- -
- 100%
- +
‘She seems much better.’
‘Yes, she is. She’s stopped clinging to me and wanting to be held. They should be letting her go on Monday when the tests come back.’
Chloe turned her gaze back onto Jon. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I seemed ungrateful. When I was ill... You get to understand who you can really rely on at times like that.’
‘Yourself?’ It wasn’t a universal experience. Many—most—people were comforted by the support of those around them when they became gravely ill.
‘Yes, myself. James did the best he could, but he had Carol and the kids and Hannah to worry about.’
‘So you told him that you were fine and that you didn’t need anything.’ Which was exactly what Chloe was telling him now. Jon’s determination to take that with a pinch of salt strengthened.
She shrugged. ‘I might have intimated something of the sort.’
‘And since you’re a doctor, and James probably wouldn’t have heard of Guillain-Barré syndrome, he’d have just taken your word for it.’
‘Well, he looked it up on the internet. But the internet can be wrong sometimes.’ Chloe fixed Jon with a glare. ‘And you’re not telling him any different now.’
‘What you choose to tell anyone about your illness is none of my business.’ James would be horrified if he knew what Jon suspected, that Chloe had been incapacitated and coping alone for a long time after she’d been released from hospital. But there was no point in telling him that now.
‘Thank you.’
It was obvious why Chloe had been reluctant to rely on her brother, but it was rather more of a puzzle why she’d applied the same principle to everyone. And why she seemed so intent on applying it again now. But that wasn’t his business either. As long as she accepted that she could at least tell him if she needed something, they’d get along just fine. He took the small lint bandage that he’d found in the kitchen drawer out of his pocket.
‘Hey, Amy.’ The little girl turned to look at him. ‘Is Papa Bear ill?’
‘Yes.’ Amy nodded gravely.
‘Right. Shall we see if we can make him better?’ It wasn’t unusual for children to transfer what was going on in their heads onto their toys, and making the battered bear better would help Amy too.
Chloe caught onto the idea and grinned. ‘Do you think he needs a bandage?’ She leaned over, lifting Amy out of the cot and onto her lap, and Jon reached for the bear.
‘Poor Papa Bear. Make him better.’ Amy turned her trusting eyes on him.
‘All right, Nurse Amy. You hold him, and I’ll just put this bandage on his arm.’ Jon nodded to the dressing on Amy’s arm, which protected the cannula. ‘Just like yours.’
Amy nodded, and Chloe kissed the top of her niece’s head. ‘See Amy. Doctor Jon’s going to make him better.’
It was a start, at least. If Chloe didn’t trust him enough to take anything for herself, she was much more comfortable with taking all she could get for Amy. And Jon was sure of his ground. He’d be in and then out again, a clean operation, carried out with all the precision that his medical training had taught him to apply. It was perfectly possible to help the sister of a good friend out without doing anything stupid like falling in love with her.
CHAPTER FOUR
CHLOE WASN’T ABOUT to admit that she’d overreacted. It might have looked that way to Jon, but he clearly hadn’t learned yet that even the best of friends would choose their own agenda when it came to the crunch.
That actually wasn’t the problem. The problem was that every time she saw him she wanted to hold onto him, to make him stay. Wanted him to prove that Jake had been mistaken.
Not that she cared all that much about what Jake thought, or did, any more. He’d left her because he’d been unable to see past her illness, and wouldn’t believe that she could make a full recovery, and she’d shown that he was wrong on that score. But she was human, and wanting to be touched by a man was natural. Wanting to show herself that her body could be a source of pleasure and not pain...that was natural enough, too.
But Jon wasn’t the one to prove that point with. If she touched him, and let him touch her, she wouldn’t want to let him go.
What he said made sense, though. Chloe was dreading talking to her supervisor on Monday and telling him that she had a sick baby to look after. He’d been so understanding over the Guillain-Barré, taking her back in her old job and letting her work part time for as long as she’d needed to. Everyone’s patience ran out sooner or later, and hopefully this wasn’t going to be the last straw. If it turned out that she would have to look after Amy for longer than the next two weeks, she was going to need all the help she could get.
A restless night did little to quell her worries, but a new arrival in the ward early on Sunday morning put them into perspective—a little boy of around three, a breathing mask over his face, who lay surrounded by monitoring equipment.
‘What’s the matter with him?’ she whispered to the nurse who was with him.
‘Smoke inhalation.’ The nurses all knew that Chloe was a doctor, and were more frank with her than with the other parents on the ward.
‘Where are his parents?’
‘Dad’s on the burns unit. I think Mum’s still down in A and E.’
‘Shall I go down and see if I can find her? She must be worried sick.’
‘I think... Yeah, I think that’s her now.’ The nurse grinned. ‘With Amy’s favourite doctor.’
There was no question about who that was. Chloe looked up and saw Jon pushing a woman in a wheelchair into the lobby. She was wearing a hospital gown and a nasal cannula indicated that there was probably an oxygen cylinder tucked under the blanket over her knees. Chloe left the nurse with the boy and went outside to meet them.
Jon was looking around, trying to catch the attention of one of the nurses but they were all busy. When he saw Chloe he spoke to the woman.
‘Ah. Here’s someone who might know...’ He turned his blue eyes up to meet hers. ‘There’s a little boy, three years old. He’s just been admitted.’
‘Through here.’ Chloe indicated the ward, and Jon nodded a thank-you, wheeling the woman through.
‘Nicky...’ The woman’s voice was hoarse and cracked. She stretched out her hand towards the boy in the bed and tried to get out of the wheelchair but Jon laid his hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
‘Stay there, Kathy. He’s all right.’
‘His hands...’ Kathy wouldn’t stop reaching, and Chloe saw that one of Nicky’s hands was still blackened by smoke.
‘It’s all right. His hands aren’t burned, I cleaned him up and checked. He must have picked that bit of soot up when I took his pyjamas off.’ Jon’s reassurance calmed Kathy a little.
‘He’s not burned at all?’
‘Nothing. Your husband did a good job, Kathy, he got him out of the house without a scratch on him. It’s just the smoke inhalation. We need to watch him carefully for a little while, just the same as we need to watch you.’
‘I’m all right.’ Kathy didn’t take her eyes off her son.
‘Well, we need to make sure. I sprang you out of observation on the strict condition that I made sure you stayed in the chair and breathed through your nose. You’re not getting the full benefit of the oxygen if you breathe through your mouth.’
Jon gave Kathy a look of gentle reproof and she closed her mouth, her chest moving as she took a deep breath through her nose.
‘Better. Thank you.’ Jon grinned at her and she managed a smile. Chloe stepped forward, taking Kathy’s hand.
‘I’m Chloe. That’s my niece over there, but I’m a doctor too. Would you like me to clean Nicky’s hand?’ It made little difference whether the boy’s hand was clean or dirty at the moment, but it was all that Chloe could think of to make Kathy feel better.
Kathy nodded, giving her a tight smile.
Chloe fetched some warm water and carefully wiped and dried Nicky’s hand. Jon had stepped away from them and was talking quietly on his phone, and Chloe pushed the wheelchair a little closer to the bed so that Kathy could touch her son.
‘Is there anyone we can call for you? A friend or relative?’
‘Dr Lambert’s calling my sister. He’s so kind...’ A tear rolled down Kathy’s cheek.
‘Yes, he is. He’s a very good doctor as well, and Nicky’s in good hands here.’ Chloe put her arm around Kathy’s shoulders. ‘Don’t cry, now. Just breathe.’
Jon was still on the phone, talking intently. He saw Chloe watching him, and before she could avert her eyes he flashed her a smile and ended the call.
‘Your sister’s coming, she’ll be here in an hour. She’s going to get the children to school and then come straight here.’ He bent down, squatting on his heels in front of Kathy. ‘I called down to see how your husband’s doing—’
‘Is he all right?’ Kathy’s hand flew to her mouth.
‘He’s comfortable and in no danger. He needs care, he has smoke inhalation and burns to his arm, but they’ll heal.’
‘Thank you... Thank you...’
That smile again. The one that would have calmed a charging rhino. Or made a stone feel something. ‘I hear your husband was a hero.’
Tears rolled down Kathy’s cheeks. ‘He told me to go downstairs. He went to fetch Nicky and rolled him up in a blanket...’
‘The doctor said that you could see him for ten minutes. I can take you down, and bring you straight back here to be with Nicky.’
Kathy’s gaze moved to her son and then back to Jon, in a dilemma. Nicky was lying quietly at the moment, but he was going to need his mother’s comfort when the trauma of the last few hours started to sink in.
‘Will you let me watch Nicky for you while you’re gone? I’ll call you if there’s any change or if he becomes distressed.’ Chloe spoke up.
‘Would you...?’ Kathy was still uncertain.
‘I’ll stay right here, by his bed. I can call Jon, and he’ll bring you straight back here.’
Jon nodded, taking his phone from the trouser pocket of his scrubs and putting it in Kathy’s hand. ‘Here. Hang onto it for me.’
Kathy nodded. ‘I’d like to see him. I want to tell him—’
Jon got to his feet, smiling. ‘He’ll be wanting to hear it. And Chloe will keep a good eye on Nicky. If we all share the load, we can cover everything.’
* * *
Chloe had been wondering whether that last comment had been aimed at her. Jon’s glance had flipped momentarily towards her when he’d said it, and she’d pretended not to notice.
He took Kathy away, and brought her back again twenty minutes later. Even though his shift had ended almost an hour ago, he waited until Kathy’s sister arrived, taking ten minutes to change out of his scrubs and then returning to the ward. This time Chloe couldn’t help a little thrill of excitement because he was quite obviously here just for her.
‘Breakfast?’
‘Shouldn’t you be getting home for some sleep?’ Her treacherous heart hoped that he wouldn’t go.
‘I’m not quite tired enough yet.’
They left Amy playing quietly and walked down to the canteen. Jon piled a plate full of all the breakfast items on the menu and Chloe rummaged in her handbag for the small sachet of teabags.
‘Hot water? Or can I tempt you to something else?’ He gestured towards the pile of flapjacks.
‘No, that’s okay. I’ll watch you eat.’
They found a table in a quiet corner and Jon attacked his food like a man who hadn’t eaten in the last week. She waited until he slowed a little, sipping her tea.
‘So how’s Kathy’s husband?’
‘Second-and third-degree burns on the top of his arm and shoulder. He could well need skin grafts.’
‘But he’ll be okay.’
‘Yes. Apparently he was pretty lucky to escape with just that.’
‘He knew Kathy was there?’
Jon’s face broke into a smile. ‘He was drowsy from the pain relief but he knew all right. Brave man.’
‘Going to fetch Nicky like that.’
‘Yes. And the way he told Kathy that it all looked worse than it felt, and that she wasn’t to worry about him. He was okay, and she should stay with Nicky.’
He paused for a moment, looking at Chloe, and then started to eat again. She wondered whether that comment was aimed at her as well. If it was, she didn’t deserve the kind of respect that Kathy’s husband did. She’d just done what she’d had to do, when she’d sent Hannah away to live with James.
‘I’ll go down there later. If he can’t have visitors, I can at least take a message from Kathy. Let him know how she and Nicky are doing.’
‘That’s nice. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.’
He finished the last few mouthfuls from his plate and leaned back in his seat with a satisfied sigh. Then he turned to the toast.
‘I’ve been thinking...’
Chloe asked the question that he was clearly waiting for. ‘What about?’
‘What are you going to do when Amy comes out of hospital?’
‘I’ll take some time off work. She should be coming out on Monday but it won’t be until the afternoon so I’ll speak to my head of department in the morning. When she’s fully well, I’ll make enquiries about getting her into the hospital crèche.’
He nodded. ‘I could look after her next week.’
‘You can’t work nights and look after a baby all day. You’re not that superhuman.’
‘Ah, so you think I’m just a bit superhuman...’ Jon grinned at her. ‘But, no, I wasn’t thinking of doing that. The guy I’m covering for is back from sick leave next week. I’m working on Monday night, but I’m not needed again until the following Sunday. After that I’ve got some more time off arranged before I start work permanently, and I can use that to work on the house.’
It was tempting. Very tempting, in more ways than just the practical. Chloe stared at him, trying to frame a polite but firm refusal.
‘What?’ He didn’t wait for her answer. ‘Come on, you know Amy will be safe with me. And a week off with her might be relaxing.’
‘You think so?’
Jon shrugged. ‘Well, a change is as good as a rest. Amy can’t frame a sensible sentence about either medicine or building materials.’
He seemed so sure. And although it was difficult to fault his logic, his absolute commitment to the idea didn’t make any sense.
‘This is my responsibility, Jon. Why won’t you take no for an answer?’
* * *
It was a fair enough question. If he were in Chloe’s shoes, he’d be asking the same thing. Avoiding her like the plague and then suddenly jumping in with both feet might not be a very good basis for trust, but he’d just have to use a bit of persuasion.
‘When do you think Hannah’s going to be able to take full-time responsibility for Amy?’ He avoided the question with one of his own.
She sighed. ‘I spoke with James last night. We both agreed to take things slowly.’
‘Then you’re going to need to pace yourself. Save your leave for when you really need it.’
‘That’s true, and it’s a very good point. You haven’t answered my question, though.’
So he wasn’t getting off the hook that easily. ‘Families are important.’
‘That’s true too.’ She was circling the rim of her empty cup with her finger. Jon could practically hear the next question forming and he didn’t want to answer that one either.
‘Look, James will tell you that I’m not close to my family. I speak with my sister regularly, once a fortnight. I mark it in my diary to remind me.’
She looked up at him thoughtfully, obviously trying to comprehend an arrangement that was so different from the way she kept in touch with James and Hannah, just picking up the phone whenever she had something to say. Never needing to remember to do it, because her brother and sister were a part of her life.
‘Do you say much?’
‘Yeah, we say quite a bit. We’ve learned not to say anything that really matters, because that’s likely to get us into trouble. It’s a long story. But you and James and Hannah...you have something special. It’s worth taking care of.’
‘When our parents died, all we had was each other.’ She pointed to his empty cup. ‘Do you want a refill?’
‘There’s still another cup in the pot.’ Jon picked up the small, stainless-steel coffee pot and poured the rest of its contents into his cup. ‘Am I going to need this?’
‘I’m not sure. You said it was a long story.’
Suddenly he wanted everything out in the open. He wanted to let Chloe know where he stood, and then they could forget about these games and get on with the practical.
‘Right...’ Jon wondered where to start, and decided that the very beginning was probably best. ‘Well...boy meets girl, I guess...’
Her eyes widened suddenly. For one delicious moment Jon let the misunderstanding hang in the air between them.
‘I met my ex-wife at the Freshers’ Ball at medical school.’
‘Ah. Yes, of course.’ She found another teabag from the seemingly endless supply in her bag and put it into her cup, splashing hot water onto it. ‘And...then you got married?’
‘Yes, we did, after we’d both qualified. Everyone pretty much expected we would, we had the same interests, the same goals in life...our families got on so well that Helen’s parents and mine used to go on weekend breaks together.’
Chloe’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling the inevitable comment. Jon couldn’t help smiling, even though there wasn’t a great deal to smile about in all of this.
‘Yeah, I know. When the in-laws start planning Christmas together there’s a certain amount of expectation involved. But we didn’t let them down, we got a nice house together, both of us had good jobs that we loved. We were very happy.’
Chloe didn’t look convinced about any of this. Maybe she was smarter than he’d been. He’d thought then that love was something he could catch and keep, but now he knew better.
‘I got a promotion, and Helen started working nights. We saw less and less of each other, and when we did there were more and more arguments. We became like strangers living in the same house.’
Even now, the quiet hopelessness, the feeling that if this was all there was to life it had somehow fallen short of what he’d wanted, reverberated through Jon’s heart. He’d never smelled Helen’s soap, the way he had Chloe’s. Never checked the sell-by dates of her food in the fridge. Maybe if he had, things would have been different, but it was too late to think about that now.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.