Page 16 of Prognosis So Done

Henri had announced it was Harriet’s lucky day because he was cooking escargots and she had clapped her hands and declared she’d always wanted to try the delicacy.

‘You were the only woman I’d introduced him to that didn’t screw up her nose at the thought of snails.’

‘I was just relived he hadn’t said frog’s legs.’

He laughed. ‘Do you know what he said to me that afternoon, before we left?’

‘No. What?’

‘He said, Guillaume, if you don’t marry that girl, I

will.’

They laughed together and Harriet saw the tension ease a little from Gill’s shoulders. She was grateful she’d been able to take his mind off things a little.

His hands slipped over top of hers, his thumb finding her wedding ring and he rubbed it back and forth as he stared at it on her slim finger. It had been his grandmother’s.

‘You’re still wearing it.’

Harriet shrugged. ‘We’re still married.’

One year ago she’d separated from him but physical separation was much easier than mental separation. Things like wedding rings and giving up Remy as her name and missing his toiletries next to hers in the bathroom cabinet were much harder to come to terms with.

‘You still wear yours,’ she murmured, fondling the wide gold band she had given to him on their wedding day.

Harriet remembered how she used to make him take his ring off and she would take off hers so she could slip it inside the circumference of his. It had been like a confirmation that she would always be snug and safe and supported in his love.

‘Of course.’

She glanced back at the narrow band of her ring. ‘I guess I’ll have to give it back,’ she said wistfully.

The ring and all it represented — not just Gill’s love but

it’s heritage and family value — were so integral to her that parting with it would be gut-wrenching. She may have only had it for six years but the ring that Henri had worn on his little finger for thirty years after his dear Renée’s death, had tremendous sentimental value.

Henri had taken her aside after their engagement and told her it would honour him if she were to take Renée’s ring as her wedding band, and she had been touched and worn it with love and pride. That it had history and meaning, not just for Gill and her but for past lovers, had always made it extra-special.

‘No,’ he said quietly, still fingering the thin metal. ‘Henri would want you to keep it.’

‘I couldn’t.’ She shook her head as she slipped her hands out from under his and sat back on her heels. ‘It’s a family heirloom.’

‘Henri gave it to you because he loves you and thinks you’re worthy of my grandmother’s ring. Whether you’re married to me or not, that won’t change.’

It seemed strange to be talking about Henri as an active, vital person when on the other side of the world he was fighting for his very life. The mood changed to sombre again, the talk of parting ways not helping.

‘Is your father going to keep you up to date?’

‘Yes. He’s going to call again in a few hours.’

‘Make sure you send them my love. Tell them I’m thinking of them and to kiss Henri for me.’

‘Why don’t you do it yourself? Come back with me tomorrow.

Don’t go to London first. Henri would love to see you again.’

MedSurg, being an English charitable organisation, was based in the UK and had its headquarters in London. It was usual to fly teams out of wherever they might be at the end of a mission into London for a few days’ R and R and then fly them back to their homes.

It made up for the lousy pay.

‘Gill...’ A pain, like the slide of a knife between her ribs took up residence in her chest. She couldn’t. It was just too hard. The strings had to be cut and the longer she kept them tied, no matter the reason, the harder it would be. ‘I can’t.’

He nodded. ‘Yeah. I know.’

But did he? ‘I can’t come back to Australia with you. We’ve made the break - we need to stand by it. I will go and see Henri when I get back next week.’ God, please let him be alright.

‘He’d like that.’

‘I’ve always kept in close touch with your family, Gill. I just don’t think we should pretend that we’re something we’re not anymore.’

Their energies would be better spent thinking positive thoughts for a swift recovery. That, at least, she could do...

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