"Sure, I'd love to,' he said, and then, he turned towards Kylie addressing her, "It was nice meeting you Kylie.'
"And, you too.' She gave him a tight smile and lied through her teeth and refuse to admit it that she missed him.
For the next couple of hours Ken remained in
the department, being shown around, observing the clinic and being introduced to staff. It was clear to Kylie that Andrew had decided that he had the role and was chosen for it.
She was busy enough to avoid him and Ken seemed fine with that for he made no attempt to catch her eye or talk.
He did let her know, though, when he was leaving.
She was sitting on a high stool, trying to write up some notes, but had just put her hands on her hips to curve her aching back and stretch it when he came in.
"I'm heading off," he said, and Kylie glanced around and saw that they were alone.
"You don't have to tell me your movements,' she responded in a very crisp voice. Now that the shock of seeing him was starting to wear off, her own anger with him was making itself known and she let a little of it out. "You knew full well that I worked here. What on earth were you thinking?
"We will speak tonight," he said. "Take as long as you need for your appointment but don't even think of not showing up afterwards. I want this sorted before we start working together.'
"Working together?' she checked. "I thought you
were applying for the maternity leave position.'
"I am but Andrew mentioned that you were short-staffed and wanted to know how I'd feel about doing a few locum shifts prior to commencing full-time.'
"If you get the job.'
"Why wouldn't I get it? The interview went very well,' he said. I happen to be very good at what I do. Andrew seems to think I'd be an asset...' He rolled his eyes.
He'd be an emotional liability, though, Kylie thought. Well, she'd soon see about him working here, she decided as Ken stalked off, though she didn't get a chance to speak to Andrew for the rest of the day.
Instead, she sat in Alora's office at a quarter to six, having her blood pressure taken. Given who had just arrived on the scene, neither Alora nor Kylie were surprised to find that it was a smudge high.
"I can't believe that he'd just show up like that,' Kylie said as her friend undid the cuff.
"Well, I think it's a good thing that it's all being brought to a head,' Alora said. "Go and lie down so I can have a feel.'
They carried on chatting as Kylie did so and she opened up her wrap-over dress.
"Ooh,' Alora said as Kylie's stomach danced away while she lay there. 'Someone's wide-awake.'
"I just grabbed a glass of orange juice, Kylie said. "I think it's woken him up.
Alora examined her bump as they chatted and this evening she made an exception to their rule and was both doctor and friend.
"He's furious.' Kylie sighed.
"Which makes two of you,' Gemma said. 'Ask him if he's told his wife yet! That might knock him off his high horse a touch...' Then she was kind. "Kylie, you been through and Mike or Jamal's reaction whatever his name is, to the bad news, of many reasons for not telling Ken. Given all you've course you're protective of this baby...
'I just wanted to know it was okay before I said anything to Ken or not. Kylie admitted what Alora already had guessed. "Then I wanted to get further along than I had with Thomas...' She closed her eyes for a moment because tears were on the verge of spilling out. Getting past twenty-five weeks had been a huge milestone. "The last few weeks I've had no excuse, though.
"So why didn't you tell him?'
"It was supposed to be a one-night stand. I don't want to discuss Thomas with a man I spent one night with. Do you know, I didn't even particularly like him? I thought he was a bit mean and dismissive.
Alora said nothing.
"Arrogant,' Kylie said. 'Chauvinist... He wouldn't let me pay half for dinner. She mimicked a deep voice.
'"Why would you ruin a perfectly good night?" He's all the things I don't want in a man.'
Cat frowned as a blob of warm jelly was squirted
onto her stomach. 'What are you doing?'
"An ultrasound.'
"I'm not due for one. Is there a problem?
"No problem at all,' Gemma said, 'I just thought it
might be nice for you to have a peek at your gorgeous baby. I'm recording it,' she added. "Maybe Ken might want to see it too.'
"Do you think?' Kylie frowned. She loved having
Alora doing her ultrasounds--all her ultrasounds with Thomas had been fraught affairs. Mike had actually taken the probe out of the radiologist's hand once in an attempt
to take over.
"I think that it might be a very nice olive branch,' Alora said. "It must be a shock for him and this might help him get used to the idea. When things get tense between the two of you, this might serve as a little reminder that it's your baby you're discussing..."
Kylie nodded and looked over at the screen.
It was a fun ultrasound. Alora wasn't taking measurements, just a brief check that all was okay, which it was, and then they took a lovely long look.
There it was, opening its little mouth like a fish.
and it was the most beautiful thing Kylie had ever seen. "What am I having?'
"You're sure you want to know?'
"I already know,' Kylie said, 'I just want to hear it.'
"You're having a little girl,' Alora said, and Kylie felt as if the examination couch had dropped from beneath her, a little like turbulence on a plane.
"I was convinced it was a boy!'
"I know that you were,' Gemma said. "She's beautiful. Look at those cheeks...'
It felt so different to look at the screen and to know it was her daughter that she was seeing. There she was, wiggling, waving and content in her own little world.
"Happy?' Alora asked as Kylie lay there.
Yes, she was dreading facing Ken, yes, her life had been turned upside down and inside out but 'happy was the right word.
Here, now, seeing her little girl, Kylie was exactly that, happy.
"You're going to be a brilliant mum,' Alora said,
"and, no matter how awkward things are between you and Ken, I'm sure that you'll sort it out as best you can.'
After Kylie had stood up and done up her dress, handed her the recording of the ultrasound and Kylie put it in her bag.
"Good luck.' Alora smiled.