The Italian's New-Year Marriage Wish Read Online Free Page A

matter. ‘Michelle Watson . Carol said that she was off colour last night but she’s suddenly gone downhill. She called an ambulance but they said that they’d be twenty minutes because they’re stuck behind a gritting lorry. Honestly, Europe can have feet of snow and manage fine, but if we have so much as a dusting the entire country grinds to a halt. I’m tempted to go and organise them myself.’
    â€˜Michelle Watson. Of course. Michelle.’ Marco uncoiled his lean, powerful body and rose to his feet again but there were lines of strain around his eyes. ‘Bring her in.’
    â€˜Watson?’ Amy remembered that Carol Watson had just delivered when she’d left and she glanced at Marco as Kate hurried out of the room. ‘Carol’s baby girl?’
    â€˜She isn’t a baby any more.’ His tone was flat and he didn’t glance in her direction as if he was trying to get his mindfirmly on the job. ‘You’ve been gone two years and I don’t have time to brief you on everything that has been happening in the village during your long absence.’ He moved across the consulting room. ‘You left, Amy. You made your choice.’
    â€˜Yes, but—’ She broke off, wrestling against an instinctive desire to defend herself. What would he say if she told him the truth? Told him that she’d had to leave. That she’d done it for him. But she knew that she couldn’t. She could never, ever tell him the truth because if he knew the truth then everything would become even more complicated. ‘That’s right.’ She felt horrible. Just horrible. There was so much she wanted to say but she couldn’t say any of it. ‘I left.’ Her voice shook but his swift glance was unsympathetic.
    â€˜Go and get a cup of coffee. Or just leave. It’s what you’re good at.’
    â€˜I can’t leave until we’ve talked.’
    He yanked open a cupboard and removed a pulse oximeter. ‘Then you’re going to have to wait until I have time to see you,’ he growled. ‘I think the current waiting time for an appointment with me is a week. Ask the girls at Reception. They just might be able to fit you in.’

CHAPTER TWO
    T HE door flew open and Kate hurried back into the room with Carol, who was carrying the toddler wrapped in a soft, pink blanket. A sulky-looking teenager followed them, her pretty face half hidden by a thick layer of make-up.
    Amy was on the point of leaving the room and then she looked at the toddler and saw at a glance that Kate had been right to interrupt them. The child was fighting for each breath.
    â€˜Oh, Dr Avanti.’ There was panic in Carol’s voice. ‘Thank goodness you’re here. She’s had this cold and I was up in the night with her and then this morning she just seemed so much worse. Her little chest was heaving so I panicked and called the ambulance but they’re stuck on the coast road and you always know what to do so I just thought I’d come and take a chance in case—’
    â€˜ Calma . Try and be calm, Carol.’ Marco’s voice was gentle and reassuring as his gaze rested on the child, his eyes sharp and observant. ‘You did the right thing to come.’
    Amy stepped forward, her own problems momentarily forgotten. ‘Let me help. What do you want me to do, Marco?’
    He glanced at her and then gave a brief nod. ‘Let’s give her some oxygen straight away.’
    Amy located the oxygen and mask. ‘Do you want me to set up a nebuliser?’
    â€˜To begin with I’ll give her a beta 2 agonist via a spacer. It is better at this age than a nebuliser.’ He turned back to the child and stroked his hand over the child’s neck, palpating the neck muscles with gentle fingers. ‘Michelle, what have you been doing, angelo mia ? Are you worrying your poor mother?’
    No one would have guessed that only moments