The Surgeon's Miracle Baby

by Carol Marinelli

  That for now all was well.

  ‘Wow!’ Daniel’s smile as Louise burst into the ward at eleven the next morning stopped her in her tracks. ‘Look at you—you look like a new woman!’

  Having woken at ten, she’d yelped in alarm at she’d eyed the clock, utterly appalled that she’d slept for so long, only to find Maggie, completely oblivious to her horror, calmly buttering toast and offering her a cup of tea, telling her that Daniel had said to take her time.

  He may have said that to Maggie, Louise had thought as she’d been dropped off at the hospital entrance and raced along the polished corridors, but no doubt he had a social worker sitting there at the cot side with her stopwatch in hand, about to inform her what a terrible mother she was for even thinking of sleeping while her baby lay ill in hospital.

  ‘I’m sorry I’m so late,’ Louise panted, curiously deflated that Declan wasn’t screaming in protest at her prolonged absence. Instead, he lay giggling and cooing up at Daniel who was, with surprising ease, changing his nappy. ‘I think Maggie swiped my alarm clock and then she insisted I have some breakfast before she drove me—’

  ‘Louise!’ Daniel halted her flood of excuses. ‘It’s fine. I did say take your time.’ Picking up Declan, he handed him to her. Her whole body fizzed with love as she took his pudgy, scented body and held it, feeling his little fingers twining into her dark curls, seeing the rapt adoration in his face as he welcomed her back.

  ‘You’ve lost weight, Louise.’

  ‘Oh!’ It wasn’t Daniel’s comment that floored her—she already knew she’d lost weight because everything had hung off her when she’d got dressed that morning and she was now wearing jeans she’d only aspired to, only to find out that even they were too big. No, it was the fact that he’d noticed, the rather personal observation that had her blushing to the roots of her now newly washed hair as she felt his eyes drift over her body.

  ‘I’m thinking of writing to one of the women’s magazines,’ Louise answered, still breathless but for entirely different reasons as Daniel frowned with bemusement at her comment. ‘Well, I’ve tried every other post-pregnancy diet and none of them worked, but this one’s been just a breeze—the weight’s just fallen off!’ They shared a tiny glimmer of a smile—her slightly offbeat humour still able to bring that out in him at least. ‘What happened on the ward round?

  ‘His stitches can come out tomorrow and if things carry on progressing well, the day after tomorrow he can go home.’

  ‘It’s too soon,’ Louise gasped, terrified yet pleased all the same that he was doing so well, and so quickly, too.

  ‘He’s tough.’ Daniel smiled warmly, only it was aimed at his son.

  ‘Anything else happen while I was away?’

  ‘Your parents came.’

  ‘Together?’ Louise gasped. ‘They both came to see me together?’ She’d known her mother was coming but she could scarcely believe that they’d both been here. But her brief flare of hope was doused before it even formed as Daniel shook his head.

  ‘Er, yes and no. Your mum came first, followed a few moments later by your father…’

  ‘How long did they stay?’

  ‘About a minute. Your mum’s coming back at lunchtime and I think your father said he’d try to be back later this afternoon.’

  ‘I’m sorry if they made you uncomfortable. Believe me, it had nothing to do with you being here. I don’t think they’ve been in the same room together for the last decade.’

  ‘Do they know?’ Daniel asked. ‘About me, I mean.’

  ‘I told Mum after Declan’s operation.’ She was scuffing the floor with her foot, glad to smother her face in Declan’s warm body as she faced this most difficult conversation.

  ‘And what did she say?’

  Louise’s face was practically purple, and even if he couldn’t see her, she was positive he could feel the heat from the blush that was scorching through her body.

  ‘Daniel, you don’t want to know.’

  ‘Screw him for every cent?’ He was so spot on she could only wince and close her eyes, missing his small smile.

  ‘Something like that,’ Louise mumbled.

  ‘Well, I’d better go and earn a living, then! I’m joking, Louise,’ he added as she cringed a touch more. ‘I know it was just your mother talking. Right, I’ve cancelled all my theatre lists till the end of this week so I can stay again tonight.’

  ‘There’s really no need,’ Louise said. ‘I feel fine now I’ve had a good sleep.’

  ‘I want to stay,’ Daniel said, giving Declan a little tickle as he spoke. ‘And given that he’s going to be home in the next couple of days, I think you should try and cram in as much sleep as you can. You’re going to be run ragged the next couple of weeks with a restless baby, outpatient appointments…’

  ‘Finding a solicitor,’ Louise added, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to look at him.

  ‘Is it really necessary, Louise? Can’t we just sort this out between us?’

  ‘You’ve seen one,’ Louise pointed out.

  ‘I had to. I want to support him properly and I doubt you’d have taken the cheque otherwise…’

  ‘Probably’ she admitted. ‘Look, maybe we could leave it for a few weeks—just concentrate on getting him well and you can drop in to see him whenever you want.’

  His lips brushed the top of Declan’s head, dusting his curls with the softest, most tender of kisses to say goodbye, and as his face moved, Louise again realised all she was missing out on.

  ‘There is one other thing—about me “dropping in”.’ His hand hovered on the door he had opened and briefly he turned around. ‘When he’s discharged, you’re both coming to stay at my house.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ If it hadn’t been Declan she was holding, she’d surely have dropped him. ‘You don’t have any say as to where I live!’

  ‘But I have a huge say as to where my son lives!’ A picture of rational composure, he stared back, completely unmoved by her angry protest. ‘Louise, we’ve both agreed to concentrate on getting Declan well for the next few weeks—now, given he’s recovering from a life-threatening incident, surely you can see that a third-floor flat with an out-of-order lift isn’t suitable accommodation.’

  ‘Daniel, we cannot live together,’ Louise argued, but it fell on deaf ears.

  ‘Louise, I can assure you there won’t be any cosy nights sitting on the sofa and trying to make things work out for us—you don’t have to even talk to me if you don’t want to. This isn’t about you and I—it’s about Declan, and giving him the best possible chance for a smooth recovery. I won’t take no for an answer, Louise. You’ll be coming home with me.’

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THOUGH, never in a million years, would Louise admit it to Daniel, it was actually a relief to be living at his house. For the first time since the pregnancy test had been positive—actually, for the first time since Daniel had cruelly ended things—she had the tiniest glimpse of a peaceful existence.

  There was no stress about suitable accommodation—Daniel’s executive residence had all the creature comforts. There was money in her bank account and Declan’s future was looking pretty secure—but more than that, so much more than that, despite the tension between them, despite the long, strained silences and the palpable animosity, it was as if a huge burden had been lifted.

  Daniel loved Declan.

  The overwhelming responsibility of parenthood was just so much easier shared. There was someone to assess and then calm her when Declan threw up the second night he was home, someone to share her excitement when a sliver of a tooth appeared in his bottom gum, and the knowledge that if something terrible happened to her, Declan would always be loved.

  OK, it couldn’t last much longer—living with Daniel and barely talking not really a viable option—but it had been nice to concentrate on Declan’s recovery in a state of relative peace. Although Maggie had been completely and utterly brilliant—the best friend a girl could hav
e—it was absolute bliss to turn off the shower at seven a.m. and not have to race to hush Declan when he started yelling!

  Daniel would pick him up!

  Combing her damp hair and luxuriously brushing her teeth, Louise briefly contemplated getting dressed, but Declan’s screams were getting louder as Daniel’s attempts to soothe worked less and less.

  ‘Someone wants you badly!’ Daniel gave a relieved eye roll as, wrapped in a towel, she padded into the living room, trying and failing not to notice just how fabulous he looked. Dressed in nothing but a pair of boxers, he was standing in the middle of the room unshaven and unkempt, still blinking from sleep as Declan cried even louder. ‘He’s starving!’

  ‘No wonder,’ Louise said, taking one very angry man from one very exhausted one. ‘He slept through the night for the first time!’ Aware she was dressed only in a very skimpy towel, Louise intended to dart to the bedroom for a feed. But Declan had other ideas, his head butting at her chest, fat hands grabbing at the towel, and it was just easier to plonk herself on the sofa and feed him—silence mercifully filling the room in a second or two.

  ‘He slept all night?’

  ‘Yep.’ Louise wasn’t looking up, just concentrating on Declan. ‘And so did I—it was wonderful!’

  ‘Do you want coffee?’

  ‘Please.’ Louise nodded, her mind not really on Daniel but sort of peripherally aware, expecting Daniel to move, expecting him to head off to the kitchen, to hear the kettle flick on and hopefully the click of the toaster if she was lucky. But after a second or two when he still hadn’t moved, she was suddenly very aware, her dark brown eyes looking up and catching his.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I just…’ Daniel gave a shrug. ‘Are you worried about starting work tomorrow?’

  ‘To be honest, I haven’t even thought about it. Normally I’d be tying my hair in knots at the thought of starting in a different department, but the only thing I’m stressing about is leaving Declan in the crèche. Mind you, I’m sure, given what’s happened, they’ll call me if they’re at all concerned.’

  ‘Or me,’ Daniel said. ‘I’ve given the crèche my pager number.’

  ‘OK…’ Well, of course he would have!

  ‘What are you doing today?’

  Louise frowned at his further question. Normally they spoke only talked about Declan.

  ‘I’m looking at houses again.’

  ‘Oh, right.’

  ‘I think I’ve found one, too.’

  ‘Close?’

  ‘Yep.’ Louise nodded. ‘And very suitable.’

  ‘And then?’ He registered her frown. ‘Only I finish at two today. My theatre list had been cancelled so I thought maybe we could go…’ he gave an uneasy shrug ‘…to the park or something.’

  ‘Sorry, I’ve got an appointment.’ Louise shook her head, taking great interest in feeding Declan again as she lied through her teeth. ‘With my gynaecologist.’

  ‘But you saw him last week.’

  ‘I’ve seen him most weeks since I had Declan,’ Louise gulped, watching as even her left boob blushed at her fib.

  ‘Sorry.’ Daniel winced. ‘I didn’t mean to pry. I’ll come home and look after Declan for you.’

  ‘You don’t have to.’

  ‘I want to.’

  Why did he have to be so nice when she was lying? Louise asked herself guiltily

  ‘Everything’s fine, isn’t it, Louise? I mean, if there are any, er, problems, I can refer you to someone. You really ought to see—’

  ‘I can find my own gynaecologist,’ Louise bristled. ‘Are you going to make that coffee?’

  ‘You make sure you go!’ Ruth Andrews’s impatience was thinly disguised as her voice shrilled down the telephone line from country Victoria to Melbourne almost the second after Daniel had left for work.

  ‘Mum, I really think I might make things worse. He knows I’m looking at houses this morning. He hasn’t even hinted that he wants custody.’

  ‘What if he doesn’t pay you maintenance next week? What if he just decides to stop?’

  ‘He wouldn’t,’ Louise insisted, ‘and, anyway, I managed before, I’d manage again—I start back at work tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s not the point!’

  ‘Mum, I would have thought, given the pressure Dad’s maintenance payments placed on your marriage, you’d understand.’ Ah, but bitterness had no logic. Louise had already long since worked that one out, and her mother had nearly thirty years’ worth all stored up for this very moment.

  ‘You need to get some legal advice! What if he decides he’s the better parent? What if he decides his home’s more suitable than the one you find?’ Ruth pushed on, and Louise closed her eyes in horror as her mother articulated her darkest fears. ‘What if he decides that England might be a nicer place to raise his son?’

  ‘OK, I’ll go!’ Louise broke in, seeing the blurry logic her mother was offering and reluctantly admitting that she might be right. Even though she’d told Daniel she’d wait a while before contacting anyone, as her mother and every other friend/armchair attorney who had gladly foisted an opinion on her had warned, she was crazy to wait for him to make a move. For Declan’s sake, she had to know where she stood!

  Exhausted from a morning of house-hunting, Louise wearily surveyed her wardrobe. A suit seemed a bit over the top, but she didn’t want go the other way and arrive on the solicitor’s doorstep in jeans and a T-shirt, looking like a refugee, so she decided to attempt her ‘posh frock’. Well, not posh exactly—a simply navy linen shift dress that was dragged out for interviews and funerals. As Louise slipped her old faithful on, she was delighted to see that it fitted her perfectly. OK, maybe a touch too short, but it was simple yet elegant, and made the very best of her newly found waistline. After pulling her hair into a simple chignon, for the first time since Declan’s illness Louise opened her make-up bag. She applied a light foundation, deciding she looked like a ghost and that she might need iron tablets, but, for now touch of blusher would have to suffice. A lick of mascara and a slick of lip gloss and Louise surveyed herself in the mirror, deciding that she actually quite liked what she saw—not exactly a ‘yummy mummy’, as Maggie always hopefully suggested, but she’d do for now. As Daniel came through the front door, clearly he thought the same.

  ‘You look nice,’ he commented, as she filled up her handbag with keys, purse and lipstick, and put in her earrings at the same time.

  ‘Thanks,’ Louise mumbled, hoping he wouldn’t offer her a lift and wondering what on earth she’d say if he did. But after his brief greeting Daniel had eyes only for Declan, heading straight over to the baby mat on the floor where the little boy lay, kicking his little legs in the air and squealing with delight as Daniel grabbed his feet and started tickling them. ‘He’s just been fed,’ Louise warned, envisaging regurgitated milk on Daniel’s smart navy suit. ‘Oh, and there’s a bottle in the fridge if you need it.’

  ‘He’ll be fine.’ Daniel waved her away. ‘You go and do whatever you have to. Enjoy yourself.’

  ‘Hardly!’

  He actually smiled.

  After the longest air-conditioned wait, filling in forms, then thumbing glossy and unusually up-to-date magazines and crossing her ankles nervously, she was shown through to a spacious office. And when she’d been offered a glass of iced water that had arrived in crystal, Louise started to sweat at the thought of the sizeable bill that would surely arrive in a few days’ time.

  Greeted by an immaculate woman who clearly believed in power dressing, Louise was infinitely grateful that she hadn’t opted for jeans!

  ‘You were lucky to get in to see me so soon!’ The solicitor flashed very white porcelain caps across the table. ‘I was booked for court this afternoon but it’s been adjourned. Now, how can I help you?’

  Barely looking up, she took copious notes as Louise explained the reason for her visit, but Louise noted with distaste that she did look up and give a glint of a smile when Louise divulged D
aniel’s job title.

  ‘The baby’s father’s a consultant surgeon?’

  ‘That’s right.’ Louise gulped, her stomach sinking as Ms Corporate Suit buzzed on her intercom and asked for more coffee and biscuits to be brought in—cream biscuits.

  She should have felt reassured by the time she stepped out of the office and into the sultry late afternoon heat. Should have been relieved to find out that she had nothing really to worry about. Access visits would be arranged and Declan’s financial future was secure, and in a couple of days a nice thick letter would be landing on Daniel’s solicitor’s desk, outlining what Louise considered reasonable and awaiting his response, but instead all she felt was sick.

  Sick to her stomach.

  In a couple of days the games would begin and it would truly be all over for them bar the shouting—the lease was already signed on her new home, a letter was being typed by her solicitor’s secretary—the whole world was pulling them apart when all she wanted was for them to be together.

  But could she tell him?

  ‘Yummy mummy!’ Maggie grinned as Louise walked into Daniel’s living room. Her elegant chignon had long since unfurled in the humid heat and, no doubt, her make-up was sliding down her face. Although normally Louise would have been delighted to see Maggie, she was hard pushed to feign a smile when all she wanted to do was talk to Daniel.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I got stood up! So I thought I’d come around for tea and sympathy but you weren’t home—so I got a cold beer and a male perspective instead!’ She raised her drink to Daniel and winked. ‘Where have you been?’

  ‘To the gynae.’

  ‘Again!’ Maggie gave a little shudder. ‘Hence the dress!’

  ‘Did Glynn ring and cancel?’ Louise asked, trying quickly to change the subject, giving a brief smile at Daniel and frowning when all she got was a very cool look back.