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‘I’m not going to rule it in or out at this stage,’ Madison said gently. ‘We’ll see how you go. But I will promise you that we’ll do the best for you and your baby.’
‘Will I get it again if I have more children?’ Mrs Ellis asked.
‘We honestly don’t know,’ Theo replied. ‘You might not get it at all, or it might be not as severe, or it might be worse. It really, really varies. But the best advice we can give you is to leave a good two years between pregnancies—if you do get SPD next time round and your baby’s not walking yet, you’re going to find lifting really hard.’
When Madison had fitted the support belt and checked that Mrs Ellis had transport home, she and Theo walked back up to the ward.
‘So are you happy that I know what I’m doing, or do you want to supervise me with some more cases?’ she asked.
‘I wasn’t checking up on you,’ Theo corrected. ‘I wanted to get a feel for how you worked, and I’m going to be doing the same with all the staff. Mentoring isn’t just for students, you know.’
She looked surprised. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Whatever the stage of your career, you need development or you’re going to feel stuck in a rut and be miserable. The last department I worked in had a policy of job enrichment, and that worked really well. If you don’t already have that here, maybe we can introduce it—and I’ll make sure I liaise with Iris, because I want the midwifery team to be happy with any changes we make and they might have some good suggestions, too.’
She smiled at him. ‘I like the way you think. I’m going to enjoy working with you.’
A feeling, Theo thought, that was very much mutual.
Even though for the rest of the day he was in clinic and she was in Theatre, Theo was aware of Madison all afternoon. To the point that, when their shifts ended and he found himself in the locker room at the same time as her, he said, ‘Come and have a coffee with me.’ Seeing a slightly nervous look on her face, he added, ‘Look, I don’t mean coffee as in a date. I know you’re involved with the guy in the emergency department.’
‘The guy in the…?’ She looked mystified for a second, then smiled. ‘Oh, you mean Ed.’
‘The one who called you down to Mrs Ellis,’ he confirmed.
‘I’m not involved with Ed.’
‘Then you’re free.’ Even though he knew he ought to be sensible about it, he couldn’t help mentally punching the air. And then he caught the expression on her face. ‘To take pity on the new boy, that is,’ he said swiftly. ‘I’ve spent the last five years working in the Midlands, so I don’t know the area at all, and I could do with someone to show me where I can get some good coffee around here.’
She shrugged. ‘The hospital canteen’s OK.’
‘They do espresso?’ he checked.
‘Oh. You mean serious coffee.’ For a moment, he thought she was going to give him the brush-off. Then she smiled. ‘I know the perfect place.’
She led him to a small café not far from the hospital. ‘Giovanni’s—it’s Italian?’ he asked.
She nodded.
‘A little family place. Sounds good to me.’
‘Actually, it’s a chain,’ she corrected. ‘But it’s a good one. And I’m very glad there’s a branch just round the corner from the hospital. They do the best coffee in London—not to mention these fantastic organic chocolate brownies.’
She ordered a frothy cappuccino and a brownie, and shook her head when he ordered a double espresso. ‘That much caffeine is seriously bad for you, Theo. How on earth do you sleep?’
‘I’m used to it.’ He smiled. ‘Espresso is the nearest I can get to Greek coffee outside home. Unless you happen to know a decent Greek restaurant around here?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m afraid Greek coffee is a taste I haven’t acquired. It’s all the bits.’ She grimaced. ‘That thick gloopy stuff at the bottom.’
He laughed. ‘You’re not supposed to drink it to the last drop. And the kaimaki—the froth—is gorgeous, if it’s made properly. Like an espresso. But I admit it’s an acquired taste, and I can’t drink it sweet, the way my father does.’ He paused. ‘I enjoyed working with you today. You’re as good a doctor as you are a dancer. Intuitive and empathetic.’
To his pleasure, her eyes widened slightly. So she wasn’t entirely indifferent to him, then? She felt this same weird pull, the chemistry between them?
‘Thank you.’ She inclined her head. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to thank you for the dance at the ball.’
