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‘Only you didn’t walk away scot-free, did you? You changed your whole life because of that one incident. Your whole new career choice was based on that moment, wasn’t it? Because of the surgeons who repaired that lad’s face? They’re who you wanted to become?’
‘It was a hell of a lot better than the out-of-touch, diva-like actor that I was becoming.’
‘It was self-sacrificing.’
‘Hardly,’ he snorted. ‘I knew if I turned my back on the lucrative deal my mother had just made with a major studio, she’d never forgive me. Two birds, one stone.’
It was pointless arguing. She knew the truth and she felt sure Kaspar did, too, deep down. Instead, she reached her hand out, placing her palm on his chest, feeling the heat and thrumming of his heartbeat.
Drawing strength from it.
‘You didn’t just become an average doctor, Kaspar, you became one of the top surgeons in the world. A pioneer in your field. You’re even more famous than some of Hollywood’s best A-listers. And what’s more, you save lives. Do you really believe you’re still damaged? Out of control? Just like your parents?’
‘It isn’t what I believe, Archie,’ he bit out, remorse etched into every contour of his face. ‘It’s what I know.’
‘You’re wrong.’ She shook her head vigorously but she already knew Kaspar wasn’t listening.
She’d lost him. Again.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘THIRTY-TWO WEEKS.’ Catherine, as Archie had finally come to know her, smiled as she finished up the examination. ‘And you’re doing really well.’
‘The cerclage is okay?’
‘It’s fine. If anything, it appears to have lengthened the cervix and reversed the funnelling that we were seeing before. It’s a great sign but it can be temporary so don’t think it’s a green light to start running marathons or anything.’
‘So I keep limiting the physical activity.’ Archie nodded. ‘Got it.’
‘And I understand it must be difficult, but you’re keeping the sexual activity gentle and less frequent? No more than a couple of times a week?’
She nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to look at Kaspar, her face feeling like it
probably resembled some kid’s rosy-cheeked doll. They’d both agreed it would raise fewer questions if they didn’t try to explain the situtation.
‘Again, use protection,’ Catherine continued blithely. ‘More to reduce risk of infection than as contraception.’
Archie forced a laugh. The same joke as last time and just as awkward.
‘So now that we’re getting closer to the due date—’ it felt incredible good saying that ‘—what can I expect?’
Catherine glanced at Kaspar as if assessing how much he might have told the concerned mum-to-be, then continued professionally as if Archie were any other patient and not one with a renowned OMS sitting next to her.
‘If your baby was born right now, barring any health troubles in the womb, it would have a very good chance of surviving and of continuing life with no long-term health problems. One of the most common concerns would be under-development of the respiratory system.’
‘Which is one of the reasons we previously considered steroid injections?’ Archie prompted.
‘Right. However, your body seemed to have been adjusting well to the cerclage so we decided not to go ahead. I think that decision has proved correct given how good it all looks now.’
‘So if I go into labour now?’
‘If you go into labour now we would still try progesterone or pessaries to try to delay the birth. Every additional day the baby is in there now, he or she is gaining that all-important weight and strengthening internal systems. But as I say, birth at thirty-two weeks has a very good survival rate. Depending on the baby, he or she may spend as little as a week in NICU if feeding and breathing are going OK.’
‘And if he can’t?’
‘If he or she can’t—’ Catherine’s continued care not to give the gender away continued to delight Archie ‘—then he or she will remain in the NICU with a feeding tube and a respirator for as many weeks or even months as might be necessary. But we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it.’
‘Right.’ Archie nodded, her eyes sliding across to Kaspar, who looked remarkably stiff in his chair. She couldn’t stop a smile. Expectant father mode, not skilled surgeon mode. It was so very endearing. She might even say he looked...content.
