The Surgeon's Secret

by Lucy Clark

  ‘I’ll take it to him,’ Jordanne offered. ‘You probably have a million things to do and I need to discuss Louise Kellerman with him.’

  ‘Thanks, Jordanne.’ She handed Jordanne Alex’s cup. They walked up the corridor and after opening Alex’s office door, his secretary left her to it.

  Alex was concentrating on some paperwork as Jordanne walked across the carpet and placed the cup onto his desk.

  ‘Thanks,’ he murmured, without looking up, and Jordanne knew he thought she was his secretary.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Jordanne said, and loved the way his head jerked up at the sound of her voice. ‘Can I type any letters for you?’

  ‘Jordanne!’

  ‘Ten points for accuracy.’ She put her own cup on the table and came to stand behind him. ‘So how are you this morning, bro?’ She placed her hands on his shoulders and began to massage. ‘Ooh, rather tense, I’d say. Not a good way to start the week.’

  ‘Jordanne,’ he warned, his voice low.

  She bent down so her face was beside his. ‘Yes?’ she said softly in his ear.

  Alex didn’t turn his head to look at her because if he had their lips would definitely have met. Jordanne was glad he didn’t. She didn’t want to kiss him—not yet. As she’d thought through her plan yesterday, she was determined that when they finally kissed, Alex would be in complete control of the decision. She didn’t want him regretting it the instant it was over.

  ‘Thank you for the coffee,’ he replied, and she straightened, laughing.

  ‘Chicken,’ she teased, but walked around the desk and sat opposite him, sipping from her cup.

  ‘Was there something you wanted to discuss with me?’ he asked, putting his pen down and reaching for his own cup.

  ‘Louise Kellerman. I went down to the ward before I came up and she didn’t have a good night. I don’t think the pelvis is settling all that well.’

  Alex nodded. ‘We’ll take a closer look after clinic. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.’

  ‘You’re more than welcome.’ Jordanne stayed where she was, sipping her coffee.

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘No.’ She feigned innocence. ‘Why? Am I bothering you? Is my presence making you unable to concentrate? None of my brothers have ever been bothered by me hanging around.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s just what little sisters do.’

  The corners of Alex’s lips began to twitch and once again Jordanne marvelled at the difference a week had made where this enigmatic man was concerned. At least now that they’d both admitted there was an attraction between them, he wasn’t trying to deny it any more.

  ‘How long is this surrogate-sister act going to continue?’ he asked.

  Jordanne put her coffee-cup down and leaned right across his desk. ‘As long as it takes,’ she whispered seductively, and smiled widely as he swallowed convulsively at her words. ‘Such a cute Adam’s apple,’ she crooned, before straightening. She took a few steps towards the door. ‘Do we still have a meeting before lunch to discuss the research project?’

  ‘Yes. Why would you think otherwise?’

  ‘Just wondering whether you can trust me to be alone with you. That’s all. All of our other meetings have included the pathologists and research staff out at the IAS. I’m glad you’re not backing out.’ She opened the door. ‘See you in clinic, bro.’

  Alex’s secretary was right behind her as Jordanne made to go through the door. ‘I didn’t realise you and Alex were related,’ she said as she walked passed Jordanne towards Alex’s desk.

  ‘Oh, we’re not, but he’s been friends with Jed for so long it’s just like having another brother around. Isn’t that right, Alex?’ She smiled sweetly at him but went on before he could reply. ‘You’d think I’d be satisfied with the four brothers that I have but…’ Jordanne shrugged again ‘…one more won’t make that much difference. I’d better get ready for ward round,’ she said.

  As it turned out, halfway through the clinic she needed to call Alex to review a patient who was requesting private coverage.

  ‘Alex,’ Jordanne said as he came into her consulting room, ‘this is Mr Roberto Portatello.’

  Alex shook hands with the patient who was sitting in a hospital wheelchair.

  ‘Mr Portatello—’

  ‘Roberto, please,’ Mr Portatello insisted.

  ‘Roberto,’ Jordanne corrected, ‘has been on the waiting list for a total hip replacement due to bad arthritis. His local GP put his name down here at the hospital some months ago but the situation is slowly getting worse. As you know, it will be at least another four if not five months before Mr…Roberto…’ Jordanne smiled at him ‘…comes up for the hospital operating list.’

  ‘I want to be private,’ Roberto insisted. ‘I can pay,’ he verified.

  ‘Do you have private health insurance?’ Alex asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘He forgot to tell his GP,’ Jordanne added.

  ‘Right, then. As you’re here, we’ll take a look at you before getting you organised onto my private operating list. Have you seen a rheumatologist?’

  ‘That sounds scary,’ Roberto replied. ‘Is it a dangerous animal?’

  Jordanne laughed. ‘No. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specialises in arthritic cases such as yours. I think we can safely take that as a no,’ she said to Alex.

  ‘At this stage, you’ll need an assessment from a rheumatologist before I can operate. We’ll do a consultation now, refer you privately to the rheumatologist and then make another appointment for you to see me privately before the operation.’

  ‘How long will all of that take?’ Roberto asked sceptically.

  ‘My private operating list is on a Thursday afternoon so hopefully a week next Thursday, we’ll have you booked and ready to go.’

  ‘So soon?’ Roberto was amazed.

  ‘Isn’t that what you wanted?’ Jordanne asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Roberto said, pleased.

  ‘Let’s get on with the examination, then,’ Alex said with a smile. They took a good look at Roberto’s hip and the X-rays he’d had taken that morning. ‘I’ll leave you with Jordanne to fix up the other details. All being well, I’ll see you next Wednesday morning in my private practice, ready for your operation the following day.’ With that, Alex shook Roberto’s hand and left the room.

  ‘What a good man,’ Roberto praised after Alex had left. ‘How long have you two been together?’

  Jordanne frowned slightly at the question. ‘We’ve been working together for a month now.’

  ‘Ah!’ he replied, and smiled knowingly. ‘The romantic involvement hasn’t progressed very far yet. That’s good. Take your time with that one,’ he advised.

  Jordanne felt her face heat with embarrassment. ‘What do you mean? Alex and I are just…friends,’ she told her patient.

  ‘For now.’ Roberto gave her a careful stare. ‘I’ve had a lot of experience in reading body language and I know the body language of two people who are romantically interested in each other. Just don’t rush him—or he’ll turn tail and run the other way.’

  Roberto’s advice was exactly what Jordanne had surmised. She knew she was walking a very fine line with Alex. Still, her patient’s comments piqued her interest. She looked at his chart, but under ‘Occupation’ it simply said ‘Retired’. ‘What was your profession before you retired?’

  ‘I used to be a private investigator. It’s this old hip that forced me out to pasture. Ageing isn’t something I can do gracefully,’ he told her with a chuckle. ‘I turn seventy next year and, believe me, when I do, the whole world is going to know about it, I’ll be grumbling and groaning so loudly.’

  ‘That’s the spirit,’ Jordanne agreed. ‘So, what type of cases did you previously work on?’ She hoped to get him off the subject of herself and Alex. Thankfully, Roberto seemed willing to co-operate.

  ‘A variety,’ he replied. ‘A lot of husbands cheating on wives—and vice versa. A bit of industrial espionage, m
edical benefits cases.’

  ‘Where people are being paid out for an injury they don’t have?’ Jordanne was intrigued.

  ‘That’s right.’ Roberto heaved a heavy sigh. ‘My business had to be sold. Neither of my sons were interested in it. Both of them became chefs. My grandsons—not a scrap of interest amongst them either.’

  ‘I’m sure you ran the best agency around,’ Jordanne told him, and he nodded in agreement. She finished the consultation and was almost sorry to see Roberto go.

  ‘See you next week,’ he called as the orderly came to wheel him out of the consulting area.

  ‘Ready for the next one?’ Sister Trudy Elliot asked Jordanne.

  ‘Almost.’

  ‘Good.’ Trudy started to leave but then came back. ‘By the way, the hospital grapevine now knows about Jed and Sally’s engagement. They were on call over the weekend,’ Trudy explained. ‘You nearly let it slip last week, didn’t you? When I mentioned that Sally would have my head if I so much as looked at Jed.’

  ‘Yes.’ Jordanne smiled. ‘I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Besides, it was up to them to make it known around the hospital.’

  ‘It wasn’t that much of a surprise as everyone knew they were dating. It was more a matter of time.’

  Jordanne nodded and then asked rather hesitantly, ‘Any more gossip about my family I should know about?’ She looked down at the case notes on her desk, hoping to give the impression that she didn’t really care.

  ‘Not about your family. Just about you.’

  ‘What?’ Jordanne feigned innocence. ‘What about me?’

  ‘Just about your relationship with Alex.’

  ‘We’re colleagues,’ Jordanne persisted.

  ‘Yup.’ Trudy nodded. ‘The latest on the grapevine is that you view each other as brother and sister. After all, everyone knows what good friends Alex and Jed are. It therefore seems natural that he sees you as a sort of surrogate sister.’

  ‘That’s about the size of it,’ Jordanne replied with a nod.

  ‘I guess it’s better than the previous rumour on the grapevine.’

  ‘Which was?’ Now Trudy definitely had Jordanne’s attention.

  ‘I guess everyone hoped you’d get together.’

  ‘Why?’

  Trudy shrugged. ‘I guess because of the family connection. You know, Jed’s marrying Sally who’s his right-hand man. You’re Alex’s right-hand man. Alex and Jed are friends. It sort of just started from there. Besides, Alex is one of the most eligible bachelors in the hospital. Some of the nurses felt for sure that your McElroy good looks would bring him to his senses, but I guess not.’

  ‘I guess not,’ Jordanne repeated, feeling a bit desolate at the information.

  ‘So now he’s as free as a bird again, who do you think would be perfect for him? Ooh, I know, there’s a new nurse on his ward.’

  ‘Who?’ Jordanne wanted to know.

  ‘Oh no, she’s engaged. What about Teagan Hughes? His junior registrar. She’s pretty.’

  ‘She’s not his type,’ Jordanne replied, instantly resolving to watch how Alex acted around Teagan.

  ‘Well, you’d know.’

  ‘Patients,’ Alex snapped as he walked passed the open doorway where the women were chatting.

  ‘Sorry,’ Trudy called to his retreating back. ‘Ready for the next one?’ she asked again.

  ‘Send them in,’ Jordanne replied.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  AFTER clinic, Jordanne went with Alex to the ward to review Louise Kellerman’s pelvic fracture.

  ‘How are you feeling today?’ Jordanne asked as Alex picked up the chart at the end of the bed.

  ‘The pain’s not too bad.’

  ‘Good.’ Jordanne and Alex waited for the ward sister to shut the door of Louise’s private room, before they continued.

  ‘External fixator pin sites are slightly infected,’ Jordanne commented as she gave the tibia a close inspection. She looked at Louise. ‘That’s unfortunately quite common but should settle down in a few days’ time. I’ll arrange more regular cleaning of the area.’

  ‘Do we have the pelvic X-rays she had taken the other day?’ Alex asked the ward sister.

  ‘I’ll go and check,’ she replied, and left them alone for a moment before returning with the films. Alex held them up to the light and looked at them again.

  ‘If you have a look here,’ Alex said as he came around the bed and held the X-ray up for Louise to see, ‘you can see the fracture to your acetabulum—that’s the cup-like bone that the neck of the femur, your hip, fits into. I had hoped that the fracture might settle and heal itself, but as you’re still experiencing discomfort I’d like to organise another set of X-rays to be taken. I’ll also be requesting three-dimensional scanning of the pelvis so I can see exactly where the fracture is for when we take you to Theatre.’

  ‘When will that be?’

  ‘Depending on what the X-rays show, probably tomorrow morning if we can organise some time.’

  ‘What do you mean, time?’ Louise asked, a little worried.

  Jordanne smiled reassuringly at her. ‘Theatre schedules are more complex than any other timetable I’ve seen but, not to worry, we’ll make sure there’s time—should you need an operation.’

  ‘Let’s get these X-rays organised,’ Alex told Jordanne. ‘When we have the new views, we’ll go through the operation with you so you understand exactly what’s going on.’

  ‘OK,’ Louise replied. Alex gave her a quick smile before he and the ward sister went to fill in the paperwork. Jordanne stayed behind.

  ‘Is there anything else troubling you?’ she asked.

  ‘It’s just…everything.’ Tears began to slide silently down Louise’s face and Jordanne quickly reached for a tissue. ‘My job, my home, my friends. How long am I going to be like this? Am I going to be able to have children after breaking my pelvis?’ she sobbed as Jordanne wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  ‘There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to have children. The bones of your pelvis will knit back together and be as good as new. I know it seems as though it will be ages before you feel your normal self again and I won’t lie to you and tell you it will be any time soon. You’ve sustained multiple traumas—your body needs time to recover but I guarantee that in another twelve months you’ll be surprised at how it’s all passed so quickly.’

  ‘Twelve months!’ Louise burst into a fresh round of tears. ‘I can’t move my arm, or either of my legs. I have a catheter inserted and it’s not that—’

  ‘Comfortable,’ Jordanne finished for her. ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘And then there’s the police. Taking statements, asking questions.’ Louise let a few more tears out. ‘Have you ever been bedridden for a long time?’

  ‘Not really. I broke my leg when I was ten.’ Jordanne smiled at the memory. ‘I fell out of a tree. I’m still not sure who my mother was more cross with, me or my brothers who’d tugged me up to the high branch.’ The smile slowly disappeared as she looked at Louise. ‘It will be all right. In time.’ Jordanne instantly wished for her mother’s natural soothing temperament but her sister Jasmine had inherited that. She willed the right words, which would make Louise feel more at ease, to spring into her mind. ‘You’ve just got to give it time.’

  Louise nodded her head and accepted another tissue. She tried to blow her nose with her right arm which was her only limb not bound in some type of traction or plaster.

  ‘Even the simplest of tasks isn’t easy,’ Louise complained.

  ‘I know,’ Jordanne agreed softly. ‘Hopefully, once we’ve fixed your pelvic fracture that’ll be one less set of pillows and poking and prodding you’ll have to endure.’

  ‘How much longer am I going to be in?’

  ‘For the pelvic fracture alone, it will be at least six weeks,’ Jordanne told her. She and Louise had been through this before, but as so much had happened it was normal for her patient not to remember everything that had bee
n said.

  ‘My poor cat,’ Louise groaned.

  ‘I thought your parents were taking care of it?’

  ‘They are, but I miss him.’

  ‘Of course you would.’ Jordanne was thankful that Louise seemed a bit calmer. ‘I know it must be difficult for you. If there’s anything I or any of the other staff can do to make things a bit easier for you—within reason,’ Jordanne added with a smile, ‘then let us know. Unfortunately, we can’t make you heal any quicker than your body will allow.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I read in your notes that you’ve spoken to the ward social worker. How did that go?’

  ‘Dean? He’s nice.’ Louise looked down at her hands.

  ‘Do you feel uncomfortable talking to him?’

  ‘No. He’s great. We can discuss anything—it’s so strange. I thought I’d be inhibited with a man coming to talk to me.’ She hesitated. ‘I’m not that good with men. The guy who took me skating was a blind date and he didn’t even accompany me to the hospital.’

  ‘At least you feel comfortable talking to Dean. We need you to heal emotionally and mentally as well as physically,’ Jordanne pointed out.

  Alex came back into the room. ‘X-rays are all organised and I’ve pulled a few strings to get you in immediately.’

  ‘That’s good news,’ Jordanne agreed.

  ‘The orderlies should be here soon to take you down to Radiology,’ Alex told Louise. ‘Jordanne and I need to finalise some things so we’ll see you there.’

  ‘Everything will be fine,’ Jordanne said with a little squeeze of Louise’s hand.

  As they both walked towards Radiology, Alex asked, ‘Is she all right?’

  ‘She’s just frustrated and a bit impatient.’

  ‘I don’t blame her,’ Alex acknowledged. ‘It’s going to take quite a while for her to recover. Let’s hope we don’t find anything further with the three-dimensional scans. If it’s just the acetabulum that needs piecing back together it will make it that bit easier on Louise.’

  The scans of Louise’s pelvis showed the fracture quite clearly and Alex was more than satisfied with the result. ‘Get down to ESS Theatres and see what sort of theatre time you can get us. We’ll need a good five hours at least to reconstruct that fracture. I’ll meet you back in the ward.’