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Mrs Baxter shook her head, barely able to speak for the emotion of it all. ‘No, love. How can we ever give him away?’ Her eyes met Brooke’s and were full of gratitude and peace. ‘He’s fam
ily.’
* * *
‘Well, thank goodness we don’t go through an emotional experience like that every day of the week,’ Gill said briskly, flicking on the kettle and spooning coffee into three mugs. ‘I’d be a wreck.’
‘You are a wreck, Sister.’ Jed leaned his powerful shoulders against the wall and laughed openly. ‘Your hair is somewhat ruffled and your mascara has run.’
Gill flapped a hand and glared at him. ‘Get away with you! You’re no gentleman, Jed Matthews! You’re not meant to notice that a lady is in emotional distress.’
‘Not notice?’ His blue eyes flashed wickedly. ‘Gill, you weren’t so much distressed as emotionally incontinent in there—how could I possibly not notice?’
Brooke grinned. ‘Oh, and you were totally immune, I suppose, Mr-ice-cool-I-never-show-any-emotions Matthews?’
‘Oh, totally,’ Jed said gravely, straightening and making for one of the chairs. ‘Didn’t affect me at all.’
‘So why were your eyelashes stuck together when her mother made that speech about families?’ Brooke’s tone was teasing and Jed’s eyes laughed into hers.
‘Er, could it have been the steam from the birthing pool?’
‘No, it could not!’ Brooke and Gill laughed together and Gill handed him a coffee.
‘Here we are, drink this—it’ll soothe your nerves. And for the record, our pool doesn’t steam—certainly not enough to make someone’s eyelashes wet.’
‘OK—I admit it!’ Jed sat back in his chair and shook his head slowly. ‘I’m a softy underneath. But you must admit that was a pretty moving experience.’
‘It was amazing,’ Gill said gruffly, handing round the biscuits and helping herself to two. ‘And you were brilliant, Brooke. Absolutely brilliant. What on earth did you say to the woman?’
Brooke exchanged glances with Jed and gave an embarrassed smile. ‘Nothing much.’
‘Oh, I’ll bet…’ Jed breathed, draining his coffee and making for the door. ‘I’m off back to Gynae to see what my team is up to and to check that Brian Wells hasn’t called the police.’
‘The police?’ Gill raised her eyebrows. ‘Why would he do that?’
‘He thought it might have been his responsibility,’ Jed murmured dryly, ‘but I was able to gently persuade him that it wasn’t.’
Brooke frowned. ‘Do you think the mother will contact the police?’
Jed shrugged. ‘I don’t know. She’s certainly entitled to, but it’s not anything to do with us. All the same, we probably ought to give Social Services a ring. The family need some support, in the early days at least.’
‘I’ll ring them,’ Gill said, ‘and the health visitor as well.’
‘Good stuff.’ Jed opened the door and then paused. ‘Oh, and by the way, Brooke, I’ll be late tonight. I’m giving a lecture on antepartum haemorrhage. You’d better eat without me.’
Without waiting for her reply, Jed left the room, leaving Brooke, scarlet-faced and inwardly cursing.
‘Well, that was tactful of him.’ Gill laughed, handing Brooke another biscuit. ‘Bite on that, Brooke, dear. You can pretend it’s his ankle and you’re a Jack Russell.’
Brooke refused the biscuit and shook her head slowly. ‘It isn’t what you think…’
‘It isn’t my business to think anything, dear,’ Gill said briskly. ‘Your private life is entirely your own affair. But I would say one thing…’
Brooke looked at her warily. ‘What?’
‘I know how very independent you are, and that’s a very admirable quality.’ Gill’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact. ‘But if you let a man like that slip through your fingers you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life.’
Brooke hesitated. ‘It’s complicated…’
