The Italian Surgeon's Christmas Miracle Read Free Page A

family.
    ‘You said you would get time off until Rosa and I got back. It’s only a few days. Maybe tomorrow, even.’
    ‘Zoe is coming to stay with the children.’
    ‘Zoe? Zoe? She’s a child herself!’ The fact that her mother had switched from English to Italian was a sure sign that stress levels were zooming up.
    ‘She’s sixteen, Mamma. Responsible.’ It was quite difficult to hold the phone and open a can of soup at the same time.
    ‘Pfff!’ The sound was eloquent. ‘Responsible people do not keep putting holes in themselves.’
    ‘You get Zoe to babysit yourself. You love Zoe.’
    ‘Not at night. Never all night.’
    ‘Lizzie’s is only five minutes’ walk away. Three if I run. I’ve talked to my charge nurse. If there’s an emergency at home, they’ll let me come back.’
    If they were quiet, that was.
    ‘It won’t do. We’ll have to come home.’
    ‘But what about Nonna?’
    ‘She’s going to be allowed out of hospital. Maybe even tomorrow. We’re going to bring her home with us.’
    Amy’s heart sank. Nonna was the absolute stereotype of an old Italian woman from a small village. Tiny, wrinkled and always shrouded in voluminous black clothing, she spoke not a word of English. She would hate London.
    ‘Are you sure about this, Mamma?’ she asked carefully.
    ‘Of course I’m sure.’
    ‘But—’
    ‘But what? You have a problem with your nonna coming to live with us?’ Amy recognised that tone of admonition. It was dangerous. ‘You don’t love your Nonna?’
    ‘Of course I do.’
    ‘She can have Vanni’s room.’
    Amy was silent. This was just getting worse. Uncle Vanni’s room might not be available for very much longer. Something had to be said. But what?
    Again, Marcella interpreted the silence. ‘You think we’ll lose the house? No, no, no! That isn’t going to happen, cara . I know Vanni made a will. It’s in the house somewhere. We just have to find it.’
    ‘We’ve looked everywhere. His desk, the bank, every single box in the attic…’
    ‘He was disorganised, my cousin. It will be somewhere we don’t expect.’
    The water was boiling now. Ready for the pasta. Chantelle was climbing down from her chair at the table, trailing a string of coloured paper loops for admiration. Angelo and Marco had vanished and happy shrieks were coming from the lounge where the television was.
    ‘I have to go, Mamma,’ Amy said firmly. ‘Give Nonna a kiss for me. Call me tomorrow.’
    ‘You keep looking. Try the dresser.’
    ‘What dresser?’
    ‘The one in the kitchen. With the recipe books and the old…What are they?’ It was a sure sign of overwhelming stress when words failed Marcella. ‘The letters to say the bills are paid?’
    ‘Receipts.’
    ‘ Sì . There’s a lot of receipts in there. Other papers, too, maybe.’
     
    It was getting late by the time Luke Harrington had finished his ward round. Very late.
    ‘What are you still doing here, Luke?’
    ‘I could ask you the same thing, Margaret.’
    The charge nurse laughed. ‘I’m legit. I’m doing a long day so I don’t finish till 9:00 p.m., after handover for the night shift. What’s your excuse?’
    ‘Johnny Smythe got admitted. Heart failure.’
    ‘I heard that. He’s having a bad run, isn’t he? Even for a Down’s syndrome child, he’s getting more than his fair share.’
    ‘They can’t put off the surgery any longer. I’ll have to try and fit him in in the next couple of days. Tomorrow, possibly.’
    ‘Isn’t wee Liam going to Theatre tomorrow?’
    Luke slotted the case notes he’d been writing in back into the trolley. ‘It’s certainly shaping up to be a long day.’ Another one. He rubbed the back of his neck, wondering why he felt more drained than usual. Ah…yes…
    ‘Do you know a nurse called Amy Phillips?’ he asked Margaret.
    ‘Of course.’ Margaret gave him a puzzled glance. ‘Why do you ask?’
    ‘Someone mentioned her name today, that’s all. I couldn’t place