his hair. ‘Ella, right now all that matters to me is you and the baby.’
Why couldn’t she let herself believe him?
When she didn’t say anything, he sighed. ‘I’d really like to be there at the scan. But it’s your call.’
That was quite a capitulation—and one that clearly hadn’t come easily to him. He was used to being in charge at work, so of course he was going to be bossy outside work as well. And maybe she had overreacted a bit. Maybe he really had meant to be helpful and trying to look after her, rather than making her feel stupid. But she didn’t want to whine about her dyslexia. Plenty of people had more to deal with than she did.
Maybe she should capitulate a bit, too. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve seen my doctor and got a date through,’ she said.
‘Thank you.’ He finished his tea. ‘I guess I should let you have the rest of your afternoon in peace. But call me if you need anything, OK? And I’m not trying to be bossy. I’m trying to be supportive.’
‘Uh-huh.’
When she’d shown him out, she tidied up and washed up the mugs. She had absolutely no idea how this was going to work out. Oliver was clearly intending to do the right thing and stand by her—but she didn’t want him to be with her out of duty. She wanted him there because he wanted to be there.
He hadn’t said a word about his feelings. He hadn’t asked her about hers, either. Which was just as well, because she was all mixed up. The attraction she’d felt towards him hadn’t gone away, but she was pretty sure it was one-sided. She didn’t want him to pity her for mooning about over him, so she’d been sharper towards him than normal. But then again, if it was that easy to push him away, he clearly didn’t want to be with her in the first place.
‘It’ll work out,’ she said quietly, cradling her abdomen protectively with one hand. ‘If the worst comes to the worst, I’ll go back home to my family in Ireland. But one thing I promise you, baby: even though you weren’t planned, you’ll always, always be loved. And if you’re a girl I’m going to call you Joy, because that’s what you are to me.’
ELLA WAS ON a late shift on the Monday morning, and called her GP’s surgery as soon as they were open. To her surprise and delight, the GP was able to see her that morning before her shift.
‘How are you feeling?’ the GP asked when Ella told her she was pregnant.
‘Fairly shocked,’ Ella admitted. ‘I didn’t think this would ever happen, after what the doctors told me in London. But, now I’ve had a couple of days to get used to the idea, I’m thrilled.’
‘Good.’ The GP smiled. ‘Congratulations. Are you having any symptoms?’
‘A bit of morning sickness—it’s not much fun if one of the dads-to-be on the ward is wearing a ton of aftershave, or if anyone at work’s drinking coffee,’ Ella admitted.
‘I don’t need to tell you that you should feel a lot better by the time you’re twelve weeks.’
Ella smiled back. ‘No. It’s weird, because I’m usually the one giving that advice.’
‘And you’ve already done a test?’ the GP asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Then there’s not much point in doing a second one,’ the GP said. ‘Given your medical history, though, I’d like to send you for an early scan. As you work at Teddy’s, would you rather go there or would you prefer to book in for your antenatal care somewhere else?’
‘Teddy’s is fine,’ Ella confirmed.
‘Good. I’ll put a call through to the ultrasound department this morning. Reception will contact you with the date and time.’
‘That’s great—thank you very much.’
By the time Ella got to Teddy’s, the GP’s surgery had already sent her a text with the date and time of her scan. Ella wasn’t sure whether she was more relieved or shocked to discover that the scan was tomorrow morning, an hour before her shift was due to start.
Someone was bound to see her in the waiting room for the ultrasound, so the whole department would know about the baby very quickly. Which meant that Ella needed to find Annabelle and tell her the news herself. The last thing she wanted was for her best friend to hear about the baby from hospital gossip, especially as she knew what Annabelle had been through over the last few years.
Annabelle was in her office, clearly writing up some reports. Ella knocked on the door, opened it slightly and leaned through the gap. ‘I can see you’re really busy,’ she said, ‘but can I have a quick word?’
‘Sure,’ Annabelle said. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Yes—there’s just something I wanted to tell you.’ Then Ella looked more closely at her friend. ‘There’s something different about you.’
‘How do you mean, different?’ Annabelle asked.
‘You look happier than I’ve seen you in a long, long time.’
Annabelle smiled. ‘That’s because Max and I are back together. For good.’
‘Really?’ Thrilled for her friend, Ella leaned over the desk and hugged her. ‘That’s fabulous news.’
‘All those years I thought I’d failed him because I couldn’t give him children.’ Annabelle blew out a breath. ‘But he says I’m enough for him, Ella. He doesn’t need a family to feel we’re complete.’
‘I’m so pleased.’ Ella paused. ‘So this means you’re not going to try IVF again?’
‘No. We might consider adopting in the future, but we need time to think about it. And time just to enjoy each other,’ Annabelle said. ‘So what’s your news?’
Even though Annabelle seemed to be OK with the idea of not trying for a family, Ella knew that this was still a sensitive subject. ‘There isn’t an easy way to say this.’
‘Oh, no. Please don’t tell me you’re leaving Teddy’s.’
‘No.’ At least, she hoped she wasn’t going to have to leave. ‘Annabelle, I wanted you to know before anyone else on the ward does—because everyone’s going to know after tomorrow. And I really don’t want this to upset you.’
‘Now you’re really worrying me. Is it another cyst?’ Annabelle bit her lip. ‘Or—and I really hope it isn’t—something more sinister?’
Ella took a deep breath. ‘No. Nothing like that.’
‘Then will you please put me out of my misery?’
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘Pregnant?’ Annabelle’s blue eyes widened. ‘That’s the last thing I expected you to tell me. But—how?’
Ella squirmed. ‘Basic biology?’
‘Apart from the fact that you’re not dating anyone—or, if you are, you haven’t told me about him—there’s your endometriosis and that ruptured cyst and all the damage to your Fallopian tubes,’ Annabelle pointed out. ‘I thought the doctors in London said there was no chance of you conceiving?’
‘They did. But I guess there was a billion to one chance after all.’ A Christmas miracle. One Ella had never dared to dream about.
‘I don’t know what to say. Are you...well, happy about it?’ Annabelle asked cautiously.
Ella nodded. Yet, at the same time, part of her was sad. This wasn’t how she’d dreamed of things being when she was a child; she’d imagined having a partner who loved her. That