by Amy Ruttan
Which was another reason she lived with her father. She wanted to get to know him better, but it was hard. It was hard to trust another parent.
They may be related by blood, but they were both strangers who had been hurt and loath to trust again.
“Geraldine, I don’t want you to waste time on me. My oncologist at Meadowgate Hospital is one of the best. Jensen can stay with me. He’s already offered, and didn’t ask for a wage, though of course I will pay him. Damn fool.”
Geri smiled. “Remind me to thank him later.”
“He brought in your dress.” Her father smiled. “You’ll look stunning at the function this weekend.”
“You looked?”
“Of course.” He grinned. “You’ll really turn heads at your unofficial debut.”
She winced. “Don’t remind me. I’m liable to make a bloody mess of it.”
“There’s the Scot I know and love.” Her father chuckled and winked. Only he didn’t know her and she had a hard time believing that he loved her. She wasn’t even sure if she loved him. Cared for him, yes. He was a brilliant doctor, but love? That was going a bit too far for her. Besides, how did one love an absent parent? Or even a parent when she hadn’t even got love from her mother. She didn’t believe in love. Look what had happened with Frederick.
“I really would prefer not to go,” she said, hoping he would take pity on her.
“It’ll be good for you to go. You can meet eligible, respectable men.”
“Are you trying to marry me off already?”
He shrugged. “You’re a lady of means. You will attract attention, just make a wise choice.”
“I don’t need to get married. Doubt I ever will.”
Because I always fall for the wrong guys.
Plus she couldn’t risk her heart again. Frederick had destroyed every single piece of trust she’d had. Love just hurt and there was no room in her heart for it. The only thing she could rely on was medicine. That was her true love.
“Never say never.” Her father winked and she groaned.
“I’m headed for bed. I suggest you are too.” She set down the glass on the bar, putting an end to the conversation. This was not a Regency romance. She was not going to make a suitable match. If she ever did decide to get married she was going to do so for love, not connections. She chuckled at that thought as she headed up the stairs to her room. She really doubted her father would go to bed any time soon.
She didn’t blame him.
Cancer scared her as well.
She knew the reality of it. As did he.
And she wished it didn’t have to be anyone’s reality.
CHAPTER FIVE
“YOUR NEXT PATIENT is here to see you, Dr. Collins.”
Geri looked up from her work. “Show them in, Ms. Smythe.”
Mrs. Smythe nodded and disappeared. Geri was rather enjoying her time in the office. She liked getting to know her new patients. And sitting down to do reports was better than charting while standing up at a nurses’ station, but it was the silence in between patients that she found a bit hard. The hustle and bustle of a hospital was far more relaxing to her than the quiet. It was getting to her.
The door opened wider and she was shocked to see Thomas’s little sister Zoe enter her office. And she looked extremely nervous. She could tell by the way her green eyes were shifting around the office and she wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“Thank you, Ms. Smythe,” Geri said, dismissing the receptionist.
When the door was shut Zoe took a seat in front of the desk. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“You wanted to see me?” Geri asked, and then she started worrying about all the reasons a seventeen-year-old girl might need to see a doctor she was familiar with.
Zoe nodded. “I chose a day that I knew my brother wouldn’t be here. Your father has been seeing me every time I come home.”
Oh. No.
Her mind immediately jumped to the obvious, but then it dawned on her that she’d said she was seeing Charles as a doctor. So it couldn’t be that.
She was confused and checked the computer for Zoe Western. “He doesn’t have a file on you.”
Zoe reached into her bag and handed her a file. “Your father let me keep it because of patient confidentiality and I don’t want my brother knowing.”
She took the file from Zoe and flipped it open, scanning the pages. “You have an atrial septal defect?”
Zoe nodded. “I was born with it and it went away, but when I was ten the hole opened up again. My mother took me to see your father and he referred me to a surgeon who did the catheterization. Thomas was at school then.”
“It didn’t work, though? You have a pacemaker?” Geri asked, as she flipped through eight years of medical reports.
“An arrhythmia. Your father has been caring for me since I was ten and I’m hoping you can do the same, under the condition that my brother doesn’t know.”
Geri shut the folder. “Why don’t you want your brother to know?”
“Did he tell you his mother died of a heart attack?” Zoe asked, hedging because it was apparently a sensitive subject.
“Yes. He did.”
“When I was first born with the atrial septal defect I was hooked up to a machine to help me breathe. The doctors didn’t know if I was going to live or not and...he almost ran off from school he was so worried. Then there was this huge fight with our father...”
Geri held up her hand. She didn’t really want to hear this from Zoe. If Thomas wanted her to know, which she seriously doubted, he would tell her himself. Zoe did have a point, though—patient confidentiality—but she was under age.
“Thomas is your legal guardian. He should know.”
“My mother is. Thomas is one of my guardians, but if you need to talk to someone you can contact my mother in Malawi.”
She sighed. “Okay, I’ll take you on.”
“Thank you.” Zoe grinned. “I’m so relieved. Your father was always so good to me and I knew you’d be as well.”
“Because of my father?” Geri asked, confused.
“No, by the way Thomas was going on and on about you and your brilliant suggestion in the operating theater with Lord Twinsbury.”
Geri blushed at the idea of Thomas praising her.
Don’t think about it.
“So this is a regular visit?” she asked.
Zoe nodded. “Yes. I hope it is.”
Geri got up. “You need a checkup on your pacemaker, by the looks of your file.”
“Yes.”
Zoe followed her into the exam room that was attached to her office and sat down on the exam table, taking off her top. Geri handed her a gown, giving Zoe some privacy while she got ready for the check.
She wheeled over her computer and Zoe lay down flat.
“You’re an old pro at this,” Geri teased.
Zoe laughed. “Just a bit.”
“So I don’t have to explain the procedure to you.”
“You can if you want.”
Geri grinned. “No, I think I’ll pass.”
“I’m ready.”
She attached the electrodes to Zoe’s chest and her legs and then pulled out the magnet, placing it over the pacemaker so the computer could read the pacemaker. Geri watched the reading and there was nothing to worry about. Zoe’s pacemaker was working fine.
“Your father never mentioned you before,” Zoe said. “Well, until last year.”
“That’s because he didn’t know I existed until last year.”
Zoe smiled. “Cool, we can form a club.”
“Club?”
“Illegitimate debutantes.”
Geri chuckled. “I hate to break it to you but my parents were marri
ed. They divorced after I was born. I’m not illegitimate.”
“Oh,” Zoe said with disappointment. “Well, you’re no fun. I was hoping you were as well so we could both shock everyone.”
“You’re quite witty for a seventeen-year-old.”
She shrugged. “You have met my brother, haven’t you?”
“Very true.” The computer finished its reading and Geri took off the electrodes and the magnet. “You’re all done.”
“Thank you, Dr. Collins, and I appreciate you helping me and not telling my brother.”
“It was my pleasure, but, Zoe, I think you should tell him. I mean, it has to come from you.”
“I know. Your father has said the same thing to me several times.”
It warmed her heart to hear how her father cared for all his patients. Especially pediatric ones. A trait they shared.
“Well, your pacemaker is good to go for another year. You know the drill. If you have arrhythmias or any other strange symptoms, please go to the nearest hospital.”
“I know.” Zoe pulled on her shirt. “Why is your father retiring? I mean, it just came out of the blue.”
“Well, he wants to travel more.”
Zoe looked confused. “Really? I thought maybe his cancer had become worse.”
“You know about his cancer?”
She nodded. “He told me. We talked a lot.”
“Well, then, not travel.” Geri shut off the computer. “My father’s cancer is worse. Stage four stomach cancer.”
Zoe’s face fell. “I had a feeling it was something like that. I’m so sorry.”
“He starts treatment today. He’s in chemo. Across the city because, just like you and your secrecy about health concerns, he doesn’t want anyone at his local hospital to know that he’s suffering from cancer. He doesn’t want any help at all beyond from his chauffeur.”
Zoe chuckled. “Poor Jensen.”
“Yes, but I don’t think Jensen minds too much.”
Zoe grabbed her coat and Geri handed her back her file. “Thank you, Dr. Collins. I’ll see you around, I’m sure, and definitely next year for my next checkup.”
“Yes.”
Zoe left the exam room and Geri sighed as she wheeled the computer back to the corner of the room. She couldn’t help but think about her father.
He didn’t want her there, but maybe she should’ve forced him to have her there. Jensen was all well and good, but she was his daughter. Even if she didn’t totally feel like his daughter yet, she was still that.
She had a sense of duty.
The door in the exam room opened and Thomas peeked in. “Sorry, was that my sister Zoe that I saw leaving here?”
Blast.
“Yes, it was. She was looking for you and you weren’t here. You just missed her. She’s on the way to do some shopping with some friends.” Geri worried her lip and hope that her lie went over with Thomas.
She wasn’t the best liar ever and for one moment she saw a flicker of disbelief in Thomas’s eyes.
“Oh, well, sorry I missed her. I got tied up with a cauterization and, of course, checking on Lionel.” He grinned sardonically.
“I didn’t think you were allowed to use his name?” Geri teased.
“I know, but he’ll never know, now, will he?” Thomas tapped the side of his nose. “So what are you doing for the rest of the day? I know you don’t have any more patients.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”
“I checked with Ms. Smythe.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked cautiously, afraid of what his motives were, and then she cursed herself for questioning his motives. When had she become so untrusting?
“I was wondering if you wanted to have a ride over to the hospital where your father is getting his chemotherapy.”
“How...how did you know?”
“I have a friend who works in Oncology at Meadowgate Hospital and he mentioned Dr. Collins had checked in. He thought I knew when he accidentally broke confidentiality.”
“My father is not going to be happy that you know. He wanted it to be kept secret.”
“I won’t say a word. My lips are sealed. So, do you want to go?”
Yes. No.
“He didn’t want me there. I think I’ll honor his wishes. I don’t think he’d be particularly happy if he found out that you’d brought me, as well.”
“Ah, point taken.”
Geri moved out to her office and Thomas followed her.
“Don’t you have patients to see?”
Thomas glanced at his wrist. “Not for another two hours. Do you want to get some lunch?”
“No.” She laughed. Why was he so persistent? Couldn’t he take a hint?
“What’s so funny?”
“Are you the only surgeon who has such an open schedule? You’re so different from the surgeons I knew in Glasgow. They never even had time to have a coffee.”
“I serve a very different clientele here than the surgeons in Glasgow, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure, Lord Hoity-Toity.”
Thomas laughed. “I’m not exclusive to the ‘hoity-toity,’ as you put it. Anyone who wants my service, if I get the proper referral, can come and see me. Not all the hoity or toity come, though.”
“Don’t they?” she teased.
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, some do. I am the best.”
She rolled her eyes. “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Fine, then just turn down the best new café around here and a chance to have lunch with me.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive.” Her phone buzzed and she saw a text from Jensen.
Your father has collapsed. He’s not well. Please come.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked.
“My father. I have to get to Meadowgate Hospital. He’s collapsed.”
“Come on, I’ll take you.”
“And what about your patients this afternoon?”
“I’ll drop you off. I don’t want to upset your father.”
Geri nodded and grabbed her coat. Why did Thomas have to be so good to her? He barely knew her, but he’d gone from the standoffish jerk of their first meeting to her first real friend in London.
She didn’t deserve that, given that she was rarely, if ever, friendly to him, but right now she’d take it.
* * *
Thomas had finished seeing his last patient and the support staff had gone home, but he lingered at the office, hoping that Geraldine would return. Which was foolish, but Geraldine was dedicated to her work. She seemed to retreat into her work a lot.
Of course, he did exactly the same thing.
And as if on cue, he heard the key at the front door of their practice and the security code entered.
“Shouldn’t you be home, taking care of your father?” He asked.
Geraldine let out a small scream. “My God, man, you scared me.”
Thomas chuckled to himself, hearing the Scottish burr slip out. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“And what’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?” she asked accusingly, her voice still shaking. The accent was still there and fires of rage burned in her hazel eyes.
“No, no, you need to answer my question first.”
Geraldine sighed and peeled off her coat, hanging it up. “I need to finish a couple of my charts. My father is stable and is now an inpatient at Meadowgate. He had a bad reaction to the chemotherapy. He’ll be there for a couple of days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” And he was truly sorry. He liked Charles.
She shrugged. “Chemotherapy is hard. So now I’ve answered your question you can answer mine. Quid pro quo, my friend. Why are you still he
re?”
“I had some charting to catch up on as well. Surgical reports to send off to general practitioners who referred their patients to me. As well as one for you. I’ve emailed it to you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Lord Twinsbury. Is he not your patient? I do his surgical procedures, but you’re his cardiologist. I’ve also sent one to his general practitioner.”
“You’re on the ball.”
He shrugged. “I like to get loose ends tied up before the Christmas holiday.”
“I thought you weren’t a fan of Christmas?” she said.
“Ah, but Zoe is and I don’t want her to be alone, with me working endless rounds at the hospital and doing surgeries to get through the holiday. Like I used to do.”
She smiled at him, a warm smile that made his heart skip a beat. She rarely bestowed them, it seemed. “Very admirable of you.”
“I’m going to order in some dinner, continue working. Would you like me to order something for you?”
She seemed to hesitate but then relaxed. “What’re you ordering in?”
“That French café also does deliveries.”
“Oh, I would love some French food. Surprise me.”
He grinned. “Are you sure about that?”
“Nothing weird like brains. I don’t mind snails, but I draw the line at brains.”
“Fair enough.”
She headed into her office and Thomas went to his to place the order. He ordered a variety of the café’s most delectable dishes, all of which could be served with the Cabernet Sauvignon he had in his office.
When the food came, he grabbed the bottle of wine and two glasses and knocked on her office door.
“Your food, my lady.”
Geraldine looked up. “It smells very good.”
“It is good, I assure you.” He set down the take-away bags after she cleared her desk and then the bottle of wine and the two glasses. She cocked an eyebrow in question, seeing the two wineglasses.
“I don’t know many surgeons who keep wine and wine glasses in their office.”
“Don’t you?” he teased as he popped the cork and poured out the wine. “I always have wine on hand to seduce women after hours.”