Read Online Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way by Lucy Clark / Sharon Archer - Free Book Online Page A

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.’
    ‘So we need to find a way to boost Dart’s spirits?’
    ‘Until we can figure out what’s causing his relapse, why not?’
    ‘Were you successful with the IV line?’ David spoke from behind Francie and the nurse jumped.
    ‘Good golly, Miss Molly. You’re so quiet, I didn’t even hear you there. The IV line is in. He just lay there. No fuss at all.’
    David frowned. ‘This is perplexing. Eden?’
    ‘I’ve got nothing. Apart from the blood tests you’ve ordered and the medication you have him on, I can’t think of anything I’d do differently.’
    ‘Do you think it’s worth doing the MRI?’
    Eden pondered this for a moment. ‘I’m not sure it’s going to give you any new information after the scans Dart’s already had. The only thing it will do is appease the mother, and that’s a very expensive way to appease her.’
    ‘Hmm.’ David was pensive once more.
    ‘You know what? Perhaps a change of scenery might help.’
    ‘Meaning?’
    ‘I’m going to go see your sister. Want to join me?’
    David hesitated for a moment. More time alone with Eden? He wasn’t sure he could handle so much