Their Newborn Baby Gift

CHAPTER TWO

MAYBE IT WAS the jet lag.

Or perhaps it was that his new life was not beginning quite as smoothly as he would have liked.

Ryan Walker arrived at Hope Children’s Hospital’s opening gala alone. His companion for this event had started to feel unwell by the time they’d entered the main building of the hospital. Ryan had offered to drive her back to her hotel but Tiffany had sobered up enough to be embarrassed about her behaviour and had insisted on calling a friend to collect her. It was with a sigh of relief that Ryan took an elevator to the top floor. He wouldn’t have wanted to meet any of his new colleagues with an inebriated woman hanging onto his arm. It was embarrassing enough that she’d knocked over that cute little blonde in the car park.

He hoped that stranger was all right. Oddly, he found himself still thinking about her as he stood for a moment to observe the crowded event. Maybe it had been her petite size that had made him feel like she might need looking after. Or maybe it was the way she’d been so keen to get away from him given that Ryan wasn’t used to women reacting that way to his attention. He’d taken a second glance as he’d left the car park, only to see her getting into the car next to where he’d parked his rental. A staff car parking area, so maybe he’d see her again somewhere and could apologise again?

He hoped so. In the meantime, he was here to introduce himself to as many people as he could and a good place to start was obviously the man who was in charge. It was lucky that he could recognise Theo Hawkwood so easily after the video call conversations they’d had. And how flattering had it been that he’d been headhunted to join the team of this new centre of excellence that was just getting off the ground?

‘Theo...’ Ryan extended his hand. ‘It’s so good to meet you in person, at last.’

‘Ryan... So glad you could make it. I was hoping to give you a tour of the hospital today but it’s been a bit crazy, thanks to this event.’

‘No worries. My flight got held up in Singapore so I didn’t have the chance to get here earlier. I’ll look forward to a tour tomorrow. I’ve still got a day or two before my first theatre list, yes?’

‘Of course. Come and find me first thing in the morning. In the meantime, let me introduce you to a few people.’ Theo turned to the man next to him. ‘Starting with Marco Ricci, one of our general paediatric surgeons. Marco, this is Ryan Walker, our new neonatal cardiac surgeon.’

‘Delighted.’ Marco shook Ryan’s hand. ‘Can I find you a drink?’

Ryan shook his head. He was still unimpressed with Tiffany’s earlier behaviour. Who would have expected cabin crew to let their hair down quite that much on a night off? And, with that thought, he was reminded again of the woman who’d been knocked over. Not really blonde, exactly—more like a pale redhead. Different...

There were a lot of people who wanted to talk to Theo and Ryan found himself left with Marco.

‘That’s Alice Baxter.’ Marco pointed out a slender woman with strikingly pale blonde hair. ‘My boss.’

Ryan’s eyebrows rose at something in his tone. ‘Oh?’ Good grief, this hospital had only been up and running for a short time. Were there politics going on already?

‘She’s bossy.’ But Marco’s smile was charming enough to suggest that this might not be a criticism. ‘I’m waiting to find out if she’ll loosen up a bit after a glass of champagne, perhaps.’

‘So who else is here from the surgical team?’

‘Hmm...’ Marco looked around. ‘Finn Morgan should be here, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he isn’t. I’ve never seen him at a social event.’

‘Are there a lot of them?’

‘Not really. But I’m sure there’ll be more as we get closer to Christmas. So, what would you like to know about Hope Hospital?’

‘Tell me about ICU,’ Ryan said. ‘I can do my best in Theatre but the standard of aftercare is obviously critical to the best outcome.’

‘Oh, you’ll be impressed. Come with me and I’ll introduce you to the head of the department. She’ll want to meet you, as well. I think I spotted her a while back, on the other side of the dance floor.’

Ryan followed Marco, smiling at people as they nudged their way through the crowd and pausing to provide his name to a woman with a photographer who’d just snapped his picture. His work with children’s charities made this a familiar environment and no doubt he’d be meeting some of these people again soon enough. He already had tickets to a charity ball in London in a few weeks’ time. He was happy enough to be starting his new position with a party but what Ryan was really looking forward to was the peace and quiet of an operating theatre and being able to focus on what he did best.

Mending broken little hearts.

* * *

It felt peaceful already.

The main ICU reception area was not staffed at this time of night. Administration tasks could wait until normal working hours and visitors were restricted so Evie’s work station was deserted and the lights dim.

That wasn’t where she was heading, however. Behind Reception was a corridor that led to the staffroom, departmental library, overnight bedrooms, changing rooms and showers. She used her coded lanyard to gain access to the female changing rooms and paused by the shelves just inside the door, choosing her size in the teddy bear printed scrub trousers and tunic top. Getting changed, she realised just how bad the rip in her skirt was. Maybe she would ask Janine, the nurse manager who was on tonight, if it would be okay if she wore the scrubs home tonight.

Moving towards the mirrors, Evie found a hairbrush in her bag and dealt with the mess of her hair, brushing it smooth and then braiding it into a simple plait to hang halfway down her back. It was only as she looped the tie around the end of the braid that she realised what was odd about her reflection and she froze in horror.

Where was her necklace?

Her touchstone?

Desperately, Evie tried to think of where she might have lost it. Not long ago, that was certain, because she remembered the feel of it below her fingers when she’d been talking to Theo.

Her fingers were resting on bare skin now, the image of Theo in his tuxedo in her mind. Then she remembered another figure in a tux. Helping her up from the ground. That fall had done more than rip her skirt, obviously. Somehow the necklace must have caught and the chain had been broken.

Evie breathed out slowly, resisting the impulse to change back out of the scrubs and go looking for the necklace right now. It was a staff car park and the only value of the jewellery was sentimental so if someone found it, surely they would hand it in to the main reception desk? And if nobody had noticed it in the dark, which was more likely, it would still be there when she went back to her car.

This time was precious, too, because it was Evie’s favourite thing in the world to do and she knew that others appreciated her efforts.

She was good at it, as well.

Janine gave her a smile of welcome that made her feel special as she buzzed herself through the main doors of the ICU.

‘It’s our baby whisperer. No way... I was just saying that it was a shame you were busy at the gala tonight.’

‘I decided I’d rather do some cuddling. Is that okay?’

‘Are you kidding? You must have known you were needed. Baby Alfie’s mum had to go home to the rest of the kids and he just won’t settle. Come right this way...’

Beside each oval crib or incubator here was a comfortable chair with a padded seat and back but designed to look like an old-fashioned rocking chair, complete with rockers. It was a distinctive touch that added to the unique atmosphere of this high-tech unit, rather like the sun rays set into the flooring, and it was much loved by the stressed parents who spent time with their babies here. Staff rarely had the time to sit for long to comfort the tiny patients whose parents couldn’t be here and Alfie was a prime example. Born early enough to need his breathing carefully monitored but not in need of any major interventions, his distressed whimpering had not been silenced by ventilation tubes or sedation and all he really needed at the moment was a cuddle.

Evie settled herself in the chair and Janine took the tiny bundle, swaddled in a blanket with a woolly hat on his head, and put him into Evie’s arms.

‘He’s been fed and changed recently so he just needs to sleep,’ Janine whispered. ‘Work your magic, Evie.’

The magic needed to work both ways tonight, Evie thought, stroking the tiny screwed-up face with a gentle finger.

‘Shh...shh...shh...it’s okay, Alfie... Everything’s okay...’

She cradled the baby, rocking slowly in the chair and making soft, soothing and often nonsensical conversation with this tiny person.

Around her, staff members worked quietly with the more serious cases under their care. A doctor came for one of them and Evie noticed an incubator being wheeled away, probably to the procedures room. She sent silent good wishes along with the entourage.

The beeping of the equipment was muted, voices were kept low and the lighting was as dim as it could be to still allow staff to work. Alfie’s whimpering was already becoming just the occasional snuffle and squeak and Evie closed her eyes, aware of nothing more than the weight and warmth of this precious bundle.

It was a kind of meditation and she could actually feel her own heart rate and breathing slowing. The stress of an overly busy day, the never-ending pressure from her family, even the fright of that fall in the car park and that disconcertingly intense scrutiny that stranger had given her were receding as noticeably as an outgoing tide.

This was Evie’s time.

But, like all good things, it had to end. Whatever crisis had occurred in the unit had been dealt with and Janine finally returned. Alfie had been sound asleep for a long time but Evie would have stayed there much longer if she could have.

‘You need to go home.’ Janine smiled. ‘You’ve got work in the morning, remember? And Alfie needs to sleep on his apnoea mattress. Just in case.’

‘Of course.’ Evie’s arms felt empty as Janine lifted the baby. ‘Anyone else need a cuddle?’

Janine shook her head. ‘Next time.’

Evie watched as Alfie was settled into the incubator and the monitors checked and then she followed Janine back to the central station.

‘Would it be okay if I brought the scrubs back in the morning? I had a bit of an accident with my skirt and it’s not really wearable.’

‘Sure. No problem. And thanks, Evie. You were a real help tonight. I hope you don’t regret not going to the gala.’

Evie shook her head. ‘Things like that aren’t really my thing, you know? I’m too much of a homebody.’

‘You’re a treasure,’ Janine told her. ‘Go home and sleep well.’

* * *

The delicious grounding that baby cuddling had provided took a hit as Evie went out into the cold night air. Her coat on over the borrowed scrubs, her work clothes stuffed into her shoulder bag, she walked into the car park with her head down, searching for a metallic glint against the asphalt.

How was she going to confess to her dad that she’d lost the treasured keepsake? Oh...and had she put that pack of blood glucose testing strips in her bag? Evie had to pause for a moment and fish under the wadded clothing to feel for the outline of the box in her bag. Her brain was jumping back into reality fast now. Was Stella home from her school disco yet? Had Bobby done his homework? Had anybody washed the dishes?

The box was there. With a sigh, Evie carried on but she knew the search was pointless. She was past the spot where she had fallen now. Almost at her car, in fact. Finally raising her gaze from ground level, she became instantly aware of two things.

The first was that the flashy red car was still parked alongside hers.

The second, and far more alarming thing, was that the man who presumably owned the car was leaning against it. Watching her.

Waiting for her?

And then Evie gasped as she noticed a third thing. Below the white cuffs at the bottom of the black sleeves of this man’s tuxedo, something was dangling from his hand. A gold chain. A gold chain that had a heart-shaped topaz.

‘I’m thinking this might be yours?’

He was smiling at her, but the generous curl of his lips didn’t match that intense stare and Evie couldn’t smile back.

Who was this man?

A complete stranger but she recognised something about him.

No. It was something she was recognising about herself. Heavens...had it been that long since she’d experienced a real physical attraction to anybody? So long, it took a moment to interpret that odd sensation that started deep in her belly and then spread like wildfire through her veins.

Any smile she might have dredged up was nowhere to be found now.

She’d felt like this once before, hadn’t she? And look how well that had ended up. She’d kept herself safe ever since and that wasn’t about to change now.

‘It is, indeed,’ she said, her tone clipped. ‘I realised it must have broken when I...um...fell over.’

‘When you were pushed over, you mean. I must apologise again. My...ah...companion was a bit over the limit.’

‘Mmm...’ Evie wasn’t about to excuse the woman’s behaviour. Where was she, anyway? A quick sideways glance told her that nobody was sitting in the car waiting for him.

‘The least I can do is have it fixed for you.’

‘No.’ Evie stepped forward, her hand outstretched. ‘That’s really not necessary. But thanks for the offer.’

He seemed reluctant to let the necklace go so Evie had to try and take it from his hand. The instant her fingers touched his, however, the awareness of skin against skin was electric and she instinctively snatched her hand away again.

Wow... Now she remembered the way his grip on her arm had started to burn and that had been with a protective layer of clothing between them. That touch had been...had been like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

It had happened so fast it was no more than a slight hesitation but if she didn’t cover it up just as fast, this was going to get awkward.

Okay...it was awkward already and it had only taken a heartbeat. Had he felt that jolt as well or was he just aware that she had. Why couldn’t he just reach out himself and hand her the damn necklace?

Evie couldn’t look up and meet his gaze. Because she knew he was staring at her and she also knew that he would be able to see exactly why she’d had to snatch her hand away.

He wasn’t even saying anything to diffuse the weird tension that had sprung from nowhere.

It was only another tiny moment of time. Just enough to suck in a single breath but the silence seemed charged.

And then it was broken.

Not by this man saying anything. Or Evie saying anything. Or the footfalls of anyone else arriving in the car park. It was broken by another sound. High-pitched and wobbly. Like a kitten mewing.

Except that Evie spent enough time around babies to think it was very unlikely to be a kitten.

‘Did you hear that?’ Her head turned so that she could look in the direction the sound had come from—that bank of wheelie bins tucked out of sight at the back of the hospital. The bin on the end was one of those wire mesh ones that took folded cardboard for recycling but someone hadn’t bothered to squash one of the boxes and put it in the bin. This box was tucked between the recycling bin and a solid bin but it was poking out far enough to make it easily noticeable.

Another tiny mew cut through the still air and Evie turned her whole body now, her necklace completely forgotten. She was aware that the stranger was following her as she ran towards the box but it didn’t matter. Any tension between them had been forgotten along with the necklace, in the face of something far more concerning.

* * *

Ryan dropped the necklace into his pocket with a sigh as he followed this suddenly rather irritating small woman.

He wanted to get to his bed and sleep off his jet lag so he could be on form for his first day on the new job tomorrow. When he’d spotted the glint of jewellery on the way back to his car, he’d known instantly that it probably belonged to her. It had been a surprise to find the car that he’d seen her open was still there, parked alongside his, so he’d been waiting and thinking about what to do. Take the necklace into Reception? Hang onto it in the hope of seeing her somewhere around the hospital? He’d certainly recognise her easily. He’d finally come up with the solution of tucking it under the windscreen wipers of her car when he’d seen her coming into the car park, her head bent as she walked slowly, clearly looking for her lost property.

Why hadn’t he said anything? Or walked to meet her? What had been with that odd urge to simply watch her getting closer to him? To let the anticipation build until she noticed him and met his gaze?

And what on earth could explain that really weird moment when she’d touched his hand and jerked away as if it were a hot coal? He’d felt the heat, as well.

She was ahead of him so she reached the box first, crouching down beside it. She was wearing scrubs under her coat so he assumed she was a nurse at Hope Hospital and that was a pleasing thought. He’d probably see her again, then...

‘Oh, my God...’ She was peering into the box. ‘I knew it had to be...’

‘What?’ Ryan crouched beside her. ‘Good grief...a baby?’ He lifted the box, moving to where he could catch some light from the nearest lamp. He didn’t like the colour of the baby’s face and it was clearly in some respiratory distress because it could barely summon the strength to cry. Without hesitating a moment longer, he began striding towards the back entrance of the hospital.

‘Where are you going?’ She was almost having to run to keep up with him.

‘I need to examine this baby properly. It’s not well.’

‘You need to examine it?’

‘I’m a doctor here. Or I will be tomorrow.’ He kept moving. ‘My name’s Ryan Walker.’

‘Oh... You’re the new surgeon? The Australian?’

‘Yep.’ Ryan had reached the door. Unlike the main entrance, this one needed a security pass to open it from the outside.

‘I’ll do it. I’ve got a card.’ She leaned past him. ‘I’m Evie Cooper. I work here.’

‘Where’s the emergency department? Oh, I don’t suppose there is one, with this being a private hospital?’

‘I work in Intensive Care,’ Evie told him. ‘Let’s take him there.’

Ryan nodded as he followed her inside. ‘Lead the way. And let’s hurry.’

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