by Karin Baine
‘Isn’t this a tad OTT? As far as I’m aware your country doesn’t have a high crime rate, never mind a history of assassination attempts. I thought your family was more of a figurehead than a political party?’ He’d done his homework. Not only did the country have a ban on personally held firearms, with the exception of the military and police, they had one of the lowest crime rates in the world. From everything he’d read the population was pretty content here since most residents had their own wealth and status. It was a tax haven for the rich and famous after all, as well as those born into a booming economy.
The royal family appeared popular even if the articles he’d skimmed concerning Kaja’s love life were less than complimentary. He knew she’d abhor the constant attention and the patronising, cruel nickname the press had awarded her.
She spoke in her own language to another of the guards who’d attempted to block their access down the corridor. Another reminder he no longer knew the woman beside him when he’d been unaware English wasn’t her mother tongue. He could only assume the gist of the conversation was something along the lines of, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’, given Kaja’s stern body language and the chided guard stepping back to let them pass. He continued to glare at Seth as they passed, perhaps unconvinced about his credentials rather than his companion’s.
‘We can’t afford to take any chances. The whole world knows where my brother and father are. You can’t expect us to let people swan in and out as they choose.’
Apart from the extra staff, it looked like any other private hospital Seth had worked in. It was clean and airy, with the extra touches of artwork on the walls and aquariums lit up with brightly coloured marine life setting it apart from the facilities attended by lesser mortals.
In his experience the added luxury of comfortable beds in private rooms or in-house chefs serving up specially tailored meals didn’t mean a lot in the grand scheme of things. It wouldn’t matter if the walls were made of pure gold or the floors were encrusted with diamonds. At the end of the day he was employed to do the same job he did everywhere else. Money couldn’t buy a clean bill of health.
Kaja knew that. Perhaps that was why she was so on edge. She could fly someone out with the best surgical reputation in the world to perform this transplant but the rest of the recovery was down to fate. There was a possibility her father could reject the new organ. As always, Seth would do everything he could to prevent that happening but there were no guarantees in this life. He’d found that out for himself the hard way.
Another guard outside her father’s private room greeted their arrival with a curt nod of the head, followed by a conversation on his walkie-talkie before they gained admittance. Seth assumed his face was on an all points bulletin by now, his whole background undergoing a thorough check if it hadn’t already. He prayed his recent site visits to research the country—the ones about their princess in particular—wouldn’t come back to haunt him if they looked into his online search history.
‘Father, this is Seth Davenport. The surgeon who’s carrying out your transplant.’ Kaja stood in the centre of the large private room announcing him to the frail gentleman swamped in his bed by pristine white cotton sheets and plump pillows.
‘Ah, come forward, young man. My eyes aren’t what they used to be. Along with the rest of me.’ The grand duke sat up, immediately adopting an air of authority, which forced Seth to advance from the doorway towards the bed.
‘I’m honoured to meet you, Your Royal Highness.’ Seth dipped at the waist into a bow as prompted by Kaja, secretly hoping he wasn’t expected to do this every time he walked into the room. It would become tiresome when he had a job to do.
The grand duke waved a dismissive hand. ‘We can dispense with all of that nonsense. Call me Olov. I fear it is I who should be bowing to you. I can’t thank you enough for coming to our little corner of the world to help me. My daughter tells me you once worked together and that you’re the best there is.’
His excellent English was heavily accented compared to Kaja’s. Seth assumed it was the time she’d spent in Cambridge studying that had made her sound more like a local.
It was clear she hadn’t shared their personal history with her family. The grand duke might not have been so humble and welcoming if he’d known Seth had lived in sin with his only daughter for years, or that he’d had the audacity to propose marriage to her. Now he’d seen her life out here and the people she was surrounded by it was becoming clearer why she wouldn’t entertain the idea of marrying a commoner like him. What more could he have possibly offered her that she didn’t have already? Nothing except his love. Which hadn’t been enough for her to even stay in the same country.
‘That’s correct, sir.’ He wasn’t going to be modest about his credentials when that was the reason he was here. Kaja’s father would expect confidence from the man who would have his life in his hands.
‘Good. At least something positive came out of Kaja’s time away.’ The focus of both men’s attention lowered her head. Seth didn’t know if it was in deference to her father or because she couldn’t look at him.
Goodness only knew what she’d told her father about her career or her personal life during that time. It was a punch in the gut to think that their life together was nothing for her to be proud of when they’d been some of the best days of his life. Along with some of the worst after she’d gone.
‘I’ve read up on your medical history and your nephrologist’s recommendations. As far as I can see the procedure should be relatively straightforward.’ Seth adopted his professional persona, determined not to linger on anything liable to distract him from the upcoming surgery.
‘Glad to hear it. The last thing I want is to find out there could be more complications or setbacks. Time’s running out for me.’
Seth didn’t argue with him. He’d read the files and agreed that the transplant was the last option available given his condition. If he’d been any older or less fit than he was, a transplant might’ve been deemed too risky.
‘This kind of operation comes with its own risks. We can’t predict how your body will react to the transplanted organ. Obviously, we’ll be monitoring you very closely and will do everything we can to prevent rejection. I’ll need to meet with the rest of the team to discuss contingency plans to cover every eventuality.’ Although he was the medical lead he wouldn’t be able to do this without a team of other professionals with the same goal of making this operation a success.
‘I can organise that for you.’
He’d forgotten Kaja was in the room until she voiced her intention to help.
‘I’d appreciate that.’
‘Is there anything else you need me to do?’
Seth knew only too well how it felt to be powerless as your world continued to spin out of control and there was nothing you could do to halt it. Yet, her suggestion to contribute fell flat when it had been made clear to him it was only the present that interested her. With no real consideration towards him or their history.
‘Not at the moment. If that changes I’ll let you know.’ He turned his back on her, doing his best to block her out of his head so he could think straight.
‘What do you require from me, Doctor? Apart from my kidney?’ Another male voice entered the fray. Followed, of course, by another shadow figure who was quietly dismissed at the door.
Even if the new arrival hadn’t been wearing an identical hospital gown to the one Kaja’s father was sporting, the family likeness was uncanny. All three Alderisis had the same sea-green eyes, aquiline nose and height befitting royalty.
He held out a hand towards Seth. ‘Bruno. Pleased to meet you.’
‘Seth Davenport,’ he countered as strong fingers gripped his in a handshake.
‘This is my big brother. Bruno, this is the surgeon who’ll be carrying out the transplant.’ Kaja introduced them in case there was any doubt abo
ut their identities.
‘Ah. So you’re the man who’ll be cutting me open and rummaging about in my insides?’ The dark humour he employed wasn’t unheard of in these situations. A lot of patients joked to cover their fears. Bruno did seem relaxed about the impending operation considering the sacrifice he was about to undertake to save his father.
‘Bruno, I wish you would take this seriously.’ Kaja chastised him with a clip around the ear.
‘Don’t tease your sister. You know how she worries,’ the elder Alderisi scolded.
It was clear this was a family who cared deeply for one another. He had no idea why Kaja had found it necessary to keep them hidden from him during the course of their relationship. Yes, her heritage had come as a shock but he would’ve got over it given time.
‘I am taking this seriously. Trust me, giving away one of my kidneys isn’t something I would do on a whim.’
‘If it’s any comfort, donors have the same life expectancy, general health and kidney function as anyone else.’ He said it as much for Kaja and Olov’s benefit as Bruno’s.
‘See, Kaja? I trust my new best friend here not to botch this when he comes so highly recommended. I’m going to be under anaesthetic so I’m not the one who’ll be doing the worrying.’ A meaty hand slapped Seth on the back. He liked this guy. His whole attitude and demeanour was a refreshing change from the earlier heavy-hitting conversation he’d had with his sister.
‘We will need you to fill in the consent forms and other necessary paperwork before we proceed.’ If anything did go wrong, it was necessary to have everything down in writing to protect all those involved. They all knew the risks but Seth would be the one primarily shouldering responsibility or blame if necessary.
‘No problem. It’s not as though we have much else to do while we’re waiting. We’ve exhausted the whole board-game collection and I don’t think Father is up to a game of table tennis just yet. Maybe in a week or two when he’s fully recovered with a new lease of life, thanks to my young, highly sought-after vital organs.’
Kaja rolled her eyes and groaned. ‘I give up.’
‘I’ll arrange everything once I’ve had a meeting with the team. The paperwork, that is, not the table tennis.’ Seth exchanged grins with the handsome prince, satisfied they were both on the same wavelength. It was a serious procedure but a positive one if everything went to plan.
‘Good stuff. I can jot kidney transplant into my diary for this week, then?’
‘I don’t see why not once we have everything in place. I’ll go back and check on my daughter and return later to go over any questions you think of in the interim.’ He was keen to find out how Amy was getting on. He’d be spending a lot of these next few days at the hospital and wanted to spend as much time with Amy as he could now.
‘I’ll call for the car and get Isak to take us back to the palace.’ Kaja motioned for the attention of the guards at the window.
‘If you don’t mind, I’d rather walk. I’m sure I don’t need an entourage to keep me safe and I’d much rather get some fresh air.’ Along with some distance from Kaja and the memories he couldn’t quite manage to shut out altogether.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘I LOVE YOU, BRU. I love you too, Papa.’ Kaja struggled to say goodbye and leave them in the hands of the surgical team even though she knew it was for the best. They were the only family she was ever going to have.
She couldn’t bear the thought of losing either of them but her father’s age and health were against him. Despite that, she managed to stem the emotions welling up inside her. The last thing they needed to see was her crying before they went under the anaesthetic.
‘You’d think we weren’t coming back to hear you, sis.’ Trust Bruno to be making jokes even at a time like this. Her father simply raised his hand to give a wave as though he were simply popping to one of his lengthy state dinners.
‘Don’t worry. They’ll be back on the ward before you know it.’ Seth met her at the door, already prepped in his surgical scrubs. It was the most he’d spoken to her in days, his time split between his patients and his apartments. He hadn’t sought her out at all.
Of course, he had a lot of meetings with the rest of the transplant team to occupy him, but she thought he’d gone out of his way to avoid her since his introduction at the hospital to her family. Perhaps it was being faced with the reality of life here and the patients he’d agree to take on or down to her completely disregarding their life together in England as purely work-related. Although she didn’t think either of them would have wanted to bring up their painful romantic history right before Seth performed the transplant. There didn’t seem any need.
The truth was she’d never spoken to her father about her life in England. She didn’t think it was necessary to rehash it all and detract from the work she’d come back to do. He didn’t need to know about her disastrous love life now she was back in her rightful place at the palace. Except of course it wasn’t that easy for her to forget.
It might have been different had her mother still been alive. She would’ve had someone to confide in, a female shoulder to cry on. As it was, she only had Fatima and she’d had to draw a line somewhere between friend and employee.
‘This is going to be a very long day. As the donor, Bruno will go into Theatre first for the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.’
‘It’s a less invasive procedure than the old method so that means a quicker recovery period, right?’ Despite her own medical knowledge, she needed Seth’s reassurance that they weren’t taking unnecessary risks by going ahead with this surgery. He was the expert and could be more objective on the matter when it wasn’t his own family he was dealing with.
‘Yes. There’ll be a few tiny incisions and we’ll remove the kidney with the scope camera and miniaturised surgical instruments. It’s a straightforward procedure I’ve been involved in on many occasions.’
‘I know this is the best thing for my father but I can’t help worrying about them both and what this means for the future.’
‘A kidney from a living donor does give better long-term results and from a family member there are lower risks of complications or rejection. We hope for a better early function this way. You know all this, Kaja.’
She could detect his frustration with her, perhaps taking it personally that she had doubts about this transplant being a success. It wasn’t Seth’s abilities she was wary of but that possibility of losing another family member.
‘I’m just trying to get things clear in my head. Perhaps I could watch you carry out the transplant?’ She needed to do something to feel part of what was happening. If anything did go wrong then she would know she’d done her best too. She couldn’t live with the extra guilt if she failed anyone else she loved.
‘Honestly, I don’t think that’s a good idea. My advice would be to leave the hospital grounds for a while and find a distraction.’
‘I couldn’t do that. They need me here. I could just stay here—’ She tried to go back into the room where her brother and father were keeping each other company before they went for surgery. Seth caught her none-too-gently by the elbow and pulled her back.
‘Kaja, will you please just leave and let me get on with my job?’
Her mouth flopped open and closed at the audacity of Seth basically calling her a nuisance. Telling her she could be no help to her family and only a hindrance to him. It illustrated how far apart they’d drifted in the space of a couple of days. There was no way he spoke like this to any other anxious family members he encountered at work or she would’ve heard about it a long time ago. Colleagues had only ever said good things about him. It seemed this level of brusqueness had been reserved solely for her and it wasn’t an honour she was enjoying.
As if she weren’t tense enough already, Seth’s sudden bout of control-freakery set her teeth on edge and her blood pressure rising.
/> ‘I’d prefer you kept our personal issues out of this, Seth. This isn’t about you, or us, for that matter. You have no right to deny me access to my own family.’
‘I don’t want to call security to have you removed from the premises for being disruptive but I will if I have to.’ Seth didn’t acknowledge the accusation that he was exercising his authority in a vendetta against her. Which riled her even more.
‘Disruptive to whom?’ As if she didn’t know.
‘We’ll phone you to let you know when they’re out of surgery so you can visit. Okay?’ He seemed to soften a little towards her even if he wasn’t backing down.
Kaja nodded. There seemed little point in arguing further and causing a scene. Especially when this was the man carrying out the transplant. She didn’t want him going in to surgery distracted. They could hash this out at another time.
She hurried back to her waiting car giving no thought to Gunnar running to keep up with her, or Isak, who’d been snacking in the front seat. It didn’t matter a jot she had to open her own door when she simply wanted somewhere to hide her tears, emotions catching up with her all at once.
‘Take me home,’ she commanded shakily and pushed the button to raise the privacy screen between her and her staff.
Only then was she safe to demonstrate her fragility. The tears didn’t take time to fall once they started, streaking down her face as though someone had released a pressure valve and years of upset and turmoil had finally been allowed to be expressed. It was grief for her mother and the relationship with Seth she’d lost. Worry over her father and brother. Most of all it was sorrow for the life she’d been denied with Seth. If circumstances hadn’t conspired against her she could’ve had a lifetime of being his wife instead of the half-life she had here as The Unlovable Princess no one wanted.
* * *
Seth wasn’t proud of the way he’d spoken to Kaja but he needed her to be away from him while he operated on her father. He had to concentrate on what he was doing rather than worrying about what she was going through waiting for him to finish. As her anxiety had increased so too had his want to comfort her. That would have undone his efforts to put some distance between them these past few days and only brought them closer.