‘I said that the cervix feels different to yesterday so we’d better be on the safe side and give her some betamethasone.’ He scribbled on the chart and handed it to Brooke. ‘Give her 25 mg now and another 25 mg in 12 hours. I’m going to give you some steroids, Jane.’
Jane looked anxious. ‘Steroids? Why steroids?’
Jed propped one foot on the bottom rung of the bed as he talked to the couple. ‘There’s very good evidence that given before 34 weeks’ gestation they help your baby’s lungs mature. There’s a chance this baby may come early so we want to give him all the help we can. Basically the steroids help the baby’s breathing.’
Jane’s husband frowned. ‘I’ve heard of respiratory distress syndrome…’
‘Right.’ Jed gave a nod. ‘Well, steroids have been shown to reduce the incidence of RDS. At the moment we’re not sure that Jane is going to go into labour but we’re not taking any chances.’
‘And if she doesn’t go into labour?’ Mr Duncan was understandably protective of his wife, and Jed took plenty of time to explain the position in detail. Even Brooke had to admit that as an obstetrician he was amazingly skilful and sensitive with the mums. It was just with her that he didn’t give an inch.
‘The steroids won’t do any harm,’ Jed assured them, his eyes flicking over her notes quickly. ‘You’re thirty-three weeks now, Jane. We’ll admit you to the ward and see what happens. Stay in bed and relax.’
Jane gave a sigh and nodded. ‘I haven’t got much choice, have I?’
‘I’m afraid not.’ Jed smiled sympathetically and handed the notes to Brooke. ‘Would you arrange for her to be admitted, please?’
It took half an hour for Brooke to make the arrangements and transfer Jane Duncan to the ward.
Gill caught her on her way back in to the labour ward. ‘Brooke, be an angel and fetch me a delivery pack for the lady in 6, will you? She’s looking very hopeful.’
Brooke grabbed the pack and turned to find Jed blocking the doorway, his blue eyes fixed on her face.
‘I owe you an apology.’
He looked tired and she wondered whether he’d been called out in the night.
‘You don’t owe me anything, Jed.’ She hugged the delivery pack to her chest, using it as a form of protection, and tried to pass him. She was still terrified he’d press her for more details about Toby and she hadn’t decided what to do yet.
‘Wait.’ He stretched his arm across the doorway to stop her leaving. ‘I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that but I was just, well, surprised, that’s all. After what we shared I thought—’ He broke off, his mouth twisted into a wry smile. ‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe my ego is overdeveloped. I was just shocked that you’d plunged into another relationship so soon.’
She couldn’t look at him and her eyes slipped away from his. ‘That’s OK. You don’t need to explain. I need to get this to Gill.’
‘How are you getting home tonight?’ His voice was a low, masculine growl. ‘I’ll give you a lift.’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘No—I’m fine, really. Forget it, Jed. Please.’
‘Brooke, we need to talk.’ His voice stroked her senses and she felt tears clog her throat. She didn’t know which was harder to deal with—his coldness or his warmth. Both cut her to the quick because she couldn’t do anything about either of them. How could she? She couldn’t afford to get close to this man, however strongly she felt about him.
Gill’s voice echoed down the corridor. ‘Brooke, I need that pack!’
Brooke swallowed and glanced at Jed. ‘I’ve got to go.’
Jed cursed under his breath and raked long fingers through his glossy dark hair. ‘We’ll talk later.’
‘No.’ She eased past him and gave him a tired smile. ‘There’s nothing left to talk about. Let’s just leave it now. It’s all in the past.’
Without waiting for his reply, she walked quickly to the delivery room, feeling his eyes on her back.
* * *
Halfway through the morning she had to call Jed out of his clinic, this time to see a young woman whose blood pressure was worryingly high. She intercepted him in the corridor before he went into the room.
‘Sorry to call you…’
He shrugged. ‘That’s all right. When my senior reg starts, hopefully the load will soon be shared.’
Brooke sincerely hoped so. If she had to keep bumping into Jed this many times a day there was a strong possibility she’d go mad. ‘There’s a couple of things you ought to know.’