Ava knew the fine line between nosy and nice and had perfected the art of not being pushy. Everyone had reasons to choose their own time for things. ‘I see by your belly that baby’s growing well.’ Quite a lot, actually. Ava acknowledged another niggle of disquiet. Sometimes, if a mum developed diabetes, the baby put on a lot of weight because of the mother’s sugar-rich blood. ‘Have you had a scan?’ she asked.

‘Machine broke down when they booked it. I don’t need one. My baby’s good.’

Ava smiled. ‘Baby’s moving well, then. Lots of kicks?’

‘He’s good. Dreamed he was a very fast hunter. Got a way to go yet, though.’ The girl looked away as if many interesting things were happening anywhere but where Ava stood.

Ava doubted the ‘long way to go’, so she tried again. ‘He’s a good size like his dad?’

‘Yep.’ Jessamine stood awkwardly.

It seemed Ava had worn out her welcome, if there’d been one to begin with. Something was troubling Jessamine, and Ava wished she knew how she could help the young woman feel more comfortable. ‘I’ll let the group-practice midwife know you’re here. She’d like to come out and check you and your baby on Monday. Though I could check today if you wanted?’

The girl gazed off into the distance. ‘Maybe.’

Ava felt a tiny surge of hope. ‘I’d love to see you and I have my baby doppler. You’d be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat.’ She put her hand to her ear as if listening. ‘The heartbeat sounds like a horse, you know. A fast clop, clop, clop.’

Denise smiled at that, and finally, like a promise, Jessamine did too. Her smile lit up her whole face and Ava had to smile back. This was why she loved doing what she did for women like Jessamine, who needed understanding.

Encouraged, Ava added, ‘It’s all in my car. I could check your sugar levels and blood pressure now. Let those midwives know everything is fine.’ And feel your tummy to find out what’s going on, Ava added silently with a tinge of urgency.

There was another flicker of interest. ‘Gotta go somewhere now, but maybe later today,’ Jessamine said. ‘Or tomorrow.’

Ava nodded. ‘After lunch today would be good at the clinic. You wouldn’t have to wait then.’

The girl turned away and something made Ava say with the utmost sincerity, ‘You can come to the clinic anytime if you have a question. I’m at the clinic here till Friday at five. Let us know if you want to go to Alice Springs before that and I could help Denise arrange a ride.’ It was such a shame Ava wouldn’t be in Alice next week to see her there.

Jessamine paused and she looked back over her shoulder, then nodded once. ‘Thanks.’

‘Good to meet you, Jessamine.’