discussed egg sharing, which would mean I’ll get a round of IVF free …’
‘You don’t feel funny about egg sharing?’ Emily asked, just as Anton walked in.
‘God, no,’ Louise said, happy to chat on. ‘I’d love to be able to help another woman to get her baby. It would be a win-win situation. I think egg sharing is a wonderful thing.’
She glanced over as Anton pulled out the BP cuff.
‘I’ve done Emily’s blood pressure,’ Louise said.
‘I’m just checking it for myself.’
Louise gritted her jaw. He did this all the time, all the time, even more so than before, and though it infuriated Louise she said nothing.
Here wasn’t the place.
‘Everything looks good,’ Anton said to Emily. ‘Twenty-nine weeks and four days now. You are doing really well.’
‘I’m so glad,’ Emily said, ‘but I’m also so …’ Emily didn’t finish. ‘I hate that I’m complaining when I’m so glad that I’m still pregnant.’
‘Of course you are bored and fed up.’ Anton shrugged. ‘Would a shower cheer you up?’
‘Oh, yes.’
‘Just a short one,’ Anton said, ‘sitting on a chair.’
‘Thank you,’ Emily said, but when Anton had gone she looked at Louise. ‘What’s going on with you two?’
‘Nothing,’ Louise said.
‘Nothing?’ Emily checked. ‘Come on, Louise, it’s me. I’m losing my mind here. At least you can tell me what’s going on in the real world.’
‘Maybe a teeny tiny thing has gone on,’ Louise said, ‘but we’re back to him sulking at me now and double-checking everything that I do.’
‘Please, Louise, tell me what has happened between you.’
‘Nope,’ Louise said, but then relented a touch. ‘We got off with each other a smudge but I think the big chill is from my getting IVF.’
‘Well, it wouldn’t be the biggest turn-on.’
‘I guess.’
‘Can you put it off?’
‘I don’t want to put it off,’ Louise said. ‘Then again, I sort of do.’ She was truly confused. ‘God, could you imagine being in a relationship with Anton? He’d be coming home and checking I’d done hospital corners on the bed and things …’
‘He’s nothing like that,’ Emily said.
‘Ah, but you get his hospital bedside manner.’
‘Why not just try?’
‘Because I’ve sworn off relationships, they never work out … I don’t know,’ Louise sighed, and then she looked at her friend and told her the truth. ‘I’m scared to even try.’
‘When’s the maternity do?’ Emily asked.
‘Friday, but I’m on a late shift, so I’ll only catch the end.’
‘If you get changed at work I want to see you before you go.’
‘You will.’ Louise gave a wicked smile. ‘Let’s see if he can rustle up another supermodel.’
‘Or?’
Louise didn’t answer the question because she didn’t know the answer herself. ‘I’ll go and set up the shower for you,’ Louise said instead, and opened Emily’s locker and started to get her toiletries out. ‘What do you want to wear?’
‘Whatever makes me look least like a prostitute,’ Emily said, because, after all, it was Louise who had shopped for her!
‘But you look gorgeous in all of them,’ Louise said, ‘and I promise that you’re going to feel gorgeous too once you’ve had a shower.’
Emily actually did. After more than a week of washing from a bowl, a brief shower and a hair wash had her feeling so refreshed that she actually put on some make-up and her smile matched the scarlet nightdress that Louise had bought her.
‘Wrong room!’ Hugh joked, when he dropped in during a lull between patients, please to see how much brighter Emily looked.
In fact, Emily had quite a lot of visitors and Anton glanced into her room as he walked past.
‘Is she resting?’ Anton asked Louise.
‘I’m going to shoo them out soon,’ Louise said. ‘She’s had her sister and mum and now Hugh’s boss and his wife have dropped in.’
Alex and Jennifer were lovely, just lovely, but Emily really did need her rest and so, after checking in on Carmel, who seemed much calmer since her sleep and a visit from her husband and children, Louise popped in on Emily, dragging the CTG monitor with her.
‘How are you?’ Louise asked.
‘Fine!’ Emily said, but she had that slightly exhausted look in her eyes as she smiled brightly.
‘That’s good.’ Louise turned to the visitors. She knew Alex very well from the five years she had worked in Theatre and she knew Jennifer a little too. ‘I’m sorry to be a pain, but I’ve got to pop Louise on the monitor.’
‘Of course,’ Jennifer said. ‘We were just leaving.’
‘Don’t rush,’ Louise said, while meaning the opposite. ‘I’m just going to get some gel.’
That would give them time to say goodbye.
Of course Emily was grateful for visitors but even a shower, after all this time in bed, was draining, and Louise would do everything and anything she had to do to make sure Emily got her rest. By the time she returned with the gel Alex and Jennifer had said their goodbyes and were in the corridor.
‘How are you, Louise?’ Alex asked. ‘Missing Theatre?’
‘A bit,’ Louise admitted, ‘although I simply love it here.’
‘Well, we miss you,’ Alex said kindly, and then glanced over to the nurses’ station, where Anton was writing his notes. ‘Oh, there’s Anton. Jennifer, I must introduce you—’
‘Not now, darling,’ Jennifer said. ‘We really do have to get home for Josie.’
‘It will just take two minutes.’ Alex was insistent but as he went to walk over, Jennifer caught his arm.
‘Alex, I really am tired.’
‘Of course.’ Alex changed his mind and they wished Louise goodnight before heading off the ward.
Louise looked
