Page 11 of Take a Moment

‘Are you being a bad patient?’ Dom hands me the flowers, which are actually artificial ones, and sweeps in for a long, lingering kiss. ‘I’ve missed you.’

‘I’ve missed you more.’ I rest my forehead against his, breathing in his familiar scent.

‘How are you feeling?’ He pulls back and scrutinises my face.

Not keen to start off on the topic of my health, I try a diversion.

‘I’m fine. Thank you for these. They’re beautiful. Peonies are my absolute fave.’ I stick my nose in the bouquet as if expecting them to have a fragrance.

‘I remembered they don’t allow real flowers in most hospitals anymore for hygiene reasons. Probably for the best though. I’m sure I remember bringing you home lilies once upon a time and getting an ear-bashing for it.’

‘It wasn’t an ear-bashing. I’m allergic to lilies. It was a choice between asking you to chuck them or respiratory arrest.’

‘Slight exaggeration.’ Dom takes the flowers from me and dumps them on my bedside cabinet. ‘But I wouldn’t have wanted to go to my work’s black-tie dinner that evening with a wheezing, hive-ridden date on my arm.’

‘Touché.’ I smile. ‘Maybe ask the nurse for an empty water jug to sit them in?’

‘I’ll do that in a bit.’ Dom plonks himself down on one of the chairs beside my bed. ‘I’m more interested in how my beautiful fiancée is doing. That OK?’

Not really, I think to myself. Because that means you’re going to ask questions I don’t want to answer.

‘So, how are you?’ he prompts me.

‘I’m fine. Told you that already. I’ve not been sick at all today. Still fatigued, but that will pass. Looks like I’ll be out tomorrow or the day after.’

‘Great. And the consultant? What was the chat this morning about the anomalies on the scan?’

‘Oh, that. It’s nothing. Just some weirdo doctor who doesn’t know what she’s talking about. So, I was looking at table centrepieces for the wedding today, and I really like the idea of—’

‘Lex, what are you not telling me?’ Dom interjects, his suspicion evident. ‘I know you well enough to know you’re glossing over something because you don’t want to discuss it. What’s going on?’

I consider trying to change the subject again, but I know that won’t work. Instead I opt for the only remaining avoidance strategy: a full-on character assassination of Dr Harlow.

‘Oh, look, it’s nothing. The consultant was on another planet. She sees a couple of smudges on a scan and jumps to conclusions. I mean, she couldn’t even get my name right. What’s that all about? I’ve asked for a second opinion.’

‘That doesn’t sound like nothing.’ Dom’s brow furrows in concern. ‘This woman is a fully trained consultant, surely?’

‘She was a proper neurologist. But she just wasn’t on it. Didn’t you hear me? She couldn’t even get my name right.’

‘Well, if that’s the case, maybe you do need a second opinion. And perhaps you should raise your concerns about her.’

‘That’s probably not necessary.’ I shut down that route quickly. ‘I just need to speak to someone I can trust and communicate with properly.’

‘Sounds fair enough.’ Dom rubs his forehead, a dead giveaway that he’s exhausted.

‘Long day?’

‘Toughday. A number of client cock-ups I had to bail my team out of. I should only be getting involved in the most complex issues, but we have so many new staff, I keep getting pulled into the detail.’

‘That’s rough.’ I beckon for his hand and he slips it into mine. ‘Maybe you should just get off home. I’m fine here. Bored and fidgety, but fine.’

‘No, I’ll stay for a bit.’ He squeezes my hand. ‘Want some time with my gorgeous wife-to-be before I head home to an empty apartment. It feelsreallyempty without you.’

‘Hey, lover, it’s not like we haven’t had nights apart before. What’s this all about?’

Dom’s face has an undecipherable look on it. I’m used to being able to read him like a book, so this unsettles me slightly.

‘I don’t know.’ He smooths his palm against the side of his head as he does when he’s uncomfortable talking about something. ‘I just… when I got that call yesterday, I was terrified in case—’

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