‘No. Well…’ Flora leaned forward and gave her friend a hug, carefully avoiding her bump. ‘We’re all keeping an eye on you and we can get you over to the mainland at the first sign of movement.’

‘That’s the plan.’ Evanna stroked her bump. ‘Just hope the baby is listening.’

* * *

Flora drove with the windows down, humming to herself and enjoying the breeze and the sunshine. She loved Glenmore at this time of year. Wild flowers clustered on the banks of grass at the side of the road and in the distance she could see the jagged silhouette of the ruined castle.

She waved at Doug MacDonald who was out on his bike and then caught sight of Sonia Davies pushing a buggy on the pavement.

‘Sonia!’ She slowed to a halt and called out to the young mother. ‘Everything OK? How’s Rachel?’

‘She’s beautiful.’ Sonia pushed the buggy over to the car. ‘I’m due in clinic later this week for another immunisation.’

Flora nodded. ‘She’s twelve months, isn’t she? So that will be the Hib booster. Haemophilus influenzae.’

Sonia handed Rachel a rattle to play with. ‘I hope she doesn’t freak out. It’s different when they’re babies, isn’t it? They don’t know what’s happening and it’s over in a flash.’

‘She’ll be fine. Have you booked her in for Thursday afternoon?’

‘Yes.’ Sonia jiggled the pushchair. ‘No sign of Evanna having the baby yet, then?’

‘She has a few weeks to go yet.’

‘I bet Dr MacNeil is nervous.’ Sonia gave a little frown. ‘We all know how uneasy he gets when women get near their due date. When he had to deliver me on the island last year, he was horrified. Never saw him look nervous before that night. I still think that if Evanna hadn’t been there, he would have done a runner.’

‘I’m sure he wouldn’t, although we all know that he prefers babies to be born on the mainland. I’m sure he’ll be packing Evanna off on that ferry in good time. And I’d better go. I have a visit to do before my afternoon clinic.’ Flora slid back into her car. ‘See you later in the week, Sonia.’

She carried on up the coast road, called in on Helen to check on her and offer reassurance to her mother. Then she drove to the medical centre, parking next to a sleek black motorbike.

She gave a faint smile. That explained the black leather. A motorbike.

She couldn’t imagine Conner with anything else. He was a man who always chose to live his life on the wrong side of risk.