Chapter EIGHT
‘SALT water.’ Eden had the cup in the small kitchenette. She’d tipped some of the contents out onto a spoon and tasted it as David walked in. ‘It’s salt. That’s why he has excess sodium.’
‘You shouldn’t taste it!’ David removed the cup. ‘Anything could be in there. It could be a poisonous substance. We need to wait for Pathology.
It’ll only take an hour or so.’
‘Where I come from pathology takes weeks on end to come back. I knew the contents couldn’t be too bad, and besides, Dart’s been drinking it non-stop. One tiny teaspoonful wasn’t going to hurt me. And now we know. It’s salt water.’
‘But why? Why would any mother do this to her child?’
‘Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy.’
‘Attention? Mrs Wilman wants attention?’
‘Usually it’s a parent who is alone who needs attention—likes the company of the nursing staff, the hospital environment. They’ll go to extreme lengths—even allowing their child to have unnecessary surgery—in order to get the attention they crave, for people to listen to them, to respect them.’
‘Her husband does work abroad a lot. He’s rarely home.’
‘Didn’t you or someone else mention that she’d only spent one night away from Dart?’
David’s eyes widened as everything seemed to fall into place. ‘That was the night he picked up.’
‘And what happened when she returned?’
‘I told her Dart was doing so well we’d be able to discharge him.’
‘That meant taking her son home to an empty house where she’d have sole responsibility for him.’
‘And then he went downhil again.’ David rubbed his fingers across his brow. ‘She’s a sick woman.’
‘She needs help, David.’
He slowly shook his head. ‘Not the day I had planned, but…’ He straightened his shoulders. ‘Duty calls, and that little boy needs rescuing.’
‘Let’s go save our little musketeer.’
Quite a few hours had passed before Eden was able to get time to see Sasha, and when she walked into her friend’s room she was met with a beaming smile.
‘I stood!’
‘What?’ Eden was by Sasha’s side in an instant.
‘I stood. All by myself. Well, I was holding onto the paral ell bars for dear life, but I still stood.’
‘Paral ell bars, eh? Practising for the Olympics?’
Sasha laughed with glee. ‘Who knows?’ They both laughed. ‘I stood.’
‘Does Robert know?’
‘He was there. He said he was going out to buy me a new outfit to wear tonight.’
‘And so he should. Good man. Wow! This is just the good news I needed.’
‘Tough day?’
‘And then some. I won’t bore you with the details.’
‘I’ve tried calling David, but I’ve only been able to leave messages for him to call me back.’
‘He’s still in meetings.’
‘It does sound like a tough day.’
‘But when you do tell him it’ll bring the smile back to his face. We both knew you had it in you to kick those statistics which said you’d never walk again right out of the park. Literally.’ Tears of happiness pricked behind Eden’s eyes. ‘It’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you.’ The two friends hugged.
‘And what about you? David told me this morning when he stopped by that you went to see your family yesterday.’
‘Yes.’ Eden sighed. ‘Not as exciting as what you’ve accomplished.’
‘It’s still a big deal, Ede. David said it went well?’
She shrugged. ‘Todd’s still mad, but for the most part it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. David was incredibly supportive. I wouldn’t have managed without him there to hold my hand.’
‘Literally?’
Sasha raised her eyebrows and Eden decided not to answer that question…just yet. Although she was excited about the kisses she and David had shared, for some reason, she wasn’t ready to blurt it all out to Sasha. Her friend had enough to deal with, and at this stage Eden wasn’t even sure what was happening between herself and David. She didn’t want to give Sasha false hope.
‘I’m just so sorry I couldn’t have been there for you.’
‘Well, you had a good excuse.’
‘So…did anything else happen?’
‘With my family? Not really.’
‘No, with David, you ninny.’
‘Why do you ask?’ Eden perched herself on a chair next to the bed and tried to look nonchalant.
‘Because David looked happy and exhausted and confused this morning, and the last time I saw him look that way was the morning after you two first got together.’
‘Oh? So you think because he looked like that this morning we might have…kissed?’
‘Yes.’ Sasha was immediately on edge, and when Eden didn’t say anything straight away, her impatience won out. ‘Well? Did you?’
Eden couldn’t contain her repressed excitement any longer, and a grin split her face as she sighed romantically. ‘Yes.’
‘Yay!’ Sasha clapped her hands. ‘This is good. This is brilliant. My brother and my best friend! Ooh, you can finally marry him and we’ll be sisters for real.’
sisters for real.’
‘Whoa. Slow down there, Tex. We just kissed. There are still hurdles to jump.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me this morning when we spoke? You’ve had a crush on him, like, for ever, so why the tight lips?’
Eden grimaced. ‘I don’t know. You’ve got your whole rehab thing going on, and he’s your brother, and—’
‘And you didn’t want me getting my hopes up and getting all excited and saying that we could finally be real sisters and stuff like that? Right?’
Eden smiled at her friend and squeezed her hand. ‘Something like that. Gee, I’ve missed you.’
‘Then stay. You don’t have to miss me. You can work things out with David and live the happily-ever-after life I know you’ve always wanted. You can still travel, still work with PMA. But live here in Sydney. Spend time mending fences with your family.’ Sasha nodded enthusiastically. ‘You can do this, Eden. It would be great. Our kids can be friends and go to the same schools, create absolute havoc the way we used to.’
‘You make a convincing argument.’ Eden eased back into the chair as Sasha leaned back on her pillows and sighed again. ‘But how about we just focus on getting you rested up so we can celebrate your accomplishments this evening?’
‘There is much to celebrate.’
‘Yes, there is—which means it’s time for you to zip your lip and have a rest.’
‘I’m not that tired,’ sasha protested, trying to smother a yawn.
‘Like I’m really going to believe you. Shh, and do as the doctor says.’
‘You’re not my doctor.’
‘Then do as your best friend says.’
‘Oh. All right then, bossy britches.’
Eden picked up the book which was by the bed and started reading out loud from the novel. By the time she’d finished the end of the first page Sasha was asleep. She read on silently to herself, getting so drawn into the story she didn’t hear the door open.
‘Excuse me?’ a soft female voice said from the doorway.
Eden looked up to see a pretty blonde with blue eyes standing there. She was pregnant, and by Eden’s expert guess had about eight weeks to go. ‘Can I help you?’
The woman pointed to the bed, and Eden noticed the large wedding and engagement rings on her left hand. ‘I’ve come to see Sasha, but she’s obviously sleeping. I don’t want to wake her.’
Eden looked at her friend. ‘She’ll sleep for another half an hour at least.’
‘Oh.’ The blonde looked disappointed. ‘I knew I should have called first, but I thought visiting hours were all day on the spinal ward.’
‘They are, but patients sleep when they need to. I’m Eden, by the way,’ she said, standing up and putting the book down. ‘Come and have a seat.’
‘ The Eden?’
‘Um…’ She was a little stunned at such a question. ‘I guess so.’
‘I’ve heard so much about you over the years. Both David and Sasha speak so highly of you.’
Eden raised her eyebrows at this news. So who was this woman?
‘I’m Jacquie.’ Jacquie held out her hand, but as she did so she grimaced and immediately felt her stomach. ‘I’m sorry. Alyce has decided to do aerobics all day long, it seems.’
So this was Jacqueline. The woman who had married David and later divorced him. Eden kept her smile in place, feeling a little awkward.
After all, last night she’d realised she was in love with this woman’s ex-husband. Surely that was a good enough reason to feel uncomfortable?
‘Alyce?’
‘My daughter.’ Jacquie rubbed her stomach with pride and joy.
‘Come and sit down.’ Eden helped Jacquie over to the chair.
‘That’s right—you’re a doctor, too, aren’t you? I remember David telling me that. It was a shame you didn’t make it back for Sasha’s wedding.
He was really looking forward to seeing you.’
‘I didn’t realise I’d be so badly missed,’ Eden replied, watching the woman closely, her professional instincts kicking in. ‘How long has Alyce been doing her aerobic routine?’
Jacquie shifted uncomfortably. ‘For at least the last five hours. I woke up to her doing this, and as I couldn’t sleep I thought I’d get up and make my way in here. Everything takes so long. To shower, to dress, and now I’ve had back pain to top it all off.’
‘Have you eaten anything?’
Jacquie laughed. ‘You doctors. You simply can’t resist. Yes, I’ve had some dry crackers and a cup of peppermint tea. Alyce likes it.’
‘And the back pain?’
‘It’s fine. I’m fine. Worry about Sasha. I’m not due for another eight weeks.’
‘Babies come when they’re ready, Jacquie, regardless of the schedules we like to impose on them. We only do that so we feel like we have some control over the situation—because if we admit that we don’t, we don’t usually cope very well.’
Jacquie tilted her head to the side. ‘What sort of doctor are you?’
Eden smiled. ‘I’m a paediatrician, like David, but I’ve delivered my fair share of babies.’ And something told her all was not well with Jacquie.
‘When did you last see your obstetrician?’
‘Last week. He said I was fine. He said Alyce was fine.’
‘And you’re due to see him again when?’
‘Not until the end of next week.’
‘This is your first pregnancy, right?’
Jacquie’s gaze dropped, but she answered softly, with a hint of pride. ‘Yes. She’s been a long time coming, has my beautiful baby.’
‘Well, in that case, and for my peace of mind, would you mind seeing your doctor today? Please?’
‘You’re making a mountain out of molehill.’
Jacquie was starting to get agitated, and Eden didn’t blame her. However, Eden’s intuition—both as a woman and as a medical professional
—was telling her there was something wrong with this situation. Alyce’s ‘aerobics’ might be a symptom of something else…something else like the onset of early labour.
‘Stay there. I’ll just get you a glass of water.’ Eden walked out of the room and quickly went to the staff kitchenette. One of the nurses was sitting in there, eating her lunch. ‘Sorry to disturb. Sasha has a pregnant visitor who looks a little hot to me.’ She poured a glass of iced water from the water-cooler and then glanced across at the nurse. ‘You don’t mind if I borrow a sphygmomanometer and possibly a thermometer?’
‘Is Sasha all right?’
‘She’s fine. It’s her visitor. Just being an over-protective doctor, that’s all.’
‘OK. The equipment you need will be at the nurses’ station. It’ll give you her vitals. Let me know if you need any help.’
‘Thanks.’ Eden returned to Sasha’s room, wheeling in the electronic sphygmo machine. It was one of the new ones, with all the bells and whistles. ‘Here you are,’ she said, and handed the glass to Jacquie. ‘Sip it slowly.’
‘What’s that for?’ Jacquie asked. ‘Does Sasha need some tests?’
‘It’s not for Sasha. I’m sorry if I’m being forward and pushy, Jacquie, especially as we’ve only just met, but do you mind if I take your blood pressure? Just to check it. You look rather flushed to me.’
Jacquie dabbed at her forehead with a handkerchief. ‘I’ll be fine. The water is doing the trick.’
Eden shrugged. ‘Humour me.’
‘You are a real doctor, aren’t you? You’re not just making it up?’
‘I’m a trained doctor.’ Eden held out the blood pressure cuff. ‘Please?’
‘Oh, all right, then,’ she reluctantly agreed, and allowed Eden to wind the cuff around her arm. The machine did its job and Eden frowned.
‘Your blood pressure is definitely elevated, Jacquie.’ Before there was any room for protest, she clipped the oximeter onto Jacquie’s index finger. When that reading came back, Eden’s frown intensified. ‘Who’s your obstetrician? You should call him or her straight away.’
‘Why? There’s nothing wrong with me.’
‘I beg to differ. Do you have the name and number? I’ll call.’
Jacquie frowned. ‘He’s probably busy. He and his family are highly respected, I’ll have you know. His father delivered me, and so it’s only right that I have his son deliver my child.’
‘That’s just fine and dandy, but it’s his job to be interrupted when one of his patients needs him. His name?’
Jacquie reluctantly told Eden the information. Eden crossed to the phone by Sasha’s bedside and asked the ladies on the switchboard to have the obstetrician call her immediately. Once that was done, she called the paediatric ward and spoke to Francie.
‘I know David’s busy, but hopefully by now he can leave Mrs Wilman with the social workers,’ she stated to the nurse. ‘I need him up here in Sasha’s room.’
‘Yes,’ Jacquie interjected haughtily. ‘Ask David to come here. He’ll sort this out. You’re being highly unreasonable, Eden—especially as we’ve just met.’
Eden ignored the pregnant woman and focused on what Francie was saying.
‘Is Sasha all right?’ There was concern in the nurse’s tone.
‘Sash is fine. Either ask David to call me or to come if he can—’
‘Wait, Eden. He’s just come out of Room 2.’
Eden waited, and a second later David’s voice came down the line. She ignored the way his smooth tones affected her.
‘Eden?’
‘David. I’m in Sasha’s room. Would you mind coming here and bringing a foetal heart monitor with you?’
‘What? Why? Sasha’s not pregnant.’
‘I know that. Jacquie’s here.’
He was silent for a moment. ‘The baby.’ The words were a whisper. ‘You think there’s something wrong?’
‘I do.’
‘Right. I’m on my way.’
‘Is he coming?’ Jacquie asked, her chin still raised in a haughty manner.
‘Yes.’ Eden replaced the receiver as Sasha began to stir. ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Eden said softly to her friend. ‘I didn’t mean to wake you—and you haven’t slept for all that long.’
Sasha yawned. ‘It’s all right. Plenty of time to rest. What’s going on?’
‘Jacquie’s come to visit.’ Eden pointed across to where Jacquie was sitting.
‘Is David coming?’ Jacquie asked again. There was no fear in her tone, but it held a lot of impatience.
‘Yes. Just sit there. I’ll be right back.’ Eden dashed out to the nurses’ station once more and found a tempanic thermometer.
‘What now?’ Jacquie asked when Eden returned.
‘Please?’ Eden put a gentle hand on the other woman’s shoulder. ‘Relax. It won’t take but a moment.’
‘I know how long it takes. I have had my temperature taken before.’
The thermometer beeped. ‘Thirty-eight. You’re not leaving this hospital.’
‘Are you completely out of your mind?’ Jacquie asked, and turned to Sasha. ‘I only wanted to come and visit you, but I see now that I was wrong to do so while this crazy woman is here.’
‘You think something is wrong?’ Sasha asked Eden.
‘Yes.’
Sasha turned to Jacquie, who was shifting forward in the chair as though she were about to stand up. ‘Please, Jacquie,’ she implored. ‘Listen to Eden. She knows about these things.’
‘Sasha is right,’ David said as he stalked into the room. ‘Eden has amazing instincts.’
She might have amazing instincts, but she could also turn to a boneless mass of jelly just from hearing his voice. She pulled herself together and looked at him with thanks.
He didn’t like it when she looked at him like that—as though she wanted to wind her body around his and never let go. The uncanny thing was, he wanted to do exactly the same thing to her. Instead, he forced himself to look away and focused his attention on his ex-wife. ‘Good afternoon, Jacqueline.’
He handed Eden the foetal heart monitor she’d requested, before crossing to Jacquie’s side and pressing a polite kiss to her cheek. It was the same greeting Eden had seen him giving his mother over the years, and she realised that the protocols of high society were still maintained as far as he was concerned. It was, however, interesting to note that he treated Jacquie with such polite indifference.
‘Report?’ He turned to look at Eden, and she snapped back into doctor mode.
‘BP and temperature elevated, swelling of the feet and hands.’ She unwound the heart monitor and plugged it in. ‘She’s thirty-three weeks. I’ve put in a call to her obstetrician.’
David knelt down. ‘I’m just going to check your feet,’ he said to Jacquie, and pressed carefully. ‘Is Gray your obstetrician?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll make sure he’s here. Don’t you worry about it.’ A moment later, he said, ‘These shoes are coming off.’ He removed them and set them aside. ‘What’s your husband’s phone number?’ He pulled a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket.
‘What is going on?’ Jacquie demanded, looking at the three people in the room. ‘Have you all gone stark raving mad? I’m just a little hot. That’s normal when a woman is pregnant. The books say so.’
‘Yes,’ David said softly but firmly, ‘but not as hot as you are. It’s not good for the baby. What’s Paul’s number, Jacqueline?’
Jacquie looked at him for a moment, before rattling off her husband’s contact number.
David turned to Eden. ‘I’ll organise for her admission to Maternity.’
‘Thanks. Much appreciated.’
She smiled at him, her green eyes alive with appreciation and sincerity. David stood where he was for a whole five seconds, simply staring at her, unable to believe just how dynamic and beautiful she was. The sunbeams from the window were shining into the room, highlighting the glorious colours of Eden’s hair and giving her skin a golden tinge which only made her even more desirable. He could quite easily lose himself in this woman. She was so magnetic—especially when she looked at him as she was doing now.
‘David?’ It was Sasha who spoke, who broke the moment he and Eden were sharing.
‘Hmm? Right. Yes. I’ve got things to do.’
With that, he left the room, and Eden sucked in a deep breath to get herself back on track. Honestly, when he looked at her the way he just had, her body turned to mush and her brain could think of nothing but the way his arms felt around her. Strong, sure and steady.
After David had gone, Eden strapped the foetal heart monitor around Jacquie’s middle and positioned the instrument correctly. A moment later the readings started coming through. ‘You’re having minor contractions,’ Eden reported.
‘What? But I can’t feel anything.’ Jacquie stared at the monitor Eden was watching.
‘They’re very small, but things are happening.’
‘But I’m only thirty-three weeks! Alyce can’t come yet.’
‘I hate to break this to you again, Jacquie, but as I said, babies come when they’re ready. Unless we can stop your labour, Alyce is on her way.’
Jacquie clutched at Eden’s hand, her eyes wild. ‘But she’s not ready. It’s not time.’
Eden watched the desperate reaction of the mother-to-be, and although most women who went into premature labour were scared and frightened, she sensed there was something else going on. ‘This is your first pregnancy?’
‘I miscarried two last year, but they were both within the first six weeks.’
Eden nodded. ‘You’ve had trouble getting pregnant?’
‘Yes. For years. You have to do something.’
‘I am.’
‘Eden?’ David called, poking his head around the door. ‘Can I see you for a moment?’
She nodded and crossed to where he was standing, just outside Sasha’s room. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘I’ve managed to get hold of Gray and he’s on his way. He’s a good doctor, but as far as the baby’s care goes I’d like you to do it.’
‘Me?’ Eden wasn’t sure she wanted to be looking after a baby belonging to David’s ex-wife.
‘Well, I can’t do it. Although Jacquie and I are friends, it just doesn’t seem…right.’
She spread her arms wide. ‘You have other colleagues—and Jacquie has her own private obstetrician practically on retainer! Surely the son of the son of the man who looked after her when she was born is all set to look after her baby?’
David grinned at her words. ‘Doctors don’t work like that, and you know it,’ he remarked, even though he knew Eden had been joking. ‘She has chosen a paediatrician—’
‘Who is no doubt socially acceptable?’ Eden interjected.
‘But he is off on compassionate leave at the moment,’ David continued.
‘I just hate society and its socially acceptable forms of how things should be done,’ she grumbled.
‘You only hate it because you were so restricted by it,’ he soothed, rubbing a hand up and down her arm. ‘Other people need rules and regulations. They find it comforting.’
‘Only because it gives them strict guidelines on what’s expected of them in life. No one should have their life that meticulously planned. It’s just wrong—and it also means there are too many people in this world not reaching their full potential as human beings—’
David placed a finger over her lips and leaned closer. ‘I would have preferred to kiss you to shut you up,’ he murmured, his tone deep. ‘Your eyes flash with fire when you get into one of your rants, and you lift your chin in that defiant way I’ve seen you do so often. It’s very, very sexy, Eden.
Lord knows I’d love you to continue—if for no other reason than I’d get to admire you—but time is of the essence, and right now I need you focused.’
He left his finger in place for a fraction of a second longer…long enough for Eden to wet it with the tip of her tongue. He jerked it back and she smiled. ‘How do you expect me to focus when you say things like that?’
‘I expect you to focus because you’re a professional.’
‘Yes. Right. I am.’ She cleared her throat and he took a step back, giving them both a bit more air, a bit more room to move.
‘Now, as I was saying, I’d like you to be Jacquie’s paediatrician. Because even though she’s my ex-wife I know how important this child is to her, and there’s no one I trust as much as you.’
Eden watched his mouth as he spoke, trying not to be mesmerised by him. When she realised he’d finished, she looked at his eyes and saw that he was waiting for her to respond. ‘All right. I’ll do it. For you. But I’m sure Jacquie won’t like it. I don’t think I’m her favourite person at the moment.’
His smile was filled with gratitude. ‘She’ll come around to you. Everyone always does…in the end.’
Everyone except his parents, but she didn’t really care about them. ‘Gee, thanks.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘I do.’
‘Thank you, Eden. It shouldn’t take too much to convince Jacquie. She always insists on the best, and that’s exactly what you are. The best.’
David met her gaze and held it for a moment, and she wondered whether he was talking about her medical skills or something else.
‘Flattery will get you everywhere, Dr Montgomery.’ She looked up and saw the orderlies getting out of the lift, pushing a vacant barouche.
‘This way,’ David instructed them, and headed into Sasha’s room—where they found that Sasha had been talking sense to Jacquie and the expectant mother was now more than willing to be whisked away to the maternity ward.
David and Eden stayed with Jacquie until Dr Gray arrived. Eden vaguely remembered him from the social set, but he remembered her completely.
‘Staged a protest against your own father’s company. How could anyone forget that?’ Dr Gray shook hands with Eden. ‘I always admired you for standing up for what you believed in.’
‘Really? Uh…well, thanks.’
‘In fact, I remembered your determination when my father wanted to push me into studying law instead of medicine. It helped me to take a stand and head in the direction I preferred.’ Dr Gray was busy checking the readings from the foetal heart monitor as he spoke.
‘Wow.’ Eden blinked and looked across at David, who was leaning against the cupboard, his arms folded across his chest. He nodded as though he, too, was impressed with what Dr Gray had shared. ‘I’m…uh…glad I was able to help—even if I didn’t realise I was.’
‘Excuse me,’ Jacquie remarked, that haughty tone at perfect pitch, ‘can we focus on me, please? I am apparently in labour.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Dr Gray turned his full attention to his patient, and wasn’t at all happy with the observation readings the nurse reported. ‘Your blood pressure is increasing, Jacquie, and that means the baby’s heart-rate is decelerating.’ He turned to the nurse. ‘IV line and oxygen, stat. Blood test, a.s.a.p. We need to rule out infection.’
Eden helped Dr Gray move Jacquie onto her side.
‘Wh-what’s going on?’ Jacquie asked, her voice quivering.
‘I’ll explain in a minute, Jacquie,’ Dr Gray soothed. A moment later the foetal monitor gave a better read-out and they all sighed. ‘Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you.’
‘Well, you did—and why is Eden still here. David?’
‘Eden’s going to be your paediatrician,’ David explained walking to Jacquie’s side so she could see him more easily instead of having to crane her neck.
‘But I had it planned. It was all planned. This wasn’t supposed to happen today. Everything is wrong. This isn’t the way I had it planned.’
‘Shh,’ Dr Gray soothed her. ‘You need to calm down. Deep breaths, Jacquie.’
‘Dr Gray’s right,’ said David, calmly explaining why Jacquie’s appointed paediatrician couldn’t make it. ‘Eden will look after your baby because in my opinion she’s the best there is. You want the best for your baby, don’t you?’
‘Alyce. Her name is Alyce.’
David nodded, his voice gentle. ‘Alyce is important to you, and therefore you need the best care you can get. The best is Eden.’
‘What about Paul?’
‘He’s on his way,’ Dr Gray informed her.
‘We’ll leave you to get some rest,’ Eden said. They walked out of the room, Dr Gray not far behind them, leaving Jacquie in the care of two well-trained nurses.
‘Jacquie’s definitely displaying all the signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Good pick-up, David.’ He gave his colleague a manly pat on the back.
‘It was Eden.’
‘Ah. In that case, well done, Eden. I take it you’re staying in Sydney?’
‘For a while.’ Eden smiled up at David. ‘I’ve only been here a few days, and David already has me working.’
‘I didn’t want you to be bored.’
‘More like you needed my help.’
‘And I know how much you love to help.’
‘Whatever the reason,’ Dr Gray said, feeling as though he was watching a tennis match—a tennis match with a lot of sensual undercurrents,
‘I’m glad he’s persuaded you. I’ve read a few of your papers. Incredible stuff.’
‘Thank you. Anyway, we’ll leave you to it. If you need me, I think it’ll be best if you page David. If I’m not with him, he’ll know where to find me.’
‘OK.’ Dr Gray headed back to Jacquie’s room and Eden looked at David.
‘Time for a cuppa, methinks.’ They headed towards the hospital cafeteria. ‘What a day!’
‘You’re not wrong.’
‘How did things go with Mrs Wilman?’
David gave her a rundown on what had happened with social services and the psychiatric consult he’d called in. ‘Dart, thankfully, is now responding to treatment.’
‘That is good news.’ They got their drinks and sat at a table. ‘Oh, and Sash has good news, too. She forgot to tell you, what with all the extra goings-on.’
‘What is it?’
‘Ah…I’m not ruining it for her. Just make sure you stop in and see her on your way back to the ward.’
‘Will do.’
Eden took a sip of her coffee, regarding him closely. ‘David, can I ask you something?’
He laughed ironically. ‘Have you ever been stopped before?’
‘Well, it’s personal. It’s about you and Jacquie, but I don’t want you to think I’m prying.’
‘Oh. Right.’ He braced himself. ‘What’s the question?’
‘When you were married, did she have any miscarriages?’
‘No.’ His answer was immediate.
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes.’ He clenched his jaw for a moment, then swallowed. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘She said she had two last year, and I was just wondering whether there’s something else wrong. Is there a virus attacking her babies? Are the blood types of mother and foetus different? That sort of thing.’
‘I don’t know anything about her miscarriages.’
‘And you two didn’t try to have any children? Didn’t plan any?’
David clenched his jaws together. ‘Bringing children into a marriage that should never have happened in the first place didn’t seem like the wisest of ideas.’
Eden was a little surprised at his reaction, and also a little confused. She would have sworn that Jacquie had said she’d been trying to have a child for a very long time. But David obviously didn’t want to talk to her about his marriage, and she could understand that. ‘OK. Well, I’m sure Dr Gray knows what’s going on and has everything under control. I’m just trying to play through a few different scenarios in my mind. You know—be prepared for when the baby arrives.’
‘Is that all?’ He pushed his half-empty cup away and stood.
‘Yes.’
‘I need to go.’
He was gone so fast Eden didn’t have time to blink or even to call out his name. She’d obviously been treading on some very thin ice, but she wasn’t sure what on earth she’d said to offend him.