X-Sammii-X, thank you for your review. Nothing much happened between Cal and Olivia, but a meeting between them would be awkward. Dixie doesn't know Tilly is the baby she looked after - no-one knows for sure, though it has crossed Dixie's mind.
westlife4ever80, I'm sorry for making you cry, but I'm so happy you liked the scene so much. It is so devastating about Ethan's Huntington's, though I do think it's improved this story! Thank you for your review.
Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. That's a nice way of looking at Louise. I think once Matilda's eighteen, it will be difficult to keep her away from Cal if she's happy with it, but three years is a long time. Jamie went to Australia with his boyfriend, but (in this story) that didn't work out so he came home and met Jack, who obviously got his old job back. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Applealice10, maybe talking to your cheating boyfriend is better than nothing sometimes! Yes, Olivia had a crush on Cal a few years ago and now she's embarrassed to see him. At some point, you'll find out what happened. Thank you for your review.
ETWentHome, being with nice people you don't really know just isn't the same as being with the guy you think of as your dad. And poor Cal - he's lost Matilda twice now. He always tries to do the right thing and he always messes up! Thank you for your review.
EDSidekick, thank you for your reviews. It's really lovely that you recognise that I try really hard to get things right - I make so many mistakes, even with all the research, so it's really nice you've noticed I do try! Dylan's friends don't know what's going on with her - they have had their own problems and Dylan isn't that experienced at asking for help. I think you're right about Ethan and I'm sure Lily's right about that too. Cal was really the first person to listen to Matilda at all - her friends knew she didn't have a good relationship with her parents, but Cal was the one who recognised something was seriously wrong. I'm not sure I've written Zoe and Dylan's friendship before - I'm glad you liked it!
Dylan waited tensely for Luke's reply. She didn't have to wait long.
Dylan told me x
Dylan had to admit she was surprised. Dylan K had seemed pretty determined not to tell them – and Dylan was inclined to think he'd done the right thing. There was no sense in risking his job.
A moment later, Dylan's phone rang. As she'd expected, it was Luke. She looked at his name on the screen.
Dylan knew she really ought to be refusing to speak to him, but she knew Luke pretty well and had a feeling she knew exactly what he was planning. She had to do this for Dylan K's sake, if not for Luke's.
"Hey, Luke," she said.
"Are you okay to talk?" said Luke. "Texting was taking forever."
"It's fine," said Dylan. "I just wasn't sure if you were still in the hospital and it's probably not the kind of thing you want to say out loud in there."
She could hear the warmth in Luke's voice. "You know, I didn't even think of that? You're so smart, Dylan."
Unfortunately not quite smart enough to stop myself from smiling at the compliment, but everyone has off days.
"I left the hospital a while ago," said Luke. "I'm going to get the train and go to see Mum. I'd really like you to go with me."
"Sorry, Louise," said Lottie as she wiped her eyes.
"No, don't worry," said Louise. "It sounds really humiliating. Alicia's not so bad, but Lily's terrifying. I almost miss Mrs Beauchamp sometimes."
"I've never done anything like that before," whispered Lottie. "But Charlie's so nice. He's in the year above me and he's been tutoring me a couple of lunchtimes a week. I never thought he'd think of me in that way, so when he told me he did, I was so happy."
"Course you were," said Louise. Charlie looked like a younger version of his dad, Sam - and Sam was hot. Louise looked at Lottie and frowned slightly as another problem occurred to her. "Lottie, you're fifteen, aren't you? How old's Charlie?"
"He's fifteen too. He's only a couple of months older than me."
"You do know it's illegal to have sex at your age?"
"Oh, we weren't having sex!" said Lottie at once. She paused. "I think Charlie might have wanted to though. So maybe I'm quite glad Dr Bateman and Dr Hardy came home. But now they'll think I'm a complete slapper!"
Matilda couldn't believe she'd said it. It was so rude; so ungrateful.
But she needed Cal. No matter how lovely this family was, she couldn't trust them yet.
Dixie walked over to her and gently took Matilda's hands in hers. "Come and sit down, lovely, and we'll talk about this properly. It's natural that you want to see Cal. He was a very good friend to you."
"He was," agreed Matilda softly as a tear ran down her face.
Dixie guided her gently to a chair and asked: "Matilda, how much did the police tell you about staying here?"
Matilda tried to think, but her head was a whirl of words and images and none of it made sense. "I don't know."
"It's a lot to take in," said Dixie. "We've fostered lots of kids over the years. Usually, they either can't remember anything about what the police or social services tell them, or they remember everything to the letter and woe betide us if we even drop hints of stepping out of line."
Dixie smiled and Matilda tried to smile too.
"You know Cal is under investigation, don't you?" said Dixie. "It probably seems ridiculous to you and to be honest, it seems a bit ridiculous to me too. I've known Cal for years. He has his faults, as we all do, but he's a good man. But the people who do the investigating, they don't know Cal. They need to be completely sure he isn't a danger and that's going to take them a bit of time. Even if they believe Cal has done nothing wrong, they can't afford to make assumptions. They have to investigate everybody."
"But it's my parents they should be investigating!" burst out Matilda. "Not Cal."
Dixie nodded. "They're investigating your parents too. But in terms of Cal – I'm very sorry, Matilda, but you won't be able to see Cal until the investigations are complete. I know it's going to be tough for you, but we have to toe the line. Otherwise Cal could get into even more trouble. I know you're going to miss him, but you understand, don't you?"
Dylan K had regretted his decision as soon as he'd sent the text message.
It had seemed the right thing at the time. It was clearly important to Luke to know where Hazel was and Dylan K's personal opinion was that he had the right to know.
But now, he was wondering.
Luke was such a sensible boy when things were going reasonably well, but he was also inclined to impulsivity. If all he did was phone the hospital and ask to speak to his mum, there was no harm in that, though he wouldn't be very happy if he got a negative response.
But what if a phone call wasn't enough for Luke? What if he decided to get on the train and visit Hazel himself? Apart from the fact that he was (in Dylan K's opinion) much too young to make that kind of journey, he would need to take at least three trains and there were all kinds of things that might go wrong. A sensible fifteen-year-old might cope, but perhaps not a stressed, upset one.
Dylan K flung the file he was carrying down on a convenient trolley. He knew it was unprofessional, but he would have to do something about this. He would phone Luke and if he wasn't talking sense, he'd track him through his phone (Connor would know how all these modern things worked) and go after him.
"Dr Keogh!" It was Connor.
Dylan K wasn't usually pleased to see anyone, but in this case, Connor was the exception. "Ah. Just the person I wanted to see."
But Connor didn't seem to register his words. He was breathing hard and he might have been trembling. He looked more like the young boy he'd been when Dylan K had first met him than a competent registrar. "Dr Keogh, Ella's dad's been brought in. He's had a fall from a third-storey window. Unconscious, multiple injuries, massive blood loss, arrested on route. I can't deal with this by myself. Please, you'll help, won't you?"
Lily sat up straight in an armchair, feeling her heart beating in her chest. Very faintly, she could hear Alicia having very stern words with Charlie. Although Charlie and his girlfriend had been almost fully-clothed – Charlie had removed his shirt, but nothing else – their intention had been clear.
Lily didn't know what would happen now. All she knew was that she was alone.
Alone and pregnant. Effectively a single mother.
Lily gripped the arms of the chair more tightly. She didn't want this baby. Not now. Her life was in pieces and she didn't need the further complication of a baby.
But the thought of not keeping it sent pain lancing through her. She might not want this baby, but she was already its mother. She always would be.
Even if it had inherited the gene.
Iain shared a glance with Rita. There was an expression of fear in her eyes. A part of him (some primitive part Rita wouldn't approve of) wanted to get her out of the room and let him deal with this himself; spare her the pain. But she would hate that and in any case, she and Iain were a team.
"Alfie," said Rita, and Iain could feel her fear.
"I told you! I don't know!" said Alfie, turning away from them. He held himself tensely and Iain had the sudden feeling he might try to run. It worried Iain because no parent wants to see their child run from them, but although Iain was older now, he was still very quick. If Alfie ran away, he would not get far.
"Alfie, please be honest with us," said Rita softly.
Iain heard Alfie's breathing quicken.
"I am being honest!" said Alfie, his voice high.
"It just really seems as though you're hiding something," said Rita. She looked at him, waiting for an answer, but when none came, she pressed her hands to her mouth, tears brimming in her eyes.
Iain put his hand on her knee and tried to give her some of his strength – though at this moment, he didn't have very much himself.
"Alfie, I could be wrong, but this is so important," said Rita. "If you don't tell us who it is, we'll have to go to the police. If you do tell us, we'll probably still have to go because they've committed a crime and it's our duty to report it – but at least we'll have more idea of what we're dealing with and more idea of how to support you. Please, Alfie. If you know who's doing this, please tell us."
Alfie's head was in his hands. "I don't know. I mean, I can't be sure. But…"
Despite everything, Iain felt himself relaxing slightly. He felt ashamed of the fears that had lurked in the back of his mind; the fears that his own son might be responsible.
"I think it's Ariana," said Alfie.
Cal sat with his arm around Ethan as he waited for his phone call to be answered. He swore softly when it went to answerphone, but he wasn't really surprised. He knew better than anyone how busy doctors could be.
At last, the answerphone message came to an end. "Hi, this is Caleb Knight. I'm phoning about my brother, Ethan Hardy, who is under your care. Ethan fell over today and he's had a few episodes of clumsiness, forgetfulness and struggling to concentrate. He has had a few recent upheavals in his personal life, which might be contributing, but Ethan is concerned and he'd really like to see you before his next appointment if possible. You've got our numbers. Thanks: I hope to hear from you soon."
Ethan was looking at him with big, scared eyes, though he tried to smile. "Thank you, Cal."
Cal hugged him. "What are big brothers for?"
"To annoy me and embarrass me, I always thought," said Ethan in a shaky voice. "But it looks like I was wrong. I'm so glad you're here, Cal."
"I'll always be here," said Cal.
