“I’m coming up so you better get the party started…” Diane Lloyd sang out, as she wandered into the ward. Kath Fox smiled as she saw her – it had been so long since Diane had looked anything other than tearful.

“Happy?” she asked, trying to hide her smile by flicking through a patient’s records.

“Yep,” Diane replied, cheerfully. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“The same reason you haven’t been for the past month,” Kath returned.

Diane shook her head. “I just realised how lucky I am.” She began ticking off on her fingers. “I’ve got great friends. I love my job. Even if I’m having a little blip in my love life at the moment, it’s going to get better. And I can’t feel guilty about Steve forever.”

“Feel guilty?” Kath repeated. “Why?”

Diane hesitated. “I dumped him the day before the crash.”

“Oh.” Kath paused. “But, Diane, it’s not your fault Steve died.”

“I know. I just… I wasn’t very nice to him before he died,” Diane confessed.

“I’m sure he doesn’t blame you,” Kath replied. Her face had taken on a sad, drawn expression, and Diane mentally kicked herself.

“Sorry, Kath. I didn’t mean to remind you of…” She trailed off, not sure if it was all right to mention Terry’s name.

“It’s fine.” The approach of a wheelchair cut off Kath’s reply. “Yes?”

The young girl pushing the chair replied. “Er, this is Jennifer Whitten. She’s been transferred by her GP.”

Kath glanced down the list of patients. “Yes, Mrs Whitten. You’re in bed five.” She began to wheel the woman over. “Are you a relation? Do you want to stay…?”

“Yes, yes, please,” replied the girl. “I’m her daughter.”

“It’s okay, Josie, really. You don’t have to stay with me,” Mrs Whitten said, shaking her head. “She’s so overprotective,” she said, in a loud whisper to Kath. “Just ’cause of this stupid body of mine.”

“Mum!” Josie said, sharply. “My stepfather died just a few months ago,” she told Kath. “And I’m all Mum’s got left now.”

Diane smiled. It was just the typical way of things at Holby City hospital.

* ~ * ~ *

“Diane?”

A hand touched her shoulder, and, startled, she spat out the mouthful of hot coffee and dropped her cup. She whirled around to face the person who had done this to her. “Alex!”

Alex Adams tried to keep a straight face as he caught sight of Diane’s expression, but it was impossible. She glared at him as he burst out laughing, but soon saw the humorous side, and joined in.

“Ugh,” she sighed, after a few minutes, trying to scrub the coffee stain from her white shirt. “Why did I wear white?”

“It’s not noticeable,” Alex replied, unconvincingly, handing her a tissue.

“Thanks,” she groaned. “I have a spare shirt… I think I should get changed.” As she was leaving, she turned back to him, a flirtatious glint in her eye. “You owe me one cup of coffee.”

Alex smiled. “When do you get off?”

“Nine,” she replied, smiling. “Unless there’s an emergency.”

“Do you want to go out for a drink… coffee if you want?” he asked, knowing she wouldn’t say no. It had been obvious for the past few weeks that she fancied him. Not that that was anything unusual – Alex often had women falling at his feet. However, he only ever dated a select portion of them.

Diane paused, deliberately making him wait. She wasn’t going to let him have her easily. After what she considered to be a long enough pause, she replied. “Okay,” she said, grinning. “I’ll look forward to it.”

* ~ * ~ *

Ric glanced up as Diane entered the room. He eyed her blouse. “Have you got changed?”

She smiled. “I had to. Alex Adams made me spill coffee.”

Ric grimaced at the mention of Alex, who was not exactly his favourite person. Diane obviously didn’t share his opinion, and frequently teased him about it. “I hope the wonderful Mr Adams apologised,” was all he said, however.

“Yeah,” she said, almost jumping in her excitement. “In fact, I have a date!”

Ric closed his eyes briefly. “God help me. You have a date with Alex Adams?”

“Yup,” Diane replied, cheerfully. “And I hope you’ll be happy for me, Ric. He…”

“Don’t tell me,” Ric interrupted. “I don’t think I want to hear it.” He paused, trying to dissuade Diane. “Wasn’t it just last week that you were so distraught about Steve?”

Diane nodded. “But I can’t feel guilty about him forever. It happened, and I… well, I just need to get over it.”

“Although I don’t like Mr Adams,” Ric replied, “I’ll try and be civil.” When she put it like that, he couldn’t dissuade her any more. It had hurt him to see her so upset over Steve, who had been buried the previous month, eight days after his death. She had felt so guilty about the fact that, just a week before his death, she had dated him, and dumped him the next day.

“Thanks, Ric!” Diane squealed, hugging him. Ric smiled, but pushed her away. He was conscious of enjoying the hug slightly too much. He freed himself, and went to find his patient list. Alex had stolen Sam, Jess, and his grandchild from him. Was he about to steal Diane too?

* ~ * ~ *

Tom Campbell-Gore strolled casually through the corridors of Holby City hospital, feeling good about his life. The day before, he had finished his sessions with a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist’s words still rang in his ears. “You’ve done well, Tom.” Like most, Tom Campbell-Gore was a man who valued praise.

The only problem he had with his life was that he didn’t have a girlfriend. Most men his age were married, had children, grandchildren even. He didn’t. After strings of meaningless relationships, he had finally found a woman he liked. Anita. Just her name made him feel weak at the knees. And when he saw her, he had to work hard to keep his heart beating. But it wasn’t just her looks – she was clever. A psychiatrist. She knew all about his alcoholism, and didn’t judge him.

But there was a catch. She didn’t feel the same way. Or, if she did, she wouldn’t admit it. He couldn’t deny that there was tension between them, but whether it was romantic, he couldn’t say. The tension could have been caused by the fact that she had turned him down when he tried to kiss her.

But he couldn’t think about that now. Right now, he had to deal with a heart valve replacement. Mrs – what was her name? Oh, it was Mrs Whitten, of course.

And Ed Keating was helping. That was fine. Ed was a nice guy, given to being slightly foolish at times – that was why Chrissie Davis was living with her mother instead of her husband, and uncertain about whom the father of her unborn baby was.

“Mrs Whitten?” he asked the patient, smiling. Make the patient feel at ease – that was his job. Well, that, and to keep them alive. He couldn’t see her face – she was talking to a young girl of about twenty, probably her daughter.

“Yes… Jennifer Whitten. Jenn,” the patient said, turning around.

Tom paled, and the smile vanished. “Jenn?” he repeated, staring at her.

“Tom…” She looked him in the eye, but dropped her gaze quickly. “Tom Campbell-Gore… my word. It’s been a long time.”

“Twenty years or so. How – how are you?” he asked, sitting down, although all his instincts told him he should run away.

“I’m in a hospital bed, waiting for you to replace one of my heart valves,” she replied. “I’m peachy.”

“Yes, of – of course. Sorry.” He looked at Josie. “So…?”

“Oh, yes. This is my daughter,” she said, smiling at Josie. “Joanna. She’s twenty.”

“Nice to meet you,” Tom replied.

Josie looked awkwardly from her mother to Tom. “Do you want to have some privacy, or…?”

“No, don’t feel you have to leave,” Tom told her.

“That’s fine. I need to make a phone call anyway,” Josie answered, getting up. Tom watched her walk away.

“So, ah, Jenn…” He paused. “This is where I usually explain what the operation entails, but… I suppose you know?”

“I went through medical school with you,” she retorted, frostily. “And if I recall correctly, I came out higher than you, Tom. I know what a heart valve replacement is, yes.”

Tom hesitated. “Would you be more comfortable with someone else performing the operation?”

“Someone I haven’t been dumped by, you mean? I trust your professional judgement, Tom.”

“Meaning that you don’t trust my personal judgement?”

“If it hasn’t changed in the last twenty years or so, then no I don’t,” she replied, annoyed.

“Fine. I’ll see you in theatre,” he said, getting up and walking away.

* ~ * ~ *

“So, whom are we chopping up last?” Diane asked, blandly. The shift had gone smoothly – no deaths, nothing even remotely critical. Diane and Ric were starting to feel complacent.

“Chopping up?” Ric repeated. “I really hope that isn’t how you view my surgical skills. Or your own, for that matter.”

“We-ell, now that you mention it…” Diane teased.

Ric glared at her, but dropped the pretence quickly. “To answer your question, it’s a Clyde Baker – thirty, routine hernia op.”

“How’d he do it?”

Ric looked at his notes, smirking. “You’re not going to believe this…”

“Ooh, what?” she asked, immediately curious, grabbing the notes off him.

“Hey!” he exclaimed. “There’s such a thing as doctor-patient confidentiality, you know.”

“And there’s such a thing as curiosity,” she replied, glancing down the paper. She squealed. “Oh my God!” she gasped, trying to hold in her laughter. “He got a hernia having sex? Is that even possible?”

“Shocking,” Ric commented. “Still, we’d better go and talk to him – before we chop him up.”

* ~ * ~ *

“Mrs Whitten?” Kath asked, as she approached the woman in the bed.

“Jenn… please.”

“I’ve got to take some vitals,” Kath replied, smiling. “Just to…”

“I was a doctor, I know what it’s for,” Jenn interrupted.

“Oh, sorry, I – I didn’t realise.”

“I’m surprised Tom hasn’t told everyone,” Jenn said, bitterly.

“Mr Campbell-Gore?”

“That’s the one,” Jenn answered. “If I had known he was the surgeon, I would never have come here. Ironic, isn’t it? He broke my heart, and now he has to perform surgery on my heart.”

“You – you and Mr Campbell-Gore were, a, ah…?”

“We were engaged,” Jenn spat. “Then he decided he didn’t want me. I was in love with him… he treated me like dirt.” The hurt and sadness of twenty years ago had given place to anger and hatred.

“You can ask for another surgeon, you know,” Kath said, tentatively.

“That would be letting him win,” Jenn replied venomously. “I trust his surgical skills.” Her voice made it clear that she trusted nothing else. “It’s his judgement I don’t trust. If it is still today what it was twenty years ago, then I trust Adolf Hitler more than I trust Tom Campbell-Gore.”

“What did he do to you?” Kath asked, curiosity overcoming her.

“It was three weeks before the wedding,” Jenn began. “We’d bought a house together, and I was coming in one day, and I found him – in our bed – with my bridesmaid. Juliette. And we broke up.”

“Oh… I’m sorry,” Kath said, awkwardly.

“It took me fifteen years to get over him,” Jenn continued. “I married Harold just a few years ago. He died almost six months ago – we had such a short time together.”

“I had a few days with my husband,” Kath said, softly. “He died just a week after our wedding. About six months ago.”

“I’m sorry,” Jenn replied. “It’s hard, isn’t it?”

“I hear it gets easier.”

“I hope so.”

“So do I.”

* ~ * ~ *

“Mr Baker?” Ric asked, entering the cubicle where a man was seated in a bed. Next to him was a heavily pregnant woman, presumably his girlfriend.

“Yes?” the man replied. “I’m Clyde Baker.”

“I’m Ric Griffin, the consultant. This is Diane Lloyd, my registrar. We will be performing the operation,” Ric explained. “It’s a fairly straightforward procedure… I assume you’ve had it explained?”

“Yes, he has,” the woman said. “I’m his girlfriend – fiancée, I mean. Kellie.”

“Well, do you have any questions, Clyde?” Ric asked.

Clyde thought. “Are there any major risks? I have to be strong for Kellie and the baby,” he added. “She’s due next week, see.”

“It’s routine,” Ric replied. “There are the usual risks of anaesthesia, obviously, but in all my years of operating, I’ve never lost a patient because of a hernia. Trust me.”

“Okay,” Clyde answered, smiling.

“And congratulations,” Ric added. “You’re my first patient this June.”

“June?” Diane repeated, paling. “It’s June already?”

“Do you have a problem with June?” Ric asked her. “And stop staring,” he hissed. Diane seemed transfixed by Kellie’s stomach. She hurriedly averted her eyes.

“No-o,” she faltered.

“Okay then, Clyde, we’ll see you in theatre.” Taking Diane’s arm and practically pulling her out of the room, Ric faced her. “Right. What’s the matter?”

“Huh?” Diane didn’t seem to be aware of him.

“You were on cloud nine just half-an-hour ago, Diane. What’s the matter?” he demanded. “You were fine until you heard it was June. Weren’t you expecting June to come? It normally comes after May,” he added, sarcastically.

“But… May didn’t come,” she said, quietly.

Ric closed his eyes briefly. “What do you mean?”

“You know…” she trailed off. Ric was rapidly losing patience.

“Diane, you’re talking in riddles. I don’t know.”

“The…” She paused. It was embarrassing enough to talk about this sort of thing with other women. To have to tell Ric, not only a man, but also a man she had been engaged to, was nothing short of excruciating. “My period.”

“Oh.” If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Diane would have laughed at the look that appeared on Ric’s face. “Maybe it’s stress. With Steve and everything that’s happened.”

“I doubt it.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve been being sick,” she replied. “In the mornings. I thought it was just a hangover, but…”

“Oh.” He paused. “Who, ah, who…?”

“Steve,” she said, answering his unasked question.

“Have you – done anything about it?”

“No… I only just realised.” Diane was now looking at the floor, trying not to let Ric see how close she was to crying. But he seemed to guess, and pulled her into an empty room. They sat down, side-by-side, on the bed. Suddenly she couldn’t hold in her tears any more. So much had happened over the past weeks – she had seen Ben and Steve die, and now this. She hadn’t let herself cry much – only for a few minutes. And crying was such a relief. She felt Ric take her in his arms, and she sobbed into his shoulder.

When the storm of tears was over, which wasn’t for some minutes, she smiled weakly. “T-thanks.”

“You ruined my suit,” he replied, jokingly, looking sadly at the wet patch on his shoulder and chest.

“Sorry,” she said, giving a weak laugh. “But you work at the Hadlington. You can afford a new one.”

Ric nodded, deciding not to tell her that he’d only bought that one the previous week. “So…” he began.

“Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll go and see Owen or Mubbs after we’ve done this op.”

“Are you sure you can operate?”

“’Course!” she replied. ‘If Alex can operate when he has Parkinson’s, then I can operate today,’ she thought to herself.

* ~ * ~ *

In theatre, it soon became obvious that the routine hernia operation was not going smoothly. Diane, recovered from her crying fit earlier, and Ric, no longer wearing the ruined suit, were having trouble with the repairing of the stomach. Clyde had an extreme tendency to bleed.

“There’s a bleed,” Diane said, unnecessarily, as a spurt of blood shot out. “Clamp.”

The monitor began bleeping warningly. “BP’s falling,” the anaesthetist announced.

“Charge to one-eighty.”

Nothing happened.

“C’mon, Clyde, don’t give up on us,” Ric begged. “Charge to three-sixty. Come on Clyde, you can do this.”

It seemed that Clyde couldn’t. After nearly ten minutes of trying, Ric was forced to give up. “Thank you, everybody,” he said, softly. “Time of death, one-oh-eight.”

After closing him up, and cleaning themselves up, Ric and Diane embarked on the unhappy task of telling Kellie, Clyde’s fiancée.

“I’ll do it,” Ric offered. “Go and find Owen or Mubbs.”

“No – I’d rather wait,” replied Diane. “I – would you come with me, when I go?”

Ric smiled. “Of course.” Then, solemnly, they made their way to see Kellie. She knew what they were going to say before they spoke.

“No. No.” Running out of the waiting room, she began sobbing hysterically. By the time they had gone in search of her, she had disappeared.

* ~ * ~ *

“So… what’s the deal with you and Mrs Whitten?” Ed asked Tom, as he made an incision.

“We were engaged – many years ago,” Tom replied, trying to brush it off.

“And…?”

“How do you even know that Jenn and I were together anyway?” Tom demanded.

“Chrissie heard Kath talking to her, and she wanted to know if I knew anything,” Ed said. “It sounds like a big scandal.”

“Ah yes… the wonderful Chrissie,” Tom sighed. “And who are you to pass judgement on my love life? You still don’t know if you’re going to be a father or not.”

“Yeah, but you know all about my scandalous love life,” Ed replied. “I don’t know about yours.”

“Fine. Jenn and I were engaged, but three weeks before the wedding, she caught me with another woman,” Tom said, resignedly.

Ed laughed. “Who’d have thought it?”

“No, no, it gets worse,” continued Tom. “The woman was her bridesmaid.” Ed snorted with laughter. “And why you find that funny I can’t say… weren’t you Owen’s best man?” Ed sobered quickly. “Anyway… we broke up.”

“How long ago was this?”

“About twenty years ago,” Tom replied. “It seems that Jenn can hold a grudge.”

“For twenty years? Wow, you must’ve really hurt her,” Ed commented.

“Thank you,” Tom sighed. “We were together for ten years – since we were about eighteen. We went through medical school together.”

“It looks like she got over you, though,” Ed said, thoughtlessly. “I mean, that daughter of hers has to be about twenty.” He smirked. “Hey, maybe you’re a daddy!”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” snapped Tom. But, as he continued with the operation, he couldn’t help but wonder if it were true.

* ~ * ~ *

As Diane and Ric were walking to Maternity, an old man came rushing up after them. “Doctor! Doctor Griffin!” he called, panicking.

“Ah… Malcolm?” Ric asked, hoping that it was the right name. He hadn’t treated this particular man – he’d operated on his wife. But Malcolm was a nice man, although he did have a slight tendency to over-react.

“There’s a young lady in the corridor – she’s collapsed,” Malcolm announced.

“Okay,” Ric replied. “Thanks, Malcolm. Where is she?” Malcolm pointed, and Ric and Diane raced off, to where a crowd had formed.

As they approached the woman, Diane gasped. “It’s Kellie. Ric, it’s Kellie.”

She was right. Kellie lay there, unconscious and bleeding. “Is – is she…?” Diane didn’t want to ask if she was alive or not.

“She’s alive,” Ric replied. “Just.” He glanced up to the crowd. “What happened?”

“She was running, and she fell,” a man answered. “She landed with such a crash. I think she hit her head – it’s bleeding.”

“We should get her to maternity,” Ric decided. “Get the baby checked out. Then we can sort Kellie out. Page Owen, Diane, will you?”

“Okay.” Diane fled, and was back in a few moments. “He says they’ll be ready for her as soon as we get her there.”

Within minutes, Kellie was on a stretcher, and was being rushed down to maternity. Owen met them, and immediately set up a scan. Diane shuddered at the thought that she would need that soon. Ric squeezed her hand supportively, and she smiled at him.

After looking at the image on the screen for a few moments, Owen spoke. “I think it would be best to perform a caesarean now. She seems to be full term.”

“They said she was due next week,” Diane corrected him.

“Fine,” Owen said. “By performing a caesarean, we can ensure the baby’s safety, and also, it will allow Kellie to have any treatment that she needs, without any excess risks. I’m guessing you’ll want to do an X-ray? And can you stay on hand? That way, we can go straight on to making sure that Kellie is okay.”

Ric nodded. “We can do that.”

“Thank goodness. We’re chronically under-staffed at the moment,” Owen sighed. “What with Lisa leaving us for AAU, Julie being on maternity leave, and Ben… well. At the moment, there’s only Mubbs and me. Our new midwife arrives next week, thank Heaven.”

“Everyone’s suffering at the moment,” Ric commented. “There’s only Jess and Lisa in AAU, since Steve…” He trailed off, looking at Diane. “And Danny left recently too…” Again, he realised the implications this had for Diane. ‘Has she dated everyone in this hospital?’ he thought, sighing.

“What about the father? Do we know where he is?” Owen asked.

“He, ah, died earlier,” explained Diane.

“Routine surgery,” added Ric. “First time I’ve ever lost a hernia patient.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.” Owen wasn’t sure what to say. Fortunately, whilst delivering a baby, there are not many opportunities for conversation. As Mubbs offered to take bets on whether the baby was a boy or a girl, the medical team prepared for surgery. Diane watched in interest as the caesarean was performed – she hadn’t seen one done since she’d been a student, except on television.

“It’s a girl!” announced Owen presently.

“Damn,” Mubbs cursed, realising that he now owed Ric ten pounds. Ric smirked.

“Who wants the honour of closing up?” Owen offered. “No takers? Never mind.” He quickly closed up, and proclaimed himself finished. “Done.”

“We should get her X-rayed, then,” Diane suggested, as Kellie was wheeled off, followed by Owen. She cast an interested look at Mubbs, who was holding the baby. “Can’t say I ever pictured you with a baby.”

“Want to hold her?” Mubbs asked. Diane backed away hurriedly, nearly crashing into Ric. Mubbs laughed. “She won’t bite, you know.”

“I – don’t have much experience with babies,” was all Diane trusted herself to say.

“It’s not hard,” Mubbs replied, advancing on her with the baby. Diane shot a panicked look at Ric, who simply smiled at her. “Go on.”

“Fine.” She sighed, and let Mubbs put the baby in her arms. “Wow… it’s heavy.”

“She,” Ric corrected her.

“I’ve got to get back to a patient,” Mubbs announced. “She’s feeling particularly murderous.” He smiled at Diane, who was now engrossed in the baby. “I’ll be back soon.”

Ric smiled proudly… Diane would make a terrific mother. She was a natural, rocking the baby gently with a little smile on her face.

* ~ * ~ *

Tom left theatre and was immediately accosted by Josie, Jenn’s daughter – his daughter?

“How did it go?” Josie demanded. “Is Mum okay?”

“Your mother’s fine,” Tom replied, smiling. “It went quite smoothly, and she should be awake in about an hour – it went quicker than expected.”

“Thank God,” Josie breathed.

“Do – do you want to wait here, or in the waiting room?” he asked. Josie was currently in the corridor outside theatre.

“Erm… waiting room,” Josie decided. “It’s that room just off the ward, isn’t it?”

“Yes, yes it is,” he replied. “Do you want me to show you where it is?”

“Okay.” Josie stood up, and they began walking. “So… how do you know Mum?”

“We… used to be engaged,” Tom said. “A long time ago.” He hoped that Jenn hadn’t told Josie any of the details of their messy break-up.

“Are you the man who cheated on her with her bridesmaid?” Josie asked, suddenly.

Hoping does no good then. “Ye-es,” he said, slowly.

Josie went pale. “Then – you…?”

“What?”

“Don’t you know?” she asked, in a whisper. “I always thought Mum told you and you were too much of a pig to do anything. She never even told you?”

“What is this, Josie?” Tom asked, impatiently.

“Oh…” she said, softly. “Mum was heartbroken when you two split up. She didn’t go out with another man until she met my stepfather – and that was about five years ago. You really ruined her life, Mr Campbell-Gore.”

“I – I’m sorry,” Tom said. “I – I didn’t plan to do what I did, you know.”

“I never thought you did,” Josie replied. “And even more since I saw you. You don’t seem to be that sort of person.”

“Thank you.”

“But… you – haven’t you realised?” Josie asked, suddenly coming back to the original point of the discussion.

“Realised what?”

“Then you haven’t,” Josie decided. “If you had, you wouldn’t be so – dismissive.” She looked at him for a moment, and he looked back, suddenly realising what Josie meant. Ed had been right – “I’m your daughter,” Josie announced. “You’re my father.”

* ~ * ~ *

“You’re doing well with that baby,” Ric commented, after a few minutes.

Diane looked up, shocked. She’d forgotten that Ric was in the room. “Thanks,” she said, blushing. “Do you want to hold her?”

“No, no, I’ll let you carry on,” Ric replied.

“I’ll talk to Owen when he comes back,” Diane promised, sitting down. Ric sat next to her.

“What are you going to do?” he asked. “If you’re pregnant?”

“I… I really don’t know.” She looked down at the baby in her arms. “It would change my whole life.”

“They do that,” Ric agreed. “I didn’t sleep for about a year after Jess was born.”

“Are you trying to convince me to keep it?” Diane asked, smiling at his method.

“I’m just letting you know the facts.” He sighed. “Jess has been through this, you know.”

“Has she?” Diane racked her brains to try and remember. “When?”

“I think it was before you arrived,” Ric mused. “Jess dated Alex. She found out that she was pregnant after they split up. He was going out with Sam by then.”

“Your Sam?” Diane asked, thoughtlessly.

“No, she was never my Sam,” Ric corrected her. “You were there, Diane.” He paused. “But Alex forced Jess into having an abortion.”

“No wonder you don’t like him,” Diane commented.

“Let’s steer clear of that subject,” Ric decided.

“So when it’s an uncomfortable subject for you, we don’t talk about it? Huh,” Diane huffed.

“You started it!” Ric replied. He’d spoken a little too loudly, however, and the baby started crying.

“Now look what you did,” Diane scolded him, rocking the baby gently.

“Poor thing,” Ric remarked.

“I hope you’re talking about the baby.”

“Don’t worry, I am.” He smiled to himself.

* ~ * ~ *

“Jenn?” Jennifer opened her eyes weakly, only to shut them from the glare. Well, it was partly the glare, and partly the fact that Tom Campbell-Gore was staring at her.

“Uhh…”

“Mum?” Josie’s head appeared.

“Jo…” Jenn mumbled. “Tom…”

“Are you awake, Jenn?” Tom asked.

“Uh huh.” Jenn forced her eyes to open.

Tom took a deep breath. “Jenn, Josie told me.”

“What?” Jenn’s voice became more alert.

“I’m Josie’s father, aren’t I, Jenn?” Tom asked, deciding that ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions would be easiest.

“Yuh…”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.

Jenn tried to stay awake. “I… I didn’t think you’d care… you were with Juliette…”

“He wasn’t, Mum!” Josie assured her. “It was all a mistake – he told me.”

“Mistake… huh!” Jenn’s tone wasn’t pleased.

“I’m sorry, Jenn.”

“Twenty years too late,” Jenn retorted. “Get out.”

“Mum!” Josie protested. “You can’t mean that!”

“I can and I do,” Jenn replied. “Get out, Tom.”

Sighing, Tom left. Josie followed him. “I’m so sorry, Mr Campbell-Gore. I’m sure she doesn’t mean it… the anaesthetic and all.”

“I think she does, Josie,” Tom replied. “Look, the truth is, our relationship wasn’t perfect. Your mother knows that just as well as I do. My actions just made it official. Final. Doesn’t it show something that she never contacted me in twenty years? She never once told me about you – my daughter! She wouldn’t have done that if… well, if we were really in love.”

Josie nodded, trying to keep the tears from falling. “But… can I keep in contact with you? Please?” she begged. “For twenty years I’ve wanted to meet my father.”

Tom nodded. “Fine. I – I’d like to get to know you.”

“You won’t think that when you do know me,” Josie laughed. “I – I spend too much money, and I listen to loud music, and I eat junk food, and watch too much TV.”

“Then you’re just like me,” Tom replied.

* ~ * ~ *

Diane and Ric were still with the baby (now feeding it from a bottle) when Diane’s neurologist friend, Ethan Hope, entered.

“Ethan? Why are you here?” Diane asked, confused. She turned to Ric. “We’re in maternity, right?” Ric nodded, laughing.

“I could either tell you that I’m here to have a baby, or that I’m here to talk about your friend Kellie,” Ethan replied.

“Kellie?” Ric repeated. “How is she?”

Ethan paused. “Well – the fall caused part of her skull to fracture.” Diane winced. “A CT scan showed that part of the skull was pressing in on the brain. She suffered a brain haemorrhage… we couldn’t do anything for her.”

Realising what Ethan meant, Diane looked at the baby. “What about…?”

Ethan waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, he prompted her. “About what?”

“The baby… Kellie just had a baby,” Ric explained. “That one,” he added, nodding towards the baby in Diane’s arms.

“What about the father?”

“He died earlier today,” Diane replied. She paused. “It’s like a Greek tragedy, isn’t it?”

“Any other family?” Ethan asked, sitting down. “Cute baby, by the way.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Diane said.

“She’s smitten – she’s been holding her ever since she was born,” Ric informed Ethan. “Nearly two hours.” He stood up. “I’ll find Owen.”

“You’d make a good mother,” Ethan commented, as Ric left the room. Diane froze. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Erm… no,” Diane replied, trying to look normal.

“Have you seen Mr Adams recently, Diane?” Ethan asked, ignoring the fact that she was blushing.

“Yes… this morning,” she said, remembering. “And tonight,” she added, beaming.

“Has he said anything to you?”

“Yes,” she replied, hoping that Ethan would tell her more than she already knew.

“Good. I am glad he has someone to help him through this difficult time,” was all that was said, however. Diane grimaced to herself, but pulled her face back to normal as Owen and Ric entered.

“Got a friend, there, Diane?” Owen asked, smiling.

“Ethan,” Diane replied. “We go way back.”

Owen laughed. “I meant the baby.”

“Oh yes… she’s lovely,” Diane said. “Poor thing.” Owen nodded soberly. “I s’pose you want her back?” she asked, passing the baby over to Owen. “My arm’s numb,” she added, shaking her arm vigorously, causing Ric and Ethan to laugh.

“Poor girl doesn’t even have a name,” Ric commented. “No family that we know of, and she’s not even two hours old.”

Owen sighed. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’ll call Social Services – and get this one another bottle,” he added, looking at the empty bottle Ric was holding.

“Social Services?” Diane repeated. “What’s going to happen to her?” Ric shared her anxious look.

“She’ll be put into care,” Owen replied, as Ethan left. Diane looked horrified, so he hastened to continue. “It’s not that bad, Diane. She’ll be fostered until they find a member of her family, or until someone adopts her.”

Diane nodded, sombrely, and watched as Owen left with the baby. “Bye.”

Ric put an arm around her. “She’ll be fine.”

“I know.”

Mubbs came in. “Well, I’ve delivered two babies today…” He looked around. “What did you do with the baby?”

“Owen’s got her,” Ric replied. “Kellie just died.”

“Ohh…” Mubbs replied, grimacing. “Poor kid.” He turned to go. “So, you taken up residence here? ’Cause last I checked, this hospital is desperately understaffed, and you are always needed.”

Diane and Ric laughed. “Actually… before we go, can I ask you something, Mubbs?” Diane asked.

“Sure.” He turned back to them.

“Would you, ah…?” She paused. “I’m not sure how to say this. Okay… I think I’m pregnant, Mubbs. Can you – do something to see if I am?”

If Mubbs was shocked, he didn’t show it. He simply nodded. “Okay. Come with me.”

Diane stood up, and, turning to Ric, silently begged him to come with her. He smiled, and followed. Mubbs had soon got everything set up for a scan, and soon spoke. “Yep… there’s the baby.” He pointed.

“The blob?” Ric asked.

Mubbs laughed. “That’s the normal reaction. Don’t know why I’m telling you, though. You’ve got kids…” He realised that Diane hadn’t spoken. “Diane?”

“Yeah…”

“Are you okay, Diane?” Ric queried her, concernedly.

“Fine. Thanks.”

“So… is this good news?” Mubbs questioned. “Should I be congratulating you?”

Diane thought for a moment. “Yeah. It’s good news. Congratulate me,” she added, laughing.

* ~ * ~ *

Tom was walking leisurely along, trying to process all that had happened, when he bumped into Anita – literally. He was too busy trying to pick up the papers she had dropped that he didn’t even notice it was Anita – until he saw the red shoes.

“Ah… hi,” she said, awkwardly, taking the sheets of paper. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

There was a horrific pause – surely no pause was ever this long, Anita thought, desperately. “So… how’ve you been?” she asked, eventually. What a stupid question!

“Fine… yeah. Thanks. What about you?” he replied, flustered.

“Pretty good, yeah.”

He took a deep breath. “Anita…” he began, just as she said “Tom…” They both laughed. “You go first,” he offered.

“No, you,” she replied.

“Okay.” He took a breath again, and mentally prepared himself. “May I – see you?”

“I’m curious as to what you’re doing now, then,” Anita replied. ‘Why’d you say that?’ a voice in her head asked. ‘He’s asking you out, you idiot!’

“I mean… in a social sense.” He closed his eyes and prepared himself for her ‘no’, which was surely just about to come.

“Yeah… okay.” She smiled at the look of shock on his face. “That sounds nice.”

* ~ * ~ *

“So, you’re really happy about this?” Ric asked, as they walked back up to the ward.

Diane nodded. “Yes… well, as happy as I can be.”

Alex walked past. “I’ll find you in an hour or so,” he commented to Diane, as they passed.

She stopped. “Ah… Look, Alex, I still really want to do that, but not tonight, yeah?” She didn’t feel up to it tonight. Tonight, all she cared about was being able to curl up in front of the TV with some chocolate. And besides, she didn’t like the idea of going out and not drinking.

“Sure,” he replied. “Why not?”

“I… I’ve just had a long day.” She also didn’t like the idea of having to explain her day to Alex. He was nice and everything, and she fancied him, certainly, but having to tell him she was pregnant?

“Okay.” Alex looked slightly hurt, as he began to walk away.

“I’m sorry, yeah?” Diane called after him, but he didn’t acknowledge her. “Damn.” She ran to catch up with Ric. “That went well.”

“Sorry,” Ric offered.

“You’re not.”

“No, I’m not,” he agreed. “I can’t help it. It’s a character flaw.”

“Not liking Alex Adams?” she replied, almost laughing. They’d reached his office now, and she seated herself on the desk.

“So, no plans for tonight, then?”

“Oh, I have a big date with a tub of ice-cream and the TV,” she teased. “You?”

“Similar… only I get to watch Jess eat my ice-cream and watch my TV,” he replied.

“I thought she had her own place?” Diane asked.

“She does,” Ric said. “Not that you’d know it.”

“Well, I can see the attraction,” Diane commented. “If I had a dad who was rich and lived nearby, I wouldn’t stay in my silent flat.”

“When you had a boyfriend who was rich and lived nearby, you didn’t stay in your flat,” Ric remembered.

“That was a long time ago!” she replied, pushing him playfully. “And I was a student, I had no money.”

“I had very little after you’d left,” he retorted. Suddenly their heads were very close together.

“Be glad I didn’t marry you. I’d have insisted on a very expensive wedding.” Suddenly she’d stood up.

“I can imagine.” Suddenly their lips met.

And they weren’t only remembering what had happened all those years ago – they were acting it out too.