City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle. Marion Lennox

sort priorities. Is it right that we risk Maggie’s baby’s life because you won’t go to hospital?’

      ‘We’re not risking…’ Maggie said, and he turned back to face her. He had to ignore emotion here and speak the truth.

      ‘If you really are a doctor, you know that you really are putting your baby at risk.’

      She was torn. He could see it—he saw fear behind her eyes and he knew that she was desperately trying to hide it. Why?

      ‘We don’t have time to mess around,’ he said. ‘I should have insisted at the start.’

      ‘I can do an ultrasound,’ she said.

      ‘What, here?’

      ‘Not on myself.’ Her voice was suddenly pleading. ‘But there’s everything we need in my car. I know, it’s asking a lot, but if you could help…Gran doesn’t want to go to hospital and neither do I. If I must for my baby’s safety then of course I will, but there’s Angus as well and he’ll be so afraid. So, please, Max, can you do an ultrasound on me here and reassure me that things are okay?’

      ‘Why will Angus be afraid?’

      ‘Angus is my son and he’s disabled,’ Gran whispered, as Maggie fell silent. ‘He has Asperger’s syndrome. He’s not…he’s not able to cope with people. It’d kill Angus to leave the farm. He’s the reason I made Maggie come here. She’s promised me she’ll stay and she won’t break that promise. She’s a good girl, our Maggie.’

      ‘My baby comes first,’ Maggie muttered, looking trapped, and once again he caught that look of utter desolation.

      ‘Yes, but he’ll be okay and you’ll both look after Angus and the farm,’ Gran said. ‘I know you won’t leave. You’ll keep your word. I know you’ll stay here for ever.’