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Evanna gave another gasp. ‘Flora, I’ve got another one coming.’
‘Great.’ Flora smiled at her, concentrated on delivering the anterior shoulder and then the baby slithered out, red-faced and bawling. ‘Little boy. Congratulations.’ She lifted the wriggling bundle onto Evanna’s abdomen and covered him with the warmed towels that Janet quietly handed her.
‘Oh, Logan…’ Tears spilled down Evanna’s cheeks as she curved her arm protectively around the baby.
Logan stared down at his wife and son, his eyes bright. He didn’t speak. Then he lifted a hand and pressed his fingers to his eyes, clearly struggling for control.
Conner rose to his feet. ‘She’s fine,’ he said softly. ‘They’re both fine. Your family is safe. You can relax.’ He hesitated for a moment and then reached out a hand and closed his fingers over his cousin’s shoulder. Flora felt a lump build in her own throat as she saw the gesture of support and reassurance.
Who said Conner wasn’t capable of forming relationships?
Who said that he wasn’t capable of feeling?
Knowing that her work wasn’t finished, Flora turned her attention back to the delivery. She clamped the cord twice, divided it and then attached a Hollister clamp near the umbilicus. ‘Two normal arteries, Evanna,’ she murmured. ‘Everything is looking good here.’ She gently applied traction to the cord and the placenta slid out into the bowl.
‘I’ll check it.’ Logan stepped forward to help, his face regaining some of its colour. ‘I’m feeling fine now. Thank you. Both of you.’
‘He’s already feeding, Logan.’ Evanna sounded sleepy and delighted at the same time. ‘What are we going to call him?’
They murmured together and Flora’s eyes misted as she watched them with their new son. Logan’s hands were gentle, his face softened by love, and Evanna looked as though she’d won the lottery.
Feeling a lump in her throat, Flora glanced towards Conner. He was standing at the French windows, staring out across the garden, his shoulders tense and his features frozen.
She wondered what he was thinking.
Was he remembering his own family, and the contrast they must have made to the scene playing out in front of him?
They’d shared enough secrets in the stillness of the night for her to know that he would be less than comfortable with such undiluted domesticity.
Wanting to help, she stood up and swiftly cleared everything away. ‘We’re going to leave the two of you alone for a few minutes,’ she said to Logan. ‘We’ll be next door if you need us.’ She washed her hands quickly and then touched Conner’s arm.
He turned, his face expressionless. ‘Yes?’
‘I don’t think we’re needed here.’ She gestured with her head. ‘Let’s go next door.’
‘Sure.’ With a faint shrug he followed her through to the surgery and they walked into her room. But he didn’t reach for her or make any of his usual wry, disparaging comments. Instead, he seemed distant. Remote. ‘So—I didn’t know you were a midwife.’
‘I’m not. That’s the first baby I’ve ever delivered.’
Conner gave a short laugh. ‘You’re full of surprises. I never would have known.’
‘Do you want to know the truth? I was always terrified that this baby would come when Evanna was on the island and I knew Logan would panic. So I read a few books, asked Evanna a few questions…’ Flora shrugged, wishing that he’d relax with her. ‘I had a nasty moment when I felt the cord but it was all fine. And it helped knowing you were there.’
‘I was as much use as a hog roast at a vegetarian supper,’ he drawled. ‘You did it all.’
‘That’s not true. You were strong,’ she said softly. ‘You gave Evanna confidence, and if something had happened to her or the baby, you would have known what to do. You’re good in an emergency.’
He looked at her for a moment and then looked away. ‘Well, they’re both all right, and that’s all that matters.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’d better get going, or Logan will be grumbling that I haven’t finished my paperwork.’
Flora felt a flicker of desperation.
Something had changed between them and she didn’t know what it was.
She wanted to say something about Logan and Evanna. She wanted to show him that she understood how hard it must be for him, but he was cool and remote, discouraging any sort of personal intrusion into his thoughts or feelings. And, anyway, she didn’t want to have that conversation here, where they could be interrupted at any moment. ‘Are you busy tonight?’
‘Why do you ask?’
Her heart skipped. ‘Because I thought you might fancy skinny-dipping in the sea. It’s a great form of relaxation.’
