The Italian Doctor

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘It must have been a shock for you,’ she sympathised, checking that everything was working properly.

  ‘It was. I think it hit me even harder than when I first heard about the accident,’ Beverley admitted shakily. ‘The sheer logistics of getting myself over to England helped me cope then. But suddenly being faced with the possibility that Alan might die…’

  She broke off and pressed a hand to her mouth. Maggie crossed the room and put her arm around her. ‘Hey, come on now. Alan’s going to be fine. I know he looks awful at the moment but that’s to be expected after what he’s been through.’

  ‘I know. It just kind of hit me what I could have lost.’ Beverley took a deep breath then wiped her eyes. ‘It’s made me realise how precious every day is, and how silly it is to keep putting off a decision about when we’re getting married.’

  ‘I expect it’s difficult when you both live so far apart,’ Maggie suggested sympathetically.

  ‘That’s what I’ve kept telling myself these past four years. I live and work in New York, and Alan lives and works here. There didn’t seem any way round that.’ Beverley looked at her fiancé and sighed. ‘But when something like this happens, it makes you examine your priorities, doesn’t it? I realise now that being with Alan is more important than anything else.’

  Maggie was deeply touched by the sentiment, especially because she couldn’t help comparing her own situation to Beverley’s. In her heart she knew that she would have given up everything to be with Luke, only that wasn’t what he would want her to do.

  She felt a lump come to her throat and turned away so that the other woman wouldn’t see that she was upset. ‘I think you’re right to feel that way. I’m sure Alan will agree with you, too.’

  ‘I’m not giving him a chance to disagree!’ Beverley declared, drawing up a chair beside the bed and taking hold of Alan’s hand. He was sound asleep now, although Beverley didn’t let that deter her as she leant over and kissed him. ‘We’ve wasted enough time as it is and I don’t intend that we shall waste any more!’

  Maggie laughed. ‘Then can I be the first to congratulate you?’

  ‘You can. Thank you.’ Beverley grinned, looking so radiantly happy that Maggie couldn’t help feeling envious. She headed for the door, trying not to dwell on what would happen if she took a leaf out of the other woman’s book. If she declared her feelings, Luke would run a mile!

  ‘Oh, by the way, did that young man manage to find whoever he was looking for?’

  She glanced back. ‘Which young man do you mean?’

  ‘The one who was here earlier when I arrived,’ Beverley explained. ‘He was coming out of this room and he asked me if I knew where someone called Lisa had been moved to. Maybe he thought I was a member of staff because there were no other visitors around at that hour of the morning. He seemed upset when I couldn’t help him.’

  ‘You couldn’t describe him, could you?’ Maggie asked worriedly, wondering if it had been the same youth who had accosted her and Tracy.

  ‘I didn’t pay much attention, I’m afraid,’ Beverley admitted. ‘I was too worried about Alan… Oh, wait a moment, I did notice that he had a plaster cast on his arm, if that’s any help.’

  ‘It is. Thanks.’ Maggie managed to hide her alarm but it was disquieting to know that the youth had been in the hospital again that night. She left Beverley to her vigil and went back to the main ward. The day staff were starting to arrive and there was a lot of teasing when they discovered what had gone on during the night.

  Maggie gave the sister her report then told her what she had learned from Beverley Mason. They both decided that it had to be reported to the police and that Roger Hopkins needed to know as well.

  That all took some time so that it was almost seven when she finally left the hospital. It was a glorious day, the sun casting a lemon haze across an almost cloudless blue sky, but she was too tired to appreciate it. It had been a long night for so many reasons.

  ‘There you are. I was beginning to think I’d missed you.’ Luke fell into step beside her, smiling when he saw her start of surprise.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, her pulse leaping at the sight of him. ‘I thought you’d have gone home ages ago.’

  ‘I fully intended to but I ended up helping out in Theatre. They had an emergency admission, a young woman who’d fallen off a balcony and cracked several vertebrae.’ He gave a sudden yawn. ‘Excuse me!’

  Maggie promptly yawned as well then laughed. ‘I will if you will! We’re a right pair, aren’t we? We must look like the walking dead!’

  ‘I wish I had the strength to dispute that but I’m too tired,’ he replied with a lopsided grin. ‘Anyway, I’ll give you a ride home. It will save you waiting for the bus.’

  ‘Is that why you were waiting for me?’ she asked, her heart lifting at the thought.

  ‘Partly. There was something I wanted to tell you, too. Anyway, what kept you so long?’ he asked leading the way to the car.

  Maggie curbed her curiosity but she was dying to know what it was that he had to tell her. She got into the car then quickly told him what she had learned from Beverley. ‘From Beverley’s description, it has to be the same boy, don’t you think?’ she concluded.

  ‘Definitely.’ He sounded grim as he started the engine. ‘I don’t like the sound of this at all, Maggie. Especially as Lisa is being moved back to the ward in the next day or so. While she’s been in Intensive Care they’ve been able to monitor who came into the unit. It isn’t as easy on a ward where you have people coming and going all the time.’

  She grimaced. ‘It isn’t. Do you think he means to harm Lisa in some way?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. That’s the really disturbing part about all this. Nobody knows what he wants with her, which is why everyone has to be on their guard.’

  Luke paused as they came to a junction and his face was set when he turned to her. ‘Promise me that you’ll be careful. Until we know what this guy is up to, I don’t want you taking any chances.’

  ‘He isn’t interested in me,’ she denied, although her heart had rejoiced at the concern in his voice.

  ‘Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on your guard, does it?’ He checked for traffic then pulled away. ‘And warn the others to be careful as well.’

  She swallowed a lump of disappointment, turning to look out of the window so that he couldn’t see her crestfallen face. Luke was no more concerned about her safety than he was about the safety of the rest of the staff. So much for her imagining that she was special!

  It didn’t take long to reach her flat. Luke drew up and put on the handbrake. ‘Before I forget, I’d better tell you my news. I had a phone call from my mother last night. She and Dad are coming over to England next month and she wants to visit me.’

  He laughed ruefully. ‘Mom claimed that it’s a business trip but I have my doubts. Knowing her, I expect she’s decided to check you out. I thought I’d better give you advance warning.’

  Maggie’s heart sank. ‘You really think that’s why she’s coming all this way?’

  ‘Definitely! I don’t doubt that Dad will do a spot of business while he’s over here but Mom is behind this, believe me. Anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem. Your parents seemed to find our act pretty convincing, didn’t they? And we’ve had a lot of practice since then!’

  ‘Yes, we have.’ She reached for the doorhandle, wanting only to make her escape. Was that the reason Luke had been so eager to spend time with her of late, because it would add extra weight to their performance if he could casually mention things they’d done together, like that picnic by the river, for instance?

  ‘Hey, what’s wrong? You aren’t worried about meeting my parents, are you?’ He laid a restraining hand on her arm. His deep blue eyes shimmered with concern as he looked at her. ‘You’ll like them, Maggie. I promise. But, more importantly, they will absolutely love you so there’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘I… I’
m not worried.’ She managed to smile. ‘I’m just tired, I expect. It’s been a hectic night and all I want at this moment is to crawl into bed and sleep.’

  He laughed ruefully. ‘Me, too!’ He leant across the seat and brushed her cheek with a kiss. ‘Sleep tight, honey. I’ll catch up with you soon. OK?’

  ‘OK,’ she repeated dutifully, climbing quickly out of the car. Luke waited until she’d opened the front door then drove away. Maggie went straight to her bedroom and undressed. She drew the curtains across the window, tucking them snugly into the frame so that no daylight could shine into the room, then climbed into bed. However, her body might have been clamouring for sleep but her head had other ideas—far too many of them!

  Maggie stared across the darkened room while she tried to marshal her thoughts. She would never be able to sleep at this rate. She had to work out what was troubling her and then find a solution.

  She tried listing her worries but gave up when she realised that they all stemmed from the same thing—her feelings for Luke.

  She loved him. He didn’t love her.

  She wouldn’t have to pretend in front of his parents. He would.

  Her heart would be broken when he left. His wouldn’t.

  ‘It’s been like a bear garden in here! My head is ringing with all the thumping and banging that’s been going on. Evidently, the workmen will be here for another hour yet, so be warned.’

  Daphne Parish, Maggie’s opposite number on the middle shift, plonked a bottle of aspirin tablets on the desk and grinned. ‘Keep these handy. You might need them!’

  ‘Thanks very much!’ Maggie replied, grimacing. ‘You’ve really cheered me up—I don’t think. I was hoping to have a nice peaceful night after yesterday’s fiasco.’

  ‘Peace? What’s that?’ Daphne retorted as a thunderous crash resounded around the ward. ‘This is a hospital, isn’t it? You don’t expect peace and quiet in here!’

  Maggie sighed as the other nurse left. It looked like it was going to be another frenetic evening and she wished she felt a bit more alert. Lack of sleep had left her feeling so drained that it had been an effort to drag herself into work, but now that she was here there were jobs to be done.

  Whether or not it was the noise, but a lot of the patients seemed particularly fractious that night. Maggie and the others had their work cut out, keeping up with the constant demands that were made on them. One person wanted a cup of tea, another a bedpan, a third complained that she was cold and needed an extra blanket—the complaints came thick and fast until they were all fed up.

  ‘I don’t know what’s got into everyone tonight,’ Angela grumbled, ladling sugar lavishly into her cup. They were snatching a break and had retreated to the ward kitchen for five minutes. ‘Even Mrs Bradshaw complained that no one was taking any notice of her. She’s never done that before!’

  ‘I expect everyone’s tired out because they haven’t been able to rest,’ Maggie said as soothingly as she could. ‘Once the workmen have finished we’ll get everyone settled down for the night. Hopefully, they’ll feel better in the morning after a good night’s sleep.’

  ‘You look as though you could do with some of that,’ Tracy observed teasingly. ‘Did you get to bed at all today? Or is that a leading question? Rumour has it that you were spotted getting into Luke’s car this morning.’

  Maggie summoned a smile as Angela and Tracy broke into peals of laughter. It would serve no purpose to remonstrate with them because they didn’t mean any harm. It was only natural that people should be adding two and two and coming up with the wrong answer.

  ‘I shall treat that with the disdain it deserves,’ she retorted lightly. ‘Anyway, I’ll just go and check that nobody needs anything. You two stay here and finish your tea.’

  She went back into the ward and was relieved to find that the banging had stopped and that everywhere was quiet. The workmen must have called a halt for the night and she had to admit that she was as relieved as everyone else appeared to be. Although a few people were reading or listening to their radios, the majority had turned off their lights and settled down to sleep.

  She made a quick visual check that nobody needed her then went to the side room to see how Alan Cole was faring. He was on his own because Beverley had gone back to her hotel for the night and he seemed pleased to have some company.

  ‘Have the workmen stopped now?’ he asked, putting down the paperback novel he’d been reading.

  ‘Yes, thank heavens!’ Maggie checked his chart and smiled. ‘Well, there doesn’t seem to be any problem there. How are you feeling?’

  ‘A bit like a rugby ball.’ He glanced at the neat row of staples on his chest. ‘I feel bruised and battered but I’m just grateful that I’m still here to feel anything. Thanks for what you did last night, Staff. Beverley told me that if it hadn’t been for your swift intervention I might not have made it.’

  ‘Oh, it’s Tracy you should be thanking, not me,’ Maggie declared, not wanting to take all the credit. ‘If she hadn’t been keeping such a watchful eye on you then we might not have realised you had a problem and been able to do something about it.’

  ‘Then I’ll make sure I thank her as well,’ Alan said firmly. ‘Frankly, everyone has been marvellous. Beverley can’t speak highly enough of you all.’ He gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘I believe she told you that she’s decided we should set the date instead of dithering about when we’re going to get married.’

  ‘She did and I’m very happy for you both. So when is the big day going to be?’ she replied, smiling at him.

  ‘Next Friday.’ He laughed when he saw her surprise. ‘Beverley is a real powerhouse when she gets going. She’s booked the registrar and even arranged for him to come here and marry us if I’ve not been discharged by then.’

  ‘That’s wonderful news! Congratulations.’ Maggie laughed. ‘It will be a first, though, if you do have the wedding here.’

  ‘It will be all the more special, then, won’t it?’ Alan declared with a grin. ‘Getting married in hospital, eh? It’s not how I ever imagined it would happen!’

  He was still shaking his head with joyful bemusement when Maggie left. She sighed as she went to find the others. Some people were able to adapt their plans to fit the circumstances and others refused even to consider it. That brought her thoughts right back to where they’d been for most of the day, with Luke. It seemed he was never far from her mind.

  The evening wore on and midnight came and went. They had an admission at one, a young man who had come off his motorbike and broken both his legs in several places.

  Maggie put him in a bed close to the office so that she could keep a careful eye on him. Although he’d had a brain scan, there was always a danger of some sort of unforeseen problem surfacing in the hours following a major road accident. She wanted to be on hand in the event his condition deteriorated.

  Luke was on call again that night and he came to check on the motorcyclist a short time later. He looked tired and unusually grim as he studied the man’s chart.

  ‘He’ll need watching closely for the next few hours,’ he said shortly, handing back the chart to Maggie.

  ‘I know. That’s why I put him close to the office,’ she replied quietly, earning herself a rueful smile.

  ‘Sorry. A bit like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs, saying that, wasn’t it?’

  Her brows rose. ‘I’m not sure I appreciate the comparison even though I applaud the sentiment.’

  He uttered a wry laugh as they moved away from the bed. ‘You’re too sharp for me tonight, Maggie. I’m certainly not going to get on the wrong side of you.’

  He led the way from the ward, leaning against the corridor wall as the doors swung shut behind them. In the bright overhead light his face was grey with fatigue, the dark shadows under his eyes looking like ink stains.

  Maggie’s heart immediately went out to him. ‘You look worn out. Didn’t you get any sleep at all?’

  ‘Not a lot.’ He took a
deep breath and his expression was brooding when he looked at her. ‘I had a lot on my mind and then I ended up having to come into work at eleven.’

  ‘Really?’ she asked, wishing that she could ask the question she really wanted to know the answer to—what it was that had been preying on his mind. Her heart lifted like a bubble floating into the air as she wondered if he’d been plagued by the same thoughts that had disturbed her sleep.

  The bubble burst and her heart plopped back into place. Of course he hadn’t!

  ‘Morgan needed me to tell my version of what happened the day Norman Jefferson botched that operation. There was a board meeting this morning and the members wanted to hear my account at first hand,’ he explained. ‘It was a bit unpleasant because Jefferson virtually accused me of lying.’

  ‘Good heavens!’ Maggie was appalled. ‘What happened then?’

  ‘I’m not sure because I was asked to leave the meeting. However, I got the impression that they were more inclined to believe him than me. Jefferson has worked here for a long time and he has a lot of friends in high places.’

  ‘But surely they aren’t going to take his side just because they’ve known him for donkey’s years? Everyone knows how difficult it’s been lately and that the surgical team have been covering for him. Morgan must know what’s been going on, anyway.’

  ‘He does. However, Morgan has ruffled a lot of feathers since he took over as head of surgery. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and isn’t shy about making his views known. Consequently, he’s made himself several powerful enemies.’

  ‘You can’t play politics with people’s lives! It’s despicable. Anyway, there were other people who saw what went on that day, like Robin, for instance. Couldn’t he tell them what happened and back you up?’

  ‘I don’t want him getting involved. It’s reached a point where people are taking sides and it could have repercussions on his career.’ Luke shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter if I make any enemies because I’m not going to be here very long, but it’s different for Robin.’