Determinedly single, but very much in love…
Bella Wilson, the beautiful new midwife at the Gladstone hospital, has spent the last year regaining her independence and doesn’t want obstetrician Scott Rainford confusing things. Twelve years ago their relationship ended painfully. Now, working side by side on Maternity, they find their chemistry is as strong as ever.
But Scott has his own dilemmas that need resolving before he can commit to Bella, and Bella won’t let Scott hurt her all over again. Only by laying their troubles to rest will they realise how strong their love really is and that they no longer need face life alone.
Reviews
Gladstone, New South Wales, Australia – Present Day
Bella Wilson is looking forward to a new life independent of men and their lies. After a painful breakup with an unfaithful lover, Bella has returned to Gladstone to work as a midwife with her older sister, Abbey, and live in the family home. Her reunion with her sister is tempered by the fact that Dr. Scott Rainford is still the chief obstetrician at Gladstone Hospital, the same Scott Rainford who, twelve years before, had been the first man to break her heart. As a youthful eighteen-year-old, Bella fell hard for the older doctor, but Scott broke off the budding romance because of their age difference.
Of all the people for Scott to have to see every day, Bella Wilson would be the last one on his list. Despite his failed marriage and twelve years’ distance, Scott’s heart still aches for the lovely, red-haired Bella. But Scott has other issues to deal with, such as the recent discovery that he has a twenty-year-old son. After his divorce, he and his wife had little contact, and now it’s obvious why — she didn’t want him to know about their child. Until recently, Scott and his son have been unaware of each other’s existence.
Now that Abbey is on maternity leave, Bella assumes her sister’s responsibilities as the unit manager of the maternity ward, and her daily interaction with Scott is taking a toll on her. Luckily, Bella has other things to keep her busy, such as managing the boarding house that her sister and aunt have been running in the old family home. Taking in pregnant girls and new mothers until they get their feet on the ground keeps Bella from dwelling on her own difficulties. But Scott keeps intruding into her life, giving advice, showing concern when Bella allows a young man to move into the house, and making her heart ache whenever she is in his presence. Scott has made it clear that he can’t commit to another relationship, so what future do they have?
A VERY SINGLE MIDWIFE is the second book in the Wilson Sisters trilogy. Bella is a level-headed young woman who knows what she wants in life — and she wants Scott Rainford, even if he doesn’t seem to reciprocate her feelings. Scott is a pragmatic loner who thinks he’s too old for a happy-ever-after ending. This book is a very realistic account of how people deal with life’s twists and turns. Rounding out the story is the author’s excellent medical research and the down-to-earth dialogue.
A charming, well-written love story, A VERY SINGLE MIDWIFE has plenty of joy and a few tears for readers.
Jani Brooks
Romance Reviews Today
Excerpt
Friday
THE birthing suite was quiet as Bella Wilson refilled the cup for Abbey to scoop ice chips as she needed.
Bella glanced across at her brother-in-law, Rohan, as he gently stroked his wife’s back. Arched protectively around her on a low chair, his legs were either side of Abbey’s thighs as she perched upright on the big blue ball. She rocked and moaned softly with the strength of the contractions and Rohan winced in sympathy with the sound.
Her sister’s time was near. “I’ll ring Scott,” Bella whispered, and Rohan nodded. Nobody else seemed to notice the tremor in Bella’s voice as she said it.
Although a very experienced midwife, Bella had chosen to be an onlooker at the time of birth rather than the person responsible for the safe arrival of the new Roberts baby. She wanted to see Abbey’s face, and Rohan’s, as her niece or nephew was born. She wanted to be a part of the whole experience and not just the mechanics of the birth. Scott should be the acchouchier.
Bella couldn’t think of anyone she trusted more than Scott Rainford, Gladstone Hospital’s Director of Obstetrics, to bring a baby into the world. Despite the fact there was still awkwardness between them, at least on Bella’s side.
When she returned from the phone, Abbey’s moans were a little louder and Bella went across to lay her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “It’s OK, you’re doing beautifully, nearly there.”
Abbey opened her eyes and stared at Bella as if to ground herself. “I think I want to push.”
Bella nodded. “Do what your body tells you to do.’ Both women, as midwives, smiled at the litany and then Abbey’s eyes widened as the feeling became stronger.
Rohan sat up straighter as he felt his wife tense with the change in sensation. “You OK, sweetheart?”
Abbey nodded and Rohan rested his hands on her shoulders as if to transfer energy from his body into hers as she began second stage. “I love you, Abbey,” he said, and kissed her shoulder.
Bella turned away. The strength of the bond between Abbey and Rohan brought tears to her eyes. She’d thought she had her chance at being a part of someone like that once, but now she believed that type of relationship wasn’t for her. She could be strong on her own.
She heard the door open and there he was. The man who had once held her heart in his hands and let it go. Bella forced herself to meet Scott’s eyes and their glances clashed before she turned back to Abbey.
The next contraction would be here soon and the birth was very close. She switched off all thoughts of Scott. “Do you want the birth stool or are you going to move to the bed at the last minute, Abbey?’ Bella hovered to help her sister when she’d made her choice.
“I’ll sit on the bed, so I don’t have to move afterwards.”
Bella nodded as she strained to hear Abbey’s answer and lifted the beanbag onto the bed in readiness.
After the next pain, Abbey stood up and Bella and Rohan helped her onto the bed until she was sitting upright with her hands behind her knees. The next pain came swiftly and the baby’s thatch of dark hair hovered at the entrance to the outside world before disappearing again.
“The baby took a look and went back,” Scott whispered, and they all smiled, though Abbey’s smile was tired.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve heard you say that over the years…” Her voice strengthened. “Just didn’t think I’d ever hear you say it to me.”
“One more push, Abbey.’ Scott had always felt enormous admiration for the woman who had been midwife in charge until today, but during this labour Abbey had been inspiring with her belief in natural birth and her quiet acceptance of what her body required her to do.
“Here comes your baby,” Scott said quietly, and his heart constricted as the newborn eased into his hands as if the infant had finally decided it was time to arrive. Scott glanced at the clock as he gently lifted Abbey’s baby up onto her stomach. “Ten past three born. Wonderful, Abbey.”
A birth never failed to uplift him but when he looked at Bella and the joy in her face from this moment, it was as if the dam broke and his own loss overwhelmed him. He acknowledged the two things he’d most wished for in life would never be his. The woman he loved and the son he’d never met.
Scott heard Rohan let out a heartfelt sigh of relief that echoed around the room and it snapped him back into focus. As his medical partner and friend, Rohan had delivered hundreds of babies himself, but Scott could see that none had drained his friend like this.
“We have a son, Abbey.’ Rohan’s voice was thick with tears. His fingers stroked Abbey’s cheek as if he still couldn’t believe he’d been so blessed, and Abbey smiled up with a love and maternal joy that, despite its intimacy, shone to the darkest corners of the room.
Excluded, Scott had to look away as she decreed, “We’ll call him Lachlan.”
Bella smiled at the name Abbey had always fancied. There was something about that private glance shared between husband and wife that made Bella look at Scott, and for once the usually enigmatic Dr Rainford couldn’t hide his bleakness.
Bella’s heart squeezed at the look of raw pain in Scott’s face, but then it was gone. He leaned forward to congratulate the parents and Bella was left with unanswered questions.
Questions for later, Bella thought as she kissed her sister, brother-in-law and precious dark-haired nephew, and returned to what she should be doing as the new midwife in charge. Euphoria at the safe arrival of Lachlan lightened her step as she bustled around and cleared the room of unneeded equipment. Abbey and Rohan deserved private time to share those precious early moments with their son and she would make sure it happened.
A fragment of her concentration tussled with possible reasons for Scott’s depression as she pushed the green-draped trolley into the sluice room. Then she heard the sound of the doctor’s footsteps as he followed her out of the delivery suite, and her fingers stilled.
“So you’re the new unit manager now that Abbey has given birth earlier than anticipated?’ Scott acknowledged the change in management but he didn’t like it. He hadn’t thought it through when he’d been told that Abbey’s just-as-well-qualified sister would replace his midwife colleague during her maternity leave.
my second Kimberley’s of Western Australia book has hit the shelves.
Makes you wonder about the covers in all the other countries. 
