Critical. The cold hand squeezed.
Peyton searched Valentino’s eyes, grappling with the vagaries of life, trying to process the information. How could fate could be so cruel to a little boy and a man who had only ever done good things. ‘That’s just so… terrible. I can’t believe it.’ She shook her head to clear it, searching his dark eyes, hoping that he’d tell her in his next breath that it was all some cruel, sick joke. ‘I just can’t… take it in.’
He nodded. ‘Yes.’
It wasn’t a retraction or some kind of empty platitude, just an acknowledgement of the situation which, she supposed, was about all he could say in such circumstances.
She became aware then of the slow, lazy circling of his fingers against her upper arms where his hands still lightly grasped. It was strangely comforting in the aftermath of such devastating news and she swayed a little. But when the temptation to lay her cheek against the V of his scrub top rose unbidden, she knew she had to step back.
Peyton was conscious of him watching her as she walked to the nearby trolley loaded with anaesthetic supplies and pressed her palm to the cold metallic surface.
‘I’ll be covering Harry’s patients until he’s ready to return.’
The news hit like a bolt from the blue, as did a dozen questions all at once.Hewas taking over? She’d be working forhim? How was that even possible? But they were suddenly all swept aside when the full impact of this change in circumstances hit home.
McKenzie.
She glanced at him sharply as her heart thudded to a sick kind of beat.No, no, no.Why? What had she done, what hadMcKenzie done, to deserve such upheaval? The surgery had been delayed too many times already. So many things had gone wrong in her short life but the one constant had been Harry and his absolute faith that he could give McKenzie the gift of hearing that she’d been robbed of by her prematurity.
And now that was in jeopardy too.
‘My daughter’s surgery is on Monday.’
‘Yes, I know.’ He nodded. ‘Harry told me. He also told me this process has been quite convoluted for you. A lot of delays and cancellations due to her fluctuating health concerns. And I understand that switching surgeons at short notice can be very stressful, but it’s okay. Really.’ He smiled as if to emphasise the assurance. ‘It can all still go ahead as scheduled. I can do McKenzie’s surgery.’
Dread dripped like drops of bile into her system and Peyton wanted to scream. She wanted to rant and cry. For herself. For Harry. And then she felt terrible because how could she even be thinking of herself, of her own selfish needs, when Benny was critical?
‘Icando it, Peyton.’
‘No.’
She shook her head as their gazes met, his obvious surprise at her decisive rebuttal right there for her to see until the shutters slammed down in his eyes. ‘You don’t think I’m a good surgeon?’
Peyton had the urge to laugh hysterically. Where did she even begin? ‘How do I know, Valentino? I don’t know the first thing about you.’
One black eyebrow winged towards his hair line. ‘I have one night that says differently.’
A quick well-spring of rage bubbled up inside as Peyton slashed her hand through the air. How dare he bring that up now. She glanced behind her at the door in case anyone was around to overhear.
‘Don’t ever,’ she snapped, ‘evertalk about that night again.’
Sighing heavily, Valentino held up his hand in a placatory manner. ‘I am a world-class cochlear surgeon,’ he said, obviously choosing to address the most important matter, not her reaction – possibleoverreaction – to his innuendo. ‘I’m head of the department in a large London hospital. I chair an international cochlear implant committee. I have performed this operation countless times on both children and adults.’ Shoving his hands on his hips, he stared her down. ‘Iam a damn good surgeon.’
Peyton shook her head, his arrogant stance and impressive credentials not meaning a whole hell of a lot right now. He didn’t get it. He just didn’t get it. This was her child. This wasMcKenzie.
‘And she is mydaughter, Valentino.’ Peyton said it slowly, unblinkingly, so he knew she was serious. ‘Do you really think I would allow a total stranger to cut into her? Drill a hole in her head?’
Did he think that was an easy thing for a mother to consent to? Never mind allowing someone she didn’t know to do it? If he didn’t get that then she didn’t know what else to say.
‘I’ll wait,’ she announced, blinking away the sudden welling of moisture in her eyes, wishing she could blink away the crack in her heart at the thought of yet another delay for her beautiful girl. ‘I’ll cancel and wait for Harry to return.’
Lips suddenly grim, he gave a stiff bow. ‘Of course, that is your prerogative.’
Peyton nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘You should be aware though,’ he murmured, ‘that it could be a long time. Harry was talking about months, maybe a year if Ben needs extensive rehab.’
A year…
