Six Sexy Doctors Part 2

‘She’s fine. But the sooner she gets to the special care baby unit in Glasgow the happier I’ll be. She’s going to need some intensive nursing for the next few days, but the biggest danger’s past. Nicely done, everyone.’ Cameron smiled his relief at Meagan. ‘Particularly you, Dr Galbraith. Welcome to the team.’

Katie, coming around from the anaesthetic, opened her eyes and, although still very sleepy, was alert enough to know that everything had gone well.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered, her eyes fixed on her baby

‘We’re not out of the woods yet,’ Cameron warned her, ‘but I suspect that in a short while we’ll be welcoming you and baby home. ‘

‘The air ambulance is here. And Neil has just arrived,’ called Dorothy, who had left theatre to investigate. Meagan felt the tension leave her body. The quicker mother and baby were safely in Glasgow, the better. As soon as the crew from the air ambulance were ready with their stretcher, they transferred Katie and wheeled her out to the waiting aircraft. Meagan followed them with the warmly wrapped newborn, who had been placed in an incubator. Cameron settled his patients, ensuring he had easy access to them both should they require help during the short flight. Within minutes the plane was making its final preparations for take-off.

‘Meagan, you’ll have to take the on-call tonight until I get back. In the meantime, if there are any problems, give one of the GPs in the other practice a shout. They’ll be glad to help. Won’t they, Dr Lake?’ he said over his shoulder. ‘I should be back in a few hours.’

And with a flurry of activity the plane took off with the small family for its return journey to Glasgow.

Once Meagan had written up her notes, she left the hospital. Before he left, Cameron had suggested that she leave the remaining visits until the next day as there wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait and it was now well after five o’clock.

However, Meagan thought that she would call on Effie as she knew that Jessie would be expecting her. After all, Grimsay House was on her way home. She would pop in on her way back from the surgery after she’d written up the notes on the other patients they’d seen that afternoon.

Jessie had heeded Meagan’s advice and kept Effie in bed for a second day, although, judging by the child’s high spirits, she was going to be up and about as soon as she could. Like the day before, Jessie insisted that Meagan follow her to the kitchen for tea and ‘a wee bite to eat’. It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but she remembered what Cameron had said earlier in the day. Besides, she enjoyed Jessie’s easy company.

‘Well, Meagan—Dr Galbraith—you’ve certainly made an impact on your first few days on our island!’ Jessie said as she buttered pancakes. ‘First your near miss on the road and then saving the life of Katie White’s new baby. The phone lines were hot when the air ambulance was spotted arriving. We haven’t had this much excitement on the island since Donald Bhan’s bull chased a hapless tourist last year. I think I’m going to like having you around,’ Jessie chuckled.

Meagan smiled ruefully. ‘I keep forgetting how quickly news spreads on the island. Yes, we were lucky with Mrs White’s baby but that’s our job. It shouldn’t be made more of than that.’

‘Oh, don’t be so modest. Everyone says you and Cameron made a fantastic team. We are very lucky to have you here.’

‘Thanks Jessie,’ Meagan replied, deciding to accept the praise with good grace. ‘But, please, call me Meagan. And, besides, you are right—it was a team effort. Cameron really is an excellent doctor. The island is lucky to have someone with his level of experience with children here.’

‘And good-looking, too,’ Jessie added with a teasing look at Meagan.

‘Is he? I can’t say I noticed,’ Meagan lied, hoping that a tell-tale blush wasn’t staining her cheeks. The last thing she needed or wanted was speculation about her and Cameron.

‘Please, don’t get any ideas Jessie,’ she continued, more sharply than she had intended. ‘Cameron and I are colleagues and apart from the fact that I’m not looking for romance, I happen to think it’s a bad idea for colleagues to get involved. Anyway, I very much doubt if I am the kind of woman to interest Dr Stuart,’ she finished with a fleeting smile. ‘And what’s more, he and Rachel still seem involved.’

‘Ah, Cameron and Rachel. I guess you know that they were married. And that Ian’s their son?’

‘They still seem to be a couple. Doesn’t she still live here?’ Meagan tried hard to keep the curiosity from her voice.

‘Rachel lives in London most of the time. Ian lives here, with his father. Rachel comes back every couple of weeks to see Ian and naturally she stays here. There is no shortage of space after all.’

‘Why doesn’t Ian live with his mother?’ Meagan asked. ‘Wouldn’t that be the usual arrangement?’

‘Cameron feels he can provide a more stable environment for him here. Mrs MacLeod and I help look after him when Cameron’s at work. And, besides, all this will be Ian’s one day. It’s right that he’s brought up here. And anyway…’ She bit her lip as if she had started to say something and then changed her mind. ‘Hey, I thought you weren’t interested in Cameron.’ She grinned at Meagan.

‘I’m not,’ Meagan protested. Then, feeling as if she had been too forceful, she added, ‘Or at any rate, only to the extent anyone is interested in the people they work with. But, yes, let’s talk about something else. You, for instance.’

Apart from a perceptive look at Meagan, Jessie wisely changed the subject.

As they chatted like old friends, they arranged to meet up for a bar supper one evening. Jessie would get her mother to look after Effie so that she could enjoy a rare night out.

Meagan eventually returned home around eight that evening. She had wanted to ensure that all the notes were up to date and that the nurses had an opportunity to tell her about any patients who might call her out that night. Despite Cameron telling her that he’d take over the on-call when he returned from Glasgow, Meagan was sure he’d be too tired and had instructed the staff to direct all emergencies to her. She had also had to make a call on a young woman who had a suspected fracture. Meagan had dispatched her by road to the hospital for an X-ray and the cast that Meagan was confident she’d require.

She had just finished stoking up the fire and warming up the pan of stew with dumplings that Mrs Macleod had left for her when there was a knock on the door. Meagan opened it to find Cameron leaning against the doorframe. As she had suspected he was exhausted. Lines of tiredness etched his face.

Noticing her anxious appraisal of him and thinking it related to Katie, Cameron was quick to reassure Meagan. ‘I thought I’d call on my way home to let you know that mother and baby are doing well,’ he said, smiling his lopsided grin, ‘and to pick up the on-call report.’ He sniffed the air appreciatively. ‘Let me guess. Mrs MacLeod’s famous stew and dumplings?’

‘You guessed right. Please, won’t you join me? You couldn’t have had anything to eat for hours,’ Meagan offered, keen to build on the camaraderie that they appeared to be establishing.

‘Now, that’s an offer I can’t refuse,’ said Cameron, stepping through to the tiny kitchen. His broad frame seemed to fill the room. ‘Knowing Flora, she’ll have made enough to feed an army. And I am ravenous.’

As they sat and ate, they chatted comfortably about the day’s events. Having informed him she would remain on call for the night, Meagan brought him up to date on the evening surgery and the patient that she had sent to hospital.

As they drank their coffee they chatted companionably about work and Meagan found herself telling him about her experiences with Médecins Sans Frontières.

‘Of course,’ she admitted, ‘it wasn’t all success stories. We lost many patients we shouldn’t have, either through lack equipment or through lack of proper experience.’ Memories of the patients’ they had lost caused her eyes to fill momentarily with tears and she missed the look of compassion in Cameron’s eyes.

Cameron was finding the mixture of enthusiasm and sadness in the young woman who sat across from him aroused feelings that he hadn’t known for a long time. She was unaware that the passion she felt for her work showed in her face and gestures as she talked animatedly about her time abroad.

He also knew what it was like to lose a patient to inexperience. Even if that inexperience hadn’t been his, he had still felt responsible.

Almost without knowing what he was doing, he leant across and gently brushed a tear from her face. He’d like to banish the sadness from this woman’s eyes.

Cameron watched as the conflicting emotions chased themselves across Meagan’s face. Despite himself, he was still powerfully attracted to her. Mesmerised, he reached over to her and pulled her up and against him. For a long moment they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes before Cameron stood up and, muttering something in Gaelic, pulled her towards him, cupping her chin in one hand while tracing the contours of her mouth with the slender fingers of his other hand. Suddenly with a groan he covered her mouth with his, gently at first then, as he felt her response, more urgently. She felt his body grow hard with desire and she moulded her body to his. Time seem to stand still as they explored each other’s bodies with their mouths and hands. Cameron let his hands travel over her breasts down to encircle her narrow waist before they came to rest on her hips, pulling her ever closer. The part of Meagan’s mind that was still rational was shocked, but the other part had long ago thrown caution to the wind. All she wanted at that moment was for Cameron not to stop but to possess her completely, extinguishing the last shred of the hurt of Charlie’s betrayal.

Just then the shrill sound of the telephone cut through the air. Cameron released her reluctantly and for a moment they stood looking at each other and breathing deeply. Cameron’s eyes glowed almost black with passion

‘You better get that,’ Cameron suggested. ‘It could be someone looking for the on-call doctor.’

Still a little dazed, Meagan answered the phone.

It was a patient, complaining of a sore foot. Meagan offered to visit but the patient, a man in his early forties, was adamant that she wasn’t to put herself out. He’d be happy, he reassured her, if he could come and see her the next day at the surgery. And really he wouldn’t have called at all if his wife hadn’t made him.

Satisfied that she had done all she could, Meagan advised some painkillers to help him sleep. ‘Come and see me at the surgery tomorrow,’ she said, then ended the call.

When Meagan returned to the sitting room Cameron was standing, hands deep in his pockets, looking distant.

‘Who was it?’ he asked, his voice cool.

‘Someone complaining of a sore foot. I’ve arranged to see him at the surgery tomorrow. A Mr McLean.’ Meagan was puzzled by the change in Cameron.

‘Robert McLean?’ Cameron asked sharply. ‘From Howbeg?’

‘Yes,’ Meagan replied. ‘Do you know him?’

Cameron looked thoughtful. ‘Robert MacLean. The patient we didn’t make it to today. He has a long history of unstable diabetes. He rarely calls the doctor out but when he does it usually means that it’s something quite serious.’ He frowned. ‘Really, Meagan, you should have taken a more detailed history over the phone or at the very least passed the call to me.’

Meagan was dismayed and hurt by his attitude. OK, she probably should have taken a more detailed history, but the patient had seemed reluctant for her to visit and had seemed satisfied to see her the next morning. Cameron’s annoyance seemed out of proportion to the situation.

‘If I had known he had a history of diabetes, of course I would have gone to see him. In fact,’ she said ‘I’ll go and see him now.’

‘No, I’ll go. I think its better—don’t you? And in future please take the time to read the notes of patients before making a decision whether or not to visit.’

Meagan could hardly believe that the man in front of her was the same man who only a short time ago had been making love to her. What on earth had got into her? Hadn’t she only hours before promised herself that she would keep him at a distance? And, as far as she knew, there was still something between him and Rachel. She had let this man tramp all over her feelings once before, and it seemed as if he was quite prepared to do so again—if she let him.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said stiffly. ‘It won’t happen again.’ She knew that he knew she wasn’t just referring to the patient.

‘And, Meagan—’ he turned towards her as he made to leave ‘—I think it would be better if we both forgot about what just happened here. Please, forgive me—I had no right.’

Meagan felt herself grow warm with humiliation. Clearly he regretted his lapse in self-control as well as continuing to harbour reservations about her medical abilities.

Well, more fool her for believing that he was different. She wouldn’t make that mistake again in a hurry. She would never let him, or any man, catch her off guard again, she vowed silently.

She held the door open. ‘At least we agree on something. It most certainly was a mistake—I can’t imagine what either of us was thinking.’ She laughed but it was a mirthless sound. ‘Don’t worry, I have no intention of repeating tonight so you can relax.’

Cameron hesitated. He could see the hurt reflected in her green eyes. Damn the woman. He wondered if she knew how little she was able to disguise her emotions. He resisted the impulse to reach out and pull her back into his arms. It was better this way. Although he felt more attracted to Meagan than he would have thought possible, she was still vulnerable, and the last thing he wanted to do was take advantage of her susceptibility. If she were any other woman he’d consider having an affair, but she wasn’t just any other woman. She had been hurt and he wouldn’t be responsible for hurting her again. And he would hurt her. He knew that for certain. Rachel had made it very clear that she wouldn’t tolerate him marrying again. She had made it perfectly clear that she would seek custody of Ian if there was even a hint he was interested in another woman. She knew him well enough to know he would never risk losing his son. No, it was far better that Meagan thought him weak and selfish and that they kept their relationship strictly professional.

‘Goodnight, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ As Meagan closed the door behind him, he cursed under his breath. How could he have made such a mess of his life?

CHAPTER FOUR

THE next few days were so busy that Meagan had little time to think. If she had ever believed that being a general practitioner on a small island would be an easy option, she had been mistaken. Her surgeries were busy, although Meagan suspected that some of her patients were there just to have a look at the new doctor. But there were plenty of genuine cases to keep her constantly challenged. She didn’t see much of Cameron, and when she did he was friendly but distant, and that suited her perfectly.

She was having a quick cup of coffee between patients when the practice nurse came in to see her, her brow puckered with worry.

‘Meagan, do you have a moment?’ she asked.

‘Sure, Sophie. What is it?’

‘Could you see someone for me? I’ve been doing the baby clinic and I noticed that one of the mothers isn’t well. She’s breathless—more than I’d expect—and I don’t know…she just doesn’t look right. She says she’s been like this for a week or two, and its just flu or something. Dr MacDonald gave her antibiotics when he saw her before he left, but she’s no better. She’s insisting that she doesn’t need to see a doctor but would you mind having a quick look at her for me? I would have asked Cameron, but he’s at the hospital. I’m worried if I let her leave without seeing a doctor, she won’t come back.’

‘Of course, Sophie. Show her in.’

A moment or two later, the nurse ushered in a young exhausted-looking woman in with her baby. Sophie handed Meagan the woman’s notes. A quick glance told Meagan that the patient had three children. Her youngest was five months old.

‘I’m sorry, Doctor. I don’t mean to be a bother. I told Sophie that it was nothing. I’m just a bit rundown. Nothing a whole night’s sleep wouldn’t put right.’ The young woman looked tired, as well she might with three children under five, but she also looked as if she had lost weight recently. Her trousers and blouse looked at least one size too big for her.

But it was as she spoke that alarm bells began to ring in Meagan’s head. The woman was having to stop to catch her breath every few words.

‘Have a seat, Mrs Munro. Since you’re here I may as well take a quick look.’

‘It’s Rhona,’ she replied, giving Meagan a tired smile, reluctantly taking a seat and settling the baby on her lap. ‘It’s just that I have another two kids at home. A neighbour is looking after them for me, but I need to get back. They can be a bit of a handful.’ Rhona smiled ruefully. ‘Its no wonder I’m exhausted.’

Meagan lifted the child from Rhona’s lap. The little girl protested, reaching chubby arms towards her mother.

‘Well, this little one is fine at any rate. Do you mind if Sophie holds her while I have a quick listen to your chest?’

As Meagan listened to Rhona’s lungs, her anxiety deepened. There was something wrong.

‘Any history of asthma? TB?’ she asked.

Rhona shook her head. ‘Dr MacDonald thought I might have a chest infection when I came to see him a couple of weeks ago. He put me on antibiotics.’

‘And have they helped?’ Meagan asked. She looked at the notes Colin had made in his neat hand. He hadn’t been totally convinced that Rhona had had a chest infection, but had prescribed a course of antibiotics and asked her to come back and see him in a week. There was no suggestion that Rhona had been back to see him.

‘Did you finish the course of antibiotics?’ Meagan asked.

Her patient nodded. ‘Dr MacDonald was insistent,’ she said. ‘But they didn’t help.’

‘I see that he asked you to come back and see him last week,’ Meagan said.

‘I know. And I meant to come, but I couldn’t find the time. The kids keep me so busy.’

After talking a thorough history and giving her another examination Meagan was beginning to suspect she knew what was wrong with her patient and she didn’t like it one bit.

She turned to Sophie, who had managed to placate the baby. ‘Sophie, would you mind seeing if Dr Stuart is back? If he is, could you ask him to come in for a minute?’

‘What is it?’ Rhona was beginning to look anxious. ‘Why do you need Dr Stuart? I told you, a day or two’s rest, although how I am going to manage that is beyond me—is all I need. I don’t want you to go to any more trouble. I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is.’

Meagan was disappointed when Sophie returned without Cameron. Although she was pretty sure her diagnosis was correct, she wanted another opinion. And if she was right, she needed to arrange further tests.

‘Dr Stuart is still at the hospital. I’ve got him on the line, though,’ Sophie told Meagan.

Meagan excused herself to Rhona and went into Cameron’s room to take the call.

‘Hello, Meagan,’ he said without preamble. ‘You have a problem?’

Meagan quickly outlined her findings and then, with a slight hesitation, her fears.

‘I think she may have a tumour, Cameron. And she’s only 26—my age—with three young children.’ There. It was out. She had said it.

‘You could be right,’ Cameron said, his voice soft. ‘But there’s no point in imagining the worst until we know more. Send her along here for a chest X-ray. Ask her to come straight to the hospital and I can have a look at her before my visits this afternoon.’

‘Thank you. The sooner we know what’s going on, the better. I’ll come too. I’d like to see the X-ray.’

‘It’s your afternoon off. Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you once I’ve had a look at the film?’

Meagan shook her head before realizing he couldn’t see her.

‘If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather come to the hospital,’ she said, praying she wouldn’t have to argue with him. Rhona was her patient now.

‘Of course. I’d do the same in your shoes. I’ll see you shortly.’

Meagan hung up and went back to her patient. She explained about the X-ray.

‘Are you sure it can’t wait? You’re not worried about me, are you?’ Rhona managed a shaky laugh.

‘It could wait, but Dr Stuart is there now, so I see no reason for us to delay. Have you got your car? I could give you a lift, if you like.’ Rhona seemed to realise that Meagan was determined to get her to the hospital, and gave in with a weary smile.

‘Its OK, I’ll take mine. It has the baby seat. I’ll just phone my babysitter and let her know I’ll be late. You don’t think it will take too long, do you?’

As Meagan drove to the hospital she tried to swallow her anxiety. If she was right, what would the diagnosis mean to Rhona and her young family? It was the worst side of medicine, and the bit about general practice Meagan was beginning to realise she’d find the toughest—knowing the people you were about to deliver bad news to. She was already beginning to think of her patients as an extended family.

When she arrived at the hospital, she found Cameron in the emergency reception area, his dark head bent over patients’ notes. She watched him for a second. Strangely, she felt comforted knowing he was here and would be helping her look after her patient.

He looked up and, seeing her, stood and crossed the space between them. He brushed her shoulder with a hand as if he knew instinctively that she needed some reassurance.

‘Rhona’s arrived and is having her X-ray. She won’t be long, then we can have a look. But you do know there are a number of things it could be?’

Meagan took a deep breath and returned his look steadily. She didn’t want him to think she was the type of doctor who couldn’t remain professional at all times.

‘I know. But I did take a full history. And it’s not that I’m being over-cautious because of Robert Maclean.’ She couldn’t help but slide a glance in his direction.

‘You’re just being thorough. That’s good. But let’s just wait and see. Take it step by step.’ Cameron smiled down at her. ‘Shall we go and see if they are finished?’

Ten minutes later Cameron had Rhona’s X-ray up and Meagan’s heart sank. All over the chest were large white circles, indicative of tumours. She looked at Cameron, shocked. He was frowning, his mouth set in a grim line.

‘Looks like you were right. It seems pretty clear she has metastasis in her chest,’ he said. But Meagan felt no satisfaction at his words. She wished desperately that she had been wrong.

‘We need to talk to her,’ Cameron said.

‘I need to tell her,’ Meagan said quietly. ‘She’s my patient. Although how I’m going to tell a young woman with three small children that it looks as if she has a terminal illness is beyond me.’

Cameron looked thoughtful. ‘We’ll talk to her together. I’ve known Rhona for years. I delivered her last two babies. I wonder what the primary source of the tumours are? I’d like to examine her again.’

‘Why? What are you thinking?’

‘It’s a long shot, but you said she’d been nauseous. Has she missed a period?’

‘She said she’s not had a period since the birth of her baby. She’s been breastfeeding, so it’s understandable that she hasn’t, isn’t it? Are you thinking that she’s had a tumour through her last pregnancy and that the pregnancy accelerated its growth?’

‘No,’ Cameron said. ‘She was sterilised when she had her last baby. They did it at the time of her C-section. It’s something else. See these tumours—the size of them? They are referred to as cannonball tumours.’

Meagan was puzzled. She didn’t know where Cameron was going with his thinking.

‘I’m going to examine her. I’ll ask one of the nursing staff to do a pregnancy test.’