to be involved in this birth, not because I don’t think he’s brilliant, it’s more that if something does go wrong this time around then I don’t want him blaming himself for it.’
‘I completely understand that you’d feel that way.’ Isla nodded but because she’d had a brief look at Allegra’s notes before she’d come in, she knew that there was more. ‘And?’
‘And?’ Allegra smiled at Isla’s question.
‘Is there another reason that you don’t want Alessi’s input?’
‘There is.’ Allegra rolled her eyes in the very same way that her brother did. ‘I want to try and have a natural birth this time. Given what happened in my previous labour, Alessi is against the idea of trial of labour and thinks I should have a planned Caesarean section.’
‘So, not only do you have to convince your obstetrician, you have to convince your brother, as well?’
‘Ah, not just those two,’ Allegra sighed. ‘I’ve had to convince my husband and also my mother.’ She gave a tired shake of the head. ‘Usually I’m the golden one and Alessi’s the black sheep but in this she thinks I should listen to him, because he’s a doctor.’
Isla fought her own curiosity about that statement—while she wanted to know more about Alessi, this wasn’t the place, and she could see Allegra was close to tears. ‘What happened with Niko has brought up a lot of stuff for my parents. Maybe I should just have a planned Caesarean. I really am sorry for trying to involve your staff in this.’
‘It’s our job to be involved,’ Isla said, and she truly did her best to pretend this wasn’t Alessi’s twin pouring her heart out to her. Which meant, if this hadn’t been Alessi’s twin then Isla knew exactly what she would do in this case. ‘It’s your pregnancy and your labour. You shouldn’t go through an operation just to please your family. I can explain all that to him.’
Allegra looked dubious. ‘I don’t know how well he’d take it.’
‘I would imagine that when I explain what’s going on to Alessi, he’s going to feel bad for causing you so much stress …’
‘I know that he shall,’ Allegra agreed. ‘We’re very close. The thing is Alessi has always looked out for me at school and things …’ She looked at Isla. ‘I remember you from school.’
Isla felt a little guilty that she didn’t remember Allegra clearly.
‘I got picked on a lot at school,’ Allegra said. ‘Well, we both did.’
‘Really?’ Isla couldn’t imagine for a moment Alessi being picked on by anyone, he was so confident and assured, but then Allegra continued speaking.
‘We were scholarship kids,’ she explained. ‘Which meant from the day that we started we didn’t belong. At every opportunity it would be rammed down our throats that we couldn’t afford to go skiing or that we didn’t have the right uniform. It was very cruel. Alessi looked out for me then and is just trying to do the same now. The thing is …’ Allegra hesitated and Isla stepped in.
‘You don’t need him to any more?’
‘No, I don’t.’ Allegra sighed. ‘I’m not going to take any risks with this baby but I really do want to try and have a natural delivery.’ She thought for a long moment. ‘It would be great if you could speak to him for me. I really have tried and I seem to get nowhere.’
Isla nodded. ‘You’re not the first patient to have this sort of problem. I’ve dealt with this on several occasions. No doubt I’ll be the same if my sister ever gets pregnant. It’s very hard to step back when you love someone, though Alessi needs to in this.’
‘Thanks, Isla.’
Niko had actually fallen asleep while they’d been talking. Isla carried him over to one of the empty reclining chairs next to Allegra and laid him down, then went and looked at the CTG monitor. ‘Everything looks very good,’ Isla said. ‘Right, I’m going to have a word with that brother of yours and don’t worry. If you have any concerns, any at all, ring through to MMU and ask to be put through to me.’
‘Thanks so much.’
As she walked out of the room there was Alessi, speaking with Sophia and frowning.
‘I asked you to page me as soon as Allegra arrived—’
‘Alessi,’ Isla said, and gave a small smile to Sophia, excusing her from the conversation. ‘Sophia paged me. I need to speak with you about your sister.’ She saw concern flash across his features and immediately put him at ease. ‘There’s nothing wrong with the baby, but before you go in and see Allegra there is something that I need to discuss with you.’
Alessi’s eyebrows rose and she had a feeling he was about to walk off but he gave a small nod.
‘What is it that you want to discuss?’
‘Perhaps not here.’ Isla gestured to one of the consulting rooms and they both walked over to it.
It was awkward to be in there with him, given all that had, or rather hadn’t, taken place between them, but Isla pushed all that aside and dealt with what was important—the patient. She took a seat at the desk and Alessi did the same. With the door closed she could smell his cologne and she really wished this conversation didn’t have to take place on the tail end of last night, but she had no choice in the timing of things and so she pushed on.
‘I’ve just been speaking with Allegra. We’ve had quite a long conversation, in fact,’ she ventured. ‘The thing is, while Allegra really appreciates your concern about the pregnancy—’
‘I don’t need you interfering in my family, Isla,’ Alessi interrupted, and it was clear that he knew what the discussion would be about and wanted no part of it.
‘I’d prefer not to have to but it’s not about what I’d prefer and it’s not about what you need—this is about Allegra.’
Alessi took a breath. ‘Isla, I’m not going to discuss this with you.’
‘You don’t have to discuss anything with me, Alessi,’ Isla answered calmly. ‘I’m just asking that you take a few minutes to listen.’ He went to stand but Isla halted him. ‘Alessi, Allegra isn’t your patient, she’s my patient in my unit.’
‘I’ll discuss this directly with Allegra,’ Alessi said, and headed for the door.
‘And cause her more stress?’ Isla responded, and watched as his shoulders stiffened. It really was a difficult subject to approach. She hadn’t been lying when she’d said to Allegra that she’d handled this sort of situation several times and she would be blunt if she had to be. ‘Allegra knows that you’re just trying to look out for her and while she does appreciate it she wants you to be the baby’s uncle rather than some hovering neonatologist. Everything is going well this pregnancy.’
‘Everything was going well the last one,’ Alessi said, though at least he sat back down.
‘Do you think that Allegra doesn’t already know all that?’ Isla asked, and watched as Alessi closed his eyes and breathed out. ‘Do you think she hasn’t wrestled for a long time
