Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way (6 page)

Francie shook her head. ‘He’s refusing.’

All the time David had been discussing his patient with the nurse, Eden had been well aware of the interested glances she was receiving from the staff around them.

‘Right. I’ll go see what I can do. Oh, by the way, this is Eden. Eden Caplan.’ David quickly introduced her. ‘You may see her around during the next few weeks. There are some patients I’d like her to review.’

Eden raised her eyebrows at this news. She’d been quite happy just to play the role of visitor, but if David needed help…well, helping was what she did best.

‘Y
OU
need my help?’

‘Yes.’

She winked at him and lowered her voice to a seductive whisper. ‘I’m always happy to help out an old friend.’

Francie nearly choked on her tongue, and one of the other nurses stifled a giggle.

‘Stop it.’ David shook his head, a small smile twitching at his lips. ‘Concentrate, Dr Caplan, and let’s go take a look at Dart.’

‘Dart?’ Eden was all business and efficiency as she followed David to the first bay of beds. Francie was behind her.

‘Short for d’Artagnan.’

‘Really? That’s going to turn a few heads when he gets older. What’s the situation?’

‘The poor boy is up and down like a yo-yo. Dehydration, stomach pain, headaches, dizziness. He’s been scanned, poked, prodded and still I can’t figure it out.’

‘Multiple admissions?’

‘This is his second with these symptoms.’ David pulled back the curtain which was around Dart’s bed. Mrs Wilman quickly stood from where she’d been sitting on the bed next to her son. She held a child’s drinking cup in her hands as though she were trying to persuade her son to keep his fluids up. She quickly put the cup on the bedside table.

‘Hey there, Dart,’ said David, smiling a greeting at the mother. ‘I hear you’re not feeling as well as you were this morning.’

‘I’m afraid he’s not well at all, Dr Montgomery.’ Mrs Wilman was earnest in her words. ‘I don’t understand what you’ve done to him. You were supposed to be making him better.’

‘He’d improved dramatically overnight. Earlier this morning he was bouncing around on his bed and running about the ward.’

‘He quite clearly should have been lying still and resting.’ Mrs Wilman’s tone was more one of stress rather than accusing the staff of neglect. ‘Now I’m sorry I didn’t stay last night with Dart. He was probably so distraught at my leaving him that he’s had a relapse. I don’t think sending him home is at all a wise move. Do you, Dr Montgomery?’ She shook her head as she spoke, and before David could answer continued. ‘I think he’ll need to stay for at least another few days—if not the week.’

David held out his hand for a stethoscope, and Francie had one at the ready. ‘Hey, Dart. Can I have a listen to your chest and your tummy, please?’ He pulled the covers down and smiled reassuringly at the four-year-old.

Eden was busy watching. Not only what David was doing, but also keeping a close eye on the mother. Mrs Wilman was obviously very upset and concerned about her son, but there was something else going on. Eden had no idea what—it was just a hunch, and in the past she’d learned to follow those hunches.

‘It hurts,’ Dart moaned, and David nodded.

‘I know, mate. Let’s see if we can’t get you better.’

‘I don’t want the yucky meddy.’

‘I know,’ he said again, before continuing with his examination. When he palpated Dart’s stomach, the little boy groaned.

‘You need to get him back to Radiology for another scan of his abdomen.’ Mrs Wilman was quite insistent as she spoke to David. ‘I really think this time, Dr Montgomery, that an MRI should be requested. In fact, I’m quite insistent about it.’

‘Hmm.’ David was half listening to what Dart’s mother was saying, but was far more concerned with trying to figure out why the little boy had gone downhill so quickly. He looked at Mrs Wilman. ‘I’d like to put Dart back on an IV drip, and I’ll order some more tests. I’m not convinced at this point whether an MRI scan is necessary, but it’s certainly something to consider down the track.’

‘I’m not completely satisfied with that diagnosis, Dr Montgomery,’ Mrs Wilman counteracted. ‘I’m certain an MRI is the next step in my son’s treatment, and if you
don’t
order one I’ll get someone else to order the tests. I’ll go above your head if necessary. I don’t want to, but I will.’

‘I’m head of the paediatric department at St Thomas’ hospital. When it comes to the treatment of children, no one is more qualified than myself. You are, however, more than welcome to a second opinion.’ David indicated Eden. ‘For instance, Dr Caplan here is a trained paediatrician who has worked extensively overseas. She is widely published on topics which include mysterious illness in children, and is highly regarded by her peers. I’ve already asked her for her valued opinion on Dart’s condition, because I can assure you, Mrs Wilman, I am just as concerned as you are about his health.’

Mrs Wilman looked at Eden, giving her the once-over before turning her attention back to David. ‘Well, I’m pleased to see you’re doing
something
to try and fix my son.’ She looked to Eden. ‘I hope you have some new ideas, or at least can persuade Dr Montgomery to see sense by advising him to order an MRI.’

Eden smiled warmly at the woman, who seemed to know quite a bit about medical procedures and terminology. ‘I must say it’s so nice to see a parent such as yourself taking an interest in their child’s health.’

Mrs Wilman straightened her cardigan. ‘What mother wouldn’t?’

‘Oh, believe me, there are plenty. As Dr Montgomery said, I’ve been working overseas in areas where a lot of parents are so busy trying to find work that they can’t afford to spend time looking after their sick children. It’s fantastic that you’re here for Dart and that you’re willing to get really involved, to question and seek out different answers. So many parents are so…lax at times.’

‘I see.’ Mrs Wilman almost preened. ‘Well, you’ll find that I’m not one of
those
types of parents. I do know exactly the sort of parent you’re talking about, though. So many of my…acquaintances are more concerned with their careers rather than what’s most important in their lives.’ she looked down at her son. ‘That’s why I’m here for d’Artagnan. It’s why I stay at the hospital overnight. Last night was the first night I wasn’t able to be here, and look what has happened today upon my return.’ She reached out and stroked the hair from her son’s forehead.

David’s tone was firm. ‘Francie, would you do observations again? Let me know if there has been any change. Get the IV line in whilst I have a chat with Eden.’ He looked at Dart’s mother. ‘We’ll get him sorted out.’

After they’d returned to the nurses’ station, Eden shook her head. ‘What?’ David asked, clearly agitated that he couldn’t figure out what was happening with his little patient.

‘You shouldn’t promise like that.’

‘I know, but I want to figure this out. I’m really worried about him. The thing is that his reaction to the usual medicine is that it seems to work initially, and then,
wham
, something happens and he goes downhill again.’

‘So we just need to figure out what the “wham” part is, eh?’

‘Exactly.’ David shook his head and lowered his voice. ‘Any help you can offer would be gratefully received. Have you ever seen anything like it?’

‘Hand me his notes. Let me review them and we’ll see what we can come up with.’ David did as she asked and she took the notes, meeting his gaze. ‘We’ll find out…together.’

David swallowed at her words, and seeing the look in her eyes, wondered how she could make one little word sound so intimate. ‘Uh…right. Yes. Together.’

A smile touched her lips. ‘I like you most when you’re flustered.’

‘Hmm. Well. Er…’ He cleared his throat. ‘Listen, whilst you’re here in the hospital I’ll organise for you to receive Visiting Medical Officer status. That will make things a bit more aboveboard—especially as Mrs Wilman seems to be shopping for my scalp.’

Eden nodded. ‘She is a little gung-ho. It’s good to see that she’s taking an interest in her son, that she’s here with him, but she needs to trust you more. You are the one with the medical degrees, after all.’

‘A lot of parents freak out when their children are ill. Mrs Wilman’s actually quite nice. She’s helpful to the staff, and encouraging with other parents who are here—showing them where the tea and coffee facilities are, that sort of thing.’

‘OK. Let me get through these notes. I hope you don’t mind if I ask the nurses some questions as well?’

‘Investigating me?’ He raised an eyebrow.

‘Investigating Dart.’ Eden smiled at him, seeing his veiled concern. Had he forgotten that she knew him so well? ‘Sometimes you need to think outside the box. You might be a little too close to the situation, holding on a little too tightly.’

‘Is that what you’ve learnt overseas? To see things differently? To try different approaches?’

‘You have to. We don’t have access to most of the facilities you have at your fingertips. We have to improvise, to think of alternatives, to see beyond the normal way of things.’

‘You sound as though you enjoy it very much.’

‘I do.’ Eden sighed. ‘Although sometimes…’ She looked away from him, down at Dart’s notes. ‘Sometimes it gets a little draining. Even
I’ve
been too close to a project before. Needed someone to come along and point out the simplest of solutions. It happens to all of us.’

Was she referring to the epidemic he’d read about in the journal? When he’d asked her for assistance he hadn’t wanted to raise any old ghosts, to awaken any old memories. That hadn’t been his intention. He’d merely been after a fresh perspective. He didn’t want to hurt her. ‘Listen, Eden. If you’d rather not help me out—if you just want to relax and spend time with Sasha—then I—’

Eden reached across the desk to where he was sitting, placing a finger over his lips. ‘Shh. That wasn’t what I meant. You know I’ll always help you. You’re my friend, David, and friends help each other.’ Her words had slowed as she realised just what she’d done, just how close they were…
again
.

David’s expressive brown eyes had widened at her touch, and now she watched as his gaze dipped to her lips, lingering briefly before rising to meet her eyes once more. Eden’s breathing slowly started to increase, and she wished the world would simply freeze so she could figure out exactly what it was that existed between herself and David.

Sure, they were attracted to each other. Sure, they had a bit of history together. Sure, they’d both changed over the past decade. Life, however, didn’t always turn out the way you planned. She quickly dropped her hand back to her side. ‘Besides…’ She tapped Dart’s case notes and forced an overly bright smile to try and cover up the devastating effect he was having on her equilibrium. ‘I’m intrigued. Go. Do what you need to do and let me review.’

David opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He closed it quickly, nodded, and then walked back to his office. There were a few other patients he wanted her to meet, especially the eleven-year-old girl who had been admitted with anorexia, but that could wait. He headed back to his office and tapped a few commands into his computer to bring up the template for the forms he needed to fill in. The idea of making Eden a VMO wasn’t what he’d initially had in mind, but seeing how she’d managed to win Mrs Wilman over in a matter of seconds was enough of an impetus for David to forge ahead.

He sent the form to print, then sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Why had she touched him like that? The imprint of her finger was still on his lips. The warmth, the tenderness, the…
Eden
-ness…it was all still there. He licked his lips, and the hunger he’d been trying to control from the first instant he’d laid eyes on her that morning started to burn harder and faster than before.

Memories of the times they’d spent together came instantly to mind, and he knew for certain that if he kissed her again his world would once again be rocked on its foundations. He couldn’t have that. She had been the first girl he’d dated who he’d been serious about. He’d enjoyed her company, been amazed by her intelligence and had valued her opinion. Those factors alone had been enough for his parents to ship him off to Melbourne, away from Eden. Even though he now had little to do with his parents, he knew that the effect Eden still had on him was as strong as it had been back then. He couldn’t even risk getting involved with her because she meant far too much to him. She meant far too much to Sasha, and his sister had already been through enough.

If Eden ever found out about his accident, discovered his own dark secret, then he would be diminished in her view. Just as he had been in Jacquie’s. When his ex-wife had realised the truth, that David could never father children, she’d started seriously discussing divorce. As far as she had been concerned there had been no reason to continue in the marriage. Things had already been strained, and both had agreed their friendship was the one thing worth salvaging from their incompatible marriage.

For some reason Eden’s opinion of him mattered far more than he’d realised, but perhaps it was because she’d looked up to him for so long, for so many years. They had a past, a history which was more than just the chemistry between them. They’d been friends, and if he couldn’t have anything else with her, friendship would be the next best thing.

The phone on his desk rang and he instantly snatched it up, relieved to have something to ponder other than Eden Caplan.

There was nothing untoward in the case notes, and Eden was now as perplexed as David. She’d spoken with Francie, and some of the other nurses who had cared for Dart during his admission, but still nothing obvious seemed to jump out at her.

She’d been in to see Dart, to do some observations of her own and try and talk to him, but he’d just lain on his bed, listless and depressed. Something was really wrong in this little boy’s world, and she wasn’t sure it was all physical. Psychological issues could make a person very sick indeed.

‘Four-year-olds don’t get depressed,’ one of the nurses said.

‘Yes, they do. All the time,’ Eden remarked. ‘I’ve seen a lot of children depressed for quite long lengths of time. Children younger than four as well.’

‘That must have been heartbreaking.’ Francie had already pumped Eden for information about the various countries Eden had worked in, as well as on what it was like working for a medical aid organisation.

‘I’ve been through worse. Of course a lot of the time the children don’t
realise
it’s depression. Things are bad. There’s no way they can get better and they slump down, their spirits crushed. Thankfully, though, it doesn’t take much to buoy them up again. Children are far more resilient than adults.’