Read Online The Surgeon's Family Wish by Abigail Gordon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Abigail Gordon
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exercise, must have done some dawdling along the way as Annabel now found her beside her. As she smiled down at her, the little girl slipped her hand into hers.
âWhen are you coming to see us again, Dr Swain?â she wanted to know.
It was a good question. Annabel could hardly tell Lucy that an invitation wasnât likely to be forthcoming in the present climate.
âSoon, I hope.â
That seemed to satisfy Lucy and she had a change of subject ready.
âUncle Richard was at our house last night and he was asking Daddy about you.â
âIn what way?â
âI think he was hoping you might buy his house. I wish you would.â
âWhy do you wish that, Lucy?â she asked softly.
âSo I could come and stay with you.â
âBut your daddy and grandma might feel lonely if you did that.â
âGrandma would be glad of the rest...and Daddy could take Miss out somewhere. She likes him, you know. Grandma says she reminds her of my mummy.â
âAnd what do you think?â Annabel questioned in the same gentle tone.
âI canât remember what Mummy looked like. I was only small when she went into the water.â Trusting blue eyes were looking up into hers and Annabel wondered what was coming next. âDaddy was upset when Grandma said that, though I donât know why. What is a clone, Annabel?â
âIt is something formed in the likeness of something else.â
Lucy frowned. âI donât understand what that means either.â
Annabel smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.
âDonât worry about it, Lucy. Itâs grown-up talk.â
They were at the entrance to Rainbow Ward and as Annabel digested Lucyâs comments she knew that the child wasnât the only one who wasnât sure what heâd meant. Whatever it was, his motherâs comment hadnât been well received. Had he been irritated because she was still pursuing the âfinding him a wifeâ campaign? Or had he just been generally upset at the mention of Eloise?
He was watching her now, dark eyes unreadable, with the petite blonde teacher glowing beside him as the children filed into the ward and stood in a semi-circle.
There was no way his mother would ever liken herself to her daughter-in-law, Annabel thought wryly. Next to Nicola Edwards she felt six feet tall and droopy. The white coat covering a neat skirt and cotton blouse wasonly a shade paler than her complexion, and she had a sudden urge to run out and jump onto the nearest sunbed.
âSo, Dr Swain, are we ready to meet the children of Rainbow Ward?â Aaron asked, and, bringing her thoughts back to why they were there, she managed a weak smile.
Laura, in the first bed, had been brought in the day before with a severe asthma attack, and though she was better today the eight-year-old looked tired and poorly, but she perked up when the children stopped by her bed and chatted happily to them.
Jessica, in the next bed, had just come up from Theatre after a tonsil operation and was still sleeping off the anaesthetic. Jamie, further along the ward, was happy to show off a leg in traction after a serious fracture.
There was an empty bed where Jack, the boy with ALD, had been. Heâd been temporarily discharged until such a time that a bone-marrow donor could be found, but with the seriousness of the illness there was a strong possibility that he would be back before then.
Annabel looked across and caught Aaronâs glance on her. He smiled and suddenly the curvy little teacher, the ward and the assortment of sick and well children became a blur.
She was in love with him, she thought as her heartbeat thundered in her ears. It wasnât just physical attraction or lust. She loved Aaron for what he was. Caring father, loving son, dedicated doctor. And if he never looked at her again she wouldnât forget how he had made her come alive.
But she was still the woman whoâd slept with
âWhen are you coming to see us again, Dr Swain?â she wanted to know.
It was a good question. Annabel could hardly tell Lucy that an invitation wasnât likely to be forthcoming in the present climate.
âSoon, I hope.â
That seemed to satisfy Lucy and she had a change of subject ready.
âUncle Richard was at our house last night and he was asking Daddy about you.â
âIn what way?â
âI think he was hoping you might buy his house. I wish you would.â
âWhy do you wish that, Lucy?â she asked softly.
âSo I could come and stay with you.â
âBut your daddy and grandma might feel lonely if you did that.â
âGrandma would be glad of the rest...and Daddy could take Miss out somewhere. She likes him, you know. Grandma says she reminds her of my mummy.â
âAnd what do you think?â Annabel questioned in the same gentle tone.
âI canât remember what Mummy looked like. I was only small when she went into the water.â Trusting blue eyes were looking up into hers and Annabel wondered what was coming next. âDaddy was upset when Grandma said that, though I donât know why. What is a clone, Annabel?â
âIt is something formed in the likeness of something else.â
Lucy frowned. âI donât understand what that means either.â
Annabel smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.
âDonât worry about it, Lucy. Itâs grown-up talk.â
They were at the entrance to Rainbow Ward and as Annabel digested Lucyâs comments she knew that the child wasnât the only one who wasnât sure what heâd meant. Whatever it was, his motherâs comment hadnât been well received. Had he been irritated because she was still pursuing the âfinding him a wifeâ campaign? Or had he just been generally upset at the mention of Eloise?
He was watching her now, dark eyes unreadable, with the petite blonde teacher glowing beside him as the children filed into the ward and stood in a semi-circle.
There was no way his mother would ever liken herself to her daughter-in-law, Annabel thought wryly. Next to Nicola Edwards she felt six feet tall and droopy. The white coat covering a neat skirt and cotton blouse wasonly a shade paler than her complexion, and she had a sudden urge to run out and jump onto the nearest sunbed.
âSo, Dr Swain, are we ready to meet the children of Rainbow Ward?â Aaron asked, and, bringing her thoughts back to why they were there, she managed a weak smile.
Laura, in the first bed, had been brought in the day before with a severe asthma attack, and though she was better today the eight-year-old looked tired and poorly, but she perked up when the children stopped by her bed and chatted happily to them.
Jessica, in the next bed, had just come up from Theatre after a tonsil operation and was still sleeping off the anaesthetic. Jamie, further along the ward, was happy to show off a leg in traction after a serious fracture.
There was an empty bed where Jack, the boy with ALD, had been. Heâd been temporarily discharged until such a time that a bone-marrow donor could be found, but with the seriousness of the illness there was a strong possibility that he would be back before then.
Annabel looked across and caught Aaronâs glance on her. He smiled and suddenly the curvy little teacher, the ward and the assortment of sick and well children became a blur.
She was in love with him, she thought as her heartbeat thundered in her ears. It wasnât just physical attraction or lust. She loved Aaron for what he was. Caring father, loving son, dedicated doctor. And if he never looked at her again she wouldnât forget how he had made her come alive.
But she was still the woman whoâd slept with
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