A Proposal to Remember Page 9

  ‘And what happens if they don’t get it?’ Kelly’s voice shook and Carlo looked directly at Mike.

  ‘Sometimes they die.’

  Zan flinched at the brutality of his words but she knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to make Mike understand the seriousness of the situation. Carlo had produced a miracle but this baby was desperately in need of hospital care, and without it…

  Kelly turned to Mike, her eyes terrified. ‘We have to let them take him into hospital. We have to!’

  Mike was breathing heavily. ‘You know how I feel about hospitals.’

  ‘I know.’ Tears were streaming down Kelly’s face as she watched Carlo working to save her son. ‘And I wanted to stay at home, too. But that’s before it all went wrong. He’s ill, Mike. If he stays at home he might die, and we’ll always blame ourselves and I don’t think I can live with that. They’re trying to help. They care. They’re not like the others.’

  ‘What others?’ Carlo asked the question, still monitoring the baby’s breathing.

  Zan held her breath. In the few months she’d been coming to visit them she’d never got to the bottom of Kelly’s story. All she knew was what the social worker had told her. That Kelly and Mike hated doctors and hospitals.

  No one knew why.

  ‘If you can tell us what happened, what you’re so afraid of, then maybe we can help,’ she said softly, and Kelly swallowed hard.

  ‘Mike lost his brother…’ She glanced nervously at Mike, obviously expecting her confession to provoke an angry reaction, but Mike was slouched against the wall, his face drawn.

  Carlo looked up, his gaze suddenly intent. ‘I’m sorry. That must have been terrible for you. What happened?’

  ‘Doctors. That’s what happened,’ Mike answered bitterly. ‘Eddie found a lump in his testicle but his GP kept telling him it was nothing. By the time he found out how serious it was he had just a few weeks to live.’

  Kelly reached out a hand but Mike turned away and strode into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.

  Kelly flinched and looked at them helplessly. ‘He adored Eddie. They were twins. When he lost him I thought…’ She broke off and looked at the closed door with something close to desperation in her eyes. ‘I thought I’d lose Mike, too. We’ve been going through a terrible patch. He never lets me out of his sight. He says I’m all he has now and he doesn’t want to put me in anyone’s care.’

  Carlo let out a breath, visibly moved.

  ‘I can understand that. In the same circumstances I wouldn’t be that eager to trust the medical profession either.’ Carlo rose to his feet and glanced at Zan. ‘Try and get the baby on the breast. His blood sugar is low and he needs food. If his breathing changes, call me. I’m going to talk to Mike.’

  He opened the kitchen door and closed it behind him, and Zan lifted the baby, positioning him against Kelly’s breast, trying to encourage him to feed.

  The baby played idly with the nipple but showed no inclination to suck.

  Kelly gave a sob of desperation. ‘He can’t do it,’ she wailed, and Zan frowned, determined not to give up.

  ‘He’s very little,’ she said quietly. ‘His suck reflex may not be fully developed yet. We’ll just persevere.’

  She also suspected that Kelly’s poor physical condition might limit her supply of milk, but now wasn’t the time to discuss that.

  There was no other way of getting food into the baby in this tiny flat. He desperately needed to be in Special Care, with high-tech equipment and a specialised medical team.

  At least Carlo’s heaters had warmed the place up.

  Even as she held the baby in place for another try, Carlo and Mike came out of the kitchen and Carlo reached for his phone.

  ‘We’re taking you both to hospital,’ he said gruffly, his voice heavily accented and lines of strain visible around his dark eyes. ‘Mike’s agreed it’s the best thing.’

  ‘Oh, Mike…’ Kelly burst into tears again and Zan gave a sigh of relief.

  She just hoped it wouldn’t be too late for the baby.

  Carlo was talking into his phone and within minutes an ambulance crew were at the door.

  Only moments later the baby was in the warm incubator inside the ambulance and Mike and Kelly were seated next to her.

  Zan looked at Carlo in amazement. ‘How did you arrange all that so quickly?’

  ‘I didn’t.’ He flashed her a smile and sprang into the ambulance after the crew. ‘I arranged it all before I left. They’ve been parked at the end of the road, waiting for my call.’

  Zan was stunned. ‘But Mike might have refused…’

  ‘I have amazing powers of persuasion.’ He lowered his voice and gave her a sexy smile. ‘You’d do well to remember that, Suzannah.’

  Zan followed the ambulance in her car and once back at the hospital the whole team moved into action.

  The baby was taken to the special care baby unit and Kelly was taken to the ward for a check-up and a rest.

  ‘But I want to see the baby,’ she fretted, as they examined her again.

  ‘As soon as the paediatric staff ring us, we’ll take you up to the special care baby unit,’ Zan promised. ‘They’re just taking a good look at him and deciding what he needs.’

  Mike was hovering nearby, not knowing whether to worry more about his wife or his son.

  Carlo had gone straight up with the baby and the ambulance crew and was supervising the hand-over.

  Zan was only too aware that the baby was alive only because of him and she was totally in awe of his skills as a doctor.

  He was incredible.

  She didn’t know a single other doctor who would have coped in that situation. The flat had been filthy and freezing and he’d had next to no equipment. But he’d managed to resuscitate the baby and keep it alive until he could talk sense into the father and transfer the family to hospital.

  And he’d been so cool.

  Finally SCBU rang to say that they were ready for the parents, and Zan took Kelly and Mike up to see their son.

  ‘It can seem a bit scary when you first see him,’ she warned, knowing that the baby would be having a lot of help. ‘He might have tubes in to help him breathe and things.’

  ‘I don’t care.’ Kelly gave a gulp and clung to Mike’s hand. ‘As long as he’s alive, I don’t care.’

  Mike was white with the strain and there was no sign of his usually tough approach to life.

  It was much later, after mother and baby had been reunited and she was back on the labour ward, that Zan suddenly remembered that she’d caught a glimpse of a man watching her before she’d knocked on Kelly’s door.

  He was the same man she’d seen on her way to work and then again when she’d been shopping for Christmas presents.

  Zan shifted uneasily.

  Was she imagining it?

  ‘Why are you frowning?’ Carlo’s deep voice came from directly in front of her and she gave a start.

  She’d been so deep in thought that she hadn’t even seen him approach.

  ‘Oh—hi.’ She smiled at him. ‘Have you finished on SCBU?’

  He nodded, his smile weary. ‘Now we just have to hope the little chap makes it.’

  ‘You were amazing.’ Her voice was soft. ‘I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t arrived. The baby would have died, Carlo.’

  ‘Maybe not.’

  He seemed oblivious to his accomplishment but Zan was under no illusions. She knew that he’d saved that baby.

  ‘So, come on, why were you looking so worried a minute ago?’ His eyes narrowed and he looked at her searchingly. ‘Tell me.’

  She blushed. What if she’d imagined it all? ‘I’m probably being stupid…’

  ‘But?’ he prompted her gently, and she bit her lip.

  ‘I think someone is following me. I saw this man this morning on my way to work, and then again at lunchtime when I did some shopping, and when I arrived at Kelly’s flat—’ She broke off, awa
re that Carlo was suddenly looking tense.

  ‘Can you describe him?’

  Zan looked at him, surprised by the urgency in his tone. ‘I don’t know…’ She racked her brains. ‘Tall, broad, dark hair—he wore a fawn coat with a black scarf…’

  Carlo seemed to relax. ‘I’m sure it was your imagination,’ he said lightly, and she gave him an odd look.

  ‘I saw him, Carlo.’

  ‘I don’t doubt that you saw him,’ he replied smoothly, ‘but I’m sure it was your imagination that he was following you. Maybe he was just going to the same places as you.’

  Zan frowned. That might explain the first two encounters, but what would he have been doing outside Kelly’s flat?

  Still, Carlo obviously didn’t think there was anything to worry about, and maybe he was right. It wasn’t as if the man had shown any interest in her after all. He hadn’t even been looking in her direction.

  ‘It’s been a long day.’ Carlo seemed keen to change the subject. ‘I’m on call but everything seems quiet at the moment so can I buy you supper?’

  Zan smiled. ‘I’m meeting Kim for a pizza at our favourite Italian restaurant. I didn’t think you’d be free.’

  ‘I’m free until I get called out.’ Carlo said immediately. ‘I’m feeling hideously homesick and I could do with some Italian cooking. You have to invite me.’

  ‘Invite you where?’ Kim bounced up to them, a brightly coloured scarf wrapped around her neck. ‘Are you joining us?’

  ‘Is that OK?’

  ‘Of course.’ Kim grinned at him and then glanced at Zan, who was bright pink. Her mouth fell open. ‘Oh, my goodness—how could I be so slow? You’re the one who—’

  ‘Kim!’ Zan interrupted her before she could say something indiscreet, and Carlo smiled.

  ‘Why don’t we go and eat? I’m starving.’

  * * *

  The restaurant was tucked away in a back street and the welcoming heat hit them as soon as they opened the door.

  The owner greeted them in Italian and almost dropped the plates he was carrying when Carlo replied equally fluently.

  Delighted to have a customer who spoke his language, the owner was immediately distracted and talked for several minutes before finding them a table.

  Carlo ordered some wine and sat back in his chair while they all looked at the menu.

  ‘So how did you two meet?’ Kim was showing no interest in the idea of food.

  Zan shrank into her chair in embarrassment. ‘Kim, we’re not—’

  ‘Yes, we are.’ Carlo’s voice was firm and he flashed her a reassuring smile before turning his attention to Kim. ‘We fell over each other in the street while she was on her way to visit Kelly. I didn’t think it was a great place for a girl to be wandering on her own so I went with her. Then we had dinner last night.’

  Zan’s face heated under the look he gave her. She couldn’t quite believe that this man wanted her.

  She didn’t need to notice that all the women in the restaurant were sneaking looks at him to be aware of his attractions. He was gorgeous. Warm and charismatic, but incredibly strong, too.

  It was a combination that left her breathless.

  ‘Well, you’ve definitely got the touch,’ Kim said dryly, picking up the bottle of wine and helping herself. ‘Have you any idea how many men Zan’s chased away over the years?’

  Zan flushed with embarrassment. ‘Carlo’s agreed to be Father Christmas,’ she said quickly, changing the subject before Kim said something to embarrass her further.

  Kim grinned. ‘Really? You wait until you see Zan in her elf costume. Father Christmas usually has trouble with his blood pressure from the moment she takes off her coat. I keep a supply of suitable drugs at the ready.’

  Their order arrived and they ate their meal, talking and laughing, and it was only when she glanced up to order coffee that Zan noticed the man sitting on his own at a table in the corner of the restaurant.

  She gave a gasp and the colour drained from her face.

  ‘What?’ Kim looked at her in alarm. ‘What’s the matter?’

  Carlo frowned. ‘Zan?’

  She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. ‘It’s the same man I saw earlier,’ she whispered urgently. ‘He’s sitting at the table by the window. It can’t be a coincidence. Every where I go, he’s there, too.’

  Carlo glanced around and then turned his attention back to the table as the waiter brought the coffee.

  ‘Just ignore him,’ he advised, but his fingers tightened on hers reassuringly.

  Zan bit her lip. What was the matter with her? She was behaving like a real baby.

  ‘Sorry.’ She gave him a wan smile. ‘I’m being stupid, aren’t I? I’ve never really been nervous of anything before. But after the other night I’m a bit jumpy.’

  Kim frowned. ‘What happened the other night?’

  Carlo was looking at Zan, his expression reassuring. ‘There’s no need to be jumpy, cara mia. No one is going to hurt you.’ There was a hint of steel under his warm, male tones. ‘We will drink our coffee and then I will take you back to your flat myself.’

  She loved the fact that he was so protective.

  Glancing at his powerful shoulders, she suddenly had a disturbing memory of him naked in the shower and, remembering his raw, male sexuality, she felt excitement spiral up through her body. He had an incredible physique. It was hardly surprising that he wasn’t intimidated by anyone.

  ‘Will someone please tell me what’s going on?’ Kim glanced between them with a mixture of concern and frustration.

  ‘Someone attacked me the other night,’ Zan said flatly. ‘Carlo rescued me. It’s how we met.’

  Kim stared at her in horror. ‘Someone attacked you?’ She lifted a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, my God! Were you hurt?’

  Zan shrugged and shook her head. ‘Not really.’

  Kim looked at Carlo in dismay. ‘And your eye—is that how…?’

  Carlo laughed. ‘No. That was Zan. She was fighting like a wildcat when I got to her. She mixed me up with the attackers.’

  Kim blinked in disbelief. ‘And what were you saying about someone following you?’

  Zan put down her coffee-cup and glanced across the restaurant again. ‘Every time I turn around, that man is behind me.’ She lifted her chin and frowned. ‘In fact, I’m going to stop being so pathetic and confront him. I want to know why he’s following me.’

  She rose to her feet but Carlo put a hand on her arm.

  ‘Sit down.’ His voice was calm but firm. ‘Finish your coffee. I’ll deal with it.’

  She opened her mouth to argue and then closed it again, seeing the sense in his suggestion.

  After all, if the man following her realised that she was with Carlo then he might think twice about following her.

  Carlo strode over to Matt and sat down in a vacant seat, his back to the two women.

  ‘You’re losing your touch,’ Carlo told Matt grimly, his brows locked together in a frown. ‘She knows you’re following her.’

  ‘I guessed as much.’ Matt rubbed a hand over his jaw and looked apologetic. ‘Sorry. I underestimated her. The girl’s been looking over her shoulder every two minutes and frankly I didn’t expect her to be so jumpy.’

  ‘Nor me.’ Carlo felt his insides twist. He hated to think that Zan was frightened. She’d successfully concealed the fact from him.

  ‘Whatever happened the other night obviously freaked her out,’ Matt said thoughtfully. ‘On her way to work this morning she looked over her shoulder at least eight times and she didn’t slow down until she walked inside those hospital gates. She was better at lunchtime but she was still keeping an eye on her surroundings. She dashed to Kelly’s house so quickly I didn’t realise she’d seen me.’

  ‘Damn.’ Carlo was frowning but Matt gave a shrug.

  ‘Actually, I think it’s probably a good thing that she’s alert in the circumstances.’

  ‘Alert, maybe, but I don’t wa
nt her frightened,’ Carlo growled. ‘I hadn’t even noticed that she was nervous.’

  Matt shrugged. ‘She probably isn’t when she’s with you. It’s just when she’s on her own.’

  ‘Well, you’re going to have to keep a low profile now,’ Carlo pointed out, dragging his fingers through his hair and letting out a long sigh. ‘Maybe we’d better get one of the other guys to follow her.’

  Matt lifted an eyebrow and Carlo shook his head. ‘No, you’re right. Bad idea. At least I know that if she’s with you nothing’s going to happen to her. Maybe I should tell her the truth.’

  The longer it went on, the worse he felt about the fact he was deceiving her and he knew he was going to be faced with a major dilemma soon.

  Could he make love to a woman who didn’t know who he was?

  ‘You can’t tell her!’ Matt glared at him. ‘Not until we’ve caught those lunatics. You don’t know that you can trust her.’

  ‘But if she sees you again…’

  ‘She won’t. I’ll be invisible and I’ll change my image tomorrow.’

  ‘All right.’ Carlo was still disturbed by the news that Zan was so nervous. Why hadn’t she told him? ‘Oh, and by the way, while we’re working in the hospital and you’re kicking your heels, I need you to do something for me.’

  Matt’s eyes narrowed warily. ‘I hardly dare ask.’

  ‘I need you to find me a team of reindeer and a sleigh.’

  Matt blinked. ‘Reindeer.’ His tone was faint. ‘And a sleigh?’

  ‘That’s right. I’m going to be Father Christmas.’

  And he was going to give Zan a Christmas to remember.

  He walked back to the table and gestured to the waiter to bring the bill.

  ‘It’s fine, tesoro,’ he said easily, paying the waiter in cash and reaching for his coat. ‘If you saw him earlier then I’m sure it was just coincidence. He’s Italian and he lives around here.’

  She accepted what he said without argument and he felt a pang of guilt as he saw the trusting look in her eyes.

  Whatever happened, he was going to keep her safe.

  They said goodnight to Kim and then made their way back to Zan’s flat.

  ‘Only two more days until Christmas.’ She smiled at him, her cheeks pink from the cold. ‘Do you want to come up?’