The Greek Children's Doctor Page 16

  Andreas, I love you.

  Feeling suddenly sick, Libby reached down and picked up the letter, opening it up so that she could read the rest of it.

  I really enjoyed this week together and I can’t wait to be your wife.

  Your loving Eleni.

  Libby stared down at the letter for endless minutes, as if hoping that by studying the words hard enough they might alter their shape in front of her horrified eyes.

  But they didn’t.

  They stayed the same, while the sick feeling inside her grew and grew.

  Still holding the letter, she walked towards the terrace, hesitating slightly as she saw Andreas standing with his back to her, his broad shoulders blocking the view of the ocean.

  He heard her approach and turned, the smile on his face fading as he saw her.

  ‘You’re as white as a sheet. What’s the matter?’

  She swallowed and dropped the letter on the table in front of her. ‘This is the matter.’

  He frowned slightly and picked up the letter, sucking in a breath as he scanned the contents. ‘Libby—’

  ‘Just don’t even try and explain,’ she advised him shakily, backing away from him so quickly that she stumbled into one of the chairs. She reached out a hand to steady herself and found that it was trembling.

  He tensed. ‘It isn’t—’

  ‘I believed you, Andreas!’ She looked at him accusingly. ‘When you told me that I was the only woman you’d ever loved, I believed you. But you’re just like all the others. One woman isn’t enough for you!’

  Andreas swore softly and stepped towards her. ‘Will you listen to me?’

  ‘No.’ Libby shook her head firmly, ‘When you said that you were intending to propose, I didn’t realise that there was a queue. So tell me, Andreas, when exactly did you plan to fit me in?’

  ‘Eleni is not my wife.’ His voice was terse and she tried to hide the pain she was feeling.

  ‘Not yet maybe, but she obviously thinks that it’s going to happen soon.’

  Andreas gave an impatient growl and slammed his fist down on the table.

  ‘Libby, less than half an hour ago I told you that I loved you. Do you really think I would say those words when I was planning to marry another woman?’

  ‘Of course I do! Men do things like that all the time!’ Libby’s chest rose and fell as she struggled to breathe. What usually happened naturally now seemed to take considerable effort. ‘Are you seriously trying to tell me that you had no relationship with her?’

  He ran long fingers through his hair in an impatient gesture. ‘I’m not saying that, but—’

  ‘But you conveniently forgot to mention her,’ Libby interrupted hoarsely. ‘When I asked you about other women, you said that there wasn’t anyone special—’

  ‘Because there wasn’t,’ he said wearily, his hands dropping to his sides.

  ‘She thinks she’s going to marry you, Andreas.’ Libby heard her voice wobble and hated herself for it. ‘That sounds pretty special to me.’

  There was a long silence and when he looked up his eyes were tired. ‘For a short time I did think that I would marry her, but it’s history now. On the other hand, perhaps we should both be grateful that you found that note because it’s proved to both of us that you just aren’t capable of trusting anyone.’ His voice seemed to have lost all its warmth. ‘I’ve told you that I love you more times than I can count, and I’ve shown you in as many ways as I know. If you still can’t trust my feelings or your own then there’s definitely no future for us. No relationship can work without trust and you just can’t give it. You damn me without even listening to my side of the story.’

  Libby looked at him, wondering how anyone could survive such highs and lows of emotions over such a short time. Less than an hour ago he’d been promising to make babies with her. Now their relationship appeared to be in pieces.

  And he was blaming her.

  In fact, he looked angrier than she’d ever imagined he could be. She was used to him being good-humoured and relaxed about everything, but he certainly wasn’t relaxed now.

  How could he blame her? She shook her head incredulously. ‘Look at it from my point of view, Andreas. If you’d found that letter in my bedroom, what would you have done?’

  ‘What would I have done?’ His handsome face was devoid of emotion. ‘I would have asked you about it, Libby, knowing that you would have had a perfectly innocent explanation. Knowing that I was the man you loved. You see, I trust you, agape mou.’

  She looked at him in stunned silence and he shook his head slowly, his expression sad. ‘I love you, Libby, and I know you love me, but it’s never going to work between us unless you break down that great big wall you’ve built around yourself and learn to trust me, too.’

  ‘Andreas—’

  ‘Forget it.’ His jaw tightened. ‘There’s a flight leaving for Heathrow late this afternoon. I’ll book you on it. Our date is over, Libby.’

  Chapter 10

  ‘AlL right, what happened?’ Katy dragged Libby into the treatment room, her expression serious. ‘It’s been a whole week now and you still haven’t told me anything. Even Alex is worried about you. He’s ready to kill Andreas but he doesn’t know what the motive is.’

  Libby looked at her. ‘It’s just the usual.’

  Katy frowned. ‘What do you mean, the usual?’

  Libby’s eyes filled. ‘Andreas had someone else.’

  Katy stared at her for a moment and then shook her head. ‘No. No way.’

  ‘It’s true.’

  Katy wrinkled her nose and shook her head again. ‘It can’t be. Not Andreas. He loves you, Lib, I know he does.’

  Libby shrugged and tried to look casual but it was impossibly hard. She felt raw inside. ‘So? Since when has that stopped a man from forming other relationships?’

  ‘You’ve had some rotten experiences,’ Katy admitted quietly, ‘and I know how badly it’s affected you, but I’m sure that this time you’re wrong. Andreas is crazy about you. I know he is. Tell me what happened.’

  ‘I found a letter…’ Libby found herself telling every detail of that awful afternoon while Katy listened.

  ‘But it doesn’t make sense, Lib,’ her sister said finally. ‘Why would he virtually propose to you if he was planning to marry another woman? There must be a simple explanation.’

  ‘The explanation is that he’s the same as every other man,’ Libby said stiffly, and Katy shook her head.

  ‘You’re not thinking straight,’ she said. ‘I’m absolutely sure that Andreas isn’t the sort of man who would have two women on the go at the same time. He’s too traditional. For goodness’ sake, Lib, can’t you see that?’

  Libby stared at her. ‘What do you mean?’

  Katy sighed. ‘For a bright girl, you’re very dense when it comes to people. He’s Greek, Libby. Family is hugely important to him. You said that he’d virtually proposed to you. Why would he do that if he was in love with someone else?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Libby confessed, ‘and he didn’t offer any sort of explanation.’

  ‘Knowing you, you went in with all guns blazing and didn’t give the guy a chance to explain.’

  Libby stiffened defensively and then her shoulders sagged. That was exactly what had happened. For the first time she wondered if she’d been too hasty. Maybe there was an innocent explanation for the letter.

  ‘I just find it impossible to trust him,’ she said miserably. ‘It’s me, Katy. It’s all my fault. I’m so messed up I don’t think I’ll ever be able to trust anyone. Perhaps you’d better just shoot me.’

  Katy sighed and gave her a hug. ‘I’m not going to shoot you. We’re busy enough in A and E as it is. And you’re not messed up. You’re just very wary of being hurt after everything that’s happened in your life. It’s the same with Alex. You’re both commitment-phobes and I suppose our parents can take the blame for that really. We grew up watching a perfect example of a disastrous r
elationship. But you’ve got to put that behind you, Lib.’

  Libby struggled for control. ‘I don’t know how.’

  ‘Do you love him?’

  Libby gave her a wobbly smile. ‘Oh, yes. So much.’

  Katy beamed. ‘Well, that’s good.’

  ‘Is it?’ Libby sniffed and rummaged in her pocket for a tissue. It certainly didn’t feel good. It felt agonisingly painful and getting through each day was a mammoth exercise in willpower.

  ‘Of course it’s good. A month ago you didn’t think you could ever fall in love. At least you’ve moved past that stage.’

  ‘I think I preferred that stage,’ Libby said miserably. ‘It didn’t hurt as much as this stage.’

  Katy ignored her. ‘All you need to do now is relax and trust him.’

  ‘It’s too late,’ Libby said. ‘He’s already decided I’m a lost cause.’

  Katy shook her head. ‘You really are hopeless sometimes. You can’t switch love on and off, Lib. If he loves you then he loves you. And I’m willing to bet he’s suffering as much as you are.’

  ‘He said that our relationship didn’t have a future.’

  ‘Until you learn to trust him,’ Katy finished, and Libby looked at her helplessly.

  ‘You make it sound so simple but I have absolutely no idea how to do that.’ She looked at her sister. ‘How do I do that?’

  Katy smiled. ‘You have to believe that what you share is special. That it isn’t something he could possibly find with anyone else.’ She paused. ‘Is it special, Libby?’

  Libby stared at her, remembering the way she and Andreas had connected from the first moment they’d met, the laughter they’d shared, how well they worked together—and then she remembered their incredible physical relationship.

  ‘It’s special,’ she croaked finally, and Katy’s smile broadened.

  ‘Good. Admitting that is the first step to learning to trust. Why would he damage anything so special?’

  ‘Because men do that all the time?’

  Katy shook her head. ‘No. I disagree. There are plenty of mediocre and bad relationships out there and it’s hardly surprising that they go wrong because they were always wrong. But when a relationship is special it stays special and it doesn’t go wrong, Libby. It just grows stronger. Providing you let it.’

  Libby gave a wobbly smile. ‘You’re back to your psychiatrist mode again. Are you leaving A and E?’

  Katy glanced at her watch and pulled a face. ‘If I don’t get back to work soon, the answer is very probably. But I’m serious, Libby. You have to acknowledge that what you have together is something that neither of you is going to throw away.’

  Libby stood still, recognising the truth in her sister’s words. What she and Andreas shared was special. ‘So what do I do?’

  Katy grinned. ‘You go for it, angel. If you want him—and I know that you do—then don’t let him get away.’

  ‘What if he doesn’t want me any more? What if it’s too late?’

  Katy sighed. ‘You’re doing it again—not trusting your relationship. Not believing in the love you have for each other. Love doesn’t die overnight, Libby. Andreas still wants you, but he wants you to believe that what you share is special, too. You need to show him that you do. You need to show him that it’s so special you’re not going to give up on it.’ She gave her sister another hug and then made for the door. ‘I want to be your matron-of-honour while I still have something resembling a waistline so you’d better get a move on.’

  With that she pushed open the door of the treatment room and left Libby to return to the ward, totally distracted by their conversation.

  ‘There you are.’ Bev hurried up, an expression of relief on her face. ‘The SHO just called us from A and E. He’s taken a call from a GP who’s sending in a three-year-old with a high fever and vomiting. Can you get the side room ready?’

  Libby hurried off to do as Bev requested and as an afterthought laid up a trolley for a lumbar puncture just in case it was needed.

  She’d just finished the room when the little boy arrived on the ward accompanied by the paramedics who’d been called by the GP.

  ‘This is Max King,’ one of the paramedics told her. ‘He’s been ill since last night but he’s gone downhill very fast.’

  Jonathon, the SHO, was by his side and looked distinctly flustered. ‘I’ve been calling Andreas, but I’m not getting an answer,’ he muttered to Libby. She sensed immediately that he was out of his depth and one glance at the child confirmed the reason.

  The little boy was drowsy and irritable and his breathing was rapid. One touch of his dry, scorching skin confirmed that his temperature was sky-high.

  ‘All right, Max,’ she soothed gently, ‘we’ll soon have you sorted out.’

  ‘I’ll try bleeping Andreas again,’ the SHO muttered, and Libby caught his arm as he went to leave the room.

  ‘Has the child had penicillin yet?’ she asked urgently, lowering her voice so that the parents didn’t hear her question him.

  The SHO shook his head and glanced at the little boy. ‘I was waiting for Andreas to look at him. There’s no rash or anything, so I didn’t think—’

  ‘Get some penicillin inside him now,’ Libby ordered softly, knowing that the doctor was still relatively inexperienced and not wanting to take any chances. ‘There doesn’t have to be a rash for it to be meningitis and that child is very sick. Do it, and then we can do the rest of the investigations knowing that at least we’ve covered that option. He’s showing definite signs of raised intracranial pressure.’

  She’d nursed children with meningitis before and she knew that the presentation often varied. But it was still a lethal disease and she wasn’t taking any chances while they waited for Andreas.

  Jonathon hesitated and then nodded. ‘All right. If you think so.’

  ‘I do,’ Libby said firmly, reaching for the penicillin that she’d put on the trolley. She turned to the parents, her tone calm and reassuring. ‘We’re just going to give him some antibiotics. Do you know his weight?’

  She calculated the dose based on what the parents told her and then handed it to Jonathon, who checked it and gave it to the restless child.

  Max’s mother, Heather, was white with anxiety. ‘You think it might be meningitis, don’t you?’

  ‘It’s a possibility,’ Libby said gently, ‘which is why we’ve given the penicillin at the earliest time, but our consultant will be here soon and—’

  ‘I’m here.’

  Libby felt a rush of relief as she recognised the voice behind her. She’d never been so pleased to see Andreas in her life.

  ‘This is Dr Christakos.’ She introduced him to the parents, realising just how much she loved him. Just how much faith she had in him.

  Andreas was by the child’s side in an instant, taking the handover from Jonathon as he examined the sick little boy.

  ‘You poor little thing,’ he murmured gently, his large hands gently palpating the child’s abdomen. ‘Jonathon, has he had penicillin?’

  ‘Yes.’ The SHO shot Libby a look of gratitude. ‘Libby thought we should go ahead with that and not wait for you.’

  ‘Good decision.’

  Andreas completed his examination and straightened. ‘I want to do a lumbar puncture straight away—can you lay up a trolley?’

  ‘It’s here.’ Libby pushed it forward and a small smile played around his firm mouth.

  ‘Do you ever get anything wrong?’

  Her heart beat slightly faster. ‘Yes. But when I do, I try to put it right.’

  For a brief moment his dark eyes were questioning and then he strode over to the sink and started scrubbing, talking to the parents as he prepared to perform the lumbar puncture.

  He explained what he was planning to do and why, and Heather clung to her husband, the worry visible on her face.

  ‘Perhaps you would rather wait outside while we do this,’ Andreas suggested, but Heather shook her head.

&n
bsp; ‘No. I don’t want to leave him.’

  Andreas looked at Libby. ‘We’ll do it in the treatment room. I want to get a line in first but then someone needs to hold him for the LP.’

  ‘I’ll hold him,’ she said immediately, ‘and I’ll ask Bev to find someone to assist you.’

  Moments later they were all gathered in the treatment room and Andreas inserted a line with ease. That done, Libby gently turned Max on his side, talking quietly to him all the time.

  She curved the little boy round so that his knees were up by his chin, flexing the spine, and watched while Andreas marked the skin with a pen and then draped and sterilised the area.

  Bev settled Heather at the head of the trolley. ‘Sit there and talk to him,’ she suggested quietly, ‘but keep your back to Dr Christakos and then you won’t have to watch what’s happening.’

  Andreas infiltrated the skin with local anaesthetic and then tested the site, his eyes flickering to hers.

  ‘Are you ready?’ She nodded and held Max firmly, knowing how crucial it was that the child didn’t move during the procedure.

  She watched as Andreas inserted the LP needle, talking quietly to the child and occasionally making a comment to Jonathon who was watching.

  Bev had three little bottles ready and Andreas let four drops of fluid fall into each bottle.

  Once Andreas was satisfied, he withdrew the needle and cleaned the site before covering it with the dressing that Bev had ready.

  ‘All done.’ He pushed his chair away from the side of the trolley and stood up, ripping off his gloves and dropping them in the nearest bin. ‘We’ll get those samples to the lab urgently and in the meantime we’ll get a line in and start getting fluids into the little chap.’

  Max had stopped wailing now and was lying on the trolley, moaning quietly.

  Andreas turned to his SHO with a list of instructions and tests that he wanted performed. He was leaving absolutely nothing to chance.

  ‘Let’s get him back to the room and let him sleep,’ he said quietly, his gaze flickering to the parents. ‘I’m sorry. This is all very worrying for you, I know, and I’m aware that we haven’t had much time for explanations because of the urgency of the situation. If there is anything you’d like to ask me now, please do so.’