Winning the Surgeon's Heart

by Annie Claydon

  ‘What, that you forgot all about a stupid game and decided to go and save a man’s life?’ She shot him a reproving look.

  She must feel it. Winning meant so much to Hannah. But she was the same as him, first and foremost a healer. Matt sighed, trying to make sense of his own feelings.

  ‘We got to him quickly, and I think he’ll be okay. That’s more important than anything, but I think it’s okay to wish that it hadn’t happened. I imagine he does too.’

  She nodded, tears suddenly forming in her eyes. ‘Yeah. Let’s not talk about that right now, eh?’

  They sat for a moment in the sunshine. The generator had been turned off, and technicians were checking cables and coiling the damaged one. The director of the unit walked towards them.

  ‘Nasty business.’ He sat down on the grass. ‘I’m glad you were there.’

  ‘Me too.’ Hannah was making an effort to smile.

  ‘I...um...don’t know what we can do about this. In terms of the competition... We want to make this fair.’ The director seemed intent on catching Hannah’s gaze, and she seemed intent on not looking at him.

  ‘Give us a minute, will you?’ Matt spoke firmly. ‘Hannah needs to go and see her son, he’ll be wondering what happened. I’d like to check on the man who was hurt, and make sure that he’s all right before we do anything else.’

  ‘Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you for what you did just now.’

  Hannah smiled suddenly and got to her feet. ‘It’s all in a day’s work.’

  * * *

  Matt had seen Hannah jogging over to where Sam and her mother were standing. No victory dance this time, but there was a hug. That was what really mattered.

  He walked out of the park and onto the hospital grounds, finding his way to A and E. One of the doctors there told him that Joe, the young man who had been injured, was doing well and he allowed Matt to spend a few minutes with him.

  Deep in thought as he left A and E and walked back towards the park, he almost bumped into Hannah.

  ‘Hey! What’s up, everything all right?’ She looked a little down in the mouth.

  ‘Yes, fine. How is he?’

  ‘He’s okay, recovering nicely. The burns aren’t too bad, and he’s conscious and talking.’

  ‘That’s great.’

  ‘So what is up?’ Hannah shrugged and Matt shook his head.

  ‘Don’t tell me nothing...’

  She puffed out a breath. ‘Everyone’s being so nice. Jack and Laura came to find me, and said we should take first place. But they really deserve it, they came back after what happened this morning and they’re set to win today. The director said that we could do the course again but...’

  ‘That wouldn’t be fair either. You’ve seen it now, and you’re bound to do better.’

  ‘Yes. Exactly.’ She looked up at him, her expression troubled. ‘I... This just doesn’t feel right, Matt. We did what we did, and that’s its own reward.’

  Matt thought for a moment. ‘I guess we’ve both given up a bit to do the jobs we do. You and Sophie catch an extra shift, and you can’t get back home in time to put Sam to bed.’ He couldn’t think of anything that he was missing by working long hours. He’d made a point of not having any home life. But Hannah smiled, and nodded.

  ‘So what do you say we let this result stand. We’re disqualified because I made a decision to tell you to take your helmet off. We made the same decision that we’ve had to make all of our working lives. Let’s stick by that, and be proud of it.’

  ‘That’s exactly how I feel about it. But... It’s not just us. What will the hospital board say if we pass up the chance of winning the money?’ Hannah frowned.

  ‘It’s a matter of principle. If they have anything to say about it, then we have our answer. We can still win if we make a good showing on the final day.’

  He wanted to tell her that if they didn’t win, he’d help her raise the money for the hospital anyway. But he might not even be here in a couple of months. His application for the job in London was under consideration, and he’d been called for an interview.

  They’d come a long way in the last three weeks. Complete strangers, who’d treated each other with prickly courtesy but didn’t really trust each other. But now Matt knew her. And he knew what Hannah would choose to do.

  She looked up at him, the sunlight catching flecks of gold in her eyes. ‘You’re right. I say we disqualify ourselves from the race. We did the right thing, and we don’t need any rewards for that. Thank you, Matt.’

  Suddenly he needed her close. Winning together was nothing if they couldn’t lose together as well. Matt reached for her, and Hannah smiled up at him.

  ‘I’m okay...’

  ‘Not sure that I am.’

  She wrinkled her nose. ‘Maybe I spoke too soon.’

  She put her arms around him, and Matt held her close. None of the people milling around seemed to notice, they were just teammates hugging each other. But this was different. It was everything. Sharing the disasters along with the triumphs, and knowing that Hannah was there with him.

  ‘We should go.’ She didn’t move.

  ‘Yeah, we should. In a moment.’

  He felt her move against him, snuggling into his arms. Matt held his breath, wanting this to last. ‘Yeah. In a moment...’

  * * *

  The announcement of the winners took place a little later than expected, but most of the spectators were still there. Pretty much everyone knew what had happened, and wanted to know how things would be resolved.

  Matt had had a lengthy conversation with the head judge, and when she approached the microphone, she held a piece of paper in her hand. Clearly what she was about to say had been carefully scripted.

  She started by giving the news that the young man who had been injured was doing well. Then she praised each of the teams for their performances today. Suddenly she looked up from her notes, staring straight into the camera.

  ‘I’ve mentored medical staff in training for many years, and today I saw a fine example of the values that we teach. Hannah and Matt have asked that the results of this afternoon’s heat stand, as a tribute to the many medical professionals around the country who put their own interests second and respond to a higher calling on a daily basis. So, after a brave comeback, I’m happy to award the medals to Laura and Jack of the yellow team. Ladies and gentlemen, you are all winners.’

  There was a moment’s silence. Then a piercing whistle sounded from the crowd. ‘Go, Laura and Jack... Go, Hannah and Matt.’ Sophie was shouting at the top of her voice, and as everyone else took up the chant, she and Sam performed the victory dance.

  ‘Your words?’ Hannah nudged Matt, whispering up to him.

  ‘I just explained how we felt. I thought she put it very well...’

  Before they could say any more, Laura and Jack had come over to shake their hands. Then the others, and before Hannah knew what was happening, she was being propelled forward. Laura and Jack beckoned to the others, and all eight of the competitors stood at the front of the stage together, waving at the crowd.

  Hannah felt tears tumbling down her cheeks. She wanted to share this with Matt, but he was further down the line of competitors. She waved at Sam, and he waved back, obviously shouting at the top of his voice, although the sound was lost in all the cheering.

  By the time she managed to escape and walk down the steps of the stage, Hannah’s legs were shaking. She wanted to cling to Matt and hear him tell her that they were in this together, Flash and Robin, teammates...and maybe more? She shook the thought out of her head as the chairman of the hospital board hurried across to her.

  ‘I know you’re disappointed, Hannah. But you showed a very fine example today.’ He took her hand, shaking it vigorously.

  ‘Thank you.’ This was the first time that Dr Gregson had even spoken to he
r, and she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  ‘This is your little boy...?’ Dr Gregson gestured towards where Sophie and Sam were hovering, Sophie holding onto Sam’s hand to stop him running forward.

  ‘Yes. Sam... And my ambulance partner, Sophie Turner.’

  ‘Sam...’ Dr Gregson bent down, smiling, and Sam looked up at him with the clear-eyed look of someone who had no inkling of hospital hierarchies. ‘You must be very proud of your mum.’

  ‘She’s the best. Do you want to see our victory dance?’ Sam flung his arms above his head, ready to start doing the victory dance again, and Sophie grabbed hold of him. Dr Gregson laughed.

  ‘I’ll leave you to your celebrations.’ He glanced down at Sam again. ‘Keep doing that victory dance, young man.’ Dr Gregson turned, making a beeline for Matt and shaking his hand.

  ‘That went well.’ Sophie was staring after him.

  ‘Yes, I’m glad he understood.’

  Sophie nodded. Matt had extricated himself from Dr Gregson’s grip and was walking towards them, smiling.

  ‘Hey, Sam. How’s your day been?’

  ‘We won!’ Sam probably didn’t understand quite how or why they’d won, just that they had.

  ‘That’s right. Go, reds...’

  Sam reached up towards Matt in an unmistakable gesture. Matt hesitated for a moment and then picked the boy up, settling him onto his shoulders. His obvious affection for her son was always accompanied by a slight awkwardness.

  ‘I’ve got to go in a minute.’ Sophie looked at her watch. ‘Got a date with the new A and E doctor. He’s intrigued by my parking.’

  Matt chuckled. ‘Obviously a man of great insight.’

  ‘So what about you two losers?’ Sophie grinned. ‘Off to celebrate?’

  ‘Enough of the losers. We can still win.’ Hannah saw Matt’s jaw set in a determined line.

  ‘It would be very close...’ She shrugged.

  ‘If we win outright next week, we’ll be one point ahead of the others. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.’ A hint of steel showed in his blue eyes. Suddenly Hannah didn’t want his comfort any more. This was exactly what she wanted from Matt.

  ‘Okay, then. That’s what we’ll do.’

  Sophie chuckled. ‘That’s the spirit. I’ll leave you to plot your strategies, I’ve got to run...’

  She grinned up at Sam, pointing towards her cheek in a signal that this was where she wanted a goodbye kiss. Sam leaned down towards her, and Sophie stood on her toes, hanging onto Matt as she did so. So easy, so natural. Hannah supposed that it was because Sophie didn’t feel the way that she did about him. Sophie could touch Matt without feeling any melting desire to fall into his arms.

  ‘What do you have planned for tonight?’ Matt started to walk towards the car park, and Hannah fell into step beside him.

  ‘Mum’s out for dinner with her book club, so it’s going to be just the two of us and a cartoon marathon.’

  He frowned. ‘Shame. I was hoping that you might let me return last week’s favour and buy you dinner. But a cartoon marathon’s a tough thing to compete with.’

  He could come home with them... The offer hovered on the tip of her tongue, but Hannah’s courage failed her. If Sam could be persuaded to go to bed on time, then she’d be alone with Matt.

  ‘There’s a great place on the river. Family friendly...’

  This was why she shouldn’t be alone with him. He was just too tempting for words. But what could happen under the watchful eye of a six-year-old boy?

  ‘Thank you. We’d really like that, wouldn’t we, Sam?’

  ‘Yes, okay.’ Sam hardly glanced at her, obviously bound up in his own thoughts and oblivious of what he’d just agreed to.

  ‘Great. I’ll come and pick you up at six.’

  * * *

  ‘You look bee-yoo-tiful!’ Sam elongated the word to give it particular emphasis.

  Hannah had only washed her hair and grabbed a dress from the wardrobe. And applied a little make-up. And found her favourite sandals, which matched the blue of her dress perfectly.

  There was no point in protesting to Sam, he hadn’t developed the skill of discernment yet. ‘Well, you look beautiful too.’ Sam frowned and Hannah laughed. ‘Okay, you don’t look beautiful at all. You look handsome and very cool.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sam was wearing his best jeans and trainers, with a stripy polo shirt and a hoodie. When Hannah had tried to comb his hair he’d wriggled and protested, running his hands through it so that it stood on end. Hannah had relented, wetting the comb and making the spikes a little more regular.

  Her beautiful boy. She was so proud of him, and if she wanted to admire anyone tonight, Sam was a good choice. That resolution flew straight out of the window as soon as the doorbell rang and she opened the door.

  Matt was wearing an off-white linen suit, just creased enough to appear relaxed. A crisp, dark blue shirt completed the look. No... Matt completed the look. Blond and tanned, his eyes seeming very blue and his shoulders very broad. He was simply mouth-watering.

  ‘You look nice.’ The curve of his lips told her that he considered this an understatement.

  ‘She looks bee-yoo-tiful,’ Sam corrected him, and Matt nodded solemnly in agreement.

  Hannah laughed, trying to cover her embarrassment. ‘Sam’s gone for cool tonight.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Matt pressed his lips together. ‘So did I but I think you’ve managed it a lot better than I did, Sam.’

  ‘You look okay. Are we going in your car?’ Sam craned around him, obviously interested in the sleek, dark blue car parked outside. Hannah had to admit that it was far more likely to appeal to Sam than her own red run-around.

  ‘If your mum doesn’t mind me borrowing your car seat.’ Matt shot a querying glance at Hannah and she shook her head.

  ‘No, that’s fine. Mine’s easy to swap over into different cars, Sophie doesn’t have one either so we’re always switching it.’

  She transferred the car seat into Matt’s car, careful not to scratch the leather upholstery, and Sam sat quietly as they drove, transfixed by the dashboard display. They meandered through country lanes, drawing up next to a quiet, tree-lined stretch of the River Colne.

  ‘A boat!’ Sam was wide-eyed with excitement, and Matt smiled.

  They walked down the gangplank onto a red and white painted barge, which had been fitted out with bench seats and tables. The evening sun sparkled on the water, and they sat under the shade of a canvas awning.

  Matt was the perfect host, making sure that they both had whatever they wanted. The waiters were attentive and friendly, bringing a glass of wine for Hannah and sparkling water for Matt and Sam. Sam responded to being treated like an adult by acting like one, and her little boy suddenly seemed very grown up.

  ‘Mum, look. Swans...’ Sam knelt on his seat, hanging over the side of the boat, and Hannah grabbed hold of him before he fell overboard. He twisted round, taking a bread roll from the basket on the table.

  ‘No, we mustn’t give them bread, Sam. It’s not what they’re meant to eat, and it isn’t good for them.’

  Sam slid back into his seat and Matt pushed his plate towards him. ‘You can give them some lettuce.’ He started to separate the shredded lettuce from his mixed salad with his fork.

  ‘Lettuce?’ Hannah raised her eyebrows. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, swans like lettuce, and it doesn’t do them any harm. A bit like pondweed, I suppose.’

  Sam picked up the lettuce, and Hannah grabbed hold of him again as he climbed up, leaning over the side of the boat. When he scattered the lettuce on the water, the swans dipped their long necks, gobbling it up.

  ‘They’re making a funny noise...’ Sam shivered with laughter, and Hannah saw Matt gesture to one of the waiters. He disappeared, coming back with a small bowl of
shredded lettuce. Matt was grinning broadly, enjoying this as much as Sam was.

  This was so relaxing. So nice. Taking the world as it came, on a lazy river, as the sun began to go down. If she’d been with Sam’s father...

  There wouldn’t have been times like these. Sam was John’s son, but Matt was the one who had time for him. And whatever she’d seen in John felt like a pale counterfeit of the way she was beginning to feel about Matt. She knew that Sam would benefit from having a father figure in his life, but this was the first time she’d wanted someone for herself in a very long time.

  They lingered over coffee, talking. The lights that were threaded around the canvas awning began to brighten in the gathering dusk, and Matt signalled to the waiter to bring the bill.

  ‘Thank you so much for tonight, Matt.’ Hannah turned to him as they stepped off the gangplank and onto the path that led up to the car. ‘It was just what I needed after today.’

  ‘Me too. Thank you for coming.’ He reached out suddenly, brushing her arm with his fingertips. The world around her began to melt away, shrivelling in the heat of his gaze, as somehow the impossible didn’t seem quite so impossible after all. Unspoken words hung in the air between them, waiting impatiently for the chance to be turned into reality.

  Then, from somewhere behind her, Hannah heard Sam’s thin wail of distress. He’d found his way down to the water’s edge, and one of the swans that he’d been feeding had left the water and was waddling towards him. Sam was standing quite still, transfixed by the lumbering creature that was more than twice his size.

  Before she could move, Matt was there. He gathered Sam up in his arms, shooing the swan away from him. When he turned back towards Hannah, his jaw was set hard in a mask of distress.

  ‘Hey, little man. You’re all right...’ He was trying to smile for Sam’s sake, and not making a very good job of it. Sam was crying now, and the agony on Matt’s face as he strode back to where Hannah was standing was obvious.