White Christmas For The Single Mom (Christmas Miracles In Maternity #3)

by Susanne Hampton

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes,’ she finally managed. ‘You startled me. I was still asleep. I’m as keen as you to know the answer but it’s still so early. Did the Abbiatis call you in the middle of the night?’

  ‘No,’ he replied. ‘They spoke to me on my nine o’clock rounds.’

  ‘Nine o’clock rounds?’ she asked incredulously.

  ‘I called your phone but it went straight to message bank and you didn’t call back so here I am.’

  ‘I never heard your call,’ she told him with a slight frown. ‘What time is it now?’

  Charlie looked at his watch. ‘Nearly ten-thirty.’

  ‘Really? That means we slept for twelve hours.’

  ‘I’ve been watching TV, Mummy.’

  Juliet looked down at her daughter, who had cleverly managed to slip on her sling, and then turn on the cartoon channel on the television.

  ‘I can’t believe I slept in that long. You must be hungry, darling.’

  ‘A little.’

  Charlie smiled. Bea was adorable and he was beginning to feel that there might be a slim chance Juliet might be just as lovely if he got to know her better. He admired the fact she told him exactly how she felt. She didn’t tiptoe around him like everyone else who felt sorry for the widower. He could see it in their faces and hear it in their voices. He had attended the hospital fundraiser in the hope the staff would see him as something other than a recluse. Charlie liked that Juliet was unaware of his wife’s death and he assumed that was why she was able to stand up to him. She was the first person to do that in two years. Being around her made him realise he missed being challenged and being held accountable.

  And her conviction in her treatment plan for Georgina Abbiati made him feel slightly less concerned about the surgical intervention although he still did not agree.

  ‘What if I take you two ladies out for brunch?’ He wanted to spend more time with the beautiful woman with the messy hair and the gorgeous smile who was still dressed in her robe. He couldn’t explain it to himself—it was as if he had known Juliet and Bea for more than one day. His attraction was more than skin deep and it defied logic and his promise to himself that he would never get involved with anyone. But standing so close to Juliet, he felt that promise fading and the desire to know her increasing.

  ‘Is this a brunch to break good news or bad?’ she asked without a smile. ‘Are you here to brag of your victory and tell me that the Abbiatis have chosen your conservative treatment option? Is that the reason you’ve come in person?’

  Charlie was taken aback. He had not seen that reaction coming. His agenda had been very different. He just felt a pull to be with Juliet, to learn more about her away from the hospital, and against his better judgement he had decided to act upon it. Now he knew that was a stupid idea. Reckless in fact. He barely knew Juliet and, for some ridiculous reason, he wanted to spend his free time with her. And with Bea. Suddenly he was grateful she had given him the perspective he needed. He had no business being at her hotel. He should have left a message and waited until she had arrived at the hospital. He was better off alone.

  It was the way he liked it.

  And the way it should be.

  ‘You’re right, it was a bad idea,’ he said as he stepped back and opened the hotel-room door. ‘I’ll leave you ladies to enjoy your late breakfast alone. And by the way, Juliet, the Abbiatis decided on the fetoscopic placental laser surgery. I guess I was just the gracious loser in a professional differing of opinion...offering to share a meal.’

  With that he closed the door on Juliet.

  And to stirrings he knew he had no right to act upon.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘CHARLIE, PLEASE WAIT,’ Juliet called down the passageway. She couldn’t follow him dressed in only her robe. ‘I’m sorry, I was rude and ungracious.’

  Charlie stopped long enough to turn and see her in the doorway. Her messy hair, the spattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, and her pretty amber eyes that looked genuinely remorseful. He was grateful that she had sent him walking. It was for the best. She was too close to exactly what he didn’t have room for in his life. And definitely didn’t deserve. A pretty, intelligent woman with a fighting spirit. And a daughter who was cute as a button.

  ‘Apology accepted. I’ll see you at the hospital later, then. I’ve an opening at one-thirty if you would like to meet. We need to schedule in the surgery, brief the theatre team and then book another pre-op consultation as soon as possible.’

  His tone was brusque and he didn’t wait for a reply as Juliet watched him disappear out of sight. She closed her bedroom door and raced to the window with Bea in tow. Pulling back the heavy damask curtains to see him emerge from the building and climb onto the shiny black bike that he had parked in the small guest car park. He pulled down his helmet, and turned his head. Nervously she dropped the curtains before he saw her watching him. It appeared Dr Charlie Warren, intentionally or unintentionally, was going to make her second day in the Cotswolds as confusing as the first.

  * * *

  Charlie rode away but not before he noticed Juliet looking from her window. He saw in his rear-view mirror that she had closed the curtains as quickly as she had opened them. While he had accepted her apology he couldn’t help but wonder as he headed along the leafy streets on his way to Teddy’s what had made the Australian specialist so quickly think the worst of him.

  Admittedly, the previous day he had been the one to jump to conclusions, and perhaps had not been his professional best at the consultation, but he had apologised for both. And to make amends and let her know that he would not challenge the Abbiatis’ decision he had driven over to tell her in person. But once he’d known that neither Bea nor Juliet had eaten, it had felt natural to offer a shared brunch.

  As he rounded the next corner, he told himself that it was his olive branch. But there was more to it and, as he righted himself on the large motorbike before the next curve, he silently accepted that Juliet had broken through his tough exterior shell. She had made him think of more than work. More than the mothers and the babies and the families he was helping to create. In twenty-four hours she and Bea had reminded him of all those things he’d wanted and dreamed of before the accident. Before the loss of his wife made him lose hope in the future.

  But her reaction to his reaching out was unexpected. Shooting him down by questioning his motives.

  Was it jet lag or was Juliet Turner always on the defensive? He wasn’t sure but, with his hand on the throttle, he rode a little faster than usual. Although Charlie had grown up in the stunning Cotswolds countryside, he appreciated the architecture and landscape that defined the part of England he called home, but not that day. Instead of noticing the Regency town houses and their intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco façades or the rolling green hills that were blanketed in pristine snow, he could only picture Juliet’s face as he travelled back to work. Equally confused about what made Juliet so quick to judge...and what had really driven him to deliver the news in person.

  * * *

  Juliet knocked on the door. The brass plate read Dr Charlie Warren, OBGYN. She was in the right place.

  ‘Come in.’

  Juliet opened the door and entered with mixed emotions. She was thrilled that the surgery would take place and the quads would in her opinion have the best chance of survival, but her behaviour at the hotel a few hours earlier still bothered her. And underneath she knew that was because Charlie Warren was affecting her and she was confused and scared.

  But despite those feelings unnerving her, the fact the obstinate but handsome OBGYN had reached out to her made her feel a little special. Perhaps that was why she took extra time to choose her outfit. A long black knitted dress that hugged her slim hips. It had a roll collar and she had added a silver necklace and a
black patent boot with a medium height heel. It was her smart apology outfit, she told herself. The previous day’s travelling clothes were for comfort and that morning he had seen her in her pyjamas so she wanted to show a level of professionalism in her dressing. There was no other reason for her to wear the figure-hugging dress.

  The tight knit also kept her warm. Cheltenham was a cold place. That was all.

  How could there be any other reason? It certainly wasn’t to impress Charlie Warren the man.

  ‘Hello, Juliet. Please take a seat. I won’t be a moment. I’m just emailing through a medical report to a GP in London.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said as she sat in the chair opposite him.

  Juliet took the time to let her gaze wander around the office. But there was nothing telling about any of it. No personal belongings that jumped out and showed her a little about Charlie. No photos, just a couple of certificates that provided evidence of his qualifications. Without appearing nosey, she searched from her vantage point for something that would let her know more about him. There was nothing. No hint. It appeared that Dr Warren had no life outside his work...or if he did he was hiding it.

  ‘‘I have taken the liberty of booking the operating theatre,’ he began as he turned his attention to Juliet. ‘And also confirming with the Abbiatis that the surgery will be on Friday.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Don’t thank me, I’m just extending a professional courtesy on behalf of the board.’

  Juliet frowned. His change in demeanour was extraordinary. But she knew she had been the cause. Her earlier reaction was cold and dismissive and just plain rude.

  ‘Juliet, don’t misread my actions for a change of mind. It isn’t. I still don’t think that surgery is the best option and, while I will not raise the issue again with the parents as they have made their decision, I still have grave concerns.’

  ‘Well, I’m grateful that we can agree at least to provide a united front even if behind the scenes there is still a great divide.’

  Juliet noticed a flick in his jaw. Finely covered with dark blond shadow, it was defined but tense.

  ‘A very great divide.’

  ‘May I ask why?’

  ‘Because I know you have experience in TTTS and this procedure, your papers prove it, but you have never, according to my research, undertaken this with quads.’

  ‘I have with triplets,’ she argued.

  ‘Once,’ he returned. ‘I read your notes.’

  ‘Yes, once, but successfully and I am not operating on all four. Only two of the four are involved.’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong. You’re exposing all four to a risk.’

  ‘I agree but the benefits outweigh the risk—’

  ‘I don’t agree with that rationale. You’re risking all four babies to save one and even success with that foetus is not guaranteed. It could take up to a month after the baby is born to know if there are any residual effects from the surgery. And even a year later in some cases long-term side effects have been diagnosed.’

  ‘But the child may not live at all if we don’t proceed.’ Juliet slumped a little in her chair. Her apology meeting was turning sour quickly. Charlie’s defensive stance was back again. She hoped she would have been more gracious if she had been the one assisting him with his treatment plan instead of the other way around. But she accepted that was easier said as the victor and her reaction a few hours earlier, suspecting he was delivering bad news, didn’t show any sign of gracious defeat. Perhaps they were alike after all. But she would never know because she was the one who had won this battle.

  ‘I’ve been performing this procedure for many years and before proceeding the Abbiatis will be fully informed of the risk.’

  ‘One additional baby complicates things ten-fold and I’m not sure that you’ll be experienced enough to deal with those complications should they arise.’

  Juliet decided to stand and signal the end of the meeting. It was going nowhere and it was pointless in her opinion. ‘I don’t see any value in going around in circles. The parents have agreed, Teddy’s board flew me over and the theatre is booked thanks to you. It would appear the surgery is a fait accompli.’

  ‘If it’s not successful, I’ll be noting my objections in a report to the board.’

  ‘I would expect no less,’ she replied as she crossed to the door. ‘Will I have an office during my secondment? I think it would be a good idea so that I can have some time to look over the reports privately.’ Her eyebrow was raised as she looked directly at Charlie. She hoped it was a look that didn’t leave room for questions or second-guessing. It was a demand not a polite request that he could choose whether to approve. He had taken it back to adversarial colleagues. They were right back to where they started.

  ‘I’ll see what we can do.’

  ‘Now that’s settled, I’ll be back tomorrow with my laptop ready to log on and begin the pre-op preparations.’

  * * *

  Juliet chatted with the nurses and asked to meet the midwife who was looking after Georgina.

  ‘That’s Ella O’Brien,’ Annabelle offered. ‘She’s not on today but will be back tomorrow.’

  Juliet thanked her and then left to visit Georgina.

  ‘Leo’s just gone home to get me some fresh clothes. I guess you heard we’re going ahead with the surgery.’

  ‘I did, and I must say I’m very pleased. I truly believe it’s the best option.’

  ‘So do we,’ Georgina said with nerves and a little doubt still evident in her voice. ‘We really like Charlie but we got to thinking if the board has flown you all the way here then they must believe in the surgery too. We didn’t think they would go to that much trouble and expense if it wasn’t something they believe worthwhile. We just don’t know why Charlie doesn’t feel the same way as them.’

  ‘Dr Warren is a great doctor, and he has every right to have a different opinion. Medicine can be quite subjective at times and sometimes doctors differ but they both want the best for the patient. Dr Warren’s taken the very best care of you up to now but the board do agree that the laser surgery will give you the best chance of taking four babies home with you.’

  ‘We pray every day for them all. We’ve named them, you know.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. Are the names a secret?’

  ‘We have told our family and Charlie, Ella and Mr Darrington. We like Graham and Rupert for the boys and Lily and Rose for the girls.’

  ‘I feel very honoured to know, and they are the loveliest names,’ Juliet said sincerely. She thought they were such sweet, old-fashioned names but they didn’t sound very southern European at all.

  ‘I guess you’re wondering why they sound so English and not Italian.’

  ‘You’re a mind reader.’

  ‘Not really, I think we’re going to be asked that a lot but our families moved here from Italy many years ago. Leo and I met at Italian school so traditions are important but since we both come from huge families, I have five siblings and Leo has eight brothers and sisters, so the grandparents all have grandchildren named after them, and more than a few cousins share names too. We wanted our babies to be different. It’s not that we don’t love our culture, it’s just we want them to have their own identity, which will be difficult enough with two sets of identical twins, let alone if they share names with their cousins. So we have our parents’ blessings to give them very special names.’

  ‘Were you born here, or in Italy?’

  ‘Leo and I were both born in London. Leo’s grandparents did very well producing rice and maize in the region of Abbiategrasso, in Lombardy in Italy, and that’s where his surname originated. They sent his father to London for an education with the hopes he would return to his home, but instead he graduated from law, met a beautiful young Italian woman, married
and settled in London raising Leo and his brothers and sisters. My grandparents’ background was in grapes and olives in Umbria. My father was also sent to London for higher education and along with his international commerce degree came an English bride, my mother, who loved all things Italian including my father. And soon,’ she said, looking down at her oversized belly, ‘there will be another instant generation of Abbiatis a long way from Italy.’

  ‘Well, I think the names are just gorgeous and I’m sure the children will make you very proud as they grow up.’

  ‘So you’re privy to the babies’ names too?’ came a deep and now familiar voice from the doorway. ‘Well, I must say you’ve become a member of the Abbiati family more quickly than I did. It took me the best part of a month before that information was entrusted to me.’

  Juliet turned to see Charlie in the doorway to the private hospital room.

  ‘I feel quite special at this moment.’

  ‘And so you should, for you know the names of the children you have been given the opportunity to save.’

  Juliet suddenly felt the weight of the Abbiatis’ decision fall squarely on her shoulders. She swallowed hard, unsure if unsettling her was Charlie’s intention. If so he had succeeded.

  ‘I will have a great surgical team, experienced—’

  ‘And ready for the unexpected,’ Charlie cut in.

  Juliet was not impressed. She had hoped his doubts would not be voiced any more but apparently that was not the case. At least she was pleased his delivery was subtle enough not to cause any concern to Georgina. She was still unaware of the professional rivalry. For that Juliet was grateful.

  ‘I would expect no less from any team, primed for success and prepared for the unexpected, but in this case I doubt there will be any surprises. We know there are four babies, and we know there’s one problem to solve and then bed rest for you for another few weeks until they are all healthy and a good size for delivery. And on that note, Dr Warren and I need to discuss the procedure and have a scheduled meeting now.’