‘Clearly I am. God, I never meant to, Isla. The thing is, what happened during Niko’s labour was preventable. I just want to …’ His voice trailed off.
‘You want to ensure that nothing goes wrong with this one,’ Isla finished for him, and Alessi nodded. ‘I get that but if something does go wrong, if an emergency does arise, do you really want to be a part of it?’
‘I want to be there to ensure nothing untoward happens in the first place.’
‘Look, I do get that …’ Isla started but Alessi didn’t let her finish.
‘Allegra going for a natural delivery is a crazy idea, given what happened last time.’
‘It’s not a crazy idea to Allegra, and it’s not a crazy idea to her obstetrician—’
‘Darcie’s been here all of five minutes.’
Isla chose to ignore that. She knew it was hard when another doctor took over a patient’s care but it wasn’t for Alessi to air his concerns to his sister so she continued with what she was saying. ‘And it isn’t a crazy idea to me. A lot of women want to experience a natural delivery. She’d have a closely monitored trial of labour and if things didn’t progress well then, perhaps more quickly, given her history, things would move towards a Caesarean. Even if Darcie is new, our recruitment policy is vigorous and she’s joined an amazing team, which means that your sister shall be well looked after here, Alessi, you know that.’
Alessi thought for a long moment. Really, he could only admire Isla for confronting him on this difficult subject but her help didn’t end there.
‘If it makes it any easier for you,’ she continued, ‘I’m happy to oversee Allegra’s care.’
Alessi’s eyes jerked up and met hers.
‘Whatever you think about me personally, Alessi, however you think I landed the role, the truth is I think that we both know that I do a very good job. I will, if you would like, keep an eye on Allegra during her antenatal visits and, as far as possible, I will be there for the birth.’
‘You’d do that?’
‘Of course.’
Alessi was surprised by her offer but, then again, was he? For nearly a year he had chosen to believe she had got the job because of who her father was. He had been wrong about that. Alessi had known it deep down and it was confirmed right now. The patients all raved about her, there was no doubt that she ran a very good midwifery unit and now she was offering to take care of Allegra when both knew how tense things were between them. Even the fact that Allegra had discussed so much with Isla told Alessi something—she didn’t open up easily to anyone, yet she had with Isla. ‘I would like that and I’ll back off, too,’ Alessi said, and then stood. ‘Thank you.’
‘No problem.’
He went to go but then turned around. ‘I was going to come and see you later,’ Alessi said. ‘But now that we’re here, I might as well just say it now—I would like to apologise for the things that I said last night.’ Isla found she was holding her breath as he continued, ‘I had no right to lecture you about your partner and the choices you make. It was out of character for me and I really would like to apologise.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘Also, I broke up with Amber last night, so you don’t have to worry that I’m dating one of your students.’
‘Because of what I said?’
Alessi let out a very mirthless laugh. ‘No.’
‘But …’
‘As I said, I don’t cheat and, given that last night the only person I wanted was you, it seemed appropriate to end things.’
And with that he was gone and only when the door closed behind him did Isla let out the air trapped in her throat—her lungs were still closed tight.
Had he just said what he had?
Yes.
Did that mean …?
It did.
Oh, God.
It was like being tossed three flaming torches and having to learn to juggle with absolutely no clue how.
She walked out of the consulting room into a world that felt very different—Alessi liked her, in that way, and had made it clear that he was single. There was no Rupert to hide behind any more, not that she’d told Alessi that.
She was on the edge of something—scared to step off yet somehow compelled to.
Allegra was holding Niko and speaking with Sophia, but Isla watched her turn and smile widely at her brother as he came over, and as Isla approached she heard their conversation.
‘You should have said.’ Alessi gave her a cuddle.
‘I tried,’ Allegra gently scolded. ‘Several times.’
‘I’ll back off and I’ll make sure Mum and Dad do, too,’ Alessi promised. ‘I just …’
‘I know,’ Allegra said. ‘I know you were just trying to do your best for us.’ She looked at Isla as she joined them. ‘Thank you so much, Isla.’
‘It’s no problem. I’ve spoken with Alessi and, if you’re happy for me to do so, I can oversee things and come down and check all your antenatal visits, rather than your brother, and then, if you’d like, I’d be delighted to be there for your birth of your second child.’
‘I’d really like that, Isla.’
‘Good.’
She nodded goodbye and as Isla walked off Allegra smiled. ‘I feel so much better. You really will speak to Mum and Dad?’
‘Yep.’
‘They’ll give you a hard time,’ Allegra pointed out.
‘So, what’s new?’
‘’Lessi!’ Niko, fed up with all the adults, held out his arms to his uncle and, from a slight distance Isla watched as Alessi took his little nephew in his arms and gave him a kiss and then he must have said something funny because Niko laughed and laughed and Alessi grinned, too.
Then he turned and caught her staring at him and the smile remained as she blushed and returned it then quickly walked away, to return to the ward.
Yes, she was on the edge of something.
Something temporary, though. She knew that much about Alessi and she had almost reconciled herself to that.
Yes, this year was going to be very different. Alessi was going to be her first.
Even if he mustn’t know it.
Somehow she had to hold onto her glamorous, sophisticated reputation while releasing a little of her heart.
