Chapter 48:

Later on that day Mary-Claire had decided she would play with Scarlett as she needed to take her mind off things which was happening, Harry and Evelin were in his office trying to get funeral plans ready for Oscar, they had both decided that they would get Mary-Claire involved even though she tried to block it all out as they couldn't go through with such a young infants funeral without Mother's consent.

They had picked a date which was Monday next week, they had also managed to get everything else sorted including the assigned area for the burial and had ordered Oscar's head stone which they got Mary-Claire involved for, even though she broke down in tears doing it she managed to pull through.

Mary-Claire was playing with Scarlett downstairs she was determined to get Scarlett to walk but there was no luck maybe it was because Scarlett knew there was something up with Mary-Claire, or maybe it was because Mary-Claire's Mum kept coming down to see if she was alright and Scarlett was a little unsure about Evelin still.

"You alright there darling?" Evelin questions as she walks into the lounge checking on Mary-Claire, "Yeah fine" Mary-Claire lies she still wasn't right that numb sensation was still there but Scarlett seems to be making it better for Mary-Claire.

Scarlett is lying on Mary-Claire's lap with her head slightly on her stomach and slightly on her arm watching 'In The Night Garden' something that Mary-Claire couldn't stand at all but Scarlett loves it, Scarlett held Mary-Claire's finger in the one hand and was sucking her own thumb with the other her and as always since the day she was born she lay listening to Mary-Claire's heart beat it always seems to calm Scarlett down.

Mary-Claire always loves the way Scarlett puts her head on her chest and listens to Mary-Claire's heart beat, but as Mary-Claire always says to Harry Scarlett is the only one who knows what Mary-Claire's heart beat sounds like from the inside.


It was getting late and Mary-Claire had finally got Scarlett off to sleep, she is still lying on her lap when Harry comes down to put the mugs he had been using in the washing up bowl. "How long did it take this time?" Harry questions as he comes back through from the kitchen "Two episodes of In The Night Garden and a bottle of milk" Mary-Claire yawns, "Oh she does drive a hard bargain doesn't she?" Harry laughs quietly as he lifts Scarlett up off Mary-Claire's lap.

"Your Mum is in the spare room and I'll go put Scarlett down for the night and I'll be back down shortly" Harry says as he heads of the room with Scarlett in his arms. Mary-Claire gives a heavy sigh to herself as she remembers Harry taking a two week old Scarlett upstairs to her Moses Basket and how her carried her in the same position, but Scarlett had just got a lot taller since.


Soon after Harry had taken Scarlett up to bed, Harry comes back down and cuddles up with Mary-Claire on the sofa with a blanket over the top of them. "Was she alright?" Mary-Claire questions as she tries to make herself comfortable "She stirred a little but soon went back to sleep when I gave her the dummy" Harry replies as he messes with Mary-Claire's hair Mary-Claire nods and cuddles into Harry's chest.

"How are you feeling now?" Harry questions as he knows Mary-Claire's feelings are a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment. "Erm... bit of both really now" Mary-Claire replies. Harry suddenly remembers the book he had given Mary-Claire "So have you been writing down your thoughts and feelings in that book I gave you?" Harry questions and Mary-Claire nods and gets up and hands Harry the book which was on the side next to the house phone.

Harry flicked through the pages, Mary-Claire had surprisingly neat hand writing and was all set out neatly, Harry notices a few quotes and then goes on to read something which he finds touching.

"Today I don't think I would of got through today without my husband Harry, he's been so helpful these past few hours. I can tell he's hurting on the inside but as long as he is fine with me and how I am feeling at the moment I know I have chosen my husband well. Harry is so kind even though he does annoy me sometimes (all the time at work) he has been so patient with me today. I have to admit he's a great Dad to Scarlett even though Scarlett might only want me sometimes he does his best. I do think we did make the right choice with Oscar and to let him go but I do wonder what it would be like if he wasn't so ill and wasn't born 2 months early. As I think about Harry I wonder what would life be like if we never slept together on new year's eve and what life would be like now? I love Harry to the bottom of my heart, I know I may not show it sometimes when he annoys me but I couldn't ask for a better husband who has turned out to be an amazing Dad after he said to me he thought Scarlett would break when he held her when Scarlett was only 2 hours old. I really honestly think the world of Harry.

Harry looks at Mary-Claire and smiles "You really think like this about me?" Harry questions, Mary-Claire nods at Harry and replies "I do Harry." Harry looks down at her and says "I bet you thought of all your other previous boyfriends like this didn't you?" Mary-Claire looks at him a little confused "Harry you are my only husband I've ever had, and anyway you are the only one I've let touch me in the way you do and I have so much trust in you Harry" Mary-Claire says as she brings herself to tears.


The following morning Mary-Claire woke to an empty bed on Harry's side. "Harry?" Mary-Claire questions as she gets out of bed and walks around the bedroom and gets her dressing gown on. She slips out of the bedroom and makes her way over to Scarlett's room.

Scarlett wasn't in her room so Mary-Claire gathers Harry had seen to Scarlett who has possibly woken early but Mary-Claire had possibly slept through Scarlett crying. Mary-Claire made her way down the stairs slowly as her stitches were still hurting.

As Mary-Claire got to the bottom of the stairs she looks up to see her Mum walking across the hall towards the bathroom, "So Harry has Scarlett then" Mary-Claire mutters as she makes her way into the lounge. She could hear Harry talking but she couldn't make out what he was saying.

Mary-Claire steps into the kitchen to see Harry feeding Scarlett, he was sitting with his back to Mary-Claire sitting side on, on the kitchen chair Scarlett is strapped into her high chair. Mary-Claire smiles to herself as she sees Scarlett smiling at Harry, He was feeding her porridge something that Scarlett loves but Mary-Claire couldn't stand when she was pregnant with Scarlett.

She gives a little cough and Harry turns to look at Mary-Claire, "Morning" Harry says as he places Scarlett's bowl down on the kitchen table and gets up and walks over to Mary-Claire and gives her a hug. "How long you been up for?" Harry questions Mary-Claire, "About twenty minutes why?" Mary-Claire replies "Just wondered at least you haven't been up since half six with this little fussy madam" Harry says lifting Scarlett up and out of the high chair, Mary-Claire gives a little giggle and clutches her stomach again, "Ouch" Mary-Claire exclaims sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Still painful?" Harry says sitting Scarlett on the floor who instantly crawls over to Mary-Claire and pulls herself up and holds onto Mary-Claire's knee so she can keep her balance. "Mama" Scarlett says putting her arms up to Mary-Claire, Mary-Claire lifts her up onto her lap and kisses her on the cheek, "Cup of coffee?" Harry says flicking the switch on the kettle, "Yes please" Mary-Claire sighs as she strokes and messes with Scarlett's hair.

"Oh MC, I've got a shift at quarter to twelve will you be alright with Scarlett?" Harry questions putting the cup of coffee "Yeah I will be fine, my Mum is here anyway" Mary-Claire replies as Harry walks out of the room.


Later on Mary-Claire was left to look after Scarlett while Harry went off to work. Harry made it to the hospital ten minutes before his shift and was greeted by Colette, Arthur, Fletch and Essie who were all laughing and joking until Harry walks in and they all fall silent "What?" Harry says in confusion hanging up his bag in his locker and locks it, "we... Erm..." Colette begins but doesn't know what to say, Essie picks up the confidence and says "How Sister Tressler today?" She uses Mary-Claire's professional name as there was junior nurses in the room, "Coping... If this is about Oscar dying please don't keep quiet I would rather know than you keeping quiet" Harry says to Essie who looks at Arthur, Fletch and Colette who looks rather awkward.

Harry makes his way out onto the ward to see the stand in Sister who was standing in for Mary-Claire who had been granted sick leave for two weeks. Harry stops in his tracks making Fletch and Colette walk into the back of him "What was that for?" Colette moans as Fletch steps back onto her foot.

"It can't be can it?" Harry mutters as Colette walks around him and glares at him, Harry steps forward and looks at the acting sister, "Who is that?" Fletch questions "I think that is Sarah White, she was at Saint James's when I was there" Harry says in complete shock, "Did you?" Fletch says nudging Harry, "Did I what Fletch?" Harry says folding his arms "You know a bit of fun in the linen cupboard?" Fletch says giving Harry a little nod, "No actually that was me and MC" Harry accidently releases a secret of his and Mary-Claire's.

"Oh really Harry?" Colette buts in as Harry starts to blush, "Well... this is awkward" Harry mutters as he shifts awkwardly, Before Harry could say anymore Sarah had approached them "Hello I am Sarah White and I'm standing in for your ward Sister who is off ill at the moment, let's just make this clear I don't stand for nonsense. Fletch rolls his eyes making Essie snigger and Harry bite his lip "God help us all" Colette says under her breath.

"Dr Tressler! I didn't know you worked here?" Sarah says as she dismisses everyone "Yep been working here for four years now" Harry replies as he glances up and over at Essie, Fletch and Colette who are watching him. "So how have you been?" Sarah says as she tries to break the ice "Fine I guess" Harry replies awkwardly as he keeps one eye on Fletch and Colette and starts to wonder where Essie has gone.

Harry decided he would make an excuse to go but luckily another patient came through and Harry took the patient to the bay along with Colette who was going to be this patients nurse. "Right so this is Lauren Clarke, she has been attacked in the park by another girl who is in the ED, Lauren has deep stab wounds to her abdomen both have been flushed with saline solution also deep lacerations to both wrists these are defensive wounds" Colette reads as Harry looks at her wounds.

"Right she is going to need these stitched up in theatre as the wrist lacerations have cut through some tendons" Harry says lifting Lauren's wrist. Colette nods and walks off to the nursing station to book a theatre slot.

Sarah approaches Colette and questions her about Harry, "So Dr Tressler?" Sarah begins "What about Dr Tressler?" Colette questions, "Did he mention that we used to date when he was at Saint James's?" Sarah says to Colette who is all ready board with Sarah. "No" Colette says while typing something on the computer "Oh really, he used to tell everyone at Saint James's" Sarah says "Well probably because he was going out with a nurse and he was only a junior" Colette says Sarcastically.

Colette rolls her eyes and places her hands on her hips "If you are trying to see if he is single no, he's married as has a daughter and a..." Colette stops wondering if she should say anything, she decided to tell Sarah quietly about Oscar. "Look he has a one year old daughter and he did have a son until a few days ago, okay don't tell him this it's a sensitive subject for him and his wife" Colette finishes, "what happened to him?" Sarah whispers Colette hesitates for a moment and looks over at Harry, "He was born prematurely about three days ago now he lived for about 20 hours and then they had to turn his life support off he had developed pneumonia and he already had RDS" Colette finishes as Harry wonders over suspiciously. "What about RDS?" Harry questions leaving Colette and Sarah to come up with a convincing excuse.