She’d been with the family from the beginning, a part of their prenatal care, of their birthing plan—which, as Frazer had warned might happen, had gone completely out the window at the first plea for pain relief. She’d allowed herself an internal chuckle at that. Birthing plans were a great thing in theory, but rarely worked out. Part way through, the mother had thrown the ice chips to the floor that her partner was lovingly trying to feed her and hissed, “This is all your fault!”

A good sign that the birth was progressing nicely.

The rest of the day passed in much the same way, three births, one ending in a C-section, much to the mother’s devastation. Frazer had gripped her hand. “I came from a C-section, and look how awesome I turned out.”

The strangled chuckle was enough to feel as if she’d helped.

Exhausted, Frazer stumbled into her office to start some of the paperwork that needed doing so desperately. She had rosters to figure out, budgets to look at. A glance out of her window showed nothing but the car park. She slumped her head on the desk.

She needed a holiday.

The sudden knock on her door had her jerking up and self-consciously grabbing a pen, holding it over whatever random paper was on her desk.

“Come in!”

Tia popped her head around. “Hey, Frazer.”

“Hi. Nice hair.”

Tia toyed with the ends, newly red strands twirling around her fingers. “Thanks. My husband hates it.”

“Great. Never change it.”

They shared a wicked grin.

“Just wanted to let you know the on call midwife for tonight is sick,” Tia said.

Frazer pouted at her. The shrug Tia gave back bordered on sympathetic.

“I know. Guess who’s second on call?”

“Yes, I know. It’s me. Great—can’t wait.” A thought occurred to Frazer, and she perked up. “Oh, drat,” she said with heavy irony. “Now I have to cancel on dinner with my family.”

“See—silver linings.” Tia began to walk out, then popped her head around the door again. “Oh, and Frazer, you’re writing all over the desk.”

Frazer dropped her pen.

“That’ll be all, Tia.”

Tia snorted and disappeared.

“Wait!”

Her head appeared again. “I’m going to damage my neck soon.” At Frazer’s sheepish wince, Tia softened. “What?”

“Is Alec in his office?”

“Yeah. I’d get in quick, though.”

And this time, she disappeared completely.

Great. Another on call. Who needed a life?

With a scowl at her in-tray, Frazer decided to go and bite the bullet. As she exited her office, she caught sight of Cora chatting at a nurse’s desk. With an inward grimace, Frazer turned and disappeared down the other end of the hallway.

She’d be Cora’s friend. Soon.

In front of Alec’s door, she took in a deep breath and rapped her knuckles against the wood.

When Frazer entered, Alec’s tight look of greeting made Frazer realise how truly terrible Alec was at hiding what he thought. It was obvious he didn’t want to be talking to Frazer. The office, stark and grey, was as boring as her own.