Tato Potato, thank you for your review and don't worry - it's a busy time of year and I know what it's like to have a slow internet! I'm really happy you're still reading and enjoying the story. The truth will come out fairly soon!
ETWentHome, yes, this is where it fell apart for Cal - there will be differences, but there will be similarities too. Taylor did reject Ethan's money, but the phone call showed she wasn't working alone. Thank you for your review.
Bonnie Sveen Fan, wonder no longer - you're about to find out exactly what the phone call was about! Thank you for your review.
CBloom2, thank you for your review - I'm so glad you're enjoying this story. Not long now till I hurt Ethan! The internet is back at last - I was lost without it! My husband wouldn't usually mind, but he couldn't order Mother's Day presents so he was stressing!
Tanith Panic, I think Taylor has a lot of experience of this game. I'm glad you like the image of Ethan look after Cal when he's drunk - it's an image I return to repeatedly in my stories! Thank you for your review.
20BlueRoses, thank you for your review. You'll find out what Taylor is up to very soon - I'm sure Ethan will save the day if he possibly can. As you say, he's smitten. He'd probably do anything for her.
I hope there's not too much Lily - it is supposed to be mainly Ethan and Taylor, but Ethan and Cal both play a role in Lily's storyline and Connie's work rota is affecting both brothers.
Taylor hid her face in Ethan's shoulder for a moment, but then she pushed him away and started to dry her tears. "You should go back now."
"No," said Ethan. "I'm staying with you." He led her back to the bench and sat beside her, his arms tightly around her. "Please tell me what's happened."
"I… no, I can't, Ethan. You have to go. Please go now!"
"I'm not going anywhere," said Ethan. "Just tell me, Taylor. Please. I want to help."
Taylor sobbed some more and pulled away from his embrace. She wiped her eyes and seemed to be trying to calm herself down. She spoke without looking at Ethan."One of our… our major contributors… has just pulled out of his sponsorship."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Ethan inadequately.
"There's this boy… Nazia… he needs a heart op urgently," said Taylor. Her voice sounded odd, as though she was speaking lines she'd rehearsed, but Ethan knew it was just her way of keeping the emotions at bay. "He's six. Without this, he'll die. I… I…" Her voice trembled, but then she swallowed hard and continued. "I had a cardiac surgeon ready to fly out today."
"How much do you need?" said Ethan.
Taylor sniffed. "Fifteen…" Her voice wobbled again. "Fifteen thousand."
Ethan was confused. "That's a lot. I thought the surgeons donated their time gratis."
"They… they do," said Taylor. "But then there's his expenses… the local anaesthetist… post-operative care… it goes on." She stared out ahead of her for a moment and then started sobbing again. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to do this."
Ethan hugged her tightly. "It's okay to be upset, darling. I know how much this means to you." He was silent for a moment, thinking. It was a lot of money. Almost everything he had. But this was for Taylor. "It's okay. I'll give you the money, Taylor."
"What?" She pulled away, staring at him in horror. "You can't, Ethan! You can't. it's too much. I can't let you."
"I can afford it," said Ethan. "My mother left it to me in her will."
Taylor stood up, backing away from him as tears poured down her cheeks. "No, Ethan! Not your inheritance."
"Well… what's the alternative?" said Ethan. "Where else are you going to get the money? Look, if it's a problem, it can be a loan rather than a gift. There's nothing in the world I'd rather do than give you the money, but if it makes you feel better…"
Taylor's head dropped. Her long hair fell in front of her face. "I've… I've got a list. Of companies who might donate. If you could try calling them for me… I should do it myself, of course, but I can't face it… or ask someone at the hospital! Hospitals support charities, don't they? Ask your clinical lead to do it. Maybe, if you ask lots of people, they might… donate a little bit? And then you can donate a little bit too."
"Of course." Ethan stood up and put his arms around her. "I'll call anyone you want me to. And I'll try speaking to Mrs Beauchamp. Send me the list and I'll do what I can."
"Thank you," whispered Taylor. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I'm so sorry."
Cal had never been so relieved to see Ethan. He had a feeling the excuse he'd given to Connie about Ethan being 'outside with a suicidal patient' was getting less believable by the minute and he was terrified Connie might walk out and see Ethan with Taylor. Of course, Cal wasn't completely sure Ethan was with Taylor, but that was where Cal would be if Taylor was his girlfriend.
"Ethan, where have you been?"
"Um… lunch," said Ethan, a guilty look on his face.
"Lucky you," said Cal, who hadn't had time. "I'm sure it – or rather she – tasted lovely. Meanwhile, guess who's been stuck doing your dirty work? Though on second thoughts, you were probably doing much dirtier things than me!"
Ethan glared at him. "Don't be ridiculous. It's far too cold."
"Ah, so you do know about being dirty now, Nibbles!"
"Shut up, Caleb."
"You're welcome, Nibbles!" said Cal. "It's always a pleasure to see to my little brother's patients and lie to Mrs Beauchamp when he's on a booty call."
Ethan sighed. "Okay. Thank you for helping me out, Cal. I do appreciate it and if you want to go and have a break now, I'll cover for you."
"No time," said Cal. "Lily's been sent home so we're already one doctor down."
Ethan was horrified. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise. I only meant to be gone for five minutes, but Taylor was so upset… Let me know what I need to be doing and then I'll get stuck in."
Cal shoved a couple of files at him. "Oh, and speaking of being upset, I told Mrs Beauchamp you were outside comforting a suicidal patient."
"Okay: thanks," said Ethan. "If she asks, she's feeling better now and I've sent her home, but I've told her to come back here if she feels worse."
Cal looked at him for a moment. "Ethan, is everything okay with you and Taylor?"
"We're fine," said Ethan. "Taylor is a bit upset, though not suicidal, but our relationship couldn't be better."
"Can I get some help here, please?" shouted Dixie's voice from behind them.
"Go on, Cal," said Ethan.
Cal stared at him. "Don't you think it will be better if you do it? I'm in the middle of stuff here. And not just my stuff, if you remember."
"I've still got my coat on," said Ethan. "I can't just leave it in the middle of reception!"
Cal pulled Ethan's coat off and threw it over a chair. "Looks like you just did. Besides, I think they need both of us. You go help Mrs Beauchamp and I'll take the wheelchair."
Ethan sighed and went over to join Connie by the trolley, while Cal went over to Iain, who was pushing the wheelchair. "Hi, I'm Dr Knight, but you can call me… Lily!? What happened?"
Cal and Rita took Lily into a cubicle and Cal examined her. She had no serious injuries and there were no indications of a head injury, but Lily was subdued and almost silent.
Cal was angry, but not really with Lily. She should have done as she was told and taken a taxi, but it wasn't her fault she was so tired. Connie's new work rota was an accident waiting to happen. Cal had told Connie the work rota was impossible; Dylan had apparently said much the same thing, but Connie wasn't listening.
Now it had happened. A doctor had injured a child because she was being worked too hard.
Lily had said there was no time to stop – but was that because there was really no time or because her reactions were impaired by fatigue? Normally, Cal would be more than prepared to take Lily's word for it, but she'd already made one error of judgement by deciding she was fit to drive.
"And there's definitely no nausea or headaches?" he said, as calmly as he could.
Lily sighed, more with fatigue than annoyance. "I've told you I'm fine. I just want to go home."
Cal bent down and tended to an abrasion on Lily's ankle. "We will have to keep you in for observation, but I'll try to make sure you go home as soon as you can."
He heard the swish of the curtain being pushed aside, followed by Connie's voice. "How's she doing?"
"She's got some nasty grazes on her legs, but she should be fine," said Cal. "No sign of a head injury, though we're keeping her under observation."
"Mrs Beauchamp, how is Kia doing?" asked Lily.
"She's stable," said Connie reassuringly, but then her voice hardened. "Her father's rather upset, so we need to know what's going on."
Rita looked sympathetically at Lily as Cal carried on treating her.
"She said you weren't paying attention," said Connie.
Cal froze slightly, but managed to continue his work. He just wished he could be convinced the girl was lying. A lot of kids liked to blame things on someone else to avoid punishment. Cal had done that himself. He still did it now! But the fact remained that Lily was exhausted and it was only too possible her attention had wandered without her realising.
Lily lowered her head, but her voice was firm as she repeated what she'd told Cal. "She stepped out of nowhere. I couldn't stop."
"Okay, Lily." Connie's voice was serious. "If there is any doubt about what happened, then you need to tell me now."
"I'm sure," said Lily.
"Right," said Connie. "I imagine the police would want to speak to you soon."
Lily nodded silently.
Connie turned to Cal. "Keep me up to date with her progress and let me know if I need to change the rota."
Cal gasped. "Seriously? Lily's been injured and some kid is telling lies about her and all you can think about is your precious rota?"
"Dr Knight, as I'm sure you're aware – and if not, you certainly ought to be - we need as full a complement of doctors as possible," said Connie. "If Lily is unable to work for a couple of days, then naturally the rota will have to be changed to accommodate this. It's only common sense."
