Christmas With Her Ex

by Fiona McArthur

  Soon they would arrive at Victoria and Winsome had settled back in her seat with her eyes closed.

  Kelsie was wondering if Connor had arrived in time to be there for his client’s birth. She knew how scared fertility-challenged parents could become. She’d had a recent client of her own who’d had IVF and had been an absolute mess prior to labour.

  Shelby had had so many pre-conception visits, so much intense screening and medication to achieve conception, and then such a tense time dreading a miscarriage until the first three months had passed, that when her IVF clinic had sent her back to her old hospital as a now low-risk patient, she hadn’t been used to being left to progress naturally.

  Kelsie had coached Shelby and her husband in the prenatal classes, a weekend course, and the improvement in Shelby’s self-confidence and positive birth outlook had been miraculous. She wondered if they had such classes in the UK and suddenly it was something she wanted to talk to Connor about.

  Anyway, she didn’t need to go there. She’d be flying back to Australia very soon. Shelby and her husband had had a gorgeous birth not long before Kelsie had come away. When she got home she looked forward to visiting that little family.

  Home. Her comfy flat. Her friends. It was ridiculous to think she wouldn’t settle back into it all easily just because she’d met up with an old boyfriend. One who might even be keen for her to stay around.

  Who was she kidding? Not just met.

  Slept with.

  Actually, they hadn’t slept. They’d made incredible, amazing, mind-blowing love. She’d glimpsed a world she hadn’t really believed existed before.

  Seen that Connor held a part of her that nobody else would ever touch. And then they’d bickered their way back to being strangers. How had that happened?

  You couldn’t just forget that sort of encounter. But that was what she’d have to do or risk driving herself mad.

  She looked across at Connor’s grandmother, and noticed Winsome rub her chest and frown as her eyes flicked open. In fact, she did look a little pale and not at all happy.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Kelsie asked softly.

  ‘I might just have a wee nap. Wake me when we get there.’

  Kelsie narrowed her eyes and studied Winsome as she closed her eyes. The older lady’s cheeks were white and the tiny frown on her forehead made the soft wrinkles there pucker more than usual.

  ‘Are you in pain?’ Kelsie didn’t know whether to bother her or not.

  Pale blue eyes fluttered open again, accompanied by a rueful smile as she rubbed her chest. ‘I’m a bit sore in the chest. Probably from overeating but it’s starting to bother me. I thought a wee nap might help.’

  ‘Have you had it before?’ Kelsie stood up and leaned over the older lady’s chair. ‘Let me check your pulse.’ She took Winsome’s wrist in her fingers and felt for the pulse under the soft skin. There it was. Bounding along a little faster than she would have expected.

  ‘Sometimes I get reflux.’ She glanced around at the quiet carriage and grimaced with embarrassment.

  Kelsie regarded her shrewdly. ‘And does this feel like that?’

  Winsome began to look extremely miserable. ‘It’s getting worse.’ Big eyes looked mournfully at Kelsie. ‘My husband died of a sudden heart attack, you know. I can’t help thinking of that, even though I’m sure it’s not anything like that. I just wish Connor hadn’t left.’

  Kelsie squeezed Winsome’s hand. ‘We’re almost at Victoria and we’ll get you to a doctor.’

  Winsome bit her lip to stop the quiver. ‘I want Connor.’

  Kelsie’s heart squeezed. ‘I know. You’ll be fine. I’ll stay with you until we find him again.’

  One large tear rolled down Winsome’s cheek and Kelsie clasped her hand. ‘I’ll find Connor for you.’

  She pushed the service button and while she waited she thought about the food and alcohol offered over the last thirty-six hours and how Winsome had been magnificent in her capacity.

  It could just be gastrooesophageal reflux. Her skin chilled. Or it could be cardiac chest pain. She didn’t want to think that but she needed to get someone to see Winsome before Connor’s grandmother did something Kelsie couldn’t handle by herself.

  Where was Connor when they needed him? She’d be very happy for him to take control now. He should not have left his grandmother alone. And she’d tell him so. For some strange reason she felt calmer after that decision, and not just because it meant she would see him at least one more time.

  She looked back at her patient. ‘If you were ever going to get indigestion, I imagine this would be a popular time.’ She glanced around the cabin and saw most of the patrons had their eyes shut. ‘What do you usually take when you get that?’

  ‘My antacid tablets. I forgot to take the prescription one this morning. But they’re in the luggage compartment.’ She glanced around as if searching. ‘I wish Connor was here.’

  Kelsie nodded. She did too, and moved back to her seat and reached up to the ornate silver luggage rack and pulled down her tote. In her bag she had some lozenges so she dug around until she found them.

  ‘How about you take one of my little over-the-counter antacid tablets?’ She glanced into her bag again. ‘And two of my travel aspirins, which would be about half a normal dose of aspirin. That will cover both bases while we wait for help.’ Aspirin was always a good first-aid suggestion with cardiac pain or clots. They had done a lot of sitting and maybe Winsome was in more danger than she thought.

  Samuel, the steward, appeared at her elbow and Kelsie turned to him with relief. ‘Mrs Black has chest pain. How long until we arrive in London?’

  Samuel looked instantly concerned and frowned over Winsome’s increasing pallor. He spoke quietly, for Kelsie’s hearing only. ‘About ten minutes. I can arrange for an ambulance to meet us, if you wish?’

  Kelsie nodded just as Winsome whimpered and rubbed her chest again. ‘Do you feel breathless?’

  ‘Just with the pain.’ She sounded more frail than Kelsie expected and her concern climbed. ‘It’s difficult to breathe deeply. I just want Connor.’ Her voice faded away and she closed her eyes.

  Kelsie’s heart settled a little at that. Cardiac chest pain shouldn’t get worse with inhalation, which made it more likely to be another cause. But it still needed checking. She looked at Samuel then back at Winsome. ‘We’ll have that ambulance, thanks.’

  It seemed to take for ever for the train to pull into the station.

  The loudspeaker boomed as they came to a stop. ‘Would all passengers please remain seated for the first five minutes while we transfer an ill passenger off the train. Your luggage will be waiting for you once they have been transferred. Thank you.’

  Kelsie followed the ambulance officers, who had fireman-lifted Winsome out of the carriage onto the bench seat of another small luggage train, and Kelsie followed onto the platform and the organised chaos of Victoria Station. A row of luggage trolleys laden with Christmas goodies from Europe had arrived and the porters were lining bags up in neat rows for identification and retrieval.

  Kelsie saw her suitcase, which towered over the others, almost waving at her, and she grimaced at that problem for later. Winsome first.

  They trundled through to a side entrance, where an ambulance waited.

  She glanced back into the crowded station. Could she accompany Winsome?

  She knew she wanted to but a glance inside the small emergency vehicle didn’t seem to suggest a lot of room and she doubted they’d let her. That was when she realised the snow was melting on her hair and face. Landing quite heavily on her and the snaking line of people at the cab rank.

  It would be hell to catch a cab in this on Christmas Eve but she’d feel she’d let Winsome down if she abandoned her to strangers.

  A young woman appeared at her elbow. ‘I’m to meet Mrs Winsome Black. Was that who was just lifted into that ambulance?’

  The young woman was dressed from head to foot in black sued
e, very chic, but Kelsie decided she looked almost like a seal. Even the scarf threaded around her neck was suede to match the cap she wore over her hair.

  But seal or not, Kelsie pounced on her with relief. ‘Yes. She has chest pain. Do you have contact with Dr Black?’

  The girl’s eyes widened in distress. ‘I can get a message to him.’ The girl scrolled through her contact list. ‘I’ve already arranged with a porter to have her luggage collected.’ The young woman looked up enquiringly. ‘And you are?’

  Kelsie blinked, calmed a little now that Winsome was in good hands, and replayed the girl’s words in her head. Well, who was she?

  She glanced once into the ambulance but Winsome was being assessed by paramedics and perhaps she wasn’t needed now. She turned away. She almost said, ‘No one important,’ but before the words were out she was stopped by a familiar, if frail voice.

  ‘She’s with me.’ Winsome’s voice drifted from the rear of the ambulance and Kelsie had to turn and smile. It seemed Winsome Black didn’t miss anything—even when miserably unwell in the back of an ambulance.

  Well, then. She’d better stay. ‘I’m Mrs Black’s companion until she’s seen by Dr Black.’ It was actually a huge relief because she would have worried all night that Connor hadn’t managed to find his grandmother and that Winsome hadn’t recovered with medical care.

  ‘Please tell him that Kelsie has gone with her.’ She saw the interest in the girl’s eyes and ignored it. She’d suddenly seen a solution to another problem. ‘There is a very large purple suitcase with a K. Summers nametag. Can you arrange for that to be collected, too, please? If possible, have it transferred to the Ritz. I’m booking in there later.’

  The girl didn’t seem fazed by the request and Kelsie supposed that Connor would hire efficient personnel. At least she wouldn’t have to wrestle with her bag and if she lost it then it wasn’t a life-or-death matter. Possibly unlike Winsome—until she could be sure.

  She’d phone the hotel from the hospital when she knew Winsome was okay.

  The paramedic tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Excuse me, miss. Would you please reassure Mrs Black that you’re coming with us? She won’t let us shut the doors. You can travel with the driver.’

  Kelsie’s distraction evaporated. The most important person here was Winsome. ‘Of course.’ When she peered in past the folded doors her new friend’s eyes were huge with fear and she leant in and clasped her hand. ‘I’m here. I’ll be in the front and I’ll find Connor.’

  ‘Tell them to take me to St Douglas’s Private Hospital.’

  Kelsie looked at the men. ‘Can you do that?’ It wouldn’t work like that in Australia.

  The paramedic nodded. ‘The main hospitals are very busy and it would be quicker than through their emergency department anyway.’

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  AT THE SAME time, to Connor’s relief, Connie Wilson woke up in strong labour and as far as her pregnancy went, the waiting was almost over. Thanks to all the stop-start contractions her labour progressed rapidly through first stage, and if he didn’t get to meet the train he couldn’t complain because he would meet the new baby Wilson and be there for her parents.

  The room was quiet, peaceful, and Connor stood, apparently relaxed, at the end of the bed, waiting. It was always the same and the tension never left him until the baby was safe in its mother’s arms but neither his patients nor staff ever guessed that.

  ‘I love you,’ Connor heard Harry Wilson whisper to his wife, raw emotion thick in his voice, and for one fractured second Connor felt a sudden surge of loss so great he actually flinched. Why didn’t he have the chance to share this moment with the woman he had always loved?

  But he pulled his thoughts back to the moment. He’d tried and failed and unless he did something soon, she’d be gone from his life once again.

  When he glanced back at Harry the man’s eyes were suspiciously bright as they darted nervously to Connor and then back at his wife. But Connie was elsewhere, concentrating in her own world, as she strained to ease her baby down the birth canal.

  There was a little while to go but the end was drawing closer and then everyone could relax.

  A senior midwife appeared around the curtain and crossed to whisper in Connor’s ear. ‘You have a phone call at the desk.’

  If it had been anyone less unflappable he would have glared a refusal but the midwife in charge was no fool. So what could be this important? ‘Can you tell them I’ll ring back?’

  ‘It’s about your grandmother. Apparently she’s been admitted downstairs with chest pain.’

  He closed his eyes. Looked back at Harry and Connie. Estimated the amount of time he had before the birth. There was no sign of the baby yet, Connie had just started pushing, but would it upset them if he left, even for a few minutes? The last thing he wanted was to stress Connie. But what if his gran was critically ill?

  His grandmother had always been there for him and it was his responsibility to ensure she had the best care. It was his responsibility that everyone had the best care.

  Unexpectedly Connie leaned up on her elbow and panted at him. Waved him away with her hand. ‘For goodness’ sake. Go And see if your gran is okay. We’ll be here when you come back.’ Connie waved him away again. ‘Go. Hurry. I’m busy.’ And went back to pushing.

  He stared at Connie in astonishment, shook his head with a smile and went. Swiftly. There was a junior midwife standing at the lift, holding it for him, and he shot her a warm thank-you glance, then looked back over his shoulder at the senior midwife. She shooed him off, too. ‘I’ll page you when we get close.’

  When the lift doors opened on the ground floor the first person he saw was Kelsie. His relief was enormous. He hadn’t lost her yet. And she’d been with his gran in her time of need.

  He allowed himself one brief, soul-enriching look and then scanned ahead. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘She’s being assessed by the physician. She’s okay, Connor. She was in a lot of pain but I think it’s reflux, though they’re ruling out cardiac or a clot. She demanded they bring her here.’

  ‘She’s a fighter,’ he reassured himself more than Kelsie. Then glanced back at the lift. Kelsie had said hs grandmother was okay. Did he believe Kelsie? He should go back to the Wilsons. But he couldn’t. ‘I want to see her.’

  ‘Of course you do. She wants to see you too.’ Kelsie led the way. Knocked on a door and opened it on a room where a tall gangly man in a black suit stood beside the bed. Winsome looked pale, and very still, with her eyes closed.

  ‘Ah. Connor.’ The man put out his hand and Connor shook it briefly. ‘I’ve given her something for the pain and she’s a bit drowsy now. We’re about to run an ECG to check her heart, and then we’ll scan her, but I hear she’s been on that train, living the high life again.’

  ‘My fault. I went with her this time.’ He stepped closer to the bed. Picked up his grandmother’s hand and squeezed it between both of his. Her eyelids fluttered and she smiled drowsily up at him.

  He pretended to frown at her. ‘You said you’d managed for eighty years without me.’

  ‘I’ll be fine. Soon.’ Her eyes closed again.

  She looked so pale, he thought. ‘What about her bloods?’

  ‘We’re waiting for results. But she’s tough. Given herself a scare, though.’

  His heart squeezed with the dilemma of staying or leaving to go back upstairs. ‘She’s given me one as well.’

  ‘She’ll be fine with rest. I’ll keep her in overnight.’ The doctor’s pager bleeped and he excused himself. Connor took a step to pick up the clinical notes when his own name was paged over the loudspeaker.

  ‘Would Dr Black please go to Maternity immediately.’

  He glanced up at the speaker. Torn. ‘It’s Connie’s baby.’

  Kelsie watched his indecision with a surge of empathy. Poor Connor. The struggle. He wanted to do everything. This was the Connor she knew. Bless him. All of it was good. ‘You can’t
do everyone’s jobs. Or save everyone. You go and do yours. I’ll stay here until you get back.’

  ‘She’s the closest thing I’ve had to a mother for so many years. I love her. I don’t want to let her down.’

  Kelsie understood that. She understood a lot of things now. ‘You couldn’t let her down. Your grandmother is in good hands. The doctor is great. Go. I’ll be here.’

  He nodded. He trusted Kelsie to stay with her until he could return.

  ‘You’re right.’ Unexpectedly, he paused and searched her face, said, ‘I would have been there for you, you know,’ before he dropped a swift kiss on her lips and spun away.

  She heard his voice again as he disappeared. ‘Hold that lift.’

  Kelsie touched her lips with her fingers. He would have been where for her? She could still feel the imprint of Connor’s mouth on hers.

  She didn’t understand his comment but wished she’d kissed him back, one last time, then hugged the feeling that he had trusted her with the most important person in his life. Anything else was too complicated to think about.

  An hour later Connor was back. ‘Baby Wilson has arrived!’ There was immense satisfaction as well as quiet relief in his voice and Kelsie smiled.

  ‘A bouncing baby girl who’s taken to the outside world with a calm acceptance that’s left her besotted parents very happy.’

  She loved it that he glowed with relief. He was a very good man. ‘I’m so glad you were there for them.’

  He grinned at her. Almost buckled her knees with the power of it. ‘Me too. Thank you for staying here so I didn’t have to worry about Gran.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ She’d been glad she could help him but it was over now. Everything was over and she should go. They didn’t need her any more. ‘Dr Miles has been back. Your grandmother’s tests have all come back negative, as well as the positive result from the medication treating her reflux. So it all points to that being the cause.’

  She pinned a bright smile on her face, even though she was suddenly feeling very flat for no reason at all. Which should have been bizarre with this handsome man smiling at her like she was the embodiment of Christmas. ‘So everything has turned out well.’