Fiona McArthur

by The Surgeon's Special Gift

  'Yes, Doctor.' She was too tired to fight against how good it was to see him.

  'Cheeky already.'

  'Mmm-hmmm,' she murmured, and fell asleep again.

  The next time she woke up her mother was sitting on the chair and she wondered if she'd dreamed that Fergus had been there.

  Her mother offered her some ice. 'How are you, darling?'

  'Fine, Mum.' She shifted her head and the pain in her flank reminded her to be careful. She felt the control in her hand and gave herself a click of pain relief. She had to move. When the pain receded she sighed and smiled at her mother. 'How's William?'

  'He's doing well up in High Dependency. His new kidney is working already.'

  'That's great.' She stretched out her arm gingerly and she couldn't believe how that simple movement could set off so many pain receptors in her side. Her mother picked up the cup of ice and handed it to her and she took another piece. Heavenly.

  Three days after Ailee and William's operations, Fergus could wait no longer.

  'Sophie, we need to talk.'

  Fergus hoped she was ready to talk about Ailee now without becoming upset.

  His daughter had been avoiding him and every time he broached the subject she drifted away, but he was wearing her down. He ached for her pain but he hoped she knew he hadn't deliberately set out to hurt her.

  'I'm listening.' Sophie didn't meet his eyes but at least she'd sat down this time.

  Fergus sat next to her and took her hand in his. 'I'm sorry I hurt you with my friendship with Ailee, but three days ago Ailee had her operation and she's getting better now.' He let the words sink in. Fergus watched his daughter, and to his relief she didn't pull away or run screaming from the room.

  'The thing is, sweetheart, I've grown to love Ailee and I want to include her in our lives.'

  Sophie sighed. 'I know, Dad. I guess I saw it the first day. I even think I could love Ailee, too. And I'm sorry I said all those things about hating you both, but it is pretty scary thinking that what happened to Mummy could happen to Ailee. I don't ever want to be that sad again.'

  Fergus squeezed her hand. 'Neither do I, baby. But I think we could be really happy with Ailee in our lives.'

  Sophie sighed heavily. 'Well, she's had the operation now.'

  Fergus caught his daughter's chin gently and looked into the eyes so similar to his own. 'And who was the person who told me we all have to take risks if something is important enough?'

  Sophie sighed again. 'Me.'

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. 'I love you, Sophie, and I always will. And we will be a family, hopefully with Ailee as a part of it.' He wondered how far he could stretch their new friendship. 'I'm going in to visit her today—would you like to come?'

  To his relief Sophie nodded.

  Ailee looked up and smiled when she saw Fergus, and her eyes widened when she saw who was standing beside him at the door.

  Sophie came in slowly and looked reassured to see Ailee sitting up in a chair beside the bed. 'Can I speak to Ailee on her own, Dad?'

  Fergus looked across and raised his eyebrows. 'I guess so, if it's OK with Ailee.'

  Ailee nodded. 'Sure.'

  'How are you?' Sophie crept close but was careful not to bump the chair.

  Ailee patted the seat next to her and waited while Sophie sat down. 'I'm getting better every day.'

  Sophie chewed her lip. 'How come you weren't scared to give away your kidney?'

  'You didn't see me on the morning of the operation.' Ailee spread her hands to measure the size. 'I had butterflies bigger than bats in my tummy.'

  'Yes.' Sophie smiled at the thought. 'But how come you still gave it away?'

  Ailee tilted her head. 'I think what you are asking is why I did something you think is a little dangerous when I didn't have to—is that right?'

  Sophie nodded.

  'When my brother first became unwell, my mother thought just like you. She didn't want to risk me getting sick, too, and she was frightened something would go wrong.'

  Ailee tilted her head. 'Say I didn't give my kidney to my brother. Imagine if William became really sick and died and I never got sick and lived to be an old lady with two kidneys.'

  She looked into Sophie's eyes. 'I think I'd be pretty sad and selfish at the end. I'd know I hadn't dared to give up something I didn't need just in case something went wrong, when I could have easily saved my brother's life.'

  Sophie raised her eyebrows not unlike her father's. 'I don't think it was easy, what you did.'

  Ailee smiled. 'Maybe not, but I have spent a lot of time around sick people, especially those with end- stage kidney disease, and they have a tough life with a lot of things taken away from them. From where they are sitting, I bet what I did looks easy.'

  Sophie nodded, semi-converted but not convinced. 'What if you get kidney disease later in life and need a kidney?'

  'The chance of that is smaller than a lot of things. What if I got run over by a bus or travelled to another country and had an accident?' Ailee gave a tiny shrug.

  'Should I stay home safely just in case? Should you not go skiing because it's dangerous and certainly not go to New Zealand because it's a long way from home?'

  'I'm sorry I got scared,' Sophie said in a small voice. Ailee held open her arms and Sophie crept closer to lean gently against her.

  'I'm sorry I scared you. But it was very nice of you to care what happened to me.' She stroked Sophie's hair. 'Do you want to know a secret?'

  Sophie nodded and Ailee went on in a whisper, 'There was one thing I was scared of. I wouldn't let myself fall in love with your father in case something went wrong.'

  Sophie leant back so she could see Ailee's face. 'And now that you are getting better?'

  Ailee raised her eyes to the man standing at the door, trying not to listen. 'As soon as I'm well, I'm going to chase him as hard as I can.'

  'OK,' Sophie whispered back.

  Ailee looked up and her mother was standing beside Fergus at the door.

  'Hi, Mum, come in.' Ailee smiled at Sophie.

  Helen and Fergus came to stand beside the chairs.

  'This is Sophie, Fergus's daughter. Sophie, my mum.'

  Helen smiled. 'Hello, Sophie. It's lovely to meat you.' Helen raised her eyebrows at her daughter, as if to say, Why didn't you tell me?

  Ailee mouthed, 'Later'. Her mother smiled. Helen looked at Sophie. 'Would you like to come and meet Ailee's brother, William?'

  Sophie nodded and stood up. She smiled at Ailee. 'Ailee wants to talk to Dad anyway.'

  'Does she, now?' said Helen, and both were grinning conspiratorially as they left.

  Fergus sat down beside her and took her hand in his. 'That didn't seem to go too badly from where I was standing.'

  'How did you convince Sophie to visit?'

  He shrugged ruefully. 'She seemed ready. I found her looking up live donor web sites on the internet yesterday. I think she'll be fine. I know she'll be happier when you're safely home. As will I!'

  Ailee smiled and squeezed the larger hand in hers. 'I understand.'

  He looked at her and smiled. 'I don't think you do.'

  'I think Sophie is very brave and wonderful, like her father.'

  'I haven't started to be brave yet,' he said cryptically. 'Now, how are you today?'

  She looked down at their entwined fingers and savoured the feeling. Fergus had been a little more open with his affection every day since her operation, and she was happy to let it all progress slowly while she recuperated. The warmth of expectation had been growing since that first morning when he had been there when she'd woken up.

  'Better every day.'

  'Keep going. How about you come home to my house to recuperate instead of your mother's?'

  Ailee's brow creased. 'Are you going to take up nursing, Mr McVicker?'

  'Only one patient. And I was thinking full-time care. For ever.'

  Ailee looked up at the serious tone of his
voice.

  He shook his head because she still didn't get it. 'Do you realise how much I love you and have loved you since the first time I saw you?'

  She shook her head, but she was beginning to realise. Especially with the way he was looking at her now. 'I knew you fancied me,' she teased.

  'That, too, but I was thinking "ever after" when you woke beside me on the plane that first morning.'

  Ailee's eyes widened. 'That's not true.'

  His lips twitched. 'I'm afraid so. Why do you think I was so mean to you when you arrived on the ward? You broke my heart when you left me in Singapore.'

  She looked him up and down. 'You look pretty hale and hearty for someone with a broken heart.'

  He squeezed her hand back. 'I know you won't get away this time. I can relax.'

  Despite the banter, she realised he'd given up on waiting and she couldn't ask him to wait any longer. He'd been patient enough.

  He smiled at her crookedly and Ailee felt the tears prickle her eyes.

  'I want to do this properly. I should wait for you to be strong and be somewhere romantic.' He glanced at the floor. 'Would you like me to kneel?'

  Ailee bit her lip and swallowed the lump in her throat. 'Absolutely not.'

  Fergus smiled and dropped to one knee beside the chair. 'Tough.'

  'Darling Ailee.' He took her hand. 'Would you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?'

  Ailee reached across, careful of her wound, and kissed his lips.

  'I would be privileged, Fergus. Thank you. Now, get up quickly before someone sees you.' She glanced furtively at the empty doorway.

  Fergus was smiling openly now. 'No. I think I'll ring the nurse's call button and get Rita in here to see what you've brought me to.'

  Ailee tugged on his hand. 'Fergus. Get up. And don't make me laugh. It hurts.'

  He climbed to his feet and slipped an arm gently around her shoulders before kissing her. 'The last thing I want to do is hurt you. In fact, I'm going to spend the next fifty years looking after you.'

  Ailee smiled unsteadily at the man she loved with all her heart. 'And I'll look after you, my love.'

  They held a makeshift engagement party on the ward, and Sophie pushed William around in his wheelchair.

  'That was quick,' was all she said. 'I've always wanted a brother.'

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The wedding was held in the gardens of Fergus's home with red lanterns strewn among the trees.

  The exotic mix of Singapore orchids and splashes of vivid colour from branches of bougainvillea highlighted the red cheongsam worn by the young bridesmaid as she arrived. The Wedding March began.

  Head high and smiling, Sophie slowly walked down the carpet across the grass that led to the roofless chapel Fergus had created for his bride.

  For the last month he'd watched his daughter and Ailee do all the feminine things Sophie should have been doing for the last few years.

  Clothes shopping and more clothes shopping. Hair- dresser visits and dancing lessons, so Sophie and William could dance with the bride and groom at the reception.

  Redecorating her own room and interfering in the refurbishment of what would now be Fergus and Ailee's room.

  Fergus watched with pride as his daughter swayed sedately up the aisle and took her place beside him as they waited for the bride.

  'You look beautiful,' Fergus said, as Sophie arrived.

  'Wait until you see Ailee,' Sophie whispered, and the gasp from those assembled heralded the bride's arrival.

  Fergus watched his bride-to-be enter and his heart rate quickened as the music swelled. He had waited for this day for three months.

  Accompanied by a new and vibrant William, Ailee smiled at him from the end of the carpet.

  She'd chosen to dress simply in a pure white, high- collared sheath, which accentuated her height and slimness, and a tiny veil that Fergus ached to lift.

  When Ailee stopped at the flower-strewn altar, William transferred her hand from his arm to Fergus's.

  She looked at her husband-to-be and exhilaration expanded in Fergus's chest. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms and spin her around.

  Finally this moment had arrived and he couldn't help but look at the minister to get on with it.

  'Dearly beloved...' The minister hurried into speech and Fergus held Ailee's gaze as the words washed over them. 'I love you,' he whispered, and squeezed her hand.

  'I love you, too,' she said, and he could see the shine of happy tears in her eyes. He loved her so much he hoped he could speak the vows through the tightness in his throat.

  But when the time came, both their promises carried clearly across the garden. Fergus gazed into Ailee's eyes, hoping she knew how proud he was at this moment to stand beside her.

  When the service was complete, Fergus lifted the tiny veil and her face was there before him. They smiled at each other and then he bent and rested his lips against hers to taste the sweetness to come. He kissed his bride, finally sure that everything would turn out right:

  Ailee and Fergus turned to the congregation and Fergus tucked his wife's hand firmly into his arm, leaving no one in any doubt that he meant to keep Ailee close by his side.

  The minister's voice boomed. 'It is my pleasure to introduce Mr Fergus and Mrs Ailee McVicker.' The applause washed over the happy couple as they walked back up the carpet.

  Guests milled and spilled out into the garden and the sun shone down on everyone. Ailee's mother sniffed happily into a handkerchief lent to her by Dr Harry's wife.

  William and Sophie came up to congratulate them and there was a twinkle of mischief in Ailee's brother's eyes.

  'Hey, bro,' he said, with a smile to Fergus. 'I'll take great care of her kidney if you take good care of the rest of her.'

  Fergus laughed. 'I'll spend my life doing that,' he said, as he smiled across at the woman he loved.