Buch lesen: «The Unsung Hero»

CHAPTER ONE

TIME stood still.

Rick Wilson had never actually understood that phrase before this moment but, man, he did now.

It was kind of like one of those three-hundred-and-sixty-degree shots in a movie where something was frozen in space but the rest of the scene continued around it. He was part of that scene but where he was and what he was here for became suddenly and completely irrelevant.

It seemed extraordinary that nobody else had noticed but why would they? The only thing that had really stopped was in his head. A stun-gun effect on his thought processes from that first sight of…perfection, that was the only word for it.

Some kind of goddess in a floaty blue dress. Long, long blonde hair, some of which had been wound around her head and adorned with tiny, white flowers. She was tall and slim and he’d put good money on her eyes being blue. Dark blue.

Who was she and where the hell had she been? Nowhere near his world, that was for sure, because he would have remembered.

More than his brain had been stunned but it wasn’t until the need for oxygen made Rick suck in a rather deep breath that he realised his chest had also been immobilised. The sound he made elicited a nudge from the man standing close by his side. And a look. He might as well have had a bubble over his head like a cartoon character as well. One that said, Do me a favour and try and keep your hands off her for the duration of the ceremony at least.

No worries. Rick’s grin flashed back. How long could a ceremony last, after all?

Suddenly, the annoyance of wearing the ridiculous bow-tie and the vaguely trapped feeling that weddings in general, and this one in particular, always gave him became worthwhile. He was actually pleased he was dressed up to the nines. That he would be here for hours and that one of his official duties was to partner the bridesmaid. The goddess, no less.

She was much closer now. With a supreme effort, Rick tried to stop staring. He managed to switch off the mental zoom lens and take in some of the wider picture. He could hear the music and see the way the small gathering of guests in this garden setting had twisted in their seats to watch the bride and her bridesmaid approaching. A small boy was in front of the two women, throwing handfuls of rose petals from the basket he was carrying.

The sight of the child triggered a process of recalling snatches of conversations he now wished he’d paid more attention to. Worry over the choice of a bridesmaid because…that’s right, she had a kid who was very sick. Only it wasn’t her kid, exactly. He was a nephew or something but she was his only family and she was clearly some sort of saint because she’d been travelling the globe trying to track down his biological father so that the kid’s leukaemia could be treated with a bone-marrow transplant.

What was her name?

Rick was thinking hard as he watched the boy being directed to sit in an empty seat in the front row.

Sarah.

That was it. Nice name.

He had to wait while the bridesmaid positioned herself beside the bride and took charge of the bouquet but, finally, she looked up and caught his welcoming smile. Her eyes widened a fraction and she held the eye contact for a heartbeat longer. Then she looked away as the celebrant began to speak and welcome those gathered to witness the ceremony. It took Rick a few seconds to realise why he was feeling oddly poleaxed again.

She hadn’t smiled back, that was why.

Sarah had to take a deep, deep breath.

It was good that she had the bouquet to hold because it effectively hid the slight tremor she could feel in her hands. She hadn’t expected him to look at her like that—as though he couldn’t wait to launch a campaign to jump her bones. A stupid oversight, really, because she ought to be used to that kind of reaction from men by now. It was just so wildly inappropriate at this moment that she had an insane urge to slap his face. So she held on to that bunch of flowers for dear life and listened to the familiar words of a traditional wedding ceremony.

‘I, Maxwell McAdam, take thee, Eleanor Peters, to be my wife. To have and to hold…’

Maybe she’d misinterpreted the look. He was probably just a nice guy, as Ellie had assured her he was. He was the best man and it was his job to look after the bridesmaid, wasn’t it? To be friendly.

‘To love and cherish from this day forward. This is my solemn vow.’

Sarah found her gaze drifting sideways in the tiny pause as the bride, her friend Ellie, prepared to take her turn to recite the vows. If Rick was doing his job properly, he’d be focused on the ceremony. Thinking about the rings he would need to produce very soon. To her consternation, however, she found herself catching his direct gaze again. How long had he been looking at her?

At least he was looking suitably serious this time, with no hint of that confident, playboy smile but there was a question in those dark eyes that had nothing to do with what they were a part of at this moment and if she simply turned away it would be a rebuff that could have repercussions.

Enormous repercussions.

Her tiny smile might have been hesitant but it was enough for that unspoken question to vanish. For Rick’s face to soften a fraction in that split second before they both looked away.

‘I, Eleanor Peters, take thee, Maxwell McAdam, to be my husband. To have and to hold…’

The first kiss as husband and wife was a moment that would be etched on Rick’s brain for ever. The way Max and Ellie looked at each other. The soft intensity in the way their lips touched to seal their commitment. The way the kiss went on…and on.

Impossible not to feel the power of the link between this newly married couple and it was strong enough to give Rick an odd twisting sensation in his gut. A combination of recognition and…loss?

Recognition was automatic. He’d known Max since high school. Since, along with Jet and Matt, they’d formed a brotherhood that had become true family for all of them. Labelled the ‘bad boys’, they’d had the kind of bond that meant you’d put your life on the line for them in a heartbeat and life without the strength and power of that support crew was unimaginable.

Loss came from the uneasy feeling that the order of his universe was changing because one of the ‘bad boys’ was no longer a single entity. He had a ready-made family, in fact, what with Ellie’s baby Mattie. Fast bike rides and nights out with fabulous women were a thing of the past. Max was now committed to sharing his life with a woman and the bond between them was clearly cemented with the same kind of soul-deep glue that Rick had only known with the brotherhood.

Was it really possible to feel that way about a woman?

The guests were clapping and cheering. A whistle or two could be heard. Rick glanced sideways to where Jet was seated in the front row. The third ‘bad boy’ had been given the responsibility of caring for baby Mattie during the ceremony and he was still holding her with the kind of expression that made Rick think of a bomb-disposal expert in the middle of a dangerous mission. A focused scowl that suggested appreciation of both the significance of the mission and its less-than-desirable potential.

Noticing the direction of Rick’s gaze, Jet rolled his eyes as the kiss finally wound up. It took him back to the conversation they’d had only last night, over a few beers. To them both vowing to avoid the kind of commitment Max had chosen. They’d keep their bikes, thanks very much. They’d work hard and play hard and take all the fun life had to offer because they knew damn well how short it could be.

The boy beside Jet was making a disgusted face but then he grinned repentantly at Sarah, who had also looked away from the couple. It was inevitable that their gazes brushed as they turned back to their duties. With the image of that kiss still burning itself into Rick’s memory cells, along with the reminder of that vow to play hard and get the most out of life, it was just as inevitable that his gaze dropped from Sarah’s eyes to her mouth.

Such a soft-looking, deliciously kissable kind of mouth.

He felt his breath leave his lungs in a soft sigh as he wondered…

No, make that anticipated. And, knowing he could trust that very pleasant curl in his gut, he knew that kissing Sarah was something he had very good reason to look forward to. All he needed now was a smooth opening line and that shouldn’t be a problem given the amount of practice he’d had over the last decade or more.

First, there were the congratulations to be given to the newly married couple. Rick thumped Max on the back to accentuate his hug and then kissed Ellie, whose eyes were shining with joyous tears.

‘Thanks, Rick.’ She turned from him to receive Sarah’s hug. ‘‘Bout time we introduced you two,’ she said. ‘Rick, this is—’

‘Sarah,’ he cut in, smiling. ‘I’ve heard all about you.’

She looked disconcerted, turning back to Ellie, but the bride was being taken to a small table on one side of the flower-covered gazebo to deal with the paperwork.

‘W-what have you heard?’

‘You’re an old friend of Ellie’s.’

‘We were flatmates in Auckland.’

‘And didn’t you sublet your apartment here to Max?’

‘Yes. I was away in the States for a while.’

Rick nodded. ‘So, really, you’re responsible for this wedding happening. If Ellie hadn’t come looking for you, she would never have met Max.’

And he would never have met Sarah. Now, that could have been a smooth opening gambit except that he didn’t have time to deliver it. The signatures of the witnesses were now required and both Rick and Sarah had duties to perform. After that, group photographs were taken with the lovely backdrop of this garden that Max and Ellie’s new property boasted, the photographer’s attention focused on the bride and groom. Rick had more time to think but, annoyingly, inspiration wouldn’t strike.

Maybe that had something to do with the munchkins. Mattie was back in her mother’s arms now, much to Jet’s obvious relief, and the boy was glued to Sarah’s side as they watched some family shots being taken. Ellie held Mattie and Max held Ellie and nobody who saw those photographs in years to come would ever guess that Max wasn’t Mattie’s biological father.

It didn’t even seem that crazy any more, though Rick certainly couldn’t see himself putting his hand up to adopt an infant. He took another glance at the boy standing beside Sarah. Weird that her living accessory wasn’t the deal-breaker it would have been even a few months ago but this was a kid, not a baby, and, anyway, he was a special enough case to make allowances for.

‘Let’s get a photo of all the boys in their suits,’ Ellie suggested. ‘Josh, come and stand with Max and Rick.’

‘Do I have to?’

‘Yes.’ Sarah gave him a stern look but then smiled winningly. ‘Please? For me? And Ellie?’

Oh, man…That was a real smile. One that no man could possibly resist. Even a half-grown one.

‘All right. I s’pose,’ Josh grumbled.

He was soon standing between the groom and the best man, a miniature version of the two tall men in his small suit and bow-tie. He had dark hair, too. What was left of it. Rick could see the pale skin of the boy’s scalp and knew it wouldn’t be long before he was completely bald. He could also see that Sarah was watching him watch Josh and she had an odd look on her face.

Did she know that he knew the history? Was she worried that it might colour the way he talked to the boy? She needn’t worry. Rick dealt with a lot of seriously ill children and he wasn’t about to talk down to the lad or exude sympathy. The smile he gave Sarah was intended to reassure her but, strangely, she looked distinctly uncomfortable.

If it hadn’t been too weird a thought to entertain, he might have even interpreted her expression as vaguely guilty.

Did she think he was directing sympathy at her, maybe? As if. He had enough sensitivity to know that she wouldn’t appreciate that. She was clearly a strong and capable woman. Someone who’d taken on the responsibility of a child who wasn’t her own. Who was having to cope with the disaster of that child becoming gravely ill and who was doing everything she possibly could to put things right.

He respected that. Good grief, she’d gone to the other side of the world to try and track down the boy’s dad and when she’d discovered he wasn’t the one, she’d headed back to chase up another lead. Hopefully, that had proved successful. What with all the drama of Max and Ellie in recent months and then getting them shifted to this house and the wedding being planned, Rick hadn’t caught up on any further news about that. He had heard that Josh had been in hospital again in Auckland, which was why Sarah had only just made it to Dunedin in time to be Ellie’s bridesmaid. Maybe that had been for the transplant.

‘Hey, buddy.’ He winked at Josh as they positioned themselves near an old sundial in a corner of the garden. ‘How’s it going?’

Josh eyed him warily.

‘I’m Rick.’

‘I know. You’re Max’s friend.’

‘Yep.’ Both men spoke together and then Max put his arm over Josh’s shoulders as cameras whirred. ‘Rick’s got a Ducati too. Just like mine.’ He raised an eyebrow at Rick. ‘Josh was looking at that photo of us last night. With the bikes.’

‘Max said he might give me a ride one day.’

‘Cool.’ Rick had no trouble smiling for the camera. Maybe this was it. His ticket for getting to know Sarah. Max was going to be very busy settling into married life. He could offer to give Josh that ride.

‘I don’t think so.’

Sarah held out her hand to accept the glass of juice she had requested at the drinks table, congratulating herself on being so restrained.

Had Rick been waiting for a moment when she was away from everybody else to make his unwelcome offer to give Josh a ride on his motorbike?

Over my dead body had been the words that first sprang to mind but she had managed—with difficulty—to stop them emerging. She didn’t want to antagonise this man. OK, maybe this was a long shot but it was the only shot she had left and she couldn’t afford to throw it away. And maybe she should have been as prepared for something like this as for the way Rick was making no secret of finding her attractive.

He was totally irresponsible. The kind of good-looking—well, OK, make that great-looking guy who skated through life getting everything he wanted and to hell with any less than pleasant consequences. How old was he? Thirty-five or-six? High time he woke up and smelled the coffee, that’s for sure, but what was she going to do if he simply refused?

‘I’m not suggesting anything remotely dangerous.’ Rick pulled a can of lager from the nest of ice in a big silver tub. ‘Just a slow crawl around the block, or something.’

The smile revealed that Rick Wilson usually got what he wanted and no wonder. It was a winning smile, for sure. Confident and lazy. Softening a face of definite lines and a shadowed jaw that had ‘bad boy’ stamped all over it. Soft, dark hair that had been neatly combed into place a while back but the breeze in this outdoor setting had detached a single lock that almost touched an equally dark eyebrow. Eyes that had a hint of mischief that any woman would have trouble resisting.

Any other woman, that was.

‘I don’t think so,’ Sarah repeated, trying very hard not to put a punctuation mark between each word. She even added a smile of her own. ‘But thanks anyway.’

His smile faded. A tiny frown appeared between his eyes.

Oh…help.

As if in answer to the silent plea, there was a rustle of silk beside her and Ellie reached for one of the cans in the tub of ice.

‘For Max.’ She grinned in response to Rick’s raised eyebrows. ‘He’s got his hands full of baby at the moment.’ Then she looked from Rick to Sarah and she paused, her eyes widening.

Sarah gave her head a tiny shake. No, she hadn’t broken her promise.

‘Rick was just offering to give Josh a ride on his bike,’ she said, her tone carefully neutral.

‘Oh…’ Ellie bit her lip, giving Rick an oddly sympathetic glance. ‘Um…Josh’s mother was killed when she was a pillion passenger on her boyfriend’s bike,’ she said quietly.

Rick winced visibly. ‘Sorry.’

‘No worries. You weren’t to know.’ Sarah could see Josh approaching. ‘Here’s your juice,’ she said brightly. ‘Want something to eat as well?’

‘Nah. I’ve already had heaps. Can we go down to the beach? Max says there’s a jetty and you can go fishing.’

‘Maybe another day. We’re here for the wedding, remember? And not for too much longer, either. You don’t want to get too tired when you’re going to be starting school again this week.’

This wasn’t going well.

If it wasn’t his wedding day, he might have given Max a bit of stick for setting him up for that little disaster of offering Josh the opportunity to get maimed or worse.

He still could, if he made a joke of it, but there was something even more disturbing that needed his attention urgently.

Sarah was talking to Jet now. Smiling and nodding at something he was saying. Rick broke off the conversation he was having with some theatre nurses he knew and moved in their direction. The clock was ticking here because who knew how long it would be before she whisked Josh off home? And what if she was busy agreeing to a date or something? No. Rick could be pretty sure he was safe on that score. Jet wouldn’t go near a woman who had a child. The mere mention of babies had been enough at times for his mate to hold up crossed fingers and make a hissing sound to ward off bad voodoo.

‘We’ll have to see how it goes,’ Sarah was saying as he got close enough to hear. ‘One step at a time.’

‘Hey…’ Jet seemed happy enough to include Rick in the conversation. ‘Did you know Sarah’s a specialised ICU nurse? She’s coming back to work at Queen Mary’s next week.’

‘Just casual to start with,’ Sarah added. ‘I’m not sure how it’ll go. All depends on Josh, of course.’

‘Of course.’ Rick gave up trying to find a smooth opening line. Instead, he went for something much more mundane. ‘Our paths will be crossing. I spend quite a good percentage of my time in ICU.’

‘You’re a neurosurgeon, yes?’

‘Yes.’ This was good. Had she been asking someone about him? Even better that she would be working in that department. Given that neurosurgery was often the main specialty involved in cases like head injuries, he often spent considerable periods of time in ICU. But then he frowned.

‘Coming back? You’ve worked there before?’ Surely he would have spotted her. In the unit or the cafeteria. Even the car park, dammit. He was absolutely certain he would have noticed.

Sarah’s expression was rueful. ‘I applied for a job and got it but I never actually did a shift. That was when Josh got diagnosed.’

‘ALL?’ Jet queried.

Sarah’s nod was grim. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was the stuff of parental nightmares. ‘The next few months were a bit of a blur. All the invasive diagnostic tests and then induction chemotherapy. I lived in the children’s oncology unit.’

‘Good response to induction?’ It was Jet who spoke again.

Sarah shook her head this time. ‘Slow enough to be a real concern. We finally achieved remission but that was when I was told he was a candidate for an early HSCT.’

Rick was listening carefully despite being fascinated by watching Sarah’s face as she spoke. She was genuine all right. Nuances of emotion played across her features and he could feel the agony she’d been through. God help him, but he had an insane urge to wrap her into his arms and hold her close. He shook it off and focused on what she’d been saying.

HSCT. Haematopoietic stem-cell transplant. More commonly known as a bone-marrow transplant.

‘And that took you to the States?’ he asked. ‘To try and locate a donor?’

Sarah’s gaze flicked in his direction. She hesitated before responding but he couldn’t read her expression this time. It was almost as if shutters had come down but he could tell she was struggling with something. Then she looked away from both her companions, her gaze raking the small crowd now scattered throughout the garden.

Many were holding champagne glasses and some had plates, having helped themselves to a sumptuous afternoon tea from the table laden with silver, tiered stands that held everything from savouries and sandwiches to tiny cupcakes decorated with hearts. Imitating Sarah’s observation, Rick spotted Josh, who was sitting on the wide steps of the terrace beside Max, who was feeding Mattie with a bottle.

Of course. She wouldn’t want to be discussing this if Josh was within earshot.

‘We heard that didn’t work out,’ he said gently. ‘But Auckland was more successful, yes?’

‘What?’ Those dark blue eyes flashed with…what?…alarm? ‘What makes you say that?’

Rick sighed inwardly. He was only trying to be interested here. Supportive. Was she always this prickly?

‘Ellie mentioned that Josh was in hospital, that’s all. And that was why there was some doubt about whether you’d make it to the wedding. I knew you’d gone to Auckland because of another donor possibility so I was hoping that was due to a transplant happening.’

‘No.’ He could see the deep breath Sarah took. ‘He got sick. Pneumonia. A bug he probably picked up from the plane trip home.’

She was watching Josh again. Ellie had gone over to the steps and was sitting beside her brand-new husband but leaning forward, talking to Josh on his other side. Then she stood up and began walking towards Rick. He glanced at Jet but there seemed to be nothing to say to break the suddenly tense silence enclosing the three of them.

Josh’s condition was fragile. He might or might not still be in remission but even if he was, he was at risk due to his suppressed immune system that the maintenance drug regime would cause. Any bacterial, viral or fungal infection could be potentially fatal. Ellie joined the group but it didn’t relieve the tension. If anything, it went up a notch or two even before she spoke.

‘Sarah…I’m sorry but Josh isn’t feeling very well. He says he’s got a headache and he thinks he’s going to be sick.’

‘Oh, no!’ Rick saw the colour drain from Sarah’s face.

‘It could just be too many chocolate éclairs and sunshine but…’

The tiny word hung in the air. It could be an infection of some kind. It could even be a sign of a central nervous system relapse, which would not only take away the status of remission but could escalate the progression of this boy’s disease.

‘I’ll have to get him checked.’ Sarah’s eyes were bright. Too bright. Glittering with unshed tears? ‘Oh, God…We’ve only just got over the last setback. He was so desperate to stay well enough to go to school again.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Ellie was biting her bottom lip. ‘Jet could take you into Emergency.’ She turned. ‘You’ve got a shift starting later tonight, haven’t you?’

‘Yeah.’

‘He knows everyone,’ she said to Sarah. ‘He’ll make sure Josh gets the best of care.’

‘I’ll go too,’ Rick announced.

The others all looked at him in surprise.

‘Jet and I came together,’ he said quickly. ‘In my car. It’s not as if you guys are planning formal speeches or anything, are you?’ He didn’t give Ellie time to respond. ‘Jet can look after Josh and everything that needs to happen. I can look after Sarah.’

It felt good to say that. And he meant every word. Smooth opening lines or first kisses were the last thing on his mind right now. This was about a potentially sick kid and the woman who was, effectively, his mother. There was no hidden agenda or ulterior motive.

The ‘bad boys’ weren’t being disbanded by this marriage, he realised in a moment of sudden clarity. The tribe was simply expanding. Ellie was a part of it and, by association, Sarah came under the same protective umbrella. That was what this was about. Solidarity. A tribe thing.

So why did Sarah and Ellie exchange a glance that made him feel as if he’d stepped into a minefield?

‘I think…’ Ellie spoke after a loaded pause and her voice sounded strange. ‘That might be quite a good idea, don’t you, Sarah?’

Equally strangely, Sarah had closed her eyes as though offering up a silent prayer. She opened them slowly, stared at Ellie for a second and then turned her head towards Rick.

The gaze was so intense it rang alarm bells that were positively deafening. What the hell was going on here?

‘Yes.’ Sarah sounded perfectly calm, which was weird in itself. ‘It is a good idea. Can we go now, please?’

Josh had been diagnosed with leukaemia here at Queen Mary’s and it became rapidly obvious that he was a favourite patient amongst the paediatric oncology staff that got summoned to the emergency department. One of the registrars even called his consultant, Mike Randall, who said he would be coming in to see what was happening.

A lot was happening. Numerous blood tests and a chest X-ray. An exhaustive physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and a lumbar puncture. Jet changed into scrubs and simply went on shift early but Rick was left with little to do but be there and observe, feeling somewhat ridiculous in his dinner suit and the bow-tie, which had come undone but he wasn’t about to bother retying it.

Sarah would have probably felt absurdly overdressed, too, in that long frock and with the flowers still in her hair but it didn’t seem to occur to her. As pale as her nephew, she was there by his side for every moment. Holding his hand for the blood tests and curled protectively close to his head throughout the lumbar puncture procedure. Rustling in her long dress as she walked beside his bed when it was rolled to a different area. She said little but seemed grateful to have Jet and Rick there to smooth the admission process and the transition of care to the oncology department.

Josh was just as stoical as Sarah. The hospital environment and these frightening and painful procedures were a part of life for both of them now and they were in it together. With every passing minute, Rick became more aware of the striking bond between these two. Of their courage. Josh didn’t cry, even once, and Rick was left convinced that Sarah was a vital component of any treatment for this child. The gentle way she touched him, almost constantly, and the way she held direct eye contact throughout the worst moments, infusing him with both strength and comfort, touched something very deep in Rick.

All his younger patients had families that loved them and would do anything they could to help but he’d never witnessed a bond quite like this. They were both special but Sarah…she was astonishing.

By the time the consultant, Mike, arrived, the early testing was complete and Josh had been moved to a private room in the children’s ward. Surprisingly, Max turned up at the same time.

‘What are you doing here, man?’ Rick asked. ‘It’s your wedding night! ‘

‘Ellie sent me in with some clothes for Sarah and to find out what’s happening. How’s Josh?’

‘I think we’re about to find out.’ Rick tilted his head to where Mike was gripping Sarah’s hand.

‘I hoped it would be an outpatient appointment when we got to see you again,’ the older doctor was saying. ‘You’ve only just come down from Auckland, haven’t you?’

‘Yesterday,’ Sarah confirmed wryly.

They both looked at the still figure of the sleeping child on the bed beside them. He had a pulse oximeter on a finger and an IV line snaking up from a heavily bandaged elbow to the stand supporting bags of medicated fluids.

‘Let’s step outside for a minute so we don’t wake him up,’ Mike suggested. ‘He’ll be worn out by now, I suspect.’