Reunion with His Surgeon Princess

by Karin Baine

  He hovered at the doorway, uncertain if he was going to stick around now when relations between them had turned sour.

  ‘I just ducked in to see how he was doing while I was in between patients. He had emergency surgery when he came in but he’s sleeping it off now. The surgeon said he’ll recover. In time.’

  ‘Good. What about the others?’

  ‘Mum and daughter were a bit shaken up but they’re okay.’

  ‘And you? How’s the ankle?’ They were acting like strangers or, at most, colleagues with a patient in common, but it was safer than tackling what was really on his mind when it would only bring more pain.

  Kaja lifted the bottom of her trouser leg up to show off a fresh bandage and an unattractive white clog. ‘I think being seen in these shoes is more painful than the sprain. They could probably do with a little bling and more of a heel to fit in with the rest of my wardrobe.’

  ‘They’re not very you,’ he agreed with a smirk. She was definitely more at home here in the midst of this organised chaos with barely enough time to breathe never mind care what she looked like, than swanning about in a palace.

  ‘I shouldn’t complain. The staff were very kind to lend me a change of clothes and patch me up. This is nothing compared to some of the injuries that have come in through the doors.’

  ‘Speaking of which, I said I wouldn’t be long. I promised to help out with the walking wounded.’

  ‘Me too. I’ll walk down with you.’

  They left their sleeping patient and tiptoed out of the door. Well, Seth tiptoed. Kaja kind of squeaked across the floor.

  ‘Did you manage to get anything to eat? Fatima wouldn’t let me leave until my stomach was fit to burst.’

  ‘Some of the locals have been fuelling us with coffee and cake. I’m glad Fatima made you take a break. You worked so hard yesterday; you deserve a rest.’

  He didn’t miss the coy look and guessed her mind had wandered to their energetic relations last night, and this morning, as well as the physical labour they’d put into rescuing the family. The way his had.

  She cleared her throat. ‘I see you had a chance to clean up as well. You look good.’

  In trying to avoid using the elevator in case of any further power outages, they’d taken the stairs. It was the one relatively quiet area in the hospital but it also seemed to amplify their awkwardness around each other, along with their voices. Seth decided to address what had happened this morning rather than ignore it and let it fester. There was nothing worse than drifting apart from someone without having a chance to understand what had gone wrong.

  He waited until they were halfway down, pausing on a landing to broach the subject. ‘Kaja, are you ashamed of me?’

  ‘What? No. Whatever gave you that idea?’ Her frown gave the impression she was being honest with him but with evidence to the contrary he couldn’t be certain.

  ‘After last night I was willing to give things a shot. To the point of setting my ego aside until you decide if I’m enough for you. Then the policeman turned up and you went cold on me, making sure I sat up front with the other “civilian”.’

  ‘Seth, it wasn’t like that at all. I don’t know, I panicked when he recognised me and I was worried he’d guess what had happened between us. I don’t want people gossiping and speculating before we even figure out what’s going on between us. Last night was special. I’m certainly not ashamed about what happened.’ She rested her hand lightly on his arm, imploring him with those big eyes to believe her.

  ‘Nor me, but I need to know where I stand. I’m not going to set myself up for another fall, Kaja. Not when I’ve got Amy to consider in all of this too. If we’re going to make a go of things we both have to be on board one hundred per cent. I’m not convinced you’re ever going to be.’

  ‘That’s not fair, Seth.’

  ‘I’m being honest. Something I think you need to be with yourself too.’ He was no longer willing to leave room for confusion. It was all or nothing; he wasn’t going to risk his heart again.

  The silence as Kaja contemplated what he was saying went on for an eternity before she broke it. ‘I’ve been thinking about that and I would like to go back to medicine.’

  ‘So what are you going to do about it, Kaja?’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘There’s nothing to be gained by simply thinking how you could improve your life here. You have to actually do something to make it happen and fight for what’s important to you. What is it you want, Kaja?’ It had to come from the heart if she was going to be honest with herself and him.

  ‘I want... I want...’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I want the life I had in England.’ She blurted it out, surprising them both, judging by the shocked look on her face. Seth had no intention of leaving it there.

  ‘Why, when you gave it up to come back here?’

  ‘Because I was leading my own life. I had a job I loved and...and... I had you, Seth.’ When her voice cracked he had to swallow down the urge to hold her and comfort her. This was make or break for him.

  ‘Five years ago you didn’t want any of that.’

  ‘I did, I swear, but I thought I had to give it all up because none of it was real.’

  ‘What’s changed now?’

  ‘I’m miserable here, Seth,’ she sobbed. ‘I came back to do the right thing by my family but it cost me everything. Being with you last night was the first time in a long time that I was actually happy. I want that to last.’

  ‘So, I’ll ask you again. What are you going to do about it?’ He rested his hands on her shoulders, resisting the full-on embrace he wanted to give her.

  ‘I’m going to speak to my father about stepping down from my royal duties. I’ll tell him I want to go back to medicine full time. I don’t know how we’re going to do it yet but I also want a life with you, Seth. If that’s what you’d like too?’ She looked up at him, so full of hope, his heart soared. Everything was out in the open now. No more secrets preventing them from forging ahead. She wouldn’t have the conversation with her father if she wasn’t serious about making the changes it would take for him to risk his heart on her again. It was his turn to take a leap of faith and prove his commitment to their relationship by forgiving her for her earlier slight.

  ‘It’s all I could ever ask for.’ They could work out the logistics later. For now it was all the confirmation he needed to go with his heart.

  He leaned in and laid his mouth gently upon hers just to experience that connection once more until they had a chance to get some quality time alone again.

  ‘So, we’re good?’ Kaja broke away to check but Seth didn’t want to stop kissing her now that the obstacles to true love had apparently been removed.

  ‘We’re good.’ He smiled against her lips. Just one more kiss and he’d get back to work.

  They heard the squeak of a door being opened at the top of the stairs and he remembered to cool it. Kaja was right, they didn’t need to have their every move analysed or have bystanders commenting on what they thought of their relationship. They had to figure things out for themselves.

  ‘Can we pick this up again later?’

  ‘Just give me the word and I’ll come a-calling.’

  That demure, lowered-lashes look she was giving him, unaware of how completely under her thrall he was, would ensure he came back time and time again.

  ‘You are such a dork.’ She slapped him on the arm, her laughter every bit as intoxicating as her kisses.

  ‘You’re such a princess,’ he teased back, and to the female visitor coming down the stairs behind them they probably looked like two friends engaging in a bit of banter, which was exactly what they wanted people to think.

  Now he understood her need to protect their relationship he wasn’t going to take it personally. This way it kept Amy out of the spotlight too
. It would be such a change in their family dynamic for him to have a partner it was something he’d have to lead into gradually with her. She didn’t need to see their faces splashed all over the newspapers with the gossip columns listing all the reasons this single, divorced dad wasn’t a good match for the country’s princess. He didn’t need reminding when he felt it so acutely every time he looked at her.

  He bounded down the remainder of the steps, much lighter for having set the record straight with Kaja and with something to look forward to at the end of his shift.

  * * *

  They worked on into the night assisting where they could, patching people up so they were able to go home as soon as possible. Occasionally Kaja caught sight of Seth behind a cubicle curtain or walking by with his next patient as she treated hers.

  After their talk on the stairs she hoped this was the start of a new life together for them. But there was still something she’d kept from him and if they were going into this with a clean slate she knew she’d have to tell him about her infertility issues. Her stomach tied itself in knots every time she thought about the last time she’d told a man she couldn’t have his child, but Seth was nothing like Benedikt. Hurting anyone on purpose simply wasn’t in his nature.

  She could hear him now, his deep voice soothing the screams of a small child obviously in pain.

  ‘I know it hurts, Lottie, but I need you to keep still so I can take a good look at that eye. Mrs Gallo, perhaps you could help hold your daughter still for me.’

  Kaja had a few minutes to spare and small children were never the easiest patients to wrangle. Perhaps she could provide a suitable distraction for the little girl to enable Seth to do what he had to.

  ‘Hey. Sorry for disturbing you, Mr Davenport. I’m in between patients at the minute and wondered if there was anything I could do to help?’ There was a fine line between offering assistance and being seen as interfering.

  If anything, he seemed relieved to see her.

  ‘Thank you. I think Lottie here might need a little more persuading to sit still for me.’

  Her mother was trying to stop her from rubbing her already red eyes with her bunched-up fists.

  ‘Did you get something in your eye, Lottie? They must be very sore.’ Kaja took a seat at the side of the bed as the little girl nodded and sniffed.

  ‘I think she might have some grit irritating her. We need to get some fluorescein stain in to check.’ He was as reassuring to an infant with a sore eye as he was to a fully grown woman trapped under rubble. It didn’t matter what background he came from, Seth’s caring and understanding nature was the mark of a true gentleman. He was pure class as far as she was concerned. A prince amongst men.

  ‘The doctor needs to see what’s hurting you, Lottie. We need you to keep your eye wide open so he can do that. Do you think you could be a big girl and tilt your head back for me?’ There was no more reason to trust her than the handsome man trying to help her, but Kaja was hoping that by teaming up they would manage to persuade her.

  If there was something stuck to the cornea it would explain the red, watery reaction. It could also be something more serious, such as a piece of metal. That could require surgery.

  Kaja gently eased the girl’s hands away from her eyes. Although Lottie let her, she did let out a pitiful whine and tensed her whole body.

  ‘I couldn’t see anything in there but I did try to give her an eye bath with some hot water. It didn’t help.’ The mother fretted from the other side of the bed as she brushed her daughter’s hair away from her forehead.

  ‘That’s fine. We advise people not to try and remove any foreign bodies from the eye themselves in case they do further damage. You were right to bring her to us.’ Seth’s assurance she’d done her best eased the anxious look on the woman’s face.

  Kaja stood up alongside Seth so the child was looking up at her, keeping her hands tightly in hers so she wouldn’t suddenly lash out. ‘You just keep watching me, Lottie, while Mr Davenport takes a look in your eye.’

  Seth held her eyelids open so he could have a look and the little girl squeezed Kaja’s hand.

  ‘I can’t see anything in there so we’re going to have to use the dye.’ He clearly didn’t want to distress her any more than necessary but if there was something irritating her it could cause conjunctivitis or lead to scarring.

  ‘Lottie, the doctor is going to touch your eye with a small piece of paper. You just keep looking up at me, okay?’ Another hand squeeze and whimper in response.

  ‘I need you to blink on this for me, Lottie,’ Seth coaxed, then addressed her mother to explain the process. ‘The blotting paper contains an orange dye, which, when used in conjunction with a blue light, detects any foreign bodies or damage to the cornea. Blinking helps spreads the dye.’

  He did the test as quickly as his patient would allow then whisked the paper away again.

  ‘You’re so good, Lottie. Now I’m going to shine a torch on you. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s a very special torch.’ Seth turned the torch on so she could see the light for herself, shining it on her hand then on the ceiling so she could see it wasn’t harmful.

  ‘Is it magic?’ Lottie was captivated now, the tears giving way to childish curiosity.

  ‘Well, hopefully this will help us make you feel better again. Just keep your eye open for us, Lottie.’ It was down to Kaja again to reassure her while Seth inspected the site. Any problems on the cornea would show up green under the blue light.

  He had to look under the eyelid first, causing Lottie to tense up again. ‘Okay... I think I can see something on the surface. I’m going to put some special eye drops in to stop it hurting, Lottie.’

  It was difficult to make sure she didn’t blink out the local anaesthetic drops but Seth persevered.

  ‘I’m sure we’ll have people of all ages coming in with the same problem given the air quality after the earthquake. It will be full of dust.’ Kaja kept talking as Seth used a cotton swab to remove the grit.

  Every adult in the room breathed a sigh of relief and when no one else was looking, he gave Kaja a wink. Confirmation if it was needed that they made a good team.

  ‘All done. I’ll put a dressing over that eye just to make it more comfortable for a day or two. Try not to rub your eye if you can help it, Lottie. It shouldn’t give you any more trouble but if it does Mum should make an appointment with your GP to get it checked out.’

  ‘Thank you, Doctor.’ Mrs Gallo waited until he’d taped a dressing over the eye before enthusiastically shaking his hand. Then she bent down and gave her daughter a kiss on the top of the head before they disappeared out of the cubicle, leaving Seth and Kaja alone.

  ‘I’m glad we didn’t have to refer her to the surgical team to cause any more trauma. Thanks for the moral support too. I’m sure it would’ve taken me twice as long if you hadn’t been here.’

  ‘It’s never easy with the young ones and nearly always a two-person job. It’s not the easiest task to perform either. I presume you’ve done that a few times to take on the job yourself?’

  ‘Once or twice during hospital placements. You weren’t so bad yourself, with the kiddie-whispering. She was putty in your hands once you gave her some attention, much like Amy. It seems no one is immune to the princess’s charms. At least, no one under the age of six.’ Beyond the complimenting was that teasing that made her blush and bluster at the same time.

  ‘Then your daughter is a good judge of character, even if her father’s opinion of me wavers from time to time.’ She wasn’t going to let him completely off the hook about earlier. Although she hoped she’d put his mind at rest by telling him about her plans. It wasn’t going to be an easy conversation with her father, but one that was overdue.

  ‘My opinion on you is rock solid.’ He wrapped his arms around her waist before gently fitting his lips expertly around hers. Seth wa
s the tonic she needed for her increasing tiredness but it couldn’t last when there were more patients piling in by the moment.

  * * *

  ‘The next shift is here to take over.’ Seth poked his head into the cubicle to notify her that it was the end of their working day.

  ‘I’m just finishing up in here and I’ll be with you in a minute.’ She’d been so busy she hadn’t had time to think about taking a break but every part of her poor body was aching.

  Resisting the urge to leave with him there and then, she turned back to the young man sitting on the bed with his hand in a cast. ‘If you make an appointment out at Reception for the fracture clinic, we’ll see how your fingers are healing in a few weeks’ time.’

  ‘Okay, thank you, Doctor.’

  Even though most of the people through the door had recognised her at some stage, or had been made aware of her identity, once they were in their doctor/patient roles it didn’t seem to matter. She preferred it that way, being accepted and respected for her medical expertise rather than her family background. It gave her a sense of purpose and, if she was honest, more self-respect to be of some use to her country rather than merely tabloid fodder.

  The earthquake had put life into perspective for a lot of people and most of those affected were only too glad to have an extra pair of doctor hands available to care about who she was outside the hospital doors.

  With her last patient discharged she went straight to find Seth. ‘I could get used to this freedom, you know.’

  He looked at the people still waiting to be seen in the reception area. ‘I’m not sure your colleagues would be keen to be so “free” every day.’

  ‘You know what I mean. Haven’t you noticed?’ She leaned in to whisper in case saying it aloud would somehow jinx it all. ‘No bodyguards shadowing my every move.’

  It brought Seth up short and she could see him checking for any ninja-like security hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce. ‘What happened to them?’