Mark paused before opening the door, his gray eyes concerned all of a sudden.

“You will be all right here by yourself? I hate to leave you like this in a strange place.…”

“But you don’t have any choice.” Laura smiled, appreciating his consideration when he must have more pressing things on his mind than her or Robbie. “We’ll be fine, Mark. Why shouldn’t we be? We have everything we need after all.”

“Have you?” There was a strange note in his voice all of a sudden, an intensity to the look he gave her that made a tremor run down her spine. Laura stared back at him, her greeny-blue eyes the color of a stormy sea.

He gave her a gentle smile before he suddenly bent and brushed her cheek with a kiss.

“Don’t wait up,” he said softly, and then he was gone.

Dear Reader,

One of the joys of writing medical romances is the opportunity it gives me to touch upon so many fascinating subjects. A Very Special Child tells the story of Laura Grady, the widowed mother of a four-year-old Down’s Syndrome child.

Several years ago I helped organize a production of ballet and modern dance performed by a group of teenagers who all had Down’s Syndrome. The group’s enthusiasm and sheer joy in performing touched everyone’s heart. Afterward, one of the dancers’ mothers told me how she felt privileged to have such a very special child. That phrase stuck in my mind and this book is the result of it.

I am sure that you will take Laura and little Robbie to your hearts as you watch Laura falling in love with pediatric resident Mark Dawson. I know you will feel as I did—that she found the perfect man to share her life with and help care for her very special child.

My very best wishes to you all.

Jennifer Taylor

A Very Special Child

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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CONTENTS

Cover

Dear Reader

Title Page

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

‘AM I GLAD to see you! Here…catch!’

Nurse Laura Grady deftly caught the plastic apron her colleague, Rachel Hart, tossed towards her. She shot it a quizzical glance, but before she had chance to ask what it was for Rachel had headed out of the office door.

Laura’s greeny-blue eyes shimmered with amusement as she fastened the apron over her brand-new uniform dress. Nothing had changed, it seemed. There was still too much work and not enough staff to do it, from the look of things!

She quickly followed Rachel into the ward, realising that it was a relief to know that some things were the same as they had always been. It was her first day back at work after an absence of almost five years and she couldn’t deny that she’d spent a sleepless night, worrying about how she would cope.

Would it take her long to slip back into the old routine? Could she cope with the demands of working in a new department? She had been a midwife in the maternity unit before she had left, so the children’s ward was a new departure for her, although she’d worked in paediatrics before. Granted, she had taken a refresher course to brush up her skills, but what if she wasn’t up to the job?

‘It’s OK, poppet. Don’t cry. We’ll soon have you cleaned up.’

Rachel’s soothing tones cut through Laura’s introspection and she gave herself a mental shake. This was neither the time nor the place to start having doubts!

She joined the ward sister at the side of the bed, her heart aching as she saw the expression on the child’s wan little face. The little girl couldn’t have been more than six years old and she was looking very sorry for herself.

Rachel turned to Laura and grimaced. ‘This is Katie Watson. Admitted with recurrent urinary tract infection. We’re going to check for any renal anomalies or scarring. And, as you can see, she’s been very, very sick.’

‘Too right!’ Laura grinned commiseratingly at the little girl. ‘Hello, Katie. My name is Laura and I have to say that I think I’d be sick if I had that cover on my bed. It’s horrible!’

She cast a disparaging look at the bedcover, which was printed with a gaudily coloured jungle scene. Katie gave her a wobbly smile. ‘I have a nicer one at home,’ the child whispered shyly. ‘It’s got puppies on it.’

‘Oh, wow, I bet that’s really great. I love puppies, don’t you?’ As she was speaking, Laura began to strip the soiled cover off the bed, swiftly rolling it up to put it into a plastic laundry bag. She nodded as Rachel murmured that she’d be back in a moment as the office phone began to ring. Laura turned her attention back to Katie.

‘So, do you have a dog at home, then?’

‘Yes. But he isn’t a puppy. He’s three. I miss him.’ Katie’s lower lip wobbled ominously and Laura hurriedly set about distracting her.

‘Three? So he’s still only a baby really. I bet he does all sorts of silly things, doesn’t he, like chewing your slippers?’

Katie shook her head, her huge blue eyes full of scorn. ‘Sandy doesn’t do that! He’s a good dog. He sleeps in my room when I’m at home, on my bed.’ The little girl looked momentarily unsure. ‘You won’t tell Mummy that, will you? She might make him sleep downstairs if she finds out.’

Laura shook her head so that her reddish-brown curls danced around her pretty heart-shaped face. Her hair was baby fine and the bane of her life, defying all her attempts to keep it neatly styled. She kept it cut short in an effort to tame it, but the soft curls seemed to have a life of their own most of the time.

‘No, I won’t tell her, sweetheart. It will be our little secret. Now let’s get you cleaned up then I can remake your bed and you’ll feel a lot better.’

Stowing the last of the soiled linen into the plastic sack, she carried it to the linen chute then filled a basin with warm water. She took it back and drew the curtains around the bed to give them some privacy as she set about stripping off Katie’s night-dress. The child looked painfully thin once she was undressed, her arms like sticks and her ribs protruding. Laura sighed softly as she ran the damp washcloth over her emaciated little body.

Anorexia was a frequent symptom of urinary tract infection in children of this age, and a worrying one. She made up her mind to read through Katie’s notes the minute she had chance to bring herself up to date with the case. She smiled as she dropped the damp cloth into the basin and reached for a towel. Already she was finding herself getting involved, which was a good sign. Maybe it wouldn’t be that difficult to pick up the threads of this new job after all.

Once the little girl was dry, she found a fresh nightie in the bedside locker and popped it over her head. ‘Right, that’s better, isn’t it? Now I’ll go and find some clean bedding. And I’ll make sure it’s prettier than the last lot…promise!’

Leaving Katie giggling happily, she hurried off to find the linen cupboard. Rachel was nowhere in sight and the other two nurses on duty were busy with the morning’s drugs round. Laura hesitated, wondering if she should ask them to direct her, but it seemed silly to make a fuss. It couldn’t be that difficult to find where the supplies were kept, for heaven’s sake!

After a few false starts she finally located the linen cupboard and hurried inside to hunt through the shelves for something suitable. In common with a lot of hospitals, Dalverston General steered clear of the usual starched white linen for use in its children’s ward so that the shelves were stacked with brightly patterned covers and sheets bearing all manner of designs. However, it was on the very top shelf that Laura finally spotted exactly what she wanted—a bed set printed with playful grey kittens and fluffy yellow ducklings, which would be sure to appeal to Katie.

Hefting over the stool, she climbed up to get it, but she was just that bit too short to reach the shelf. She heaved a sigh of annoyance. It wasn’t the first time she’d had occasion to rue her diminutive five feet two inches of height, nor would it be the last, but she refused to be beaten!

Standing on tiptoe, she made a grab for the linen then gasped in dismay as she felt the stool skidding from under her. She closed her eyes as she felt herself tumbling backwards, waiting for the inevitable to happen, then found them winging open again as a pair of strong arms fastened around her before she could hit the floor.

‘Mmm, so my horoscope was right after all.’

‘I…um. Pardon?’ Laura took a quick breath as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. One minute she’d been heading straight for disaster and the next she found herself staring into the most beautiful pair of grey eyes she had ever seen. It was little wonder that she was having difficulty following what was going on!

‘Uh-huh, in the paper this morning. I always read my horoscope, you see, not that I always believe what it says.’ The grey eyes crinkled at the corners as the man chuckled softly. ‘I tend to be a selective believer, you understand. But it does make me wonder if maybe I should take it more seriously when something like this happens.’

‘Something like this…’ Laura took another quick breath but it didn’t seem to achieve any more than the first had done. The feeling of bewilderment certainly didn’t decrease; in fact, it seemed to have grown worse. In desperation she tried a third breath for good measure and was rather pleased with the results when she found that she could manage a simple question at last.

‘What do you mean?’

‘That my horoscope said not to let any opportunity slip through my fingers today.’ He chuckled again and she shivered as she felt the vibrations which rippled through her body. It was only then that she realised their position, that this man—this stranger—was still cradling her against his chest.

The realisation brought a flood of colour to her cheeks. She opened her mouth to ask him to put her down but he seemed to guess what she’d been about to say. He set her gently on her feet and stepped back, his grey eyes assessing as they skimmed over her.

‘Anyway, enough of such nonsense. Are you OK? You haven’t hurt yourself?’

There was genuine concern in his deep voice and Laura hastily shook her head. Now that the shock was beginning to wear off she was starting to feel like a fool. Why on earth hadn’t she accepted her own limitations, instead of nearly causing an accident like that? A broken arm or leg certainly wouldn’t have been a good start to her first day back at work!

‘I’m fine. Thank you,’ she replied stiffly, carefully avoiding the rather too astute gaze so that he wouldn’t see how embarrassed she felt. Her averted eyes widened as she suddenly realised what he was wearing, which was very little, quite frankly.

Jogging shorts and a sleeveless vest in well-washed grey marl weren’t the usual clothes one expected to see in a hospital corridor, but he wore them well, she had to admit. She knew that she was staring but she couldn’t seem to stop as her eyes feasted on the perfection of his well-toned physique. His skin was lightly tanned, gleaming smoothly in the glow from the single bulb which was all the linen cupboard boasted by way of lighting. Laura’s hands tightened against a sudden urge to run her fingers over his skin to see if it really did feel as marvellously smooth as it looked.…

She dragged her eyes away from the powerful conformation of muscles, deeming it wiser to let them home in on other aspects of his appearance, and immediately noticed how tall he was. He had to be at least six feet tall, with light brown hair which fell casually over a wide forehead.

His features were craggy rather than conventionally handsome, she decided thoughtfully, very masculine with that square jaw, impressive nose and chiselled cheekbones. However, it was only when he spoke that she became aware of the silence which had fallen while she’d been taking stock.

‘Sure? It must have given you quite a scare.…’

‘I’m fine. Honestly,’ she said quickly, uncomfortable with the way she was acting. It had been a long time since she’d been so aware of any man, and that she should be aware of this stranger now shocked her, made her feel guilty. Surely the fact that she had loved Ian so much should have made her immune to any other man’s appeal?

She took another of those pitifully ineffectual breaths then gave him a cool smile, hoping that he would take the hint and not pursue the subject. She had no idea who he was, but the way he was dressed could be a clue. A lot of parents stayed in the hospital with their children so it seemed likely that he was one of them. The thought that he might be the father of one of her new charges didn’t ease her mind. What caring parent would be impressed by a nurse who was incapable of getting linen off a shelf without causing a near-disaster?

The thought made her inwardly groan, although she took care not to let him see how flustered she felt. ‘Anyway, thanks again. You saved me from a nasty tumble.’

‘My pleasure.’ He returned her smile readily enough but she could tell that he’d sensed her embarrassment. It made her feel more uncomfortable than ever that he should be able to read her mind so easily. However, before she had time to dwell on it, he reached up to lift the bedding off the top shelf and handed it to her.

‘I think this was what you were after. Here you go.’

He gave her a last brief smile then left before Laura could thank him, his long legs carrying him swiftly along the corridor in the direction of the lifts. She stared after him for a moment then deliberately turned round and made her way back to the ward.

Katie was as delighted with the bed linen as Laura had hoped she would be, and chatted away non-stop as Laura set to work making the bed. She was glad of the distraction because it meant that she had no time to brood about what had happened. The encounter had disturbed her and not just because of the fright she’d had either. It was very odd.

Once the bed was neatly made again, Laura tucked Katie up then went to find Rachel. She was in the office, going through a stack of papers, and she grinned ruefully as Laura tapped on the door.

‘Oh, hi! Sorry to drop you in it like that, Laura, but, as you’ve probably guessed, we’re short-staffed. Anyway, come and sit down while I give you the introductory talk I had planned! Mark’s not due for another half-hour yet so we’ll have time to get you acquainted with how things are done around here.’

‘Mark?’ Laura queried as she sat down.

‘Mark Dawson, our paediatric reg. You haven’t met him?’ Rachel frowned as she got up to plug in the kettle.

‘No. David White was here the last time I visited the ward,’ she explained.

‘When Robbie was here as a patient?’ Rachel smiled as she spooned instant coffee into two mugs. ‘How is he? Up to all sorts of mischief, I’ll bet!’

‘How did you guess?’ Laura laughed softly, her face lighting up as she thought about her son. ‘He started school a few months ago and has been leading the teachers a merry dance!’

‘He’s a real little sweetheart. We were all sorry when it was time for him to leave us, and we don’t say that about all our patients, believe me!’

Rachel sat down behind the desk and frowned. ‘It’s hard to believe that it’s only a few months since that train crash you and Robbie were involved in, isn’t it?’

‘Ten months to be precise.’ Laura sighed reminiscently as she thought back. ‘I’m just grateful that both of us came through it all right.’

‘You must be. It must have been a horrible experience for you, something you never expect to happen,’ Rachel suggested with a shudder.

‘It was. And yet in a way it had a postive effect because being in hospital afterwards made me realise how much I missed the job. It spurred me on to come back to work.’

‘Really?’ Rachel smiled. ‘Well, it’s great to have you back, Laura. I just want to say how pleased I was when I heard that you’d accepted this post. We’ve been desperate to fill the vacancy, and to get someone with your experience is a real bonus.’

‘Thank you. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be so lucky as to find a job with such marvellous hours.’ Laura took a sip of her coffee. ‘Obviously, I need to work but I also need to be there for Robbie. Knowing that I can work nine to five each day makes all the difference.’

‘You can thank Mark for that because it was his idea,’ Rachel explained. ‘He’s very keen to encourage women who have left nursing to start a family to come back. His view is that it’s not only a waste of valuable training when they leave the workforce but a waste of their experience as well. That’s why he suggested we adapt the hours for this post to suit someone with family commitments.’

‘Well, I’m really glad he thought of it!’ Laura grinned. ‘I’m starting to like this Mark Dawson already and I haven’t even met him!’

‘Oh, give it a couple of days and you’ll be like the rest of us…totally besotted with the guy!’ Rachel laughed as she saw Laura’s expression. ‘Honestly! David was great and we were sorry to lose him when he moved to Glasgow, but Mark…well, Mark is something special. We all love him to bits. If I had to sum him up I’d say that he has to be one of the nicest, most caring men I’ve ever met—’

Rachel broke off and laughed as she looked towards the door. ‘I bet your ears are burning. We were just talking about you!’

‘Nothing bad, I hope?’

Laura felt a frisson inch its way down her spine at the sound of a familiar voice. Slowly, she turned, her eyes widening as she saw the man who was lounging against the doorjamb. The last time they’d met he had been wearing a lot less than he was wearing now, but the impact he made on her senses was much the same.

She took a quick breath but once again the giddiness was closing in, the same confusion and inability to think straight she’d experienced after he’d saved her from that potentially disastrous fall. As though it were happening in slow motion, she watched him walk towards her. He stopped a few feet away, his grey eyes holding a warmly intimate light which made her feel as though they shared some particularly delicious secret.

‘We didn’t get chance for introductions before, did we?’ He held out his hand and smiled at her. ‘I’m Mark Dawson and you must be Laura Grady. I’m very pleased to meet you, Laura. Welcome to the team.’

‘So, that brings us to Katie Watson. How has she been today?’

Mark Dawson sat back in his chair and tossed the steel-framed spectacles he’d been wearing onto the desk. He’d spent the past half-hour running through the case histories of all the children in the ward, and Laura had to admit that she was impressed. Although he had their notes in front of him, he’d referred to them only briefly, obviously needing the most minimal reminder to bring each child’s details to mind.

She found herself thinking back to what Rachel had said earlier, about him being the most caring man she had met, and silently agreed. It didn’t take a genius to see that Mark Dawson was deeply committed to the welfare of his young patients.

She quickly focused her attention on what Rachel was saying, realising that she couldn’t afford to let her mind wander. One of the reasons Mark had asked her to sit in on the meeting that morning had been so that she could get an overall view of the patients in the ward, and she had to admit that it had been a great help. She wouldn’t like him to think that she wasn’t taking full advantage of the opportunity, or that she wasn’t as dedicated to the job as he so obviously was…

She frowned, wondering why it seemed so important that he think well of her.

‘How was she when you left her, Laura?’

Mark’s deep voice cut through her musings and she quickly retuned her mind to the question, not sorry to let that disquieting thought disappear. ‘Fine. She was telling me about her dog and that seemed to cheer her up and take her mind off the fact that she’d been so sick, poor little mite.’

Mark smiled, his grey eyes lighting up with an inner warmth which was very attractive. ‘Well, that’s more than any of us have achieved so far!’

He laughed when he saw her confusion. ‘Katie has been extremely withdrawn since she was admitted two days ago. We’ve all tried to get through to her but without much success. Obviously, you’ve managed to find something to spark her interest. Well done!’

Laura couldn’t help smiling back at the genuine pleasure she heard in his voice. ‘It was more luck than anything else, I imagine. I just happened to ask her if she had a dog and that was it.’ She frowned. ‘Is she worried about being in hospital? Is that why she’s been so withdrawn, do you think?’

‘That, plus the fact that her mother hasn’t been in to visit her as yet.’

Mark’s tone was grim as he got up. There was barely concealed impatience in the way he strode to the window then swung round. Laura felt a shiver dance down her spine as she saw the anger that darkened his eyes. Mark would never compromise where a patient’s welfare was concerned, she realised.

‘Katie’s mother, Lisa, has found herself a new boyfriend, it appears. He’s taking up most of her time so that she doesn’t seem to have any to spare for her daughter.’

‘How awful for the poor child!’ Laura exclaimed, understanding immediately what had sparked his anger. ‘I can’t understand how any mother could put her own needs before those of her child.’

‘No, I don’t imagine you can,’ Mark agreed softly. His eyes held hers for a moment before he turned to Rachel, and Laura forced herself to concentrate once more, although it wasn’t easy. There had been something in the way Mark had looked at her which had set every nerve in her body tingling, though she couldn’t understand why

‘Any luck contacting Katie’s father?’ he asked the sister.

‘No. The number we had on file for him has been disconnected and, with Lisa not having been in to visit, I haven’t had chance to see if she knows how to get in touch with him,’ Rachel explained.

She turned to Laura with a sigh. ‘This isn’t the first time Katie has been admitted with UTI. She’s been in once before, only her parents were still living together then. Since they split up things seem to have got progressively worse.’

‘Worse? In what way?’ Laura queried. However, it was Mark who answered. Coming back to the desk, he sat down again and ran his hands through his hair with weary impatience.

‘Meaning that Lisa has been very lax about making sure that Katie takes her medication. We put Katie on a daily low dose of trimethoprim after her first admission. She was diagnosed with vesico-ureteric reflux when she was a baby, so we decided prophylactic antibiotics were called for.’

‘I see. What grade of reflux was there?’ Laura asked in concern.

‘Two. Urine was flowing back into one of the ureters and the pelvis, but there was no dilation.’

‘I see.’ Laura frowned as she thought about what he’d said. It was rare for urine to flow back towards the kidneys but, unfortunately, some children were born with this problem. Instead of urine passing into the bladder and being stored there, it flowed back up the ureters. In Katie’s case this meant that urine had actually refluxed into the complex system whereby her blood had been filtered of impurities.

‘So how long did this go on for?’ she asked in concern. ‘And did Katie need surgery to sort out the problem?’

‘Fortunately not. By the time Katie was two she’d stopped refluxing so there was no need for surgical intervention. However, she’s had several bouts of UTI in the past eighteen months so her GP referred her to us for investigation. We decided that she would fare better on long-term antibiotics to prevent further infections.’

He shrugged but Laura could tell that he was as concerned as she was. ‘There was no problem when her father was around because he made sure that she took the medication as per instructions. However, since he disappeared off the scene all that has gone by the board.’

‘What a shame! Doesn’t Katie have any contact with him at all now?’ Laura asked in dismay.

‘Not from what I can gather from her GP. He was so worried when the mother eventually took Katie to the surgery that he contacted me direct and asked if we could admit Katie immediately. And I’m glad he did.’

Mark’s tone was hard. ‘The poor kid has lost a lot of weight in the couple of months since we saw her last. My main concern now is that renal scarring may have occurred because of the renewed bouts of infection. However, there’s no way of knowing until we see the results of the ultrasound scans and X-rays, which are booked for the end of this week.’

None of them said anything. Laura suspected that they were all mentally crossing their fingers that the scans wouldn’t show any irreversible damage to Katie’s kidneys. It was hard to believe that any mother could have been so careless as to put her child at risk the way Katie’s mother had done.

The beep of a pager suddenly broke the silence and Mark grimaced. ‘That’s for me.’

He picked up the phone to respond to the call while Laura, taking her cue from Rachel, got up to leave. It was obvious that the meeting was at an end and suddenly she couldn’t wait to get down to the real nitty-gritty of the job. She had always loved nursing and her natural enthusiasm had been whetted by Mark’s obvious commitment. Suddenly, she knew that her fears had been groundless and that she would cope, and couldn’t help smiling as the last of her uncertainty melted away.

‘Why the smile? Not that I’m objecting, of course. A smile like that could light up the dullest day.’

There was a teasing note in Mark’s voice as he replaced the receiver, but it didn’t conceal the fact that he’d meant what he’d said. Laura felt a ripple of heat spread from one small point in the very centre of her being and radiate outwards, filling her with a pleasure so intense that she was sure it must show. She rushed into speech, afraid that he might ask her what was wrong. Frankly, that was the last thing she wanted to have to explain when she wasn’t sure of the answer herself!

‘I was just thinking that maybe I would be able to cope with this job after all,’ she blurted out. She saw Mark frown and immediately wished she’d stopped to think before saying that. After all, she didn’t want him having doubts about her ability to do this job.

‘Of course you can cope! Why on earth would you doubt it?’ he demanded. He folded his arms across his chest and stared at her, and she shifted uncomfortably.

‘Oh, well, I was just worried that I might find it difficult to slot in here,’ she mumbled, then jumped as he gave an openly sceptical laugh.

‘If I didn’t know better then I would swear you were fishing for compliments, Laura Grady.’ He suddenly reached out and gave her a gentle shake. ‘You’re going to fit in here perfectly! I can guarantee that.’

‘Can you?’

Was that really her voice? Laura wondered shakily as she heard the husky tones which supposedly emerged from her lips. She swallowed then tried again, afraid that Mark would think her a complete ninny, acting this way. ‘I mean, thank you. I appreciate your confidence, Dr Dawson.’

‘Make that Mark, and there’s nothing to thank me for. I knew as soon as I read your CV that you were the right person for this job. I was away on a course when the interviews were held but I’d already made my views clear to the board. I’m only glad that you accepted the post, Laura. Dalverston General needs nurses of your calibre.’

He gave her a last warm smile before he left the office. Laura stood right where she was before she realised that Rachel would be wondering where she’d got to. She squared her shoulders as she headed for the door. Mark’s belief in her was something she intended to live up to…starting this very minute!

She left the office and glanced along the corridor just in time to see him stepping into the lift. Perhaps he sensed he was being watched because he looked round. Their eyes met in a look which sent a wave of heat washing through her before he disappeared from view, but the damage had been done already.

Laura went back to the ward, responding automatically as Rachel introduced her to the rest of the team, although a few seconds later she couldn’t recall the names of either of the two other nurses on duty that day. Was it any wonder? the voice of her conscience whispered as she hurried off to begin the first task Rachel had set her, getting one of the children ready to go to Theatre.

She bit her lip as she cross-checked Daniel Glover’s name tags against the theatre list, struggling to contain the feeling of guilt. Was she really such a shallow person that she could forget who and what she was just because an attractive man was kind to her? Was it really so easy to forget about Ian and the love they’d shared? She hoped not. But maybe she should remind herself of the facts before she made a fool of herself.

She was Laura Grady, a widow with a four-year-old son who suffered from Down’s syndrome. No matter how kind Mark Dawson might be to her, it wouldn’t change that and neither would she want it to.

All she wanted from life now was the chance to raise her son. She didn’t need anything else because she’d had it all already…a wonderful marriage to a man she’d loved. The memory of the love she and Ian had shared was more than enough to see her through the coming years.

Wasn’t it?

It was that last thought, which slipped in before she could stop it, that worried her most of all.

CHAPTER TWO

IT WAS a busy day but as the time flew past, Laura knew that she’d been right to accept the job. She enjoyed every minute, finding it easier than she’d dared hope to slip into the routine of caring for her small charges.

Rachel had explained that continuity of care was a key criterion in nursing the children, and that they worked a system whereby each nurse was assigned certain children who would come specifically under her care. Cutting down on the number of people who dealt with each child, helped them form a bond. It also meant that the nurses had far more input into the way each child was cared for, and that they were encouraged to make suggestions.

Laura was delighted when she discovered that Katie had been assigned to her care. Learning what she had about the child’s background, had made her more determined than ever to do her best for the little girl. She made a point of stopping to speak to her whenever she got chance throughout the day.

Daniel Glover came back from Theatre and she had a reassuring word with his mother when she saw how anxious Mrs Glover was.

‘Everything went extremely well, Mrs Glover,’ she assured her, smoothing the sheet over the drowsy child. Although Daniel had come round from the anaesthetic, he was still a bit groggy. ‘You’d be surprised how many children have this operation to clear up severe cases of glue ear like Daniel had.’

‘That nice Dr Dawson said that but you can’t help worrying, can you?’ Josephine Glover sighed as she looked at her son. ‘I just wish I’d realised sooner that Daniel had a problem with his hearing but, to be honest, he never acted as though he couldn’t hear me.’

Laura smiled, determinedly quelling the flutter her heart gave at the mention of Mark’s name. She hadn’t seen him since that morning as he hadn’t been back to the ward. She’d heard Rachel telling one of the parents that he was tied up in a meeting but would be available the following day if they wanted to speak to him. The consultant paediatrician, Simon Martindale, was away on holiday so Mark was having to stand in for him, which must have increased his workload.

Now Laura forced herself to focus on Daniel’s worried mother, rather than allowing thoughts of Mark Dawson to intrude. ‘A lot of children adapt to the problem of impaired hearing, so you mustn’t blame yourself. And, of course, the sticky fluid that collects in the middle ear and interferes with the movement of the eardrum and ossicles and causes the problem tends to build up over a period of time. Each time Daniel had a cold or respiratory infection the situation became worse.’

‘I see. But what about these grommets the doctor mentioned—they won’t cause Daniel a problem, will they?’ Mrs Glover queried uncertainly.

‘Not at all. They are just tiny tubes which the surgeon has put into the incisions he’s made in Daniel’s eardrums. Their job is to equalise the pressure on both sides of the eardrum so that the mucus can drain down the Eustachian tubes into the back of Daniel’s throat. They usually fall out of their own accord once the hole in the eardrum closes.’

She smiled encouragingly. ‘Quite frankly, Daniel is going to find life a lot easier now that he can hear what’s going on!’

Mrs Glover looked a lot happier as she was left to sit with her son. Laura carried on with her work and before she knew it five o’clock had arrived. She went to have a word with Katie before going off duty, smiling when she saw the child’s face light up as soon as Katie saw her approaching.

‘I’m going home now, poppet. Is there anything you want before I leave—a drink of juice perhaps?’ she offered, bending to brush the wispy brown hair back from the little girl’s face. There had been a lot of parents in and out of the ward all day, but Katie’s mother had been noticeable by her absence. Now Laura felt her heart ache as she saw the child look eagerly toward the doors as they opened to admit two more visitors, and her ensuing disappointment when once again her mother wasn’t one of them.

‘No, thank you. I’m not thirsty.’ Katie managed a wan little smile as she glanced down at the bedspread. ‘I really like these kittens, Laura. I wish I could show them to Daddy.’

‘Maybe your mummy will phone him and ask him to visit you, then he can see them,’ she suggested, mentally crossing her fingers.

Katie shrugged resignedly. ‘Mummy and Daddy don’t love each other any more. She won’t speak to him when he rings up.’

Laura stifled a groan. It seemed so unfair that the poor mite should have to suffer because of her parents’ break-up. However, there was little she could say so she gave Katie another warm smile. ‘Right, then, sunshine, I’ll see you tomorrow. Be good!’

Katie’s wistful eyes followed Laura as she made her way down the ward. She paused to wave to the little girl then hurried to the staffroom. The other two nurses, who she’d discovered were called Jane Oliver and Cathy Williams, were already there, putting on their coats. They bade her a cheery goodbye, but didn’t wait as they hurried out of the door. They’d disappeared by the time Laura got to the lift. They’d seemed friendly enough but there had been little time to chat as they’d been so busy.

Still, there would be time to get to know one another soon enough, Laura decided, pressing the button for the ground floor. She mustn’t be greedy. Considering it had been her first day, it had gone far better than she’d hoped!

An icy wind greeted her as she left the hospital. It was the end of March and the weather still hadn’t settled down. There had been a mixture of sunny days interspersed with heavy rain for several weeks. This part of northern Lancashire was very beautiful but the weather certainly wasn’t predictable. However, even Laura, well accustomed to the vagaries of the climate, was surprised when it began to snow as she reached the end of the drive. She definitely hadn’t expected that!

Drawing the collar of her coat up under her chin, she hurried towards the bus stop then looked round as she heard a car horn. It took her a second before she recognised the driver as Mark. He drew up alongside her and rolled down the window.

‘Hop in and I’ll give you a lift. Looks as though we’re about to have a bit of a storm.’

He glanced at the sky and Laura realised that he was right as she followed his gaze. The sky had turned a funny yellowish-grey colour, indicating that there was a lot of snow on the way. She hesitated a moment but the thought of the long walk she had once she got off the bus helped her make up her mind.

‘Thanks. I appreciate it,’ she said, sliding quickly into the seat as Mark thrust open the passenger door.

‘No problem.’ He gave her a lazy grin before he pulled out into the traffic. Flicking on the windscreen wipers, he focused his attention on the road as he headed towards the centre of the town. The snow was coming down harder now, sticking to the pavements and turning them white. He didn’t say anything until he’d cleared the worst of the traffic which always built up at rush hour around the cenotaph. Then he shot Laura a smiling glance.

‘Right, where to? I’m afraid I can’t remember where you live from your job application.’

‘I’m sure you can’t,’ she replied tartly. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’

‘No?’ He shrugged lightly, guiding the car expertly around a vehicle that suddenly pulled into the kerb without bothering to signal. He seemed unfazed by the manoeuvre and showed no sign of impatience as he drove past, but Laura suspected that tolerance was an intrinsic part of his nature.

She brushed aside that thought, realising that she was making judgements about him which she wasn’t qualified to make.

‘No,’ she stated firmly. ‘I’m sure that you must have read dozens of applications for the job, so why should you recall my details?’

‘Hmm, modest, as well as everything else, Laura. Is there no end to your virtues, I ask myself?’ He laughed to let her know that he was teasing, although there was the strangest gleam in his grey eyes as he shot her a glance.

‘I shall take that with a large pinch of salt, Dr Dawson,’ she retorted, struggling to find just the right note of levity and inwardly sighing with relief when he grinned.

‘Oh, dear, I can see that I won’t be able to soft-soap you, Nurse Grady.’ He changed down a gear as they came to a junction, waiting while a lorry trundled past before he pulled out.

He continued in a more sober tone, ‘Anyway, as it happens, I do remember a lot of what you wrote on your application. Want me to prove it?’

‘That’s up to you.’ She shrugged, determined to let him think that it made no difference to her. However, she would have been lying if she’d tried to deny her surprise when he began to recite from memory.

‘Your full name is Laura Anne Grady and you’re thirty years of age—not that you look it, I might add.’ He gave her another quick grin. ‘You look a lot younger than that. It must be your hair.’

Reaching out, he ruffled the red curls at her temple then returned his hand to the wheel. ‘All those baby-soft curls make you look more like a teenager than a grown woman.’

He carried on before she could say anything, not that there was much she could think of, Laura realised giddily. The action had been so…so natural that it would have been impossible to object. However, that didn’t mean it hadn’t disturbed her…

‘You worked as a midwife on the maternity unit for two years before you left to have your baby.’ He shot her a quizzical look and she struggled to concentrate. ‘Didn’t you think about going back there to work? Good midwives are always in demand.’

‘I did. In fact, when I left to have Robbie I intended just to take maternity leave and go back as soon as I could.’ She shrugged, unaware of the slightly wistful note in her voice. ‘However, circumstances changed and I decided that returning to work wasn’t an option.’

‘Your son has Down’s syndrome, I believe,’ Mark said quietly. He must have seen her surprise because he smiled gently. ‘Rachel told me all about him. Robbie seems to have won her over all right!’

Laura laughed at that. ‘Robbie’s a real little heartbreaker! And I’m not saying that because I’m his mother either. He simply loves people of all ages, shapes and sizes, and they seem to respond to him.’

‘A very special child indeed, but, then, you so often find that children with handicaps are blessed in other ways.’

Laura felt her eyes fill. It hadn’t been all plain sailing since she’d had Robbie—all too often she’d encountered hostility from strangers who had seen the child’s handicap and been unwilling to look beyond it. But there had been no hesitation in Mark’s assessment and it had touched her deeply.

‘Thank you for saying that,’ she said quietly. ‘Not everyone can understand that.’

‘I can imagine. Even in today’s more enlightened times there’s still a reluctance to accept people with disabilities. However, I imagine that Robbie himself is the best antidote to that kind of thinking.’

Laura laughed at that. ‘You’re right. Once people get to know him, any prejudices they have soon disappear. Robbie has the gift of making people love him!’

‘As I said, a very special little boy indeed, and I can’t wait to meet him.’

He looked expectantly at her and Laura took a shaky breath. It had been less a hint than a blatant piece of angling for an invitation, but why? Why would Mark be so…so interested in meeting her son?

She had no idea but it was obvious that he was waiting for an answer so she had no choice but to give him one. ‘You…you’ll see Robbie when you drop me off. He’s at my friend’s house. Claire offered to fetch him from school each day while I’m working when she collects her son, Ben.’

‘Handy. I imagine good child-care arrangements are crucial for any mother who wants to return to work,’ Mark observed.

‘Exactly. That’s one of the reasons this job was so attractive and why I’d decided that returning to the maternity unit wasn’t an option. Babies have a nasty habit of wanting to be born at all odd hours of the night!’

Mark laughed. ‘The theory being that they arrive exactly nine months after they were conceived.’

Laura laughed at that. ‘I imagine that’s something no one will ever prove! Anyway, knowing that I could work nine to five each day was the incentive for going after this job. I desperately need to work, of course, but Robbie’s welfare has to come first.’

‘Well, I for one am really glad that you applied for it.’ Mark gave her a smile which sent a ripple of heat through her body. There was a slight pause before he cleared his throat. However, Laura wasn’t deaf to the roughness in his voice all of a sudden.

‘Anyway, you’d better direct me before we end up in Cumbria. In this snowstorm I don’t think that would be wise, do you?’

Laura dragged her thoughts into some semblance of order and glanced out of the window. She gasped as she realised how hard it was snowing. ‘I never thought it would stick like this!’

She peered through the glass, wishing that she’d been concentrating harder. It wasn’t fair to have dragged Mark out of his way and then get them both lost!

She suddenly recognised where they were and sighed in relief. ‘Oh, take the next turning on the right. Claire and Sean live in the third house down that road.’

Mark did as she’d asked. He drew up carefully alongside the kerb, although the car still slewed because already the snow was quite deep. ‘Stay there and I’ll come round to help you,’ he ordered, getting out before she could protest.

Laura opened her door but before she could step out Mark was there, his hand fastening firmly around her elbow to steady her. ‘Careful!’ he warned solicitously. ‘It’s really slippery underfoot.’

Despite the warning and the steadying hand, Laura felt her feet skid from under her. She made a desperate grab for the nearest solid object and coloured as she found herself clinging to Mark. He grinned down at her, his grey eyes sparkling with amusement and something which made her heart beat faster than it should have been doing.

‘Twice in one day? That horoscope was uncannily accurate, wasn’t it?’

‘Uh…It looks like it.’ Laura struggled to hide her confusion as she cautiously straightened. She took a careful step back and held out her hand. ‘Thank you very much for the lift, Mark. I do appreciate it.’

‘I hope that wasn’t intended as a brush-off?’

‘I’m sorry?’ She stared at him in bewilderment, not sure what he’d meant.

He gave her a lazy grin as his hand fastened around her elbow again and he steered her towards the house. ‘You promised that I could meet Robbie, if you remember?’

‘Oh, but surely you want to get off home? I mean, it’s snowing so hard…’ She stopped and took a deep breath then looked him squarely in the eyes. ‘Why are you so keen to meet him, Mark? I don’t understand.’

He returned her look steadily enough but there was puzzlement in the depths of his eyes. ‘Neither do I understand why it’s so important, Laura.’ He reached up and brushed a snowflake off her cheek; his touch was so gentle that she shivered. ‘I just know that it is.’

There wasn’t anything she could say to that. Her heart seemed to be beating itself to death as she carried on walking towards the house on legs that weren’t quite steady. She was glad of Mark’s support because she doubted whether she could have managed the couple of yards which was all it took to reach the front door. Her mind and body seemed to belong to someone else at that moment, to someone she barely remembered from years gone by. It wasn’t really she who was experiencing this feeling of excitement and anticipation, surely?

It was a relief when the door suddenly opened and a small, familiar figure came hurtling out of the house because once again she knew who she was—Laura Grady, widow and mother!

‘Mummy! I’s had tea with Ben.’

‘Have you? Why, you lucky little boy!’

Laura swept her son up into her arms and hugged him. He planted a kiss on her cheek then promptly turned his attention to the stranger.

‘Who’s you?’ he demanded.

‘My name is Mark, Robbie. I’m a friend of your mummy’s.’

It was all the cue the child needed. Reaching over, he grabbed hold of the man’s neck and transferred his affections to his new friend.

Mark laughed as the little boy kissed him soundly on the cheek. He swung him up into the air, grinning at Laura as Robbie squealed his delight. ‘A real little heartbreaker indeed.’

Laura nodded, not sure how to handle the way things were moving so fast. It was a relief when Claire suddenly appeared and started chivvying them indoors. ‘Come in before you freeze to death, you idiots!’

Laura stepped inside, realising belatedly that she should explain Mark’s presence. ‘Mark…Dr Dawson, I mean, very kindly offered me a lift because it was snowing.’

Claire grinned wickedly as she glanced at the tall man with the child clinging around his neck. ‘Dr Dawson, is it? Making sure your new staff show you due respect, eh, Mark?’

He grinned back. ‘Something like that.’

Laura stared from one to the other, feeling a little like Alice must have felt in Wonderland. ‘You two know one another?’

‘Of course. Claire and I often ran into one another when she was in A and E. That was before she decided to do her bit for the world population, of course.’ He shot a teasing glance at the other woman’s very pregnant tummy as Claire laughed.

‘One tries one’s best! Anyway, it’s great to see you again, Mark. Sean will be sorry he missed you. He’s working late tonight,’ she explained, then turned to Laura. ‘You and Mark will have to come round one evening for a meal.’

‘Oh, well, I—’ Laura began but Mark cut her off.

‘Sounds a great idea to me. You sort it out with Laura and I’ll bring the wine. Fair enough?’ He turned to Laura, ignoring her stunned gasp. ‘Do you want to get Robbie ready to go? This snow seems to be sticking so we’d better not leave it too long otherwise Claire might end up with three unexpected guests for the night.’

‘I…I’ll get his coat.’

Laura hurried to the cupboard to fetch Robbie’s blue quilted jacket and matching bobble hat. Mark was talking to Claire and Laura heard her laugh at something he said. She closed her eyes, willing herself to act calmly and rationally, but it wasn’t easy to do that. Mark had made it sound as though they were an item, and that there could be nothing more natural than them accepting a joint dinner invitation!

A ripple of anger ran through her at his audacity and she squared her shoulders before going back to join them. She swiftly scooped Robbie out of Mark’s arms and bundled the child into his jacket. Her goodbyes to Claire were no less swift and earned her a startled look, but that couldn’t be helped. Claire, more than anyone, should have known how she would feel about going out on…on a date!

The thought was just what she needed to firm her resolve. As soon as Claire had shut the front door, she swung round. ‘Look, Mark, I don’t know what you—’

‘I’m sorry. I sort of got carried away just now, didn’t I?’ He shrugged but there was no doubting that his apology was sincere. ‘I should never have accepted that invitation on behalf of us both. I mean, why should you want to spend an evening in my company?’

Why indeed? Apart from the fact that he was the best-looking, nicest, most fascinating man she had met since…well, since she’d met Ian!

The realisation made her mind go blank so that it was impossible to answer the question, and she saw him grimace. ‘Sorry! You don’t have to answer that. I’ve already put you on the spot once tonight and that’s one time too many.’

He swung Robbie up into his arms. ‘Right, young man, let’s get you home!’

He bent to open the car door but Laura hung back. ‘We can walk home from here. It isn’t far. It was very kind of you to drive me here but I don’t want to take up any more of your time.’

He straightened slowly and there was a wariness about him all of a sudden. ‘You aren’t, but I won’t force you to accept my offer if it isn’t what you want, Laura.’

‘I…I’m not sure if it’s a good idea,’ she admitted, then wished she hadn’t said that because it was too revealing. Surely it wasn’t wise to let Mark know how confused she felt?

‘Neither am I,’ he stated quietly, making her gasp. He suddenly grinned, making an obvious effort to lighten the mood. ‘I think that makes us even, don’t you? So, come on, let’s be brave and take a chance. I’ll drive you and Robbie home, you can thank me sweetly, then I’ll leave. Sounds safe enough to me—how about you?’

Put like that, it seemed silly to refuse, especially as the snow was falling harder than ever. Laura nodded, waiting while Mark strapped Robbie into the back of the car. He seemed to think it was a huge adventure, going in a strange car, and made excited vroom-vroom noises as Mark started the engine.

It took about fifteen minutes to reach her house, thanks to the snow, and as soon as they drew up Laura knew something was wrong. She always left a light to come on in the sitting room, but the house was in darkness when they pulled up.

‘Something’s wrong,’ she explained when Mark shot her a questioning look as she hurriedly undid her seat belt. ‘I always leave a lamp on a time switch.…’

‘Give me the keys and I’ll take a look,’ he ordered in a tone that brooked no arguments. Taking the keys from her, he opened the car door then paused. ‘You and Robbie stay here while I check things out.’

Laura shivered as a blast of icy air flowed into the car before the door was slammed shut. She watched Mark go inside the house, wondering fearfully what he would find. He reappeared a few minutes later, looking very grim.

She got out of the car and her legs felt like jelly as she went to meet him. The wind was whistling along the road, blasting icy flakes of snow into her face, and he exclaimed in concern as he turned her round so that he could shelter her from the onslaught of the storm.

‘What’s happened?’ she demanded, her stomach churning with nerves.

‘I’m afraid you’ve had a burst pipe. There’s water pouring down the stairs from the loft,’ he explained gently. He put his arms around her when she gave a small cry of dismay. ‘I hate to add to the scene of woe but obviously water has got into the wiring, which is why the lights aren’t working.’

‘How…how bad is it?’ she asked in a wobbly voice, and felt him shrug.

‘Bad enough that you won’t be able to stay there tonight. If you tell me where the stopcock is I can turn off the water, but you’re going to need a plumber and an electrician to check things out.’

‘That will cost a fortune! And then there’s all the carpets…I expect they’re ruined.’ Laura shook her head but there was no escaping the pictures that were rapidly filling it. It had been hard enough just making ends meet in the eighteen months since Ian had died, so where she would find the money for expensive repairs she had no idea.

Numbly she explained how to turn off the water then went back to the car. Obviously, there was little she could do about the house that night. Instead, she had to concentrate on finding somewhere for her and Robbie to stay. She didn’t have enough money for a hotel and she couldn’t impose on Claire at such short notice.…

‘Right, there’s nothing else we can do until the morning.’ Mark got back in the car and started the engine, shuddering appreciatively as a blast of warm air flowed from the heater. He pulled carefully into the road and headed back the way they’d come.

Laura stared miserably out of the window as her mind raced this way and that, so that it was a moment before she thought to question what was happening. ‘Where are we going?’

‘Home. To my house, that is.’ He barely spared her a glance as he concentrated on the appalling road conditions. The snow had caught everyone unawares and many drivers had abandoned their cars, making driving even more hazardous for other road users.

‘Your house? Oh, but we can’t! I mean, it’s very kind of you but I really can’t impose like that. If you could just take us to…to…’ She couldn’t continue for the simple reason that there wasn’t anywhere she could think of.

‘The only place I’m taking you is to my house.’ Mark’s tone was grim all of a sudden and she shivered as she heard the underlying note of steel it held. It was obvious that once Mark made up his mind he wouldn’t be easily swayed. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a blizzard blowing and I have no intention of driving round this damned town all night long.’

His voice suddenly softened. ‘Anyway, you won’t be imposing, Laura. I’m happy to have you spend the night with us.’ He gave the softest chuckle. ‘And Lucy will be delighted to see you, I promise.’

Lucy? Was that the name of his wife or his girlfriend even? For some reason she hadn’t given any thought to the fact that Mark might have someone waiting at home for him. Now it seemed to occupy her mind to the exclusion of everything else, even the worry about how she would find the money to pay for the repairs to the house. Yet why should the idea that Mark might be involved in a relationship seem so unpalatable?

Laura had no idea neither did she spend time trying to work it out. She had a feeling that she might find the answer even less to her liking!

CHAPTER THREE

‘THIS is Lucy. Isn’t she beautiful?’

There was a note in Mark’s voice that made Laura suspect that he’d guessed what she’d been thinking on the drive to his home. She shot him a quick look, wondering if he’d deliberately set out to tease her, before it struck her how ridiculous that idea was. It was no business of hers if Mark Dawson kept a whole harem in his flat, and they both knew that!

She bent and ran a gentle hand over the white cat’s silky fur as it began to twine around her legs, deeming it wiser to concentrate her thoughts on a safer subject. ‘She’s lovely. Have you had her long?’

‘A couple of years. I found her wandering the streets close to where I used to live in Colchester. She was starving and had obviously been in an accident.’ He shrugged. ‘The vet said that eight out of ten pure white cats are deaf, like Lucy, and most end up getting run over because they can’t hear traffic. I contacted the police but nobody came forward to claim her so I adopted her. She doesn’t go out and seems content to be a house cat.’

He drew Robbie forward, crouching down so that he was level with the child. ‘Come and say hello to Lucy, Robbie. If you stroke her like this…nice and gently…then she’ll be your friend.’

Robbie tentatively ran his hand over the cat’s fur then smiled his delight as Lucy began to twine around his legs. ‘Pretty pussycat,’ he said, kneeling down so that he could tickle her tummy as she rolled onto her back.

‘She is pretty, isn’t she? And she likes you. I can tell.’ Mark hunkered down on his heels, gently running his large hand over the animal’s fur. ‘But Lucy is very special, Robbie. She can’t hear, so that means that you must always make sure that she can see you before you try to stroke her. Otherwise you might scare her and she could scratch you. OK?’

Robbie nodded gravely. He looked up at Laura, a frown puckering his brow. ‘Me special? Like Lucy?’

Laura smiled tenderly at him. Reaching out, she brushed the cowlick of fair hair back from his forehead, feeling her heart fill with love. Robbie’s handicap was clear to see in his widely spaced, slanting blue eyes and small features. He was bright enough to notice the times when people stared at him or made insensitive remarks. However, Laura had dealt with his bewilderment by explaining to him that he was very special and that was why sometimes people reacted the way they did. Now, as she looked at him, she knew that she no longer grieved for what might have been. He was her child and she loved and accepted him the way he was.

‘Of course you are, darling. You’re very special, just like Lucy.’

‘Right, then, young Robbie. If you want to stay here and play with Lucy then I can show your mum where everything is.’ Mark smiled as he straightened, although it was impossible not to see the compassion in his eyes as he looked from the child to her.

Had he guessed how hard it was at times, dealing with people’s negative reactions, especially since Ian had died and she’d had nobody to share the heartache with? she wondered bemusedly.

The realisation stunned her. She had known this man for a little over eight hours and already he seemed to understand so much about her life that it scared her, made her feel vulnerable. It was an effort to act naturally when he turned to her.

‘Can I interest you in the grand tour? It won’t take long, I promise. The flat is your typical bachelor pad…bedroom, bathroom, sitting-room and what passes for a kitchen.’

She laughed, her fears melting away as she heard the rueful amusement in his voice. She was letting her imagination run away with her, something that happened rarely nowadays. Mark must have seen through his work the difficulties parents of handicapped children often faced and that explained his perception. There was nothing more to it than that!

‘Why not?’ she agreed lightly.

Leaving Robbie sprawled on the floor, she followed Mark into the sitting-room and looked round curiously, immediately liking what she saw. Mark’s home had turned out to be the top floor of an old mansion house which had been divided into flats. In keeping with the proportions of the building, the sitting-room was huge, with a high ceiling and intricate plasterwork. It was rather sparsely furnished but it possessed a certain charm which stemmed from the eclectic mix of styles.

Laura’s curious gaze skimmed over the claw-footed velvet sofa with its richly patterned throw, the brightly coloured floor cushions, the state-of-the-art CD player, and she smiled. Everything looked as though it were there for a purpose rather than just for show, and the room had a welcoming feel because of that.

‘It’s very nice,’ she pronounced when she realised that Mark was waiting for her to say something. ‘Very cosy and inviting.’

‘I like it.’ He grinned, his eyes reflecting genuine pleasure that she liked what she’d seen. ‘I’ve been here for about five months now and I’m slowly buying bits and pieces to turn the place into a home rather than just somewhere to sleep.’

He put his hand to the back of her waist, guiding her back along the hall to the kitchen. It was as tiny as he’d said it was, little more than a narrow galley with cupboards on both sides and appliances neatly built in under the worktops. They both stood in the doorway and Mark laughed as he shot her a quick look.

‘Not the sort of kitchen a dedicated cook would enjoy working in, especially if he or she was claustrophobic! However, as my culinary expertise extends no further than “something” on toast, it suits me fine.’

He gave the room a last, satisfied look then led her to the bathroom, which was very high-tech with its corner Jacuzzi and glass-enclosed shower. Laura made appropriately admiring noises but she could feel a little knot of tension bunching her stomach muscles as they made their way to the last room in the flat, Mark’s bedroom. She paused in the doorway, unable to explain her reluctance to enter his private domain, although that didn’t stop her taking a good look around.

A king-sized bed covered with a navy quilted comforter with navy and white striped sheets proclaimed that the occupant was male. The walls were pristine white with a few, very masculine prints of sailing boats in silver frames scattered here and there. The furniture was heavy, dark oak, from the huge dresser holding a silver-backed hairbrush and a single bottle of aftershave to the enormous wardrobe, the door of which was standing ajar.

Laura caught a glimpse of something light and floral through the opening, maybe a dress or a nightgown, before she hastily averted her eyes. Mark was a hugely attractive and personable man so it couldn’t be surprise she felt to discover that he’d had a woman sharing his bedroom. So what did she feel, then? Disappointment? Regret? Jealousy even?

That last thought made her gasp and she hurriedly turned it into a cough as she saw Mark look at her.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked in concern, bending so that he could study her better.

‘I…um. Yes. Just a tickle in my throat, that’s all,’ she said, quickly turning away. She made her way swiftly back to where Robbie was still playing happily with the cat and stooped down, using the few seconds grace to get herself under control.

What on earth was the matter with her? she wondered sickly, running a trembling hand over the cat’s silky fur. How could she be jealous at the thought of the woman in Mark’s life? He was a colleague, that was all, someone who’d been kind enough to offer her a lift and then take pity on her when she’d needed a bed for the night. That was the only claim she had on him…the only claim she wanted to have!

‘Right, I suppose I’d better rustle up something for us to eat. Or do you want to put Robbie to bed first?’

Laura carefully smoothed her face into a suitable expression as she stood. ‘I think it might be better if I settled him down first. He’s usually in bed by seven and it must be that now.’

‘Almost half past, actually.’ Mark grinned as he saw her surprise. ‘I know. I hadn’t realised how late it was either. It must have taken longer to get here than we thought, thanks to the snow.’

‘Then if you don’t mind I’ll give him his bath.…’ She stopped and grimaced. ‘Drat! I haven’t brought anything for him to sleep in.’

‘How about a T-shirt of mine—would that do?’ Mark immediately offered, bending to ruffle the child’s hair.

‘If you’re sure you don’t mind.…’ she began hesitantly, but he shook his head.

‘Of course not. I’ll fetch one.’

He headed off to the bedroom, leaving Laura to take Robbie into the bathroom and start filling the bath. Robbie was reluctant to leave the cat at first but, once he’d seen the gleaming corner tub, he soon forgot about her. Laura had the bath filled and was swishing a little of the bubble bath she’d found on a nearby shelf into the warm water when Mark appeared carrying a white T-shirt.

‘Will this be OK?’ He dropped the T-shirt onto the cork-topped stool then leant over and pressed a switch on the wall beside the bath. The water immediately began to foam as the Jacuzzi jets clicked into action and Robbie clapped his hands in glee.

‘Me in! Me in!’ he demanded eagerly, holding up his arms to Mark so that he could be lifted into the frothing water.

‘Ready…Steady…Go!’ Mark swung him up into the air, then with infinite gentleness deposited him in the tub. Hunkering down on his heels, he scooped a handful of sudsy water over the child’s tummy. Robbie squealed with delight and promptly retaliated by scooping up two fistfuls of water and dousing Mark with them.

‘Robbie!’ Laura was horrified when she saw the water soaking into the front of Mark’s white shirt, but he just grinned.

‘Oh, that calls for reprisals, young man. Just you wait!’ He scooped up another massive handful of water, although Laura noticed that he let most of it escape through his fingers before he shot it at Robbie. It was obvious that he was completely unconcerned by the soaking he’d had and that he was enjoying himself almost as much as the little boy was.

Laura felt a lump come to her throat as she watched them playing together. It was so poignant to think back to the times when she’d watched Ian playing in much the same way with his son. It hurt to realise just how much Robbie was going to miss out on now that his father was dead.

‘Are you OK?’ Mark’s gentle voice broke through her reverie and she summoned a smile.

‘Yes. I was just thinking…’ she began, then stopped, wondering if she should share her thoughts with him. Surely memories like that were too personal to confide to someone who was virtually a stranger? However, it seemed that once again Mark had guessed what had been on her mind.

‘About Robbie playing with his daddy?’ Mark’s tone was so gentle that tears pricked her eyes and she had to blink hard to stop them from falling. She nodded mutely, knowing that it was pointless trying to deny it.

Mark sighed. ‘You must miss him a lot, Laura. I knew from your application that you were a widow, and then Rachel told me that your husband died about eighteen months ago. I’m really sorry.’

She took a deep breath, feeling strangely comforted by the quiet words of condolence. She had grown to dread the sympathetic expressions of sorrow in the months after Ian’s death, but it was different when Mark said it because she sensed that he really meant it. Odd, but it felt as though some of the cracks which had appeared in her heart after Ian’s death had begun to heal all of a sudden…

‘Thank you,’ she said quickly, refusing to let her mind go any further, because thoughts like that were wrong. She couldn’t forget about the man she’d loved just because of a few kind words!

Laura’s hands shook as she took a towel from the rack then immediately wondered what to do with it. She stared at the soft blue terry in a daze. Suddenly, she didn’t know what to do or say anymore. She had got through the past eighteen months by focusing on the need to take care of Robbie. Now, with Mark temporarily usurping her role, she felt at a loss. It was a relief when he took charge and gave her something positive to do.

‘How about we swop? I’ll finish bathing this young horror while you make us something to eat?’ He grinned up at her, his grey eyes gleaming with laughter, although she wasn’t blind to the compassion they held as well.

‘There’s method in my madness, in case you’re wondering. I’m sure you’re a much better cook than I am and it means that Robbie and I can see who can get the wettest.’

He scooped up another handful of sudsy water, laughing as Robbie crowed with excitement. Laura hesitated but it was obvious that her son was perfectly happy in Mark’s care.

‘Fine by me,’ she declared, doing her best to rise to the occasion. ‘But don’t blame me if you come off worst!’

The words were hardly out of her mouth when Robbie let loose another deluge of water. She found herself laughing quite freely as Mark splutteringly wiped foam out of his eyes. ‘You were warned!’

She quickly scooted out of the bathroom as he threatened her with a handful of suds, and was still smiling as she made her way to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and found eggs and bacon, a couple of tomatoes which wouldn’t have won any prizes, plus half a dozen shrivelled mushrooms, then set to work to the accompaniment of a lot of excited squealing from the bathroom. However, it was only as she was lifting the bacon out of the pan that she realised how right it felt to be doing this, how very natural.

She put the pan back on the hob and took a deep breath, but her heart was thudding so hard that she couldn’t think straight. Maybe that was for the best. Perhaps thinking about why she should feel like this would do more harm than good. For one night at least she should forget about the problems, forget about the rights and wrongs, the yeses and the nos. She would take the next few hours as they came…

‘That was delicious! I don’t suppose you’d like a career change? I’m in desperate need of a chief cook and bottle-washer.…’

Mark sighed comically as Laura smilingly shook her head. The eggs and bacon had been devoured in an appreciative silence which had been like balm to her overwrought nerves. Not only had she been able to eat the meal but she’d actually enjoyed it. She had been right to let events run their own course rather than worrying, she decided as she got up to take their plates to the sink.

‘No, you did the cooking so I’ll do the washing-up. It’s only fair.’ Mark got up as well and gently but firmly pressed her back into her seat. Laura shivered as she felt the pressure of his fingers against her flesh. Suddenly she was back to square one. Obviously, it was one thing to decide to let fate dictate what happened and another to carry it through!

She scrambled to her feet, nearly knocking over her stool in her haste. They had eaten at the breakfast bar, a neat little contraption which pulled out from the wall and provided seating facilities in the tiny kitchen. However, with two of them standing, one of them being exceptionally large, the room seemed to shrink even more.

She bit her lip as she tried to edge past Mark to plug in the kettle. ‘Excuse me,’ she muttered, turning bright pink as she felt her breasts rub against the solid wall of his chest. He had discarded his wet shirt in favour of a T-shirt in a washed-out shade of blue which made his eyes look like grey velvet in contrast. It was obvious that the garment was an old favourite because the cloth had that worn-thin softness about it that provided little barrier between their two bodies.

Laura felt the flush on her cheeks deepen as her nipples peaked in response to his nearness. She quickly slid past him, keeping her face averted as she filled the kettle and plugged it in. Mark didn’t say anything as he carried on clearing the table, but there was less comfort in the silence than there might have been.

Had he noticed her response just now? she wondered miserably. And had he been as shocked by it as she was? After all, they were little more than strangers so surely anyone would have been shocked to witness such blatant evidence of her…her arousal!

Her hands shook so hard as she took two cups out of the cupboard that one of them slipped through her fingers and shattered as it hit the tiled floor. Laura gasped in dismay, her eyes filling with tears as she saw what she’d done.

‘I’m sorry! I don’t know how that happened. Oh, I don’t know what to say…’ She knelt down to gather up the shards of china, wincing as she inadvertently knelt on a jagged piece.

‘Leave it! It’s only a cup, Laura. It doesn’t matter.’ Mark was beside her in an instant, his face full of concern as he saw the blood welling through her tights.

‘Hell’s teeth, you’ve cut your knee!’ he declared, drawing her upright with a firm hand under her elbow. Pulling over one of the kitchen stools, he urged her to sit down. ‘Sit there while I get the first-aid kit from the bathroom.’

‘There’s no need…’ she began, but he was already hurrying from the room. She rested her head against a cupboard and closed her eyes, overwhelmed by misery and shame. How could she have felt like that just now? How could she have responded that way to any man apart from Ian?

‘Here we go.’

Mark came back with a green plastic box and placed it on the worktop close to where she sat. He opened the lid then turned to her. ‘Can you take those tights off so that I can check there’s nothing in that cut?’

Laura’s face flamed at the thought of undressing in front of him, but before she could assure him that the injury was too minor to require any attention he added smoothly, ‘I’ll just get some water to clean it with while you do that.’

Deliberately, he turned his back on her as he went to the sink and ran water into a basin. It was obvious that he’d sensed her reluctance to comply with his request and was giving her some privacy.

Laura got up and quickly wriggled the ruined hose over her hips then tossed the small bundle into the waste bin. ‘I…I’m ready,’ she said in a quiet little voice, studiously avoiding Mark’s gaze as he looked round.

‘Good.’ He came back with the basin and knelt in front of her. Lifting her foot onto his bent knee, he carefully examined the cut. Laura bit her lip, trying not to think about how it felt to have his cool fingers skating so gently over her warm flesh, but it was impossible not to be aware of the sensations they aroused. Flashes of heat and cold raced under her skin, making her alternately shiver and burn as if with fever. When he looked up it was an effort to feign indifference as she saw the concern in his eyes.

‘It really hurts, doesn’t it? Damn!’

He seemed to blame himself for her injury, which was so unfair that she hastened to reassure him. ‘It isn’t too bad. And it was my own fault for being so clumsy. I’m not usually so careless, Mark. I’m sorry.’

‘It doesn’t matter…honestly!’ He shook his head to emphasise the point so that a swathe of light brown hair fell across his forehead. Laura was instantly transported back to that morning when they’d met. In a flash she recalled how he had looked dressed in those shorts and vest, his skin gleaming with health and vitality over those perfectly toned muscles.

Her breath caught so that she had to make a conscious effort to exhale, and missed what he said. Why was she so aware of him? she wondered sickly. Why did he arouse feelings in her which no man apart from Ian had been able to do?

‘Laura?’

He touched her lightly on the hand and she flinched. He’d obviously noticed her abstraction but he made no mention of it as he quietly repeated the question. ‘Are you allergic to adhesive dressings?’

She shook her head so that the red-brown curls danced around her face. ‘I…I don’t think so,’ she muttered, barely able to think straight in her confusion.

‘Hmm, a very professional answer, Nurse Grady.’ His mocking tone was the best antidote in the world and she tried harder to concentrate.

‘Then, no, I’m not allergic to adhesive dressings or anything else, apart from strawberries,’ she declared firmly.

‘Strawberries, eh? I shall have to bear that in mind.’ He took a square of adhesive dressing out of the box and peeled off the backing then pressed it over the wound.

Laura bit her lip, refusing to let the question slip out. Asking why Mark should need to remember her allergy was a definite step in the wrong direction! After all, what difference could it make to him what she could and couldn’t eat?

She curbed that thought, climbing down from the stool as fast as she could after he’d finished. ‘Thank you,’ she said stiffly, fixing a polite smile to her lips.

‘My pleasure…if that’s really the right way to phrase it in the circumstances.’

His rueful expression made her laugh, and suddenly it was easier to shuffle her thoughts into some sort of logical sequence again. Maybe she was reading too much into the way she’d responded to his nearness just now. It was a well-known fact that certain stimuli produced predictable physical responses. It had been less a question of her reacting to Mark as a person than the natural response of her body.

It was an explanation that made far more sense than any other so that she was able to relax as Mark made coffee and suggested they drink it in the sitting-room. Laura led the way, opting for one of the floor cushions in front of the fireplace rather than the sofa. Mark had lit the fire while she’d been tucking Robbie up in bed, and it gave off a welcoming heat. Although the flat had central heating, the room was so lofty that the air still felt chilly and she held her hands out appreciatively to the blaze.

‘Here you go.’ Mark put one of the cups on the floor beside her then curled his long legs beneath him, Indian fashion, as he sank onto a cushion. He took a tentative sip of his coffee then set the cup aside when he found it was too hot to drink. The glow from the fire lit his face as he bent forward, lending the very masculine lines an unaccustomed softness.

Laura looked away, uncomfortably aware that her heart was beating faster than normal. Suddenly, the explanation for her odd behaviour seemed less than watertight. It was a relief when Mark spoke in a purely practical tone and she could focus on something other than her own whirling thoughts.

‘Right, I suppose we’d better get organised now that we’re fed and watered. You’re due in work at nine, I know, but what time do you need to drop Robbie off at school?’

‘Eight-thirty. But I have to pick up Ben on the way. I offered to take both boys to school, seeing as Claire is collecting them. Much to Robbie’s delight.’

She smiled, finding it easier once she was concentrating on her son. ‘Robbie adores Ben—it’s a real case of hero-worship. Mind you, he’s crazy about Claire and Sean and just about everyone else he regards as a friend!’

‘He’s a very outgoing child from what I’ve seen, which is a real bonus.’ Mark smiled back. ‘It’s thanks to you that he has such confidence, Laura. You’re doing a great job with him.’

‘Thank you,’ she replied, deeply touched. She shrugged, not wanting him to guess how much it had meant to hear him say that. ‘But I can’t take all the credit. Robbie is naturally gregarious, it’s part of his nature.’

‘So many Down’s children are like that, you find. They have this wonderfully accepting attitude towards other people and seem to blossom with the right kind of attention.’ He frowned thoughtfully. ‘I take it from what you just said that Robbie goes to the local infants school?’

‘Yes. They’ve been marvellous with him. Ian and I were worried about what would happen with his schooling. We went to see the headmaster and explained the situation to him, and he immediately offered Robbie a place.’ She smiled with real pleasure. ‘Mr Brook, the headmaster, says that the other children are learning a lot by having Robbie in the school.’

‘That’s great! You don’t often get that kind of enlightened thinking, even today. Far too often schools focus on the problems of teaching a handicapped child alongside his peers.’ Mark reached over and squeezed her hand, his delight obvious in the warm smile he gave her.

‘With this kind of support, Robbie is going to have the best start possible in life, isn’t he, Laura?’

‘Except that he no longer has a father.’ The words came out before she could stop them and she saw Mark’s eyes darken with pain.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said contritely. ‘That was incredibly crass of me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Laura.’

His hand briefly tightened around hers before he abruptly stood up. Walking to the window, he pushed back the velvet curtains and stared out into the night. It was obvious from the slump of his shoulders that he was berating himself for the remark, and Laura knew that she had to say something.

‘I know you didn’t, Mark. Please, don’t go blaming yourself when there’s no need,’ she said quietly.

He turned to look at her. ‘Are you sure about that?’ He shrugged when he saw her puzzlement. ‘It’s obvious that you aren’t over your husband’s death yet.’

It was said very flatly and without inflection, yet she felt there was more to the statement than first appeared. However, before she could decide if it was wise to question him further the phone rang.

Mark grimaced as he strode towards the hall. ‘I hope that isn’t what I think it is!’

He came back a few minutes later, shrugging on his coat. ‘It was the hospital. There’s been an accident on the outskirts of town. A minibus ferrying a dozen kids home from a trip to the theatre has skidded and overturned.’

‘How dreadful! Are any of them badly hurt?’ she asked in concern, immediately getting up.

‘Nobody seems to know for sure as the ambulances haven’t got to the scene yet.’ Mark’s tone was grim. ‘God knows what they’re going to find in conditions like these.’

Laura shivered. ‘It’s such a dreadful night. I take it you’re needed?’

‘Yes.’ Mark grimaced. ‘Second night on the run, too. I got dragged out of bed in the early hours of this morning as well. With Simon being away, we’re a bit pushed at present. Still, I managed to snatch an hour’s sleep in the doctors’ lounge, before going out for a run to get rid of the cobwebs, so I can’t complain.’

An hour’s sleep didn’t seem very much, bearing in mind that he’d been on the go all day long as well, Laura thought. She followed him out to the hall, waiting while he collected his keys and mobile phone from the table. He paused before opening the door, his grey eyes concerned all of a sudden.

‘You will be all right here by yourself? I hate to leave you like this in a strange place.…’

‘But you don’t have any choice.’ She smiled, appreciating his consideration when he must have more pressing things on his mind than her and Robbie. ‘We’ll be fine, Mark. Why shouldn’t we be? We have everything we need after all.’

‘Have you?’ There was a strange note in his voice all of a sudden, an intensity to the look he gave her which made a tremor run down her spine. Laura stared back at him, her greeny-blue eyes the colour of a stormy sea.

He gave her a gentle smile before he suddenly bent and brushed her cheek with a kiss. ‘Don’t wait up,’ he said softly, and then he was gone.

‘Take care…’ The words floated after him but she wasn’t sure if he’d heard them as he disappeared at a run down the stairs. Laura closed the door then made her way to the sitting-room window in time to watch him driving away. The snow was still falling, a thick curtain of white that veiled the countryside and made it look strangely unfamiliar. Maybe that was why she felt disorientated all of a sudden, as though she’d stepped out her own safe little world into another.

She let the curtain fall into place, shivering as she went back to the fire. The flames were blazing up the chimney and sending out a comforting heat, but she couldn’t seem to get warm. She didn’t want her world to change in any way! She had Robbie and her memories and now a job that she knew she was going to love. She should be content…No, she was content!

Laura turned away from the fire in sudden impatience and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror over the mantelpiece. For a moment she didn’t recognise herself. Was that wild-eyed stranger really her?

She closed her eyes then immediately knew that had been a mistake as an image began to form in her mind’s eye. Giving a murmur of dismay, she struggled to erase it, but it refused to go. Suddenly, she could see in perfect detail the expression on Mark’s face as he’d bent to kiss her just now.…

She opened her eyes abruptly, refusing to let her mind go any further. Switching off the lights, she made her way to the bedroom. Robbie was fast asleep, his small form no more than a bump in the huge bed. Laura stared down at him, letting all the love she felt for this very special child fill each and every corner of her heart. So long as she had that to fill the emptiness then she had more than enough. Mark had been wrong. There was nothing she needed—or wanted—to make her life complete!

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