The Latin Surgeon

by Laura MacDonald

  ‘Lara.’ Did his expression soften, take on a tender look, or did she imagine it? ‘I hope you slept well?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ she replied. ‘Thank you.’ It was a lie and she knew it, because she had spent most of what had been left of the night just lying there, thinking of him and of how he was so close to her yet so far. ‘And you?’ she asked after a moment. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  ‘Yes. I crashed out as soon as my head touched the pillow.’

  ‘Oh, good,’ she said, her heart sinking as she realised he hadn’t been affected as she had. But, then, why should he be? After all, he had made it perfectly plain why he had asked her to do what he had, and he’d not given any indication that he wanted to take things much further. It was true he’d danced with her, held her close, even kissed her, albeit lightly, but wouldn’t he have behaved that way with any woman? Why should it be any different with her? And wasn’t the whole point of this exercise that he didn’t want to be involved with anyone—that he wasn’t ready, that he merely wanted his friends to stop their meddling? ‘There wasn’t too much of the night left,’ she said now, in an attempt to keep the conversation light and noncommittal.

  ‘You’re right,’ he agreed as he poured orange juice for her and indicated for her to take a seat at the large, central table. ‘We talked longer than I thought, but somehow there seemed to be rather a lot to say.’ He paused and took a seat opposite her. He was dressed casually this morning in T-shirt and jeans, more casual than she’d ever seen him, and, she was forced to admit, he looked even more handsome. She, of course, only had the clothes she’d worn for work the previous day, not imagining she would be staying overnight.

  ‘I’m glad it’s Saturday and we’re both off duty,’ he said, taking a mouthful of his juice. ‘At least we can take our time. Did you phone Cassie?’ he asked suddenly.

  ‘I left a message, telling her not to worry,’ Lara replied, sipping her own juice and thinking how delicious it tasted.

  ‘And would she have worried?’

  ‘If she’d woken up and found I hadn’t come home, you mean?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Yes, she’d probably have had me dead in a ditch somewhere.’

  ‘Has she always been so protective of you?’ he asked curiously.

  ‘Not really.’ Lara considered. ‘Although I have to say,’ she added after a moment, ‘when we were small she always looked after me. But, no, she has only really been like this since I moved in with her.’

  ‘So she’s become very dependent on you?’

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose she has.’ Lara paused again reflectively. ‘But I daresay that’s understandable, given the circumstances. She completely lost her confidence, you know, especially after Dave left her and, of course, she’s had depression to battle with as well…’

  Andres was silent for a moment then, leaning forward and passing her the toast, he said casually, ‘Actually, while we are on the subject of Cassie, there was something I wanted to put to you.’

  ‘Oh?’ She looked up, ‘What is that?’

  ‘I was wondering if she would agree to having further surgery on her face.’

  She stared at him across the table, but the expression in his dark eyes was unfathomable. ‘We didn’t think more surgery was possible,’ she said slowly at last. ‘She certainly wasn’t offered any more at the time.’

  ‘I think I could improve the scarring,’ he said quietly.

  ‘But would that be available for her? And if it was, wouldn’t there be a long wait?’

  ‘I meant for her to come to the Roseberry,’ he said, helping himself to marmalade, spreading it carefully on his toast with all the precision of his profession.

  Lara was silent for a moment, mesmerised by his hands, then, taking a deep breath, she said, ‘It’s a wonderful idea, Andres, but I’m afraid it would be out of the question.’

  ‘May I ask why?’ He raised his eyebrows, the knife poised over his plate.

  ‘I’ve seen the fees that are charged at the Roseberry,’ she replied, ‘and you have to understand there is simply no way that we could afford those.’

  ‘That wasn’t my intention,’ he replied, calmly cutting his toast and setting the knife down.

  ‘Not your intention…?’ Lara frowned.

  ‘No, Lara,’ he replied firmly. ‘The suggestion came from me. You are a friend—there would be no fee.’

  She stared at him, hardly able to believe what she was hearing, then, as she felt the tears begin to prickle at the back of her eyes, she said, ‘We couldn’t possibly expect you to do that…’ Her voice was husky and she was forced to clear her throat.

  ‘But you aren’t expecting me to do anything. It was my idea and if I can’t do something to help a friend…’ He trailed off, and shrugged.

  ‘I don’t know what to say…’ The tears that had been so dangerously close spilled over now and she dashed them away with the back of her hand.

  ‘Then don’t say anything,’ he said. After a moment’s silence in which Lara struggled to regain her composure, he went on, ‘What do you think Cassie’s reaction would be?’

  ‘I think she will be shocked and amazed, just like I was,’ she said slowly, ‘but once she gets over that I’m certain she will be delighted. She was always disappointed with the results of the skin grafting that was done after her accident.’

  He nodded as if in agreement then said, ‘Well, as I told you, I don’t want to apportion blame to a fellow surgeon, and in his defence, he probably did all he could at the time—sometimes these things need to be reviewed after a period of time—but I feel quite strongly that I could bring about an improvement for her.’

  ‘Oh, Andres.’ Lara stared at him across the table, filled with emotion at his generosity. ‘We would be so grateful if you could. If you could just make it a little easier for Cassie to face the world, I’m sure that would help her depression…’

  ‘I can’t, of course, do anything for her impaired vision.’

  ‘No,’ she replied. ‘I realise that and I have to say she really does cope with that aspect of things very well.’

  ‘Right.’ He stood up and fetched a large coffee-pot. ‘The next thing is how best to broach this to Cassie. Should I come in and see her when I take you home, or would it be best for you to approach her first and let her get used to the idea before I enter the equation?’

  ‘I think it would be best if I talked to her first,’ said Lara slowly. ‘That is, if you don’t mind,’ she added anxiously, not wanting him to think she wasn’t grateful for his kindness.

  ‘Not at all,’ he said firmly. ‘This is a delicate matter and needs to be approached sensitively.’

  They changed the subject after that and talked of other things—the evening they had shared and the people who had been at the Chelsea house.

  ‘What’s this about you being of professional standard at polo?’ she asked as they lingered over their second cup of coffee, neither of them seemingly in any hurry to move, as if doing so would somehow break the spell that had been woven the night before.

  ‘Whoever told you that?’ He gave a short laugh.

  ‘Now, let me see,’ Lara mused. ‘Was it the merchant banker or was it the chief executive of that well-known oil company?’

  Andres pulled a face, knowing she was teasing him over the status enjoyed by his friends. ‘Well, whoever it was,’ he said, ‘they need to get their facts right.’

  ‘But you do play polo?’ she persisted.

  ‘Yes,’ he admitted, ‘I do, but I’m hardly professional standard.’

  ‘You must be good, though, for him to say that.’

  ‘Maybe.’ He shrugged. ‘But what you have to remember is that where I come from we practically lived in the saddle. I was put up onto a horse almost before I could walk. When I was a boy I used to ride out across the pampas every day.’

  ‘It sounds wonderful,’ she said with a little sigh, then after a moment she added, ‘Cassie and I used to ride.’


  ‘Really?’ His interest was undeniable.

  ‘There were stables near where we lived. My parents couldn’t afford lessons so Cassie and I used to help with the mucking out and grooming and in return they allowed us to help exercise the horses. We soon learnt how to ride—we used to take the horses on the beach or for long gallops across the downs.’

  ‘It sounds as if you enjoyed it,’ he said with a smile.

  ‘Oh, we did,’ she replied passionately. ‘It was wonderful—there’s nothing quite like cantering through the surf at the water’s edge and feeling the salt air on your face.’

  ‘Unless it’s a day spent in the high sierras, with golden eagles circling above in an unbelievably blue sky,’ he said lightly. As Lara was imagining the picture he had just painted, he said, ‘Do you still ride?’

  ‘Unfortunately, no.’ She shook her head. ‘There never seems to be the time or the opportunity these days, and since Cassie’s accident…’ She trailed off but her meaning was clear.

  ‘Maybe we should create both,’ he said. ‘The time and the opportunity. Maybe we should go together to do something we both obviously enjoy.’

  ‘Do you mean that?’ She stared at him.

  ‘Of course I do. I’ll find a suitable stable and organise something.’

  ‘That would be wonderful,’ she said, hardly able to take in the things that this man was about to make happen—first, another operation to make life more bearable for Cassie and then, for her, the possibility of a return to a long-held passion.

  ‘More coffee?’ He held up the pot.

  ‘Just a little,’ she replied, adding reluctantly, ‘Then I really will have to think about going.’

  It was late morning by the time they got back to Byfield. Andres brought the car to a halt in a space a few yards from the house and switched off the engine.

  ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to come and talk to Cassie now?’ he asked, resting his hands on the steering-wheel and turning his head to look at her.

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘If you don’t mind, Andres, I think we’ll leave things as we said. I still think I need to pick my moment with Cassie. She’s not too good with shocks or anything unexpected these days. But you’re very welcome to come in for a drink or something,’ she added hurriedly.

  ‘No.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘If you don’t mind, I think I’ll head back into town—I have things I need to do.’

  ‘Of course,’ she murmured. ‘Well, thank you for bringing me home.’

  ‘Lara, it was the least I could do. And it’s me who should be thanking you for coming with me last night. I really do appreciate it, you know.’

  ‘Don’t mention it.’ She smiled. ‘I enjoyed it.’

  ‘Goodbye, Lara.’ Gently he touched her hand and for a moment her skin tingled.

  ‘Bye, Andres.’ Turning away from him, she fumbled with the door catch and in her confusion almost tumbled out of the car onto the pavement.

  ‘See you on Monday at St Joseph’s,’ he said as she leaned forward and looked into the car before closing the door, her gaze meeting and holding his.

  ‘Yes,’ she agreed, ‘see you on Monday.’

  And then he was gone and she was left on the pavement, staring at the rear of his car as it disappeared down the road and turned the corner at the end. With a little shiver she pulled her coat around her, turning up the collar against the chill of the February wind, then slowly she walked up to the house and fitted her key into the lock.

  It was while she was taking her coat off in the hall that it struck her how quiet the house was. Usually on a Saturday morning evidence of three lively children was everywhere, from music from their CD players to noise from the television or the sound of a football being kicked against the wall outside in the back yard. She lifted her head and listened, but there was no sound. Thinking the children must be out, she made her way to the family room at the rear of the house where she guessed Cassie would be. She pushed open the door and was astonished to find Luke and Sophie sitting in silence at the kitchen table, while in the far corner Cassie was sitting in her armchair with Callum on her lap.

  ‘Cassie?’ Lara froze in the doorway, sensing something was not as it should be. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

  Neither Cassie nor the children spoke, but Cassie’s gaze moved from Lara to a point behind the door.

  With a frown Lara looked around the door where to her further amazement she found her brother-in-law, Dave, seated in a chair.

  ‘What in the world did you say?’ It was Monday morning at St Joseph’s and Lara had just told Katie how she had found Dave sitting in the kitchen.

  ‘I really didn’t know quite what to say,’ Lara admitted. ‘The children seemed subdued and a little shell-shocked, and Cassie—well, I wasn’t sure how she felt about having him turn up like that out of the blue.’

  ‘What did he want? Surely he’s not expecting her to take him back after walking out on her the way he did?’

  ‘Actually, yes, that’s exactly want he does want.’

  ‘And what does Cassie think about that?’ Katie looked astounded.

  ‘It’s hard to say really,’ Lara replied. ‘All along she’d said she could never forgive him for what he did, but just recently her attitude towards him seems to have softened a little.’

  ‘Does he have a job?’

  ‘Apparently so—at his old firm, actually, as a software technician.’

  ‘And where is he living?’

  ‘He’s renting a flat on the other side of Byfield. Callum had already said he’d seen him in town and outside his school. We weren’t sure whether or not to believe him at first—we thought perhaps it was just wishful thinking on his part.’

  ‘Poor little boy,’ said Katie.

  ‘Yes,’ Lara agreed, ‘but it looks like he was right all along.’

  ‘How do you think the children will feel if their father does come home?’

  ‘Well, Sophie is ecstatic at the idea and Callum, of course, but I’m not sure about Luke. I think Dave will have some hard work convincing Luke that he really means this—that’s always supposing, of course, that Cassie does take him back.’

  ‘And what about you?’ Katie’s eyes narrowed.

  ‘What do you mean, what about me?’ asked Lara lightly.

  ‘Well, if Dave and Cassie start playing happy families again, where would that leave you? I seem to remember there not being a lot of space in that little house.’

  ‘You’re right. There isn’t.’ Lara pulled a face. ‘Cassie has assured me there’s a home there for me whatever happens, but if they do get back together, I would look for somewhere else.’

  ‘Talking of you,’ said Katie as she smoothed down her uniform and straightened her belt, ‘how did the Valentine’s party go? I was dying to know but what with you telling me all this about Dave and Cassie, it went right out of my head.’

  ‘It went very well, actually,’ Lara replied.

  Katie stared at her. ‘Go on, tell me about it,’ she urged.

  ‘I’m not sure we have time now.’ Lara glanced at her watch.

  ‘We’ve got five minutes,’ Katie protested. ‘Go on, I can’t wait till our break. Reverend Sister will just have to wait.’

  ‘OK.’ Lara laughed at her friend’s eagerness. ‘Well, you know it was at Andres’s friends’ home in Chelsea?’

  ‘Yes. What was the house like?’

  ‘Very grand, but lovely as well. We had drinks first, then a dinner party for twelve and after that we all went on to a club where there was a huge party going on.’

  ‘Was there dancing?’ asked Katie.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Lara’s tone softened as she recalled that particular aspect of the evening and remembered anew how it had felt to be in Andres’s arms.

  ‘And did he dance with you—Andres?’

  ‘Yes, of course he did. I was his date for the evening, remember.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’ Katie sounded impatient now. ‘But what wa
s he like? You know…’

  ‘Fine.’ Lara tried hard to sound casual. ‘He’s a very nice man.’

  ‘Is that all?’ Katie looked and sounded so disappointed it was almost comical.

  ‘Well, what did you expect? I told you it was simply an arrangement to stop his friends lining up someone for him again.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but I thought…I hoped…’

  ‘I know exactly what you were hoping,’ said Lara with a short laugh. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you.’

  ‘Hang on a minute.’ Katie, it seemed, was not to be deterred by this explanation. ‘What happened afterwards?’

  ‘What do you mean—afterwards?’ Lara frowned. Maybe she wasn’t going to get away with this as easily as she had thought.

  ‘After you left the club, where did you go then? Did you come straight home or…or…?’

  ‘Or what?’ Lara asked coolly.

  ‘Or did you go back to his place first?’

  ‘Actually, yes, we did. Andres suggested a nightcap…’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Katie was beginning to sound interested again. ‘And what is his place like?’

  ‘That, too, is very grand—a town house in Knightsbridge in one of those lovely secluded little squares.’

  ‘Sounds rather yummy. Did he take you home or did he call a cab? Lara?’ Katie persisted, when Lara remained silent.

  ‘What?’ Lara looked up at last, her expression deliberately vague.

  ‘I said did he take you home or did—?’ Katie broke off suddenly in mid-sentence and stared at Lara.

  ‘What?’ said Lara again.

  ‘You didn’t go home, did you?’ Katie’s voice had taken on a rather hysterical note.

  Lara took a deep breath. ‘Actually, no, I didn’t.’

  ‘Oh, boy!’ said Katie.

  ‘And you needn’t go reading anything into that,’ said Lara firmly, ‘because absolutely nothing happened.’

  ‘Yeah, right.’

  ‘Katie, it didn’t,’ Lara protested. ‘You have to believe me. Because it was so late Andres asked me if I would like to stay. I agreed and there were no strings attached. I slept in the room I had used the previous evening to get changed in…’

  ‘And where did Andres sleep?’