Читать книгу Sarah Morgan Summer Collection - Sarah Morgan - Страница 23

‘SONIA’S blood pressure is still high. She’s made an appointment to go to the hospital on Monday for a check.’ Evanna put some forms on the desk in front of Logan, not meeting his eyes. But he was watching her.

She could feel him watching her.

‘Good. I don’t mind admitting that I’d be far happier if they kept her in.’

It was two days after what Evanna now called ‘the bathroom incident’, and every time they came into contact with each other, they skirted round the issue, each of them incredibly formal with the other, and Evanna was starting to despair that she’d ever be able to behave naturally again.

And he wasn’t behaving naturally either.

It would have helped if he’d laughed or made some sort of light-hearted comment, but he hadn’t referred to it. Not only that, but he hardly looked at her when she walked into the room.

It was enough to make a girl lose every scrap of confidence. ‘Janet wanted to know if you’d like some more coffee.’

‘Yes, please.’ His voice was terse. ‘I need the caffeine to keep me awake. I had a terrible night. Again.’

Evanna hesitated. Two days ago, before the bathroom incident, she would have been concerned enough about that statement to question him further, but now she didn’t dare because she was suddenly horribly aware of everything about him and the effect he had on her was incredibly frustrating.

She just didn’t know what to say or do. And clearly he felt the same way because he made no effort to detain her when she scurried towards the door.

‘I’ll ask Janet to bring you some coffee.’ She delivered the message to the kindly receptionist and retreated to the safety of her own room, finished her clinic and then restocked and tidied until she could be sure that Logan would have left on his house calls.

‘Logan’s looking terrible,’ Janet clucked as she locked the surgery door. ‘Four cups of coffee he’s asked for this morning. It’s a wonder his hands aren’t shaking too much to hold his stethoscope. And the same yesterday.’

‘Kirsty’s probably keeping him awake,’ Evanna mumbled, as she returned a set of notes she’d borrowed. ‘Disturbed nights.’

‘Well, you can tell from the shadows under his eyes that he’s having disturbed nights, but I don’t think Kirsty is the culprit.’ Janet checked the clinic list for the afternoon. ‘He told me only yesterday that she goes right through the night now, bless her.’

‘So what’s keeping him awake?’ Evanna delved into her bag for her keys and Janet gave a sigh.

‘I don’t know, but I was hoping you did. You’re the one he talks to, Evanna. Through all of last year when he was struggling to keep everything going, you were the only one he really talked to.’

Evanna stilled. It was true. Logan had found her easy to talk to. But since she’d stripped naked in his bathroom, he’d hardly spoken a word to her that didn’t revolve around patient care.

Which meant only one thing. Clearly he felt as awkward about the whole incident as she did, which was entirely ridiculous, she told herself as she waved goodbye to Janet and made for the door. They’d known each other all their lives. Surely they could get themselves past one embarrassing incident?

If he wasn’t going to tackle the subject then she would. She’d mention it and dismiss it as if the whole incident had been nothing more than a laugh.

Logan kept the top down on his sports car, hoping that the breeze might clear his head.

Four cups of coffee and a splash of cold water on the face had done little to revive him and he vowed to have an early night.

Then he remembered that an early night was going to make no difference whatsoever. It wasn’t going to bed that was a problem, it was sleeping when he got there. Eyes open or eyes shut, he saw Evanna. Naked. Her creamy, smooth skin still glistening and damp from the shower, her hair trailing down her back. It had been two days since he’d walked in on her but he couldn’t erase the image from his brain.

He felt himself grow hard and cursed repeatedly, jabbing the car into gear more viciously than was necessary.

He was afraid to stand up when she walked into a room in case she noticed the effect she had on him.

What was the matter with him?

Why was his reaction so extreme?

Was it just because he hadn’t had sex since Catherine’s death? And so what if it was? What could he do about it? He was hardly likely to go up to Evanna and suggest that they spent a steamy night between the sheets together, was he? What was he supposed to say? Oh, good morning, Nurse Duncan. Doug McDonald’s blood pressure has come right down on his new drug regime and, by the way, do you fancy stripping naked and sleeping with me because I can’t get your body out of my head?

Suffering from an intense bout of male frustration, Logan pulled the car to the side of the road and switched off the engine.

He sat for a long moment just staring out across the sparkling sea while he sifted through the options.

Forget the whole thing, that was the obvious option. But he’d just spent an extremely frustrating two days trying to do exactly that, and it hadn’t worked. So forgetting her wasn’t an option.

But what was the alternative?

Tell her how he felt? Ask her out?

He almost laughed as he anticipated her reaction. He’d known Evanna all her life. If he asked her out, she’d laugh and, anyway, they already spent a great deal of time together. She was in and out of his house, helping him with Kirsty and joining his extended family for meals. She was his sister’s best friend. How was he supposed to make it clear that he wanted the time they spent together to be different? How was he supposed to let her know that when he asked her to spend time with him, it wasn’t a platonic invitation.

How did you turn a deep and lasting friendship into a love affair?

The answer was that you didn’t.

If anything were going to happen between them, it would have happened years ago. When they’d been teenagers, fooling around on the beach. When she’d had sleepovers with Kyla. When they’d started working together. They’d had so much opportunity.

And if Evanna had felt anything for him at all, why would she have been so appalled that he’d seen her naked?

There was no way she could have failed to be aware of his reaction to her.

And yet she hadn’t flirted or even laughed. She’d been shocked. Embarrassed. Unable to hide herself quickly enough.

Hardly the reaction of a woman keen to alter the status of their relationship.

If he showed her how he felt and she rejected him, it would make their working situation intolerable.

Which meant that somehow he had to get his feelings under control.

Somehow he had to behave as if nothing had happened.

As if he wasn’t constantly fantasising about her body.

It was impossible to miss the irony of the situation, he thought to himself as he ran a hand over his face and breathed out heavily. Finally, he was interested in a woman again. For the first time since Catherine’s death he wanted to get out there and live, instead of just surviving from day to day. But the object of his attentions was just about the only woman on the island who had never made a pass at him.

‘Evanna? Have you been listening to a word I’ve been saying? Hello? Is anyone in?’

Evanna gave a start, a far-away look in her eyes as she focused on her friend. ‘Sorry. Did you say something?’

‘No, I’m just chatting to myself for entertainment really. I love the sound of my own voice,’ Kyla quipped, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. ‘I’ve been talking to you for ten minutes and you’ve been staring out of the window with a glazed expression on your face. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was boring.’

Evanna shook her head and gave a guilty smile. ‘Sorry. I was thinking about … something.’

‘Humph.’ Kyla threw her a penetrating look. ‘I don’t suppose that something is six foot two, has blue eyes and shares my DNA?’

Evanna ignored the question. ‘So, what were you telling me about?’

‘Well, I don’t have a lifetime to repeat it, so I’ll just summarise,’ Kyla said dryly. ‘Are you going to the beach barbecue next Saturday?’

Evanna frowned. ‘I’d forgotten about it.’

‘How could you possibly have forgotten the highlight of the Glenmore social calendar?’ Kyla sat back as Meg placed a towering ice cream in front of her. ‘Thanks. I’ve been fantasising about this all day.’

Evanna shook her head in disbelief. ‘How you can consume so much ice cream and still fit into your clothes is beyond my understanding.’

‘Life is to be lived,’ Kyla said airily, sticking her spoon into the ice cream. ‘So—are you coming?’

Would Logan be there? Probably not, Evanna decided. He never went. And she needed to get out. She needed the distraction. ‘I’ll be there.’

‘Good. Ethan and I will meet you on the beach. They’re going to do a lifeboat demonstration at six.’

‘Well, I refuse to be a volunteer victim.’

‘We probably won’t need a volunteer,’ Kyla said cheerfully, finishing her ice cream in record time. ‘The tourists are so reckless, one of them is bound to be drowning at the right moment.’

‘Kyla, that’s a terrible thing to say!’

‘It’s the truth. Ask the lifeboat crew. They’ve never been as busy as they have this summer. Is that your phone ringing?’

Evanna dug into her pocket and removed the phone. ‘Missed call. I wonder who it was.’ She checked the number and frowned. ‘That’s Sonia. I wonder what she wants. I called on her yesterday.’

‘You gave her your mobile number? You’re a soft touch, Evanna Duncan.’ Kyla waved the spoon in her direction. ‘Why don’t you just let the patients move in with you? Save them having to make appointments or ring you at all.’

Evanna was too busy calling Sonia to respond. ‘She isn’t answering the phone.’ She tried the number again but it was busy.

‘She’s probably busy ringing you!’

‘She’s supposed to be going to the hospital on Monday for a check. Her blood pressure has been giving Logan nightmares.’

Kyla’s smile faded. ‘Yes, well, obviously heavily pregnant women aren’t his favourite thing after what happened to Catherine.’

‘I know that. But we can hardly send everyone to live on the mainland the moment they become pregnant.’ Evanna glanced at her watch and stood up. ‘If I go now, I’ve time to call in before my afternoon surgery. Thanks for the coffee. Meg?’ She called across the café. ‘I’m off.’

Meg was cutting a large chocolate cake into generous slices, ready for the afternoon rush. ‘Will we see you at the beach barbecue, dear?’

‘Yes. I hope so.’ Evanna was distracted. Why was Sonia calling? Was she in trouble?

‘It’s going to be a fantastic night. Ben and Nick have planned the most fantastic firework display.’

‘I’m looking forward to it. I’ll call you, Kyla!’ Evanna hurried out of the café and onto the quay. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was blazing. Tourists ambled along the pavement next to the harbour, legs and shoulders bared, feet tucked into flip-flops. They queued for boat trips and crowded into the ice-cream shops in an attempt to cool down.

‘Good afternoon, Nurse Duncan!’

Spotting the headmistress from the local primary school, Evanna quickly crossed the road to talk to her.

‘Hello, Miss Carne. Everything all right?’ Immediately she felt ten years old again and to cover her awkwardness she stooped to pat the little dog that was panting in the heat. ‘Are you enjoying the school holidays?’

‘Yes. I’m off to Venice next week with my friend Diane from Glasgow. We’re having a city break.’

‘Well, that will be a change from island life. You have a good time and don’t forget your inhalers.’ She blushed, always uncomfortable discussing health topics with her old headmistress. Usually she left it to Kyla, who was much bolder.

‘I won’t. I had a long chat with Kyla about what I should be doing with them on holiday and Dr MacNeil wrote me a new prescription. What about you, dear? Are you getting away?’

‘No. I’ve just had my bathroom done and it’s left a hole in my bank balance.’ Evanna laughed as she straightened up. ‘Does that sound sad?’

‘Not at all. Very indulgent. You’ll be able to enjoy it the whole year round.’

‘It doesn’t feel indulgent at the moment when I’m stepping over dust and rubble. Still, I hope it will be finished soon.’ It didn’t matter how old you were, she reflected, your headmistress was always going to be your headmistress.

Miss Carne adjusted her glasses, as she’d always done at the beginning of every lesson. ‘Are you going to the beach barbecue on Saturday?’

Why was everyone suddenly so interested in whether she was going? ‘Yes, I think so.’ Evanna brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and tried to remind herself that she was an adult now, with a responsible job. ‘Well, I’d better go. I have afternoon clinic starting soon and I want to call in on Sonia on the way.’

Miss Carne gave an indulgent smile. ‘Little Evanna. You were always such a star at English.’

‘But hopeless at maths,’ Evanna murmured, and the other lady smiled.

‘You would have done a great deal better if that little monkey Kyla hadn’t always been talking to you instead of letting you concentrate! I always knew you’d be a wonderful nurse. If someone fell in the playground, you were always there, patching them up, delivering a hug.’

Evanna blushed. ‘Well—it’s good to see you, Miss Carne.’

‘You take care, dear. Oh, Evanna—I’ve been meaning to ask you.’ She frowned. ‘Do you know the little Price girl? Helen. She moved here in the spring with her family. She joined my reception class.’

Evanna recalled Kyla pointing out a little girl on the beach earlier in the summer. ‘Vaguely. I haven’t actually met them. Why?’

Ann Carne looked thoughtful. ‘She just seems quite a delicate child. And I noticed during sports day that she was terribly out of breath. I thought she might have asthma.’

‘Have you mentioned it to the parents?’

‘Well, the father’s hardly ever around. He’s a journalist, I think. Travels all the time. And the mother is quite shy. Not mixing that well.’

‘To my knowledge she hasn’t been to see us, but obviously I was away for a month so I can’t be sure. I’ll dig out her records and have a check. And I’ll have a word with Logan.’ Evanna dodged a group of tourists and slid into her car. ‘Bye, Miss Carne.’

‘You shouldn’t be parking there, Nurse Duncan.’ Nick Hillier, the island policeman, stuck his head through her open window. ‘I ought to book you.’

‘Now, why would you do a thing like that when you’ve so many other better things to be doing?’ She smiled at him, wishing that she could find him attractive. Kyla always said that it was because he’d tied their plaits together in school but Evanna knew that wasn’t true. At least, not for her. The reason she couldn’t find Nick Hillier attractive was because she was crazy about Logan and always had been.

‘Nick, can I ask you something? When you see Miss Carne, does she make you feel as though you’re back in primary school?’

He grinned. ‘Every time. Even when I have her in a cell in handcuffs.’

Evanna laughed at the ridiculous image that his words created. ‘I always feel very uncomfortable with her.’

‘I don’t know why because you were always her favourite. In fact, you were pretty much everyone’s favourite,’ Nick said gruffly, and Evanna looked at him, startled.

‘Nick—’

He lifted a hand and gave a rueful smile. ‘I’m not going to ask you on a date because I know you’ll only refuse me, and there’s only so much rejection a guy can take, but are you going to the beach barbecue on Saturday?’

‘Yes.’ Evanna fastened her seat belt and started the engine. ‘Although why everyone is so interested in whether or not I’m going is a mystery to me.’

‘I suppose we’re all hoping you’re going to make an extra-big batch of your double chocolate brownies.’ Nick grinned and stood up. ‘If you don’t, I just might have to give you a night in the cells handcuffed to your old headmistress.’

‘If you saw the current state of my house you’d realise that the cells are currently an attractive option. I have to go, Nick. I want to call on Sonia.’

Nick frowned. ‘I saw her earlier. She looked pale.’

‘I’m going to check on her now.’ Evanna felt a flicker of unease. ‘I really have to go. Take care of yourself and make sure you arrest anyone who isn’t using sun cream. We’re fed up with treating burns.’

He laughed and stood back so that she could pull out.

Evanna drove away from the harbour and took the turning that led inland to Sonia’s house. She should just have time to call in, reassure herself that everything was all right and that the call had been about something trivial, and still make it in time for her afternoon clinic.

And then she saw another car close behind her. An open-topped sports car with a dark-haired man at the wheel.

Logan. And he was flashing his lights.

She pulled up outside Sonia’s house and hurried out of her car. ‘What are you doing here? Sonia tried to phone me and—’

‘Her waters have broken.’ Logan’s tone was grim. ‘Steve called me five minutes ago. There’s a ferry leaving in ten minutes. Damn it, Evanna, we’d better get her on that boat because I am not delivering another baby on this island.’

‘Calm down,’ Evanna said softly, reflecting on the fact that she’d never had to use those words to Logan before. In all the years they’d worked together, she’d never seen him panic. ‘It’s her first baby so I’m sure there’s plenty of time. Given that she’s only thirty-six weeks, I agree that we should transfer her to the mainland. Is she having contractions?’

‘Not according to Steve.’

Evanna looked at his face and saw the tension. She put a steadying hand on his arm. ‘It’s going to be fine, Logan.’ And then she realised what an utterly stupid thing that was to say because it hadn’t been fine for Catherine. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be.’ His voice was harsh. ‘And I’m sure it will be OK but I’d rather it was fine on the mainland and not on this island. I’m not delivering another baby here, Evanna. Unless the head is actually showing, she’s going on that ferry. And if the head is about to be delivered, I’m calling the helicopter.’

‘Logan …’ It was so unlike him to be anything other than entirely relaxed that for a moment she didn’t know how to respond and she wasn’t given a chance to work out the right thing to say because Steve appeared in the doorway, the phone in his hand.

‘Thank goodness you’re here. She’s having contractions.’ He spoke rapidly and there was panic in his voice. ‘Strong ones. Every minute.’

Evanna grabbed her bag from the car and sprinted down the path. ‘Where is she?’

‘Up in the bedroom. She was having a lie-down when it all started. She stood up to go to the toilet and her waters broke. Then nothing for a while and then suddenly all this pain and she keeps yelling at me and telling me she feels sick.’ Steve jabbed his fingers through his hair. ‘Her bag’s packed and everything. Should I take her to the hospital?’

‘Yes. Get the car out of the garage,’ Logan said tersely, but Evanna intervened.

‘We’ll just look at her first,’ she said quickly, catching Logan’s eye to prevent him from arguing with her. It wouldn’t help Steve to know that Logan was worried. ‘Can I go up?’

‘Of course. You know where it is. First on the right.’

Evanna ran up the narrow staircase and pushed open the bedroom door. ‘Sonia?’

She was on the floor, kneeling, her elbows on the bed. Her hair was sticking to her forehead and her eyes were scared. ‘Nurse Duncan. Thank goodness. I tried to call you.’

‘I know. I had a missed call and then you didn’t answer. But I’m here now. Goodness, you look hot. Let’s get a cool flannel on your head.’ Evanna dropped her bag on the floor and knelt down next to Sonia. ‘You’re going to be fine, I promise. I just need to wash my hands and then I can take a look at you and we can decide what to do. Can I use the bathroom?’

‘Through there.’ Sonia waved a hand and then gave a howl of pain and buried her head in her arms. Steve came thundering up the stairs and slid an arm round her.

‘There, love. You’re doing well,’ he said in a bracingly cheerful tone.

Evanna emerged from the bathroom in time to hear Sonia snap, ‘Get away from me.’

Seeing the hurt and confusion on Steve’s face, she put a hand on his arm. ‘Women in labour always say things they don’t mean,’ she said softly, kneeling on the floor next to Sonia and rubbing her shoulders.

‘I just want to help,’ Steve said helplessly, and Evanna nodded.

‘Could you fetch a jug of iced water? And a cool flannel would be welcome, I’m sure. This heat is stifling.’

‘I put the fan on her but it seemed to make her cross.’

‘Don’t tell the whole island I’m moody!’ The contraction eased and Sonia groaned. ‘This is agony. Why don’t any of the books tell you that it’s this painful? There’s all this rubbish about breathing through the pain and when it hits it’s so bad I can’t breathe at all!’

‘How often have the pains been coming?’

‘It feels continuous,’ Sonia groaned. ‘My waters broke and there was nothing and then suddenly, wham. Agony.’

‘Evanna.’ Logan’s tone was sharp and Evanna looked up to see him standing in the doorway, his knuckles white as he held onto his phone. ‘We need to get her to the hospital. Jim is holding the ferry.’

‘I’ll go and get the car,’ Steve began, but at that moment Sonia turned her head and was violently sick into the bowl that Steve had left by her side.

‘She can’t go on a ferry like this, Logan,’ Evanna remonstrated softly, sliding a hand over Sonia’s shoulders to support her, ‘neither can she go on a helicopter. I need to examine her, but I think she’s in transition.’

‘Transition?’ Logan repeated the word as if he’d never heard it before, and Evanna felt a twist of unease deep inside her.

Since the death of his wife in childbirth, Logan had always been careful to transfer every woman to the mainland in time for delivery.

Was he going to be able to cope with this?

‘She’s not going anywhere, Logan. She’s going to have the baby here, and that’s fine.’ For everyone’s sake, Evanna kept her voice calm and steady. She didn’t want to frighten Sonia. Logan’s jaw tightened and he glared at her as if she were personally responsible for the fact that Sonia had gone into labour a month early while still on the island.

Understanding the reason for his tension, Evanna wanted to reach out and hug him. She wanted to tell him that she understood. She wanted to reassure him and talk it through with him, but Sonia gave another groan and writhed in agony.

‘Breathe in now, Sonia,’ Evanna instructed, her eyes still on Logan’s face as she coached Sonia through the contraction. ‘That’s good. Well done. Just as we practised in class.’ She was talking and encouraging but her attention was on Logan.

His face was white and drawn and suddenly she felt tiny fingers of panic slide down her spine. If this turned out to be a normal delivery then there would be no problem, but if she needed a doctor, would Logan be able to help?

She’d never known him like this before—never known him anything but completely calm and in control. Normally it was Logan who led everything. The time Michael King had crashed his tractor and suffered a severe head injury, it had been Logan who had managed to keep him alive. When Barbara Mullond’s baby had developed meningitis, it had been Logan’s quick actions and incredible instincts that had prevented a disaster. He was never anything less than confident and skilled and she was used to turning to him.

As Sonia’s contraction eased, Evanna rocked back on her heels and snapped on a pair of gloves.

Was it her fault? Should she have sent Sonia into hospital sooner? But even as she asked herself the question, she knew that the answer to that was no. She’d looked at the guidelines, she’d discussed Sonia’s case with the hospital and she’d monitored her regularly. She’d done all the right things, but the truth was that, no matter how careful they were, childbirth was occasionally unpredictable. They couldn’t transfer everyone just because they lived in a rural area.

But Logan certainly didn’t need this particular outcome.

Why did life have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t Sonia’s delivery have been straightforward? Logan’s face was white and drawn and Evanna felt awful for him, hardly daring to imagine what he must be thinking. After what had happened with Catherine, he didn’t need this. And she wasn’t in a position to offer the support he deserved because she had a labouring woman to deal with.

Afterwards, she promised herself, forgetting the awkwardness that had suddenly emerged between them. After this was over she’d make sure he had the opportunity to talk.

Before she could examine Sonia, another contraction consumed her and suddenly Evanna was in absolutely no doubt that the arrival of the baby was imminent. There was going to be no time to get her to the mainland. No time even to track down Ethan, the other island doctor.

Somehow she was going to have to do this by herself but make it look as though Logan was helping. She didn’t want the inhabitants of the island gossiping.

‘I don’t want to do this any more! I’ve changed my mind.’ Sonia started to sob and thump her husband. ‘This is all your fault. All of it. I hate you. I really hate you. You were the one who wanted children!’

‘You said you wanted them, too. Sonia.’ Stricken and helpless, Steve tried to take her in his arms but she thumped his chest and pushed him away.

‘Get away from me! Don’t touch me! I hope you wanted an only child because this is the last baby we’re going to have!’ Sonia gave a gasp and then leaned over and vomited again.

‘You poor thing,’ Evanna soothed, holding the bowl and gently stroking Sonia’s damp hair away from her face. ‘You’re in transition, Sonia. Do you remember that we talked about that stage? This is often the most uncomfortable bit of the whole process, but you’re nearly there. When this contraction passes I’m going to examine you and I’m willing to bet that you’re almost fully dilated and ready to push.’

Sonia’s face was blotched with tears and she clutched at Evanna’s hand. ‘I’m scared,’ she confessed, her face crumpling. ‘It wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it? I know it’s dangerous—’

‘It’s not at all dangerous,’ Evanna soothed, her voice calm and level. ‘People have babies at home all the time. It’s perfect.’

‘But they don’t have babies stuck on Glenmore Island! You didn’t want me to have this baby at home. Dr MacNeil didn’t want me to have it at home.’

‘Doctors never do, but that doesn’t mean that Dr MacNeil isn’t perfectly capable of assisting in a delivery if he has to,’ Evanna said firmly, hoping that Logan wouldn’t contradict her. She slid a hand over Sonia’s abdomen, feeling the tightening. ‘You’ve got another contraction coming now, Sonia. Lovely deep breath for me.’

‘It’s all going wrong.’

‘Everything is completely normal. Nothing is going wrong.’ Evanna glanced towards Logan, willing him to say something to support her—something encouraging—but he was frozen to the spot, his face an expressionless mask. She felt her insides twist in sympathy. She could only imagine just how terrible this situation must be for him. It must bring everything back.

Perhaps some fresh air would do the trick. ‘Logan.’ She kept her voice light and confident. ‘Can you go to the car and fetch the delivery pack from my boot, please?’

For a moment he didn’t respond and she wondered if he’d even heard her. What should she do? Uneasily, she repeated her question.

‘Logan—the boot’s open. Can you fetch the delivery pack, please?’

‘I’ve called the helicopter.’ His voice was hoarse and Evanna gave a nod and a smile, trying to look as though they were having a routine conversation.

‘That’s great. Good idea. But I do need the delivery pack from my boot.’ Please, Logan.

‘Dr MacNeil?’ Sonia’s voice faltered and she looked pleadingly at Logan. ‘Is everything all right? You look a bit funny.’

Evanna discreetly slid a hand into her pocket and removed her mobile phone. This wasn’t going to work. She was going to have to call Ethan. She needed medical back-up and Logan obviously wasn’t able to give it. His face was grey with strain and she hadn’t seen him look so drawn since Catherine’s death.

Sonia must have seen it, too, because she gave a whimper of panic. ‘Dr MacNeil?’

The fear in her voice must have penetrated Logan’s brain because he suddenly stepped forward. ‘It’s all right, Sonia.’ His voice gruff, he moved across to them and sat on the edge of the bed.

Sonia’s eyes were terrified. ‘You don’t want me to do this here, do you? You’re afraid that.’ The words lay unspoken in the air and Logan hesitated for a moment and then took her hand in his.

‘I’m not afraid of anything,’ he said roughly. ‘Of course I would have rather you had the baby in hospital because I’m a doctor and we’re only ever comfortable if we’re surrounded by technology that beeps at us. Ask Evanna. Midwives despair of us doctors because we always try and turn childbirth into something medical because that’s all we understand. But women have been having babies successfully by themselves for centuries. And Evanna is the best midwife I’ve ever worked with. You don’t need to worry.’

Almost weak with relief, Evanna slid the phone back into her pocket without making the call. ‘Well, luckily for you, I’m here to show you how it’s supposed to be done, Dr MacNeil,’ she said lightly. ‘But in order to do that, I need some equipment.’

‘Of course. The delivery pack from your boot.’ Logan gave Sonia’s hand another squeeze and rose to his feet. ‘I’ll fetch it.’

He left the room and Sonia screwed up her face. ‘Oh, here we go again. Oh, my.’ She swore fluently and her husband blinked several times and then glanced at Evanna, embarrassment on his face.

‘I’ve never heard her use language like that before.’

‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘My feet are tingling. Something’s the matter.’

‘You’re breathing too fast, that’s what’s the matter,’ Evanna said calmly. ‘Just try and slow everything down. That’s better. Good. Here’s Dr MacNeil now. I’m going to wash my hands, then I’m going to examine you.’

‘Don’t leave me!’ Sonia’s voice was sharp with panic. ‘Please, don’t leave me!’

‘I’m just going to—’

‘I want to push.’

Logan opened the pack swiftly, his hands steady. ‘She can’t possibly have dilated that quickly,’ he muttered to Evanna, and she cast a wry smile in his direction.

‘Babies don’t always perform according to the textbook. Don’t push, Sonia, because if you’re not fully dilated you could damage your cervix. Steve, can you fetch clean towels and spread them over the floor?’ Swiftly Evanna washed her hands and pulled on a pair of gloves.

Sonia was trying to breathe steadily. ‘My back hurts so much. I’m so uncomfortable.’

Evanna looked at Steve who had returned with armfuls of towels, which he placed at Sonia’s feet. ‘If you could just rub her lower back, that might help.’ She quickly checked her equipment and prepared for the delivery. A swift examination told her that there was no time to move Sonia even had she wanted to. Her perineum was distended and the head was clearly visible. ‘This baby is certainly in a hurry. I can see the baby’s head, Sonia, so I don’t need to examine you. Try and relax between contractions. That’s good. Now pant. Don’t push. Pant.’ As she delivered the baby’s head she was aware of Logan beside her and felt relieved to have him there.

‘Cord,’ he said quietly, and she gave a nod and gently freed the loop of cord that was round the baby’s neck. ‘I’ll give the syntometrine. I don’t think we should risk a physiological third stage. Do you agree?’

It was typical of Logan to confer with her rather than just dictating, as so many other doctors would have done in the same situation. Evanna nodded agreement, knowing that to leave the placenta to be delivered naturally increased the chances of post-partum haemorrhage. And they had no facilities to deal with haemorrhage.

‘One more push and the baby should be born, Sonia,’ she said huskily, hoping and praying that this was one delivery that would be straightforward from here on. Please, don’t let there be any complications. Not this time. Not again. Glenmore Island had already had its fair share of obstetric emergencies.

The baby shot out into her waiting hands and Evanna let out a delighted laugh that was full of relief. ‘Oh, Sonia, she’s beautiful. A little girl.’ The baby yelled furiously and Sonia gave a sob as she turned onto her bottom and took the baby from Evanna.

‘Oh, Steve.’ Sonia’s voice was choked and tears poured down her face as she held her daughter. ‘She’s beautiful. Perfect.’

Evanna looked at Logan, saw him dispose of the syringe and close his eyes briefly. Then he caught her gaze and gave a faint smile and a nod.

‘OK.’

‘OK,’ Evanna agreed quietly, as she clamped the cord. ‘A perfectly straightforward delivery. Thank you, Dr MacNeil.’

‘I didn’t—’

‘You were great. Sonia, I think you’d be more comfortable up on the bed now. You can have a proper cuddle with her.’

Kyla appeared in the doorway. ‘I gather we’re having a drama. The helicopter is here. Oh, my goodness, they’re obviously a bit late.’ She watched as Evanna delivered the placenta and then she grinned at Sonia. ‘You were always determined to have your home birth, weren’t you?’

Sonia shook her head, her eyes misty. ‘It was perfect. I wouldn’t have missed a moment of it.’

‘Perfect? Are you kidding?’ Steve stared at her in confusion. ‘You were yelling like a madwoman. And telling me we were never having any more children. And swearing.’

‘Was I?’ Placid and calm now, Sonia gently stroked the baby’s head. ‘She needs a bath. And so do I. It’s so hot in here. Why did I have to have a baby in August? Next time I’m going for January.’

Quietly, and with a minimum of fuss, Evanna helped Sonia attach the baby to the breast, skin to skin, and then covered her. ‘It will help your uterus contract,’ she explained, ‘and also keep the baby warm.’ She looked at Logan. Saw the lines of strain around his eyes. ‘She needs to go to the hospital anyway, given that her blood pressure was up and the baby is four weeks early. We may as well use your helicopter.’

He nodded agreement. ‘I’ll go and speak to them. Will you get her ready?’

‘She’s a month early.’ Sonia was watching the feeding baby with wonder and awe. ‘Will she be all right?’

‘Well, if her appetite is anything to go by, she’s going to fit right into this island. We’ll have her gorging herself at Meg’s in no time,’ Kyla said with a grin, helping Evanna to clear up. ‘What are you calling her?’

‘Oh …’ Sonia glanced at Steve, her eyes shining. ‘We couldn’t agree, could we? It was a battle between Emma and Rachel.’

‘You wanted Rachel and I think she looks like a Rachel,’ Steve murmured, his voice gruff. ‘What do you think of Rachel Evanna?’

Touched, Evanna glanced up from her preparations. ‘You don’t have to do that.’

‘We want to.’ Sonia smiled at her husband and then looked at Evanna, gratitude in her eyes. ‘We’re so grateful to you and Dr MacNeil. You were both amazing.’

‘Just don’t call her Logan,’ Kyla advised cheerfully, folding a towel neatly. ‘One of those is more than enough on an island this size. I’ll go and tell the helicopter lads what’s happening. Which one of you is going with her?’

‘Me,’ Evanna said immediately. ‘Logan has to get back to surgery and then there’s Kirsty to think of. Can you cover my clinic, Kyla? Ask some of them to come back tomorrow.’

‘I don’t think they’ll mind doing that, given the reason.’ Kyla took a last peep at the baby and sighed. ‘Maybe I’m broody after all.’

Evanna laughed and ignored the painful twist of her heart. ‘I’d better warn Ethan.’