by Lissa Del
“What’s that got to do with it?” Jess smiles.
“Oh shit!” I put my head in my hands.
“She loves him,” Jess announces triumphantly.
“You could do a lot worse,” Tom consoles me, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him. “A hot doctor is hardly something to be embarrassed about.”
“Surgeon,” Jess corrects.
They are still pointing out the pros and prospects of dating a surgeon – the part about him resigning seems to have slipped their minds - when Jess’s real doctor walks into the ward. He’s older, with tufts of greying hair and the build of a once athletic man going to seed. His name badge identifies him as Doctor Fraser. He nods at Tom and I over his glasses but doesn’t send us away.
“How are you feeling, Miss Atkins?” he asks, picking up her chart.
“Much better.”
He scans the data print-out and then sets the file back on the table apparently satisfied with what he sees. “Ready to go home?”
“Can I?” Jess’s euphoria brings a small smile to his lips.
“You’ll need a final ECG and a heart scan first, just to be sure there’s nothing ominous going on, but, with any luck, I’ll be signing your discharge papers before supper time.”
“Hallelujah!” Jess flops back on the pillows contentedly.
“There are a few things we need to discuss before I let you go,” Doctor Fraser’s tone carries a warning. I start to retreat slowly from the room, but Jess waves me back.
“Stay,” she sighs, and then to the doctor; “you can speak freely in front of my friends, Doc. They know I’ve been an idiot.”
“You said it,” Doctor Fraser agrees, but he looks comforted. “I believe you claim this was a once-off occasion and I hope for your sake that that’s the truth.” He peers at Jess over his glasses as though daring her to contradict him. Jess keeps her mouth firmly shut. “The most common cause of atrial fibrillation is stimulants,” Doctor Fraser resumes, “so stay off the Red Bull, too much caffeine and any recreational drugs.”
“And ordinary alcohol?” Jess asks in a small voice, sounding like a child in danger of having her favourite toy confiscated.
Doctor Fraser smiles at that. “Stick to a couple of glasses of red wine and you should be just fine. It’s most likely an isolated incident, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t test that theory.”
“Deal!” Jess agrees happily.
“Okay, then that’s it from me. They’ll take you down for testing shortly and, once I’ve seen the results, and if I’m happy with everything, you’ll be free to go.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Just doing my job. Take care of yourself, Miss Atkins.”
I watch his departing white coat and make a lightning decision.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Jess and Tom and then slip out of the door behind him. “Doctor Fraser,” I call, getting his attention.
He turns immediately. “Yes?”
“I was just wondering about the man who was checking on Jessica last night – he used to be a Doctor here – Leo Russell. Do you know him?” Is it just my imagination or does he look more guarded at the mention of Leo’s name?
“Yes, I know Dr Russell,” he replies.
“Oh. Well, I was just wondering if you knew why he left?”
“The building?”
“No, the hospital. Apparently he resigned.” I know I’m overstepping a boundary but I have to try.
“Do you know Doctor Russell?” Doctor Fraser fires back and I sense the protectiveness of establishment closing around us. If Leo was a member of the board at this hospital, the staff are hardly going to divulge confidential information.
“I… yes, I do.”
“Then I suggest you ask him,” Doctor Fraser says. His reply is short and clipped, but there is empathy shining in his intelligent eyes. I flush with embarrassment all the same.
“I will. Thank you for your time.”
He nods. “Look after your friend in there.”
CHAPTER 25
“Did I tell you they cut my favourite top?” Jess grumbles. She’s been camped on my couch since last night, straight from the hospital, and thus far my Sunday has consisted of running around after her and listening to a long list of grievances she’s building against the hospital and its staff.
“Yes, twice. And actually, that was my top,” I point out, recalling the black tank top she had been wearing on Game Night. “You borrowed it a few weeks ago.”
“You see! That’s even worse.”
“You were unconscious and you needed to be put on an ECG, Jess. What were they supposed to do?”
“Undress me slowly? I mean, if you’re going to be seeing all of this,” she gestures up and down her body, “you may as well take the time to enjoy it. Speaking of which, this body needs feeding.”
“There is no depth to your depravity! And if you want a sandwich go and get one. There’s nothing wrong with you.”
“My knees hurt!”
“So you keep saying.” I roll my eyes at her. “Those aren’t even bruises.” Jess’s knees are a little scratched from falling on the sidewalk, but the way she’s going on you’d swear both of her legs were broken.
“You’re not usually this grumpy,” Jess whinges. “I take it you haven’t heard back from the delectable Doctor?”
“Don’t call him that. And no, I haven’t.” I had left a message on Leo’s phone last night once I had settled Jess in and she had called me an idiot for cutting him off without a word, but so far he hasn’t returned my call.
“Maybe you should go over there?”
“What, and leave you defenceless? Who would change the channel for you?”
“I’ll be okay for an hour or two, so long as you leave a bottle of wine within arm’s reach.”
“You shouldn’t be drinking.”
“You heard Doctor Fraser – red wine is good for me.”
“I don’t think those were the words he used, Jess.”
“Close enough. Besides, Tom’s coming over later.”
“Of course he is.”
I get up and head for the kitchen to make her a sandwich – partly to shut her up and partly to give myself something to do. I love having Jess here, despite our frequent disagreements, but this thing with Leo is really getting to me. I haven’t spoken to him since Friday night after he dropped me home and I told him I needed time to think. Not that thinking has done much good. My heart doesn’t want to listen to my brain. I don’t know if I’m even angry anymore, I just want to talk to him and clear all of this up.
“I have arrived!” Tom’s voice calls from the hall and a second later he rounds the corner hefting two huge carrier bags. “And I come bearing gifts!”
Jess brightens perceptively at the sight of the bags.
“What is all of that?” I ask.
“It’s dinner for her highness,” he says, dumping the lot on the counter beside me. Then he lowers his voice. “Jess told me you have stuff to sort out with Leo. Go. I’ve got this.”
“I don’t even know where he is,” I say, but already my heart is beating faster.
“No excuses, Sarah. Go sort your shit out. It’s not every day that a handsome doctor saves your best friend’s life and tells you that he loves you.”
“Surgeon!” Jess calls from the living room.
Tom spreads his arms in a wide arc before turning to face Jess.
“She’s al-i-i-i-ve!” he sings, in a perfect Victor Frankenstein imitation.
“He’s right,” Jess adds, giving me a stern look. “You need to sort your shit out, girlfriend.”
I don’t need any further prompting. Dumping the two slices of buttered bread in the trash I head for my bedroom. As desperate as I am to see Leo, I don’t think my PJs are quite the right outfit for the occasion.
Ten minutes later I’m out of the door clutching Tom’s car keys. My car is in the lot downstairs and I fear the battery might have ru
n flat from gross underuse. Tom’s zippy little hatchback is parked across the street and I pull off in a jerking plume of white smoke and the awful smell of burning clutch as I try to manage the stick shift.
I head straight for Leo’s apartment.
“Good afternoon, Miss Sarah,” the doorman greets me fondly.
“Hi James! Is Leo home?”
“He’s not, I’m afraid. You’re welcome to wait, though.” It’s not like I have any idea where else he could be, so I nod and take a seat in the lobby.
As it turns out I don’t have to wait long. I’m flipping idly through a magazine when I spot Leo coming up the front stairs. I scramble to my feet tossing the magazine aside. My heart catches in my chest at the sight of him and then nosedives into my stomach when I spot the attractive brunette beside him. A part of me hopes that perhaps they both happen to live in this building and have arrived at the same time, but her body is wedged into the space beneath his shoulder and she is smiling up at something he is saying.
There’s nowhere for me to hide. I consider throwing myself behind James’s station but it’s too late. Leo lifts his sunglasses up onto his head as he comes through the glass door, pushing his hair back off his forehead. He looks happy and carefree, and it irks me that he’s not suffering in my absence. While I fret over this, Leo is still talking, perfectly at ease with the woman beside him. She sees me first, offering the polite smile one assumes for strangers and passers-by. I don’t smile back. My face is frozen, my jaw stiff.
“Sarah?” Leo has finally noticed me.
“Hi,” I look up at him and then back at my feet.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you. I left you a message but I didn’t hear back.” I risk a glance at the brunette who is assessing me silently.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get any message. We left early this morning and I haven’t really had time to check my phone.” I cringe at the carelessness of his words – the implication that he has obviously been enjoying the pleasure of the brunette’s company far too much to be burdened with his mobile.
“Leo,” the woman speaks for the first time and her voice is deeper than I expected and oddly reassuring. “You might want to explain me.”
“What?” he looks genuinely confused.
She smiles at me, shaking her head. “Men! I’m guessing you’re feeling pretty uncomfortable right about now?”
Leo looks between the two of us and understanding dawns.
“Oh! No! Sarah, this,” he gestures at the two of them, “this isn’t what you think. Ellen’s my sister.”
The whoosh of relief that flows through me is so intense I actually feel faint. Leo has spoken about his sisters a lot over the past few months but I haven’t met either of them yet, despite our conversation at Christmas.
“Ellen.” She sticks out her hand and clasps my own in a firm handshake. “I’ve heard a lot about you Sarah.” Her tone gives nothing away – whether she’s heard good or bad I can’t tell, but I smile anyway.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Ellen.”
There’s a small, uncomfortable silence during which Leo stares down at me.
“You said you left me a message?” he asks, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Yes.” I glance at Ellen. “I wanted to talk to you. But I can come back later…”
“No!” he lowers his voice. “I mean, you don’t have to go. What is it you wanted to say?”
I look toward Ellen again and she gives a knowing smile.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” she says.
“You don’t have to go,” Leo insists, but he sounds far less emphatic and he’s still looking at me.
“We’ll chat tomorrow,” Ellen says, rising up on her toes and kissing his cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Sarah.”
“You too,” I reply, but she’s already heading for the door, casting a concerned look over her shoulder as she hits the steps.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Leo asks again. His face is alive with excitement, his eyes sparkling with possibility. I don’t really want to have this conversation in the lobby as James watches us with all the curiosity of a man whose only entertainment is the comings and goings of the buildings’ tenants. He doesn’t even have the good grace to turn away.
“Can I come up?” I ask, blushing.
“Of course.” Leo draws me towards the elevator. The gesture is very controlled, his fingers applying only the slightest pressure as if he’s nervous to touch me, but even that faint contact sends a warm tingle up my arm.
We don’t speak until the apartment door has closed behind us. Leo fetches two beers out of the fridge without asking and hands one to me. The bottle is cold against my palm and oddly calming.
“Let’s sit outside,” Leo suggests. It’s a beautiful afternoon, only the slightest of breezes taking the edge off the heat of the afternoon sun. I don’t sit. Instead, I walk to the edge of the terrace. I lean against the railing and take a swig of my beer.
“It really is beautiful up here,” I say to Leo, who has come to stand beside me.
“So you keep saying.”
I turn to find him facing me, one arm slung across the balcony railing. His posture is relaxed and a semblance of my favourite crooked smile plays on his lips.
“Why are you smiling?”
He shrugs. “I’m just happy.”
“I know you better than that. What is it?”
“You’re here.” He gives me a look that is both confident and sheepish.
“Yeah, I’m here. So?”
“So,” he edges closer to me, his fingers trailing the railing close to my own, “you said you needed time to think, but I figure you wouldn’t be here if you’d decided you never wanted to see me again.”
“How do you know I’m not here to tell you I never want to see you again?” I tease.
“Because I know you better than that.”
We lapse into a comfortable silence. Leo still hasn’t touched me, but his hand is resting close to mine. I resist the urge to take it.
“You should have told me,” I say.
“I know.” In the quiet moment that follows this admission, I look up at him as if I’m seeing him for the first time. His unnerving self-assurance, his natural competitiveness and his keen mind – it makes perfect sense now. How could I ever have deluded myself that he was simply a student – a trust-fund baby with no ambition?
“It’s not something you should be ashamed of,” I murmur. He cocks his head in my direction, waiting for me to explain. “You obviously worked very hard to get to where you were and you had to have been good at it, considering your age and your success. I don’t understand why you would want to keep it a secret.”
“I get how you would think that,” he concedes finally, “but I’m not ashamed of my career. I’d like to think I did a lot of good in my time at Jansens. I just…” he takes a swig of beer, trying to find the right words. “A lot of people don’t understand my decision. They’re trying to talk me out of it. I didn’t want you to be one of them.”
I open my mouth to insist that I wouldn’t, but I close it again without uttering a word. I’m already wondering why Leo would walk away from his medical career – who’s to say I wouldn’t have encouraged him to go back to it. If I’d learned the truth without knowing how strongly he felt about it, would I have done exactly that?
“Do you have any idea how refreshing it was to have you not know? To tease me mercilessly about my car, about this apartment? You laughed at me, not judging my decision, just being you. And letting me be me. I didn’t want that to change.” His eyes meet mine and darken with a challenge. He wants to know if things have changed after all. I hold his gaze, losing myself in his eyes and then finally, I speak.
“I guess I shouldn’t tell you, then, that I really like your car?” I say, the teasing in my tone impossible to miss.
“I don’t care what you say, so long as you forgive me.”
&nbs
p; We lapse into a comfortable silence. I still have a million questions about exactly why and how he gave up his entire career but they can wait. Leo steps closer to me, offering his hand and this time I reach for it. His fingers close around mine instantly and he tugs me toward him, spinning me around so that we can both watch the glorious view. As his arms come around me I lean back against him, my head tucked neatly into the curve of his neck. The smell of his aftershave drifts down over me and I melt against him, breathing it in.
“You saved Jess’s life, didn’t you?” I ask, as the sun lowers on the horizon.
“It’s possible.”
“Probable,” I correct.
Leo nuzzles my hair, his mouth close to my ear. “I’m glad I was there.”
“Me too.”
He brushes a kiss across my neck. “And I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
CHAPTER 26
“You look like a woman who’s been up all night getting her brains screwed out,” Jess announces the second I come through the door. She’s dressed and ready for the day, grinning crazily as she watches me do the walk of shame down the hall. I have borrowed one of Leo’s sweatshirts but I’m still wearing yesterday’s jeans.
“We’re going to be late by the way!” she yells as I scuttle into my bedroom.
“I’ll be ready in five minutes!” I shout back. I’ve barely pulled a clean sweater over my head when she appears in my bedroom doorway.
“I’m taking it you and McDreamy sorted out your issues?”
“You could say that,” I tease, and then, sniffing the air, “what is that awful smell?”
“Tom burned the dinner last night. I’m surprised he didn’t set off the fire alarm.”
“I suppose I should be grateful he didn’t burn the place down.”