Caroline Anderson, Anne Fraser, Kate Hardy, Margaret McDonagh

by Brides of Penhally Bay Vol. 04 (lit)

  ‘I reviewed the images yesterday,’ James said, ‘and I agree.’

  Two surprises: firstly, that a playboy like James would look at a patient’s notes when he wasn’t even on duty; and, secondly, that he’d agree with her judgement instead of throwing his weight around to make a point—especially as he had a reputation as a hotshot surgeon. Maybe she really had misjudged him.

  ‘I note as well that Daisy’s had a lot of chest infections, so I want to double-check her obs this morning to make absolutely sure she’s fit for surgery.’

  So his attention to detail wasn’t just to his grooming. Good. ‘When I saw her last night, she was fine—there wasn’t even the hint of a sniffle.’

  ‘Fingers crossed she hasn’t developed one overnight. Is there anything else I need to know about Daisy or her family—any particular worries I can help with?’

  Charlotte really hadn’t expected him to be so considerate of his patient and her parents. She’d thought that James would be more interested in the technical side of things and showing off his surgical skills. The fact he wasn’t…That was a real bonus. This was a man she could definitely work with.

  The fact he was gorgeous to look at too…Well, that was beside the point.

  She forced her thoughts back to work. ‘Just the usual parental worries about how successful the surgery’s going to be, how quickly Daisy will recover, and how much difference it’ll really make to her.’

  ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’ He looked serious. ‘What about Daisy herself—does she have one of those rag dolls with the scars? They’re really good for helping little ones prepare for an op.’

  Another unexpected twist: not only did James know about the dolls, he clearly encouraged them. ‘Yes—her parents have been preparing her for the op for the last week, when we did an ECG and echo and I really wasn’t happy with the results.’

  James nodded. ‘That’s about the right length of time to prepare a three-year-old. Role play’s one of the best ways of helping them come to terms with an operation and the fact they’re going to have scars.’

  ‘She’s got a doll with blonde hair and blue eyes, just like her—and she asked me a few questions when I played with her yesterday,’ Charlotte volunteered.

  James smiled. ‘Great. So does her doll have a name?’

  ‘Poppy.’

  The fact he’d asked such a simple question showed her that James really was taking his job seriously. He really cared how his patients felt. And Charlotte found herself warming to him.

  ‘And she knows she’s going to be in Intensive Care for a couple of days after the op?’ he checked.

  ‘Yes. Hannah from the children’s ITU took them on a tour yesterday, so Daisy and her parents know exactly what to expect and they won’t be worried by all the monitors and tubes.’

  ‘Good. So shall we go and see her?’

  ‘Sure.’ It was only then that Charlotte noticed: James was wearing an expensively cut dark suit and what she suspected was a handmade white shirt, but his tie wasn’t the sober silk affair she’d expected. It was silk, yes, but it was bright red and covered with bold yellow teddy bears.

  ‘What?’ James asked.

  ‘Just…’ She paused and raised an eyebrow. ‘Admiring your tie.’

  ‘Oh, that.’ He shrugged. ‘Daisy’s three years old and, even though she’s probably used to hospitals with her medical history, coming in for an op is still pretty scary. So the teddies are going to make her smile and feel a bit safer with me.’

  He’d thought that much about a small detail?

  ‘And before you ask—no, I wouldn’t be wearing this to see a teenage boy. I’d switch to a plain tie, flash my James Bond watch around, and talk to him about Aston Martins.’

  Now, that she could believe. James probably owned a different sports car for each day of the week. Like Fleming’s super-spy, James Alexander had a string of gorgeous girlfriends. And even though he’d gone into a caring profession, he’d chosen one of the most high-profile specialties. The glitz and glamour stuff rather than being someone who quietly made a difference behind the scenes.

  ‘We’d better get going,’ she said. She logged out of the computer and stood up; James stood aside courteously and let her lead the way to the children’s ward.

  Daisy’s bed was in a bay at the far end of the ward, and with every step they took Charlotte was aware of the admiring glances cast in James’s direction. Unsurprising, because he looked like a fashion plate, and the tie added a hint of quirkiness that would melt practically every female heart on the ward.

  ‘Charlotte, can I have a quick word?’ Lisa, one of the new foundation stage two doctors, asked.

  ‘Sure, Lisa. Excuse me, James.’ She stepped to one side with the younger doctor. ‘What can I do for you?’

  ‘Is he the new heart surgeon?’

  Oh, wonderful. She’d been expecting a quick discussion about a patient, not about James! ‘Yes. We’re here to see Daisy before her op.’

  Lisa sighed. ‘He’s gorgeous. You lucky thing, having to work with him—I definitely wouldn’t mind getting up for breakfast if I was sharing it with him!’

  What? Surely Lisa didn’t think there was something going on between them. ‘I didn’t share breakfast with him.’ Though, now Lisa had put the idea into her head, she could imagine it. James making coffee in her kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a sexy smile, a slight hint of stubble on his cheeks and his hair unruly. James, stealing a bite from her toast, tempting her to lick the crumbs from the corner of his mouth before taking her in his arms and kissing her stupid…

  Oh, help. Since when did she fantasise like that? ‘It’s strictly work,’ Charlotte said firmly, as much to keep herself in check as to put Lisa in the picture.

  ‘Looking like that, he was probably snapped up at the age of twelve,’ Lisa said ruefully. ‘Whenever I’ve seen him in Great! magazine, he’s always with someone gorgeous. But if you find out that he does happen to be available…’

  ‘Sure, I’ll put in a word,’ Charlotte said.

  ‘You’re not tempted yourself?’ Lisa asked.

  Yes. Not that she was going to admit it. ‘I’m quite happy breakfasting with Pandora,’ Charlotte said with a smile.

  James couldn’t help overhearing the very last bit of the conversation. Pandora? Who was Pandora? Charlotte’s sister? Her flatmate? Or…

  He considered whether Pandora might be Charlotte’s partner, then dismissed the idea. No, Charlotte didn’t seem the type.

  And if she was talking about having breakfast with a friend or her sister or something, not her partner…did that mean she was available?

  He turned away, cross with himself. It was ridiculous he was even thinking about it. He had no intention of dating someone he had to work with so closely. Even if she was incredibly pretty, with that silky blonde hair pulled back in another French pleat, the slightest hint of a retroussé nose and a perfect rosebud mouth.

  His body reacted instantly to the idea of that mouth exploring his body, that hair loose and trailing over his skin, and he groaned inwardly. For pity’s sake. He barely knew her. She’d been reserved with him so far—except when they’d been discussing a patient, when she’d seemed to relax with him.

  Plus she’d just told Lisa point blank that she wasn’t interested in him.

  He needed to get a grip, and keep his mind focused firmly on work. After the mess of his marriage, he wasn’t prepared to offer anyone more than a casual relationship, and he knew without asking that Charlotte Walker was definitely not the kind of woman who’d accept that kind of deal. Which meant she was off limits. He found her attractive—very attractive—but he wasn’t going to act on that attraction.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ Charlotte said, returning to James’s side.

  He smiled. ‘No worries.’

  ‘By the way, do I introduce you to the Freemans as Mr Alexander?’

  ‘James,’ he said. ‘It’s tough enough for parents, seeing their
children go into Theatre, without them having to worry about formality and protocol, and what the difference is between calling someone Doctor and calling them Mister.’

  Her thoughts exactly. ‘Good. And you’re OK with Daisy calling you Dr James?’

  ‘She can call me whatever makes her feel comfortable.’ He paused. ‘What does she call you?’

  ‘Dr Charlotte.’

  ‘Not Dr Charlie?’

  ‘Nobody calls me Charlie,’ she said quietly. ‘Ever.’

  ‘Noted,’ he said.

  It wasn’t the strict truth. Michael had called her Charlie. But after she’d left Liverpool, she’d made a conscious decision to stick to her full name. Anyone who tried a diminutive was gently but firmly guided back to the name she preferred. Not that she intended to explain any of that to James. That was on a strictly need-to-know basis.

  When they reached Daisy’s cubicle, Charlotte greeted Leslie and Gary Freeman warmly, then sat on the edge of Daisy’s bed and gave her a cuddle. ‘Hello, gorgeous.’

  ‘Hello, Dr Charlotte.’ The little girl gave her a beaming smile and hugged her back.

  ‘I’ve brought someone special to see you,’ Charlotte said. ‘This is Dr James. He’s the doctor who’s going to fix your heart this morning.’

  ‘Hello, Dr James,’ Daisy said shyly.

  Charlotte introduced James quickly to Daisy’s parents.

  ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t in yesterday,’ James said, ‘but I wanted to see you before the operation. I know Charlotte’s already taken you through what’s going to happen today, but it’s a lot to take in. If you want us to go over anything again, or there’s anything else you’d like to know, just ask. That’s what I’m here for.’

  ‘Charlotte said that you’ll close the hole either with stitches or a patch,’ Gary said.

  James nodded. ‘I’ve studied Daisy’s X-rays and the echocardiogram results—they’re the ones that show us how her blood moves through her heart—and in Daisy’s case I’m going to use a patch. The whole thing should take about three hours, and she’ll be on a bypass machine while I’m closing the hole in her heart.’

  ‘You met Carlo yesterday—he’s the one who’ll be looking after the bypass machine, and he’s getting everything ready for Daisy now,’ Charlotte said. ‘And you remember Fran, the anaesthetist?’ At their nod, she said, ‘Fran should be down to see us in about five minutes.’

  ‘Are you and Poppy both ready for your big day, then?’ James asked Daisy.

  Daisy nodded. ‘Poppy had a operation, too. Look.’ She showed him the scar on the doll’s chest.

  ‘Wow. Shall I tell you a secret?’ James asked conspiratorially.

  The little girl’s blue eyes widened. ‘What?’

  ‘My stitches are much neater than that,’ James confided in a whisper. ‘So you’ll only have a little scar, and it’ll fade as you get bigger.’

  Daisy swallowed. ‘Is it going to hurt?’

  ‘The scar? No. If you’re worried about the operation, you’ll be asleep when I fix your heart, so it won’t hurt you at all while I do it,’ James said. ‘You might feel a little bit sore when you wake up afterwards, but all you have to do is tell Mummy or Daddy or one of the nurses, and they’ll make it better.’

  ‘Like when I falled over and hurted my knee,’ Daisy said.

  ‘Exactly like that. And I’ll tell you another secret. A kiss better always helps.’

  Daisy smiled. ‘Do you like having a kiss better?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ James said.

  Charlotte was shocked at the image that flashed into her head. Of herself kissing James. Crazy. The surgeon didn’t need kissing better, and she had no intention of kissing him in any case. Though the idea of it still made her skin heat and her pulse rate speed up a notch. She only hoped that mind-reading wasn’t part of his skill set.

  ‘Shall we play with Poppy for a minute, Daisy?’ James said. ‘I think you need to take her temperature, to check she’s not too hot.’

  Daisy pretended to take the doll’s temperature. ‘No, she’s just right.’

  ‘Excellent. Now it’s my turn—can I check you?’

  Daisy nodded; James checked her temperature and indicated the results to Charlotte, who noted it on the chart. ‘Like Poppy—just right,’ he pronounced.

  In the same way, he did the rest of the medical checks to reassure himself that Daisy was fit for surgery, and Daisy was clearly delighted that this tall, handsome man was happy to play dolls with her.

  Charlotte had to admit that she was impressed. James had put the little girl at ease very quickly, and as a consequence her parents were more relaxed, too.

  ‘Right, then, Little Miss Beautiful,’ James said, smiling at her. ‘I have to go and put my doctor’s stuff on now. Dr Charlotte here will give you some special medicine that’ll make you feel all sleepy, as if your mummy’s been reading you your favourite bedtime story, and I’ll see you in Theatre very soon.’ He ruffled her hair, then turned to Leslie and Gary. ‘I’ll leave you in Charlotte’s very capable hands. As soon as we’re out of Theatre, I’ll come and see you, and take you to see Daisy in Intensive Care. I know it’s easy for me to say, but please try not to worry. She’s going to feel so much better in a couple of days.’

  Once James had left, Charlotte stayed with the Freemans while Fran arranged Daisy’s premeds, and walked with them to Theatre.

  Leslie and Gary both made an effort to be smiley and brave for their daughter as she was wheeled through the door, blowing her kisses goodbye, but Leslie was in tears the second that the doors closed behind the trolley.

  ‘Hey, it’s going to be fine.’ Charlotte held her close and stroked her hair. ‘James Alexander has a brilliant reputation as a surgeon. Daisy’s in the best hands possible.’

  ‘But isn’t he new?’ Leslie dragged in a breath. ‘The nurses were talking about him last night.’

  ‘New to the hospital, yes, but not new to surgery. He’s been working in London at one of the biggest children’s hospitals, and he’s got lots of experience. Honestly, Leslie, Daisy’s in really good hands.’

  When Leslie’s sobs had died down, Charlotte gave her a last hug. ‘Waiting’s the worst part. Come and sit in the relatives’ room and I’ll get you a coffee. Have either of you eaten today?’

  ‘No,’ Gary admitted. ‘We couldn’t face anything this morning.’

  ‘You need to keep your strength up, too. You don’t want your blood sugar dipping and making you feel rough on top of all the worry.’ Charlotte took them back to the ward, settled them in the relatives’ room, and made coffee for them as well as a pile of toast. ‘I’ve had a word with the nursing staff. They said to help yourself to whatever you need in the kitchen. They know you’re here, and I’ll make sure the team in Theatre know where you are, too. As soon as there’s any news, James will come and see you.’ She patted Leslie’s hand. ‘I’m in clinic from a quarter past nine for the rest of the morning, but if you need me just ask one of the nurses to bleep me and I’ll be straight with you, OK? And as soon as I’ve finished clinic, I’ll come up and see you.’

  ‘Thanks, Charlotte.’ Leslie mopped her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I should pull myself together.’

  ‘Anyone in your shoes would be doing exactly the same thing. But, as James said, hold onto the fact that she’s going to be so much better in a few days.’

  Charlotte was scrupulous in paying attention to her patients during her clinic, doing routine echos and ECGs, but she was also very aware of the time. As the morning ticked on and she still hadn’t been bleeped, she began to worry. She knew that the operation usually took three hours, so she should have heard something by now.

  Which meant either something was very badly wrong, or James hadn’t bothered keeping her in the picture.

  She just prayed it was the latter.

  When she’d seen her last patient, she headed for her office to ring Intensive Care and find out if Daisy was back from Theatre and how she was doing. The phone r
ang as she was about to pick it up; suppressing a sigh, she answered. ‘Cardio, Charlotte speaking.’

  ‘Charlotte, it’s Dave in Emergency. I know you usually do kids, but I can’t get hold of Tim and I’ve got a patient here with bradycardia. I really don’t like the look of the ECG. Could you do us a favour and take a look?’

  No, I need to find out how my patient is doing, Charlotte thought. But then she pulled herself together. As much as she wanted to find out about Daisy, she was here to do a job. And she was needed in the emergency department. ‘Sure. I’m on my way.’

  As she left the department, she called into Steffie’s office. ‘Tim’s not responding to his bleep, so Emergency called me—so you know where I am if anyone needs me.’

  ‘Rightio. Do you want me to let this afternoon’s clinic know you’ll be running late?’

  ‘I should be back in time. But if you can do me a huge favour—I still haven’t heard how Daisy Freeman’s doing. Obviously Mr Alexander was too busy to get a message through, so can you ask Barb to find out for me, please?’ Barbara, the departmental secretary, was an organisational wizard. ‘And I’d appreciate it if she can let Leslie and Gary know where I am, too. They’re probably in the Paediatric ITU right now with Daisy, though I left them in the relatives’ room before clinic this morning.’

  ‘I’ll get Barb onto it,’ Steffie said. ‘Do you want me to bring you a sandwich back from the canteen?’

  ‘Please—and I promise I’ll grab five minutes to eat it.’

  ‘You’d better.’ Steffie’s voice was stern, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.

  ‘Bleep me if you need me,’ Charlotte said, smiling back at her, and left the department.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  WHEN Charlotte came back to the cardiology unit from the emergency department, she went to find Steffie. ‘Dave’s sending a patient up. Is Tim back from wherever he was, so I can tell him what I’ve done?’