Second Chance with the Playboy

by Charlotte McFall

  “Mmm.” But Annabel didn’t believe in the almighty power of ice cream.

  “Look, you have to see it from Marcus’s point of view. He seems like someone used to sorting things out for himself, not relying on anyone else. He’s not one to be taken care of.” Rachel took a spoonful of ice cream but continued, “You two obviously have some history, which, by the way, you still haven’t told me all of.”

  Annabel hadn’t thought of that. She had been just the same, wanting to do everything to help the people on the ward that were suffering. But she couldn’t and had to leave it to the nurses on duty to share in the work. “Well, he isn’t going to want anything to do with me now, is he? I told him when we were by the sea front to go to his ex-wife, and I haven’t talked to him since he called me. At least I never fell in love with him.”

  The little voice in Annabel’s head goaded her. You’ve just lied to your best friend. You love him more than anything.

  “That’s the spirit,” Rachel replied, holding up her spoon.

  Annabel copied her, and the spoons made a tinkling noise when they met each other.

  “Look, if he wants to just give up on your relationship, then I don’t see why you don’t just move on. Find somebody who truly cares about you.”

  Annabel knew Rachel was being nice, but she didn’t understand the whole situation. Her life had been best when Marcus had been there. The way he had looked at her so tenderly when they made love. People who just want one thing don’t do that, do they? She wasn’t alone; she had felt cared for and loved. The last thing she needed was for Rachel to do the bitchy girl thing on her. Yes, that was okay for those relationships with complete Neanderthals but not her Marcus.

  “I just can’t, Rachel. I can’t forget him.” Annabel couldn’t stop from pondering a future, one that no longer had Marcus in it. She didn’t want to think about it.

  After a brief silence, the conversation changed to other topics, and Marcus was left behind. Rachel didn’t stay late. When she had gone, Annabel wandered out into the garden. The house felt like it was closing in on her. She needed an escape—anything to take her mind of Marcus. His looks, his voice made her forget herself. She had no idea what was going on in her own mind.

  Annabel stared out into the darkness hoping to find an answer to her problems.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Hey, Annabel, you don’t look so great,” Rachel said as they did the rounds of the children’s ward together.

  “I’ve not felt great since I went to Leon’s restaurant. I guess I must have picked up a bug or something.” Annabel looked down at the floor. Her belly had bulged out a bit. “I think I need to go on a diet as well. I seem to have put on a bit of weight since Marcus and I split.”

  “You’ve not heard from him?”

  Rachel run her hand down her arm. “No, but then I don’t expect to.” She looked at her chart. “Come on, last patient of the day. Let’s give Tracy the good news.”

  Tracy was one of their heart patients, and today was the day she could go home. Annabel didn’t ever want Tracy to come back because it would mean her heart surgery had failed.

  “Changing the subject, are you?” replied Rachel. “Okay, come on then.”

  “Come on then, what?”

  “If you don’t want me talking about Marcus, what shall we talk about?”

  “We don’t have to talk about anything,” snapped Annabel.

  “You have to admit that Marcus is one hot guy. I’d like him to check out under my hood.”

  Annabel was getting angrier by the second; she clenched her hands tight, thrusting them to her sides. “Listen, he isn’t going to go anywhere near your hood or mine for that matter.”

  She caught the sly grin on Rachel’s face. “Don’t even think it. Have you got a second job?”

  “What do you mean a second job?”

  “As Marcus’s P.A, you’re doing a good job of trying to get me to change my mind about him.”

  “No, I just think everyone deserves a second chance.”

  “Rachel, I will not give a second chance to that playboy. No matter how he looks.”

  Annabel walked next to Rachel as an eerie silence descended over them. Had he employed her as his spin-doctor? Besides, if Annabel hadn’t seen him, how on earth could Rachel know so much, or was she just good at paying attention?

  “I’m sorry if I touched a nerve. I just want you to be happy, Anna.”

  Annabel stopped walking. “I know you mean well, but can you mean well with a different guy? Not one that is a two-faced so-and-so like him.”

  Rachel smiled weakly. “Perhaps.”

  They had reached the corridor where the private rooms were. Stopping outside room 102, she tapped gently on the door and entered the room. Tracy sat coloring whilst her parents sat to either side of her. “Tracy, how are you feeling?”

  “Bored of sitting here.” The little girl looked up briefly before continuing her coloring.

  “Well, you won’t have to be bored anymore; you can go home today.” Annabel saw how Tracy’s eyes light up, and the thought of letting this particular child go filled her with joy. Tracy still had a long way to go, but at least now she could enjoy her life, play with her friends at the park, and everything else a child should do. Annabel’s smile filled her face.

  “Thank you, thank you,” Tracy’s parents exclaimed.

  Annabel was having a hard time deciding who was more excited, Tracy or her parents.

  “She will have to take it easy, no climbing trees or playing football for a while.” Annabel paused. “I don’t want to see you back here, Tracy. Please do what I ask.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  The little girl hopped off her bed and flung her arms around Annabel, sobbing.

  “Don’t cry, little one.”

  “I’m just happy, but I’m going to miss you, Doctor Simpson.”

  “I will miss you too.” Annabel hugged her back and then handed the discharge papers to her parents. “I will get the paperwork sorted, and then you can leave whenever you’re ready.”

  It was times like this that Annabel wanted a child of her own. Time was passing her by, and with no husband or boyfriend on the scene, her dream was unlikely to be realized.

  As they left the room, Rachel commented, “She won’t hang around for long.”

  “No, she won’t. It will be great to see her leaving.” Annabel was always sad when patients went home, but happy too that she had been able to help.

  “Hey, Annabel, why don’t you just call him?”

  “No, it’s over. I’m not going to be made a fool of again.”

  “What did Marcus do that was so terrible?” Rachel looked at her, and her face was flushed with anger. “You two need your heads banged together.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I saw how you two were together when we went out on our double date.”

  “That’s ancient history.”

  “Well, Anna, I don’t think so. Remind me why you are apart again?”

  “Just drop it, Rachel.”

  “Okay, okay. How about coming out with me later?” Rachel asked.

  “Aren’t you seeing Dr. Walker tonight?” Annabel asked as she opened her office door.

  “Yes, but I thought we could have some girly time first. We haven’t done that in a long while.”

  “I guess so,” Annabel conceded. “I have some paperwork to finish.”

  When Rachel had gone, Annabel wandered over to the window, opening it just a little so she could get some fresh air. The nausea hadn’t gone away. No matter what tablets she had prescribed herself, she still felt just as sick. Annabel couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten anything and kept it down. She hated to admit it, but maybe she should go see a doctor, because she hadn’t managed to cure herself. “You’re losing your touch, Annabel,” she said to herself.

  Picking up the phone, she dialed Doctor Walker’s line. “Can you see me for a few minutes?” She waited for an
answer.

  “I’m a bit busy, Annabel,” came Dr. Walker’s blunt reply.

  “Please, I don’t know who else to turn too.”

  Was that the cogs turning over in his head?

  “Sure, but you will need to come now. I have another patient in fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay, I will be right down.”

  Annabel wandered down the halls. She had become extremely unsteady on her feet. It was too hot, and the sickness seemed to be getting worse. The smell of canteen food wasn’t helping matters.

  She knocked on Doctor Walker’s door and waited for him to invite her in.

  “There you are, Annabel. I wondered how long you would take.” Doctor Walker was always one for cracking jokes. “So tell me what is wrong?”

  “I just feel sick all the time. I’m barely eating, and my stomach seems to have become bloated.” Annabel carried on, “It’s ever since I had prawn pâté at a restaurant, and now I’m like this.”

  “Have you prescribed yourself anything?” he asked whilst writing notes on a pad.

  “Of course I have. What do you take me for?” Annabel was getting mad. What on earth was Dr. Walker thinking?

  “Look, I think I know what your problem is. Just get on the couch, and undo your trousers a little.”

  Annabel did as requested. As soon as she lay down, the sickness increased, and the ceiling started to spin. Doctor Walker placed his hands on her stomach and began pushing down on either side.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Annabel, you’re not ill.”

  “So why do I feel like this?”

  “Because I think you’re pregnant. An ultrasound will tell us for sure. When was the last time you had sex?”

  Normally, Annabel would be embarrassed at this sort of questioning by a total stranger, but he wasn’t. Pull yourself together girl. “About ten weeks ago-ish.”

  “Your symptoms point to a severe case of morning sickness. You need to take some time off work. I will prescribe something that should help. Drink plenty of fluids and eat small meals. Dry toast and biscuits if you feel like you can’t eat much.”

  “I’m… I’m pregnant? How?”

  Doctor Walker laughed at her. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that.”

  Marcus’s name jumped to her lips, but she wouldn’t say it out loud. She couldn’t. It was his child she carried, and now she was even more confused than ever. She missed him so much.

  “This may seem like a stupid question, but do you know who the father is?”

  “Yes, but he isn’t going to want to know.”

  “Such a shame,” replied Doctor Walker, shaking his head. “You can get up now if you want to.”

  Annabel sat up slowly; she couldn’t believe she was pregnant. But she knew she was strong enough to bring up the child on her own; she would need to juggle work with being a mum. Just the thought of having someone to love of her own made her entire being fill with joy.

  She and Rachel could go around shopping for baby things. The spare room could be decorated and made into a nursery. Perhaps they could have a look tomorrow, seeing as they were both off work at the same time for once.

  “Thanks, Doctor Walker. How far gone am I, do you think?”

  “Let me just do an ultrasound to make sure my suspicions are right. About ten weeks, I should say. With any luck, the morning sickness should wear off soon.”

  Annabel thanked him again and rushed off to find Rachel. She would have to tell her before Doctor Walker let something slip. She found her friend in the canteen having her break. “Rach, guess what? You’ll never guess,” Annabel said excitedly.

  “You’re pregnant,” Rachel replied in a serious tone.

  “How did you know?”

  “Because it’s obvious. You’ve put on a bit of weight, and you’re sick most of the time.”

  Annabel didn’t appreciate her friend laughing at her. “If you knew, how come I didn’t know? It’s my body.”

  Rachel picked up her tea and took a small sip. “You were too caught up in your breakup with Marcus to even notice.”

  “I guess you’re right. Do you want to meet me in town tomorrow? We could go have a look for some nursery things?” Annabel’s excitement was growing.

  “Yes, of course, I will go with you. The question is, are you going to tell Marcus about the baby?”

  “How…”

  Rachel interrupted her. “How did I know it was Marcus’s baby? He’s the only one you’ve slept with in months.”

  “Okay, okay, so that’s a dead giveaway.” She had wanted a child of her own, so there was no question of her not keeping the child. In a way, she hoped that her son or daughter would look like its father. She would always have Marcus with her no matter what happened in the future.

  “So are you going to tell him?”

  Annabel didn’t think he would be interested, with no contact since that night after the restaurant other than one text. She was almost positive he was making a go of it with Josie. Maybe the loss of their child had brought them together. “No, Rach, I’m not. He has no need to know. He wouldn’t be interested in having to put up with me permanently in his life because of a child. I’m going to finish early go home and get the tablets I’ve been prescribed.”

  “Look, tell me to butt out if you want, but he does have a right to know,” Rachel said sternly.

  “He doesn’t have any right. It’s my baby. He’s made himself clear.”

  “Hang on. No, he told you about the child he lost, and you walked away. How is that his fault?”

  Annabel didn’t want to admit that her friend was right.

  “How could he tell you something like that when you first met up again?” Rachel’s voice rose. “You two didn’t even know that you would get along. He has a right to keep some things private.”

  “What, even from me? That is just so wrong.” Annabel took several deep breaths. “I don’t want to argue with you. I’m going home.”

  ****

  Rachel watched as her friend left. Then she stared at her cup. This wasn’t right. Surely, Marcus had a right to know. He had already lost one child, and Annabel was making sure he lost another that he didn’t even know about.

  Taking her phone out, she Googled Marcus Chapman. Dialing the number, she kept her fingers crossed that it was the right one. “Marcus, it’s Rachel, Annabel’s friend. I really need to speak to you.” She stopped for a minute. “I will meet you at Madera Drive in half an hour.”

  Rachel took a huge breath. Annabel wouldn’t thank her for doing this, but there was no way she could sit back and do nothing. Picking up her bag, Rachel left the dregs of her tea and set off on her mission. There was no time to even talk to her boyfriend. People could be so stupid sometimes. She had seen Annabel and Marcus together. Any fool could see that he loved her as much as she did him.

  ****

  Marcus leaned back in his chair just as his secretary walked in.

  “Anything else you need, Mr. Chapman?”

  “Er…no, it’s okay, Mrs. Windbourne.” Marcus thought for a moment. “Do you remember Annabel?” He never called her Mary in front of other employees. He didn’t want to show favoritism. He knew how some of the other employees thought already. He didn’t want to make the situation worse.

  “Oh, that’s that pretty young thing you brought in here, isn’t it.”

  It was more a statement of fact than a question. “You have any idea how I can win her back?”

  “Mr. Chapman, whatever do you mean?” She closed the door and sat in the chair opposite. “Are you really going to tell me that you let her get away?”

  “I told her about Emily.” His eyes scanned his desk, anywhere but at his motherly secretary. “She told me to find Josie and said goodbye.”

  “Perhaps she thought you and Josie would get back together. I never did like the woman. Gold digger, she was. I can smell them a mile off.”

  Marcus chuckled. Well, the gold digger part might
have been right. Since the divorce settlement, his pocket had been lightened considerably. “That was true, unfortunately, and she saw Emily as an inconvenience to her lavish lifestyle and trips to Saint-Tropez with all her friends.” Picking up his pen, he twirled it around in his fingers. “She didn’t seem bothered that I had lost Emily. What a selfish bitch.” He held back the tears, the pain still too raw for him. Seeing Josie again and her damn attitude toward everything made it all ten times worse. Why had Annabel decided to leave him alone, just when he was beginning to find that special love, love that had eluded him for so many years, a pure satisfying love?

  “People do silly things when they are in love.”

  “But Anna wasn’t in love with me. She never said anything of the sort.” Marcus was totally frustrated.

  “Honestly, men. You never listen to your own hearts. Always ruled by the head.” Mary brushed the creases out of her skirt. “Why don’t you go see her at the hospital?” Mary had a devious twinkle in her eye. “That way she can’t run away from you and will have to stand there and talk to you.”

  He shook his head. What if she called hospital security on him, then what? His fighting spirit was leaving him well behind. No, this was one time he was going to win. Twice he had lost Annabel. The first time he had let her go; this time she was going to be his wife. “Good idea, thank you, dear.” Marcus stood up and gave her a hug. He would never have got through all the traumas if it weren’t for her. “Annabel’s friend wants to meet me in half an hour. Not sure why.”

  “Look, you go, and I will lock the office for the day. Maybe after the meeting with her friend you can go and see Annabel.”

  “You’re the best. You know that, right?” With that said, Marcus picked up his coat and left the office. Rachel was a nice girl, but since he had split with Annabel he hadn’t seen or spoken to her. So it had come as a bit of a shock for her to phone him and request a meeting. Marcus, you’re overthinking things. It could be for financial advice? No, doctors don’t get paid that much, do they? He had a couple of neurosurgeons and heart specialists as clients, but Rachel and Annabel were just normal doctors. They wouldn’t have the sort of money to invest in much.