The Rebel and the Baby Doctor (14 page)

She went back to Neonatal and passed on the good news to Rachel’s parents about their baby’s operation, and then she updated Katie on how Sarah’s father was doing.

‘Connor seems to think he’s making an excellent recovery,’ she told the nurse. ‘That’s fantastic, isn’t it? That family deserves some good fortune.’

‘It’s brilliant,’ Katie agreed.

Phoebe went off duty later that day, feeling disconsolate because Connor was not going to be around. Jessica and Alex didn’t put in an appearance, and she wondered if they were on the late shift, until Jessica rang to say that they were taking time out to go on a canal boat trip.

‘We’ve been working so hard lately,’ Jessica said, ‘being run ragged in Cardiology and Orthopaedics, and then studying till late in the evening, and Alex thought it would do us good to take a break for a couple of hours. Apparently they run these trips down to the Watermead Inn on a regular basis in the summer months.’

‘It sounds like fun,’ Phoebe said. ‘Enjoy yourselves.’

When Jessica ended the call a short time later, Phoebe wandered disconsolately around the house. Without Connor, she felt as though part of her was missing. How was she ever going to be happy again without him?

She was off duty all the next day, but Jessica and Alex had to go in to work, and so the house seemed unusually empty. She busied herself, tidying up, plumping cushions and generally filling in time, anything rather than sitting and thinking.

The TV programme started midmorning, and she switched on the set, watching avidly. The opening credits came up and what followed was streamlined and professionally put together.

Her own interview passed in a flash, and she was pleased that she had managed to add to the argument for keeping hospital facilities, like operating theatres and pharmacies, available on an almost 24-hour basis.

What surprised her was Connor’s TV image. Watching him, she sat bolt upright in her chair, struck by his charismatic, awe-inspiring persona. It was clear to see that here was a consultant in the making, just as Mr Kirk had predicted. People would stand up and take notice of anything that Connor had to say.

‘Management has suggested that opening up theatres and running the MRI scanner for longer intervals is going to cost money,’ he said, ‘but by leasing the outpatient clinics for GP services at the weekend, I’m sure we can cover the expense.’

She switched off the TV and began to pace the room. She was on edge, unsettled, wanting to have him near, but it was still only morning, and she wasn’t expecting him back until late afternoon at the earliest. What was there to say that he wouldn’t stay on at John’s house, enjoying his leisure time with his friend?

Unexpectedly, she heard the sound of a key in the lock of the front door. She frowned. Had Jessica or Alex come back from work for something that had been left behind? Or perhaps it was the landlord, come to make a quick inspection…only usually he gave them notice before he did that.

‘I wondered if you would be at home today,’ Connor said coming into the living room. ‘I was pretty sure that it was your day off.’

Phoebe’s heart made a sudden leap. His tall, vital presence seemed to fill the room with new energy. Her spirits lifted. Anything was possible, now that he was home.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘I expected that you would still be at John’s house. You can’t have had time to watch the programme this morning, can you?’

He threw his overnight bag down on to the coffee-table and shrugged out of his jacket, placing it over the back of a chair. ‘I saw it on the run-through yesterday. It was first rate, wasn’t it? Even Mr Kirk took part and had
something good to say—I rang him to thank him, and he said it was you who put the idea into his head about taking part in the programme. He had been dead against it initially, but since he was going to go along with the whole idea of scything through the operating lists, he said he may as well do the TV bit while he was about it.’

He came over to her and wound his arms around her waist. ‘You didn’t tell me that you were going to see Mr Kirk and talk to him. You didn’t even tell me that you were going to take part in the programme.’

‘You were very busy with other things.’

‘Yes, I’m sorry about that.’ He winced. ‘I wanted to come back to you just as soon as I could. I meant it when I said I need you, Phoebe. You’re the other half of me. I’m not complete without you. It’s always been that way, ever since I can remember.’ He kissed her gently, brushing his lips over hers, lingering as though he couldn’t bring himself to break off the contact, and Phoebe felt a sense of elation, as though all was finally right with the world.

She ran her hands over his chest, imprinting the memory of his strong, hard body on the inner workings of her mind. ‘Is it true? Do you really feel that way?’ It was joyous to hear him say it, but she was having trouble taking it in.

‘I do. I mean it. I love you, Phoebe. I’ve always loved you.’ He kissed her again, deeply, passionately, prolonging the moment before he had to break off for air. ‘I can change. I can be anything you want me to be, if only you’ll say that you love me just a little.’

She moved against him in sheer exhilaration, curling
her arms around his neck and tilting her head so that she could feel his lips on hers all over again. ‘I love you,’ she said, her voice husky with longing. ‘I love you just as you are.’

Soft laughter sounded in her throat. ‘I know you’re never going to change, no matter how you try…you’ll always fight for what’s right, even if it stirs things up and causes trouble along the way. It’s the way you are, and I can’t help but love you for it. I tried to back away from it, and I even told myself that Alex was the man for me, but it was a cover, a protective blanket, because in my heart of hearts I knew there was never anyone else for me but you.’

‘Wow.’ His eyes were gleaming as he looked down at her. ‘You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.’ He folded her into his arms, hugging her close, kissing her as though he would never let her go.

Phoebe was in a state of absolute bliss. Everything in the world she had ever wanted was here, now, and nothing could ever make her feel as happy as she was at this moment.

Only just then a mobile phone began to ring, and even though she tried to ignore its insistent tone, it kept on ringing.

Connor gave a heavy sigh and reluctantly eased himself back from her. ‘They’re not going to go away, are they? Why would anyone be ringing me now? I’m not on duty.’

‘Perhaps it’s Jessica, or Alex. They’re at the hospital, but they would probably be having lunch around now.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s not likely to be them. I
drove by the hospital on my way here, and saw them walking together on the perimeter of the hospital.’ His mouth curved. ‘They were holding hands…I don’t think either of them is going to be taking much notice of anyone for a while.’

Phoebe was bubbling over with happiness. ‘Oh, that’s great news.’

‘Yes, it is.’ In the meantime, the phone was still ringing, and he went over to the chair and reached into his jacket pocket to bring out his phone. He frowned, looking at the caller display.

‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Phoebe could see that he was puzzled.

‘Nothing. It’s my father.’ He clicked the ‘receive’ button, at the same time reaching out to her and drawing her close, wrapping his arm around her.

‘Hi, Dad,’ he said, ‘are you okay?’ He listened for a while and then he began to smile.

‘Yes, it was good, wasn’t it? I wasn’t sure whether or not you would watch the programme. No, it’s all worked out really well. They’re going to put everything into practice as soon as possible.’ He listened again and then laughed softly. ‘You could be right. I’ve already been advised to take my specialist exams in A and E. It looks as though that’s what I’ll be doing.’

Phoebe looked up at him, an inquisitive look on her face. ‘My boss wants me to apply for the post of specialist registrar,’ he told her. Then he turned his attention back to his father. ‘No, Dad. I wasn’t talking to myself. There’s someone very special here with me. I was just about to ask her if she would marry me, but your call cut in on us.’

There was a longish silence, and Phoebe stared at him in astonishment, hardly daring to believe what he had just said, but conscious of a flare of excitement racing through her veins.

Connor nodded, still talking to his father. ‘I will. I’m sure Mum will want to meet her, too. Sunday lunch sounds fine. I’ll check with Phoebe.’

He sent her a smiling glance, raising a brow in query, and she nodded, wide eyed. Sunday lunch? He wanted to marry her? Exhilaration fizzed through her entire body. ‘Yes, to both of those,’ she murmured, and he smiled broadly and broke off to kiss her long and hard.

‘Sorry, Dad,’ he said a moment or two later. ‘What was that you were saying? Yes, that’s right. I think she just accepted my proposal. In fact, I’d better ring off now and find out for sure. See you both on Sunday.’

He ended the call and slid the phone back into his jacket pocket.

‘Now, where were we?’ He moved to take her in his arms once more, but she laid her palms lightly on his chest.

‘Hold on a minute. That was your father? Is everything all right with you and him now?’

He smiled. ‘It looks that way. We’ve been making cautious circles around one another ever since I left home, but we’ve both tried to build bridges wherever possible. Then this morning he saw me on TV and he said he wanted to let me know that he was proud of me.’ He gave a wry laugh. ‘This day has been a long time coming.’

‘But now it’s arrived.’ Her face lit up with happiness.
‘We’re all proud of you and what you did. Did I tell you Mr Kirk thinks you’re consultant material?’

His brows lifted. ‘Well, that’s something good to know.’ He ran his fingers gently over her cheek. ‘What I really want to know is what do you think about me.’

She reached up and kissed him firmly on the mouth. ‘I think you’re wonderful husband material,’ she said, and his arms closed around her, his lips claiming hers, so that for a long, long while after that they were wrapped satisfyingly in each other’s embrace.