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Brooke exchanged a quick look with Brian and took Carly’s hand firmly in hers. ‘Is the pain there all time?’
Carly shook her head, her breath coming in sobs. ‘No. It comes and goes and it’s terrible—Ooh!’
She screamed in panic and wriggled and thumped the sides of the trolley while Brooke stroked her hair and tried to soothe her quietly. Once the contraction was over she turned to Brian.
‘We need to get her upstairs and give the poor thing something for pain. Let’s just quickly examine her to get some idea of what’s going on.’
She spoke obliquely so that Carly’s mother wouldn’t understand what was going on. Until they had all the information, there was no point in talking to her.
‘Mrs Baxter, could I ask you to wait outside for just a moment?’ Brooke ushered the older lady out of the room and then came back in to help Brian. He examined the girl thoroughly with Brooke as chaperone and then they left the side room to confer.
‘Well?’ Brooke frowned up at him and he let out a deep breath.
‘Seven centimetres.’ He looked staggered. ‘I can’t believe it. I was hoping Dr Nicholson might be wrong.’
‘Sean Nicholson is never wrong about anything,’ Brooke told him wryly, taking a deep breath and bracing herself for a difficult task. ‘OK, we need to get her upstairs. And we need to tell the mother.’
Brian looked uncomfortable. ‘I’ve never actually come across a case like this before. She’s under age. It’s actually a criminal offence. The police should be told—’
‘I don’t think that’s the main issue here,’ Brooke pointed out gently, hoping they hadn’t misjudged the man. ‘That girl is going to have a baby, Dr Wells, sooner ra
ther than later. I think we need to prepare her and her mother and worry about the ethics later.’
‘I’d feel more comfortable talking to Mr Matthews about it,’ Brian said briskly, glancing at his watch.
Which left her with the job he didn’t want. With a wry smile Brooke sighed and accepted the inevitable.
‘Fine. You do that. I’ll talk to Carly and her mother.’
Relieved to have offloaded such an onerous task, Brian strode out of A and E and Brooke rolled her eyes. Maybe he wasn’t such an asset after all. Or maybe Jed was just so good they’d all been spoiled.
She drew Mrs Baxter back into the room and quietly and tactfully explained that Carly was in labour, her whole attitude calm and non-judgemental as the mother exploded in shock and distress.
‘But she’s only thirteen! You must be mistaken!’
Brooke took a deep breath and braced herself. ‘We’re not mistaken, Mrs Baxter.’
The woman stared at her daughter in horror and shook her head. ‘Carly, no! Tell me it can’t be true.’
Carly started to sob hysterically and Brooke slipped an arm round the terrified girl, her voice soothing.
‘There, sweetheart, don’t panic. Your mum isn’t really angry, she’s just had a shock.’ Brooke shot Mrs Baxter a warning glance. Whatever she thought of her daughter, Carly was still a child, and a very young one at that. She needed her mother’s support, and if necessary Brooke was ready to point that out to her in no uncertain terms. There was no way she was going to let someone else suffer parental rejection if it could be helped.
‘Who was it? That Harper boy, I expect. Well, I’ll kill him—was it that Harper boy?’ Mrs Baxter glared at her daughter, her fists clenched, and Brooke immediately took her arm and led her firmly outside.
‘We’re taking Carly up to the labour ward now, Mrs Baxter. She needs your support, not your recriminations. If you’re not able to give it then I suggest you stay outside the room.’
Mrs Baxter glared at her angrily. ‘Don’t you dare tell me what I can and can’t do!’
‘On the contrary, unless you’re supporting your daughter, Brooke is quite within her rights to ask you to leave.’ Jed’s firm voice came from behind them and Brooke turned in relief.
‘Mr Matthews, we need to get Carly up to the labour ward. I’ll phone a porter.’
‘Forget the porter, I’ll help you.’ He gave Mrs Baxter a steady look. ‘I realise that this has come as a shock to you, but your daughter needs you. I think you should consider her needs first and then worry about everything else later.’
Mrs Baxter huffed angrily. ‘You wouldn’t be so complacent if she was your daughter!’
Jed paused in the doorway of the room. ‘I don’t have a daughter, Mrs Baxter, but I do have a son, and I know that whatever he does in life, whatever mistakes he makes, I will still love him and be there for him. I’m sure that you feel the same way about Carly.’
