by Clare Revell
“I’ll leave the door on the latch for you,” Eva said, putting her hands onto the wheels. “Come in when you’re done.”
Harry nodded, turning to face the road as he answered the call. “Hello?”
“Harry, long time, no speak.” His brother’s voice carried its usual smile. “How are you? How’s the panto going?”
“Darrell, it’s going good. And we never speak because you never call or write. How are you?”
“Returning your call. Seriously, I’m fine, just rushed off my feet. So, what’s up? Your umpteen messages sounded important.”
“I was wondering if you can do me a favor. Feel free to say no, but I’m seeing this girl and—”
“Wait a minute.” He could almost see his brother straighten in shock. “That sounded like you said you were seeing someone.”
Harry smirked. “Yes I did, and yes I am. She’s in a wheelchair, the result of being hit by a car in April. She’s adamant she can’t walk, but no one has confirmed it.”
Darrell cleared his throat. “What does her doctor say?”
“That’s just it. Now she’s out of the coma, they won’t tell her family anything. And Eva won’t say—other than the fact she can’t because her back is broken. But her mobility is pretty good, and she can move both arms and her feet. I was wondering if you’d see her. Give us a second opinion in your brutally honest and forthright way. I know you’re busy and have a ten-year waiting list…”
Darrell laughed. “It’s only a two week wait actually.” Pages turned. “Let me see…”
Harry shook his head in dismay. “You’re working on a Sunday? You disappoint me.”
“Not working. I left my phone in the office and called in to pick it up on my way home from church. I have a cancellation nine-thirty Wednesday morning, if that’s any good?”
“That’s brilliant. Thanks, Darrell.”
“No problem. What’s her name?”
“Eva Anderson. And bill me, not her.”
“Not billing either of you. It’s a favor, remember? See you Wednesday.”
“Thanks bro.” Harry hung up and went back inside. The aroma hit him full on. Roast beef, something he hadn’t had in a long time. Not homemade anyway. He followed his nose to the kitchen. “Nine-thirty Wednesday morning, Eva.”
“What is?”
“Your appointment with Darrell at his Harley Street clinic. He’s one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country.”
“I can’t afford Harley Street,” Eva said, her eyes wide in what could be shock or horror.
“Don’t worry about the bill.”
“I’m not taking charity.”
“For crying out loud, Eva. Darrell is my brother, he owes me a favor. I called it in. He had a cancellation—do you want it or not?”
“Yes, she does,” her father said from where he carved the meat. “Thank you.”
“I’ll arrange for my driver to pick you up. I don’t use him much right now, as I prefer to drive myself or walk, but he comes with the agency contract, and it’ll give him something to do. He’ll pick you up at eight and have you in London for half nine. Would you like me to go with you?”
“I’ll go by myself.”
“No, you won’t,” Felicity said. “You can’t do it alone. I’ll go with you.”
“I go alone or not at all,” Eva insisted. “Just because I’ve lost the use of my legs, doesn’t mean I can’t use my own judgment or make my own decisions. Besides, I really don’t need an audience to be told I’m never going to walk again.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Felicity sighed.
“If I don’t go alone, I won’t go at all. Please excuse me.”
Harry shook his head as Eva vanished. “Stubborn woman.”
“That’s our Eva,” Mr. Anderson said. “She’s just so frustrated now, it seeps into everything she says and does. Anyway, it’s very kind of you to arrange the appointment.”
Harry held his gaze. “I know my brother will be honest with her.”
“I wasn’t going to go in with her, Matthew, but she didn’t give me a chance to explain.” Felicity sighed. “Just in the car and as far as the office. She hates going out as it is.”
“If she feels she can do this alone, then maybe you should let her. Chances are she’ll change her mind before Wednesday, anyway.” He paused. “I’d like for you all to call me Harry, if that’s all right. Felicity, obviously it needs to be Matthew at work, but here and outside the theatre, I’d rather be me than anyone else.”
Felicity nodded. “We can do that.”
He smiled. “I’ll go talk to Eva and bring her back in.” He headed out of the room and followed the tracks on the carpet to the lounge.
Harry knelt in front of the chair and took hold of her hands. “Eva, look at me.”
She slowly raised her head.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I’m not a child that needs to be escorted everywhere.”
“No one is planning on escorting you anywhere. Felicity wanted to go with you because she knows how scared you get when you go outside. But if you think you can do it alone, then go for it.” He paused. “She wasn’t going to go in with you to see Darrell, unless that’s what you wanted. Just to go in the car up to London and then push you up that horridly steep ramp outside Darrell’s clinic. But it’s up to you.” He cradled her face. “Evie…”
She looked at him, surprise in her eyes at his use of her nickname.
“I love you.”
She pointed to the chair. “What about this?”
“You’re not the chair. You are a wonderful, talented woman, who’s a lot stronger than she thinks. One of God’s own and someone I love very much. My feelings for you won’t change, no matter what Darrell says on Wednesday.” He kissed her gently. “Let you into a little secret. I only took this panto job because it was in the town you lived in.”
“Now you’re being silly.”
He stroked her face, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I’m not. I thought if I worked here, I’d be closer to you, perhaps find you and see you again. You see, I fell for you that night in April in the rain outside the theatre. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind ever since. It’s Christmas, Eva, a time for miracles. The fact you survived the accident and woke from your coma is a miracle in itself. God gave you a second chance at life, and I’m hoping that it’s with me.”
“You…you mean that?”
“Yes.” Harry watched her face, trying to read it, but it wasn’t possible.
Eva hugged him. “I’m not sure why you want me when you can have your pick of pretty, rich, and famous women. And most of them a whole lot nicer to people than I am.”
“I don’t want anyone nice, Eva,” he whispered and winked, moving into kiss her. “I want you.”
9
Eva glanced at the price list in the hairdresser’s window as Harry checked her in. As he came back over she looked at him. “So which stylist am I seeing?”
“Kyle Stevens. He owns the place.”
“The owner? I can’t afford—”
Harry tutted. “Will you stop with the ‘I can’t afford it’ malarkey? It’s rather tiresome now. I can, and I’m treating you.”
“You don’t need to keep rubbing my nose in the fact you earn more than I do.”
“We can always swap jobs. You be the pirate, and I’ll do the makeup…”
“Nah, it’s fine.”
Harry tilted his head, a slight smirk on his face. “In that case, how about I give you the money, and then you can pay?”
“And that changes things how?” She had to admit his grin was infectious and despite herself, could feel the corners of her mouth turning upwards.
Harry kissed her cheek. “It doesn’t. But it might make you feel better. Seriously, Evie, you don’t get out much, and I don’t spend my money very much. So it’s kind of a win-win situation here. Call it an early Christmas present if you’d rather.”
&nb
sp; “OK, thank you.” She held his gaze. “I need to learn to stop arguing, huh?”
He nodded. “Yup and allow people to spoil you occasionally. It’s fun.”
The owner of the salon came over. His light brown hair stood up at all angles and his blue eyes sparkled as he held out his hand. “Miss Anderson?”
“It’s Eva,” she replied, shaking his hand.
He sat next to her. “Kyle. Have you thought how you’d like your hair done?”
She shook her head. “It used to be really long and wavy, but since the accident it’s just a mess. They cut it to shoulder length and since then it’s just uncontrollable.”
“Are you planning on growing it again?”
“I don’t know.”
Kyle ran expert fingers through her hair. “It’s in good condition. How about I layer it, give it some body and shape for now? Give you something you can work with and will look good for Christmas while you decide what you want long term.”
“OK.”
He rose. “We’ll wash it first.”
Eva frowned, not understanding. “How?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “You’ll have to excuse her; she really doesn’t get out much.”
Eva rolled her eyes right back. “Oh, hushed you. Pick on someone your own size.”
He knelt down and winked at her. “Like this you mean.” Only when she smiled did he stand and lift her from the chair. “Where do you want her?”
Kyle chuckled. “In the sink.”
Harry winked. “Sure. In the sink it is. Not sure she’ll fit, but I’ll give it a try.”
Eva clung to him, playing along. “Don’t you dare…”
Harry followed Kyle around to the rear of the salon and set Eva in the chair. He stayed by her side as Kyle washed her hair. As gentle as Kyle’s touch was, it wasn’t a patch on Harry’s. Once her hair was wrapped in a towel, Harry carried her to a chair in front of the mirror, and went over to her wheelchair to wait.
Eva shook her head as she saw Harry sit in it and wheel it back and forth as if trying to perfect spinning on the spot. She divided her attention between watching him and watching Kyle work, amazed by the change in her appearance as he cut and styled her hair. His reputation had preceded him, and they hadn’t exaggerated.
“And to keep it like this just wash, blow dry, and run your fingers through it,” he said as he finished.
“Thank you.”
Harry came over with the chair. “You look amazing.” He kissed her cheek as he lifted her into the wheelchair. “Put your coat on while I go and pay.”
Eva nodded, watching Harry as she did so. He handed over his card, seeming deep in conversation. She eased the chair over to him. She’d never met a bloke like him before. He was a true gent and she couldn’t believe he spoiled her the way he did. Or that she was his.
He smiled at her as he did up his coat. “What you thinking?”
“Just how special you are, and how much you spoil me.”
He kissed her. “You’re worth it. Now, we need to go to one more place before work.”
“Where’s that?”
“A couple of shops so I can do some Christmas shopping.” He negotiated his way through the door as Kyle held it open.
Eva thanked Kyle and then looked at Harry. “I thought you’d finished your shopping.”
“Almost—there are still two or three things I need to get.” He pushed her into a bookshop and parked her by the new release table. “Sit there and don’t move.”
Eva cast her gaze over the books and picked up several to read the blurb on the back. Most went back on the table, but one she put on her lap.
Harry came back over. “Ready to go?”
“Need to pay for this first.”
“Sure.” He pushed her over to the till and once she’d paid, hung the bag over the back of the chair. “Now, work, via the sock shop next door.”
“The sock shop? I thought you said you had a plethora of socks you never wore.”
He chuckled. “I do, but they sell ties as well, and I need a new one for a black tie event coming up soon.” He paused. “Actually I need a bow tie. I’ve managed to go without until now, but can no longer put it off.”
She nodded and, while he was distracted by the bow ties, looked at the Christmas socks and ties. She chose a couple and managed to pay without Harry noticing. She shoved the bag into her coat pocket just as he came over.
“Eva, which one? One I have to tie or a pre-done one.”
“Cheat, every time. Unless you are one of the few men who can actually fasten a bow tie properly?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then why even bother to look at the other ones?”
“Good point. Cheating one it is.” He pulled out his wallet. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you to see Darrell tomorrow?”
“Quite sure,” she said. “I told you, I’m a big girl. I’m going on my own.”
~*~
By seven-thirty the next morning, her resolve failed. Unable to breathe and gripped by a panic attack, Eva was unable to even stir from under the duvet. She ignored the knock on the door, her nails almost bitten to the quick.
The door opened. “Come on, Eva, or the car will be here before you’re dressed.”
Eva looked at Felicity and shook her head.
“Then we’ll do this together.” Felicity sat on the bed and hugged her.
“But H-H-Harry—”
“—will never know,” came the response. “Tracksuit or jeans?”
“Don’t care.”
Felicity nodded and helped her dress in the new tracksuit. “OK, breakfast and don’t tell me you’re not hungry. You need to eat.”
“You want me to throw up on you?”
“I want you to eat.” Felicity looked at her watch. “But we’ll have to get something on the way as we don’t have time now.”
“Eva, your car is here.” Her father’s voice came through the door.
“Be right out.” Eva sucked in a deep breath. “I’m scared.”
Felicity hugged her. “I know you are, Evie. That’s why I’m coming with.” She pushed the chair into the hall.
A tall man in driver’s livery stood there. “Mr. Lyell gave me instructions to stop for food for you on the way,” he said.
Felicity laughed. “See, Evie, even Harry knows you too well.”
The nearer they got to London, the worse Eva felt.
She’d gone beyond panic and nausea, through numb and was now beside herself. Prayer had gone someway to helping, but the torrent of nerves had her shaking. The coffee she’d drunk from the drive-through sat like lead on the bottom of her stomach.
Dot on nine-thirty, the nurse came out and called her name.
“I’ll wait here,” Felicity said. “You’ll be fine.”
Eva closed her eyes as the nurse pushed her into the consulting room.
A tall man, who looked like a red-headed Harry stood and held out a hand. “Miss Anderson, I’m Darrell Lyell.”
Eva shook his hand. “Hi. Harry’s told me a lot about you.”
“Should I be worried?” he asked, sitting beside the desk.
“No, he just says you’re the best and are always honest with your patients.”
Darrell smiled. “I like to be, because that way they know they can trust me, right? So, even though I have read your file from the hospital, let’s start with a little background and you tell me from your point of view what happened and how you’re coping or not coping as the case may be. Harry tells me it was a car accident back in April.”
Eva filled him in and picked at her nails, aware of him taking notes as she spoke. “Harry persuaded me to come. I said there was no point, no offense, but every doctor will tell me the same thing.”
“None taken, but let’s hold off on their diagnosis and let me make my own. After all that is why Harry sent you here, right?” As she nodded, Darrell put the pen down. “Have you tried standing or walking?”
“OK. We’ll start with a few basic tests, and then do a couple of complex ones to rule out a few things.” He raised an eyebrow at her frown. “Yes, I’ve read your notes and know what they say, but you want my opinion, not to be told what the file says.”
Eva spent the next hour being thoroughly checked over. Her blood pressure was too high, her weight too low. She had pins pressed against her legs, blood drawn, X-rays, CT scans, until she was mentally exhausted. He lifted her legs, had her press her feet against his hand as he checked each joint and muscle, and got her to wiggle her toes.
Afterwards he wrote up his notes while she dressed, and then he lifted her onto the chair in front of his desk. He perched on the edge next to her. “Well, the good news is there is no physical reason why you can’t walk.” He ran through the test results with her.
Eva looked at the X-ray of her spine. “It’s healed?”
He nodded. “So, that means the reason you’re still in the chair is most likely psychological.”
Eva frowned. “You’re saying I’m crazy? That I’m doing this to myself? Harry already gave me the no-holes-barred survivor’s guilt lecture.”
“That’s my brother, full of tact,” Darrell laughed. “I’m not saying you’re crazy at all. I’m saying that it’s a case of mind over matter here. If you believe you can stand and walk, then you’ll be able to.” He pulled a walker in front of her and strapped something firm around both her ankles. “Right, place both hands on the frame and stand up.”
“I can’t.”
He pulled his chair around the desk and looked at her as he sat. “You managed to lift your leg and press it against my hand. All I’m asking, is you do that to the floor. I won’t let you fall. Or are you afraid to try?” He gripped her hands and put them on the frame. “You have enough strength in your upper body and proof there is nothing wrong with your spine. Now try.”
