Page 44 of One Night with the Doctor

Ginny relaxed and even gave a grudging half smile. ‘I suppose so. I guess when I suddenly realised that I hadn’t felt her move for a couple of hours I just panicked.’

‘Remember what the midwife said?’ Callie reiterated. ‘Decreased foetal movements are very common in the last few weeks. There’s not much room to move inside that belly at the moment,’ Callie joked, giving the round expanse a gentle poke.

The baby, obviously objecting to the nudge, kicked back and Callie watched the corresponding belly gymnastics as the baby seemed to roll from one side to the other in one smooth move.

‘Of course she’s been moving around like a jumping jack ever since I walked in here,’ Ginny said, absently rubbing her belly. ‘I should have waited.’

‘No.’ Callie shook her head. ‘It’s good to be in tune to these things and if you do ever feel that she’s not moving as much then come here or ring the community midwife.’

She pulled Ginny’s shirt down and helped her into a sitting position. ‘It’s better to be cautious.’

Ginny left five minutes later, much calmer than when she’d arrived and Callie stood in the doorway watching her go. She smiled as Sebastian, who was in the glass-panelled games room that they used for group therapy, waved at Ginny on her way out.

Her gaze stayed with Sebastian as he ran his teen group therapy session. He was in blue jeans and an olive T-shirt that complemented his eyes and the red-gold of his hair and sat snugly across his biceps and pecs.

He was leaning forward, both feet planted firmly in front of him, his elbows on his knees, his hands, loosely interlinked, hanging between his legs. Even from across the room she could see his absolute focus as he engaged Bree, a fifteen-year-old anorexic.

Callie glanced at the painfully thin teenager who was smiling shyly at Sebastian. A nasogastric tube used for night feeding was taped to her cheek and marred features that would have been pretty had they not been so gaunt.

Bree hated the tube. She hated the sessions. She especially hated the weekly weigh-ins. Or she had anyway. But for the tenth week in a row, she’d gained weight and she had taken delight in the progress instead of seeing it as a failure and another reason to hate herself and her body. She had a spring in her step and a smile on her face instead of her usual sullen frown.

And Callie didn’t doubt for a moment that Sebastian was a large part of the teenager’s recovery.

Sebastian’s focus shifted to Eric, the fourteen-year-old boy beside Bree, who had been referred for self-harming. But Callie kept her eyes glued on the girl. Prior to her turn-around, Bree would sit in these sessions with the typical fidgety movements of those suffering from profound anorexia nervosa.

She’d tap her toes repeatedly, jiggle her thighs and drum her fingers against her crossed arms. Exercise in any form was important to anorexics. Even seemingly passive they could keep their metabolic rate up and burn fat.

So movement, any movement, was good. Being idle was the enemy.

But now she sat still, listening attentively. She laughed, smiled, joined in the conversation and even engaged the newcomers who were reluctant to contribute.

Callie spied Bree’s mother flicking through a magazine in the central waiting area. She wandered over and sat opposite. ‘Hi, Anita. How’s it all going?’

Bree’s mother glanced up from her reading and smiled. ‘The bad days are getting fewer, thank goodness.’

Callie nodded. The smile couldn’t erase the extra years Bree had added to her mother’s life. Anita looked ten years older than when they’d first met two years ago after Bree’s diagnosis.

What was that saying? You’re only as happy as your unhappiest child?

They both glanced over at the session, which was drawing to a close. ‘I can’t thank Sebastian enough. He’s just connected with her. Mind you…’ She fanned herself. ‘I can’t say I blame her. He’s very easy on the eye, isn’t he?’

Callie laughed as Anita openly ogled Sebastian. She quashed the urge to say, you should see him naked. ‘That he is.’

‘Seriously, though.’ Anita sobered, looking back at Bree. ‘Since her father left a few years ago she’s been lacking a strong male role model. Sebastian has been such a godsend. You should hear her at home – Sebastian said this, Sebastian said that.’

‘It’s good to see her coming out the other side,’ Callie said as she reached out and covered Anita’s hand with hers. ‘Don’t forget, though, she’s still got a way to go.’

Anita patted Callie’s hand. ‘I know. I know. It’s just been so nice to see. Nice to not feel so utterly helpless for a change.’

Callie nodded. ‘Of course.’ She looked back at the room, the session obviously over as the teens all stood. ‘Looks like they’re done. See you next week?’

Anita nodded and winked. ‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

Callie had a smile on her face as she wandered into the staffroom a couple of moments later. Sebastian had caught her eye as she’d passed and given her that have I got plans for you tonight look.

Their transition to spending their nights together had been a natural progression once the R word had come out into the open, and Callie felt a small trill of excitement every time she thought about sleeping with him. And not just the sex part. The drifting off wrapped in his arms part, too.

‘Coffee’s here,’ Geraldine announced, walking past her with a laden four-cup cardboard tray from the coffee shop over the road.