Midwife in the Family Way (13 page)

She closed her eyes, wishing the world wasn't swirling because it interfered with her enjoyment of something that had never happened to her before. Her cheek rested against his shirt and she could hear his heart beat reassuringly in her ear as they crossed the veranda and went down the steps. She rubbed her cheek back and forth on his shirt and it was pleasantly scratchy against her skin. The feeling dulled the ache in her leg for a few moments and must be a good thing if it took her mind off the horror that the venom might affect their baby. ‘Promise me you'll do this for me one day when I don't feel sick.'

‘My pleasure.' She didn't need to open her eyes to know he was smiling. Her angle in his arms shifted as he reached one hand down to open the rear door of her
car. ‘You'll be better with your feet up so we'll take your car. You can sit in the front, Grace.' He turned and manoeuvred Emma in and reluctantly she let go of his neck and slid obediently backwards across the rear seat. ‘We'll be there in a minute,' he said, and dropped a light kiss on her forehead.

She nodded and dragged a breath in through her nose to keep the nausea at bay. When she opened her eyes again they were there and Christine had a stretcher ready for her and Andy and Montana hovered with concern in their eyes.

The snake-venom detection kit was waiting and Christine snipped an area in the bandage to expose the bite areas. ‘Looks like he got you twice,' she said as she dampened a cotton bud and wiped the spots to capture the venom left on the surface.

‘Well, I did land on his back,' Emma sighed, and rested her head back and closed her eyes. The world swam so she opened them hurriedly again and watched Christine. She undid the yellow tube and swished the swab around in the dilutant then replaced the lid to invert the little tube several times.

Gianni touched her shoulder. ‘I need to insert a cannula into your arm, Emma, in case you need medication. I'll run some fluids, as well.' He brushed the hair off her forehead. ‘You're still too pale and interesting for me.'

‘I'm always interesting,' she murmured with only a hint of her former fire, and Gianni squeezed her fingers before he began his preparations.

By the time the ten minutes of waiting to see which snake had bitten her was up, Gianni had the cannula in, her arm strapped and some saline running into her veins.

‘Positive for black-snake venom.' Christine held the little strip of veils against the test legend. ‘And also tiger snake, but you always take the first positive well first—so that proves who your ex-friend was.'

‘Ex-friend is right, and I'd say he was just as scared as I was.' Emma's shoulders eased a little with the confirmation.

Gianni handed over the blood he'd taken from Emma when he'd inserted the line, and Christine began to test that for evidence of venom in Emma's blood. The answer to that would determine if she needed anti-venom or not. She doubted she would because after her initial panic she was calming down.

It took ten minutes but that answer was worth waiting for. ‘No venom in her bloodstream on this test,' Christine said with a wobble in her voice that communicated to all how worried she'd been.

Gianni's breath huffed out and Emma's eyes met his. Their baby should be fine. ‘How is your pain?' Gianni lifted her hand and felt her pulse, which seemed silly when she was connected to monitors.

‘The machine's over there, Gianni.' She pointed with a teasing smile. ‘And it tells you my pulse, and my blood pressure and oxygen saturation.'

‘Stop your complaining,' he said, and continued to feel her wrist, but now a smile was on his lips, as well.
Emma decided she couldn't have enough hand holding today and Gianni's seemed to work better than everyone else's.

She glanced at the monitor herself. ‘My pulse is still higher than normal.'

‘Of course. I am holding your hand.' Gianni raised his eyebrows. ‘Then again, mine is almost double what it should be, and I did not annoy a snake.'

That was twice he'd said that. She realised there was less colour in his face, as well. ‘Did I frighten you very badly, Gianni?'

‘Frighten?' He shook his head. ‘No.' He grimaced. ‘You scared the life out of me, but we will talk of that later when I am sure you do not need anti-venom. Two results are not enough for me.' He glanced again at the monitor. ‘Your vital signs are stable. Enough for me to almost believe the snake did not inject much venom into you. You have no symptoms of palpitations or breathlessness and your nausea is no worse.' He seemed to be reassuring himself more than her.

Emma lifted her other hand, despite the encumbrances of the intravenous infusion, and laid it over his. ‘Black snakes might sink their fangs in if they get frightened but they don't often try to inject much venom unless they're really trapped,' Emma said, and she squeezed his wrist. ‘Actually, the nausea's fading.'

‘So is mine,' Gianni said. They smiled at each other. ‘I'll leave so you can give Christine a specimen of urine and we'll check that as well as your blood again for circulating venom.'

Gianni left the room and peripherally he saw that the rest of the ward was still busy. He really didn't care. He'd leave that to Andy.

He needed a moment to comprehend the absolute horror of his future had Emma been bitten by a more deadly snake. He, more than anyone, knew what a venomous reptile could do. And it had not been pretty.

It had brought home the savagery of nature's pecking order and the ramifications of that event from ten years ago had certainly coloured his experience today. He couldn't imagine how he'd be feeling now if another woman he loved had been fighting for her life.

Even the thought of that scenario made sweat dampen the hairs on his arms and increase his heart rate. It seemed he had better do something to make sure he kept Emma a lot closer to him than he had been. Enough of these games. He was going nowhere unless she was with him. She would be glued to his side and he would not take no for an answer.

‘S
O YOU
can go home.' Andy said. As the emergency doctor on for the evening, it was up to him, not Gianni, when Emma could go.

‘Almost an anticlimax,' Emma said, not meeting Gianni's eyes. He'd been amazing all afternoon but there was an implacable determination in his face that spoke of unfinished business. And she thought perhaps she was ready to hear it.

Andy explained their agreement on the findings, that the snake had bitten but not injected enough poison to affect her body systemically, and therefore that of her baby. But they would keep a close eye on her. ‘You'll probably still get some swelling in your glands and perhaps a little discomfort up your leg. Rest up.' He glanced at Gianni with raised eyebrows. ‘Are you looking after her tonight?'

‘She will keep her leg elevated, and Grace and I will wait on her this afternoon.'

‘More spaghetti Bol?' she teased. It felt good to be back exchanging banter with Gianni. She'd started to lose that lightness since she'd discovered her pregnancy
and the final blow had come on Sunday with the shock of her results. But it was fizzing back with the realisation that the time had come to stop pretending she didn't want to love him. Together they would sort something out. That was what she hadn't considered.

‘Montana asked if you wanted Grace to stay over with Dawn tonight,' Andy said straight-faced.

‘Thank you.' Gianni answered for her, though he did look to see if she disagreed. ‘But I think she should stay with us and be reassured her mother is safe.'

Emma felt the glow inside her expand. That was her instinct too, and the unselfishness of Gianni's reaction was incredibly reassuring. He was right, perfectly right, for all of their sakes. How on earth could she not love him?

‘Of course.' Andy didn't miss the byplay between them and his smile widened. ‘She's welcome any time.'

Gianni nodded but his eyes were on Emma. He bent down and lifted her into his arms and her fingers slid around his neck. She couldn't not love him. She tightened her grip and he looked down at her, giving her a possessive hug. He was everything she wanted in a man and a snake had taught her that life was too short to risk happiness now.

‘We will talk when I have you home,' he said softly so that only she could hear. He glanced at her daughter with a smile. ‘Grace can discuss snake safety with her Barbies when the time comes.'

And so it happened. Grace played happily on the
floor in the kitchen with her doll's house and Emma sat on Gianni's lap with her legs up along the lounge. They held hands as they gazed out over the veranda rail. Gianni had checked assiduously that no unwanted guests were lurking before he would allow Emma or her daughter outside onto the wooden area.

‘It was just bad luck,' Emma said as she looked down at their entwined fingers. ‘And look what good came out of it.'

Gianni squeezed her hand. ‘We would have arrived eventually but such a fright has hastened the course.'

‘So what course has been hastened?' she teased, and he smiled down at her.

He sat back a little so he could see her face properly. ‘So you are ready to listen to me now, are you?'

She bit her lip. ‘I might be.'

‘I do not accept “might” any more from you,
cara
. The time for hesitation is past.'

He lifted her off his lap and placed her gently back down again on the lounge. Then he took her hand and dropped to one knee.

Emma felt a blush rush up her neck and she tried to pull him up off his knees. ‘No. Don't do that.'

He ignored her as he gazed up into her face. ‘Even with snakes I would do this. And know I have never knelt before a woman.' He straightened his shoulders. ‘I, Gianni Durante Carlos Bonmarito, ask you, Emma Grace Rose, to do me the honour of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?'

Emma felt tears sting her eyes. She cleared the
tightness in her throat. ‘Yes, please.' She blushed and tugged at his hand. ‘
Si. Grazie
, Gianni. Now get up.'

‘So you have been practising for this moment?' It was his turn to tease as he stayed at her feet. ‘Then I should have said it in Italian.
Vuoi sposarmi?
'

‘In English was fine.'

She tugged again, and he stood up and lifted her back onto his lap and hugged her. She hugged him back and he felt so warm and solid and precious and she never wanted to let him go.

Then he reached into his pocket and produced a velvet box. ‘It is bad luck to offer a proposal without the ring,' he said, and handed the box to her. ‘This ring is my promise to marry you.'

When she opened it she gasped. On a satin bed lay an enormous white diamond, and she hesitated to even touch it. He lifted it from its bed and slid it onto her finger, and she wondered how he'd guessed the size right. But now wasn't the time to ask.

‘Diamonds for the bride is an old Italian tradition,' he said seriously. ‘We believe the flames of love fuel the intense heat that creates a diamond.' She felt the tightness in her throat thicken. But he wasn't finished. His voice dropped to a murmur. ‘This diamond holds the future facets and joys of our life together.'

She gazed at the ring on her finger. Unable to believe he had proposed, and with such romance, at the end of such a crazy day. ‘The ring is beautiful. And so was your proposal.'

‘As a proposal should be. You are my world and I can wait no longer to keep you safe by my side.'

She snuggled in, one small cloud on her horizon. She needed to be near her parents, at least some of the time. ‘And where shall we live?'

He stroked an errant blonde strand of hair tenderly off her forehead. ‘Could you live in Italy some of the time,
cara
?'

‘Wherever you go, my love.' She could. And Grace would enjoy the change. But Lyrebird Lake was her heartland.

‘We will buy here. I have several properties on the lake lined up for your appraisal. Most of the year we will spend at your lake but there will be many journeys to teach our children their dual heritage. And I will teach them how to cook authentic Italian cuisine.'

She could see it. He understood. She should never have doubted him. Perfect. She sighed. How had she been so fortunate to find a man who made all her dreams come true?

His voice lowered. ‘I hope you do not mind if we marry as soon as I can arrange for it.'

G
IANNI
didn't just arrange the wedding—he created the occasion he deemed essential for his bride.

The reception was held at the Lakeside, in the gardens beside the lake. Gianni hired the entire complex and a wedding planner to create a joyous and authentic Italian wedding that touched the hearts of all romantics who lived in Lyrebird Lake. And brought an incredulous smile to Gianni's brother Leon's face when he flew in for the wedding.

Gianni's young nephew looked debonair as he danced with Grace, flower girl and flower boy bringing more smiles to the faces of the guests.

Leon danced with Tammy, Emma's bridesmaid, and watched with a lightening heart as he saw his son's first spontaneous smile since his mother's passing.

Musicians with piano accordions played gaily while guests danced and silver bags of almonds and biscotti favours with the bride and groom's photograph emblazoned were handed out as wedding mementoes for the guests. Gianni forgot nothing. And the huge multi-layered Italian wedding cake, topped with the
traditional figures of the bride and groom, impressed Grace the most.

Gianni's new daughter fell in love with the cake, and such was her delight that Gianni had a tiny version created for her Barbie house so that she could have weddings galore with her friends.

After discussion with Emma and Rex, Gianni arranged for Emma's parents to move from Brisbane and back into the family home. He'd secured the services of two sisters and their husbands as twenty-four-hour carers, all trained and empathetic in the care of the disabled, for Clare. Never again would Emma have to worry that her mother was unhappy away from her home.

The house was adjusted to make it easy for Clare to be cared for, and Rex could return to the town and friends that he'd grown up with. They too shared the joy of their daughter's wedding without the responsibility of keeping Clare safe and happy.

Late on the night of their wedding, the newlyweds stood on the deck of their isolated chalet, and gazed out together over the moonlit stillness of the lake.

In the distance Gianni heard the wind chimes as they pealed joyfully like the antique organ from one of the chapels in his homeland. As he cradled the warmth of his wife's slender hand in his he stared out at the star-filled sky and thanked God and the woman beside him for the joyful turn his life had taken.

He pulled her back against his body, her softness like balm to his now quiet soul and the tiny bulge of
her stomach firm beneath his hand reminding him of more fulfilment to come. He rested his chin on the top of her head and sighed deeply as the last of the tension dropped from his shoulders.

‘We must have chimes in our new home,' he said, ‘I find such pleasure when the breeze stirs them.'

Emma turned in his arms and smiled before she leaned up and kissed him with a teasing promise of more. ‘There's no wind, my love. It's our lyrebird bringing his wedding gift to us. Our own special lyrebird to keep us safe for the future.'

‘
Cara mia, ti voglio bene
,' he said in Italian as his heart swelled. ‘My darling, I love you.'