sonia.’ Stricken and helpless, Steve tried to take her in his arms but she thumped his chest and pushed him away.

      ‘Get away from me! Don’t touch me! I hope you wanted an only child because this is the last baby we’re going to have!’ Sonia gave a gasp and then leaned over and vomited again.

      ‘You poor thing,’ Evanna soothed, holding the bowl and gently stroking Sonia’s damp hair away from her face. ‘You’re in transition, Sonia. Do you remember that we talked about that stage? This is often the most uncomfortable bit of the whole process, but you’re nearly there. When this contraction passes I’m going to examine you and I’m willing to bet that you’re almost fully dilated and ready to push.’

      Sonia’s face was blotched with tears and she clutched at Evanna’s hand. ‘I’m scared,’ she confessed, her face crumpling. ‘It wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it? I know it’s dangerous—’

      ‘It’s not at all dangerous,’ Evanna soothed, her voice calm and level. ‘People have babies at home all the time. It’s perfect.’

      ‘But they don’t have babies stuck on Glenmore Island! You didn’t want me to have this baby at home. Dr MacNeil didn’t want me to have it at home.’

      ‘Doctors never do, but that doesn’t mean that Dr MacNeil isn’t perfectly capable of assisting in a delivery if he has to,’ Evanna said firmly, hoping that Logan wouldn’t contradict her. She slid a hand over Sonia’s abdomen, feeling the tightening. ‘You’ve got another contraction coming now, Sonia. Lovely deep breath for me.’

      ‘It’s all going wrong.’

      ‘Everything is completely normal. Nothing is going wrong.’ Evanna glanced towards Logan, willing him to say something to support her—something encouraging—but he was frozen to the spot, his face an expressionless mask. She felt her insides twist in sympathy. She could only imagine just how terrible this situation must be for him. It must bring everything back.

      Perhaps some fresh air would do the trick. ‘Logan.’ She kept her voice light and confident. ‘Can you go to the car and fetch the delivery pack from my boot, please?’

      For a moment he didn’t respond and she wondered if he’d even heard her. What should she do? Uneasily, she repeated her question.

      ‘Logan—the boot’s open. Can you fetch the delivery pack, please?’

      ‘I’ve called the helicopter.’ His voice was hoarse and Evanna gave a nod and a smile, trying to look as though they were having a routine conversation.

      ‘That’s great. Good idea. But I do need the delivery pack from my boot.’ Please, Logan.

      ‘Dr MacNeil?’ Sonia’s voice faltered and she looked pleadingly at Logan. ‘Is everything all right? You look a bit funny.’

      Evanna discreetly slid a hand into her pocket and removed her mobile phone. This wasn’t going to work. She was going to have to call Ethan. She needed medical back-up and Logan obviously wasn’t able to give it. His face was grey with strain and she hadn’t seen him look so drawn since Catherine’s death.

      Sonia must have seen it, too, because she gave a whimper of panic. ‘Dr MacNeil?’

      The fear in her voice must have penetrated Logan’s brain because he suddenly stepped forward. ‘It’s all right, Sonia.’ His voice gruff, he moved across to them and sat on the edge of the bed.

      Sonia’s eyes were terrified. ‘You don’t want me to do this here, do you? You’re afraid that.’ The words lay unspoken in the air and Logan hesitated for a moment and then took her hand in his.

      ‘I’m not afraid of anything,’ he said roughly. ‘Of course I would have rather you had the baby in hospital because I’m a doctor and we’re only ever comfortable if we’re surrounded by technology that beeps at us. Ask Evanna. Midwives despair of us doctors because we always try and turn childbirth into something medical because that’s all we understand. But women have been having babies successfully by themselves for centuries. And Evanna is the best midwife I’ve ever worked with. You don’t need to worry.’

      Almost weak with relief, Evanna slid the phone back into her pocket without making the call. ‘Well, luckily for you, I’m here to show you how it’s supposed to be done, Dr MacNeil,’ she said lightly. ‘But in order to do that, I need some equipment.’

      ‘Of course. The delivery pack from your boot.’ Logan gave Sonia’s hand another squeeze and rose to his feet. ‘I’ll fetch it.’

      He left the room and Sonia screwed up her face. ‘Oh, here we go again. Oh, my.’ She swore fluently and her husband blinked several times and then glanced at Evanna, embarrassment on his face.

      ‘I’ve never heard her use language like that before.’

      ‘Don’t worry about it.’

      ‘My feet are tingling. Something’s the matter.’

      ‘You’re breathing too fast, that’s what’s the matter,’ Evanna said calmly. ‘Just try and slow everything down. That’s better. Good. Here’s Dr MacNeil now. I’m going to wash my hands, then I’m going to examine you.’

      ‘Don’t leave me!’ Sonia’s voice was sharp with panic. ‘Please, don’t leave me!’

      ‘I’m just going to—’

      ‘I want to push.’

      Logan opened the pack swiftly, his hands steady. ‘She can’t possibly have dilated that quickly,’ he muttered to Evanna, and she cast a wry smile in his direction.

      ‘Babies don’t always perform according to the textbook. Don’t push, Sonia, because if you’re not fully dilated you could damage your cervix. Steve, can you fetch clean towels and spread them over the floor?’ Swiftly Evanna washed her hands and pulled on a pair of gloves.

      Sonia was trying to breathe steadily. ‘My back hurts so much. I’m so uncomfortable.’

      Evanna looked at Steve who had returned with armfuls of towels, which he placed at Sonia’s feet. ‘If you could just rub her lower back, that might help.’ She quickly checked her equipment and prepared for the delivery. A swift examination told her that there was no time to move Sonia even had she wanted to. Her perineum was distended and the head was clearly visible. ‘This baby is certainly in a hurry. I can see the baby’s head, Sonia, so I don’t need to examine you. Try and relax between contractions. That’s good. Now pant. Don’t push. Pant.’ As she delivered the baby’s head she was aware of Logan beside her and felt relieved to have him there.

      ‘Cord,’ he said quietly, and she gave a nod and gently freed the loop of cord that was round the baby’s neck. ‘I’ll give the syntometrine. I don’t think we should risk a physiological third stage. Do you agree?’

      It was typical of Logan to confer with her rather than just dictating, as so many other doctors would have

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