baby’s a good weight. He’s not too big or too small,’ Ellis said. ‘Though I would want to check that his neck isn’t tilted back before I agree to try a vaginal delivery. If the baby’s head is tilted back, then I’m afraid you will need a caesarean section, because that’ll be the safest thing for the baby.’
‘Is there anything else I can do to help the baby turn, or make sure he stays the right way round if you do the ECV? Can I sit or lie in a certain way?’ Mrs Harris asked.
Ruby shook her head. ‘I’m afraid it won’t make any difference.’
‘So why hasn’t he turned round the right way? Why is he bottom-down instead of head-down?’
‘There are lots of reasons,’ Ellis said. ‘Sometimes it’s down to the position of your placenta. As I said earlier, the biggest part of the baby is the head, so the baby tends to fidget round and make sure he’s in the most comfortable position, which means his head will be in the biggest space—in your lower uterus, so he’ll be head-down. But if you have a low-lying placenta, then the biggest space is in your upper uterus, so the baby will be bottom-down.’ He smiled. ‘Sometimes it’s just plain old chance. Babies have a habit of doing things their way, and I know a lot of mums who haven’t ended up having the birth they’d set their heart on. So all I’d say is please try not to be disappointed if we can’t follow your birth plan to the letter.’
‘We’ll do our best to make it work for you,’ Ruby said, ‘but Dr Webster’s right—at the end of the day, babies can be very stubborn and they’ll do things their way.’
‘I think this one’s going to be like his dad,’ Mrs Harris said ruefully. ‘Can Ian be here when you try and make the baby turn round?’
‘Of course,’ Ruby reassured her. ‘We can try this afternoon, just after lunch. Will that give him enough time to get here?’
Mrs Harris nodded. ‘I’ll call him. Thank you. Both of you.’
‘I’ll see you later this afternoon, Mrs Harris,’ Ellis said with a smile.
The rest of Ruby’s clinic ran on time. Just as she broke for lunch, she saw Ellis coming out of the staff kitchen. ‘Got time for lunch?’ he asked.
‘That would be nice,’ she said.
They headed down to the canteen, chatting companionably. At the counter, Ellis as usual chose the vegetarian option.
‘Any excuse to stuff your face with pasta and garlic bread. You’re such a carb junkie,’ Ruby teased.
‘Protein’s important, but I’ve worked in areas where people are so poor and the cost of raising—’ He broke off. ‘You’re teasing me, aren’t you?’
‘It’s very easy to tease you, Ellis—you’re so serious,’ she said with a smile. ‘Look, I know why you’re vegetarian and I admire your principles.’
‘But you don’t share them,’ he finished.
She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but vegetarian bacon is never going to be as good as the real thing for me.’
He laughed. ‘You’re such a hedonist. Anyway, Rubes, you can talk about being a carb junkie. I’ve seen you and Tina with cake. It lasts for about three seconds when you two are around.’
‘Busted,’ Ruby said with a grin.
‘Are you OK about doing the ECV this afternoon?’ he asked.
‘It’s fine,’ Ruby said. ‘I’d really like to bring Coral, our new trainee midwife, in to observe, if Mrs Harris doesn’t mind—and if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not. You know I agree with you; it’s always a good idea to give students as broad an experience as possible.’
‘That’s one of the things I like about you—you’re so practical and sensible. Thanks,’ she said.
Practical and sensible. Not how he’d been when he’d married Natalia, Ellis thought wryly. He’d lost his head and they’d both paid the price.
Though Ruby had said that was one of the things she liked about him. He couldn’t help wondering: what else did she like about him?
He shook himself. This really wasn’t appropriate. Ruby Fisher was his friend. His best friend’s girl—well, widow, but that was a technicality. Time to back off. ‘I try to be practical,’ he said lightly.
‘Ellis, I, um, wanted to run something by you,’ she said.
She looked worried, and Ellis frowned. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Not wrong, exactly…but today’s a year and a day since Tom died.’
Yeah. He knew. He’d spent the anniversary with her on a Suffolk beach yesterday.
‘And a year and a day is supposed to be the traditional length of time for mourning.’
He went cold. Where was she going with this?
‘I’m never going to forget Tom,’ Ruby said, ‘but he always told me that he didn’t want me to spend the rest of my life mourning for him, and he wanted me to move on.’
Wait—what?
Was she saying that she wanted to date again? That she’d met someone? Who? Where? How? Ellis couldn’t quite process this.
‘And Tina’s going to set me up on a blind date with her new colleague in Neurology,’ she finished.
Ruby was really going on a date? With someone else? But—but…
‘Ellis? You haven’t said anything.’ She looked even more worried. ‘Do you think it’s too soon?’
‘I…’ He blew out a breath. This was a minefield. If he said the wrong thing now, he’d hurt her—and that was the last thing he wanted to do. ‘I think,’ he said slowly, ‘that you’re the best one to judge that. Only you know when you’re ready.’
But the idea of seeing her with another man made him feel sick.
It was different when she’d been married to Tom. Ellis would never, ever have done anything to destroy his best friend’s marriage. But now Ruby was widowed. And Ellis hated the idea of her going out with someone else.
If she really was ready to date again, maybe he could ask her out himself.
But, if she said no, then how could they go back to their old easy friendship, once they knew they didn’t feel the same about each other?
He didn’t want to risk losing her.
So he was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. Even if it felt as if someone had just filleted him.
Typical Ellis. Sensible and measured. I think you’re the best one to judge that.
Which told Ruby without a doubt that he wasn’t interested in her. Otherwise
