Patrick finished his examination and straightened. ‘You’re four centimetres, Sally.’
‘Is that all?’ Sally gave a groan and closed her eyes. ‘Tom is going to have a breakdown. And I might have one with him.’
‘Why are you lying on the bed?’ Hayley sat down next to her, her voice soft. ‘I wonder whether you should mobilise for an hour or so. Walk around the department with me—see if we can get you moving a bit faster. Then go for the pool.’
Sally gave her an ironic look. ‘You want me to run a marathon?’
Hayley grinned. ‘No. I had in mind more of a stroll down the corridor, talking about shoes and similarly frivolous distractions.’
Sally stared at her. ‘How do you know I like shoes?’
‘Because I’ve been admiring your shoes since I walked into the room.’ Hayley’s gaze slid to the pair of silver mules that Sally had tucked under the chair. ‘I love them.’
Patrick backed away, shaking his head. ‘I’m not qualified to participate in a discussion about shoes. I’ll go and handle Tom.’ He glanced at Hayley, a smile playing around his mouth. ‘I like your plan. You’ve managed women labouring in water?’
‘Yes. All the time.’ She had no doubts about her abilities as a midwife but she realised that he knew nothing about that side of her. He hadn’t worked with her, had he? Their only professional contact had been when she’d shown him around the department and that hadn’t included any clinical work. ‘Who do I speak to about the pool?’
‘I’ll get someone onto it now. You need to change—Maggie has found you a set of scrubs that should fit. You can use my office.’ Patrick took a pen out of his pocket and wrote in the notes. ‘Get walking, Sally. When it gets too much, try the pool. Hayley can examine you again in four hours.’
Sally grabbed his hand. ‘Tom is seriously worried.’
‘I know that,’ Patrick said gently. ‘But we’re watching you. The baby is happy at the moment. You’re the one who isn’t happy and we’re going to do something about that.’
He was so good with the patients, Hayley thought wistfully as she helped Sally put on her shoes.
‘Let’s go for that walk. I can change in a minute.’ Hayley slid her arm through Sally’s and walked with her to the door. ‘I don’t suppose jeans matter for walking up and down the corridor. I can’t imagine anyone in authority is going to be in today.’
‘Patrick’s the highest authority here anyway.’ Sally gritted her teeth and rubbed her abdomen while Hayley looked at her in surprise.
‘Really?’
‘He runs the unit, didn’t you know? He’s astonishing—so bright. And really nice with it. He’s the only person Tom is likely to listen to.’
Hayley wondered whether Sally knew the details of Patrick’s divorce.
She didn’t like to ask, but Sally’s mind was obviously moving in the same direction because she paused in the corridor and looked at Hayley curiously. ‘So how do you know Patrick?’
‘Oh.’ Hayley made a conscious effort not to spill everything out. ‘I applied for a job as his housekeeper over Christmas.’
‘He advertised for a housekeeper?’
‘Not exactly.’ Drawn to Sally’s warmth and unable to help herself, Hayley told Sally the story of the advert. She laughed.
‘That’s brilliant. Good for Alfie. Oops—another contraction coming.’ She leaned on Hayley, breathing steadily. After a few moments she straightened. ‘Actually, I quite like being upright. Hi, Maggie.’ She smiled at a midwife who approached them.
‘How are you doing, Sally? And you must be our Christmas miracle.’ Smiling warmly, she pushed a set of clean scrubs into Hayley’s hands. ‘Alfie has told me all about your amazing cooking skills. I’m sorry to interrupt your Christmas Day but I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have you helping us out today.’
‘I—I’m pleased to help,’ Hayley stammered, touched by how generous these strangers were. They didn’t even know her, for goodness’ sake. ‘I am a qualified midwife.’
Maggie gave a delighted laugh. ‘I’m hoping so—we’re trusting you with our consultant’s wife so you’re going to need more than the ability to baste a turkey.’
The consultant’s wife.
Hayley gave Sally a weak smile. ‘No pressure, then.’
‘You’ve met my husband,’ Sally said dryly. ‘There’ll be nothing but pressure. If Patrick doesn’t keep him busy he’ll be hanging over you, watching everything you’re doing.’
‘That doesn’t bother me.’ Hayley rubbed Sally’s back gently. ‘I’ve been working in America—everyone watches everything there. It’s the land of litigation.’