Tina Beckett - Cinderella And The Surgeon / Miracle Baby For The Midwife

‘I’ve found over the years when we’ve had to do significant adverse event reviews, or even child death reviews, that often in case notes we can pick up tiny comments that might not seem like much to begin with, but when you stop—’ he held up his hands and swept them around ‘—and look at the whole picture, they all prove to be part of the jigsaw puzzle. The one that we often don’t put together until it’s far too late.’ He bit his bottom lip… There was something about this; she could tell he was keeping his emotions in check, and it made her stop feeling quite so angry at him. He took a deep breath. ‘So, I’ve learned to pay attention. To read all the notes—by everybody involved—and keep everything in mind.’ His toffee eyes locked on hers. ‘Because what’s the point in doing all these reviews if we don’t actually learn anything from them?’

Her mouth had gone dry. There was so much more to this story. Yes, she felt under the spotlight by him. Yes, she felt as if his words yesterday had been unjustified. But now he was telling her exactly why he was being meticulous, and her previously irritated brain could absolutely understand it.

He worked around a variety of hospitals. It was doubtful that he could remember anyone’s name. Everyone knew that some hospital units were better run than others. Esther could write a list right now of places she would never apply for a permanent position. Was it any wonder he didn’t think twice about handing over written instructions postsurgery for a patient?

Maybe she was letting her annoyance with him yesterday colour her judgement.

He was still standing there. Just a few steps away from her. She could see the rise and fall of his chest under his tailored shirt. The shirt that probably cost more than any outfit in her closet at home.

It was hard not to see the differences between them both. His cut-glass accent both annoyed and intrigued her. What was it really like to be a member of the upper classes? She was pretty sure she’d never met anyone before who would fall into that category. Had Harry been guaranteed a place at one of the best medical schools as part of his birthright? Or was all that outdated nonsense? She really had no clue.

What she was sure about was that he hadn’t had to juggle school work with two part-time jobs at school, and study into the late hours to make the grades he needed. Esther wasn’t some natural genius. She’d worked hard to get what she needed to get into university in Scotland. Doing the conversion course to midwifery in London had only been possible because of a grant from a Scottish millionaire who stayed in her area and invited Scots people to apply. Scotland was one of the few places on the planet where university tuition was free for their kids. But if a Scots kid wanted to do a course that was only offered in England? Then, like everyone else, they had to pay. She’d only been able to get to the Queen Victoria through getting the grant to fund her fees. It had also covered her rent during her training, so she was much luckier than most. But somehow she knew that Harry Beaumont had never had to worry about tuition fees or accommodation in his life.

Her mind drifted. Wondering if he’d ever been to Buckingham Palace or knew anyone there. Maybe he’d been best friends with one of the younger princes? He’d be around the same age.

Esther’s eyes fixated on his arms again. The muscles made her wonder if he was a rower. That would be it. He’d probably been part of either Oxford or Cambridge’s row teams.

There was a soft cough to her left and she jerked, turning to see Jill watching her with a strange expression on her face.

‘Everything okay?’

Jill looked between them both. ‘That’s just what I was about to ask you. You both seem to have been here awhile. Is there something wrong with Billy?’

Harry automatically stepped backwards. ‘No, no, everything is fine. I’m very pleased with Billy’s progress.’

He seemed to rethink his words. ‘Of course, we’re still going to keep monitoring him closely for the next few days. But, so far, he’s making a good recovery.’

Esther felt a tiny flash of something. The way he’d retreated from his initial words. It was almost like he didn’t want to seem too confident that Billy was out of the woods. Not to give Jill too many reassurances that could lead her to think that nothing else could go wrong.

She wondered if Jill had even noticed. But it didn’t really matter because Esther had. She put her hands on her hips and gave a little stretch backwards. It was odd. She was still having to take paracetamol for her temperature and she had still had that odd heavy feeling. Usually by this point the antibiotics would have started to kick in, and the tiredness at least would have begun to lift.

But not yet.

Her appetite hadn’t quite returned either. Yesterday she’d ate that scone, and then hadn’t eaten until later at night—and that had just been a bowl of soup. This morning she hadn’t even eaten breakfast, just made do with a caramel latte. That had been on the way into work, and funny thing was, she still wasn’t hungry.

She gave Jill a smile. ‘How you doing? I’ll be going to the canteen later for some food. Want to come with me?’

It didn’t matter whether she was hungry or not. Some of the other staff had noted that Jill hadn’t been eating much. Hospital meals were always supplied for parents in the NICU, but Jill hadn’t been touching hers. She did occasionally leave the NICU and say she was going to buy something—usually from a vending machine—but Esther wasn’t convinced. Maybe it was time to try another tack.

Jill shot a glance at the crib. ‘But if you’re with me, who will watch Billy?’ There was genuine apprehension in her voice.

‘I will,’ came the deep reply without hesitation. ‘I intend to be around most of the day, so let me know when you both want to go, and I’ll make myself a coffee, and take up post in the most comfortable chair in the place.’

He pointed to the reclining chair that Jill had next to Billy’s crib and she let out a laugh. Not all of the chairs in the unit could tip back the way Jill’s did and she was the envy of some of the other parents. ‘You promise you won’t leave him?’ She looked over at Esther, then turned back to Harry. ‘I know all the staff are good, but I trust Esther the most. I only ever leave Billy for more than a few minutes if she’s here.’

He held up his hands, laughing. ‘So what am I? The sloppy second?’

Colour rushed into Jill’s cheeks but Esther quickly took a step towards Harry and nudged him. ‘That’s what I like. A surgeon that knows his place.’ She couldn’t hide the glint in her eye.

They’d definitely started off on the wrong foot together, but she was beginning to understand him just a little more. He might not be quite as arrogant as she’d first thought. As if right on cue her stomach gave a grumble.

‘Oh,’ said Jill. ‘Shall we go now? Let me grab my bag.’

Esther put her hands to her stomach and let out an embarrassed laugh. ‘Oops.’

‘Better make my coffee, then,’ said Harry quickly as he ducked into the NICU kitchen.

Esther went to check with one of her other colleagues that it was fine to leave. ‘Harry’s apparently watching Billy,’ she told her.

Danielle raised her eyebrows. ‘The surgeon? How on earth did you manage that one?’

‘I didn’t,’ she said, feeling a little uncomfortable. It was unusual. She couldn’t remember a surgeon ever offering to keep watch on a baby. Not to cover a break at least. ‘He offered.’ She paused for a second, then added, ‘I think he’s concerned about mum. I offered to take Jill down to the canteen but she was reluctant to go and leave Billy.’