Page 69 of Do Opposites Attract?

She arrived back at the hospital several hours later, feeling slightly better for a short nap and a change of clothes.

She met Melanie at the hospital entrance where she’d obviously been trying to have a sneaky cigarette. ‘I know,’ her friend acknowledged shamefaced, ‘a really bad place to light up, but crikey these places give me the heebie-jeebies.’

‘Me too.’ Brianna glanced longingly at the cigarette Melanie was now stubbing out. ‘Is Mitch still in surgery?’

‘Yes, but we’re expecting to hear from the surgeon any time now.’ She studied Brianna’s pale face. ‘How are you holding up?’

‘I’ve felt better. But if the surgeon comes out with a smile on his face, I’ll perk up no end.’

They walked arm in arm to the private lounge they had been given, one reserved for families of patients in intensive care. It was rather soulless, but the sofas were a lot more comfortable than the usual plastic chairs and at least they had some privacy.

‘Miss Worthington?’ Brianna looked round with a start and nodded at the man in the green surgical gown.

‘I’ve just finished operating on Mr McBride. Are you the next of kin?’ The surgeon wore a neutral expression on his face, giving nothing away.

‘I, well, not really. He doesn’t have any family. I’m the one who brought him here.’

Seemingly satisfied with that, the surgeon sat himself down next to her. ‘Then I guess you’ll be the one who wants to hear that the operation went well. I don’t think there will be any long-term damage but the next few hours will be the key, as we see how he comes round from the anaesthetic. So far, so good.’

Brianna slumped against the back of the chair. ‘Thank God.’ She turned to look at the surgeon. ‘And thank you.’

He smiled. ‘He managed to get himself pretty beaten up. We’ve put casts on his leg and arm, and we’ve had to put a metal plate in his pelvis. It’ll be a while before he’s up and about. I hear he was out in Indonesia, as part of a medical rescue team?’

‘He’s a doctor with Medic SOS, a charity that gives immediate medical support in crisis struck areas.’ She felt almost drunk with relief. ‘I could give you the whole blurb, when you’ve got time. We’re always looking for funding.’

The surgeon laughed. ‘I suspect I’ll see you around this hospital for a while to come, so I’ll look forward to having my arm twisted.’

‘Can I see him?’

‘He’s in the recovery room at the moment. When we’re sure he’s out of immediate danger, we’ll let you know and you can sit with him.’ He eyed Brianna with undisguised appreciation. ‘I’msure having a beautiful woman like you by his bedside will speed his recovery no end.’

‘That is so typical of you,’ Melanie muttered as soon as the surgeon had left the room. ‘Even in a flipping hospital you manage to attract the male talent.’

‘Talent?’

Melanie shook her head in amazement. ‘Yes, Brie. The surgeon was quite a dish.’ She took in her friend’s strained face and put a sympathetic arm around her. ‘But I guess you’ve only got eyes for one man, haven’t you?’

A short while later the medical team came in to tell Brianna she could go and sit with Mitch. Her parents and Melanie offered to stay but she sent them all away. She had Mitch. That was all she needed.

The monitors by his bedside gave out reassuringly steady bleeps. His face still looked awfully pale against the stark white hospital sheets and his hair had been shaved and a bandage wrapped around his head. She kissed his lips, reassured when they felt warm. ‘Oh, Mitch, you’ve got to pull through. There are people rooting for you. Don’t let us down.’

* * *

Brianna was dozing off in her chair when she heard her name being whispered. She jolted awake to find Catherine at the foot of Mitch’s bed.

‘Catherine, what a surprise.’ She leapt out of the chair and went to kiss the older lady’s cheek. ‘Come and sit down here.’ She wagged her finger at her. ‘I told you not to come. He’s asleep. I would have called and let you know if there was any change.’

‘I know, dear, I know.’ Catherine looked down at Mitch. Brianna could see the love shine from her eyes and the fear sweep across her face. ‘But I had to see him for myself. What ifhe doesn’t pull through? I would have lost my chance to see him as a grown man.’

Brianna nodded, completely understanding. ‘He usually looks a lot better than this.’

Catherine’s eyes travelled over his bruised body and his bandaged head. ‘He’s a fine young man, isn’t he? I can tell, despite the bruises. He looks handsome and strong. He always was a good-looking boy. Had all the young girls after him.’

‘He still does,’ Brianna acknowledged with a wry smile.

‘You must love him an awful lot, Brianna, to go to all this trouble for him.’

‘I do,’ she replied simply.

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