The Surgeon's Family Wish (18 page)

When she stopped off at the house before going back to her flat he was there, and his eyes widened when she went up to him and kissed him lingeringly as if they'd been apart for ever, instead of having worked together until she'd left in the late morning to go shopping with Mary.

‘What was all that about?' he asked when he went to the door with her as she was leaving.

She laughed. The sparkle was back in her eyes and his heartbeat quickened. But it slowed down again when she told him wickedly, ‘Your mother thinks I'm not affectionate enough. I suspect that she's concerned that you may be marrying a cold woman.'

‘Really? Well, do feel free to carry on reassuring her,' he said coolly, and she knew that he wasn't pleased for some reason.

* * *

As it drew nearer to the date for the wedding the feeling of unreality that had been there since the night Aaron had asked her to pretend they were engaged was increasing.

It was like being on a roller-coaster, unable to get off in the face of Lucy's excitement, his mother's happiness and his implacable purpose. She did manage to put the reason for it to the back of her mind sometimes and allow herself to enjoy being a part of the family again in the role of the other happy bride-to-be, because the tenderness and desire that Aaron surrounded her with came so naturally.

But every time she looked at the satin-like perfection
of the pearl on her finger she was brought back to earth. If life with Aaron was at present all kisses and cuddles, the memory of the choosing of the ring was a bleak reminder that all was not as it seemed.

The Sullivans' marriage was still hanging by a thread, with the erring husband performing his duties at Barnaby's with a sort of shamefaced bravado, and the wife tearfully seeking sympathy from anyone willing to lend a sympathetic ear. That person being mostly Aaron, who was still being supportive to Magda and the children.

So much so that Annabel wondered if his concern was activated in part by
her
misdoings. Magda seemed to be seeking him out at all times of day and night, and she thought it unwise of him to let the woman lean on him so much. If she had to open her heart to anyone, it should be her husband. Only that way would they reach some kind of understanding.

Sobbing in the arms of his boss all the time wasn't going to achieve anything, and how many deceived wives turned to the husband's friend or colleague as a replacement?

She was irritated and knew it, yet Aaron was the last person to get involved in that kind of set-up. He would be lowering himself to her own level if he did that. Yet she felt that he
was
overdoing the caring friend role.

When she went into his office one day unannounced because she thought the place was empty, Annabel found him with Magda nestling in his arms and he was stroking her hair.

He wasn't looking too happy and when he saw her expression his discomfort increased.

‘Oops! Sorry,' she said, and glanced at her watch. ‘I was expecting you would be at your clinic at this time.'

‘I would have been,' he said stiffly, ‘but Magda had a problem that she needed my help with.'

‘Yes, I'm sure she did,' Annabel retorted smoothly, ‘and so do all the children that are waiting to see you.'

And if that didn't earn her a telling-off she would be very surprised she thought as she strolled out of the office.

What she'd said had been a bit unfair because Aaron wasn't the only one seeing patients in the clinic. There would be at least two junior doctors handling the cases with him. But he was the spearhead, the one they turned to if they weren't sure, and here he was comforting that woman again.

He must have sent Magda quickly on her way as he caught Annabel up before she'd got to the ward, and she wasn't wrong about the telling-off.

‘You just interrupted a private conversation in a rude and disruptive manner,' he said coldly. ‘Who do you think you are? Accusing me of neglecting my patients.'

‘Was I wrong?' she asked smoothly.

‘Yes, you damned well were. Charles is taking my clinic this morning. Magda had asked to see me and he offered to stand in for me until I'd got her sorted.'

‘I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that you'd made other arrangements,' she said, still unrepentant. ‘But can I tell you something?'

‘Go ahead.'

‘You will never have that woman ‘‘sorted''. It's time she stood on her own two feet like the rest of us have to do. If this is what she's like all the time, maybe there was a reason Terry looked elsewhere.'

‘But, of course, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?' he said silkily. ‘It stands to reason that you'll see
what happened to the Sullivans from the girlfriend's point of view.'

‘I might have known you would think that,' she flared back at him. ‘Well, Mr Holier Than Thou, just take care that
you
don't fall off your pedestal, too. That woman wants you. Say the word and her tears will be dried in a flash.'

‘You're demeaning Magda's grief,' he said stonily, ‘and ought to be ashamed. I suppose that somewhere in your moral confusion you see a justification for it, but don't start bringing me into it. All I'm doing is trying to help.'

‘Yes, well, I hope that Terry sees it that way. It's a wonder he hasn't told you to mind your own business. And just for the record, though I don't expect you to believe me, I didn't know my American lover was married. He was plausible and charming and, like a fool, it never occurred to me to look any further. So you can book me down as guilty on that count, but not for anything else. And next time you feel like snuggling up to me in front of your mother, forget it!'

When she'd gone striding off Aaron stood staring into space as his annoyance evaporated. Magda
was
becoming a drain on him, but he felt so sorry for her and the children he'd had to offer support.

Annabel's outburst had come as a surprise. Surely she wasn't jealous. He shook his head. It was more likely her thinking he was making a fool of himself that had brought forth the floodtide of annoyance.

Knowing her as he did, he could believe that she hadn't been aware that the guy she'd had an affair with had been married. If he'd been as supportive to her in her sadness as he was being to Magda, he might have something to be proud of. But instead he'd condemned
her without letting her get a word in edgeways and was now trying to make up for it with a sham engagement.

He felt suddenly weary. He didn't seem to be getting anything right these days. He couldn't see Annabel falling into his arms once his mother was married and agreeing to turn the pretence into reality after what had just gone on between them.

But there was no backing out at the moment. His mother was a determined woman. If she knew she was being deceived she would call the wedding off, and if that happened he would be devastated. At least one of them deserved some happiness.

* * *

So much for death wish two Annabel thought as she scrubbed up for a routine tonsillectomy some minutes later. She'd told Aaron to keep away from her and had pretended she'd meant it, when all the time she ached for everything to be right between them.

Her criticism of his behaviour had been out of order. If Magda
was
taking advantage of his kindness, his actions were innocent enough. And yet
she'd
acted like a jealous wife herself during their slanging match in the corridor. Was nothing ever going to go right between them? And did Aaron believe what she'd said about not knowing Randy had been married?

She was due to go round that evening to help Mary arrange the seating plan for the reception, but now wasn't sure what to do. However, her mind was made up for her when, answering a ring on the doorbell, she found Aaron outside.

‘I was passing and knowing that you're due at our place thought you might like a lift,' he said flatly.

‘Er...yes...thanks,' she managed. ‘I'll get my coat.'
Reaching up into the hall cupboard, she paused. ‘But it will mean you having to bring me back.'

‘So what?' he said in the same monotone. ‘I don't mind. After all, you're doing Mum a favour.'

Aaron was not his usual brisk self, she thought. He sounded weary, defeated almost. She wondered if it came from their earlier skirmish. Whether it did or not, an apology was due.

‘I was totally out of order this morning,' she said as she faced him with the coat draped over her arm. ‘I don't know what got into me. It wasn't my place to decide the depth of Magda Sullivan's distress, and I do know that you've been helping her from the best of motives.'

‘Forget it,' he said. ‘You were probably right. Maybe I have been too available for her. I don't know.' He gave a tired smile. ‘Everyone isn't as self-sufficient as you and I, though at this moment I'm not sure if I've bitten off more than I can chew.'

‘In what way?'

‘Several. You and I being at the top of the list.'

‘Am I supposed to understand what you mean by that?'

‘Not really.'

‘So explain.'

He frowned. ‘I don't know if I can. I feel that I've given you a raw deal. Rebuking you like a Victorian father one moment and the next cajoling you into deceiving my mother.'

‘Both things are understandable,' she told him gently. ‘You do what you do because you love your mother and Lucy. You sent me packing because you thought I wouldn't be suitable for you or Lucy and the hoax we're playing on your mother is from the best of motives. With
regard to
my
feelings on the matter, I may as well make them clear.

‘I accept that I've been tested and found lacking with regard to us and Lucy. As far as your mother is concerned, I'm as anxious as you that she should be happy. But, Aaron, at the risk of telling you how to run your life, if I find that Lucy is going to be fobbed off onto childminders, you will marry me whether you like it or not. Because part of the blame will be mine.'

To her surprise he smiled. Why, she didn't know, after the ultimatum she'd just given him. Yet she'd meant every word. Lucy had been brought up without a mother, but she'd had a loving grandma in her life, and now she, too, was leaving her. Couldn't Aaron see what that was going to mean to the child? What had happened to his organising skills that she'd thought second to none?

‘That's the first marriage proposal I've had in years,' he said, ‘and knowing you, it would have to be different.'

‘I'm not joking.'

He was serious now. ‘I know you're not, and I'm sure that Lucy would appreciate your concern.' And he added with a smile, ‘As for me, if the worst comes to the worst I suppose I'll have to marry you.'

‘That's the deal,' she said, buttoning her coat before she locked the door behind them and telling herself as she did so that when it came to crazy conversations, the one they'd just had was in a class of its own.

* * *

While Annabel and Mary were discussing arrangements Aaron went into his study to do some paperwork that he'd brought home with him. When they'd finished what they had to do Annabel went to tell him that she was ready to go.

He was asleep with his head resting on his forearms on the desk top, and as she looked down on him she thought that she hadn't been wrong. He had been tired and had given in to fatigue. Aaron spent himself caring for others, sick children, Lucy, his mother and deceived wives. He gave little thought to himself.

She loved him unreservedly. He could give her the family life that she'd never had if only he would relent, but there was no way she was going to take the initiative. Aaron was the one who'd shattered her dream and he was the one who had to put it together again.

‘He's asleep,' she told his mother when she went back into the sitting room. ‘I'll get a taxi.'

Mary got to her feet. ‘I'll take you home,' she offered, but Annabel shook her head.

‘No. Lucy might wake up and Aaron is so sound asleep he won't hear her. I'll take a taxi.'

* * *

The next morning he sought her out before the day got under way.

‘Why didn't you wake me up last night?' he asked. ‘I said I would take you home.'

She smiled. ‘It would have been cruel to disturb you. You were in a really deep sleep.'

‘Not so deep that I didn't sense you'd gone.'

‘How?'

He shrugged. ‘I don't know, but I did. The room suddenly went cold.'

She laughed. ‘That was when your mother opened the front door to let me out.'

‘So that was it,' he said absently, and led the way to the two children's wards.

Three new patients had been admitted the previous day—a baby living in poor conditions had been admitted
with hypothermia, a six-year-old with pneumonia and a little girl from Indonesia, recently arrived in England with suspected tuberculosis.

In the case of baby Alex a dramatic fall in body temperature had been picked up at the local clinic and the infant rushed to hospital where it had been given warm drinks, warm baths and had had its head covered to prevent any further rapid loss of body heat.

The bewildered parents, having no previous experience of hypothermia and being both very young, had been stunned to discover that their quiet baby had developed something that was life-threatening.

Alex's body temperature had risen almost immediately, but lack of warm clothing and heat in the home would have to be looked at before the little one was discharged back into the community.

His admission to Rainbow Ward had been followed by the transfer from A and E of the six-year-old with pneumonia who had been testing the ice on a frozen pond a couple of days previously and had come to grief when it had cracked. He'd been rescued almost immediately but had been taken home instead of to A and E and pond water in the lungs and the general effects of immersion had brought on pneumonia.