Sydney Harbor Hospital: Marco's Temptation

by Fiona McArthur

  * * *

  Emily went to work that night, like she had so many nights before over the last sixteen years, though times had changed in the last decade as she had progressed in her career. Now she was in charge of the ward at night, instead of being the junior nurse.

  She could have risen higher but she chose night work because night duty meant the only person who suffered was her.

  Because Gran, dear Gran, the only one in her family who had unconditionally loved her, had supported her, and in the past had minded the sleeping Annie while Emily worked.

  Gran was gone now, Annie was certainly old enough not to be minded, and though Emily had almost come to terms with having a grandchild, she hadn’t really come to terms with the fact her daughter had had unprotected sex at sixteen.

  Would that have happened if she hadn’t worked nights? Who knew? After all those conversations!

  The ward was quiet so far—unlike her mind. She set the scales beside the prepared bed for the impending transfer from a regional hospital and pulled the BP machine close to hand for when their patient arrived. Her thoughts roamed as she taped the name badge to the bed.

  The new patient was under Marco D’Arvello as well. So they had an influx of foetal surgery now?

  She shook her head.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Lily, her colleague and friend, touched her arm and Emily gathered herself.

  ‘No. I’m thinking about earlier today.’

  ‘So how was Annie’s appointment and the mysterious Dr D’Arvello?’ Lily had recently met and fallen in love with the man of her dreams, a plastic surgeon, and she was keen for everyone else to be as happy as her. ‘I hear he’s a heartbreaker.’

  Um. Gorgeous? Emily could feel the warmth creep up her neck. At least the dimness of night duty was good for hiding blushes. ‘He seemed very nice. You tell me what you think when he comes to see the new admission.’

  She didn’t want to think about her visceral reaction at his office. ‘Naturally it would have been better if Annie had had the ultrasound earlier. But I didn’t find out until last week. How history repeats itself.’

  Her young friend shook her head emphatically. ‘From where I’m standing, history did not repeat itself. From what you’ve told me, your parents treated you with coldness and contempt. This time it’s different. When you found out you didn’t hesitate to support Annie. You’re there for her and she knows it. Even if she won’t tell you who the father is.’

  Emily chewed her lip. ‘She says it’s over and he’s not interested. I’m not pushing. But her life as a child will be gone. And now her baby might be sick.’

  Lily might be young but she hadn’t had an easy childhood. She was tough and could work anywhere in the hospital, used to be an agency nurse, but wards were vying for her shifts because she was so versatile. Luckily she loved Maternity and Theatres.

  Lily knew how strong a woman could be if she had to be. ‘Lots of girls manage beautifully. Even with sick babies. I survived. You survived. You took it on with your head high. She’ll survive. And if her baby is like you two, she’ll be tough, too.’

  Emily breathed deeply. She would love to believe that. She squeezed her friend’s shoulder. ‘Thanks. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t bring my worries to work.’

  Lily shook her head emphatically. ‘And where else do you go to unload? I’m glad to be here for you. Which reminds me, we should have coffee this week, and Evie wants to come.’

  ‘And that’s another thing.’ Emily brushed her hair out of her eyes. ‘Annie wants a baby shower.’

  ‘Stop beating yourself up. You do a great job. It’s been a hard year with your gran and now Annie’s pregnancy.’

  They both looked up at the sound of an approaching wheel chair. ‘I’ll try. Looks like our patient is here.’

  The woman in the chair looked even younger than Annie and both women shared a sympathetic glance.

  ‘Hello, there, June, is it?’ Emily smiled down at the scared young woman. ‘I hear you’re having twins?’

  June nodded. ‘That’s what the doctor said. Now I don’t feel so bad I look like the side of a house.’ Her smile dropped a little as her bravado faltered. ‘My babies are going to be all right. Aren’t they?’

  ‘We’ll be doing everything we can to stop your contractions and as my friend here is fond of saying, babies are tough little creatures.’

  The porter wheeled her into the prepared room. June moved carefully, and her large abdomen became more obvious when she moved. She stopped for a moment and breathed through the next contraction and Emily rested her hand on June’s belly to feel the muscles harden. ‘The tightenings seemed strong. You’re managing well with them.’

  June breathed out a big sigh when the contraction had passed. ‘I did one of those calming birth weekends. My friend’s mum teaches them and it really does help.’

  ‘I’ve heard they’re excellent. Must get the number from you for my daughter later.’ Emily helped June balance on the scales. ‘With luck we’ll weigh you and get you into bed and sitting up high before the next one.’

  June swayed on the scales and she whistled at the numbers. ‘I never knew babies were so heavy.’

  Emily wrote down the weight with a smile. ‘A lot of your tummy is fluid, not just babies.’

  June glanced across at Emily. ‘The ultrasound said one baby is bigger than the other.’

  Not a good thing with twins, Emily agreed silently. ‘That’s why the new doctor is coming to see you. We’ll get you settled and sorted before he arrives.’

  June glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘Is he coming tonight? It’s after midnight.’

  ‘Doctors work long hours. And this one is a specialist who’s very experienced with twins that are different sized.’

  ‘Oh.’ June settled back in the bed and forced herself to breathe calmly through the next contraction.

  ‘I’ve a tablet here for you that should help the contractions ease off while we wait. It’s also used as a blood-pressure tablet so I need to check that before I give it to you.’

  Emily wrapped the blood-pressure cuff around June’s arm and pumped it up to check. Normal. Good. ‘I’ll check again in thirty minutes and if you’re still having contractions we’ll give you another then.’

  June was well settled before the sound of voices drifted to her room. Emily completed her paperwork and put the chart in the tray at the end of the bed. ‘Ah. Here’s your doctor.’ Lily brought Dr D’Arvello into June’s room.

  Lily winked from behind his shoulder and Emily chewed her lip to keep back the smile.

  ‘Hello, there.’ His eyebrows rose when he recognised Emily. He glanced at her badge. ‘Sister Cooper?’

  ‘Doctor.’ He looked less immaculate than he had earlier today, with a subtle darkness of new growth over his strong chin and his hair unruly across his forehead as if he’d repeatedly pushed it back. Unfortunately he looked even more wickedly attractive.

  ‘Ah.’ She saw him file that away before he turned to their patient with a smile that had June relax back into the bed. Nearly as good as calming breaths, Emily thought, with a tinge of sardonic amusement.

  ‘And this is June, who is expecting twins?’ He shook June’s hand. ‘I am Marco D’Arvello. Congratulations.’ He pulled the chair across and sat down as if it wasn’t really midnight and he hadn’t been at work all day.

  Like he had all the time in the world to talk to June. Emily liked that. Not what she needed—to find something else she liked about this guy—but she was pleased for June.

  June breathed through another contraction, though this one lasted less than twenty seconds. Marco frowned. ‘She still threatens labour?’

  ‘That one was shorter after just one dose of the Nifedipine.’

  ‘Good.’ He smiled at June. ‘Your babies are better off inside at their age so we hope the contractions stop. I’ve looked at your ultrasounds, June, and your twins have a problem that I think I can help you with.’

  June
squared her shoulders. ‘What sort of problem.’

  He smiled. ‘I like a woman who gets straight to the point.’ Emily tried not to file that away.

  ‘Because your babies share the one placenta, even though they use their own part of the placenta, it seems there’s an extra blood vessel connecting their blood supply that shouldn’t be there. The problem with that is one twin often gets the lion’s share of oxygen and nutrients while the other can be quite disadvantaged.’

  ‘Is it dangerous?’ June was nothing if not focussed. Emily felt like hugging the girl.

  ‘For the less fortunate foetus, it certainly can be.’

  June turned to look at Emily and then back at Marco. ‘You said you can help?’

  He nodded. ‘I offer you the option of an operation with a small instrument that enters your uterus through the abdomen and seals off the unwanted blood vessel between the twins. We use a tiny laser.’

  June’s eyes widened with distress? ‘A laser? Near my babies? And you’ve done this before?’

  ‘Dozens of times.’ He smiled and Emily felt soothed just watching him. ‘Believe me...’ he smiled again ‘...I would do it very carefully but the risks are greater if I do not attempt this closure of the extra vessel.’

  He was skilled with reassurance, too, Emily thought, but she could see June’s apprehension so she tried to help with the little she knew. ‘It sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it?’

  She gestured to Marco. ‘Dr D’Arvello is consulting here on a secondment. Intrauterine surgery is his specialty and he’s here to help our obstetric and paediatric surgeons increase their skills.’

  June narrowed her gaze. ‘So you’re the expert?’

  ‘Si.’ Marco nodded.

  ‘So you don’t deliver babies, then?’ June frowned. ‘Just laser them?’

  White teeth flashed as he grinned, and Emily could feel her own mouth curve because he just made her want to smile. ‘But no. I am present for many births. Thankfully, only few babies need what I offer and a normal birth is always a joy.’ He glanced at Emily. ‘You would agree, Sister Cooper?’

  ‘Of course.’ Emily wondered if he did see many normal births. Nowadays, at Sydney Harbour Hospital anyway, obstetricians were usually only called when complications occurred. Or for hands-on service for their private patients, but perhaps it was different in Italy.

  June had thought it through and now she nodded. ‘So what happens now?’

  ‘Tonight we give you the second injection to encourage your twins’ lungs to mature in case premature labour cannot be stopped.’ He glanced at Emily who inclined her head in agreement. ‘And please, no more food or fluids until after we operate tomorrow morning.’

  June chewed her lip as the closeness of the operation sank in. ‘What time will they come for me?’

  ‘It will be soon after breakfast.’ He smiled. ‘Which is not for you.’

  She pretended to sigh at that and Emily wanted to hug her for being so brave, though the anxiety lay clearly behind her joking manner. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’

  Marco narrowed his eyes and studied her. ‘You have a mother’s courage. Would you like something to help you sleep? Sister could give you something to help you relax.’

  ‘No. Thank you. I guess I won’t be doing much tomorrow and I can catch up then.’

  Marco stood up. ‘Bene. Goodnight, then.’ He caught Emily’s eye. ‘May I have a word with you, Sister?’

  Emily nodded. ‘One minute.’ And smiled at June. ‘I’ll be back soon. Would you like a drink of water before I take it away?’

  June swallowed half a glass and Emily collected the water and followed him out to the desk, where he was writing up his orders for the night.

  CHAPTER TWO

  EMILY glanced at the clock. A quarter to one. Dr D’Arvello would have little sleep before his surgery day. She wondered if he was as used to lack of sleep as she was.

  From her height above where he sat at the desk she couldn’t help noticing the thickness of his dark hair. No sign of grey but he must be in his mid-thirties. A few years older than her and so much more experienced with the world. That deficit hadn’t bothered her before. Why should it now? Silly. ‘You wished to see me, Doctor?’

  His dark eyes swept up from the notes and over her face. He smiled and she found herself grinning back like a goose before she could stop herself. ‘I did not know you were a midwife at your daughter’s visit this morning.’

  It felt so long ago. ‘It’s not important?’

  He frowned. ‘But I would have offered more explanation if you wished. Is there more I can tell you?’

  ‘No. Thank you.’ She shrugged, a little embarrassed to admit it. ‘Of course I have researched the internet and read what I can find. I think I understand the operation well enough.’

  He nodded. ‘Sometimes I wish my clients would not look up on the internet but I am sure you picked well with your sites. The procedure is fairly simple. Perhaps a little more complicated than June’s surgery, but over almost as quickly.’

  He stood up, towered over her again, and seemed to hesitate. ‘And will you have to come to work tomorrow night after your daughter’s operation?’

  Her stomach dropped with a tinge of alarm. Was there bad news he hadn’t mentioned? ‘Actually, I’m not.’ Did he think she would be too upset?

  Still he frowned. ‘So when will you sleep?’

  ‘I’ll go home as soon as Annie is out of surgery. So I will sleep when she does, afterwards.’

  ‘You will be tired.’ He handed her the completed notes and she took them and stared at the pages. Not really seeing his looping scrawl. Looked anywhere but his face. It had been a while since anyone had wondered if she was tired and his kindness made her feel strange. This whole conversation was surreal because she was so ridiculously conscious of him.

  She risked a glance. ‘I was just thinking the same for you.’

  He shrugged his manly shoulders and she felt her stomach kick. This was crazy. She was way too aware of this man, this transient doctor. ‘I sleep less than four hours a night. Always have done.’

  ‘And I survive on about the same. I’m used to it.’ She opened the folder at the medication page. She needed to get this injection for June happening. The last one had been given twelve hours ago at the regional hospital. ‘So we have something in common.’

  He wasn’t ready to let her go. ‘Perhaps we have more than that.’

  She blinked. ‘I don’t know what you mean?’

  He smiled but there was mischief that made her cheeks pink again. ‘A concern and empathy for our patients.’

  What had she thought he meant? ‘Oh. Of course. Well, thank you for your concern. I’ll just go for the hydrocortisone for June.’

  ‘Perhaps one more thing?’ He held up one finger. ‘The reason I asked.’

  She stopped. ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘Tomorrow night. Because your daughter will be in the hospital. Perhaps you will need diversion from worry. It is Friday.’

  She didn’t get it. ‘And?’

  ‘A favour. I have promised myself a dinner on your so beautiful Sydney Harbour. I am only here for a month. It would be more pleasant to have company.’

  Good grief. He was asking her out. On a date? ‘I’m sure lots of ladies would love to be your company.’

  He shrugged, as if aware what she said was true, not with conceit but with disinterest. ‘I would prefer you.’

  Normally he had no problem asking a beautiful woman to dinner. So why was this difficult? He just wanted to enjoy a diversion with this woman, not ask her to have his babies. Why stumble around like a callow youth when she obviously wanted to get on with her work?

  It seemed his offer was the last thing she’d expected. He did not think shock was a good reaction and waited with unusual tension while she recovered.

  ‘Well, I guess you won’t run away because you find I have a teenage daughter.’

  ‘This has happened?’

 
‘Imagine.’ She turned away. ‘Anyway. Thank you. But, no, thank you. I don’t date.’

  ‘But this is not a date. Just kindness on your part.’

  She raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? Tricky. Then perhaps I could let you know tomorrow. In the mean time, you could keep looking. Now I must get back to June.’

  ‘Bene. Of course. Buonanotte.’

  ‘Goodnight.’

  Marco left the ward with a smile on his face. It had seemed fortuitous to find the woman who had whispered through his brain at odd moments all day, unexpectedly, on this maternity ward.

  A midwife, no less, and someone he would see a little of in the course of his work. And he had planned to dine on the harbour at some stage, though perhaps not tomorrow. And she intrigued him—though a conquest might not be easy. Always a challenge he could not resist.

  But with sudden clarity he’d realised that Emily would be unlikely to leave her daughter unattended, except for work, when they lived together. So it had to be tomorrow or the next night or not at all. He smiled to himself. Perhaps her doctor could keep Annie in an extra night for rest. Bad doctor.

  He didn’t know why he was so sure there was no man in Emily’s life, but she had the look of an untouched woman, and he trusted his instincts. She said she did not date. At least that instinct had been correct. A date would be good for her.

  She hadn’t said yes but that made it all more interesting. The degree of anticipation he could feel building already made him smile. He’d brushed off the need for appreciation and commitment, had had it leached out of him throughout his dark childhood, but a harmless dalliance could hurt no one and he would give much for Emily Cooper to look on his invitation with approval. But not until tomorrow would he find out.

  * * *

  Emily’s night passed quickly and thankfully without time for the distraction of Marco D’Arvello’s unexpected invitation. June’s premature contractions settled, but the arrival of two women in labour, one after the other, left little time for her to work out how she was going to turn him down.

  When Emily finished her shift the sun shone through the windshield straight into her eyes as she drove home to the little cottage above the pier at Balmain East she’d inherited from her gran.