The Surgeon′s Marriage
The Surgeon's Marriage
Maggie Kingsley
Now, he thought
Nows the time, nows the moment, but what could he say? How could he convince her that he loved her, when he was never going to be able to make the kind of flattering speeches that tripped so easily off Marks tongue?
Show her, his heart suggested. Show her you care, that the love is still there.
Helen He cleared his throat and started again. Will you come to bed with me?
Was it his imagination or had her grip on the magazine tightened?
Helen, please. Heavens, he was begging. Helen, its been so long since we made love, andand I need you. Slowly she lowered the magazine, and to his utter horror he could see tears sparkling in her eyes. Oh, hell, could he never get it right? Helen, Im sorry. Oh, love, dontplease dont cry.
Desperately he reached for her, and she met him halfway, clinging to him with almost frantic need.
Kiss me, Tom, she muttered into his chest. Dont talkdont say anything. Justkiss me.
Dear Reader,
When I finished the first book in the Baby Doctors trilogy, I started thinking about Tom and Helen. They seemed to have the perfect marriage in Doctor and Son, but what if Helen doesnt think they have? What if she feels Tom is taking her for granted as so many husbands can unthinkingly do, and that after ten years of marriage the zing isnt there anymore? And to really make her life complicated, what if I arranged for a gorgeous specialist registrar to arrive at the Belfield Infirmary who makes it pretty obvious that he thinks Helen is wonderful?
Would she have an affair? Would she leave her husband? She has to make a choice, but does she make the right one?
If youre as hooked on the Belfield Infirmary as I am, look out for the last book in the Baby Doctors trilogy.
Regards,
Maggie Kingsley
The Surgeons Marriage
Maggie Kingsley
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE (#u5c272e9f-6cbf-583a-8f3a-bf4cb7d6755f)
CHAPTER TWO (#u42971e6b-a258-594f-bfcb-f46940da8551)
CHAPTER THREE (#u640389d1-28e8-5294-93d3-dfc5ba26c68e)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE
HELEN stared at the damp towel hanging over the banister. It was strange how something so ordinary, so innocuous, could set your teeth on edge. Especially when it was nothing new. In fact, every morning for the past ten years Tom had come out of the shower and thrown his towel over that self-same banister.
Then why dont you simply tell him to stop doing it? her mind asked as she lifted the towel and carried it down the stairs to the kitchen. Tell him its driving you crazy.
Because if I do, she told the potted plant on the window-sill, Tom will say, If it bothers you that much, why didnt you mention it before?
And shed be forced to admit that it hadnt bothered her before, but now it did, and Tom would either frown uncomprehendingly or smile in that horribly knowing fashion which meant, Oops, it must be Helens time of the month again so Id better tread carefully.
Tears filled her eyes, and she angrily blinked them away. It wasnt her time of the month. She wished it was. At least then shed have some excuse for the odd feelings of dissatisfaction and irritation which had been plaguing her recently. And she had nothing to be dissatisfied about. She had a good marriage, two healthy, beautiful children, a job she loved
Mum, I cant find my white T-shirt, and I need it for gymnastics.
She glanced round to see her daughter standing in the kitchen doorway. If you need it for gymnastics you should have told me yesterday.
But I always have gymnastics on Mondaysyou know I do. Tuesdays art, Wednesdays
Your green ones washed and ironed.
But everyone else will be wearing white. Ill be the odd one out
Mum, have you seen my trainers?
Im talking to Mum, Emma protested.
Big deal, her brother exclaimed. Mum, my trainers
Theyre in your wardrobe, John. Which is where you should have put them when you got home from school on Friday, instead of just dumping them down in the hall, Helen called after her son as he dashed away.
Mum, about my white T-shirt. Couldnt you?
Helen, its half past eight. Are you ready to go?
Does it look like I am? she protested, seeing her husbands head come round the kitchen door. Emma, Im sorry, but youre going to have to wear your green T-shirt, and thats final.
Emma wandered unhappily away, and Toms eyebrows rose. Problems?
Just the usual Monday morning mayhem, Helen said irritably, taking a scrunchy out of her pocket and twisting her shoulder-length blonde hair back into a ponytail. Honestly, there are times when I wonder why we ever had children.
Because of one split condom nine years ago? Tom grinned, and a reluctant smile curved her own lips.
That faulty condom had a lot to answer for. For a start it had put paid to their plans when theyd got married not to have children until they were both Obs and Gynae specialist registrars. Tom had made the grade, but it had never been an option for her, not after the twins had been born.
Shed never regretted it. OK, so perhaps occasionally she thought it would have been nice if both she and Tom could have fulfilled their dreams, but the children were a joy and a delight when they werent driving her mad, and being an Obs and Gynae SHO was responsibility enough when you had a pair of lively eight-year-olds to look after.
Thats the school bus, Tom declared as a horn sounded outside. He glanced down at his watch and frowned. Helen, I hate to hurry you, but we really do have to go. Ill start the car, shall I?
The smile on her lips died. He couldnt perhaps have offered to wash the breakfast dishes first, or tidy up the sitting room? No, of course he couldnt. The dishes would still be waiting for her when she got home tonight, and the sitting room would still look as though a bomb had hit it.
Oh, stop it, Helen, she told herself as she shepherded Emma and John out to the school bus, trying hard to ignore Emmas reproachful expression which said all too clearly, Everyone elses mum would have remembered my T-shirt. Toms a good husband, a loving husband, and you know he would have washed the dishes in a minute if youd asked him. Yes, but I shouldnt need to ask him, she argued back. He should have known.
Everything OK, love? Tom asked, shooting her a puzzled frown as she got into the car beside him, then fastened her seat belt.
Fine, she managed to reply, but everything wasnt fine. Not by a long shot.
Tom would probably have said she was simply suffering from a bad case of overwork, and maybe she was. This last month at the Belfield Infirmary had certainly been a nightmare, what with Rachel Dunwoody suddenly taking compassionate leave because of the death of her aunt, then Annie Hart and Gideon Caldwell getting married.
Not that she begrudged the junior doctor and ward consultant their happinessin fact, shed been delighted when theyd finally got togetherand poor Rachel had obviously been shattered by her aunts death so it wasnt surprising shed asked for time off, but all the upheaval had meant so much extra work for her and Tom, and she was feeling it.
This friend of yours whos standing in for Rachel, she said as Tom negotiated the busy rush-hour traffic. You said hes been working in Australia for the last ten years?
Tom nodded. Mark headed out to Sydney right after he qualified. He worked there for a couple of years, then moved to a senior house officers post in Canberra, and hes been working as a specialist registrar for the last eighteen months in Melbourne.
And hes going to Canada in six weeks, she said, trying and failing to keep the envy out of her voice. Shed wanted to work abroad, too, when shed been younger, but then the children had arrived, and the years had flown by, and here she was still living and working in Glasgow. I hope he isnt going to find us too boring after all his travelling.
Why should he think were boring? Tom said in surprise. I dont think were boring and, knowing Mark, hes probably only going to Canada because some irate boyfriend is after him.
Some irate boyfriend? she repeated, bewildered, and her husband grinned.
Back in med school there wasnt a girl who wasnt potty about him. In fact, he actually had the nerve to poach a couple of my girlfriends, but He shook his head ruefully. The crazy thing is we still stayed friends. Maybe its because he could always make me see the funny side of things.
Charming as well as handsome, she observed. Sounds like a pretty potent combination.
It is. Mind you, Im talking about the Mark Lorimer I knew a long time ago. Ten years of Australian sun, sea and food could have made him fat, bald and charmless.
Is that true concern I hear, Tom Brooke, or a bad case of wishful thinking? she teased, and her husbands lips quirked.
What do you think?
That he had no need to envy his friend, she decided. Tom was a good-looking manbetter-looking now, in fact, than hed been when theyd first met. At twenty-four hed been a lanky six-footer, with a shock of brown hair, and a pair of smiling grey eyes. Ten years on, the hair and eyes were still the same, but hed filled out, grown more muscular, and it suited him.
Ive filled out a bit in the last ten years, too, she thought wryly, but I doubt if anyone would say it suited me.
She was snacking too much, that was the trouble, but she never seemed to have time for a proper meal. If she wasnt racing round Obs and Gynae, she was chasing after John and Emma, making sure theyd done their homework properly and had clean clothes to wear for the next day.
Apart from white T-shirts, she thought guiltily, suddenly remembering Emmas disgruntled face. Shed wash and iron it tonight, after shed done the weekly shop at the supermarket.
Helen, are you quite sure youre OK?
She looked up blankly to see theyd arrived at the Belfield Infirmary and Tom was gazing at her with concern.
Of course I am, she replied, bewildered. Why shouldnt I be?
Because To her surprise he suddenly reached out and gently cupped her cheek in his hand. Ive been speaking to you for the last five minutes, and I swear you havent heard a word.
To her acute dismay the tears shed felt earlier began to resurface, and she gulped them down quickly.
Im finehonestly I am, she replied with a shaky smile. Justjust a little tired.
He swore under his breath. Its all the extra hours youve been working recently, not to mention having to look after John and Emma and me. Look, why dont I do the weekly shop tonightgive you a break?
For a second she was tempted, then a bubble of laughter came from her. Tom, if you do the shopping I know exactly what will happen. Youll come back from the supermarket with enough food to feed an army, plus a whole load of stuff that nobody likes because you noticed it was on special offer.
His lips curved. What if I promise to stick to your list?
Ill do the shopping. Im OKreally I am, she insisted, seeing his frown reappear. Now that Mark Lorimers starting work today, everything will be fine.
And it would be, she told herself as she got out of the car and followed Tom into the hospital. With the department fully staffed again she wouldnt be so tired all the time, and stupid, niggling little things wouldnt keep irritating her. She knew they wouldnt.
OK, cheer me up on a cold April day, she instructed Annie when she found the junior doctor in the staffroom, getting ready to go off duty. Tell me the ward was quiet last night, that not one single emergency came in, then give me permission to go home.
You dont want cheering up, Annie protested. You want a miracle.
I know, but it was worth a try. Helen laughed. OK, whats the current situation?
Mrs Foster burst some of her stitches last night. Apparently she was straining to pass a motionYes, I know, the junior doctor said as Helen groaned. Not the brightest thing in the world to do when youve just had a hysterectomy, but there you go. Mrs Dawn accidentally dislodged her catheter at midnight
Oh, no.
Andand, Annie continued, just to add to the overall fun and excitement, Mrs Alexander suddenly developed a deep-vein thrombosis in her leg.
Is she all right? Helen asked with concern.
Gideons put her on anticoagulants, and weve got her in compression stockings, but it looks like we could be in for big problems when she gives birth.
It did. Mary Alexander was thirty-six weeks pregnant, and shed only been sent in by her GP because he thought her blood pressure was a little high. A Caesarean might be the answer, but if the clot moved to her lungs during the operation
Ill have a word with her once Ive done the ward round, Helen murmured, and Annie grimaced.
A word is probably all youll have time for. Honestly, Helen, I feel like Im living at the hospital at the moment, and if Gideon hadnt insisted on me employing a home help I dont know how I would have managed with Jamie.
Helen nodded. She could remember only too well how hard it had been when her own children were smaller, trying to juggle their needs and the demands of her job, and it was doubly difficult for Annie. Gideon wasnt Jamies father, and although the little boy obviously liked the consultant, it would take time for him to accept his mothers new husband completely.
Things will be better now Dr Lorimers here, she said encouragingly as she followed Annie out of the staffroom. With the department fully staffed again
But hes not here. At least, not unless hes hiding in a cupboard.
Helen came to a halt. What do you mean, hes not here? He phoned Tom from London last night to say he was just about to board the Glasgow plane.
And to reminisce about old times, she thought, remembering the gales of laughter shed heard coming from her husband when hed taken the call.
Maybe hes got lost between the airport and the Belfield. Maybe hes taken one look at what passes for spring weather in Britain, and headed straight back to sunny Australia. All I know is Annie bit off the rest of what shed been about to say, and groaned. Oh, Lord. Why do I know this means trouble?
Helen turned in the direction of the junior doctors gaze, and her heart sank, too. Gideon was striding towards them, looking tight-lipped and harassed, and Tom didnt look any happier beside him.
Im afraid weve got a problem, the consultant declared without preamble. Dr Lorimers still in London. Apparently Heathrow Airports fogbound, and though hes hoping to make it to the Belfield by mid-afternoon, were not to hold our breaths.
And? Helen asked with foreboding, sensing there was a very definite and hanging in the air, and equally certain she wasnt going to like it.
Weve got a postpartum haemorrhage on our hands. Im on my way to it now. Toms going to take my morning clinic, but that means
You want me to take Toms, Helen finished for him unhappily.
Sorry, Helen.
So was she. She hated taking somebody elses clinic at short notice. It meant seeing people blind, with scarcely enough time to read through their notes, but it couldnt be helped. Emergencies were just that. Unexpected events that nobody could predict.
Look, would it help if I stayed on for a couple of hours? Annie said, beginning to unbutton her coat. Jamie will be at the day-care centre by now
What I want is for you to go home and get some sleep, Gideon said firmly. Youve just finished a full night shift.
Yes, but if were short-staffed
Home, Annie. Now.
Three weeks married, and already hes bossing me about, the junior doctor protested, and Helen laughed, only for her laughter to die when Gideon suddenly put his arm around his wife and kissed her.
It wasnt a passionate kissthe ward corridor was hardly the place for itbut as the couple drew apart a hard lump formed in her throat.
When was the last time Tom had looked at her the way Gideon was looking at Annie? When was the last time shed looked at Tom with such obvious love in her eyes?
Good grief, woman, youve been married for ten years, not three weeks, a little voice protested at the back of her mind. You cant expect either you and Tom to be still wandering round in that heady, crazy state of euphoria that couples feel when they first fall in love.
No, her heart whispered, but surely I should be able to remember when he last told me he loved me. Surely I should at least be able to remember when we last made love.
Her heart contracted and, unable to bear looking at the couple any longer, she began walking down the corridor, only to discover Tom had come after her.
Im sorry, she said, coming to an awkward halt. Did you want to talk to me about your clinic?
What Im more interested inmore worried aboutis you, her husband replied. Helen, what is itwhats wrong?
He looked anxious and perplexed, but as she stared up at him she also saw that he looked completely exhausted, and a wave of guilt surged through her. Hed been working so hard at the hospital recentlymuch harder than she had beenand yet here she was, feeling sorry for herself just because they hadnt made love in ages. And it was as much her fault as his. Im too tired, Tom had become her stock reply to any overture he might have made recently.
Nothings wrong, she said swiftly. Im just thinking about your poor friend, stuck in London
But you looked so pale just a minute ago, he pressed. Quite white, in fact.
Thatll teach me to forget to put on any make-up. She smiled, trying to lighten his mood, but it didnt work.
You dont hear me when Im talking to you, he continued. Youre tired all the time, and now your colours coming and going. Look, perhaps you should let me examine you, give you a thorough check-up.
You just want an excuse to get my clothes off, she said, her brown eyes dancing, and you dont need one. Were married, remember?
Helen, be serious.
Lifes too short, she insisted. Tom, Ive been thinkingwhy dont we hire a babysitter the next time we both have a weekend off? We could head off somewhere romantic like the Isle of Skye. We havent been anywhere alone for ages, and
Do you think you could be hitting an early menopause?
Her jaw dropped. Do I what?
I know youre only thirty-two, he continued thoughtfully, but it would certainly explain your mood swings, your abstraction and fatigue
Tom, I am not starting the menopause, she snapped. If I look tired, maybe its because I am tired. Tired of cooking and cleaning. Tired of constantly tidying up after you and the kids, and tired of being expected to be a super-efficient SHO into the bargain.
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and she bit her lip. She hadnt realised shed been feeling so put upon and taken for granted lately, but now shed said it she knew it was true. It might have been better, though, if shed couched her complaint in less confrontational language. Her husband clearly thought so, judging by the dull flush of colour sweeping across his face.
Tom
Sorry to interrupt you, Doctors, the department secretary declared, but its twenty past nine, and your clinics were supposed to start at nine.
Our clinics will start when were ready to start, Tom replied, his voice uncharacteristically brusque. Until then Id be obliged if youd allow us some privacy.
Doris looked crushed. She also looked curious. Very curious.
That wasnt the smartest thing in the world to do, Helen protested the minute the woman had gone. Doris is the biggest gossip in the hospital, and just because youre angry with me
I dont think this is the time or the place for a discussion about our private life, do you? he said stiffly.
Oh, really? she thought. Well, she wasnt the one whod started it with all this stupid talk about the menopause. She wasnt the one who hadnt been pulling her weight at home.
Fine, she said, her voice every bit as taut and cold as his. Then perhaps you could consult your diary and pencil me in for a day when it would be convenient.
And before he could reply she walked into his consulting room and slammed the door shut.
The menopause. He had the nerve to suggest that her tiredness and irritability might be due to the menopause. That would teach her to marry a gynaecologist. One mention of being tired and fed up, and her husbands mind had immediately gone into diagnostic mode.
Well, his mind could just come right out of diagnostic mode, she decided, sitting angrily down at his desk. She might not have known how aggrieved shed been feeling, but now that she did know she could see it was time he pulled his weight at homeway past time.
And way past time for her clinic to start, she realised with a muttered oath as she caught sight of the clock on the wall.
Forget it, Helen, she told herself, pulling the stack of files on the desk towards her and hitting the intercom button. Think about it later, but right now forget it.
And she managed to until her last patient turned out to be Jennifer Norton.
Im feeling fine, thank you, Doctor, Jennifer said as she eased herself up onto the examination table. In fact, now Ive got over the morning sickness, the only thing I want is for my husband to stop fussing over me.
Lucky you, Helen thought, but she didnt say that.
You cant really blame him for fussing, she said instead, wrapping the blood-pressure cuff round Jennifers arm. You gave us all a big fright back in February.
Jennifer had. At just eight weeks pregnant shed been rushed into the department with vaginal bleeding, and as her pregnancy was the result of her fourth IVF treatment the signs werent good. Luckily the bleeding had stopped, but Jennifer still had a long way to go.
Youre fourteen weeks pregnant now, arent you? she murmured, watching the blood-pressure gauge.
Fourteen weeks gone, only another twenty-six to go. Jennifer laughed a little nervously. Is it OKmy blood pressure?
Its up a little, but that might just be because you knew you were going to be examined today. Unless youve been doing something really silly, of course, like redecorating the whole house.
Chance would be a fine thing. If I so much as look at a duster my husbands down on me like a ton of bricks, saying Im doing too much, putting the twins at risk.
Id enjoy the pampering while you can, Helen said with more of an edge than shed intended. Speaking as the mother of twins myself, youre going to need all the energy youve got once they arrive. Twelve bottles a day to sterilise and prepare. Two dirty bottoms to change. Two little bodies that suddenly sprout six arms and legs when youre trying to get them dressed to go out.
Jennifer smiled. But I bet you never regretted having them.
On good days, no. On bad days Helen rolled her eyes heavenwards, and Jennifer laughed. OK, I see from your notes that youve already had your spina bifida scan, so I just need to take a blood sample and then well do a quick scan to check on how your babies are doing.
To Jennifers clear relief the scan revealed that the twins were the correct size and development for their gestation.
I hate having these scans, she admitted as she wiped the conductive gel off her tummy and pulled up her trousers. I know theyre necessary, but Im always terrified youre going to tell me somethings wrong.
Its understandable to worry after all youve been through, Helen said gently. Now, wed like to see you again in a months time
Another scan?
Fraid so. Hey, look on the bright side, Helen continued as Jennifer groaned. It will give you the chance to see how much your babies have grown, and well be able to check on your blood pressure at the same time. She flicked through Toms diary. How does the second of May sound?
Fine by me. Brian and I arent exactly living a wild social life at the moment. Not that we were ever great party-goers even before I got pregnant, Jennifer said ruefully. My husbands the original stick-in-the-mud, stay-at-home bloke.
Helen smiled, but when the woman got to her feet she suddenly said on impulse, How long have you been married, Jennifer?
Fifteen years. Cripes, thats longer than the average sentence for murder, isnt it? Not that Ive ever felt like murdering himat least, not often.
Husbands do drive you mad sometimes, dont they? Helen said with feeling.
And how. Jennifer nodded. In fact, Brian and I went through a really sticky patch a couple of years ago. I thought he was taking me for granted, he thought our marriage was in a rut.
Which has got absolutely nothing to do with Jennifers medical condition, Helen told herself firmly, so you cant possibly ask how she solved the problem, but she did, and Jennifer laughed.
We talked.
Thats it? Helen said in surprise.
The best answers are often the simplest.
Yes, but
Talking clears the air, stops things festering. So does accepting neither of you is perfect. If you dont accept that, then you end up like one of these weird film stars, constantly flitting from relationship to relationship, in love with the idea of being in love.
Jennifer was right. It was silly to be envious of Gideon and Annie. Stupid to let little things annoy her. She loved Tom, and he loved her, and at least hed noticed something was wrong, which was more than could be said for a lot of men. OK, so his explanation might have been totally off the wall as far as accuracy was concerned, but at least hed noticed.
Which meant she was going to have to apologise, she realised as she showed Jennifer out. Not for what shed saidshe wasnt going to take a word of that backbut perhaps she could have phrased it better, picked a better time to raise the subject.
She glanced down at her watch and sighed. Time. It was the one thing she never seemed to have enough of, and she didnt have any spare now. Lunch would be yet another quick sandwich in the staffroom, and then it was on to the ward round.
A ward round that did little to improve her spirits or her temper. She didnt mind spending forty minutes with Mrs Alexanderheaven knew, the woman had just cause to be worried about her unborn baby after having suffered a deep-vein thrombosisbut she was in no mood for Mrs Fosters complaint that her hysterectomy stitches wouldnt have burst if they had been inserted properly.
Some days it just doesnt pay to get up, does it? Liz Baker, the sister in charge of the Obs and Gynae ward, observed sympathetically when Helen strode towards her, her cheeks red with barely concealed anger.
Tell me about it, Helen began. That Mrs Foster
Is a pain in the butt. Liz nodded. I know, and I hate to have to add to your problems but Haematologys just been on the phone. Apparently one of the blood samples you took this morning isnt quite right. Look, why dont you use the phone in the staffroom to call them back? Liz continued as Helen groaned. Get yourself a cup of coffee at the same time.
A cup of coffee sounded good. Something considerably stronger sounded even better, she decided when she left the ward and began walking towards the staffroom, only to see Tom coming towards her.
She came to an uncertain halt. He did, too.
Im sorry.
Theyd spoken in unison, and Tom shook his head. You have nothing to apologise for, but I obviously do. I hadnt realised I wasnt pulling my weight at home.
No, but you get called out a lot more at night than I do, she replied, more than willing to meet him halfway. And I dont have all your departmental meetings.
Yes, but I should have noticed you were doing it all. The trouble is Ive been so busy, and He shook his head. No, thats no excuse. Being busy is no excuse for not pulling my weight, and Im sorry.
Hey, were not heading for the divorce courts over this or anything, she said gently as he stared at her, his grey eyes troubled. All Im asking for is a little more help around the house and with the children.
Youve got it, he said. Whatever you want, youve got.
She chuckled. Thats dangerous talk, Tom. What if I ask you for the moon?
His grey eyes softened. If you want the moon Ill get you the moon. If you want He paused and his face creased into a broad smile of welcome. Mark, you old reprobate, youve finally got here.
Helen glanced over her shoulder, and blinked.
Wow.
Wow, wow and triple wow.
Tom hadnt been exaggerating when hed said his friend was handsome. In fact, Tom hadnt been nearly fulsome enough, she thought, automatically tucking in her tummy and standing up straighter, only to feel slightly silly afterwards because this was Toms friend and she didnt need or want to impress him.
But Mark Lorimer was impressive. Tall, and tanned, with thick black hair, and green eyes. Not a wishy-washy anaemic green, but green like sparkling emeralds, and fringed by quite indecently long black eyelashes.
Helen, this is Mark, Tom said unnecessarily after he and his friend had indulged in that mutual backslapping routine which heterosexual males always seemed to feel obliged to perform whenever they met a friend they hadnt seen for years. Mark, this is my wife, Helen.
Its nice to meet you, Mark, she said, holding out her hand. Toms talked such a lot about you.
Which wasnt exactly true. In fact, her husband hadnt mentioned him at all until Rachel Dunwoody had taken compassionate leave, but it hardly seemed polite to say so.
Youve come as a bit of a surprise to me, too. He grinned, clearly reading her mind. Tom never said he was married, but now that Ive met you his green eyes swept over her all I can say is I hope he knows what a very lucky man he is.
It was flattery, of course. Tom had always said she had the loveliest smile hed ever seen, and the biggest brown eyes, but she knew her limitations. She wasnt beautifulnot even particularly prettyand she laughed and shook her head.
I bet you say that to all the girls.
Actually, no, I dont.
He was still staring at her, still holding her hand, and to her acute embarrassment she realised she was blushing.
Oh, for heavens sake, pull yourself together, she told herself severely, quickly withdrawing her hand. Youre a thirty-two-year-old mother of two, and just because an absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous man is smiling at you shouldnt mean that you should start behaving like a dumbstruck teenager.
The fogs all gone from Heathrow Airport, then? she said. Oh, jeez, Helen. Hed hardly be standing here if it wasnt, would he? I meanI meantyou must be really tired after all your travelling.
Not at all, he replied. But, then, Ive always been able to sleep anywhere.
He certainly didnt look as though hed just spent goodness knows how many hours on a plane, and then been marooned in an airport. He looked pristine, and immaculate, and she just knew she must look as though shed been dragged through a hedge backwards, her hair coming loose from her scrunchy, her sweater the first thing that had come to hand that morning.
Not that it mattered, of course. She was a doctor, here to work, but
Im afraid youll have to excuse me, she said, beginning to back up the corridor. I have blood results to chase up
Hey, youre not abandoning me already, are you? he protested, and Tom smiled.
Of course shes not. In fact, Ill make sure Helen takes care of you, shows you the ropes.
It made sense. Tom was hardly likely to expect Annie to do the honours when she was only a junior doctor, but Helen couldnt help but wish her husband hadnt suggested it.
She wished it even more when she got to the end of the corridor and glanced back. Mark and Tom were deep in conversation, but Mark must have sensed her gaze on him because he suddenly looked up and smiled. A warm, wide smile that sent a disturbing shiver of awareness racing down her spine.
A disturbing shiver that she didnt want to feel.
CHAPTER TWO
GIDEON drummed his fingers absently on top of his desk, then frowned. How long has Mrs Alexander been with us now?
Tom glanced down at his notes. A week.
OK. As the venogram didnt show any sign of the clot moving, well keep her on the heparin until a week on Thursday, then induce her. I know its risky, he continued as Tom looked uncertain, but to perform a Caesarean on a woman whos had a deep-vein thrombosis He shook his head. Too much could go wrong.
Which brings us to Mrs Foster, Tom observed. Shes still complaining about her burst stitches.
Mrs Foster should think herself damn lucky shes not in Intensive Care, Gideon retorted. What the hell was she thinking of, straining to pass a motion after major surgery?
I know, but shes driving Helen crazy, saying her burst stitches were due to negligence, sloppy surgery
Ill have a word with her. The corners of the consultants lips quirked. Better yet, why dont I get Mark to have a word with her? Hes supposed to have quite a way with the ladies, isnt he?
Apart from with Helen, Tom thought with a slight frown. Obs and Gynae might have been inundated with nurses suddenly discovering an urgent need to visit the ward since Marks arrival a week ago, but Helen had remained strangely reticent whenever hed asked how she was getting on with him.
He is a good doctor, isnt he? Gideon continued, clearly misinterpreting the frown. I mean, Im not employing him simply to sweet-talk difficult patients
Hes one of the best, Tom reassured him. He might be the most terrible flirt, but what he doesnt know about Obs and Gynae could be written on a postage stamp.
Gideon looked relieved. In that case, I wish we could employ him permanently instead of for just six weeks. Oh, I know he wouldnt accept a longer contract with us even if we could offer it, he continued when Tom made to interrupt. Nobody in their right mind would swap a job in Canada for one at the Belfield, but
We need him. Tom nodded. Even if Rachel was back wed still need him. I take it Admin still wont agree to us advertising for another member of staff?
Admin says what it always says. Until the hospital gets more funding were to manage as best we can. Its the old story. Live long enough, old horse, and eventually you might get hay.
Tom laughed. Ive never thought of myself as an old horse, but now you come to mention it
Yup, beasts of burden, thats us. And speaking of being overworked. Gideon picked up one of the files on his desk, then put it down again. I dont want you to think Im being nosy, or interfering where Im not wanted, but Annie was saying
Annie was saying? Tom repeated blankly as the consultant came to an obviously embarrassed halt.
Well, you know what women are like, Tom, Gideon said in a rush, and shes probably got it all wrong, but she was saying to me the other day that she thought Helen looked a bit down, a bit depressed.
Annie had noticed? Annie, who had been at the Belfield for less than four months, had noticed? Tom bit his lip. Dammit, he should have been the first one to see there was a problem, and yet he hadnt. Maybe women were better attuned to picking up on that sort of thing than men, or maybe he was just insensitive. It wasnt a comforting thought.
Helens fine, he murmured. Just tired, like the rest of us.
Probably more so since hed been helping out at home, he thought ruefully, but how was he supposed to know that the little round symbol with the cross through it meant, Do not tumble-dry?
Hell, I should have been in Theatre ten minutes ago, Gideon exclaimed, quickly getting to his feet only to pause, his eyebrows raised. Unless theres something else you want to discuss with me?
For a moment Tom hesitated, then shook his head. The consultant might be his friend as well as his boss, but some things were private, and revealing that Helen had accused him of not pulling his weight definitely came under the heading of private.
He was running late, too. Rhona Scott was booked in for an outpatient hysterosalpingogram this morning, and though hed asked Helen to prepare her for him it wasnt fair to keep either of them waiting. Rhona was a natural born worrier, and as for Helenthe last thing he wanted was to give her another opportunity to accuse him of taking advantage of her.
No, that wasnt fair, he thought with a deep sigh as he strode down the corridor towards his consulting room. It had clearly taken a lot to make her say what she had, but why on earth hadnt she said something before? OK, so maybe hed never been much of a New Age man, but neither was he a mind-reader.
Problems? Helen said, seeing his frown when he opened the door of his consulting room to find Rhona Scott already prepared and waiting.
No more than usual, he replied irritably, only to groan when he saw Helen stiffen. Why the hell had he said that? He hadnt meant to sound so snippy, but there was nothing he could do about itnot with Mrs Scott staring curiously at him. All set for your hysterosalpingogram, Rhona? he said instead.
To be honest, no, she said. Call me chicken, but the thought of you putting some dye up into me She shuddered. Are you absolutely sure I cant have an anaesthetic?
He shook his head. Im afraid the only way we can get really good X-ray pictures of the insides of your Fallopian tubes, and find out why youre having such difficulty getting pregnant, is to carry out the procedure while youre wide awake. It wont hurt, he added, seeing her flinch when he picked up the small tube. You may feel a momentary discomfort when I insert the dye into your uterus, but I promise thats all youre going to feel.
Rhona didnt look convinced and out of the corner of his eye he saw Helen reach out and catch hold of her hand.
Shed always been much better at dealing with patientspeoplethan he was. Maybe it was another female thing, but hed always found it a lot harder to get the right blend of sympathy and understanding, and he could still get it wrong.
Very badly wrong, he thought, remembering how angry Helen had been when hed suggested she might be going through an early menopause. Well, OK, so his diagnosis might not have been the right one but, dammit, hed been worried about her. He still was.
It was all very well for her to keep on saying she was simply tired, and if she had more help at home everything would be fine, but he couldnt rid himself of the nagging feeling that there was more to it than that. Something he was missing, but what the something might be was beyond him.
Dr Brooke?
Helens eyes were on him, clearly wondering why he hadnt started the procedure, and he flushed slightly.
Just checking the dosage, he lied, but she didnt buy it. He hadnt really expected her to. After ten years of marriage, she could read him like a book. Hed once thought he could do the same with her, but recently Ready, Rhona? he said, forcing his mind back to the present with difficulty.
She nodded nervously, and as carefully and gently as he could he began inserting the tube into her cervix through her vagina.
Itll all be over in a second. Helen smiled reassuringly down at the woman. Once the dye is in your uterus it will show up white on a special screen we have, and after weve taken a few X-rays you can go home.
Will I get the results today?
Im afraid not, Tom replied. We have to process and examine them first, you see. Not to mention being so damn swamped with patients that we just dont have the time, he added mentally. But Ill get our secretary to make an appointment for you to come in and see me on Friday, if thats OK?
Rhona nodded.
Not much more to go now, Helen declared. Just keep on relaxing. Good, RhonaWell doneThats it.
The dyes in? the woman exclaimed. But I didnt feel anything.
Id have hung up my stethoscope if you had. Tom smiled. OK, all I want you to do now is to lie as still as you can while our technician takes the pictures.
I should have got my hair done for the occasion, shouldnt I? Rhona said with a shaky laugh, and he chuckled and patted her shoulder.
You look fine.
Her X-rays, unfortunately, didnt.
No wonder she hasnt been able to conceive, Helen observed. That swelling where her right Fallopian tube joins her uterusit means the tube is completely blocked, doesnt it?
It looks like it, Tom replied. If the blockage hasnt extended right through the uterine wall I could certainly perform a cornual anastomosiscutting out the blocked section of the Fallopian tube and rejoining itbut
Our theatre schedules so full its anybodys guess as to when Rhona could have the operation, she finished for him.
Tom nodded, then frowned. Im going to pull strings on this one. Its crazy for her to have to wait when weve got somebody of Marks calibre on the team.
Mark has experience of tubal surgery? she exclaimed. I didnt know that.
Oh, theres lots of things you dont know about me. A deep male voice chuckled, and Tom saw his wife jump as though somebody had lit a firecracker behind her.
Havent you ever heard of knocking? she said. Creeping up on people like that. Is there something wrong on the ward?
Apart from the fact that youre not there? Mark grinned. Not a thing.
Tom wryly shook his head as he saw a deep flush of colour cross his wifes cheeks. Same old Mark. Still couldnt resist turning on the charm, flirting with every woman he met. Helen didnt appear to appreciate it, though. In fact, she looked angry, tense, and deftly he steered Mark towards the X-rays.
OK, earn your salary. Take a look at this.
Mark stared at the screen. Somebodys uterus, right?
No, somebodys left foot, Tom responded. Cut the jokes, Marktell me what you think.
That right Fallopian tubeit could simply be scarred, but He shook his head. Blocked, Id say, but the claritys not very good. What did you take the pictures withan old box Brownie camera?
Mark.
He grinned. OKOK. Probably blocked, perhaps due to an infection caused by a coil. How old is your patient?
Thirty-six. Married for eight years, and been trying for a baby for the last six.
And shes only just having an exploratory hysterosalpingogram now? Mark gasped. Jeez, what the hell have you guys been doing for the past five years?
Working our way through a very long waiting list, Helen snapped before Tom could say anything. The Belfield doesnt have a separate infertility clinic, so we treat people as and when we can. Rhona only got onto our list last year
But
Look, we do the best we can, OK? Helen said impatiently, and Mark sighed.
Well, all I can say is things are very different in Australia.
Helen muttered something which sounded suspiciously like, So how come you didnt stay there? and Tom shot her a puzzled glance.
He was the one who usually got angry and frustrated, dealing with the limitations of the service they could offer, but Helen hadnt sounded simply angry, shed sounded positively antagonistic.
Awkwardly he cleared his throat. I dont know what happens in Australia, but under the NHS theres a nine-month to a year waiting list for non-urgent surgery, and a cornual anastomosis is considered non-urgent. I know, he said as Marks eyebrows shot up, but thats how it is.
Then why the hell do you put up with it? Mark demanded. Dammit, Tom, youre a first-rate surgeon. If you went to Oz, or to the States, you could be head of your own department, and not have to put up with this sort of crap.
Perhaps, Tom said, but Helen and I like the Belfield. Its where we met, and weve a fondness for the old place.
Which doesnt mean were always going to stay here, Helen said swiftly. I mean, whos to say whats round the corner for any of uswhat changes we might make?
Mark glanced from her to Tom thoughtfully. So its only old Tom whos reluctant to move, is it? You always did play it too safe, mate.
Whether I do or whether I dont is immaterial, Tom replied, wondering what on earth had made Helen say what she had, and not liking the reference to himself as old either. Mrs Scott is certainly not going to have to wait nine months when weve got someone with your experience on the team. Ill have a word with Gideon, insist we get her in while youre here to help me.
In that case, Id better take a closer look at these X-rays, Mark said. If were going to be operating on this lady, I want as much information as I can get.
Tom nodded but he couldnt help but notice that when Mark moved closer to the screen, Helen instantly stepped back.
If you dont need me any longer I have a mass of paperwork to catch up on, she said. Not to mention my antenatal clinic in an hour.
She was already heading for the door, and Tom quickly followed her. Thanks for holding the fort for me, love. I really appreciate it.
She smiled up at him, but she didnt even so much as glance in Marks direction as she left, and Marks eyebrows rose.
Whoa, but did it suddenly get distinctly chilly in here, or what?
Im not surprised, Tom observed tightly. Criticising our department and its equipment wasnt exactly the smartest thing in the world to do.
Just telling it like it is, Mark replied. Its not my fault if Helen is hypersensitive to criticism. In fact He came to a halt as he encountered a look in Toms eyes. A look hed never seen before. A look that held neither warmth nor amusement, and he held up his hands defensively. Hey, no offence meant, mate. Look, Ill apologise to her, OK?
Do that, Tom declared, his grey eyes hard, cold. I dont like my wife upset, and I wont have her upset. Not by you, not by anyone.
Mark stared at him for a second. Tom the protector. Tom the defender. Youve changed since our med days, havent you?
If you mean Ive grown uprealised what and who is important in my lifethen, yes, Ive changed, Tom replied. Helen is more important to me than my job, this hospital and our friendship, and youd be well advised never to forget that.
Mark grinned. Whoops, but Ive suddenly got that chilly feeling again. Look, Ive said Ill apologise, he continued as Toms eyebrows snapped together. Ill even grovel if I have to. Satisfied now?
Tom nodded. Mark, listen
Helen doesnt seem to like me very much, does she?
Helen didnt appear to, but there was no way Tom was going to agree. Helen likes everyone, he said evasively.
OK, lets just say Im not feeling the love, Mark observed, and Tom couldnt help but laugh.
The trouble with you, my friend, is that far too many women have been bowled over by your charm over the years, and its a blow to your ego when one isnt.
You reckon?
I reckon, Tom confirmed. In fact, I think its high time you settled down.
And deny all the lovely women out there the pleasure of my company? No way.
Maybe that kind of attitude is OK when youre in your twenties, Tom said, horribly aware that he suddenly felt very old, but youre thirty-four
So I should be looking for a woman to settle down with, Mark completed for him in a mock-sonorous tone. Perhaps I would if all the best ones werent already taken. One corner of his mouth turned up. Women like your Helen. Now, if Id met her before I went to Oz
You wouldnt have stood a chance. Tom laughed. It was love at first sight for Helen and me.
It had been, and the love was still there, he thought as he began labelling the X-rays and putting them into Rhona Scotts file. Even now she could still make his pulses race simply by smiling at him. Even now he felt a tightness round his heart when he saw her coming out of the shower, her hair all tousled, her skin pink and glowing.
He glanced thoughtfully across at Mark. When theyd been students hed always envied Mark his good looks and easy charm, but he didnt envy him now. Flitting from woman to woman, moving on when he got bored or if some other female caught his eye. It was an empty sort of a life, rootless and ultimately unsatisfying.
No, he didnt envy Mark. He had a wife who loved him, two wonderful children, whereas MarkMark had absolutely nothing that he wanted any more.
Hes gorgeous, isnt he? Liz Baker said dreamily as she switched on the staffroom kettle. His thick black hair, his tan, those eyes
Looks arent everything, Helen interrupted tersely. In fact, give me an honest, ordinary-looking man any day of the week.
Hear! hear! Annie agreed.
Mark Lorimer, Liz continued, as though neither of them had spoken. Even his name sounds romantic, dont you think? Like something out of a story book.
Grimms Fairy Tales, perhaps? Helen suggested, and Liz looked momentarily startled, then laughed.
Oh, come on, Helen, youre not telling me you dont think hes seriously attractive?
He was, but that didnt give him the right to waltz into the Belfield and criticise the way they worked, Helen thought, unwrapping her sandwiches with more vigour than was strictly necessary. Neither did it give him the right to imply that she and Tom were a pair of old stick-in-the-muds with no ambition because theyd never worked anywhere else. They had children, for heavens sakeobligations. Something that Mark Lorimer clearly knew nothing about.
Madge in Paediatrics thinks hes handsome, Liz continued. So does Phyllis in Radiography
Madge and Phyllis should stop behaving like a pair of silly moon-struck schoolgirls, Helen retorted, then bit her lip when Lizs mouth fell open.
Oh, Lord, but that had been an incredibly bitchy thing to say. Even Annie clearly thought it was, judging by the way she was staring at her, but she was sick to death of everybody giggling over Mark Lorimer like he was a film star or something.
Yes, he was quite unbelievably good-looking. Yes, he had a voice that could melt butter, and eyes that seemed to gaze down deep inside you, but anyone with half a brain should also have been able to see that he was also an unprincipled flirt. Good grief, put him in front of any female between the ages of eight and eightyherself includedand he instantly switched on the charm.
Well, she wasnt some na?ve schoolgirl who could be impressed by a few slick words, a few finely tuned compliments, she thought with irritation as the staffroom door opened, and Mark came in, deep in conversation with Tom and Gideon. She was more interested in whether he was any good as a doctor.
Good news, Helen, Tom declared, coming over to sit beside her. Gideons agreed to slot Rhona Scott in for surgery as quickly as possible, and weve got two possible dates. One for Monday the week after next, and the other for the end of May.
Rhona would come in this afternoon if you asked her, Helen murmured, taking a bite out of her sandwich and trying very hard to ignore the fact that Mark was flirting quite outrageously with Liz.
You dont think she might feel both dates are too soon? Tom said. Were talking major surgery here, and shell be in hospital for at least a week. As shes a school-teacher she might prefer to wait until the long summer holidays.
Trust me, she wont.
Female intuition? her husband said curiously.
Female heart. She smiled.
OK, thats good enough for me. Ill suggest the Monday when she comes in for the results of her hysterosalpingogram, and see what she says.
Helen nodded. Annie was getting ready to go off duty, and she saw Gideon bend his head to catch something his wife had said, then laugh and press her hand briefly to his lips.
She and Tom used to do that, Helen thought wistfully. Steal kisses, hold hands simply for the pleasure of touching one another. In fact, theyd joked that there wasnt a sluice room in the hospital they hadnt used at one time or another for a secret rendezvous.
And Im doing it again, she thought angrily as the couple left the staffroom. Envying them, and its so stupid. The love I feel for Tom is bound to have changed over the years, become less intense, more familiar, more comfortable.
Like a pair of old slippers, her mind whispered, and she shook her head. No, not like an old pair of slippers. She loved Tom, and he loved her. Their love was justdifferent now.
Ill see you later, then.
Youre going? she exclaimed, seeing her husband get to his feet. But you havent had any lunch.
No time. Admin wants a word with Gideon about Marks work permit so Im stuck babysitting his students. He half started towards the door, then turned. Which reminds me. Gideon was a bit worried about his afternoon ward round, so I said youd help Mark to do it.
Oh, brilliant, Tom, she thought vexedly as he strode away. Like you couldnt perhaps have checked with me firstasked if it was OK? Im still only halfway through my paperwork because I was helping you this morning, and now youve gone and lost me this afternoon as well.
He really shouldnt have done that, Mark murmured, slipping into the seat Tom had vacated. Just assumed youd help me.
She couldnt agree more, but there was no way she was going to say so.
Hes the specialist registrar, Im an SHOits his job to allocate work, she said defensively, wishing that Liz would come over and join them, but she was busy on the phone.
But shouldnt he have checked you with first, rather than simply say youd do it?
Like I said, its his job, she repeated, and his mouth turned up at the corners.
And as hes also your husband youre damned if youre going to bad-mouth him to a semi-stranger.
It was so exactly what shed been thinking that Helen couldnt prevent an involuntary chuckle springing to her lips, and his smile widened.
Thats better. I was beginning to think I was going to be put in the dog-house for the duration after what I said about Rhona Scotts treatment this morning.
She stared down at the remains of her sandwich, then sighed. I know things are far from perfect at the Belfield, but
You dont wantor needsome big-mouth newcomer like me telling you so, he finished for her.
She couldnt deny it. Not when his eyes were brimming with laughter, and warmth, and something else which was making her heart race, her breathing jerky and erratic.
Hes flirting with you, she told herself, trying to look away, only to find that she couldnt. He does it with everyone, and youre a big girl, you can handle it.
But she couldnt and that, she realised, was the trouble. She could tell herselfand anybody else who cared to listenthat Mark Lorimer was nothing but a womaniser, and she was more interested in his qualifications than in him, but it wasnt true. The plain, galling truth was that she was as impressed and stunned by him as every other woman in the Belfield.
Dammit, shed actually caught herself choosing clothes to wear to work now instead of just grabbing whatever was nearest, and yesterday shed found herself looking at lipsticks and eye shadows in the chemist. And it was crazy.
She was married. She was happily married, and even if Mark Lorimer was the handsomest, sexiest man in the world, her knees shouldnt be turning to water and her brain to mush whenever he smiled at her. And they were.
Helen?
Oh, Lord, could he possibly know what she was thinking? There was certainly a decidedly wicked-looking gleam in his eyes, and she stood up fast. IIm afraid youll have to excuse me. I wantI need to have a word with Liz.
He didnt believe her. She could tell by the way he smiled that he didnt, but she didnt care. All she wanted was to be as far away from him, and her own unsettling thoughts and feelings, as she could possibly get.
The agency cant supply me with any emergency nursing cover for this afternoon, Liz declared, slamming down the staffroom phone. Apparently I havent given them enough notice. Not enough notice, she repeated furiously. Like how exactly am I supposed to know when people are going to be sick?
And how could I have predicted Id start behaving like a loopy schoolgirl because a handsome man keeps smiling at me? Helen thought unhappily.
Is there anything I can do to help? she asked as Liz made for the door.
The sister shook her head. All I can do is phone around, and see if I can sweet-talk somebody into coming in on their day off.
Helen wished she had the day off, too, when Liz had gone and she turned to find Mark staring at her thoughtfully.
Wed better get going, she began. Were doing Gideons ward round, remember, and
You dont like me very much, do you? he observed.
Whatever else she might have been expecting him to say, it hadnt been that, and she flushed.
I dont know you well enough to dislike you, she said, striving to sound light, dismissive, which wasnt easy with a pair of intense green eyes fixed on her.
Thats what I figured. He nodded. In fact, it might surprise you to know that Im generally considered to be quite likable.
It didnt surprise her in the least. Men who were as charming and handsome as Mark Lorimer were generally well liked. In fact, if she was honestand she had absolutely no intention of being honestshe would have admitted that she could all too easily get to like him herself. A lot.
I really do think we should start making tracks, she said uncomfortably. The wards pretty full so it will take us quite a while.
Tom tells me you have eight-year-old twinsEmma and John? he said, clasping his hands behind his head and leaning back in his seat. They must be quite a handful.
They have their moments, she replied, wondering what else Tom might have told him, and just where this conversation was going.
It must be very difficult for youholding down a full-time job, running a home, looking after your kids.
Tom does his share, she said swiftly. Well, hed been trying to recently, she told herself, though at the moment his efforts were proving more of a hindrance than a help. Its not a solo effort.
I cant imagine Tom as a New Age man.
He hadnt make it sound like a compliment. In fact, hed somehow managed to make Tom sound both boring and dull, and before she could stop herself she said, I dont know about New Age, but hes certainly a lot more adult than men who flit from girlfriend to girlfriend, with no roots or purpose in life.
Mark grinned. Ive no doubt he is. But I bet hes not nearly so exciting.
There was no answer to thatat least none she could immediately think ofand she strode to the staffroom door and opened it. Our ward round, Dr Lorimer?
Didnt think he was, he said, his green eyes dancing.
And youre too smart by half, Helen thought as she followed him down the corridor. Too smart, too charming, too everything.
Well, maybe he wouldnt be quite so smart and charming after a couple of hours on the ward, she thought waspishly. Maybe a couple of hours of examinations, blood pressures and sheer exhausting hard work, would dent his charm and overweening confidence.
It didnt. Not even when Mrs Foster launched into her usual round of complaints the minute he appeared at her bedside.
A week is how long I was told Id be in here, she declared, her beady eyes sweeping over him with no appearance of being in the least impressed. One week, and now no one can tell me when Im going home. If my stitches had been inserted properly
The trouble is, you tried to go to the toilet too soon after your hysterectomy, Mark interrupted, his face a picture of warm solicitude. I can understand why you wanted toan active, independent person like yourself
Well, Ive never been lazy, she said, her eyes softening slightly, but
And I appreciate that youre anxious to go home, what with having little ones to take care of
My youngest is twenty-five.
Good grief, you must have been married very young, he exclaimed. I wouldnt have put you a day over forty.
Mrs Foster pinkened, and simpered. Well, Ive always tried to take care of myself, but
And thats what we want to do for you now, he continued with a dazzling smile. Take care of you. I want to take care of you, and surely youre not going to deny me that opportunity, or the pleasure of your company?
Helen heard Liz choke behind her, and she only just managed to maintain her own composure by staring determinedly at the wall over Mrs Fosters bed, but when Mark had moved on down the ward she couldnt restrain her laughter.
That was the most outrageous example of flattery Ive ever heard, she gasped.
It worked, though, didnt it? he protested. And youre not telling me that dreadful woman hasnt been a thorn in your side for the past week.
No, but
And it got you to smile at me, instead of shooting daggers, so it was worth it.
Marks eyes were deep, and warm, and she shook her head. Youre completely incorrigible.
But likable? he suggested, and she shook her head again, and laughed.
He was likable. Dangerously likable. In fact, in the space of a week he had somehow managed to make her feel more feminine, more attractive and more desirable than she had done in years, and it had to stop.
She had to start distancing herself from this man. For her own peace of mind and safety she needed to distance herself from him, or
Dont go that way, her mind warned. Youre married, and hes Toms friend, so dont let your mind go down that road even for a second.
Helen?
A smile was playing about his lips, and again she had that uncanny feeling again that he was reading her mind.
Abruptly she turned on her heel. Weve two more patients left to see. Which do you want firstMrs Alexander or Mrs White?
CHAPTER THREE
ANYTHING happening yet? Helen murmured, hovering at the delivery room door while Liz checked Mary Alexanders blood pressure, then the foetal monitor.
Nothing, Tom muttered back. Im afraid it looks like were going to have to go for the Caesarean after all.
Helen nodded. Tom had ruptured Mary Alexanders membrane earlier in the morning to release some of the amniotic fluid around the baby. In theory that should have induced her contractions, but when nothing had happened hed ordered an IV line of oxytocin, and yet still there was no sign of her going into labour.
BP up, foetal heartbeat becoming a little unsteady, Liz said in an undertone.
Shouldnt something be happening by now, Doctor? Mary asked, gazing uncertainly up at Tom. I know Im no expert, but
Occasionally we get a baby whos reluctant to leave the nice warm shelter of his mummys tummy. He smiled, his face a picture of calm, controlled confidence. Its nothing to worry about.
But its taking too long, Helen thought, seeing the concern behind her husbands bright fa?ade. With so much of the amniotic fluid gone the baby was going to be in big trouble soon if they didnt do something.
Tom met her eyes and he nodded. It was time to alert the theatre staff.
Do you want me to page Gideon, tell him whats happening? she asked after shed phoned the theatre and Tom had explained the situation to Mary and her husband.
Please. A Caesareans the one thing he was hoping to avoid after her deep-vein thrombosis, but He sighed wryly as one of their porters wheeled a very frightened-looking Mary and her husband out of the delivery room. Want to wish me luck?
You wont need it, she declared, and he smiled.
Female intuition?
Professional opinion, she replied, and he shook his head and laughed as he hurried after Mary, but she meant it. He might not have Marks flamboyance when it came to operating, but he was goodvery good.
And Annie looked decidedly harassed when Helen met her coming out of the ward.
Tell me that you speak Greek, the junior doctor exclaimed. Pleasepleasetell me you speak Greek.
Why in the world would?
Its Mrs Dukakis. She came into A and E this morning complaining of severe stomach pains. They decided she was simply suffering from a bad case of indigestion, but when they tried to discharge her she became hysterical so they sent her up to us.
But
Shes six months pregnant, and Annie shook her head. Look, come and see for yourself. Or, to be more strictly accurate, come and listen.
Helen did.
Cripes, she murmured when Mrs Dukakis finally subsided into silence after a long and virtually incomprehensible account of what she thought was wrong with her.
Exactly. Annie nodded. Now you see why I was hoping you might speak Greek.
I dont, and Im afraid I cant think of anybody on the staff who does, Helen replied, seeing Mrs Dukakis gaze uncomprehendingly from her to Annie.
I believe Mark does, Liz announced, overhearing them as she passed by with the drugs trolley.
Mark would, Helen thought sourly. Mark probably spoke ten languages, had an IQ of two million and did rocket science in his spare time.
No, that wasnt fair, she told herself, but after spending the better part of the last ten days trying to avoid him, the last thing she wanted was to actively go looking for him.
Helen?
Annie was staring at her curiously, and she forced a smile to her lips. Wed better get Mark.
Mrs Dukakis clearly agreed. In fact, her face lit up like a beacon when he spoke to her in her own language, but something was obviously very badly wrong judging by the number of times she burst into tears when he questioned, then examined her.
What is itwhats wrong? Helen asked as Mark took her by the elbow and steered her to the bottom of the ward, leaving Annie to comfort the woman.
At the moment nothing more drastic than a very bad case of indigestion, but He shook his head. What do you know about thalassaemia major?
That its a serious, inherited childhood anaemia, most commonly found in people of Mediterranean or Asian descent. Helen glanced over her shoulder at the sobbing woman. Is that why Mrs Dukakis is so upsetis she a thalassaemia carrier?
Mrs Dukakis hadnt even heard of the condition until I asked her whether she had any other children, Mark said grimly. She thought she was having a miscarriage.
But
Helen, she only came to Glasgow four months ago. Before that she and her husband lived in a poor, very isolated part of Greece with limited medical facilities. All she knows is shes given birth to two other children, and neither of them reached their second birthday. The wasting disease, the people in her village called it.
What must it be like to lose two children? Helen wondered, staring at Nana Dukakis. To feel them grow inside you, feel them move, then give birth to them, only for them to die so quickly. It didnt bear thinking of.
Its too late to take a sample from the babys umbilical cord to find out if it has thalassaemia major, isnt it? she murmured. If shed known she was a carrier when she first arrived in Glasgow we could have done the test, then offered her a termination, but at six months pregnant
Its too late, but theres still a lot we can do, Mark declared, his green eyes encouraging. First we need to test her and her husband to find out if theyre both carriers. If her husbands not, this baby might be all right, and even if it isnt we can start giving it monthly blood transfusions as soon as its born, and regular injections of Desferal to ensure its liver and kidneys arent damaged.
Regular blood transfusions and injections of Desferal. It sounded a wretched life for a little baby, and Mark must have read her thoughts because he smiled. A small, rueful smile.
Its better than the alternative, Helen, and new treatments are being tried out all the time. Were getting excellent results from bone-marrow transplants, and theres also a lot of work being done with gene therapy.
He was right, she knew he was, and it was stupid of her to be thinking so negatively. What have you told her?
The truth. There was no point in skirting round the subject, so I told her I thought her other children had died because they had thalassaemia major, but if we started treating her baby as soon as it was born there was a very good chance it could live to be as old as you or I.
Helen nodded, then sighed as more immediate concerns suddenly occurred to her. You know we cant possibly keep her innot for indigestion.
Im going to sweet-talk Admissions, ask if she can at least stay for the night. It will give her time to calm down, and me the chance to run some tests.
Its going to take some real sweet-talking, Helen commented. Were wall-to-wall patients at the moment.
He grinned. You dont think Im up to it?
Oh, he was up to it all right, she thought. In fact, if he treated the women who worked in Admissions to one of his blinding smiles theyd probably agree to Mrs Dukakis staying in one of their private rooms for the duration of her pregnancy.
Actually, you might not have to talk to Admissions, Annie said, overhearing the last of their conversation as she joined them. Mrs Foster went home this morning
Hallelujah!
And Rhona Scotts not due in for her cornual anastomosis until Monday
So unless an emergency comes in weve got a vacant bed for the next few days. Marks eyes lit up. Liz could OK it for me, couldnt she?
Yes, but
Oh, Liz, light of my life, joy of my heart, he exclaimed, heading off towards the sister before either of them could stop him. Could I have a word?
Annie shook her head as she watched him go. Hes quite something, isnt he? Handsome, charming and about as reliable as a fifty-pence watch.
You reckon? Helen murmured, seeing Liz frown, then nod, then dissolve into helpless laughter when Mark kissed her soundly on the cheek.
Dont you?
There was a very decided edge to the junior doctors voice, and Helen glanced back at her thoughtfully. Shed never askedhad never thought it was her business to askwhy Annie hadnt married her sons father, but now she thought she knew.
Annie
.
.
, (https://www.litres.ru/maggie-kingsley/the-surgeon-s-marriage/) .
Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, , , , PayPal, WebMoney, ., QIWI , .
Maggie Kingsley
Now, he thought
Nows the time, nows the moment, but what could he say? How could he convince her that he loved her, when he was never going to be able to make the kind of flattering speeches that tripped so easily off Marks tongue?
Show her, his heart suggested. Show her you care, that the love is still there.
Helen He cleared his throat and started again. Will you come to bed with me?
Was it his imagination or had her grip on the magazine tightened?
Helen, please. Heavens, he was begging. Helen, its been so long since we made love, andand I need you. Slowly she lowered the magazine, and to his utter horror he could see tears sparkling in her eyes. Oh, hell, could he never get it right? Helen, Im sorry. Oh, love, dontplease dont cry.
Desperately he reached for her, and she met him halfway, clinging to him with almost frantic need.
Kiss me, Tom, she muttered into his chest. Dont talkdont say anything. Justkiss me.
Dear Reader,
When I finished the first book in the Baby Doctors trilogy, I started thinking about Tom and Helen. They seemed to have the perfect marriage in Doctor and Son, but what if Helen doesnt think they have? What if she feels Tom is taking her for granted as so many husbands can unthinkingly do, and that after ten years of marriage the zing isnt there anymore? And to really make her life complicated, what if I arranged for a gorgeous specialist registrar to arrive at the Belfield Infirmary who makes it pretty obvious that he thinks Helen is wonderful?
Would she have an affair? Would she leave her husband? She has to make a choice, but does she make the right one?
If youre as hooked on the Belfield Infirmary as I am, look out for the last book in the Baby Doctors trilogy.
Regards,
Maggie Kingsley
The Surgeons Marriage
Maggie Kingsley
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE (#u5c272e9f-6cbf-583a-8f3a-bf4cb7d6755f)
CHAPTER TWO (#u42971e6b-a258-594f-bfcb-f46940da8551)
CHAPTER THREE (#u640389d1-28e8-5294-93d3-dfc5ba26c68e)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE
HELEN stared at the damp towel hanging over the banister. It was strange how something so ordinary, so innocuous, could set your teeth on edge. Especially when it was nothing new. In fact, every morning for the past ten years Tom had come out of the shower and thrown his towel over that self-same banister.
Then why dont you simply tell him to stop doing it? her mind asked as she lifted the towel and carried it down the stairs to the kitchen. Tell him its driving you crazy.
Because if I do, she told the potted plant on the window-sill, Tom will say, If it bothers you that much, why didnt you mention it before?
And shed be forced to admit that it hadnt bothered her before, but now it did, and Tom would either frown uncomprehendingly or smile in that horribly knowing fashion which meant, Oops, it must be Helens time of the month again so Id better tread carefully.
Tears filled her eyes, and she angrily blinked them away. It wasnt her time of the month. She wished it was. At least then shed have some excuse for the odd feelings of dissatisfaction and irritation which had been plaguing her recently. And she had nothing to be dissatisfied about. She had a good marriage, two healthy, beautiful children, a job she loved
Mum, I cant find my white T-shirt, and I need it for gymnastics.
She glanced round to see her daughter standing in the kitchen doorway. If you need it for gymnastics you should have told me yesterday.
But I always have gymnastics on Mondaysyou know I do. Tuesdays art, Wednesdays
Your green ones washed and ironed.
But everyone else will be wearing white. Ill be the odd one out
Mum, have you seen my trainers?
Im talking to Mum, Emma protested.
Big deal, her brother exclaimed. Mum, my trainers
Theyre in your wardrobe, John. Which is where you should have put them when you got home from school on Friday, instead of just dumping them down in the hall, Helen called after her son as he dashed away.
Mum, about my white T-shirt. Couldnt you?
Helen, its half past eight. Are you ready to go?
Does it look like I am? she protested, seeing her husbands head come round the kitchen door. Emma, Im sorry, but youre going to have to wear your green T-shirt, and thats final.
Emma wandered unhappily away, and Toms eyebrows rose. Problems?
Just the usual Monday morning mayhem, Helen said irritably, taking a scrunchy out of her pocket and twisting her shoulder-length blonde hair back into a ponytail. Honestly, there are times when I wonder why we ever had children.
Because of one split condom nine years ago? Tom grinned, and a reluctant smile curved her own lips.
That faulty condom had a lot to answer for. For a start it had put paid to their plans when theyd got married not to have children until they were both Obs and Gynae specialist registrars. Tom had made the grade, but it had never been an option for her, not after the twins had been born.
Shed never regretted it. OK, so perhaps occasionally she thought it would have been nice if both she and Tom could have fulfilled their dreams, but the children were a joy and a delight when they werent driving her mad, and being an Obs and Gynae SHO was responsibility enough when you had a pair of lively eight-year-olds to look after.
Thats the school bus, Tom declared as a horn sounded outside. He glanced down at his watch and frowned. Helen, I hate to hurry you, but we really do have to go. Ill start the car, shall I?
The smile on her lips died. He couldnt perhaps have offered to wash the breakfast dishes first, or tidy up the sitting room? No, of course he couldnt. The dishes would still be waiting for her when she got home tonight, and the sitting room would still look as though a bomb had hit it.
Oh, stop it, Helen, she told herself as she shepherded Emma and John out to the school bus, trying hard to ignore Emmas reproachful expression which said all too clearly, Everyone elses mum would have remembered my T-shirt. Toms a good husband, a loving husband, and you know he would have washed the dishes in a minute if youd asked him. Yes, but I shouldnt need to ask him, she argued back. He should have known.
Everything OK, love? Tom asked, shooting her a puzzled frown as she got into the car beside him, then fastened her seat belt.
Fine, she managed to reply, but everything wasnt fine. Not by a long shot.
Tom would probably have said she was simply suffering from a bad case of overwork, and maybe she was. This last month at the Belfield Infirmary had certainly been a nightmare, what with Rachel Dunwoody suddenly taking compassionate leave because of the death of her aunt, then Annie Hart and Gideon Caldwell getting married.
Not that she begrudged the junior doctor and ward consultant their happinessin fact, shed been delighted when theyd finally got togetherand poor Rachel had obviously been shattered by her aunts death so it wasnt surprising shed asked for time off, but all the upheaval had meant so much extra work for her and Tom, and she was feeling it.
This friend of yours whos standing in for Rachel, she said as Tom negotiated the busy rush-hour traffic. You said hes been working in Australia for the last ten years?
Tom nodded. Mark headed out to Sydney right after he qualified. He worked there for a couple of years, then moved to a senior house officers post in Canberra, and hes been working as a specialist registrar for the last eighteen months in Melbourne.
And hes going to Canada in six weeks, she said, trying and failing to keep the envy out of her voice. Shed wanted to work abroad, too, when shed been younger, but then the children had arrived, and the years had flown by, and here she was still living and working in Glasgow. I hope he isnt going to find us too boring after all his travelling.
Why should he think were boring? Tom said in surprise. I dont think were boring and, knowing Mark, hes probably only going to Canada because some irate boyfriend is after him.
Some irate boyfriend? she repeated, bewildered, and her husband grinned.
Back in med school there wasnt a girl who wasnt potty about him. In fact, he actually had the nerve to poach a couple of my girlfriends, but He shook his head ruefully. The crazy thing is we still stayed friends. Maybe its because he could always make me see the funny side of things.
Charming as well as handsome, she observed. Sounds like a pretty potent combination.
It is. Mind you, Im talking about the Mark Lorimer I knew a long time ago. Ten years of Australian sun, sea and food could have made him fat, bald and charmless.
Is that true concern I hear, Tom Brooke, or a bad case of wishful thinking? she teased, and her husbands lips quirked.
What do you think?
That he had no need to envy his friend, she decided. Tom was a good-looking manbetter-looking now, in fact, than hed been when theyd first met. At twenty-four hed been a lanky six-footer, with a shock of brown hair, and a pair of smiling grey eyes. Ten years on, the hair and eyes were still the same, but hed filled out, grown more muscular, and it suited him.
Ive filled out a bit in the last ten years, too, she thought wryly, but I doubt if anyone would say it suited me.
She was snacking too much, that was the trouble, but she never seemed to have time for a proper meal. If she wasnt racing round Obs and Gynae, she was chasing after John and Emma, making sure theyd done their homework properly and had clean clothes to wear for the next day.
Apart from white T-shirts, she thought guiltily, suddenly remembering Emmas disgruntled face. Shed wash and iron it tonight, after shed done the weekly shop at the supermarket.
Helen, are you quite sure youre OK?
She looked up blankly to see theyd arrived at the Belfield Infirmary and Tom was gazing at her with concern.
Of course I am, she replied, bewildered. Why shouldnt I be?
Because To her surprise he suddenly reached out and gently cupped her cheek in his hand. Ive been speaking to you for the last five minutes, and I swear you havent heard a word.
To her acute dismay the tears shed felt earlier began to resurface, and she gulped them down quickly.
Im finehonestly I am, she replied with a shaky smile. Justjust a little tired.
He swore under his breath. Its all the extra hours youve been working recently, not to mention having to look after John and Emma and me. Look, why dont I do the weekly shop tonightgive you a break?
For a second she was tempted, then a bubble of laughter came from her. Tom, if you do the shopping I know exactly what will happen. Youll come back from the supermarket with enough food to feed an army, plus a whole load of stuff that nobody likes because you noticed it was on special offer.
His lips curved. What if I promise to stick to your list?
Ill do the shopping. Im OKreally I am, she insisted, seeing his frown reappear. Now that Mark Lorimers starting work today, everything will be fine.
And it would be, she told herself as she got out of the car and followed Tom into the hospital. With the department fully staffed again she wouldnt be so tired all the time, and stupid, niggling little things wouldnt keep irritating her. She knew they wouldnt.
OK, cheer me up on a cold April day, she instructed Annie when she found the junior doctor in the staffroom, getting ready to go off duty. Tell me the ward was quiet last night, that not one single emergency came in, then give me permission to go home.
You dont want cheering up, Annie protested. You want a miracle.
I know, but it was worth a try. Helen laughed. OK, whats the current situation?
Mrs Foster burst some of her stitches last night. Apparently she was straining to pass a motionYes, I know, the junior doctor said as Helen groaned. Not the brightest thing in the world to do when youve just had a hysterectomy, but there you go. Mrs Dawn accidentally dislodged her catheter at midnight
Oh, no.
Andand, Annie continued, just to add to the overall fun and excitement, Mrs Alexander suddenly developed a deep-vein thrombosis in her leg.
Is she all right? Helen asked with concern.
Gideons put her on anticoagulants, and weve got her in compression stockings, but it looks like we could be in for big problems when she gives birth.
It did. Mary Alexander was thirty-six weeks pregnant, and shed only been sent in by her GP because he thought her blood pressure was a little high. A Caesarean might be the answer, but if the clot moved to her lungs during the operation
Ill have a word with her once Ive done the ward round, Helen murmured, and Annie grimaced.
A word is probably all youll have time for. Honestly, Helen, I feel like Im living at the hospital at the moment, and if Gideon hadnt insisted on me employing a home help I dont know how I would have managed with Jamie.
Helen nodded. She could remember only too well how hard it had been when her own children were smaller, trying to juggle their needs and the demands of her job, and it was doubly difficult for Annie. Gideon wasnt Jamies father, and although the little boy obviously liked the consultant, it would take time for him to accept his mothers new husband completely.
Things will be better now Dr Lorimers here, she said encouragingly as she followed Annie out of the staffroom. With the department fully staffed again
But hes not here. At least, not unless hes hiding in a cupboard.
Helen came to a halt. What do you mean, hes not here? He phoned Tom from London last night to say he was just about to board the Glasgow plane.
And to reminisce about old times, she thought, remembering the gales of laughter shed heard coming from her husband when hed taken the call.
Maybe hes got lost between the airport and the Belfield. Maybe hes taken one look at what passes for spring weather in Britain, and headed straight back to sunny Australia. All I know is Annie bit off the rest of what shed been about to say, and groaned. Oh, Lord. Why do I know this means trouble?
Helen turned in the direction of the junior doctors gaze, and her heart sank, too. Gideon was striding towards them, looking tight-lipped and harassed, and Tom didnt look any happier beside him.
Im afraid weve got a problem, the consultant declared without preamble. Dr Lorimers still in London. Apparently Heathrow Airports fogbound, and though hes hoping to make it to the Belfield by mid-afternoon, were not to hold our breaths.
And? Helen asked with foreboding, sensing there was a very definite and hanging in the air, and equally certain she wasnt going to like it.
Weve got a postpartum haemorrhage on our hands. Im on my way to it now. Toms going to take my morning clinic, but that means
You want me to take Toms, Helen finished for him unhappily.
Sorry, Helen.
So was she. She hated taking somebody elses clinic at short notice. It meant seeing people blind, with scarcely enough time to read through their notes, but it couldnt be helped. Emergencies were just that. Unexpected events that nobody could predict.
Look, would it help if I stayed on for a couple of hours? Annie said, beginning to unbutton her coat. Jamie will be at the day-care centre by now
What I want is for you to go home and get some sleep, Gideon said firmly. Youve just finished a full night shift.
Yes, but if were short-staffed
Home, Annie. Now.
Three weeks married, and already hes bossing me about, the junior doctor protested, and Helen laughed, only for her laughter to die when Gideon suddenly put his arm around his wife and kissed her.
It wasnt a passionate kissthe ward corridor was hardly the place for itbut as the couple drew apart a hard lump formed in her throat.
When was the last time Tom had looked at her the way Gideon was looking at Annie? When was the last time shed looked at Tom with such obvious love in her eyes?
Good grief, woman, youve been married for ten years, not three weeks, a little voice protested at the back of her mind. You cant expect either you and Tom to be still wandering round in that heady, crazy state of euphoria that couples feel when they first fall in love.
No, her heart whispered, but surely I should be able to remember when he last told me he loved me. Surely I should at least be able to remember when we last made love.
Her heart contracted and, unable to bear looking at the couple any longer, she began walking down the corridor, only to discover Tom had come after her.
Im sorry, she said, coming to an awkward halt. Did you want to talk to me about your clinic?
What Im more interested inmore worried aboutis you, her husband replied. Helen, what is itwhats wrong?
He looked anxious and perplexed, but as she stared up at him she also saw that he looked completely exhausted, and a wave of guilt surged through her. Hed been working so hard at the hospital recentlymuch harder than she had beenand yet here she was, feeling sorry for herself just because they hadnt made love in ages. And it was as much her fault as his. Im too tired, Tom had become her stock reply to any overture he might have made recently.
Nothings wrong, she said swiftly. Im just thinking about your poor friend, stuck in London
But you looked so pale just a minute ago, he pressed. Quite white, in fact.
Thatll teach me to forget to put on any make-up. She smiled, trying to lighten his mood, but it didnt work.
You dont hear me when Im talking to you, he continued. Youre tired all the time, and now your colours coming and going. Look, perhaps you should let me examine you, give you a thorough check-up.
You just want an excuse to get my clothes off, she said, her brown eyes dancing, and you dont need one. Were married, remember?
Helen, be serious.
Lifes too short, she insisted. Tom, Ive been thinkingwhy dont we hire a babysitter the next time we both have a weekend off? We could head off somewhere romantic like the Isle of Skye. We havent been anywhere alone for ages, and
Do you think you could be hitting an early menopause?
Her jaw dropped. Do I what?
I know youre only thirty-two, he continued thoughtfully, but it would certainly explain your mood swings, your abstraction and fatigue
Tom, I am not starting the menopause, she snapped. If I look tired, maybe its because I am tired. Tired of cooking and cleaning. Tired of constantly tidying up after you and the kids, and tired of being expected to be a super-efficient SHO into the bargain.
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and she bit her lip. She hadnt realised shed been feeling so put upon and taken for granted lately, but now shed said it she knew it was true. It might have been better, though, if shed couched her complaint in less confrontational language. Her husband clearly thought so, judging by the dull flush of colour sweeping across his face.
Tom
Sorry to interrupt you, Doctors, the department secretary declared, but its twenty past nine, and your clinics were supposed to start at nine.
Our clinics will start when were ready to start, Tom replied, his voice uncharacteristically brusque. Until then Id be obliged if youd allow us some privacy.
Doris looked crushed. She also looked curious. Very curious.
That wasnt the smartest thing in the world to do, Helen protested the minute the woman had gone. Doris is the biggest gossip in the hospital, and just because youre angry with me
I dont think this is the time or the place for a discussion about our private life, do you? he said stiffly.
Oh, really? she thought. Well, she wasnt the one whod started it with all this stupid talk about the menopause. She wasnt the one who hadnt been pulling her weight at home.
Fine, she said, her voice every bit as taut and cold as his. Then perhaps you could consult your diary and pencil me in for a day when it would be convenient.
And before he could reply she walked into his consulting room and slammed the door shut.
The menopause. He had the nerve to suggest that her tiredness and irritability might be due to the menopause. That would teach her to marry a gynaecologist. One mention of being tired and fed up, and her husbands mind had immediately gone into diagnostic mode.
Well, his mind could just come right out of diagnostic mode, she decided, sitting angrily down at his desk. She might not have known how aggrieved shed been feeling, but now that she did know she could see it was time he pulled his weight at homeway past time.
And way past time for her clinic to start, she realised with a muttered oath as she caught sight of the clock on the wall.
Forget it, Helen, she told herself, pulling the stack of files on the desk towards her and hitting the intercom button. Think about it later, but right now forget it.
And she managed to until her last patient turned out to be Jennifer Norton.
Im feeling fine, thank you, Doctor, Jennifer said as she eased herself up onto the examination table. In fact, now Ive got over the morning sickness, the only thing I want is for my husband to stop fussing over me.
Lucky you, Helen thought, but she didnt say that.
You cant really blame him for fussing, she said instead, wrapping the blood-pressure cuff round Jennifers arm. You gave us all a big fright back in February.
Jennifer had. At just eight weeks pregnant shed been rushed into the department with vaginal bleeding, and as her pregnancy was the result of her fourth IVF treatment the signs werent good. Luckily the bleeding had stopped, but Jennifer still had a long way to go.
Youre fourteen weeks pregnant now, arent you? she murmured, watching the blood-pressure gauge.
Fourteen weeks gone, only another twenty-six to go. Jennifer laughed a little nervously. Is it OKmy blood pressure?
Its up a little, but that might just be because you knew you were going to be examined today. Unless youve been doing something really silly, of course, like redecorating the whole house.
Chance would be a fine thing. If I so much as look at a duster my husbands down on me like a ton of bricks, saying Im doing too much, putting the twins at risk.
Id enjoy the pampering while you can, Helen said with more of an edge than shed intended. Speaking as the mother of twins myself, youre going to need all the energy youve got once they arrive. Twelve bottles a day to sterilise and prepare. Two dirty bottoms to change. Two little bodies that suddenly sprout six arms and legs when youre trying to get them dressed to go out.
Jennifer smiled. But I bet you never regretted having them.
On good days, no. On bad days Helen rolled her eyes heavenwards, and Jennifer laughed. OK, I see from your notes that youve already had your spina bifida scan, so I just need to take a blood sample and then well do a quick scan to check on how your babies are doing.
To Jennifers clear relief the scan revealed that the twins were the correct size and development for their gestation.
I hate having these scans, she admitted as she wiped the conductive gel off her tummy and pulled up her trousers. I know theyre necessary, but Im always terrified youre going to tell me somethings wrong.
Its understandable to worry after all youve been through, Helen said gently. Now, wed like to see you again in a months time
Another scan?
Fraid so. Hey, look on the bright side, Helen continued as Jennifer groaned. It will give you the chance to see how much your babies have grown, and well be able to check on your blood pressure at the same time. She flicked through Toms diary. How does the second of May sound?
Fine by me. Brian and I arent exactly living a wild social life at the moment. Not that we were ever great party-goers even before I got pregnant, Jennifer said ruefully. My husbands the original stick-in-the-mud, stay-at-home bloke.
Helen smiled, but when the woman got to her feet she suddenly said on impulse, How long have you been married, Jennifer?
Fifteen years. Cripes, thats longer than the average sentence for murder, isnt it? Not that Ive ever felt like murdering himat least, not often.
Husbands do drive you mad sometimes, dont they? Helen said with feeling.
And how. Jennifer nodded. In fact, Brian and I went through a really sticky patch a couple of years ago. I thought he was taking me for granted, he thought our marriage was in a rut.
Which has got absolutely nothing to do with Jennifers medical condition, Helen told herself firmly, so you cant possibly ask how she solved the problem, but she did, and Jennifer laughed.
We talked.
Thats it? Helen said in surprise.
The best answers are often the simplest.
Yes, but
Talking clears the air, stops things festering. So does accepting neither of you is perfect. If you dont accept that, then you end up like one of these weird film stars, constantly flitting from relationship to relationship, in love with the idea of being in love.
Jennifer was right. It was silly to be envious of Gideon and Annie. Stupid to let little things annoy her. She loved Tom, and he loved her, and at least hed noticed something was wrong, which was more than could be said for a lot of men. OK, so his explanation might have been totally off the wall as far as accuracy was concerned, but at least hed noticed.
Which meant she was going to have to apologise, she realised as she showed Jennifer out. Not for what shed saidshe wasnt going to take a word of that backbut perhaps she could have phrased it better, picked a better time to raise the subject.
She glanced down at her watch and sighed. Time. It was the one thing she never seemed to have enough of, and she didnt have any spare now. Lunch would be yet another quick sandwich in the staffroom, and then it was on to the ward round.
A ward round that did little to improve her spirits or her temper. She didnt mind spending forty minutes with Mrs Alexanderheaven knew, the woman had just cause to be worried about her unborn baby after having suffered a deep-vein thrombosisbut she was in no mood for Mrs Fosters complaint that her hysterectomy stitches wouldnt have burst if they had been inserted properly.
Some days it just doesnt pay to get up, does it? Liz Baker, the sister in charge of the Obs and Gynae ward, observed sympathetically when Helen strode towards her, her cheeks red with barely concealed anger.
Tell me about it, Helen began. That Mrs Foster
Is a pain in the butt. Liz nodded. I know, and I hate to have to add to your problems but Haematologys just been on the phone. Apparently one of the blood samples you took this morning isnt quite right. Look, why dont you use the phone in the staffroom to call them back? Liz continued as Helen groaned. Get yourself a cup of coffee at the same time.
A cup of coffee sounded good. Something considerably stronger sounded even better, she decided when she left the ward and began walking towards the staffroom, only to see Tom coming towards her.
She came to an uncertain halt. He did, too.
Im sorry.
Theyd spoken in unison, and Tom shook his head. You have nothing to apologise for, but I obviously do. I hadnt realised I wasnt pulling my weight at home.
No, but you get called out a lot more at night than I do, she replied, more than willing to meet him halfway. And I dont have all your departmental meetings.
Yes, but I should have noticed you were doing it all. The trouble is Ive been so busy, and He shook his head. No, thats no excuse. Being busy is no excuse for not pulling my weight, and Im sorry.
Hey, were not heading for the divorce courts over this or anything, she said gently as he stared at her, his grey eyes troubled. All Im asking for is a little more help around the house and with the children.
Youve got it, he said. Whatever you want, youve got.
She chuckled. Thats dangerous talk, Tom. What if I ask you for the moon?
His grey eyes softened. If you want the moon Ill get you the moon. If you want He paused and his face creased into a broad smile of welcome. Mark, you old reprobate, youve finally got here.
Helen glanced over her shoulder, and blinked.
Wow.
Wow, wow and triple wow.
Tom hadnt been exaggerating when hed said his friend was handsome. In fact, Tom hadnt been nearly fulsome enough, she thought, automatically tucking in her tummy and standing up straighter, only to feel slightly silly afterwards because this was Toms friend and she didnt need or want to impress him.
But Mark Lorimer was impressive. Tall, and tanned, with thick black hair, and green eyes. Not a wishy-washy anaemic green, but green like sparkling emeralds, and fringed by quite indecently long black eyelashes.
Helen, this is Mark, Tom said unnecessarily after he and his friend had indulged in that mutual backslapping routine which heterosexual males always seemed to feel obliged to perform whenever they met a friend they hadnt seen for years. Mark, this is my wife, Helen.
Its nice to meet you, Mark, she said, holding out her hand. Toms talked such a lot about you.
Which wasnt exactly true. In fact, her husband hadnt mentioned him at all until Rachel Dunwoody had taken compassionate leave, but it hardly seemed polite to say so.
Youve come as a bit of a surprise to me, too. He grinned, clearly reading her mind. Tom never said he was married, but now that Ive met you his green eyes swept over her all I can say is I hope he knows what a very lucky man he is.
It was flattery, of course. Tom had always said she had the loveliest smile hed ever seen, and the biggest brown eyes, but she knew her limitations. She wasnt beautifulnot even particularly prettyand she laughed and shook her head.
I bet you say that to all the girls.
Actually, no, I dont.
He was still staring at her, still holding her hand, and to her acute embarrassment she realised she was blushing.
Oh, for heavens sake, pull yourself together, she told herself severely, quickly withdrawing her hand. Youre a thirty-two-year-old mother of two, and just because an absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous man is smiling at you shouldnt mean that you should start behaving like a dumbstruck teenager.
The fogs all gone from Heathrow Airport, then? she said. Oh, jeez, Helen. Hed hardly be standing here if it wasnt, would he? I meanI meantyou must be really tired after all your travelling.
Not at all, he replied. But, then, Ive always been able to sleep anywhere.
He certainly didnt look as though hed just spent goodness knows how many hours on a plane, and then been marooned in an airport. He looked pristine, and immaculate, and she just knew she must look as though shed been dragged through a hedge backwards, her hair coming loose from her scrunchy, her sweater the first thing that had come to hand that morning.
Not that it mattered, of course. She was a doctor, here to work, but
Im afraid youll have to excuse me, she said, beginning to back up the corridor. I have blood results to chase up
Hey, youre not abandoning me already, are you? he protested, and Tom smiled.
Of course shes not. In fact, Ill make sure Helen takes care of you, shows you the ropes.
It made sense. Tom was hardly likely to expect Annie to do the honours when she was only a junior doctor, but Helen couldnt help but wish her husband hadnt suggested it.
She wished it even more when she got to the end of the corridor and glanced back. Mark and Tom were deep in conversation, but Mark must have sensed her gaze on him because he suddenly looked up and smiled. A warm, wide smile that sent a disturbing shiver of awareness racing down her spine.
A disturbing shiver that she didnt want to feel.
CHAPTER TWO
GIDEON drummed his fingers absently on top of his desk, then frowned. How long has Mrs Alexander been with us now?
Tom glanced down at his notes. A week.
OK. As the venogram didnt show any sign of the clot moving, well keep her on the heparin until a week on Thursday, then induce her. I know its risky, he continued as Tom looked uncertain, but to perform a Caesarean on a woman whos had a deep-vein thrombosis He shook his head. Too much could go wrong.
Which brings us to Mrs Foster, Tom observed. Shes still complaining about her burst stitches.
Mrs Foster should think herself damn lucky shes not in Intensive Care, Gideon retorted. What the hell was she thinking of, straining to pass a motion after major surgery?
I know, but shes driving Helen crazy, saying her burst stitches were due to negligence, sloppy surgery
Ill have a word with her. The corners of the consultants lips quirked. Better yet, why dont I get Mark to have a word with her? Hes supposed to have quite a way with the ladies, isnt he?
Apart from with Helen, Tom thought with a slight frown. Obs and Gynae might have been inundated with nurses suddenly discovering an urgent need to visit the ward since Marks arrival a week ago, but Helen had remained strangely reticent whenever hed asked how she was getting on with him.
He is a good doctor, isnt he? Gideon continued, clearly misinterpreting the frown. I mean, Im not employing him simply to sweet-talk difficult patients
Hes one of the best, Tom reassured him. He might be the most terrible flirt, but what he doesnt know about Obs and Gynae could be written on a postage stamp.
Gideon looked relieved. In that case, I wish we could employ him permanently instead of for just six weeks. Oh, I know he wouldnt accept a longer contract with us even if we could offer it, he continued when Tom made to interrupt. Nobody in their right mind would swap a job in Canada for one at the Belfield, but
We need him. Tom nodded. Even if Rachel was back wed still need him. I take it Admin still wont agree to us advertising for another member of staff?
Admin says what it always says. Until the hospital gets more funding were to manage as best we can. Its the old story. Live long enough, old horse, and eventually you might get hay.
Tom laughed. Ive never thought of myself as an old horse, but now you come to mention it
Yup, beasts of burden, thats us. And speaking of being overworked. Gideon picked up one of the files on his desk, then put it down again. I dont want you to think Im being nosy, or interfering where Im not wanted, but Annie was saying
Annie was saying? Tom repeated blankly as the consultant came to an obviously embarrassed halt.
Well, you know what women are like, Tom, Gideon said in a rush, and shes probably got it all wrong, but she was saying to me the other day that she thought Helen looked a bit down, a bit depressed.
Annie had noticed? Annie, who had been at the Belfield for less than four months, had noticed? Tom bit his lip. Dammit, he should have been the first one to see there was a problem, and yet he hadnt. Maybe women were better attuned to picking up on that sort of thing than men, or maybe he was just insensitive. It wasnt a comforting thought.
Helens fine, he murmured. Just tired, like the rest of us.
Probably more so since hed been helping out at home, he thought ruefully, but how was he supposed to know that the little round symbol with the cross through it meant, Do not tumble-dry?
Hell, I should have been in Theatre ten minutes ago, Gideon exclaimed, quickly getting to his feet only to pause, his eyebrows raised. Unless theres something else you want to discuss with me?
For a moment Tom hesitated, then shook his head. The consultant might be his friend as well as his boss, but some things were private, and revealing that Helen had accused him of not pulling his weight definitely came under the heading of private.
He was running late, too. Rhona Scott was booked in for an outpatient hysterosalpingogram this morning, and though hed asked Helen to prepare her for him it wasnt fair to keep either of them waiting. Rhona was a natural born worrier, and as for Helenthe last thing he wanted was to give her another opportunity to accuse him of taking advantage of her.
No, that wasnt fair, he thought with a deep sigh as he strode down the corridor towards his consulting room. It had clearly taken a lot to make her say what she had, but why on earth hadnt she said something before? OK, so maybe hed never been much of a New Age man, but neither was he a mind-reader.
Problems? Helen said, seeing his frown when he opened the door of his consulting room to find Rhona Scott already prepared and waiting.
No more than usual, he replied irritably, only to groan when he saw Helen stiffen. Why the hell had he said that? He hadnt meant to sound so snippy, but there was nothing he could do about itnot with Mrs Scott staring curiously at him. All set for your hysterosalpingogram, Rhona? he said instead.
To be honest, no, she said. Call me chicken, but the thought of you putting some dye up into me She shuddered. Are you absolutely sure I cant have an anaesthetic?
He shook his head. Im afraid the only way we can get really good X-ray pictures of the insides of your Fallopian tubes, and find out why youre having such difficulty getting pregnant, is to carry out the procedure while youre wide awake. It wont hurt, he added, seeing her flinch when he picked up the small tube. You may feel a momentary discomfort when I insert the dye into your uterus, but I promise thats all youre going to feel.
Rhona didnt look convinced and out of the corner of his eye he saw Helen reach out and catch hold of her hand.
Shed always been much better at dealing with patientspeoplethan he was. Maybe it was another female thing, but hed always found it a lot harder to get the right blend of sympathy and understanding, and he could still get it wrong.
Very badly wrong, he thought, remembering how angry Helen had been when hed suggested she might be going through an early menopause. Well, OK, so his diagnosis might not have been the right one but, dammit, hed been worried about her. He still was.
It was all very well for her to keep on saying she was simply tired, and if she had more help at home everything would be fine, but he couldnt rid himself of the nagging feeling that there was more to it than that. Something he was missing, but what the something might be was beyond him.
Dr Brooke?
Helens eyes were on him, clearly wondering why he hadnt started the procedure, and he flushed slightly.
Just checking the dosage, he lied, but she didnt buy it. He hadnt really expected her to. After ten years of marriage, she could read him like a book. Hed once thought he could do the same with her, but recently Ready, Rhona? he said, forcing his mind back to the present with difficulty.
She nodded nervously, and as carefully and gently as he could he began inserting the tube into her cervix through her vagina.
Itll all be over in a second. Helen smiled reassuringly down at the woman. Once the dye is in your uterus it will show up white on a special screen we have, and after weve taken a few X-rays you can go home.
Will I get the results today?
Im afraid not, Tom replied. We have to process and examine them first, you see. Not to mention being so damn swamped with patients that we just dont have the time, he added mentally. But Ill get our secretary to make an appointment for you to come in and see me on Friday, if thats OK?
Rhona nodded.
Not much more to go now, Helen declared. Just keep on relaxing. Good, RhonaWell doneThats it.
The dyes in? the woman exclaimed. But I didnt feel anything.
Id have hung up my stethoscope if you had. Tom smiled. OK, all I want you to do now is to lie as still as you can while our technician takes the pictures.
I should have got my hair done for the occasion, shouldnt I? Rhona said with a shaky laugh, and he chuckled and patted her shoulder.
You look fine.
Her X-rays, unfortunately, didnt.
No wonder she hasnt been able to conceive, Helen observed. That swelling where her right Fallopian tube joins her uterusit means the tube is completely blocked, doesnt it?
It looks like it, Tom replied. If the blockage hasnt extended right through the uterine wall I could certainly perform a cornual anastomosiscutting out the blocked section of the Fallopian tube and rejoining itbut
Our theatre schedules so full its anybodys guess as to when Rhona could have the operation, she finished for him.
Tom nodded, then frowned. Im going to pull strings on this one. Its crazy for her to have to wait when weve got somebody of Marks calibre on the team.
Mark has experience of tubal surgery? she exclaimed. I didnt know that.
Oh, theres lots of things you dont know about me. A deep male voice chuckled, and Tom saw his wife jump as though somebody had lit a firecracker behind her.
Havent you ever heard of knocking? she said. Creeping up on people like that. Is there something wrong on the ward?
Apart from the fact that youre not there? Mark grinned. Not a thing.
Tom wryly shook his head as he saw a deep flush of colour cross his wifes cheeks. Same old Mark. Still couldnt resist turning on the charm, flirting with every woman he met. Helen didnt appear to appreciate it, though. In fact, she looked angry, tense, and deftly he steered Mark towards the X-rays.
OK, earn your salary. Take a look at this.
Mark stared at the screen. Somebodys uterus, right?
No, somebodys left foot, Tom responded. Cut the jokes, Marktell me what you think.
That right Fallopian tubeit could simply be scarred, but He shook his head. Blocked, Id say, but the claritys not very good. What did you take the pictures withan old box Brownie camera?
Mark.
He grinned. OKOK. Probably blocked, perhaps due to an infection caused by a coil. How old is your patient?
Thirty-six. Married for eight years, and been trying for a baby for the last six.
And shes only just having an exploratory hysterosalpingogram now? Mark gasped. Jeez, what the hell have you guys been doing for the past five years?
Working our way through a very long waiting list, Helen snapped before Tom could say anything. The Belfield doesnt have a separate infertility clinic, so we treat people as and when we can. Rhona only got onto our list last year
But
Look, we do the best we can, OK? Helen said impatiently, and Mark sighed.
Well, all I can say is things are very different in Australia.
Helen muttered something which sounded suspiciously like, So how come you didnt stay there? and Tom shot her a puzzled glance.
He was the one who usually got angry and frustrated, dealing with the limitations of the service they could offer, but Helen hadnt sounded simply angry, shed sounded positively antagonistic.
Awkwardly he cleared his throat. I dont know what happens in Australia, but under the NHS theres a nine-month to a year waiting list for non-urgent surgery, and a cornual anastomosis is considered non-urgent. I know, he said as Marks eyebrows shot up, but thats how it is.
Then why the hell do you put up with it? Mark demanded. Dammit, Tom, youre a first-rate surgeon. If you went to Oz, or to the States, you could be head of your own department, and not have to put up with this sort of crap.
Perhaps, Tom said, but Helen and I like the Belfield. Its where we met, and weve a fondness for the old place.
Which doesnt mean were always going to stay here, Helen said swiftly. I mean, whos to say whats round the corner for any of uswhat changes we might make?
Mark glanced from her to Tom thoughtfully. So its only old Tom whos reluctant to move, is it? You always did play it too safe, mate.
Whether I do or whether I dont is immaterial, Tom replied, wondering what on earth had made Helen say what she had, and not liking the reference to himself as old either. Mrs Scott is certainly not going to have to wait nine months when weve got someone with your experience on the team. Ill have a word with Gideon, insist we get her in while youre here to help me.
In that case, Id better take a closer look at these X-rays, Mark said. If were going to be operating on this lady, I want as much information as I can get.
Tom nodded but he couldnt help but notice that when Mark moved closer to the screen, Helen instantly stepped back.
If you dont need me any longer I have a mass of paperwork to catch up on, she said. Not to mention my antenatal clinic in an hour.
She was already heading for the door, and Tom quickly followed her. Thanks for holding the fort for me, love. I really appreciate it.
She smiled up at him, but she didnt even so much as glance in Marks direction as she left, and Marks eyebrows rose.
Whoa, but did it suddenly get distinctly chilly in here, or what?
Im not surprised, Tom observed tightly. Criticising our department and its equipment wasnt exactly the smartest thing in the world to do.
Just telling it like it is, Mark replied. Its not my fault if Helen is hypersensitive to criticism. In fact He came to a halt as he encountered a look in Toms eyes. A look hed never seen before. A look that held neither warmth nor amusement, and he held up his hands defensively. Hey, no offence meant, mate. Look, Ill apologise to her, OK?
Do that, Tom declared, his grey eyes hard, cold. I dont like my wife upset, and I wont have her upset. Not by you, not by anyone.
Mark stared at him for a second. Tom the protector. Tom the defender. Youve changed since our med days, havent you?
If you mean Ive grown uprealised what and who is important in my lifethen, yes, Ive changed, Tom replied. Helen is more important to me than my job, this hospital and our friendship, and youd be well advised never to forget that.
Mark grinned. Whoops, but Ive suddenly got that chilly feeling again. Look, Ive said Ill apologise, he continued as Toms eyebrows snapped together. Ill even grovel if I have to. Satisfied now?
Tom nodded. Mark, listen
Helen doesnt seem to like me very much, does she?
Helen didnt appear to, but there was no way Tom was going to agree. Helen likes everyone, he said evasively.
OK, lets just say Im not feeling the love, Mark observed, and Tom couldnt help but laugh.
The trouble with you, my friend, is that far too many women have been bowled over by your charm over the years, and its a blow to your ego when one isnt.
You reckon?
I reckon, Tom confirmed. In fact, I think its high time you settled down.
And deny all the lovely women out there the pleasure of my company? No way.
Maybe that kind of attitude is OK when youre in your twenties, Tom said, horribly aware that he suddenly felt very old, but youre thirty-four
So I should be looking for a woman to settle down with, Mark completed for him in a mock-sonorous tone. Perhaps I would if all the best ones werent already taken. One corner of his mouth turned up. Women like your Helen. Now, if Id met her before I went to Oz
You wouldnt have stood a chance. Tom laughed. It was love at first sight for Helen and me.
It had been, and the love was still there, he thought as he began labelling the X-rays and putting them into Rhona Scotts file. Even now she could still make his pulses race simply by smiling at him. Even now he felt a tightness round his heart when he saw her coming out of the shower, her hair all tousled, her skin pink and glowing.
He glanced thoughtfully across at Mark. When theyd been students hed always envied Mark his good looks and easy charm, but he didnt envy him now. Flitting from woman to woman, moving on when he got bored or if some other female caught his eye. It was an empty sort of a life, rootless and ultimately unsatisfying.
No, he didnt envy Mark. He had a wife who loved him, two wonderful children, whereas MarkMark had absolutely nothing that he wanted any more.
Hes gorgeous, isnt he? Liz Baker said dreamily as she switched on the staffroom kettle. His thick black hair, his tan, those eyes
Looks arent everything, Helen interrupted tersely. In fact, give me an honest, ordinary-looking man any day of the week.
Hear! hear! Annie agreed.
Mark Lorimer, Liz continued, as though neither of them had spoken. Even his name sounds romantic, dont you think? Like something out of a story book.
Grimms Fairy Tales, perhaps? Helen suggested, and Liz looked momentarily startled, then laughed.
Oh, come on, Helen, youre not telling me you dont think hes seriously attractive?
He was, but that didnt give him the right to waltz into the Belfield and criticise the way they worked, Helen thought, unwrapping her sandwiches with more vigour than was strictly necessary. Neither did it give him the right to imply that she and Tom were a pair of old stick-in-the-muds with no ambition because theyd never worked anywhere else. They had children, for heavens sakeobligations. Something that Mark Lorimer clearly knew nothing about.
Madge in Paediatrics thinks hes handsome, Liz continued. So does Phyllis in Radiography
Madge and Phyllis should stop behaving like a pair of silly moon-struck schoolgirls, Helen retorted, then bit her lip when Lizs mouth fell open.
Oh, Lord, but that had been an incredibly bitchy thing to say. Even Annie clearly thought it was, judging by the way she was staring at her, but she was sick to death of everybody giggling over Mark Lorimer like he was a film star or something.
Yes, he was quite unbelievably good-looking. Yes, he had a voice that could melt butter, and eyes that seemed to gaze down deep inside you, but anyone with half a brain should also have been able to see that he was also an unprincipled flirt. Good grief, put him in front of any female between the ages of eight and eightyherself includedand he instantly switched on the charm.
Well, she wasnt some na?ve schoolgirl who could be impressed by a few slick words, a few finely tuned compliments, she thought with irritation as the staffroom door opened, and Mark came in, deep in conversation with Tom and Gideon. She was more interested in whether he was any good as a doctor.
Good news, Helen, Tom declared, coming over to sit beside her. Gideons agreed to slot Rhona Scott in for surgery as quickly as possible, and weve got two possible dates. One for Monday the week after next, and the other for the end of May.
Rhona would come in this afternoon if you asked her, Helen murmured, taking a bite out of her sandwich and trying very hard to ignore the fact that Mark was flirting quite outrageously with Liz.
You dont think she might feel both dates are too soon? Tom said. Were talking major surgery here, and shell be in hospital for at least a week. As shes a school-teacher she might prefer to wait until the long summer holidays.
Trust me, she wont.
Female intuition? her husband said curiously.
Female heart. She smiled.
OK, thats good enough for me. Ill suggest the Monday when she comes in for the results of her hysterosalpingogram, and see what she says.
Helen nodded. Annie was getting ready to go off duty, and she saw Gideon bend his head to catch something his wife had said, then laugh and press her hand briefly to his lips.
She and Tom used to do that, Helen thought wistfully. Steal kisses, hold hands simply for the pleasure of touching one another. In fact, theyd joked that there wasnt a sluice room in the hospital they hadnt used at one time or another for a secret rendezvous.
And Im doing it again, she thought angrily as the couple left the staffroom. Envying them, and its so stupid. The love I feel for Tom is bound to have changed over the years, become less intense, more familiar, more comfortable.
Like a pair of old slippers, her mind whispered, and she shook her head. No, not like an old pair of slippers. She loved Tom, and he loved her. Their love was justdifferent now.
Ill see you later, then.
Youre going? she exclaimed, seeing her husband get to his feet. But you havent had any lunch.
No time. Admin wants a word with Gideon about Marks work permit so Im stuck babysitting his students. He half started towards the door, then turned. Which reminds me. Gideon was a bit worried about his afternoon ward round, so I said youd help Mark to do it.
Oh, brilliant, Tom, she thought vexedly as he strode away. Like you couldnt perhaps have checked with me firstasked if it was OK? Im still only halfway through my paperwork because I was helping you this morning, and now youve gone and lost me this afternoon as well.
He really shouldnt have done that, Mark murmured, slipping into the seat Tom had vacated. Just assumed youd help me.
She couldnt agree more, but there was no way she was going to say so.
Hes the specialist registrar, Im an SHOits his job to allocate work, she said defensively, wishing that Liz would come over and join them, but she was busy on the phone.
But shouldnt he have checked you with first, rather than simply say youd do it?
Like I said, its his job, she repeated, and his mouth turned up at the corners.
And as hes also your husband youre damned if youre going to bad-mouth him to a semi-stranger.
It was so exactly what shed been thinking that Helen couldnt prevent an involuntary chuckle springing to her lips, and his smile widened.
Thats better. I was beginning to think I was going to be put in the dog-house for the duration after what I said about Rhona Scotts treatment this morning.
She stared down at the remains of her sandwich, then sighed. I know things are far from perfect at the Belfield, but
You dont wantor needsome big-mouth newcomer like me telling you so, he finished for her.
She couldnt deny it. Not when his eyes were brimming with laughter, and warmth, and something else which was making her heart race, her breathing jerky and erratic.
Hes flirting with you, she told herself, trying to look away, only to find that she couldnt. He does it with everyone, and youre a big girl, you can handle it.
But she couldnt and that, she realised, was the trouble. She could tell herselfand anybody else who cared to listenthat Mark Lorimer was nothing but a womaniser, and she was more interested in his qualifications than in him, but it wasnt true. The plain, galling truth was that she was as impressed and stunned by him as every other woman in the Belfield.
Dammit, shed actually caught herself choosing clothes to wear to work now instead of just grabbing whatever was nearest, and yesterday shed found herself looking at lipsticks and eye shadows in the chemist. And it was crazy.
She was married. She was happily married, and even if Mark Lorimer was the handsomest, sexiest man in the world, her knees shouldnt be turning to water and her brain to mush whenever he smiled at her. And they were.
Helen?
Oh, Lord, could he possibly know what she was thinking? There was certainly a decidedly wicked-looking gleam in his eyes, and she stood up fast. IIm afraid youll have to excuse me. I wantI need to have a word with Liz.
He didnt believe her. She could tell by the way he smiled that he didnt, but she didnt care. All she wanted was to be as far away from him, and her own unsettling thoughts and feelings, as she could possibly get.
The agency cant supply me with any emergency nursing cover for this afternoon, Liz declared, slamming down the staffroom phone. Apparently I havent given them enough notice. Not enough notice, she repeated furiously. Like how exactly am I supposed to know when people are going to be sick?
And how could I have predicted Id start behaving like a loopy schoolgirl because a handsome man keeps smiling at me? Helen thought unhappily.
Is there anything I can do to help? she asked as Liz made for the door.
The sister shook her head. All I can do is phone around, and see if I can sweet-talk somebody into coming in on their day off.
Helen wished she had the day off, too, when Liz had gone and she turned to find Mark staring at her thoughtfully.
Wed better get going, she began. Were doing Gideons ward round, remember, and
You dont like me very much, do you? he observed.
Whatever else she might have been expecting him to say, it hadnt been that, and she flushed.
I dont know you well enough to dislike you, she said, striving to sound light, dismissive, which wasnt easy with a pair of intense green eyes fixed on her.
Thats what I figured. He nodded. In fact, it might surprise you to know that Im generally considered to be quite likable.
It didnt surprise her in the least. Men who were as charming and handsome as Mark Lorimer were generally well liked. In fact, if she was honestand she had absolutely no intention of being honestshe would have admitted that she could all too easily get to like him herself. A lot.
I really do think we should start making tracks, she said uncomfortably. The wards pretty full so it will take us quite a while.
Tom tells me you have eight-year-old twinsEmma and John? he said, clasping his hands behind his head and leaning back in his seat. They must be quite a handful.
They have their moments, she replied, wondering what else Tom might have told him, and just where this conversation was going.
It must be very difficult for youholding down a full-time job, running a home, looking after your kids.
Tom does his share, she said swiftly. Well, hed been trying to recently, she told herself, though at the moment his efforts were proving more of a hindrance than a help. Its not a solo effort.
I cant imagine Tom as a New Age man.
He hadnt make it sound like a compliment. In fact, hed somehow managed to make Tom sound both boring and dull, and before she could stop herself she said, I dont know about New Age, but hes certainly a lot more adult than men who flit from girlfriend to girlfriend, with no roots or purpose in life.
Mark grinned. Ive no doubt he is. But I bet hes not nearly so exciting.
There was no answer to thatat least none she could immediately think ofand she strode to the staffroom door and opened it. Our ward round, Dr Lorimer?
Didnt think he was, he said, his green eyes dancing.
And youre too smart by half, Helen thought as she followed him down the corridor. Too smart, too charming, too everything.
Well, maybe he wouldnt be quite so smart and charming after a couple of hours on the ward, she thought waspishly. Maybe a couple of hours of examinations, blood pressures and sheer exhausting hard work, would dent his charm and overweening confidence.
It didnt. Not even when Mrs Foster launched into her usual round of complaints the minute he appeared at her bedside.
A week is how long I was told Id be in here, she declared, her beady eyes sweeping over him with no appearance of being in the least impressed. One week, and now no one can tell me when Im going home. If my stitches had been inserted properly
The trouble is, you tried to go to the toilet too soon after your hysterectomy, Mark interrupted, his face a picture of warm solicitude. I can understand why you wanted toan active, independent person like yourself
Well, Ive never been lazy, she said, her eyes softening slightly, but
And I appreciate that youre anxious to go home, what with having little ones to take care of
My youngest is twenty-five.
Good grief, you must have been married very young, he exclaimed. I wouldnt have put you a day over forty.
Mrs Foster pinkened, and simpered. Well, Ive always tried to take care of myself, but
And thats what we want to do for you now, he continued with a dazzling smile. Take care of you. I want to take care of you, and surely youre not going to deny me that opportunity, or the pleasure of your company?
Helen heard Liz choke behind her, and she only just managed to maintain her own composure by staring determinedly at the wall over Mrs Fosters bed, but when Mark had moved on down the ward she couldnt restrain her laughter.
That was the most outrageous example of flattery Ive ever heard, she gasped.
It worked, though, didnt it? he protested. And youre not telling me that dreadful woman hasnt been a thorn in your side for the past week.
No, but
And it got you to smile at me, instead of shooting daggers, so it was worth it.
Marks eyes were deep, and warm, and she shook her head. Youre completely incorrigible.
But likable? he suggested, and she shook her head again, and laughed.
He was likable. Dangerously likable. In fact, in the space of a week he had somehow managed to make her feel more feminine, more attractive and more desirable than she had done in years, and it had to stop.
She had to start distancing herself from this man. For her own peace of mind and safety she needed to distance herself from him, or
Dont go that way, her mind warned. Youre married, and hes Toms friend, so dont let your mind go down that road even for a second.
Helen?
A smile was playing about his lips, and again she had that uncanny feeling again that he was reading her mind.
Abruptly she turned on her heel. Weve two more patients left to see. Which do you want firstMrs Alexander or Mrs White?
CHAPTER THREE
ANYTHING happening yet? Helen murmured, hovering at the delivery room door while Liz checked Mary Alexanders blood pressure, then the foetal monitor.
Nothing, Tom muttered back. Im afraid it looks like were going to have to go for the Caesarean after all.
Helen nodded. Tom had ruptured Mary Alexanders membrane earlier in the morning to release some of the amniotic fluid around the baby. In theory that should have induced her contractions, but when nothing had happened hed ordered an IV line of oxytocin, and yet still there was no sign of her going into labour.
BP up, foetal heartbeat becoming a little unsteady, Liz said in an undertone.
Shouldnt something be happening by now, Doctor? Mary asked, gazing uncertainly up at Tom. I know Im no expert, but
Occasionally we get a baby whos reluctant to leave the nice warm shelter of his mummys tummy. He smiled, his face a picture of calm, controlled confidence. Its nothing to worry about.
But its taking too long, Helen thought, seeing the concern behind her husbands bright fa?ade. With so much of the amniotic fluid gone the baby was going to be in big trouble soon if they didnt do something.
Tom met her eyes and he nodded. It was time to alert the theatre staff.
Do you want me to page Gideon, tell him whats happening? she asked after shed phoned the theatre and Tom had explained the situation to Mary and her husband.
Please. A Caesareans the one thing he was hoping to avoid after her deep-vein thrombosis, but He sighed wryly as one of their porters wheeled a very frightened-looking Mary and her husband out of the delivery room. Want to wish me luck?
You wont need it, she declared, and he smiled.
Female intuition?
Professional opinion, she replied, and he shook his head and laughed as he hurried after Mary, but she meant it. He might not have Marks flamboyance when it came to operating, but he was goodvery good.
And Annie looked decidedly harassed when Helen met her coming out of the ward.
Tell me that you speak Greek, the junior doctor exclaimed. Pleasepleasetell me you speak Greek.
Why in the world would?
Its Mrs Dukakis. She came into A and E this morning complaining of severe stomach pains. They decided she was simply suffering from a bad case of indigestion, but when they tried to discharge her she became hysterical so they sent her up to us.
But
Shes six months pregnant, and Annie shook her head. Look, come and see for yourself. Or, to be more strictly accurate, come and listen.
Helen did.
Cripes, she murmured when Mrs Dukakis finally subsided into silence after a long and virtually incomprehensible account of what she thought was wrong with her.
Exactly. Annie nodded. Now you see why I was hoping you might speak Greek.
I dont, and Im afraid I cant think of anybody on the staff who does, Helen replied, seeing Mrs Dukakis gaze uncomprehendingly from her to Annie.
I believe Mark does, Liz announced, overhearing them as she passed by with the drugs trolley.
Mark would, Helen thought sourly. Mark probably spoke ten languages, had an IQ of two million and did rocket science in his spare time.
No, that wasnt fair, she told herself, but after spending the better part of the last ten days trying to avoid him, the last thing she wanted was to actively go looking for him.
Helen?
Annie was staring at her curiously, and she forced a smile to her lips. Wed better get Mark.
Mrs Dukakis clearly agreed. In fact, her face lit up like a beacon when he spoke to her in her own language, but something was obviously very badly wrong judging by the number of times she burst into tears when he questioned, then examined her.
What is itwhats wrong? Helen asked as Mark took her by the elbow and steered her to the bottom of the ward, leaving Annie to comfort the woman.
At the moment nothing more drastic than a very bad case of indigestion, but He shook his head. What do you know about thalassaemia major?
That its a serious, inherited childhood anaemia, most commonly found in people of Mediterranean or Asian descent. Helen glanced over her shoulder at the sobbing woman. Is that why Mrs Dukakis is so upsetis she a thalassaemia carrier?
Mrs Dukakis hadnt even heard of the condition until I asked her whether she had any other children, Mark said grimly. She thought she was having a miscarriage.
But
Helen, she only came to Glasgow four months ago. Before that she and her husband lived in a poor, very isolated part of Greece with limited medical facilities. All she knows is shes given birth to two other children, and neither of them reached their second birthday. The wasting disease, the people in her village called it.
What must it be like to lose two children? Helen wondered, staring at Nana Dukakis. To feel them grow inside you, feel them move, then give birth to them, only for them to die so quickly. It didnt bear thinking of.
Its too late to take a sample from the babys umbilical cord to find out if it has thalassaemia major, isnt it? she murmured. If shed known she was a carrier when she first arrived in Glasgow we could have done the test, then offered her a termination, but at six months pregnant
Its too late, but theres still a lot we can do, Mark declared, his green eyes encouraging. First we need to test her and her husband to find out if theyre both carriers. If her husbands not, this baby might be all right, and even if it isnt we can start giving it monthly blood transfusions as soon as its born, and regular injections of Desferal to ensure its liver and kidneys arent damaged.
Regular blood transfusions and injections of Desferal. It sounded a wretched life for a little baby, and Mark must have read her thoughts because he smiled. A small, rueful smile.
Its better than the alternative, Helen, and new treatments are being tried out all the time. Were getting excellent results from bone-marrow transplants, and theres also a lot of work being done with gene therapy.
He was right, she knew he was, and it was stupid of her to be thinking so negatively. What have you told her?
The truth. There was no point in skirting round the subject, so I told her I thought her other children had died because they had thalassaemia major, but if we started treating her baby as soon as it was born there was a very good chance it could live to be as old as you or I.
Helen nodded, then sighed as more immediate concerns suddenly occurred to her. You know we cant possibly keep her innot for indigestion.
Im going to sweet-talk Admissions, ask if she can at least stay for the night. It will give her time to calm down, and me the chance to run some tests.
Its going to take some real sweet-talking, Helen commented. Were wall-to-wall patients at the moment.
He grinned. You dont think Im up to it?
Oh, he was up to it all right, she thought. In fact, if he treated the women who worked in Admissions to one of his blinding smiles theyd probably agree to Mrs Dukakis staying in one of their private rooms for the duration of her pregnancy.
Actually, you might not have to talk to Admissions, Annie said, overhearing the last of their conversation as she joined them. Mrs Foster went home this morning
Hallelujah!
And Rhona Scotts not due in for her cornual anastomosis until Monday
So unless an emergency comes in weve got a vacant bed for the next few days. Marks eyes lit up. Liz could OK it for me, couldnt she?
Yes, but
Oh, Liz, light of my life, joy of my heart, he exclaimed, heading off towards the sister before either of them could stop him. Could I have a word?
Annie shook her head as she watched him go. Hes quite something, isnt he? Handsome, charming and about as reliable as a fifty-pence watch.
You reckon? Helen murmured, seeing Liz frown, then nod, then dissolve into helpless laughter when Mark kissed her soundly on the cheek.
Dont you?
There was a very decided edge to the junior doctors voice, and Helen glanced back at her thoughtfully. Shed never askedhad never thought it was her business to askwhy Annie hadnt married her sons father, but now she thought she knew.
Annie
.
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Maggie Kingsley
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: The Surgeon′s Marriage, электронная книга автора Maggie Kingsley на английском языке, в жанре современные любовные романы