‘I wonder why she’s gone into labour. Did the husband say if she was bleeding?’
‘No. I did ask him, but he was almost incoherent and didn’t seem to be taking much in. He just kept asking how soon I could get there.’ She felt him glance at her. ‘You’re wondering if there’s a problem with the placenta?’
‘Yes.’ Emma felt a shiver run down her spine when he correctly interpreted her thoughts. Once, the fact that they’d been so much in tune had delighted her, but now it filled her with alarm. She didn’t want to share that kind of closeness with him ever again.
‘It’s one of the causes of premature labour so we certainly can’t rule it out.’ He slowed down and peered through the windscreen. ‘There’s another junction coming up. Which way now?’
‘Straight on for about ten miles then we’ll need to turn off the main road and head into hills,’ she told him, checking the map.
‘That’s when the fun really starts, is it?’ he asked with a laugh as he picked up speed again.
‘It will be fine.’
‘Spoken like someone who’s used to tearing around the back of beyond. Jim told me that you’ve done several stints overseas in the last couple of years. How did you get into that sort of work?’
‘Richard suggested it. He worked for an aid agency when he was a junior registrar and said it was invaluable experience.’
‘Richard?’
‘Richard Walker, my boss,’ she explained.
‘You obviously get on well with him,’ he observed, and she frowned when she heard the edge in his voice.
She had the impression that something had displeased him, but had no idea what it could be.
‘Yes, I do,’ she said a shade defensively. ‘All the team think very highly of him, in fact.’
‘I see.’ He changed gear then glanced at her and there was no sign of anything other than friendly interest on his face. ‘Working overseas must be challenging, I imagine.’
‘Sometimes.’ She shrugged. ‘It all depends where you’re working. If you’re based at a clinic, like the one I’ve just worked in, then it tends to be easier. The facilities are better, and there’s usually more staff to help out than if you’re working at a field hospital.’
‘And do you enjoy surgery as much as you thought you would?’
Emma frowned. She had the strangest feeling that her answer was important to him and couldn’t understand why. Why should it matter to Daniel if she was happy or not? He certainly hadn’t cared about her happiness five years ago, had he?
The thought pierced a hole right through the protective shell she had built around her heart. It was an effort to respond when it felt as though it was in danger of cracking wide open. It was only pride that gave her the strength to carry on, pride plus a desire not to let him know how badly he had hurt her.
‘Yes, I do. It’s everything I hoped it would be.’ She laughed wryly. ‘I suppose I should thank you, Daniel. If you hadn’t been so committed to your own career, I might have turned down the chance to become a surgeon and that would have been a huge mistake. I don’t doubt that in time I would have come to regret my decision.’
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
