Page 64 of Do Opposites Attract?

Sighing, Brianna put down her cup. ‘Mitch is strong, compassionate and clever, with a sharp wit that makes me laugh. But he’s also a man who doesn’t want anyone to get too close to him. I did, and I think it terrified him. He said our backgrounds were too different, but when it comes down to it, I think he just prefers to be alone.’ Tears began to prickle under her eyelids. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to pour out my feelings quite like that.’

‘Don’t be silly, dear. It’s lovely to hear how much he means to you. He must have turned out well if he’s inspired such passion in you.’ As if choosing her words, Catherine paused and took another sip of coffee. ‘Did Mitch ever tell you about his upbringing? About his mother? About how we met?’

Brianna shook her head. ‘No. I know bits and pieces. How he didn’t have a father, so when his mother died, you took him under your wing.’

‘Well, his childhood is Mitch’s tale to tell, not mine. But I can tell you about when I became involved. I had just come back from a month long holiday. I let myself into this house, and there he was, large as life, sitting on my sofa, watching television. He’d been squatting in my home for nearly two weeks.’

‘Squatting?’ Brianna repeated, shocked.

‘Yes, my dear, and I have no doubt I looked as horrified as you when I first saw him. He was fourteen. Confident, cocky, tough as you like, but underneath the bravado I could see he was a lonely, sad, young boy.’ Brianna watched as Catherine’s face softened at the memory. ‘I remember doing a quick check of the house, but nothing was taken. Everything was perfectly tidy. I threatened to call the police but he simply gathered his things together and told me I could if I wanted. He gave me some money for the food he’d eaten and proudly walked towards the door.’

Brianna saw tears hovering in Catherine’s eyes and knew her own tears were spilling down her cheeks and onto her hands. ‘I take it you didn’t call them.’

‘Of course not. I told him he could stay for a while, but then he needed to go home. Gradually it became clear he had no home to go to. No parents, nobody. He’d been squatting in houses because he didn’t want to go into care.’

Her tears were now flowing so freely Brianna had to drag out a tissue for herself. ‘What happened then?’

‘Well, of course I wanted to adopt him properly, as my son, but there was no chance an old lady like me would be allowed. The authorities kept threatening to put him in foster care, or a home, but he refused to budge and I refused to let them take him in. Eventually, after a lot of legal to-ing and fro-ing and a large donation to the council funds, I became his legal guardian. I’d never been lucky enough to be blessed with children. Looking after Mitch for the next four years was as close as I came.’ She dabbed at her eyes and let out a watery smile. ‘Not that I did much looking after. He was fiercely independent. Too much so. Having not had the luxury of a proper childhood he’d had to grow up too early and far too fast.’

‘Do you mind me asking, was it you who helped him go to university? I only mention it because he once told me a kind lady had paid for him to go.’

‘Why yes, of course it was me. It was his dream. Why should a boy who’d had such a horrid start in life not be allowed to follow his dream? The day he turned eighteen I put a lump sum in a bank account for him and told him he had to use it to become a doctor. He was acutely embarrassed, kept telling me he didn’t want it, but I told him there was a time for pride, and a time for gratitude.’ She smiled at the memory. ‘He said he’d shut up and choose gratitude.’

As Catherine finished recounting her tale, the grandfather clock chimed ten o’clock. Brianna looked at it aghast. She was torn between wanting to hear more about Mitch and consideration towards the older lady who was surely feeling tired. Consideration won. ‘Catherine, you’ve been really kind, but I’ve taken up far too much of your evening.’

‘No, dear, you’ve been the kind one. Will you tell Mitch you’ve seen me? That I didn’t have anything to do with that letter?’

‘Of course I will. I’m sure he’ll be in contact as soon as he can. You both have so many years to catch up on.’ She saw Catherine move to get up. ‘No, stay where you are, I’ll see myself out.’ She bent to kiss her on the cheek.

She was walking out of the room, when Catherine’s voice stopped her. ‘Brianna. Mitch hasn’t seen much love in his life. If you care for him as much as I think you do, you might need to be very patient.’

Brianna nodded slowly, and let herself out of the house. She could be patient, she thought. It wasn’t her natural forte, but she could do it. However there was being patient and there was pining away after a lost cause. She had a feeling this would turn out to be the latter.

* * *

While Brianna was talking to Catherine about his past, Mitch was focused very much on the present. For him that meant being knee deep in rubble in a remote part of Indonesia.

He’d been almost ridiculously relieved when the phone call had finally come. An earthquake on one of the islands, Medic SOS were needed straight away. At last he’d been able to focus his mind on doing good, rather than allowing it to brood on a chestnut-haired beauty. For the most part, it had worked. Since he’d been out here, he’d barely had a chance to take breath, never mind think about Brianna. Of course he’d have to face up to his feelings sooner or later, but for now he had work to do. He surveyed the grim scene in front of him. They weren’t going to be leaving Indonesia for a while.

‘Mitch, they’ve found a survivor in one of the buildings.’ It was Tessa, her voice urgent. ‘He’s trapped his legs. The rescue workers want you to come and take a look.’

Grabbing his bag of medical supplies he followed Tessa towards the crumbling ruin that had once been a shop. The rescue team were huddled outside, eyeing up what was left of the structure. He started to walk towards the entrance, but was held back by one of the group.

‘I don’t think you should go in there. It’s not safe.’ The man wiped a weary hand across his brow. ‘We went in a few minutes ago when we heard his voice, but the whole place began to creak. It’s got to be made secure before we can go back.’

‘What about the patient? What are his injuries?’

The man shook his head. ‘He’s trapped by a steel girder. It fell right across his feet. No way can he be moved quickly.’

Mitch looked at the ruins in front of him. ‘You and I both know this building can’t be made more secure. We’ve got to get him out now, fast, or he’ll die when the rest of it collapses.’

‘We can’t get him out. I’ve already said . . .’

Looking down at the bag in his hands, Mitch made an instant decision. ‘I’ll amputate his feet, that way we can move him. When I give the signal, come in and help me drag him out.’

He strode purposefully into the ruins, ignoring the plea from Tessa not to go in. This is what they were here for. To rescue the injured.

Inside it was eerily dark but using his torch he found a path through the broken masonry and towards a faint voice. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll have you out in no time,’ he reassured as he moved closer, though the words were said with a lot more confidence than he actually felt. Amputating one foot was bad enough. Doing two, with the groans of the crumbling walls echoing around him, was going to require nerves of steel and a great dollop of good fortune. He knew from past experience he could muster up the former. As for the luck. Well, he wasn’t so sure.

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