Dr Ferrero's Baby Secret. Jennifer Taylor

and I managed to persuade her to have a Caesarean so she could begin chemotherapy. However, we both knew it was unlikely to help very much. In the event, it gave her a couple more months to spend with Matteo.’

      ‘I don’t know what to say…It must have been awful…for both of you.’ She tailed off and he sighed.

      ‘It was much, much worse for Sophia. She knew that she wasn’t going to live to see her son grow up and that’s what scared her more than anything else. Once she was sure that Matteo would be cared for, she accepted what was happening. She was extremely brave right until the end. It was humbling to watch the way she coped with her illness.’

      ‘Is that why you got married so soon after you returned to Italy?’ Kelly said quietly. One of the things that had hurt her most had been the speed with which Luca had married, but now she understood why it had happened so quickly. He must have been desperate to save Sophia from any more heartache.

      Her heart lifted as she realised that it cast a different light on the events of the past. However, it would be wrong to get too carried away. She must never forget that it had been Sophia he’d loved, not her.

      ‘Si. There was no point waiting when it was the one thing that would set Sophia’s mind at rest.’ He stared at the ground for a moment and when he looked up, she could see the plea in his eyes. ‘I meant what I said, Kelly. I never intended to hurt you. I just didn’t have a choice.’

      ‘So, Alessandro, how do you feel today?’ Luca stopped beside the boy’s bed. It was the start of the morning ward round and Alessandro Alessi was the first patient on his list. He reviewed Alessandro’s notes while the boy explained that he was feeling much better that day.

      The CT scan had shown no sign of an obstruction and Luca had concluded that the excess of cerebrospinal fluid had been caused by a fresh bout of infection. He’d prescribed another course of antibiotics and they appeared to be working, although he had no intention of rushing things. Alessandro was due to be discharged the following day, but he decided that he would keep him in hospital while they monitored the situation. There was no point taking any chances at this stage.

      ‘I’m glad you’re feeling better,’ he told the boy with a smile. ‘However, I think it would be wise if you stayed in the hospital for a few more days. Hopefully, you’ll be well enough to go home after the weekend.’

      Alessandro’s face fell. ‘But it’s my birthday on Friday. I was going to have a party and all my friends were coming.’

      ‘I’m very sorry,’ Luca said sympathetically, knowing how important birthdays were to children. ‘Maybe you can have your party another day?’