Page 47 of The Vow We Made
The questions start as soon as they’re out of earshot, but I don’t have time on my side as my next emergency patient is due at any time.
“What’s the real story?” Steph asks.
“I’ve told you.”
“I know that was for her parents’ benefit. What state is she really in? Tell me, I can handle the truth.”
I look her straight in the eyes. “I’ve told you everything I know so far. Until they have the results of the scan, we can’t be sure of anything.”
She nods with a small upturn of her lips. “Well as long as you’re telling the truth.”
I smile in return. “I am Steph, I promise.”
“Good, great,” she panics. “So why can’tyoutreat her? She needs you, Aiden.”
Inside, I agree with her, but there is nothing I can do. “I can’t Steph. It wouldn’t be right to treat people I know.” Which isn’t strictly true but there is a code of conduct I follow to the letter. “She’s in very safe hands with my colleague.” I stop for a minute. “In fact, you need to do me a favour if you can.”
“What is it?” she asks with worry in her tone.
“I’m confident Dr Trevelyan will track me down as soon as he can, but if you hear anything at all, can you text me?”
“Of course,” she says while I offer out my hand to take her phone and punch in the digits for her. She’s in a state and I worry she’d make a mistake.
“I’m so sorry, but I have to leave you here. It’s rammed tonight and I’m expecting my next patient any minute.”
“No, no, I understand, you must go, I’ll be fine.” I’m about to walk away when her choked voice calls out.
“Aiden?” I turn to Victoria’s best friend. She’s pale and the worry lines to her brow display the emotional pain she’s in. “Although I’m not officially family, she’s more than my best friend. If there’s anything you can do—”
“She’s in excellent hands,” I try to reassure with a tight-lipped smile before heading back to my department. Steph has to believe I’ll do my best to be there, for her own peace of mind, but the truth is, I can’t interfere any further in Victoria’s treatment and not just because it might be construed as unethical by the hospital authorities. I’ve endured one of the hardest hours of my eight years in Accident and Emergency. Internally, I’m a wreck and considering the short time I’ve known her, I’m confused as to why Victoria West has got me in knots. I try to leave it alone until I have time to process whatever it is I’m feeling but, predictably, I can’t get rid of the sick feeling in my stomach and the urge to know every detail of her treatment.
I check my phone as much as I’m able, but there’s no word from Steph and I haven’t managed to check in with Aaron. I’m driving myself nuts wondering what’s going on until I can stand it no longer. I find a break between patients and reach for my phone, but Steph isn’t answering. I take a punt and head in a direction I might find Aaron. I’m left with a sense of emptiness as I pace the floor because he’s with another patient and I can’t interrupt. I pull my fingers through my hair and growl in frustration. I can’t leave my post again or ask at the desk about another doctor’s patient. My mind is blank at what to do for the best, yet my stomach forms a loop of nerves. I hope to God they didn’t find anything sinister from the scan and she’s going to be alright.
It’s sometime later when my phone buzzes in my pocket. “Yes,” I answer all too abruptly,
“Aiden?”
I recognise the voice immediately. “Steph, what news?”
“She’s broken her ankle and they’re putting it in plaster.”
“Is that everything?”
“That’s the worst of it I believe.”
“Thank fuck,” I reply too honestly.
“I heard from Dominic; they’re still refusing to let me see her.”
“That makes sense, it’s early days,” I say with some relief. “She’s been incredibly lucky considering what happened. Did Dominic tell you anything else?”
“Only heavy bruising. I’m relieved nothing more serious happened. It sounds as if she took a hell of a knock.”
“She did. Apart from the bruises and laceration to her face—”
“Laceration? Like knife wounds? Slashes, what do you mean? Nobody mentioned anything about wounds to the face.” Her concerns come over the airwaves in a rush.
Shit. I didn’t mean to upset her. “It’s the least of her injuries. She has slight wounds to her face, but cosmetics don’t matter, believe me. She’ll have other things to concentrate on such as being out of action for a least six weeks and she’ll need physio.”
