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Mrs Staveley looked at her, and Madison saw the exact nant ‘You’re expecting’

‘Nineteen weeks,’ Madison confirmed

Mrs Staveley sed ‘Doesn’t it scare you, doing what you do?’

‘Because I know all the worst-case scenarios, you mean?’ Madison smiled ‘A little But, then, there are a lot more mums who have uncomplicated labours And I know all the midwives and all the doctors in the ood hands’

‘Especially Dr Petrakis’

Madison smiled ‘He’s the best doctor I know’

Theo brought Mr Staveley in to see his wife, and he and Madison withdrew to a discreet distance

‘You did a deal with ain, she’s reunited with her husband and I’ her a Polaroid back So you’re going home’

‘Theo—’

‘Don’t argue’ He stroked her face ‘You look tired, honey And that’s not fair on you or the baby’ He sighed ‘Sorry I shouldn’t have let you be on this case’

‘In high-risk cases, you need a registrar to assist you Which would be me It’s my job, Theo’

‘But this was upsetting’

‘For you, too—I saw the look in your eyes before you switched to obstetrician mode’ She paused ‘You can’t shield me from the difficult cases, Theo It’s my job’

‘True But I want you to go home now and rest—and I mean rest, or I’ll tell Katrina and she’ll tell your htly ‘I’ll be home when I can I need to be here for now’

She knehy—if there were any post-operative complications, they were more likely to show up in the next couple of hours ‘OK I’ll see you when I see you’

Madison was sitting with her feet up on the sofa when Theo called ‘Everything’s fine, though I’ve told the ward to call e,’ he told her ‘And, Maddie—the Staveleys want to call their daughter Thea’

‘After you?’ She felt the tears pricking her eyes ‘That’s lovely’

‘I’ home now Have you eaten?’