‘When we made love that first time it was so wonderful that it felt like a dream. And yet the following morning I sensed that you were troubled by what we’d done. I tried to dismiss your fears because I couldn’t understand how you could have any reservations. Then I overheard what you said to Cathy and it made me wonder if I’d been deluding myself all along. It knocked me totally off balance for a few days so that I was no longer sure of anything any more.’
‘Oh, Mark.’ She heard the pain in his voice and her heart ached at what he must have gone through. ‘The only reservations I had by that stage were about hurting you. I…I just thought that you deserved better than what I could give you. It worried me that I might end up ruining your life. Then Cathy began making all sorts of spiteful comments and I knew that I couldn’t let her get away with them. I hurled all her horrible allegations back at her, only you overheard and misunderstood. I don’t think I shall ever forgive myself for that!’
‘You must!’ His tone was urgent. ‘It was just a silly mix-up and it’s all over and done with now. I don’t want you to think about it ever again. Promise?’
‘Yes, if that’s what you want.’ Laura kissed him tenderly then drew back with a sigh. ‘But I have to admit that I’m not sorry Cathy left.’
‘I don’t think any of us were. Once everyone realised that Cathy had been spreading a pack of lies about you being incompetent, nobody had any time for her.’ Mark’s tone was grim. ‘She did the right thing by resigning. Deliberately withholding information about Bethany so that she could get you into trouble was way out of order. Fiona Watts told me that Cathy would have been dismissed if she hadn’t chosen to go.’
‘It’s incredible to think that anyone could be so spiteful, isn’t it? Thank heavens that Daniel Glover happened to be outside the office that day and overheard me telling Cathy that Bethany was in pain and that I was worried about it being a neuroma.’
‘I know. He asked Madge what a neuroma was that night and told her what he’d heard when she queried why he wanted to know. It was just a pity that Madge was off duty the next few nights so that it didn’t come to light sooner.’ Mark laughed ruefully. ‘That boy has some good points even if he did nearly manage to burn the place down!’
‘He didn’t mean to, though.’ Laura found herself defending the child—it was thanks to Daniel that her name had been cleared. Rachel had apologised as soon as she’d realised what Cathy had done, and the rest of the staff were back to their usual friendly selves. She couldn’t help feeling grateful to Daniel, despite the chaos he’d caused!
‘Evidently, he’d gone into the kitchen to make some toast for himself and Tim,’ she explained with a smile. ‘The pair of them had planned the whole thing like an SAS operation. They waited until the night staff were going for their breaks then Tim kept Madge occupied by pretending to feel sick while Daniel slipped out of the ward. The intention was for Daniel to go out of the building via A and E, which is the one door not locked at night, and find something to take back as proof that his mission had been successful.’
‘Only when he reached A and E he spotted you there!’ Mark laughed. ‘It must have given him a shock but Daniel, being Daniel, wasn’t deterred. He took Robbie back upstairs with him and left him to keep watch while he made himself and Tim the toast as a kind of second-best option.’
‘Correct. And there wouldn’t have been a problem if he hadn’t climbed onto a chair to reach the biscuit box. When the chair tipped over, he hit his head and managed to drop the plastic box on top of the toaster, where it caught fire!’ Laura sighed. ‘What a child! I don’t envy his poor mother, do you?’
‘She probably thinks the sun shines out of him,’ Mark declared, laughing. ‘Most parents think their children are rather special. It’s only natural. Oh, you get the odd ones, like Lisa Watson, who go against the grain, but it is unusual.’
‘I was so pleased when the police traced Katie’s father, weren’t you?’ she declared fervently. ‘I believe the courts have awarded him custody and he’s taking Katie back to Ireland with him to live.’
‘Katie and the dog!’ Mark laughed. ‘Nice chap, and I’m sure that Katie will be well looked after from now on. See, he’s another one who believes his child is special. I tell you, it’s quite normal.’
‘I suppose so.’ Laura paused.
‘What? You’ve got that brooding look on your face again. Not having doubts, are you? I mean, if you don’t like this place, say so.’ He stopped and his face closed up all of a sudden. ‘Or if you aren’t one hundred per cent sure about us.…’
‘I’m not!’ She put her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. ‘I’m one hundred and fifty per cent sure about us, Mark. But you have thought this all through, haven’t you? What it will mean, sharing responsibility for Robbie?’ There was a catch in her voice but she had to make certain that he wouldn’t regret taking on such a huge commitment.
‘I have. I know what I’m doing, Laura. It’s what I want more than anything. Robbie is a very special child but, then, he has a very special mother.…’
The rest of the sentence didn’t get uttered. It didn’t need to. Mark’s kiss said everything she wanted to hear. As she wound her arms around his neck, Laura knew that things had turned out perfectly for all of them. Her very special child was going to have a very special father!
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5642-5
A VERY SPECIAL CHILD
First North American Publication 2001
Copyright © 2001 by Jennifer Taylor
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
Visit us at www.eHarlequin.com
A Very Special Child Page 22
