A Very Special Child

by Jennifer Taylor

  He smiled at her. ‘I want you to work your magic on the poor kid, make her see that it isn’t the end of the world even though it probably feels like it at the moment.’

  Laura flushed, conscious of the speculative looks the others were giving her. However, she appreciated Mark’s confidence and only hoped that she wasn’t going to let him down.

  ‘I’ll do my best,’ she assured him, earning herself another warm smile. They ran through the rest of Bethany’s care plan, with everyone adding their comments before Mark wound up the meeting. Penny stayed behind to have a word with him about one of the other children as Laura and Cathy returned to the ward.

  ‘You and Mark seem to have really hit it off, don’t you?’

  Laura paused in front of the swing doors, wondering if she’d imagined the edge in Cathy’s voice. ‘He seems very nice,’ she observed quietly, looking at the other nurse uncertainly. Cathy gave her a wide smile but her pale blue eyes held a warning gleam.

  ‘He is. Too nice for his own good at times. He’s always picking up lame ducks and getting saddled with them.’

  The younger woman didn’t say anything more before she pushed open the doors. Laura followed her into the ward, her mind whirling. Had Mark mentioned something about helping her last night, implied that she was one of those so-called lame ducks?

  Her temper rose a good few degrees as she made her way down the ward to see what Daniel Glover was up to. She wasn’t a charity case! She didn’t need anyone’s help, and that included Mark Dawson’s! The idea that she might have become the object of his pity stuck in her throat so that she found it impossible to forget about it for the rest of the afternoon. It didn’t help one little bit to leave work at the end of her shift and find him waiting for her.

  If he thought he could play the good Samaritan again then he was in for a shock!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘HOP in and I’ll give you a lift.’

  Mark opened the car door, his brows rising as Laura made no attempt to get into the car. ‘Laura? What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing.’ She gave him a tight smile, anger making her greeny-blue eyes sparkle. ‘Thanks for the offer, Mark, but I wouldn’t dream of putting on you again tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  She walked past him, striding purposefully down the drive towards the gates. However, she’d gone no more than a couple of yards when he caught up with her. Taking hold of her arm, he drew her to a halt, his face holding an expression of bewilderment tinged with the first stirrings of anger.

  ‘What’s got into you?’ He shook his head when she opened her mouth. ‘And don’t tell me that nothing is wrong because it’s patently obvious that something has upset you.’

  ‘I am not upset!’ she declared rather too fervently. She looked away, determined not to let him see how hurt she felt. Maybe it was her own fault for being so gullible but it hurt to realise that he made a habit of helping those less fortunate than himself. She was nobody’s lame duck, despite what he thought!

  The thought was just what she needed to steady her. ‘Look, Mark, I don’t know why you went out of your way to help me last night, but I can assure you that your involvement in my problems has come to an end. I appreciate what you did but that’s it. I’m not a charity case and I can stand on my own two feet. Understand?’

  ‘No. Quite frankly, I have no idea what this is all about.’ He bent towards her and his expression was unaccustomedly harsh. ‘I most certainly don’t view you as a charity case, Laura!’

  ‘No?’ She gave a tinkly laugh which echoed with hurt. ‘Then how do you see me, Mark? As a lame duck perhaps? I have it on good authority that you make a habit of collecting them. But don’t worry, you aren’t going to get landed with me!’

  She tried to remove her arm from his grasp but he refused to let her go. His grey eyes were the colour of a winter sky as he glared at her from under lowering brows. ‘I don’t know who’s been putting such nonsense into your head but you’re wrong, Laura. I don’t see you as a lame duck! In fact, I—’

  He stopped abruptly as a car hooted to warn them that they were standing in the middle of the drive and that people were trying to get past. Waving an apologetic hand towards the driver, he took a firmer grip on Laura’s arm and drew her out of the way. As soon as the car had passed, he started down the drive.

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ she protested, struggling to keep up with him. He slowed as he realised the difficulty she was having—taking two steps to his one—and set a more sedate pace as they reached the street.

  ‘Somewhere where we can talk and get this sorted out.’ He held up his free hand when she opened her mouth. ‘No. Somebody has been filling your head with rubbish and I don’t intend to leave things like this.’

  He suddenly grinned. ‘Humour me, Laura. It’s been one heck of a day, not to mention night, and I feel too fragile to put up much of a fight. Can’t you find it in that caring heart of yours to take pity on a poor overworked doctor?’

  It was hard to resist when he turned on the charm like that. Laura tried her best but she could feel her resolve melting. She gave a quick nod, refusing to let him think she was too much of a pushover, and earned herself a smile which made her head whirl.

  In a daze she let Mark lead her to a small café further along the road. It was almost empty at that time of the day and he chose a table in the corner well out of earshot of the only other occupant. Pulling out a chair for her, he waited until she was seated before sitting down himself.

  ‘I come here quite often,’ he explained as he picked up the laminated menu. ‘The food’s quite good and it saves me cooking.’

  He handed Laura the menu but she didn’t even glance at it. ‘Nothing for me,’ she stated firmly. ‘Look, Mark, I really can’t see—’

  ‘Any point in us having this discussion?’ He shook his head. ‘That’s where you’re wrong. Of course there’s a point. I want to know how you’ve managed to get it into your beautiful head that I’m treating you like a charity case.’

  ‘Well, aren’t you?’ She picked up the salt shaker then set it down again with a thud. Did Mark really think she was beautiful? she couldn’t help wondering before she could stop herself. ‘It’s obvious how you see me, Mark!’

  ‘Obvious to whom?’ He paused as the waitress came to take their order. He ordered cod and chips, shrugging when Laura reiterated that she didn’t want anything. As soon as the waitress had gone, he repeated the question. ‘Obvious to whom, Laura?’

  She looked away, not wanting to mention Cathy by name. ‘Everyone. Look, Mark, I know you only want to be kind. Everyone says what a nice person you are, so…’

  He swore softly under his breath. His eyes were filled with exasperation when she looked at him in surprise. ‘To hell with everyone! It’s you I’m interested in, Laura—it’s your opinion that counts! And if I’ve done something to offend you I apologise.’

  This was starting to get out of hand, she realised with a sinking heart as she heard the regret in his voice. The last thing she wanted was to…to hurt Mark by refusing his help!

  She took a deep breath and tried to muster her thoughts into some sort of order. ‘I just hate the idea that you feel obliged to help me because I’m some pitiful person who can’t manage by herself,’ she admitted in a voice that hinted at how hurt she felt.

  Mark reached across the table and took her hand. ‘I don’t feel like that about you, Laura, believe me.’ His fingers tightened around hers, warm and strong and so infinitely reassuring that she almost sighed in pleasure.

  ‘I admire and respect you for the way you’ve coped since your husband died. I don’t see you as a charity case but as a beautiful and capable woman whom I want to help any way I can.’

  ‘But you hardly know me,’ she protested, while her heart filled with joy at what he’d said.

  ‘Because we only met yesterday?’ He shrugged. ‘Time is irrelevant. You can know people for years and never feel close to them. And then you can me
et someone and feel that you’ve known them all your life after only a few hours ‘

  ‘Is…is that how you feel about me, Mark?’ she asked, without pausing to think. She bit her lip, afraid to hear the answer because she wasn’t sure it was wise. This wasn’t what she wanted! her conscience shouted. There was Ian to think about, how much she’d loved him and how she still missed him. She didn’t want to get involved this way!

  ‘Yes, if you want the truth.’ He gave her hand a gentle squeeze then released it. His voice was suddenly flat. ‘But I don’t think the truth is what you want to hear just yet so maybe we should forget about it for now. Just accept that the reason I want to help you isn’t because I’m trying to notch up brownie points against the day I meet my Maker!’

  He turned it into a joke, saving her from the need to answer. Laura let out a sigh of relief, realising belatedly that she was trembling. Guilt and anger were potent forces and she’d been beset by both in such a short space of time that it was little wonder she’d been affected this way. When the waitress returned with Mark’s meal and he asked her if she would have a cup of tea, she accepted gratefully.

  Mark kept up an easy conversation as he ate, restricting it mainly to what had happened at work that day. It was neutral ground and Laura guessed that was why he’d chosen it. However, it was obvious that he was interested to hear what she had to say about the new cases who’d been admitted the previous night.

  She suspected that he found it difficult to switch off his role as a doctor. Not for Mark an end to the working day as soon as he walked through the hospital gates. It brought it home to her once more how much she admired him.

  They left the café a short time later and walked back to the hospital. Nothing had been said, but by tacit agreement Laura had accepted his offer to drive her to Claire’s. Maybe it was silly but she couldn’t bear the thought of hurting him by her refusal.

  The snow had started to fall again and Mark urged her into the car then quickly slid behind the wheel. Starting the engine, he shot a grimace at the sky. ‘Looks like it could be even worse than last night.’

  Laura nodded as she fastened her seat belt. ‘It does. Let’s hope that it doesn’t cause as much chaos.’

  It was a vain hope, she soon realised as they reached the centre of Dalverston. Traffic was at a standstill around the cenotaph, thanks to a lorry which had skidded in the fresh snow. Mark wound down his window and frowned as he spotted a crowd clustered around the cab.

  ‘I think I’ll just go and take a look in case they need help,’ he said, easing the car into the side of the road and cutting the engine.

  ‘Give me a shout if you need me,’ Laura offered immediately, earning herself a smile.

  ‘Will do.’

  He quickly slammed the door to stop the snow blowing inside the car. Laura huddled in her seat and watched as he made his way to the lorry. He conferred briefly with some of the bystanders then beckoned her over.

  Laura immediately got out of the car and went to join him, shivering as snow blasted into her face. ‘What is it?’ she demanded, her stomach sinking as she saw the look on Mark’s face.

  ‘I think we have a bit of a problem.’ He drew her into the lee of the vehicle to shelter them. ‘The driver has his wife with him and she’s in labour. Evidently, he was driving her to hospital when he skidded. Someone’s called an ambulance but no one seems to know how long it will take to get here because of the snow and all this traffic.

  ‘I don’t think the driver’s too badly hurt. The main problem seems to be that his foot is trapped under one of the pedals, but the woman definitely needs assistance. Can you see what you can do, Laura?’

  ‘Of course. Is she still in the cab?’

  When Mark nodded she hurriedly climbed onto the running board so that she could see inside the cab. The driver was slumped against the door, holding a piece of rag to his head. Laura could see that it was bleeding from a cut on his temple but, as Mark had said, he didn’t appear badly hurt. She turned her attention to his wife, a woman of about her own age who was obviously in pain and scared to death.

  ‘Can we get this door open?’ she demanded, jumping down to the ground. ‘I need to take a proper look at her.’

  The door had jammed as the lorry had hit one of the bollards surrounding the cenotaph. It took Mark, plus a couple of bystanders, several minutes to force it open. Laura climbed back up to the cab and introduced herself to the terrified mother-to-be.

  ‘My name is Laura and I’m a trained midwife. Can you tell me your name and how far apart your contractions are?’

  ‘Sally…Sally Middleton. They’re coming about every two minutes, I think…’ The woman gasped as another contraction began. Laura placed her hand on the woman’s distended abdomen then glanced back at Mark.

  ‘We need to get her out of here as fast as possible,’ she told him quietly. ‘This baby isn’t going to wait much longer to be born.’

  Mark didn’t question her assessment. Jumping down from the cab, he went to the rear of the lorry and Laura heard him opening the doors. He came back a few seconds later. ‘If we can get her into the back of the lorry at least she’ll have some privacy and shelter.’

  ‘Fine.’ Laura moved aside so that Mark could lift the terrified woman out of the cab. It was a difficult manoeuvre but he made it appear effortless as he cradled her in his arms.

  ‘Jim…!’ The woman shot a frightened glance at her husband who managed a groggy smile.

  ‘You go with the doctor, Sal. I’ll be fine, love. Once they get me out of here I’ll be right with you,’ he replied encouragingly.

  Mark carried the woman to the back of the lorry. One of the bystanders had found some flattened cardboard boxes in the back and had had the presence of mind to fashion a makeshift bed out of them. It wasn’t ideal but it was some protection from the coldness of the metal floor.

  Mark gently laid Sally down as Laura climbed in beside him. ‘I’m just going to check on the driver,’ he informed her sotto voce. ‘I’m a bit concerned about his foot—I want to check that the blood supply to it hasn’t been cut off. Give me a shout if you need me.’

  ‘Will do, but I’m sure we’re going to be fine, aren’t we, Sally?’ Laura said, smiling encouragingly at the frightened woman.

  ‘I hope so.…’ Sally bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. ‘We’ve waited so long for this baby. You won’t let anything happen to it, will you?’

  ‘Nothing is going to happen to your baby, Sally.’ Mark knelt down and took her hand. His grey eyes were so warm as they rose to encompass Laura that she immediately forgot how cold it was in the back of the lorry. ‘Laura is a trained midwife and she’s delivered more babies than you and I have had hot dinners. Although, I admit, she might not have worked in these conditions before. This could be a first!’

  Sally laughed as he’d intended her to then groaned as another contraction began. Laura knelt beside her, focusing her attention firmly on helping the poor woman through the next few difficult minutes.

  ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ Mark touched her lightly on the shoulder then disappeared back out into the snow. Laura could hear a lot of thumping and banging coming from the cab but she tried to block it out of her mind. One of the motorists had produced a torch and she smiled ruefully as she examined Sally by its light. Mark had been right about this being a first. She certainly hadn’t delivered a baby by torchlight in the back of a lorry before!

  Sally was fully dilated and the baby’s head was crowning. After checking that the cord wasn’t wrapped around the child’s neck, Laura concentrated on the delivery. With no possibility of pain relief, the mother’s breathing became all-important.

  Fortunately, Sally had attended classes at the antenatal clinic and responded well to Laura’s calm instructions so that it was all over in a surprisingly short time. Laura lifted the squalling infant onto its mother’s stomach and smiled at her. ‘You have a lovely little girl, Sally. Well done!’

 
; ‘A girl?’ Tears streamed down the exhausted woman’s face as she laid a gentle hand on her daughter’s sticky head. ‘And she’s all right? You’re sure about that?’

  ‘Positive. But don’t just take my word for it—ask the doctor and he can tell you.’ Laura smiled as Mark came to join them. ‘Isn’t she gorgeous, Mark?’

  ‘She is…every single tiny finger and toe.’ He grinned as he looked at the anxious mother. ‘Your baby is perfectly fine, Sally. There’s no need to worry.’

  ‘And Jim?’ Sally asked, suddenly remembering her husband’s plight. She struggled to sit up then smiled in relief as Jim appeared. ‘Oh, Jim, it’s a girl…We’ve got our baby at last!’

  Mark helped Laura up as Jim hobbled into the back of the lorry and knelt down beside his wife. ‘Let’s give them a few minutes, shall we?’ he said softly.

  He helped Laura down from the lorry, smiling as a cheer went up from the crowd once they heard the news about the baby’s safe delivery. Everyone seemed delighted by the happy outcome and there was little sign of impatience from the drivers who’d found themselves caught up in the drama.

  Laura smiled as she looked round at the smiling faces. ‘Funny how the birth of a child has such a positive effect on everyone. Normally people would complain bitterly if they were delayed on a night like this, wouldn’t they?’

  ‘They would. But a baby is special, isn’t it? I defy anyone not to feel moved when they witness the birth of a child,’ he agreed quietly. ‘It’s always given me a tremendous buzz whenever I’ve been fortunate enough to deliver a healthy child.’

  There was a note in his voice that made her frown. She looked at him curiously. ‘Why do I have a feeling there was more to that statement than first appears?’

  He smiled down at her. ‘You’re too perceptive, Laura!’ He sighed. ‘But you’re right. I did five years with the WHO after I qualified. I worked all over the place. Africa, India, Rumania…which was possibly the worst of all. I saw far too many babies die because their mothers hadn’t received adequate medical care. It made me value what we have in this country—a health service that does its best to ensure that every baby born has the best start possible in life.’