Chapter 40
By two o’clock that afternoon, the maternity ward had settled into its usual quiet rhythm. Staff were changing shifts, and the lead midwife was busy seeing a new mum in the recovery rooms further down the hall.
And best of all – the speaker crackled, calling for Dr Cole to head straight down to the emergency department. I watched him stride past the lifts, bag over his shoulder, and knew my chance had come.
I turned back to the two men beside me. Tiny was leaning against the drinks machine, looking like he could have stood there for a hundred years without moving. Swift was flicking through a magazine, but his eyes never really rested on the pages.
“Alright,” I said casual as I could, closing the file in my hands. “That set of notes I need is in Dr Cole’s office. My connection keeps cutting out, so I’ll nip in and use his computer to check my course stuff while he’s busy.”
Swift looked up, one eyebrow lifting, but he nodded straight away.
“No problem, Tamer. We’ve got you covered.”
They walked with me down the corridor, their heavy steady footsteps sounding out a familiar, comforting rhythm on the floor. When we reached the door, I turned back to them.
“Give me ten minutes,” I said with a little innocent smile.
“Take all the time you need,” Swift said, stepping back to keep watch. Tiny shifted right across the doorway, arms folded, so no one could get past without them knowing.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I went straight for the computer on Dr Cole’s desk. I knew the paper files would be locked away, but this was my chance. The screen was dark, so I tapped the space bar to wake it up.
I knew his password already – I’d watched him type it slow and careful when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, just a few weeks back. IronAngelDoc1962.
The system opened straight up, and my fingers flew over the keys. I went right to the medical records, typed in Rose’s name, and held my breath as the files loaded up.
I scrolled past blood results and appointment notes until I found what I was looking for – Scan: 23 Weeks.
I leaned in close, hardly daring to breathe. There it was, plain as day: two separate little shapes, two sacs, two perfect tiny heartbeats. Twins.
And in the notes at the bottom, Dr Cole had written clearly: Rose and Leo have asked not to be told anything of the baby yet not even the sex. Monitor closely, advise extra rest from now on.
“Oh Rose,” I whispered, a happy tear pricking at my eye. “You have no idea.”
Just then – a knock at the door.
“Tamer?” Swift’s voice came muffled through the wood. “Dr Cole’s heading back up now. You alright in there?”
My heart jumped right into my throat. “J-just a second!” I called back, fumbling to close every window and shut the computer down. I grabbed my papers, smoothed my top down, and stepped out just as Dr Cole came round the corner.
“Afternoon Danika,” he said calm and easy, nodding as he opened his door. “Everything going alright for you?”
“Just checking a few things online,” I said, my cheeks feeling warm. “Signal’s not great out here.”
He gave a low rumbling laugh. “Tell Hacker to sort it out for you next time. Off you go – Diamond’s looking for you.”
“Yes sir,” I said, and hurried back down the corridor.
Tiny and Swift fell in step either side of me straight away. Swift leaned a little closer, grinning like he knew exactly what I’d been up to.
“You look like you just got away with something,” he teased quiet. “What were you really doing in there?”
“Nothing,” I said, trying to sound serious and failing completely. “Just studying.”
“Sure you were,” Swift laughed, giving my shoulder a gentle nudge.
I glanced back to see Rose walking slowly towards the lifts, leaning on Leo’s arm, one hand resting gentle over her bump. I bit my lip to keep the secret safe, but my heart was singing.
I’d found the truth. And one day soon, I’d be the one to help bring those two little ones into the world. Now I just had to find a way to get through to the one man who always kept himself locked tight away…