The Midwife's Secret Child

‘Stand clear,’ Raimondo said again and it felt surreal to Faith that a man she hadn’t seen for so long sat beside her. Not only that, he’d joined her in a resuscitation in a tourist shop near Lighthouse Bay. Not how she’d seen today pan out, but at this moment she couldn’t be happier he was here.

The machine began the warning noises until the patient’s body jerked with the surge of electricity and, with an odd gurgling noise, the man’s chest heaved as he dragged in a shuddering breath. His eyelids flickered but didn’t open.

Faith looked at Raimondo. ‘Thank God,’ she said at the same time as Dianne murmured the same.

Raimondo’s lips twitched. ‘Sì.’ He lifted his head and listened. ‘The ambulance is nearly here as well.’ They all listened to the faint wail in the distance.

Faith narrowed her eyes as she thought about the road in. ‘It’s a few minutes away. Will we roll him onto his side?’

‘Yes.’ They did so, the man mumbling something, causing Faith to bend down near his ear.

‘It’s okay. You’ve been unwell but you’re looking better now. The ambulance is coming and they’ll take you to hospital.’

He struggled to open his eyes and when he saw her he sagged back and relaxed, though his hand crept up to his chest. Whether from cardiac pain or bruising to his ribs from Raimondo, she couldn’t tell. ‘Faith. You. Thank you.’

‘We all helped. Lie quietly. The ambulance will bring oxygen and pain relief.’

‘Okay,’ on an outward sigh as he closed his eyes. She had no doubt he would have some significant pain.

Five minutes later the ambulance arrived and everything moved quickly after that.

Faith left Raimondo to assist and explain to the paramedics and took Dianne into the shop for a cup of tea as the older lady looked shaky after the excitement.

Faith was feeling a little shaky herself. Cardiac arrest was not something she’d seen in the maternity ward, thank goodness, though, because it was possible, they all did their yearly competencies in resuscitation. It was reassuring she’d remembered what to do.

‘So lucky we had the doctor here.’ Dianne was still coming down from the good outcome.

‘Yes. Very lucky.’ She’d known Raimondo had finished medicine, but had thought he worked at the drug company, but he’d been as slick as an ED doctor. She guessed she’d find out. Six years was time for many things to change.