Caitlin laughed. ‘It was no problem. I enjoyed our trip very much.’
‘Thanks so much to both of you,’ Brianna said. She looked so much better for her night with Niall, Caitlin thought. Brianna’s cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkling. She knew how much she loved her children, but guessed the strain of keeping up appearances in front of them took its toll. She’d have to try and give Brianna more breaks.
‘Are you coming in, Andrew?’ Niall asked.
‘No, thanks,’ Andrew replied. ‘I thought I might get some kite boarding in while there’s a bit of a breeze. I was thinking Caitlin might fancy coming too and give windsurfing a go,’ he said. ‘In fact, we could all go.’
‘I think I’ll pass,’ Brianna said. ‘If you don’t mind. But you go on. Niall could go with you too, if he likes.’
‘I spend enough time away from my kids as it is,’ Niall said firmly. ‘And although it was a pleasure to be alone with you, my darling wife, I’d really like to spend this afternoon with my family. Or had you forgotten I’m away again tomorrow?’
‘No, I hadn’t,’ Brianna said softly. ‘Do you have to?’ Then she shook her head. ‘Oh, don’t mind me,’ she said. ‘Of course you have to. I’m just being silly.’
Caitlin and Niall exchanged concerned glances. Brianna had been so resolutely cheerful up to this point. The touch of anxiety in her voice was unsettling. Andrew must have noticed it too. He walked over to her and felt her forehead and then her pulse. ‘Are you feeling okay?’ he asked.
‘I’ve just got a bit of a headache. Nothing a bit of a liedown won’t sort out. Niall can look after the children while I do that, so go on, Cat, take Andrew up on his offer.’
But Caitlin felt strangely reluctant to leave Brianna.
‘I’m sure Andrew has had enough of my company for the time being,’ she said lightly. ‘And, besides, I’m not sure if I’m ready to risk being stung again. Besides,’ she went on, ‘I was almost eaten alive by this enormous leech after walking in the rainforest. Perhaps I should stay indoors for a while.’
‘Wuss,’ said Andrew challengely. ‘Well, they do say women from the northern hemisphere are more timid. But I know Brianna has a wetsuit you can borrow. That’ll keep you warm and safe.’
‘You can say what you like,’ Caitlin said, unmoved. ‘But I quite fancy lying by the pool with a good book for a couple of hours. Maybe another time?’
‘Fine by me,’ Andrew said. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then?’ And he kissed Brianna and the children before leaping into his car and heading off.
Brianna went to lie down while Niall took the children to the park. Caitlin took her book out to the pool and read before having a dip. After an hour’s nap Brianna appeared, carrying two tall glasses of cold orange juice. Caitlin sipped hers greedily, then pressed the ice-cold glass to her forehead.
‘How are you feeling?’ Caitlin asked her sister.
‘Much better, thanks. It was only a headache.’ She sat next to Caitlin and stretched out. ‘Tell me about O’Reilly’s,’ she said. ‘Did you love it?’
‘Mmm,’ Caitlin said. ‘I thought it was wonderful. Maybe you and Niall could come the next time?’
‘We’ll see,’ Brianna said. ‘Anyway, although I promised not to pester you, did you get a chance to think about what I said? About getting yourself checked? I need to know you’re all right.’
‘Once the big sister, always the big sister.’ Caitlin smiled. ‘I did think about it, Bri, and I’ll go for a mammogram—soon, I promise. Just to put your mind at ease if nothing else. But as for the genetic screening, I’m not sure there is any point. If I do have the gene, what then? I don’t think I want to live my life knowing that the sword of Damocles was about to fall.’
Brianna took a deep breath. ‘I’ve been thinking too,’ she said. ‘I spoke to Andrew about it. He knows someone who will carry out the test on me. I need to know if I carry the gene. I need to know because of Siobhan. Do you understand?’
Caitlin hugged her sister. ‘You know I’ll support you, whatever you decide,’ she said. Then a thought struck her. ‘But what if you do turn out to have the gene? What then?’
‘I’ll consider a mastectomy. Above all else I want to be alive for my children, whatever the cost.’
‘It’s a big decision,’ Caitlin said slowly. ‘Not one I think I could make. But if you are going to be tested, then I suppose I should think about it too. If you come back positive, there’s a good chance I’ll also carry the gene. Whew! I hadn’t really thought through all the ramifications before.’
‘That’s why I wanted to speak to you first. Because, whatever I do, it will affect you,’ Brianna replied.
‘Well, let’s hope for all our sakes, not least Siobhan’s, that it will all turn out fine.’ She felt her voice shake and fought to keep her emotions under control. Then the two sisters were in each other’s arms, crying as if their hearts would break.
Later, having cried themselves out, they broke apart, blew their noses and smiled at each other.
‘I needed that,’ Brianna said. ‘I have been holding it together for Niall and the children, but I feel so much better for letting it all out.’
‘Me too,’ Caitlin said. ‘I know you’re scared, Bri. I would be too in your shoes, even though I know you’re going to be fine. I hate to think of you going through all this. I feel so helpless. But we have to stay positive. Agreed?’
‘Agreed. Enough emotional stuff for the time being. Tell me, how did you get on with Andrew while you were away?’
‘Fine. He’s very…nice,’ Caitlin said evasively, but as Andrew had pointed out she found it difficult to hide her feelings, especially from her sister.
‘I was right,’ Brianna, said. ‘You fancy him!’
‘He’s good looking, I admit,’ Caitlin said reluctantly, then catching her sister’s eye, laughed. ‘Okay, he’s the sexiest man with the hottest body I have seen in a long time, but that doesn’t mean I fancy him.’
Brianna sighed. ‘I’m not sure I believe you, sis, but as I warned you before, don’t get your hopes up in that direction.’
‘I’m not!’ Caitlin protested, crossing her fingers behind her back. ‘I’ve told you many times before, I don’t think I’m the kind of woman who is destined for a long-term relationship. I’m not sure I want kids so what’s the point? Besides, if I want to get the chair of obstetrics then I need to concentrate on my career.’
‘Are you sure that’s still what you want? Didn’t coming out here kind of spoil that for you? Besides, Cat, there’s more to life than just work.’
‘I know that! I have my family, my friends as well. I’m not a recluse, you know. As for the job, they very graciously agreed to this six-month sabbatical. The Queensland Royal is a pretty prestigious hospital and the Dublin Women and Children’s likes their consultants to have international connections. Anyway,’ she said, returning to the subject she had been thinking about, ‘why shouldn’t I get my hopes up? Am I so ugly that you think a hunk like him wouldn’t be interested?’
Brianna laughed. ‘You know as well as I do that you are beautiful—it runs in the family after all.’
‘What, then? Has he been married? In a relationship? There’s no sign of a woman on the scene.’
‘There have been plenty on the scene, as you say, but not at the moment. Look, I don’t know how much he told you about himself.’
‘Not a lot,’ Caitlin admitted. ‘We mainly spoke about you guys—and work.’
‘You know his parents are from India originally, although Andrew and his sister were born here.’
‘I didn’t know he had a sister,’ Caitlin said surprised. ‘He never mentioned her. Is she here too?’
‘She was. Sadly she died after a difficult labour. She suffered an unexpected and catastrophic bleed after a stillbirth.’ Brianna shuddered. ‘I was on that day, in Theatre. It was awful. It broke everyone’s heart. His in particular.’ Brianna stopped and looked into the distance as if rememberi
ng.
‘How tragic. Poor Andrew. Poor family. It’s terrible that these things can happen even in this day and age.’ She thought back to his words about not being too involved with patients, but it was bound to be there in his mind every time there was an obstetric emergency.
‘He was very close to her. They were a close-knit family. Andrew was always the dearly loved only son, but when his sister died, his parents really started focussing on him. He became the centre of their universe. I’m surprised they haven’t moved to Brisbane to be closer but I guess the family business makes it difficult for them to leave Sydney.’ Caitlin waited for Brianna to continue. This was all very interesting and she felt a shock of sympathy for Andrew.
‘Although we’ve known Andrew for ages he never talks about his sister’s death. Or the rest of his family for that matter, although I know he visits his parents often. If his sister hadn’t died at the Queensland Royal, I doubt I would even have known about her.’ Brianna went on after a pause. ‘I tried to raise the subject once, thinking he might need to talk about it, and nearly got my head in my hands.’
‘Some men find it difficult to talk about the stuff that really hurts them,’ Caitlin said.
‘Sometimes I think it’s the reason Andrew won’t commit. Maybe he’s frightened the same thing could happen again.’
‘He’s a doctor,’ Caitlin argued. ‘He must know the chances of lightning striking twice are slim, to say the least.’
‘Ah, there you go, my dear sister. Assuming everyone thinks about things as rationally as you do. Where’s your heart, woman?’
But Caitlin was beginning to wonder if she could think rationally any more. Not least when it came to Dr Andrew Bedi. And as for her heart? She ignored the warning voice in her head. No, her heart was still safe. Being in lust wasn’t the same as being in love. Everyone knew that.
CHAPTER SIX
AFTER a fitful night tossing and turning, Caitlin gave up trying to sleep and instead got up early. It was so unlike her not to drop off as soon as her head hit the pillow. Perhaps it was concern for Brianna that had kept her from drifting off—because it certainly wasn’t because Dr Andrew Bedi kept drifting into her dreams. She was attracted to him, she acknowledged that much, but that was as far as it went!
He was beginning to occupy far too much of her thoughts, Caitlin told herself crossly. Normally totally focussed on her work, she shouldn’t be allowing that man to distract her—no matter how delicious he was to look at. As she let herself quietly out of the house, her thoughts once more turned to her duties. At least she could get a head start doing rounds of the labour suite and the antenatal ward before tracking down Patricia Levy, she reasoned. She had heard from one of the juniors that she was still in hospital, but due to be discharged later that day. Her baby was still in Special Care, making progress although still being ventilated.
Caitlin had been reluctant to leave Brianna, who still appeared under the weather, especially as Niall was off on another business trip, but her sister had insisted. ‘It’s only a touch of flu or something.’ She had dismissed both her sister’s and her husband’s concern the night before. ‘Away you go, both of you. You’ll just drive me mad if you hang about hovering over me. I’m fine, trust me.’
Caitlin found her patient on the antenatal ward listlessly packing her few belongings. When she looked up and saw Caitlin she gave her a wan smile.
‘How are you feeling?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Oh, I feel perfectly chucker,’ she replied. ‘I’m being discharged.’
‘How’s the little one?’ Caitlin asked.
Immediately tears sprang to Patricia’s eyes. ‘They say she’s holding her own.’ She sniffed. ‘But she’s so small and defenceless. I can’t bear to leave her here all by herself, but I need to go home and see my other kids. If Jack were here, he could stay with her while I’m away.’
Impulsively Caitlin hugged the distraught woman. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll keep a very good eye on her for you,’ she said. ‘And if there’s any change at all, we’ll call you.’
‘It’s only for a few hours,’ Patricia sniffed. ‘They’ve given me a room to stay in when I get back. But what if something happens while I’m away?’
‘Come on. Let’s go and see how she is,’ Caitlin said, trying not to look at her watch. She was due in Theatre, but she could see Patricia needed her right now. They took the lift up to the special care nursery. As before, it was a hive of activity with all the cots taken up. And, once again, there were anxious parents keeping vigil. Caitlin recognised one couple from a few days before. However, by the smiles on their faces, it appeared that their baby at least was making good progress. She followed Patricia over to her baby’s cot and wasn’t surprised to find Andrew’s dark head bending over the infant. He looked up at their approach and instantly Caitlin could make out the concern in his eyes. She felt her heart sink. She couldn’t bear it if anything happened to Patricia’s baby.
Gently Andrew sat Patricia down. ‘I’m afraid your baby took a turn for the worse a few minutes ago and we’ve had to put her back on the ventilator and sedate her again.’
Patricia looked up at him, stricken. ‘Is she going to be all right?’ she asked, her voice barely audible.
‘We’re doing everything we can,’ he said.
Caitlin caught his eye again. She read pity in his deep brown eyes. It didn’t bode well.
‘I can’t leave her now,’ Patricia said. ‘I’ll need to phone my mum and let her know.’
‘Give me the number,’ Caitlin offered. ‘That way you can stay here. I’ll phone from the duty room.’
Patricia nodded gratefully. ‘Tell Mum I’ll phone her as soon as I have news,’ she said, taking a deep breath. Her tears had dried up and there was new resolution in the squaring of her shoulders. ‘I need to be strong—for my baby,’ she said.
‘I’ll come back up and see you after my theatre list,’ Caitlin said, blinking away the tears. Then she turned and headed towards the duty room. She had just finished relaying the news to Patricia’s mother when Andrew came in.
Are you all right?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ Caitlin said, struggling to keep her voice under control. ‘How is Patricia’s baby?’
‘We’ve managed to stabilise her for the time being. She’s a little fighter. We’re doing everything we can. But all we can do at the moment is take each day at a time.’
‘I know we shouldn’t get emotionally involved, but Patricia has lost so much already. I don’t think she could bear it if her baby doesn’t make it.’
Andrew pulled Caitlin round to face him and looked directly into her eyes. ‘I promise you that if there is any way on this earth that I can pull this baby through, I’ll do it.’ Caitlin returned his look. His nutmeg eyes burned with determination. She believed him.
‘I know you will,’ she said quietly. ‘C’mon, let’s get back in there.’
Later, after leaving an anxious Patricia by the side of her baby’s cot, Caitlin made her way to the antenatal ward for rounds. Out of the ten women in the antenatal ward, most were doing well, although two needed to be taken to Theatre later that afternoon for elective sections. Neither woman was causing Caitlin much concern. The sections would be straightforward, and she was able to reassure both that they would be holding their babies in their arms later that day.
Glancing at her watch, Caitlin saw that she had just enough time for a quick bite before Theatre and made her way to the hospital canteen. Selecting a salad, she realised that wherever in the world you were, canteens stayed the same. She had just finished the last mouthful when Andrew plonked himself down beside her.
‘Hey,’ he said. ‘Busy morning?’
‘You could say that,’ Caitlin answered. ‘I’ve a list starting in a few minutes.’
‘Anything likely to cause problems?’
Caitlin shook her head and gave him a brief runthrough of her cases. ‘How’s baby Levy?’ she asked when she had finished.
&n
bsp; ‘She’s doing okay,’ Andrew said. ‘I’ll go and see her again before I leave today. By the way,’ he said as Caitlin picked up her tray, ‘I’m scheduled to visit the clinic up on the Sunshine Coast on Friday. I thought you’d like to come along as the visiting obstetrician. Like I told you, we take turns to go up once a week to see any referrals the GPs have. We find that having a paediatrician and obstetrician there at the same time works well. The paediatricians see any of the kids that they want a specialist opinion on, and you guys see the pregnant ladies as well as the gynae stuff. If there’s any problems with your pregnant ladies, one of us is about for a consult. The other specialties offer the same kind of service.’
‘I’d love to go,’ Caitlin said. ‘I’ll just need to make sure the labour ward is covered.’
‘Done,’ Andrew said. ‘I saw Dr Menzies earlier. He was scheduled to go with me, but he’s more than happy to cover for you to go in his place.’
Caitlin raised an eyebrow. ‘Don’t you think it would have been better for me to have asked him? Really, Andrew, I’d much prefer to speak to my colleagues myself.’
‘Hey,’Andrew said. ‘I didn’t mean to step on your toes. I just thought you’d like to come, and as I bumped into him I took the opportunity to check it out.’
Caitlin sighed, knowing that she was being unreasonable. Nevertheless, Andrew had to realise that she wanted to be seen as an equal part of the team. Not just some foreign doctor who swanned about the place, picking and choosing her cases.
‘I won’t do it again,’ Andrew apologized, but Caitlin could tell from the glint in his eye that he wasn’t perturbed in the slightest. It seemed as if Andrew Bedi was used to doing exactly as he pleased. ‘Remember I told you that I have a house up there I use at weekends. I often stay over for the weekend when I’m up there. It isn’t much, more like a cabin, but you’d be welcome to stay too.’
Caitlin’s pulse began to race. The thought of spending a night alone with Andrew seemed tantalisingly tempting but dangerous.
‘I don’t know about staying,’ she said slowly. ‘I’d really like to spend the time with Brianna. It feels like I’ve hardly seen her.’
Hired: GP and Wife / The Playboy Doctor's Surprise Proposal Page 24
