Page 30 of Prognosis Irreconcilable Differences

In some he was in theatre greens and the babies were still wet, covered in vernix and blinking blearily at their bright new world. In others the babies were wrapped and snuggled peacefully in layers of soft cloth as he held them close, and in the rest he posed with ecstatic couples nursing their precious bundles in hospital beds or here in his office as he looked on.

Jacqui noticed a few famous couples amongst the faces. But mostly she noticed, amidst this incredible montage of his career, how indescribably happy he looked. In every single snap. How joy shone from his face as he looked down at the little lives he’d helped bring into the world. How big were the grins he directed at his clients.

How utterly, completely, totally...content he looked.

She hadn’t seen him look like that in the last few weeks at all. Not flying in his private helicopter or talking about the float or rubbing shoulders with the business elite.

Not even in bed had he been that unguarded.

Nathan chuckled, and she glanced at him. She saw it again. The look from those snaps. The snaps that told a story about a man happy with his lot. Enjoying his work. The absorption, the confidence, the ease in those photos were all there in his face right at this moment as he doctored Sonya.

He was relaxed — in his element.

She watched surreptitiously as he chatted with his patient, pointing to the ultrasound screen. He laughed again, and she watched how Sonya’s fears seemed to melt away like a mirage, as if they’d never existed.

Nathan leaned forward and flicked a switch and the whole room was filled with the amazing staccato rhythm of a baby’s heartbeat. Whop, whop, whop. Fast and steady. Jacqui’s skin goosed at the sweetness of the noise, the ache in her chest throbbing anew at knowing it was a joy she’d never experience.

She watched as Nathan squeezed Sonya’s hand and passed her a tissue as a fresh wave of tears filled his client’s eyes. ‘Your little girl’s doing really well,’ Nathan assured her. ‘Her heartbeat is strong, and she’s really kicking around in there.’

Sonya nodded, blowing her nose. ‘Thank you, Nathan. Thank you. So you don’t think I should have an early C-section?’

‘She’s only just thirty-five weeks’ gestation, Sonya. Let’s give it a bit longer, okay?’

‘Of course. I’m so sorry to have wasted your time.’

‘Hey,’ Nathan chided as he wiped the gel from Sonya’s belly. ‘If you want to come and have an ultrasound every time you’re feeling a bit wobbly, that’s fine. Just ring.’

Sonya half sat up, pulling her shirt down. ‘Really?’ She sniffled.

Nathan squeezed her hand again. ‘Really. That’s what we’re here for.’

Sonya launched herself up and pulled Nathan into a big hug. ‘You have no idea how much that means to me,’ she whispered fiercely.

Jacqui watched as he laughed, gave it a few seconds, then gently extricated himself.

Sonya climbed off the couch and looked at her. ‘He’s the best,’ she said. ‘Don’t let him go — he’s solid gold.’

Jacqui nodded. ‘Yes ma’am.’

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‘I’m sorry about that,’ Nathan murmured when they were alone. He turned to the machine, busying himself with storing the data and logging off. ‘Sonya and Brian are old friends. They lost a baby a couple of years ago at thirty-seven weeks after years of infertility. She’s just really paranoid.’

Jacqueline could well imagine why. She heard the empathy in his voice and was curiously touched. ‘That’s awful, Nate.’

He nodded. It had been devastating for Sonya and Brian. And for him. He wiped off the probe head, and then used a sterile wipe to disinfect it for the next client while he waited for the computer system to shut down.

Jacqui waited, crossing her arms, staring at him. Waited for him to get it. Waited for him to realise that seeing Sonya, what he’d done for her today, had been the act of a truly caring physician.

Nathan looked at her. Her toffee gaze was watching him with a startling intensity. She raised an eyebrow at him.

‘What?’ he asked warily.

‘You were great with her.’

Nathan shrugged. ‘She just needed some reassurance.’

Jacqui waited some more. ‘Don’t you get it, Nate?’

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