Accidental Reunion Read Free Page B

chuckle. ‘But you work in Emergency!’ His voice was incredulous, but Lila was used to shock when she admitted her weakness. Her response was well rehearsed.
    ‘Name one person who loves every aspect of their job.’ When he didn’t immediately answer Lila jumped right in. ‘See, you can’t! Emergency isn’t just about blood and gore—that’s just one aspect of it…’
    A smile was twitching on his lips, and those smoky dark eyes were crinkling in that endearingly familiar way.
    ‘What?’ Her voice was defensive, an instinctive reaction to his response. She still read his face so well, almost knew what he was thinking.
    ‘You’re still as passionate as ever.’ He cleared his throat, as if realising the faux pas he had just committed. ‘I mean…’ His voice trailed off.
    Passionate. The word hung in the air between them, conjuring dangerous images of long ago.
    Images best forgotten.
    Finally he found his voice. ‘How on earth do you cope?’
    She swallowed hard. ‘Red cordial helps.’ Her words were light and glib, a deliberate attempt to lighten the increasing tension.
    ‘Red cordial?’
    ‘Any blood I see, I just imagine it’s cordial.’
    He was really smiling now. ‘And does it work?’
    ‘Mostly.’
    ‘And when it doesn’t?’
    It was Lila’s turn to smile now. Rolling her eyes, she pulled a face. ‘I just hope for a soft landing.’
    ‘You’re not serious?’
    ‘Absolutely. But don’t worry,’ she added quickly, ‘I always get heaps of warning, and I haven’t fallen on top of a patient yet—touch wood.’
    ‘Glad to hear it.’ There was a long pause as again they pretended to look at the whiteboard. ‘How’s your mum doing?’ His voice was gentle now, wary.
    ‘She’s fine. Well, not fine, exactly, but we’re managing.’
    ‘That’s good.’ The silence that followed was deafening. ‘Where is she now?’
    Lila turned then, the look of contempt on her face clearly apparent. ‘At home, Declan, with me—where she belongs.’
    ‘But how…?’ His voice was bewildered now. ‘It’s been eight years. How do you manage? I mean with work and everything?’
    ‘I manage.’ She gave him the frostiest of looks. ‘That’s all you need to know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get on.’ But as she went to go his hand reached out and caught her wrist, gently pulling her back.
    ‘Lila,’ he said, not letting her go. ‘I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable—I had no idea that you worked here.’
    Though he wasn’t holding her tightly, she was achingly aware of the force of his touch. Shrugging him off, Lila picked up a marker pen. ‘Well, how would you know? It’s not as if we kept in touch…’
    ‘Which was your choice, as I recall.’
    Crossing out the name of the patient in cubicle four on the whiteboard, Lila scribbled in the new patient’s details. ‘I can assure you, Declan, your being here doesn’t worry me one bit. We’ve both got jobs to do. It doesn’t mean we have to be the best of friends; we’re just colleagues.’
    ‘No, but it would be nice if we could at least be civil. Who knows? With a bit of effort from both sides maybe we could be friends again. After all, we had some good times, Lila.’
    She hesitated. Friends was the last thing she could ever be with him, but if she betrayed the strength of the emotions that were engulfing her now then surely that would only make things more uncomfortable. Forcing a smile, Lila turned and faced him, dragging her eyes up to meet his. ‘Sure—why not?’ she said finally, offering her hand. ‘Pleased to meet you Dr Haversham.’
    ‘Pleased to meet you, Sister Bailey. Tell me, would you be interested in catching up for a drink some time?’
    Lila’s laugh was almost genuine. ‘Don’t push your luck, Declan. Friends at work is enough to be going on with, I think. Don’t you?’
    *
    By eleven p.m. the place was full, fit to burst. Not only were there a lot of sick people waiting to be seen and