The Midwife's Secret Child

by Fiona McArthur

  She let the ‘our’ go. At least he’d shifted from ‘my’. ‘Soon. After we talk I’ll let you know.’

  The hard stare that followed her response made her pulse jump a little. She hadn’t seen this side of him and she realised they’d both grown up. She reminded herself how he might be feeling and tempered her response. ‘It will happen.’ As long as you’re good, but she didn’t say that out loud. Might not be polite.

  ‘Faith!’ Dianne’s voice called out and Faith spun to answer the urgency she could hear in her boss’s call.

  She jogged back to the shop and could hear Raimondo behind her, which was a good thing when she saw the lovely older gentleman from the cave tour, his iridescent shoes shining up at them as he lay face up on the floor of the shop with his wrinkled face quickly turning blue. Dianne knelt beside the man, shaking him. She had the box with the bag and resuscitation mask beside her but hadn’t had a chance to open it. She was fumbling with the catch.

  Her eyes were huge. ‘He staggered in and then just sagged to the floor. I rolled him over but he’s gone blue.’

  ‘Dianne, you ring the ambulance then come back. We’ll start here.’ Faith knelt down to tilt the man’s head and check his airway. She placed her cheek near his nose and mouth but couldn’t feel any movement. ‘He’s not breathing.’

  Raimondo nodded and shifted forward to lean over the man and begin efficient cardiac massage. Thank goodness she and Dianne weren’t alone to manage until the ambulance came. As quickly as she could, Faith assembled the bag and mask Dianne had left and positioned them over the elderly man’s face. She squeezed a breath into his lungs after every thirty compressions that Raimondo made.

  After four cycles and no visible improvement they swapped places as Dianne came back. She was puffing from the run. ‘Ambulance is on the way.’

  ‘Do you have a defibrillator? An AED?’ Raimondo’s question made Faith’s head lift. She felt like slapping her forehead. Why hadn’t she thought to ask for that before Dianne went to the phone? She knew they had one. For every minute the patient didn’t respond their survival rate dropped by ten per cent. The sooner the defibrillator was attached the better.

  Dianne stared at Raimondo for a second as her brain caught up. ‘Yes. On the wall.’ She spun around and disappeared then reappeared almost instantly, holding the yellow box with the small Automated Emergency Defibrillator.

  ‘Well done.’ Raimondo shot her a smile. ‘Can you take over the bagging from me after the next two breaths and I’ll take over the cardiac massage from Faith? Count to thirty compressions and then two breaths. Faith can position the defibrillator while we continue on.’

  Faith looked at him. Nice. It was exhausting work even though she’d made sure she had her shoulders straight over her locked hands. She was slowing already and Raimondo could make a much more efficient compression of the chest walls than she could when tiring.

  She heard the two breaths go in, Raimondo put down the bag and mask and slid in beside her to take over with very little interruption to the rhythm.

  Very slick, she thought gratefully as she moved quickly to the man’s shirt and pulled it open. Luckily his chest had scarce hair so the connection would be good without the shaving they didn’t have time to do. Peeling off the backing paper, she slapped the adhesive pads onto his chest wall above the right nipple and the left pad below the heart.

  Switching on the machine, the automated voice intoned ‘Stop CPR, do not touch patient, analysing.’

  ‘Clear the patient.’ Raimondo’s firm voice reminded them not to touch the man in case a rescuer’s pulse was counted accidentally by the sensors. Everyone sat back. Raimondo’s eyes met Faith’s. This was the man’s best chance but they also knew that a shock would only be useful if the rhythm was one that could be corrected by an electric surge.

  ‘VT or VF,’ Faith hoped out loud as she crossed her fingers.

  Raimondo said to Dianne, ‘If it says shock, stay back and don’t touch him. After the shock we will begin CPR again for two minutes. Then the machine will reassess so we will stop again. If it says “no shock required” we will recommence cardiac massage.’

  ‘I never thought I’d see this thing used,’ Dianne said shakily.

  ‘Shock advised.’ Said the machine.

  ‘Stand clear,’ Raimondo said again and it felt surreal to Faith that a man she hadn’t seen for so long sat beside her. Not only that, he’d joined her in a resuscitation in a tourist shop near Lighthouse Bay. Not how she’d seen today pan out, but at this moment she couldn’t be happier he was here.

  The machine began the warning noises until the patient’s body jerked with the surge of electricity and, with an odd gurgling noise, the man’s chest heaved as he dragged in a shuddering breath. His eyelids flickered but didn’t open.

  Faith looked at Raimondo. ‘Thank God,’ she said at the same time as Dianne murmured the same.

  Raimondo’s lips twitched. ‘Sì.’ He lifted his head and listened. ‘The ambulance is nearly here as well.’ They all listened to the faint wail in the distance.

  Faith narrowed her eyes as she thought about the road in. ‘It’s a few minutes away. Will we roll him onto his side?’

  ‘Yes.’ They did so, the man mumbling something, causing Faith to bend down near his ear.

  ‘It’s okay. You’ve been unwell but you’re looking better now. The ambulance is coming and they’ll take you to hospital.’

  He struggled to open his eyes and when he saw her he sagged back and relaxed, though his hand crept up to his chest. Whether from cardiac pain or bruising to his ribs from Raimondo, she couldn’t tell. ‘Faith. You. Thank you.’

  ‘We all helped. Lie quietly. The ambulance will bring oxygen and pain relief.’

  ‘Okay,’ on an outward sigh as he closed his eyes. She had no doubt he would have some significant pain.

  Five minutes later the ambulance arrived and everything moved quickly after that.

  Faith left Raimondo to assist and explain to the paramedics and took Dianne into the shop for a cup of tea as the older lady looked shaky after the excitement.

  Faith was feeling a little shaky herself. Cardiac arrest was not something she’d seen in the maternity ward, thank goodness, though, because it was possible, they all did their yearly competencies in resuscitation. It was reassuring she’d remembered what to do.

  ‘So lucky we had the doctor here.’ Dianne was still coming down from the good outcome.

  ‘Yes. Very lucky.’ She’d known Raimondo had finished medicine, but had thought he worked at the drug company, but he’d been as slick as an ED doctor. She guessed she’d find out. Six years was time for many things to change.

  ‘And that you know him,’ Dianne enthused. ‘He was so calm. And you were too, dear. I’m very glad you were both here.’ That last was said a little tearfully and Faith gave Dianne’s hand a squeeze.

  ‘You were brilliant too, Dianne. Barney is very lucky. Getting the equipment. Ringing the ambulance and then taking over perfectly while I put the chest stickers on. You were a marvel.’

  ‘We were a good team.’ Dianne nodded and lifted her chin.

  Raimondo had made the difference out of all of them though, Chloe thought. Cardiac massage was hard work and without his arms beside her she would have been scrambling to get it all done and keep the perfusion up for Barney to give him that second chance.

  Raimondo’s big hands and strong arms. His presence. So many facets that had captured her so long ago, and she could appreciate them now. But she wouldn’t be swayed into softening. She couldn’t.

  They heard the ambulance leave and Raimondo appeared at the door. Faith kissed Dianne’s cheek. ‘You did really well. I’ll go now if you’re okay.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Dianne took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face. ‘A day with a difference, that’s for sure.’

&nb
sp; Faith glanced at the man at the door. ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘You were excellent,’ Raimondo said to Dianne. ‘As was Faith.’ He gestured to the AED, which was in Faith’s hand.

  ‘I’ll replace the sticky pads from the hospital stores and bring it back.’

  He nodded. ‘All things we needed done were done.’ He inclined his head. ‘Thank you.’ Smiled his killer smile at Dianne, who blinked and smiled back, half-besotted.

  ‘Thank you, Doctor.’

  Faith rolled her eyes. She was getting over the benefit side of Raimondo being there now and moving to the worry.

  ‘Raimondo and I have to go,’ she said and led the way from the shop to head across the car park.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  RAIMONDO’S GAZE REMAINED on her as Faith walked across the gravel of the car park, her tall, willowy body weaving between the parked vehicles with a natural grace that held his eye and made his heart pound. He’d been a fool not to return. And doubly so because of Chloe. If only he’d known.

  But Faith? Faith made his heart pound even more than working on a cardiac arrest. Dios. What a day. Faith had been magnificent. Of course. He had known the young woman he had left behind all those years ago had strength and today he had seen the growth of that inner steel for himself.

  With the resuscitation, the elderly man had been fortunate, and he wished him well. In fact, he would telephone the regional hospital he would be taken to. The paramedics had said they would bypass Lighthouse Bay Hospital for the more cardiac-focused regional centre. He knew instinctively Faith would want to know as well. Funny how already he was back to considering what Faith would want and including her in his plans.

  But this moment, this second in the deserted car park, he could see her dark hair, halfway down her back now that it was loose from the ponytail she’d worn for the tour. Hair that glistened as it captured the sun in subtle red highlights, cascading in a riot of soft waves. He could almost feel the texture of those thick strands between his fingers and frowned at himself.

  This was not why he’d come.

  For these feelings to reappear was not reasonable. He’d come here because he’d suspected this woman had purposely excluded him from his daughter’s life. And why had that been so incredibly painful that he’d boarded the first plane he could?

  Probably because in his heart he could not believe that was like the Faith of his treasured memories. And yes, if letters had been sent, and intercepted, twice, with malice or agenda, then it would be like Maria to have done that. His bitter, conceited, forever dissatisfied ex-wife. It would have amused Maria to have caused that loss.

  Yes, he believed it of Maria but not of Faith. The last damaging laugh to Maria. With Faith and her daughter the most injured parties.

  Faith turned her head as if she’d caught his thoughts and he saw her brows crease. He waved and forced a smile. He needed to reassure her that he had no plans to do anything she didn’t want. She did not trust him. Why should she? He had left her with a child and never answered her letters.

  Dios.

  As if encouraged by his smile, she waved back and climbed into her car and had him fumbling at the remote to open his own car in his haste to follow before she drove out of his sight.

  He mused that this too was like the first moment he’d seen her walk by and felt this same sense of urgency to obey his instinct. What was it about Faith that grabbed him by the throat, shoved him by the shoulder, so he had to follow when he was in her orbit?

  He slid into the car and turned on the guttural engine. Yes, he’d been self-indulgent with this hire, and not sensible really when he knew he’d be driving out along this dirt road to the caves, he thought as he shadowed her car down the dusty forest road towards Lighthouse Bay. But it was deeply, primitively satisfying to know she would not be able to speed away if she tried to lose him. He had it bad. But she hadn’t tried to run.

  Faith was as he’d remembered. With the passing of years she’d grown even more beautiful, more poised and personable, which sat well with her good heart. A heart he hoped he could still believe in because he was afraid he’d been fooling himself that he’d forgotten the woman who had captured his attention so easily.

  See what he had done with his recklessness.

  She had been left with a child.

  He had carelessly altered both their futures and hurt the child he didn’t know was his by his irresponsible actions. He shook his head as he drove, shadowing her car, unconsciously ready at any moment to pursue if needed.

  Yet, despite his unexpected arrival today, she had not criticised him. Faith had spoken to him with kindness and sense; no rancour or revenge came his way when it should. He knew no other woman who would be so generous and honest. He’d met many who had nowhere near her decency.

  Again, here was a growing need to understand what it was about Faith Fetherstone that touched him so much, as well as finding out about the daughter he had yet to meet.

  When he’d first suspected about the child he’d done his homework. He’d looked Miss Fetherstone up and seen her address remained the same. Had decided on reintroducing himself at the caves because she couldn’t avoid him in a group. Had even booked the tour online after confirming with the owner that the guide—Faith, who had taken him before—worked that day. Seemed the best way of making sure she’d be there before he’d booked his flights from Florence.

  It had all turned out as he’d planned. And now he was to meet his daughter. Children had been his dream for so long but Maria had turned him from any thought of another arranged marriage.

  But a child. Almost five? The thought suddenly filled him with trepidation that he was not worthy.

  What if Chloe was afraid of him? He, a big dark-haired Italian man with no skill for children because only one nephew had bounced on his knee—a nephew gone. Coming from a family with everything except the richest prize. The next generation.

  He remembered well when his parents had died how it had felt to face the stern grandfather who was to be his and his brother’s future. No softness. Just duty. Sadly, he worried his brother was turning into their grandfather.

  Imagine if his own daughter saw his grandfather in him.

  He shuddered and his hands clenched on the steering wheel until he forced them to relax. He had faith. And Faith. She would help, but first he needed to convince her he meant no harm. He could appreciate the care she took of her daughter and understand the need to confirm his motives before she gave him access.

  The problem was—how much access did he really want and how much would be good for his new family?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  FAITH DROVE STEADILY, trying not to glance too often in the rear-view mirror as she traversed the winding roads to the turn onto Lighthouse Bay Road. The big black car stayed reasonably back but she was constantly aware of the leashed power of the vehicle.

  The charismatic power of the stern-visaged driver.

  The relentless momentum of being manoeuvred into this meeting by a man she could see expected his own way.

  How had he known she was at the caves? How much planning had he done before he’d arrived and how did she make sure she wasn’t on the back foot trying to catch up to him?

  All thoughts that continued to swirl fifteen minutes later when Raimondo solicitously ushered her into her seat at the beachside café as if she were a flower of extreme fragility.

  A tiny pang pierced her composure. She remembered this feeling. This subtle olde-worlde charm of Raimondo. Being the focus of his dark eyes.

  Nobody had pulled her chair out for her since, well, since Raimondo, and it did make her feel more feminine than she had for a long time. But then again, maybe someone else might have been equally caring if she’d been interested in looking for an escort. She’d been too busy being a mum and a midwife and ensuring the protection of her family life to risk a relationsh
ip.

  Or she hadn’t found anyone who made her feel as this man did and it wasn’t worth the bother.

  The reality of how she reacted to Raimondo made her grip the edges of her seat. He looked calm. Calm like she wanted to be, but she’d been working herself up on the drive, she realised.

  His ease, and his ability to even glance around approvingly before he sat, suddenly agitated her. With a rising, and possibly irrational, irritation words spilled out as soon as his backside hit the chair. ‘So what does your wife think of you coming all the way to Australia on the chance of paternity?’ Shut her mouth. At least she’d said it quietly.

  Grimaced at herself. Impatience had made her too blunt. To her relief the oblivious waitress arrived and took their coffee orders and when she’d left it wasn’t surprising the silence hung between them.

  He studied the table a moment longer before looking across at her and she watched his big fingers smooth the pressed shell and sand placemat in front of him without thought. ‘My wife and I annulled our marriage after one year.’ His tone remained matter-of-fact though there was an emotion which she couldn’t identify lacing the dry words. ‘Our legal commitments were met with regard to my grandfather’s wishes and it was not required to continue.’

  ‘Annulled?’ Legal commitments? But the first part remained her focus. She couldn’t help the disbelief in her voice. Her memories did not include a celibate Raimondo. Or a cold-blooded legal brain.

  The whirlwind that had been their relationship had exploded into mutual, foolish abandon. Embarrassing in retrospect; though she could never regret her beautiful Chloe, she did regret her trust in this man. And he hadn’t even made the woman he’d left her for happy?

  Maybe she, Faith, had had a lucky escape.

  ‘So does annulled mean something different in Italy?’ How could they be married for a year and not sleep together?

  He shrugged. ‘I have little knowledge of your Australian laws. My grandfather in Italy was set on our marriage to combine the two great houses through our offspring. A pact of long standing. Without children the company would move from Florentine control to a Roman cousin. As this was his dying wish, and my brother and his wife had not yet conceived, I met his demands with little choice and speed before he passed—as I explained when I left.’