A Very Special Child

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘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. Obviousl
y, 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?