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Not one to give up easily, Ellie decided to try Emma. Her number was also in the international folder she’d set up.

Again, the beeps and clicks, then the last drawn-out beep and the phone rang this time without going to voicemail. After it rang half a dozen times, Ellie waited for it to go to a message, but was pleasantly surprised when Emma picked it up.

‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Dr Emma Langford speaking.’

‘Em, can you hear me? It’s Ellie. Have I got the time right or have I woken you up? Can you hear me, okay?’

‘Clear as a bell all the way from Mexico. How are you?’

‘We’re all good. I tried to call Dru first because I was worried about her, but it went to voicemail so I thought I’d ring my big sister and have a nice long chat. Is it a good time?’

‘Sort of. I’m still at the hospital, but I’m not working.’

Ellie frowned. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Yes, everyone’s okay. Hang on a minute.’ Ellie could hear Emma calling out. ‘Ruby, just wait here with Aunty Em, sweetie. We’ll be with Mummy in a minute.’

‘Oh my God, Em. Is Dru in hospital?’ Ellie put a hand on her chest. ‘Is she okay? what’s wrong? Did she have an accident or is it the baby?’

‘Yes, it’s the baby but don’t stress. She’s fine. Dru had an early labour scare last week, and she’s on total bedrest here until the baby’s born. She’s fine, the baby’s fine, and we’ve got Ruby. We’re just going to visit her now, so I’ll call you when we’re there if you want to talk to her.’

‘Hang on, what about Connor? Why have you got Ruby?’ Ellie had a bad feeling about that.

‘Connor’s working away this week. Now tell me quickly. How are you?’

‘We’re great. Having the best time, plus Kane is over the moon with what he’s seeing and learning. Between him and Tarni when we go home, he thinks we’ll have a “super” farm, or as James says, a “super-duper” farm. I’ll take a picture and send it to you. I’m lying around the pool sipping on a non-alcoholic fruit cocktail delivered to me by a gorgeous man in a tuxedo, who then proceeded to pass me hot towels with silver tongs from a silver tray.’

‘Stop it. I’ve been at work all day. I went home to collect Ruby from Jeremy. It’s his day off, and then I drove back to the hospital.’ Emma chuckled. ‘And it sounds like you’re doing it tough, kiddo.’

‘I’m having a good rest. Okay, so tell me more about Dru.’

‘She overdid things and her waters broke, but the obstetrician is confident that they can keep an eye on her. All the tests are indicating everything is fine. Her blood pressure is a little bit high, but not in the danger zone, but they’re keeping a very close eye on pre-eclampsia.’

‘Oh, poor Dru.’ Ellie persisted with her questions. ‘How did she overdo it? That’s not like her, she’s usually careful.’

‘She got herself a bit upset, and ran to the apartment.’

‘What! Where from?’

‘Connor’s office. But Ellie, she’s fine.’

‘Oh shit.’ Ellie couldn’t help the expletive falling from her lips. ‘I knew it. I just had a bad feeling. What about little Ruby? Is she okay?’

‘She’s fine. She and Akasha are wearing Jeremy out.’

Ellie’s voice was hesitant. ‘And Connor?’

All was quiet at the other end of the phone and Ellie prompted her. ‘Emma, what’s going on?’

‘Nothing. Connor’s working away at the moment and we’ve got Ruby.’

‘He’s not at the hospital with Dru?’

‘No,’ Emma said slowly. ‘The day she had her episode she called me because she couldn’t get onto him. He was already away so he hasn’t seen her yet.’

‘But what about them?’ Ellie asked carefully. ‘Are they fine?’

‘I honestly can’t answer that, Els. It’s not our place to ask. It’s between them. Had Dru spoken to you before you went away? She hadn’t said anything to me before.’