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PROLOGUE

LINCOLN ADAMS stuck his fingers into the collar around his neck and pulled—hard The collar was at least an inch too small for him It didn’t matter that the whole ensemble was Italian made from the finest materials The suit trousers were an inch too short and the waist was an unco fit He kept his arms firmly by his sides, his hands clenched in his lap, because if he leaned forward onto the table in front of hi histo borrow someone else’s clothes, but when they were a size too small… The sooner he was out of here the better

The White House press secretary swept across the roo blue silk with a tailored black jacket on top Every pore of her skin emanated professionalism and efficiency, and she kneork a crowd This was all her fault

He gave a forced sreaves, who sat down next to him The old man didn’t look in the least fazed by the pandeht actually be enjoying it Was hedoctor, this would be all in a day’s work

Diane Green stood behind the podium next to hi around them and the noise level increased frenetically She raised her hand and the press pack heeded She had the infor for

‘Thank you for joining us here today at Pelican Cove for our happy announcement You will all be aware that President Taylor and his wife, Jennifer, were expecting their first baby on seventeenth October However, today, on the twenty-third of August, Charles and Jennifer Taylor are delighted to announce the arrival of…’ she paused for effect ‘…the First Daughter, Esther Rose Taylor, weighing four pounds ten ounces’

The roole ‘Isn’t the baby too early?’

‘What was the First Lady doing in Pelican Cove?’

‘Where is her own obstetrician, Dr Blair?’

‘Was the President here?’

‘Where did the name come from?’

But Diane Green was the epito with her carefully prepared stateain until the room was silent ‘Esther Rose Taylor was born at thirty-teeks gestation The First Lady had been ordered to rest in the last feeeks of her pregnancy and had come to Pelican Cove to do exactly that She was accompanied by her obstetrician, Dr Blair, who unfortunately had a myocardial infarction in the last few days As a result of that the First Lady was looked after by…’ Diane Green gestured towards the seats to her right ‘…Dr David Fairgreaves, one of the fore obstetricians in Aists’ She gave a little nod towards the reporters ‘I am pleased to report that the President was here for the arrival of his daughter and she is narand the health of the First Lady and the First Daughter—’ a genuine set used to saying that ‘—can be answered by our two highly qualified doctors here’

Once again the room erupted and Lincoln Adae of questions was directed at him Let me out of here!

&nbs

p;

Amy Carson sat on the cold, clinical hospital bed, usually occupied by a patient, her hands fixed fir off the ceiling above her and the wall hadn’t seen a coat of paint in— How long? What did the patients who usually ended up in this room think? The role reversal of staffabout this place was bland Did she really want to end up delivering her baby in a place like this?

She gulped How had she ended up here? The door opened and the nurse appeared again, wheeling the trolley that held the foetalto be the saain—borderline

She loved her colleagues here, but none of them had the specialist skills and expertise that this baby would need More than that—nowhere in the surrounding area had facilities to deal with a pre about this made her uncomfortable If only Lincoln would answer his phone…

Moveht her eye She leaned forward ‘Can you turn that up, please, Lynn?’

Her colleague nodded and automatically twisted the knob on the antiquated television set ‘Delighted to announce the arrival of…’

Amy listened to the announcement Another baby born too early But probably the most famous baby in the world A baby that would have the ious, experienced medical care that money could buy

No! Surely not? Amy’s chin dropped to her chest Lincoln Ada uncoed at his shirt and answered question after question about the baby’s condition His voice was rich, se on the television in front of her, she’d iine he was the calmest man in the world But he wasn’t And she could tell he hated every moment of this

Delivering the President’s baby Wow So that’s where he’d been

Her heart constricted in her chest Six years and he still had the same effect on her—even in her current state She watched as he took a question fro blue eyes and easy srained in hi it One sest story of her life, was a babbling mess

She pointed at the screen as the nurse, Lynn, resumed her checks ‘I know him’

Lynn’s eyes darted over to the screen, taking in the hunk currently filling the screen Ahts

Lynn gave a sine he’s one of the best neonatologists in the world if he’s looking after the President’s baby’

‘He is I tried to get hold of hiuess he was busy’ The e “I need your help” had been direct and to the point without revealing anything Her voice was quiet, thoughtful Her hands rubbing up and down her stomach ‘How is it?’ she asked as Lynn unwound the blood-pressure cuff She knew the answer before Lynn spoke but her head was currently in another place There was only one person in the world she trusted right now to take care of her baby

Lynn frowned ‘Actually, it’s a little higher I’ to beat around the bush With your other sy like borderline pre-eclaht it early It’s tiue to another, I definitely think it’s time to stop work’

A at the sides of her eyes as she sed the lu happen to this baby,’ she whispered ‘He’s my only chance’

Lynn wrapped her hand around A towards the television ‘Maybe it’s time to ask a friend for help?’ Lynn’s eyes fixed on the television screen ‘If I knew ist in the world to be at the delivery’ Her voice was fir ‘Wouldn’t you?’

Her phone beeped and she reached into her pocket Tords Anything Any time