Dr. Preston's Daughter

by Laura MacDonald

  By this time they had reached Tom’s bed, only to find that his curtains were drawn. Cautiously Gemma parted the curtains a couple of inches and peeped through. Stephen was sitting by the side of the bed with his back to her. ‘May we come in?’ she asked.

  ‘Of course.’ Stephen looked over his shoulder and briefly his eyes met hers. Gemma felt her pulse quicken as she was reminded of the way he’d looked at her the previous day just before he’d left her at her front door.

  The moment was gone as Stephen stood up. ‘I have to go down and get scrubbed up,’ he said. Looking down at the patient, he added, ‘See you in Theatre, Tom.’ Reaching out his hand, he briefly touched the man’s shoulder.

  ‘Dr Preston,’ Gemma intervened, as Stephen would have made his way out of the ward, ‘you remember Lesley, don’t you? She was at St Jerome’s at the same time that we were.’

  ‘Of course.’ Stephen smiled at Lesley. ‘Nice to see you again, Lesley.’

  ‘And you, Dr Preston.’ Lesley smiled back at Stephen and with that he raised his hand and left the ward.

  ‘Right, Tom.’ Gemma turned back to the man on the bed. ‘We need you to go to the bathroom, please, and while you’re there we want you to change into this gown.’ She handed him a white Theatre gown. ‘Slip your dressing-gown on top,’ she went on. ‘While you’re gone we’ll prepare your bed, and when you come back I’ll give you your pre-med.’

  As Tom disappeared to the bathroom Lesley began to help Gemma to strip his bed.

  ‘So,’ she said after they’d worked in silence for a while, ‘he found you then.’

  ‘Sorry?’ Gemma frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Stephen Preston,’ said Lesley. ‘He found you.’

  ‘I wasn’t aware he was looking for me…’ Gemma shook her head in bewilderment.

  ‘Oh, he was,’ said Lesley. ‘Believe me, he was.’

  ‘When do you mean? This morning?’ Gemma was still puzzled.

  ‘No, not this morning.’ Lesley shook her head but there was a half-smile on her face. ‘I’m talking about at St Jerome’s.’

  ‘At St Jerome’s?’ Gemma paused, a pillow in her hands, as she stared across the bed at Lesley.

  ‘Yes, he came to St Jerome’s a couple of months ago,’ Lesley explained. ‘He came up to the surgical unit, asking about you.’

  ‘Really?’ Gemma stared at Lesley and suddenly felt her mouth go dry.

  ‘Yes, he spoke to Liam,’ Lesley went on, ‘remember Liam, the charge nurse on our unit? Stephen told him he’d just come back from Dubai and he wanted to know where you were. He didn’t seem surprised to find you’d left the unit but, on the other hand, he didn’t seem to have any idea where you’d gone.’

  ‘Did Liam tell him?’ asked Gemma faintly.

  ‘Yes.’ Lesley nodded. ‘He told me afterwards that he told Stephen that you’d left St Jerome’s quite suddenly and the last we’d heard was that you were working at Denby General. I remember Liam was a bit concerned afterwards that maybe he shouldn’t have said anything, that maybe you didn’t want to be found. I told him not to worry.’ She grinned. ‘I said there couldn’t be too many girls who wouldn’t be absolutely delighted to have someone like Stephen Preston trying to find them. And judging by the look on your face just now when he smiled at you, it looks like I wasn’t far wrong.’

  They were silent for a moment. As Lesley bent down to tuck in the corner of the sheet, she looked up at Gemma curiously. ‘Why did you leave St Jerome’s so suddenly?’ she asked.

  Gemma swallowed. ‘My father was taken ill,’ she replied. ‘I came down to London to be with my mother. After my father died, one thing led to another and somehow I ended up staying.’

  ‘Well, all I can say is that Stephen was certainly pretty keen to find out where you’d gone.’ Lesley paused. ‘Weren’t you and he an item for a while before he went to Dubai?’

  Gemma nodded. There didn’t seem any point in being evasive about it now. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘we were, but that’s all in the past.’

  Lesley smiled. ‘Oh, I don’t know. It looks to me as if history may be about to repeat itself.’

  Somehow Gemma carried on with her work—preparing the bed and then giving Tom his pre-med injection—but her head was in a whirl. Stephen had gone back to St Jerome’s to look for her, and he’d been told that she’d come to Denby General to work. She’d imagined when she’d first seen him that morning on the ward that he’d been as surprised to see her as she had been to see him, but maybe that hadn’t been the case at all.

  She was still trying to get her head around the situation when much later that morning she went to the staff canteen to take her break. She had barely begun to eat her salad when someone spoke at her elbow.

  ‘Mind if I join you?’ Not waiting for a reply, Stephen set his tray down on the table and sat down opposite her.

  ‘You looked as if you were miles away,’ he said as he began to eat.

  ‘Maybe I was,’ she replied.

  ‘Anything I can help with?’

  ‘Possibly.’ Leaning back in her chair, she surveyed him across the table. She knew he’d been assisting in Theatre that morning because Tom had come back to the ward following a successful heart bypass operation, but he’d changed now out of his Theatre greens and into a white shirt and dark trousers.

  ‘So?’ Quizzically he put his head on one side. ‘You have me mystified now.’

  ‘It was something that Lesley said,’ she replied.

  He’d lifted his baguette ready to take another bite but he stopped and looked at her with it poised halfway to his mouth.

  ‘She said you went to St Jerome’s when you came back from Dubai and asked about me.’

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘We were together before I left, Gemma. And I was still mystified as to your silence, so was it so unlikely that I might want to see you again?’

  ‘Maybe not.’ Setting her glass carefully down on the table, she said, ‘What did intrigue me was that Lesley said that you were told that I had come here to Denby General to work.’

  Stephen looked down at his plate but he remained silent.

  ‘I thought,’ she went on after a moment, ‘that when you first arrived here you were as surprised to see me as I was to see you—but it seems I was wrong if you already knew that I worked here.’

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose it would seem like that.’ He looked faintly embarrassed.

  ‘Are you saying it wasn’t a coincidence after all?’

  He smiled but it was a rueful smile. ‘that’s right.’ He nodded. ‘I guess the only coincidence was when I came here looking for a job and there just happened to be a vacancy on Bjorn’s team.’

  ‘But you didn’t know that then?’

  ‘No,’ Stephen admitted, ‘I didn’t know that then. I only came here because I knew you were here.’ His eyes met hers in a long gaze.

  ‘I hadn’t got over you, you see, Gemma,’ he went on at last. ‘I thought I had in Dubai, especially after you didn’t reply to my letters. I tried to convince myself that you didn’t want to know any more and neither did I. But as time went on I realised just how much I missed you. As soon as my contract ended I knew I had to come back to England. I could have renewed the contract but…’ he shrugged ‘…I had to see you again and see if there was a chance that we could get back to the way we were.’ Reaching across the table, he covered her hand. ‘I’m sorry, if you think I was spying on you,’ he said quietly, ‘but I thought that maybe if I could just see you again on a day-to-day basis…I didn’t, of course, realise just how much things had changed in your life whilst I’d been away…’

  They were silent again, totally oblivious to the noise and bustle around them, as if they were the only two people in the canteen.

  ‘I know you’ve been reluctant to try again,’ said Stephen at last, ‘but what about now…now that I’ve met Daisy…?’ He trailed off, leaving the question unfinished, hanging in the air between them.

  ‘Stephen, I
….’ Suddenly she was lost for words, overwhelmed by what he had just told her but at the same time only too aware that he still didn’t know the truth and that when he did everything could change between them yet again.

  ‘No,’ he said, squeezing her hand, ‘don’t say anything now. This is neither the time nor the place.’ He paused. ‘Did you ask your mother about having Daisy so that we could spend some time together?’

  ‘Yes, I did.’ Gemma nodded. ‘She suggested maybe at the weekend. I’m off duty—are you?’

  ‘Yes. We’ll go somewhere quiet where we can talk. We have so much still to say to one another, Gemma.’

  ‘Yes,’ she agreed faintly, ‘we do.’

  Stephen went back to Theatre shortly after that and Gemma returned to the ward, but she was aware of a feeling of light-headedness.

  He had come back for her. He hadn’t wanted to stay in Dubai for a second contract—he had wanted to come back to England because he’d missed her. She’d got the impression that it had taken even him by surprise, but it had happened. That was the way it had been and while she’d been thinking that he hadn’t wanted any form of commitment or ties, all the time it had slowly been dawning on him that that was exactly what he wanted.

  He seemed to have accepted Daisy and the fact that Daisy was the result of another relationship, but the question that still remained was how he would react when he found out that Daisy was his daughter.

  She had to tell him, Gemma knew that now, and it looked as if the coming weekend might provide the obvious opportunity. There was still a part of her that dreaded telling him, but at the same time she knew that her task would now be made easier with the knowledge that Stephen had gone to such lengths to get her back.

  Gemma had almost finished her shift when a phone call came through to the ward, a call that was to turn her whole world upside down.

  It was Kim who had answered the phone. ‘Gemma…’ She held the receiver out to her. ‘It’s for you. It’s your mum.’

  Gemma took the phone with a frown. It was highly unusual for her mother to phone her on the ward. ‘Hello, Mum,’ she said. ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘Hello, Gemma,’ Jill replied. ‘I’m not sure. It’s probably nothing to worry about but the crèche phoned me at work to say that Daisy seemed a bit under the weather.’

  ‘What’s wrong with her?’ asked Gemma quickly.

  ‘I don’t really know. I went straight there and picked her up. She’s very hot. I think she might be running a temperature. I brought her home and she went straight to sleep.’

  ‘That isn’t like her,’ said Gemma.

  ‘I know. Would you like me to call the doctor?’

  ‘I’ll come home now,’ Gemma told her in concern. ‘We’ll decide then.’ She hung up and turned to find Kim looking anxiously at her.

  ‘Problems?’ she asked sympathetically.

  ‘Daisy’s not too well. I’m going to ask Julie if I can go now.’

  ‘Shouldn’t be a problem,’ said Kim. ‘We’ve nearly finished here. If she does make a fuss, I’ll stay on and do extra.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Gemma flashed Kim a grateful glance but when she explained the situation to Julie the sister told her to get off home immediately.

  Infuriatingly Gemma’s journey home was fraught with every imaginable obstacle, from roadworks and the inevitable traffic jams to the apparent conspiracy that made sure that every set of traffic lights changed to red as she approached.

  At last she reached the house and pulled onto the drive. She had barely switched off the engine when Jill flung open the front door.

  ‘Oh, Gemma, you’re here. Thank goodness!’ Her mother’s relief was obvious, ‘I wasn’t sure what to do…’

  ‘How is she?’ demanded Gemma as she hurried into the house.

  ‘She was sick a while ago and she’s still incredibly hot.’ Jill sounded tense. ‘I think we should ring the doctor, Gemma.’

  Daisy was lying on the sofa huddled beneath her quilt, despite the fact that she was so hot.

  ‘She doesn’t seem to like the light in her eyes.’ Jill had followed Gemma into the room. ‘That’s why I drew the curtains.’

  ‘Is there any sign of a rash?’ asked Gemma, kneeling down beside her daughter and pulling back the quilt.

  ‘No, I don’t think so, but it’s hard to tell because she’s so flushed.’

  ‘Hello, darling.’ Gemma bent her head and kissed Daisy on her hot little cheek.

  ‘Mummy…’ Daisy turned her head then cried out as if the movement hurt her, and Gemma’s heart filled with dread.

  ‘It’s all right, darling. Mummy’s here,’ Gemma said softly. Looking up at Jill, she said, ‘I think she should go straight to A and E.’

  ‘Should we get an ambulance?’ asked Jill worriedly.

  ‘No, we’ll take her ourselves—it’ll be much quicker.’ Gemma scooped Daisy up into her arms, together with her quilt and her teddy.

  Moments later they were in Gemma’s car, with Gemma driving and Jill and Daisy in the back.

  ‘Are we going to Denby?’ asked Jill as Gemma drew out and joined the traffic.

  ‘No, it’s too far,’ Gemma shook her head. ‘And at this time of day it would take too long. Oakfields is closer—they have a casualty unit there.’

  She drove in silence, concentrating on the road ahead while at the same time desperately praying that her fears for Daisy would be unfounded.

  Almost as if she could read Gemma’s mind, Jill finally broke the silence. ‘Gemma,’ she began tentatively, ‘these symptoms of Daisy’s—you don’t think it could be meningitis, do you?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Gemma bit her lip. ‘There are things that point to that—the high temperature, the reaction to bright light and the apparent stiffness of her neck—but there’s no sign of a rash so…’ She trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

  It seemed to take an age to reach Oakfields Hospital but at last Gemma drove into a parking bay beside the A and E department. Moments later she ran into the unit with Daisy in her arms, leaving Jill to lock the car and follow.

  ‘This is my daughter,’ said Gemma to the receptionist. ‘She’s two years old, she has a very high temperature, a stiff neck and her eyes are sensitive to light.’

  ‘What is her name?’ asked the receptionist.

  ‘Daisy Langford.’ Desperately Gemma tried to be patient with the receptionist who, after all, was only doing her job, but when the girl turned to speak to a colleague her patience ran out. ‘Please, hurry,’ she said urgently. ‘I’m a staff nurse myself and I believe she could be very ill.’

  ‘I’ll get someone to see her immediately,’ said the woman, pressing a buzzer behind the desk.

  She was true to her word and within minutes Gemma was being shown into a treatment room, only to find that the doctor on duty was a young man called Mark Carney with whom she had worked for a brief time at Denby General. He recognised her straight away.

  ‘Gemma?’ he said. ‘Is this your daughter?’

  ‘Yes, Mark,’ she replied, relieved at finding a familiar face, ‘this is Daisy.’

  ‘Tell me the history,’ he requested as Gemma laid Daisy down on the couch.

  ‘She spiked a temperature some time during the afternoon, and she’s still very hot and flushed…’

  ‘Any vomiting?’ asked Mark as he gently took Daisy’s face between his hands and began feeling the glands on either side of her neck.

  ‘She’s been sick once.’ Gemma gulped. ‘She’s reacting to bright lights and her neck seems stiff. You don’t think…? Oh, you don’t think…?’

  ‘Are there any signs of a rash?’ asked Mark.

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Frantically Gemma shook her head. ‘At least, there wasn’t when we left home.’

  ‘Let’s have a look.’ Together they began removing Daisy’s clothing. By this time the little girl appeared listless and quite floppy. A nurse came forward to assist Mark in his examination of Daisy and, sudde
nly overwhelmed, Gemma stood back, helplessly watching.

  ‘Why don’t you wait outside for a moment?’ said the nurse. ‘Do you have anyone with you?’

  ‘Yes, my mother is here.’ Gemma nodded. ‘But I need to make a phone call,’ she added wildly, looking around.

  ‘There’s a phone over there.’ Mark turned from the couch and indicated the phone on the desk. ‘You can use that.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Gemma crossed the room and, picking up the receiver, found that her hands were shaking as she dialled the number for Denby General. When the switchboard operator answered, Gemma asked to be put through to the cardiac unit.

  There was an agonising wait before Julie Miles answered.

  ‘Julie, it’s Gemma here,’ she said. I need to get an urgent message to Stephen Preston.’

  ‘I don’t think he’s come out of Theatre yet,’ Julie replied. ‘Do you want me to take a message for him?’

  ‘No, Julie, would you page him, please?’ said Gemma desperately. ‘It really is urgent.’

  ‘Very well.’ To Julie’s credit she didn’t question Gemma on the reasons behind her request. Instead there followed a further agonising delay for what seemed like hours but which in reality couldn’t have been more than a few minutes. At last she heard Stephen’s voice on the other end of the line.

  ‘Gemma?’ He sounded surprised and curious, but Gemma hardly noticed because by then she was almost sobbing as the tension of the last hour finally caught up with her.

  ‘Stephen…Oh, Stephen…’ she choked.

  ‘What is it?’ he asked his voice taking on an urgent note. ‘What’s wrong? Gemma?’

  ‘It’s Daisy…’ She attempted to swallow but her mouth had gone incredibly dry.

  ‘What’s the matter with her?’

  ‘She’s ill, Stephen. I don’t know what it is, but she’s ill…’

  ‘Where are you?’ he asked urgently.

  ‘We’re at Oakfields—in the A and E dept.’

  ‘I’m on my way,’ he said, and the line went dead.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  STEPHEN arrived in no time at all, it seemed. One moment Gemma was sitting helplessly, watching as tests commenced on Daisy and an intravenous drip set up, and the next, Stephen was there beside her.