Page 9 of A Doctor's Promise
She laughed. “Honestly, he’s the best heart surgeon in the country. He’s just not great when his patients are awake.”
They all laughed together, and Kenneth lent forward to Edie, still clasping his wife’s hands in his.
“Let’s hope so, hey,” he whispered. “Although, I’ve not bought the old dear an anniversary present yet. So if I make it I’ll need to do a quick bit of shopping or she’ll kill me anyway.”
He winked at Edie and Mrs Bates drew one of her hands out of the grip of her husband’s and walloped him gently on the arm.
“Please excuse me,” Edie said as the couple lovingly embraced one another.
She shook their hands and walked away, eager to get back to Finn and check he was okay. She didn’t know why this clinical trial was going to be so difficult for him, he hadn’t managed to elucidate that in the short space of time they’d had together, yet she could see already how it was diminishing him. If she could work with him, get him to talk about his feelings, she may be able to get to the root of the anxiety and pain and help him get through this, just as he asked her to.
He’s not your patient, Edie.
But there was no time for her to heed her own chide, as the young mother and daughter rounded on Edie as she crossed the room towards Finn.
“Hi, Doctor Fletcher, I’m Mary and this lovely little person is Anna. Say hi, Anna,” the young mother said, as the little girl hid behind her skirt.
Edie knew that Mary was only twenty-nine, the youngest person to have been diagnosed with this particular tumour. Anna was eight but had the eyes of someone with a lot more experience than her years.
Edie crouched down so she was in the eye line of Anna.
“Hello there,” Edie said softly, and Anna disappeared a bit further behind her mum, her teddy clutched firmly in her hand. “Who’s this you’ve brought with you? Does he need looking after?”
Edie turned her gaze to the small bear, dressed in a shirt and tie he was smarter than most of the people in the room.
“Hello, Mr Bear, what brings you here today?” she asked.
“His name is Monty,” the girl whispered.
“Well hello, Monty. You’re looking rather dapper today.”
“He dressed up to look smart for my mummy.”
Edie’s heart lurched.
“That’s very kind of him. Monty, can you tell me the name of your owner?”
The little girl peeked round from the back of her mum and smiled, holding Monty out at arm’s length and wiggled him as she spoke.
“She’s called Anna and Anna loves her mummy every much.”
Edie wasn’t used to working with children and, although it wasn’t Anna who was poorly, Edie felt on the verge of tears. She cleared her throat and addressed Monty.
“I can see that she does, Monty. And I bet she loves you very much too.” Monty nodded his head with the help of Anna. “So, we are going to work really, really hard to make sure we do the best for all of you, okay? And you, or Anna, or your mummy can ask me any questions that you want to, at any time, okay?”
Anna nodded her own head this time.
Edie stood up and greeted Mary, the mother.
“Hi,” she said, holding out her hand and smiling. “Nice to meet you.”
Mary was so pale, Edie could see the veins under her eyes and feel the tendons in her hand as she shook it.
“Thank you,” Mary looked down at Anna. “She’s been a bit nervous about today. She finds it hard when we come into hospitals. It’s just me and her, you see. I’ve got no-one to take her off for the day when I’ve had appointments or treatments. It looks like Monty has taken a bit of a shine to you, though Doctor, you must be a special one, he’s very particular is that bear.”
Mary rolled her eyes jokingly at Edie.
“Teddy bears are my speciality,” Edie said, hoping that Mary wouldn’t notice how out of her depth she was. “Are you all set for our first appointment? Have a think about any questions you might want me to answer and I’m sure I could rope Doctor Cooper in to look after little Monty here, as long as Anna could help.”
