by Kate Hardy
‘Just like any other family on an early summer Sunday afternoon when it’s not raining,’ the photographer said. ‘Actually, our readers would love to know you’re just like us.’
Luc and Kelly exchanged a glance, and did as they were asked, to a barrage of camera flashes and clicks.
And by the time they’d finished the barbecue, the photographs of that kiss were all over the news sites. Except this time the headlines said The Surgeon To Mend Her Broken Heart.
At the end of the afternoon, everyone crowded round Luc’s piano while he played. He deliberately chose the kind of songs that Kelly, her mum and her sister loved; and Kelly was thrilled that her new sisters-in-law joined in.
The only sticky moment was when Oscar spilled blackcurrant juice all over the white carpet. But Luc was completely unfazed. ‘I’ve spilled coffee on this carpet before now. It will be fine. Stop worrying,’ he said.
‘It’s absolutely true,’ Giulia said. ‘If anyone spilled things when we were growing up, it was always Luc. Don’t worry.’
Eleonora was already in the kitchen, and returned with kitchen towel.
Between Eleonora, Kelly and Susie, they managed to get the stain out of the carpet. And while they were doing that, Giulia and Caroline made tea. ‘The English solution to everything,’ Giulia said. ‘And it’s definitely better here than it is anywhere else in the world...’
* * *
Later that night after everyone had gone home, Kelly curled in Luc’s arms.
‘I know that look,’ he said. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘That today started horribly but the end was really nice. Our families get on.’
‘Four children splashing around in the pool will make anyone laugh and get on,’ he said. ‘But you’re right. Today was nice. Even though you panicked a bit too much over spills.’
Kelly paused. ‘How today was—is that the kind of family thing you had, growing up?’
‘My generation is a little less formal, as adults,’ he said.
Which told her that his childhood had been much more restricted.
‘It is how it is,’ he said softly, as if guessing what she was thinking. ‘I like this side of my life. The private side, where I’m a doctor rather than a prince.’
She just hoped that he’d get the chance to keep it that way.
‘I’ve been in touch with Elle and Giu a little more often recently than I have been for a couple of years,’ he said. ‘And that’s all thanks to you. Seeing you with your family has reminded me of what I’m missing.’
‘I’m glad you’re getting closer to them,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t be without my family.’
‘And I wouldn’t be without mine. Though I wish my father wasn’t so stubborn.’
She stroked his face. ‘And you don’t think you might be a chip off the old block?’
‘Probably.’ He kissed her. ‘But thank you. You’re making my world a better place.’
‘Good.’ She kissed him back. ‘Being a doctor doesn’t mean you can’t be close to your family. And maybe if you let your dad a bit closer, he might start to understand why you feel the way you do. And then you might be able to reach some sort of compromise.’
‘I’m beginning to think,’ Luc said, ‘that women are much more diplomatic than men.’
‘I don’t know about that. The way you were with the press—I wouldn’t have had a clue how to get them on my side. You made things better again.’
‘Though if you’d never met me, you wouldn’t have been in the press in the first place,’ he pointed out.
‘But you fixed it. That’s the main thing.’
‘My press team fixed it.’
‘To your brief.’ She paused. ‘You might be a better king than you think you’d be.’
‘Are you on my dad’s side, now?’
‘No. I’m just saying that maybe you need to look at things through his eyes. Work out a compromise together. Maybe there’s a way you can work at your clinic but also carry out some royal duties as well—have the best of both worlds.’
‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘Maybe.’
* * *
At work on Monday, Luc and Kelly went to see the head of the cardiac department before the start of their shift.
‘I’m glad the papers have got the story right now,’ Sanjay said. ‘Are you all right, Kelly?’
She nodded. ‘I’m just so sorry the hospital got dragged into this.’
‘The press team are rushed off their feet giving tips and writing articles on heart health,’ Sanjay said, ‘so it’s working out in the right way now.’ He looked at them. ‘Though you are in trouble about the wedding.’
‘We brought cake,’ Luc said, indicating the box he was carrying.
‘Not good enough. I thought something might be going on, but I don’t like rumours so I didn’t ask.’
Kelly winced. ‘Sorry.’
‘Your private life is your affair—but you really can’t get married without a proper cardiac department celebration,’ Sanjay said.
‘He’s right. Dancing and toasting you in champagne. That’s the very least you’re getting away with,’ Mandy, Sanjay’s secretary said, coming in. ‘I can’t believe you two kept something like that quiet.’
Kelly and Luc exchanged a glance.
‘I guess we kind of made everyone miss out on the wedding, so I’ll get a reception organised,’ Luc said. ‘I’ll ask my team to make the arrangements. Maybe we can do it instead of the next team night out?’
‘A week on Friday. Good idea,’ Sanjay said. ‘Apart from all that stuff in the papers, I imagine your families aren’t wonderfully happy about you eloping.’
‘We didn’t do it to hurt people,’ Kelly said.
‘You did it to avoid the fuss and the media circus. I understand that—though you rather got the media circus anyway,’ Sanjay said. ‘But we still want to celebrate your wedding with you. It’s great news. Congratulations.’
The rest of their colleagues reacted in the same way, shocked by the way the news had broken and furious with the press on Kelly’s behalf, a little hurt that they’d been kept in the dark about the wedding, but pleased for both of them.
Over the next week, they were rushed off their feet at the hospital. Luc worked on a rare domino transplant with two other surgical teams—a new heart and lungs for a patient who had cystic fibrosis, and then her healthy heart was transplanted to a patient with right ventricular dysplasia, a genetic disorder that caused a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm. After the operation, Luc was physically drained but mentally invigorated.
‘I love the fact we can do this and give someone such great quality of life,’ he said. ‘It’s only the second time I’ve worked on a domino transplant. The first team removed the heart-lung from the deceased donor, I transplanted them to my patient and removed her heart, and the third team implanted her heart into their patient.’ He wrapped his arms around her. ‘Normally, patients don’t know anything about the donors or their families; but as they’re being looked after in adjacent rooms I think there’s a good chance they’ll meet.’
‘And your cystic fibrosis patient could hear her heart beating in someone else’s body.’ She paused. ‘Something like this doesn’t happen often. It’ll be in the news.’
‘I think the journalists will be a bit more sympathetic, this time round,’ he said. ‘Though the most important thing is that our patients are going to be able to walk down the corridor without having to stop and rest. As cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition, she’ll still need treatment for it, but at least her new lungs will be working and not displacing her heart any more,’ he added. ‘She’ll still need a lot of care, and there are the usual risks of organ rejection, infection and complications, but she’ll have fewer symptoms and a better quality of life.’ He looked at Kelly. ‘I wish Babbo could understand how this
feels. To be able to make a real difference to someone’s life.’
‘Maybe you should show him. Ask your patients if they’d mind doing a video interview with you so your father can see for himself,’ she suggested. ‘Explain it won’t be shown to anyone else, and you’ll delete it once your father’s seen it.’
‘That,’ he said, ‘is a brilliant idea.’ He hugged her. ‘And we have our wedding reception on Friday.’
‘It’s so good of Maria to make us an official wedding cake.’
‘She’s loving the fact that I put her in complete charge of the reception and gave her free rein to choose whatever she thought appropriate,’ Luc said. He smiled. ‘I hope everyone doesn’t mind swapping the team bowling night out for dancing, a buffet and bubbles.’
‘Given that we’re inviting partners and children as well, everyone’s happy,’ she said. ‘Though maybe we should have waited a little bit longer so your family could make it as well as mine.’
‘We promised work we’d do it—besides, it’s less complicated this way,’ he said.
* * *
On Friday night, Gino drove them through Hampstead to a nearby stately home. Maria had arranged taxis for all the guests, and Luc and Kelly were the last to arrive.
They walked through a marble-floored hall with Venetian glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and massive paintings in gilt frames hanging on the wall.
‘I feel a bit of a fraud,’ Kelly whispered.
Luc’s fingers tightened round hers. ‘We’re just giving everyone what they want to see—and a party. It’s fine.’ He smiled at her. ‘And you look amazing, by the way.’
‘So do you.’ They’d decided to wear the same outfits they’d worn for the actual wedding, to make everyone feel that they were part of the day.
When they walked into the main hall, they could see the band set up at one end of the room, a generously laid out buffet table, and plenty of seating round the edges for guests. Music was playing through the sound system, but it stopped as soon as Luc and Kelly were in the room. Everyone turned to look at them, and then there was an eruption of party poppers and confetti.
‘Speech,’ someone called.
‘And that,’ Luc said with a grin, his voice booming over the crowd, ‘is one of the best reasons ever for eloping. No long speeches to send everyone to sleep. I’ll just say thank you all for coming, a special thank you to Maria for organising everything and making us a wonderful cake, and thank you to Maybe Baby for agreeing to be our band for the night. Enjoy yourselves, everyone.’
The party was in full swing and Luc and Kelly were dancing when a couple walked up to them.
‘I think,’ the man said, ‘the next dance with the bride should be mine, given that she’s my new daughter-in-law.’
‘Babbo!’ Luc hugged his father. ‘I thought you and Mamma were on a state visit somewhere?’
‘We explained that our wayward son was having a belated wedding reception,’ his mother said. ‘Since we were deprived of the wedding itself, we weren’t going to miss the reception.’ She smiled at Kelly to soften the edge of her words. ‘I know whose idea it was to elope. Hopefully you can teach my son better manners than I did.’
‘I—um—Your Majesties—’ Kelly, completely flustered, was about to dip into a curtsy, when King Umberto took her hand. ‘No formalities, child. This is my son’s wedding party, so we will conduct it how he likes it—with no pomp or ceremony. But I would like this dance.’
‘Yes, Your M—’
‘Babbo will do,’ the King cut in with a smile. ‘And I look forward to meeting your family. Eleonora has told me all about them.’
‘I—um—thank you,’ Kelly said.
Once she’d danced with the King, she and Luc introduced his parents to her family. Although Umberto and Vittoria were more formal than their children, they did seem to be genuinely pleased to meet Kelly’s family, and the introductions were easy.
‘I had no idea they were going to be here,’ Luc said.
‘You’re not the only one who can spring surprises, little brother,’ a voice informed them.
‘Elle!’ He hugged his sister. ‘I should have guessed you’d have something to do with it.’
‘I’ve been looking forward to your second wedding reception—even though, being you, you gave us practically no notice.’ Elle hugged Kelly. ‘Cake, dancing and spending time with my favourite sister-in-law. What could be better?’
‘I assume you’re staying with us?’ Luc asked.
Elle shook her head. ‘Babbo arranged a hotel. But we’ll be round to see you in force tomorrow for a proper family dinner party.’
‘I was going to give Maria the weekend off.’
Elle grinned. ‘Too late. She’s already planned the menu and has everything ordered for delivery first thing tomorrow. And your family will be there too, Kelly.’
‘They know about it?’ Kelly asked.
‘They know. Actually, Mamma had a long video call with Caroline earlier this week. Thankfully your mother is a little better with technology than mine.’ Elle patted Kelly’s shoulder. ‘Just so you know, she thinks my brother made a good choice. Even if he went about it in an unconventional way.’
‘I’m glad you’re all here,’ Luc said. ‘I do love you all. Even if you think I’m an ungrateful brat.’
‘Not a brat, and not exactly ungrateful. You just don’t march to the same drum as Babbo,’ Elle said.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur.
And then Keely, the paediatrician singer from the band, spoke up. ‘We have a special guest tonight—you might not know he plays rhythm guitar as well as being a heart surgeon, but he does. Please give a round of applause for Luciano Bianchi.’
‘How...?’ Luc asked.
Elle gave an overdramatic shrug and spread her hands. ‘No idea.’
‘Of course you don’t,’ Luc said, rolling his eyes, and went onto the stage to join the band. Anton, the lead guitarist from the maternity department, handed him a guitar, and Luc joined the band for a couple of songs.
‘I have it on good authority that he sings as well,’ Keely said. ‘And I think he should sing something for his new bride.’
* * *
Anton swapped Luc’s guitar for an electro-acoustic, and Luc stared at Kelly.
Singing to his bride in public.
The woman he’d married in name only—except it wasn’t quite turning out that way. She still hadn’t moved into her own room at his house, and waking up with her in his arms was turning out to be the best part of his day. Despite their agreement, he was definitely falling in love with her. Everything about her, from her kindness to the way she sang in the shower to her infectious giggle.
But did she feel the same way about him? Was he just her transition partner, the one who would help her to move on from losing the love of her life? Or was this thing between them changing for her, too?
He was aware that everyone was waiting for him to play. And there was only one song he could think of. The one he’d sung to her, the first night she’d come to his house and they’d sat together at his piano.
The room felt huge; yet, at the same time, it felt so small that he could hardly breathe. This was telling the world how he felt about her, singing a romantic song they’d expect to hear and yet not putting pressure on Kelly. Would she know that he was singing this for real—for her—or would she think that it was all part of their fake marriage?
His hands were shaking and he made a real mess of the introduction to the song. How could he mess up four simple chords like that? ‘I can assure you I’m a better surgeon than I am a musician,’ he said, making everyone laugh—including Kelly and his parents. And then he began the song again, holding Kelly’s gaze and hoping that she knew what he was trying to tell her.
Everyone cheered when he’d finished. And then t
hankfully he was able to hand the guitar back to Anton and dance with his bride again.
‘That was a beautiful song,’ she said. ‘The one you sang to me, that first night at your house.’
‘Yes.’ Pleased that she’d remembered, he stole a kiss.
At the end of the evening, Luc and Kelly said their goodbyes and headed back to his house.
‘I guess,’ he said, ‘as that was our official wedding reception, I should do official groom stuff.’ He picked her up and carried her over the threshold.
She kissed him before he set her back on her feet, so he carried her upstairs to their bed. And tonight felt the same as New York: just the two of them, and the rest of the world was a million miles away.
‘Kelly,’ he whispered.
‘What?’
He was going to tell her he loved her—but then he chickened out. If he told her now, and she wasn’t ready to hear it, he’d blow his chances of making their marriage a real one. ‘Thank you for tonight,’ he said instead. ‘For being so great with my parents.’
‘I liked them,’ she said, and kissed him. ‘I’m glad they came. It was good to meet them. And I have the feeling that Elle might just talk your father round...’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THREE WEEKS LATER, Kelly had a half day. She’d been too busy to notice during the morning, but she felt odd. Queasy.
Probably low blood sugar, she told herself. She was meeting her sister for lunch, so it would be at least another half an hour until they ate. She went to the kiosk by the staff canteen to buy a cereal bar to tide her over, but the scent of the coffee made her feel even more queasy.
It wasn’t until she was on the Tube and the cereal bar had done nothing to settle her stomach that the likely reason hit her.
No.
Ridiculous.
Of course she couldn’t be pregnant. She and Luc had used protection whenever they’d made love.