Playing With the Playboy's Sweatheart

Chapter Sixteen

‘Not even with drugs,’ Emily said. ‘God, listen to Anton!’

It sounded like a football match was taking place, with the woman screaming, Anton urging her on and even Louise was cheering. Then there was a long stretch of silence, followed by lusty screams.

‘Phew,’ Emily said. ‘I can uncross my legs now!’ But Hugh didn’t laugh at her joke, as he usually would have, and Emily remembered that they weren’t talking.

‘The next one up is very nervous,’ Hugh said to Rory. ‘I’ll come and have a word with her before she goes under.’

‘I ordered her a strong pre-op,’ Rory commented, ‘though I think it’s the mother who needs it.’

Emily chose not to grab a coffee and spend another uncomfortable ten minutes with Hugh. Instead she opted for a cola from the vending machine before setting up for the next patient—Jessica O’Farrell, an eighteen-year-old in for an exploratory laparoscopy.

‘Mum wants to come in while she goes under.’ Connor put his head through the doors and gave Rory a wry smile. ‘I’ve said no but she’s asked me to double-check!’

Rory shook his head. ‘I’ve already spoken to Jessica about this. Mum’s more stressed than her.’

Hugh was soon back from his quick coffee break and asked where the patient was as he was ahead of schedule and hoping to fit another patient onto the end of the list.

‘Connor is just bringing her in now,’ Emily answered, but as the trolley was wheeled in, for a second Emily froze.

She had been Jessica Albert when Emily had known her but of course her name might have changed all these years on.

‘Emily!’ Jessica’s tears halted and the surprise in her voice had Hugh look at Emily for her reaction, but she just stood there as Jessica’s tears actually stopped in mid-stream. ‘It is you.’

‘Jessica!’ Hugh watched as Emily pushed out a smile but though it was a wide one, Hugh could see the shock in Emily’s eyes and that her smile was guarded.

In all Emily’s years of nursing it had never happened. Well, once an uncle had had a hip replacement, but she’d been expecting to see him.

This, though, was completely unexpected and Jessica wasn’t even a relation.

She had once felt like one, though.

Today, had she been scrubbing in, as was her usual, Emily might not have even know that the patient was the Jessica she had known all those years ago. Thirteen years was a long time and with the different name and with her eyes closed, as they would have been in Theatre, Emily might not have even recognised her.

Emily pushed back the wave of emotion that threatened to knock her off course and walked over to the young woman. ‘How are you?’ Emily said, and then gave a little laugh. ‘Well, that’s a silly question, given that you’re about to have surgery.’

‘I’ve been dreading it,’ Jessica said. ‘I’m so scared of having an anaesthetic.’

‘A lot of people are.’ Emily squeezed her hand. ‘Rory’s on today and he’s amazing, he’ll take such good care of you. Have you met him?’

‘He came and saw me this morning.’ Jessica looked over at Rory and then back at Emily. ‘Will you be there?’

‘I’ll be with you while you’re put to sleep,’ Emily said, and then bit her bottom lip as Jessica looked at Hugh.

‘Emily and I were sisters...’

Hugh smiled back, though of course he didn’t really understand. He was pleased to see his patient looking a lot more relaxed but right now he was more concerned about the nurse because Emily’s face was chalk white and he watched as Jessica turned back to Emily. ‘I’ve looked you up a few times,’ Jessica admitted. ‘I was going to friend you on f*******: but I didn’t know if I’d be welcome...’

‘I’ve tried to look you up too,’ Emily said, ‘though no wonder I didn’t get very far, as that your surname’s changed.’

‘Mum married again and I took Mike’s surname.’

Emily hesitated. She didn’t really want to know how Katrina was doing and yet there was a small part of her that did. ‘How is your mum?’