Saving His Little Miracle (Mills & Boon Medical) by Jennifer Taylor Page A

glad that he had complimented the younger man. It was something he wouldn’t normally have done and he found himself making a note to do it in the future. People responded far more positively to praise than they did to criticism.
    It was a rare insight into his past behaviour and Vincenzo knew that he would take it on board. Maybe he was too hard on his staff and needed to lighten up occasionally. If it meant they performed better under pressure then it would be worth loosening the reins a little.
    The thought lingered as the operation ran its course. By the time Simon declared that he had done all he could, Vincenzo was feeling fairly confident about the outcome. He accompanied the younger man to the changing room, shaking his head when Simon expressed his doubts about what he had done.
    ‘In my opinion, you did everything possible for the child. Now it’s a question of waiting to see what happens.’ He shrugged. ‘We can only do our best, Dr Rivers. No more than that.’
    ‘I know.’ Simon grimaced as he tossed his gown into the hamper. ‘It’s just that you always feel that you could have done more, don’t you?’
    ‘Sì,’ Vincenzo agreed, somewhat surprised that he should make such an admission. He never voiced any doubts about what he had done. Even when he wasn’t one hundred per cent confident about the outcome, he preferred to keep it to himself. Admitting that he had concerns seemed like an admission of failure and yet all of a sudden he was willing to concede that there had been times when he had felt that he hadn’t quite come up to the mark.
    ‘It’s only natural. When you care about what you do—as we both do—you are bound to wonder if you could have gone that bit further, tried that bit harder. But we’re only men, Dr Rivers. We can only do what we can and hope that it’s enough.’
    ‘You’re right. I know you are. I just needed to be reminded.’ Simon gave him a grateful smile and headed into the shower.
    Vincenzo followed more slowly, wondering why he had opened up like that. He had never felt the need to do so before and he wasn’t sure what had brought about such a change in his behaviour. Was it because he was feeling more emotional than usual? Allowing his feelings to surface rather than keeping them safely buried?
    He sighed. He knew it was true and it was worrying to face the fact that he was no longer fully in control. He couldn’t afford to relax his guard, especially now. He had to be able to take a step back, to distance himself if Lowri agreed to his suggestion about how they should conceive this baby. If he allowed himself to get emotionally involved, it would never work; he would never be able to walk away afterwards, as he had to do. After all, it wasn’t him Lowri wanted but the child he could give her. He must never forget that.
    * * *
    Lowri got Poppy Meadows settled and then went to find the child’s parents. Although Simon would speak to them shortly, she knew they would be anxious for news. They leapt to their feet when she opened the door to the relatives’ room and she smiled reassuringly at them.
    ‘Poppy’s back from Theatre. Mr Rivers will fill you in on all the details but I thought you’d want to know that she’s come through the operation.’
    ‘Thank heavens!’ Sarah Meadows sank down onto the couch and buried her face in her hands. Her voice was muffled when she continued. ‘I so afraid that she...she...’
    She couldn’t go on but Lowri understood. She too had been in this position and knew how it felt to fear the worst. Sitting down beside Sarah, she gave her a hug.
    ‘It’s early days yet but she’s a tough little thing, a real fighter, and that will go in her favour.’
    She looked round when the door opened, feeling her heart jolt when she saw Vincenzo follow Simon into the room.
    All of a sudden she wished he had been there when Megan had been so ill. Maybe it wouldn’t have affected the outcome but it would have helped her to have