The Doctor's Baby Secret Read Online Free PDF

Frank’s daughter. We’ll let you know when we get her.’
    Something prickled at the back of her spine. She looked at the crowded, anxious faces staring into the back of the ambulance. One was missing.
    â€˜Give me a sec,’ she shouted to the paramedic as he hooked Frank up to their equipment.
    She pushed her way through the crowd. Austin wasn’t anywhere in sight.
    It only took a few steps to reach the gents’ again. He was standing quietly, staring at the floor where Frank had lain and rubbing his hands together. She recognised that look.
    She’d seen it numerous times throughout her career. Whether it was a student doctor, a new nurse or even an old-timer exposed to a situation they weren’t used to.
    She just hadn’t expected it from Mr Confidence.
    She walked over quickly and stood right under his nose, reaching over and touching his arm. ‘Austin?’
    He blinked and stepped back. He hadn’t even realised she’d entered.
    She squeezed his arm. ‘You did good. Thanks for your help.’ It was all she had time for. She had to leave right now. But her knowledge and experience meant she’d never leave a team member without acknowledging their part.
    His blue eyes met hers. Zing. It was like a little thunderbolt. ‘Any time,’ he murmured quietly as his gaze drifted down to the floor.
    Her stomach flip-flopped. Frank was her priority. Frank was all that mattered right now. She nodded and ran back to the door.
    Everything else would have to wait.

CHAPTER THREE
    A USTIN GLANCED AROUND the room. He’d met all the other candidates as they’d arrived over the last two days, but this morning was their first official training day. The room was awash with the signature bright blue flight suits. He’d felt a real surge of pride this morning as he’d put it on.
    He’d worked hard for this. Focused hard to finally get to wear the uniform he’d always wanted. He’d snapped a quick pic to send to his mum and dad. That had been around fifteen minutes ago—by now, his mother would have printed out twenty copies to give to all her friends.
    All the instructors were standing in front of them. Everyone in the room knew Frank was missing. He’d found a handwritten note from Corrine in his mailbox this morning saying Frank was doing as well as could be expected. His hand slipped into his pocket and he touched the piece of paper. She’d used a purple pen. It had made him smile. Kind of quirky.
    Corrine looked tired this morning. She had dark circles under her eyes and he wondered if she’d stayed at the hospital all night with Frank. She was wearing her obligatory dark suit and a pale pink shirt. And because he was sitting in the front row the scent of her perfume was drifting towards him. It was light, but not quite floral, something more vanilla. The kind of scent that made you think something was good enough to eat.
    Adam Bailey cleared his throat. ‘Guys, I’ve been where you are. I know how proud you all feel right now and I want you to know that we recognise your achievement of being selected. There were over six thousand applications for the Astronaut Candidate Programme this time around. It’s not an easy process to go through—we all appreciate that. But the time for celebration is over.’
    He pressed his finger down on the desk in front of him. ‘Now is the time for hard work.’ He looked around the room. ‘Your Astronaut Candidate Training will include scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, Extravehicular Activity—EVA—robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, water and wilderness survival training and medical training. If you can’t already do it—you’ll have to learn to speak Russian. And your training will be in a variety of settings. You’ll be in Kazakhstan and in Russia. You’ll be in