A Very Special Child

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘But there are never guarantees,’ she said sadly. ‘Even with the best care available you can’t cover every eventuality.’

  His eyes darkened. ‘You mean Robbie, don’t you? But could you really imagine your life without him, Laura?’

  She smiled, her sadness lifting in an instant. ‘No. Neither do I want to try!’

  She looked round as the sound of sirens warned them that the ambulance was on its way. There was a scramble as people hurried back to their cars to make room for it to get through. It drew up beside the lorry and Laura laughed as she recognised the crew.

  ‘Hi, there. I see you two have drawn the short straw tonight,’ she teased as Jenny Partridge and Joe Henderson came to join them.

  ‘Who else?’ Jenny replied ruefully. ‘Joe and I were looking forward to a nice night in the bay with our feet up, too. So, what have we got? Control said something about a woman in labour—’

  She broke off as a wail issued from the rear of the lorry. ‘Seems we’re too late!’ she declared ruefully, rolling her eyes.

  Laura quickly filled her in on the details. ‘Everything seemed to be perfectly straightforward so I can’t imagine there’ll be any problems,’ she concluded.

  ‘Well, you’re the expert,’ Joe observed laconically, ‘although I hear you’ve deserted Maternity in favour of Children’s Med.’

  ‘Their loss is our gain,’ Mark stated, looping an arm around Laura’s shoulders.

  Laura coloured as she saw Jenny share a smiling glance with Joe. It was obvious what was going through the other woman’s mind, and once again Laura experienced that same feeling of guilt. She moved away, avoiding Mark’s eyes as she felt him look at her. It was a relief when Jenny climbed into the lorry to get the mother and baby ready to be transferred to the ambulance.

  ‘Thank you, both of you.’ Sally blinked back tears as she cradled her daughter to her as they were lifted down on the stretcher. Snugly wrapped in blankets, the tiny child blinked as a snowflake landed on her cheek. She opened her mouth and let out a squall of annoyance, and everyone laughed.

  ‘It was our pleasure. You just take care of that gorgeous little girl.’ Mark smiled at Sally then shook Jim’s hand. Jim’s foot had turned out to be badly bruised but that was all. He was able to hobble after his wife as the stretcher was loaded on board the waiting ambulance.

  Mark sighed as it drove away. ‘Right, now that’s over, let’s get on our way.’

  His voice sounded unusually flat and Laura shot him a curious look, wondering what was wrong. Unless it was just that he was tired after working such long hours. Two sleepless nights on the run would wear anyone out, she thought worriedly as they made their way back to the car.

  It took some time to clear the backlog of vehicles and get on their way. Mark didn’t speak, seemingly preferring to concentrate on driving. The snow had stopped but the roads were slick with the new layer of snow lying on top of the old, so she could appreciate how difficult conditions were. When he drew up in front of Claire’s house, he didn’t switch off the engine.

  ‘Right, here we are, then. Mind how you go, Laura. The pavement will be slippy, I imagine.’

  Although it was said pleasantly, there was no doubt in her mind that he didn’t want to linger any longer than necessary. She hurriedly opened the car door, pausing only long enough to thank him. ‘I appreciate the lift, Mark. Thank you.’

  He inclined his head but he didn’t say anything. As soon as she’d closed the car door, he drove away. Laura walked up the path and rang the bell, feeling ridiculously hurt by the abrupt dismissal. Mark was tired so he must be longing to get home, she tried telling herself, but it didn’t work. It still felt as though he couldn’t wait to be rid of her!

  Robbie’s excitement at spending the night with Ben eased Laura’s mind. She spent half an hour listening to what he’d done at school that day. Robbie’s lessons were adapted to his capabilities as he couldn’t always cope with what the rest of the children in his class were doing.

  Laura was hoping that he might eventually be able to read, as some Down’s children could, but she was realistic in her expectations. The fact that Robbie gained such pleasure from mixing with children his own age, and learned vital social skills, was more than enough for now.

  Claire urged her to stay and eat with them but Laura refused. She had to make a start on clearing up the mess at her house, and the sooner she set about it the better. She kissed Robbie goodbye then left, huddling into her coat as she set off to walk the short distance home. There was a gas camping lantern stored in the shed so she found that first then went inside to survey the damage.

  Everywhere smelt cold and damp and the hall carpet squelched as she walked on it. Her heart sank at the enormity of the task she had set herself, but there was nothing she could do so she set to work. Rolling up the carpet was difficult enough, but it was impossible for her to carry it outside. The water had made it too heavy for her to lift no matter how hard she tried. Panting for breath, she looked for an alternative, and decided that it might be easier if she tried rolling it out of the front door and around into the back garden.

  Running a grimy hand over her brow to push back her hair, she opened the door then cried out as she was confronted by the tall figure of a man standing on her step. It was only when he spoke that she realised it was Mark, although her heart sank as she heard the anger in his voice.

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, you crazy woman?’

  ‘I…Um…’ Completely disconcerted by his sudden appearance, Laura struggled to answer the question. He swore softly as he came inside and slammed the door with enough force to make the whole house shake. In the glow from the lantern she saw that his face was set in uncompromising lines, and she felt a ripple of unease run down her spine.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me what you were planning on doing?’ he demanded in that same hard-edged tone which was so out of character.

  Laura blinked, feeling foolish tears stinging her eyes. Crazy though it sounded, it hurt to know that Mark was angry with her.

  ‘I never thought about it,’ she muttered in a choked little voice, turning away so that he couldn’t see that she was upset. He caught her arm and swung her round, his eyes darkening as he saw the tears on her lashes.

  ‘Hey, what’s all this? What are you crying for?’ he asked more gently.

  ‘Because…because I’m tired and I’m cold and I can’t lift this rotten carpet and you’re shouting at me!’

  It all came out in a rush, as though a cork had popped out of a bottle and released all her pent-up emotions. Tears streamed down her face and she heard Mark groan. He drew her to him, cradling her against him as he rocked her gently to and fro as though comforting a child.

  ‘I’m sorry. Really, I am. I didn’t mean to shout at you.’ He drew back and looked into her tear-drenched eyes. ‘I was just worried, you see.’

  ‘Worried,’ she repeated blankly. Nervously, she wet her lips, feeling heat lick along her veins when she saw his eyes darken as they followed the movement of her tongue. There was a roughness about his voice all of a sudden which could no longer be attributed wholly to anger and her heart rate increased.

  ‘Yes. I rang Claire’s house to apologise for the way I acted earlier by driving off so abruptly, and she told me that you’d gone home to start clearing up. I’d assumed that you would be staying with her, but obviously I was wrong. I don’t think she has any idea what a state this place is in, but I had.’

  His arms tightened, drawing her even closer so that she could feel the power of his body even through the thick layers of clothing he was wearing, and her heart raced even more. ‘I drove here as fast as I could, terrified that I’d find you lying on the floor, having electrocuted yourself or something!’

  He tried to inject a teasing note into his voice but it didn’t quite work. Laura’s heart was racing almost out of control now. The thought that Mark cared so much was like a light coming on inside her, dispelling th
e darkness that had filled her for so long.

  The thought made her gasp and he bent to look at her, his eyes narrowing as he saw the expression on her face. ‘Laura…?’ he murmured questioningly, then he gave a soft groan.

  She knew that he was going to kiss her before his head began to lower but there was no thought in her mind of resisting. She felt the first light contact of his lips as they settled over hers, and the one thought which ran through her mind was that they felt familiar. It was as though part of her had known Mark’s touch all her life so that responding to it was as natural as breathing.

  She stretched up on tiptoe to meet him, and heard the sigh he gave. There was a note of relief and pleasure in it, along with surprise. Hadn’t he expected her to welcome his kiss? she wondered in the moment before his mouth settled more firmly over hers and the ability to think deserted her.

  His lips were so warm and eager, so filled with passion and yet so tender, that it was like a cocktail of emotions all shaken up together. Laura responded blindly, delightedly, letting her lips mimic the movements of his. It was the sweetest, most seductive dance imaginable, and when it was over they were both shaken and breathing heavily.

  He cupped her face between his big warm hands, looking at her with an expression in his eyes that made her very bones seem to melt. ‘I could very easily fall in love with you, Laura Grady.’

  Maybe it was the use of her full name and not just what he said that brought her back to earth with a sickening jolt. Laura felt herself go cold as she realised what she’d done.

  How could she have kissed Mark in the very house where she’d lived with Ian?

  It felt like the worst kind of betrayal, made her feel sick as she wondered what kind of a woman she must be to forget about her husband like that!

  She pulled free from his arms, refusing to look at him because she felt so ashamed. She didn’t want to look at him and remember how she’d felt, how he’d made her feel!

  ‘I’d like you to leave,’ she said woodenly.

  ‘Leave?’ There was raw astonishment in the word and on his face when she chanced a glance at him. The lantern light seemed to have leached all the colour from his face so that he looked like a stranger as he stood there, staring at her.

  ‘You want me to go after what just—’

  ‘Yes!’ She couldn’t let him finish the sentence, didn’t want to hear it, didn’t need to. She knew what she’d done and would never forget it. ‘I want you to go now, please, Mark.’

  ‘I see. I’d ask you why but I already know the answer so there doesn’t seem any point.’ He gave a bitter laugh and his mouth twisted with pain. ‘Your husband must have been quite a guy, Laura. Obviously, no one is ever going to match up to him. But don’t go blaming yourself for what just happened. You made it clear before how you feel, but I didn’t take the hint. No, it was all my fault and I apologise for it. Frankly, it’s something I shall regret for a long time to come.’

  He left the house, closing the door so quietly behind him that it seemed somehow worse. If he’d betrayed even a trace of anger then it would have helped. But to hear that flatness in his voice and to know that she was responsible for it, that made everything worse.

  Mark had realised that she’d felt uncomfortable when he’d put his arm around her earlier that night, which was probably why he’d driven off so quickly after dropping her at Claire’s. But she had made no attempt to stop him kissing her just now because it hadn’t even crossed her mind! If anyone was to blame it was her, not him. Mark would have stopped the very instant he’d felt her withdrawal, but it simply hadn’t happened.

  Now she knew that she wasn’t just guilty of betraying Ian but of hurting Mark as well. It was hard to decide which crime was worse.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘WHO spilled all this cereal on the floor? Daniel Glover, you come back here this minute!’

  Laura placed both hands on her hips as she waited for the little boy to obey the command. He came back down the ward, his slippered feet dragging on the floor. He looked the picture of contrition but she knew that would last no longer than the few minutes it took to chastise him about his latest escapade. Daniel was feeling a lot better and they were all paying for it!

  ‘Did you empty these Rice Crispies all over the floor by Tim’s bed?’ she demanded, determined not to soften as Daniel looked up at her with puppy-dog appealing brown eyes. At the tender age of eight, Daniel had learned how to manipulate the female of the species, as she knew to her cost!

  Laura’s heart flipped as another very appealing male face sprang to mind. It had been two days since the episode at her house and she’d had no chance to speak to Mark about anything other than work. He’d been polite but impersonal whenever they’d come into contact so there had never been an opportunity to mention it. But what could she expect? She’d made it clear how she’d felt that night, and Mark was simply following her lead, but she couldn’t deny that she missed the warmth he’d shown her previously.

  Now she deliberately chased all thoughts of Mark from her mind as she focused on making Daniel see that he couldn’t keep getting up to mischief. ‘Did you pour this cereal on the floor, Daniel?’ she said in her sternest voice.

  ‘Uh-huh.’ He gave her a guileless smile. ‘But I didn’t do it on purpose. It was an experiment, you see.’

  ‘Experiment? What kind of experiment?’

  Laura turned to look at Tim, who flushed uncomfortably. Although Tim Matthews was several years older than Daniel, the two boys had struck up a friendship. Tim was one of the pupils injured in the minibus crash. He had an unstable fracture of his left tibia, which had been repaired using pins inserted through the bone and locked into place by an external metal frame. Tim had fractured the radius in his left arm as well, although as the break was in the centre of the shaft it had been possible to manipulate the bone back into position and hold it in place with a plaster cast.

  Now Laura repeated her question for his benefit. ‘What sort of experiment?’

  ‘We—Daniel and me—well, we just wanted to see if we could get a Rice Crispie to sort of…well, sort of roll down my cast from one end to the other,’ Tim mumbled.

  ‘Roll down your cast?’ Laura raised her eyes to the heavens. ‘I don’t believe it! All this mess because you two were trying to do such a crazy thing?’

  She went over to the bed and lifted up the boy’s injured arm, sighing as a couple of Rice Crispies fell out of the top of his cast.

  ‘I won’t ask whose idea it was because I can guess!’

  She treated Daniel to a stern look and he looked suitably chastened. ‘But I warn you both that if I find you doing anything like this again then I’ll…’ She searched for a suitable punishment to threaten them with then grimaced. ‘Well, I’ll think of something!’

  She tilted Tim’s arm towards the light and tried to peer inside the cast. ‘I hope none of those Crispies are stuck in there otherwise we might need to replaster your arm.’

  ‘Problems, Nurse Grady?’

  The quiet question made her heart respond out of all proportion to how it should have done. Laura struggled to fix a suitable expression to her face as she turned to find Mark standing behind her. She cleared her throat, wishing her heart would stop thumping the way it was doing.

  ‘Just a very minor one, Dr Dawson,’ she replied evenly, lowering Tim’s arm to the bed. ‘This pair have been conducting an experiment to see if a Rice Crispie can travel from one end of Tim’s cast to the other.’

  ‘I see. And did it work?’ Mark asked blandly, although she could see the laughter in his eyes. Seeing it made the way he’d been acting towards her all the more marked. Suddenly she wished with all her heart that they could go back to the way they’d been before he’d kissed her!

  ‘Laura?’ he prompted, and she quickly gathered her thoughts.

  ‘No. And I’ve forbidden them to try it again. No more experiments until you leave here. Understand?’

  Both boys nodded, but
the expression on Daniel’s face as they moved away from the bed told her that he was already planning something else. She sighed as she looked back over her shoulder. ‘I wonder what that little imp is going to get up to next?’

  Mark laughed softly. ‘It’s a good sign when a child gets up to mischief.’

  ‘I know. But it’s a lot easier when they’re confined to their beds and you know exactly what they’re up to,’ she retorted dryly. ‘Daniel’s going to turn my hair grey soon!’

  ‘Then you’ll be pleased to know that he’ll be leaving us tomorrow.’ Mark led the way down the ward, glancing back when Laura hesitated. ‘I wonder if I could have a word with you in the office? It won’t take long.’

  Her heart leapt as she wondered what he wanted to speak to her about, although she didn’t question him. Cathy was helping Jane change one of the children’s drips and she gave Laura a hard look as she passed the bed.

  ‘Have you remembered to order a gluten-free meal for Jessica Collins, the new admission we’re expecting?’ she asked sharply. ‘You need to get the order in before ten otherwise the kitchen staff will complain.’

  ‘Yes. I phoned it through earlier,’ Laura replied blandly, refusing to rise to the challenge in the other woman’s voice. Cathy had been filling in for Rachel for the past few days and Laura had wondered several times if the staff nurse found it difficult, coping with the extra responsibility. On several occasions Laura had fallen foul of the other woman’s acerbic tongue over some minor misdemeanour. However, there was no sign of irritation as Cathy turned to Mark with a charming smile.

  ‘I won’t be long now if you need me, Mark,’ she informed him sweetly. ‘Jane and I just have this to finish and then I’m free.’