THE AMERICAN PATIENT

Chapter Nine – Mistaken Identities

Elizabeth sat on the park bench, watching in wonderment at how well Robert and Ella interacted with each other. Having never seen him with children before, she'd had no idea he would be so easy around them. They had fed the ducks and when Ella's short attention span had bored of that, she had dragged Robert off to the play park where he dutifully pushed swings and lifted her up to slides. Her little girl, Elizabeth realised with a chuckle, had Rocket Romano wrapped around her chubby little finger.

An elderly woman appeared at her side, and pointed at the space next to Elizabeth.

"May I?" she asked a little wheezy.

"Of course," Elizabeth replied patting the bench.

The old lady sat down and smiled fleetingly at Elizabeth before turning her head to watch Robert and Ella playing together. Elizabeth turned her own attentions back to them as well.

"Yours?" The lady asked, tipping her head towards the frolicking pair at the swings.

Elizabeth nodded, and smiled as Ella giggled loudly, kicking her feet out at Robert who was playing chicken with her as she swung.

"C'mon kid you gotta do better than that!" he laughed.

"I don't know who's having more fun, your husband or your daughter!" she chuckled.

Elizabeth smiled. Hee-hee, she thinks were married! she thought.

"You have a lovely family," the lady continued.

"Thank you."

Well it would be a bit awkward explaining, let her think what she likes.

They sat for a few more minutes watching.

Eventually Robert got tired and pulled Ella off the swing up into his arms, before approaching the bench. The old lady smiled at him. "I was just telling your wife what a lovely family you are."

Robert's eyes darted to Elizabeth's face as he raised an eyebrow questioningly at her. She turned a deep shade of scarlet and looked down at her feet.

"Thanks," Robert said, a huge grin gracing his face. "C'mon sweetheart," he said taking Elizabeth's hand and pulling her up. As he did so she glanced at his face. He was smiling mischievously at her revelling in her discomfort. "I promised Ella a burger so we better get going dear." Then he was off, walking away with Ella in one arm and pulling Elizabeth along by the hand.

"So when were you going to ask me?" he smirked.

"Oh, shut up Robert, she just assumed is all."

"Right okay, if you say so..."he said knowingly. He dropped the matter to save her further embarrassment, but smiled with joy on the inside as he noted she did not drop his hand.

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After stopping at McDonald's for lunch they arrived back at the house. Ella was all but asleep, so Elizabeth carried her straight up stairs and put her to bed. When she got back downstairs, Robert was sat in the lounge with two hot cups of coffee sat waiting on the table.

"Oh lovely, you can definitely come again," she said sitting next to him and picking up her coffee.

Robert glanced sideways at her before reaching for his own.

"So, how's the cold?" she asked.

"Okay, though I'm a little tired," he answered truthfully. Ella had exhausted him.

"You want to go crash for a bit?"

He thought about it. "Yeah, if you don't mind. I'll just finish this."

He wanted to ask why she had not set the old lady right about them not being a family. Did the idea not gall her like it would normally? There had been the kiss that hadn't been this morning. Now she was sitting next to him, more closely than you do when you sit next to a colleague. There were the glances, the blushes. All signals telling him that she was interested in him. It was time to go digging.

He took a sip of his coffee. "So, Lizzie how are you doing?"

She turned to him. "What do you mean?"

"In general, y'know. You happy at County, with work, with life, with love...?"

"Works fine, my life is good, Ella's great and as for love..."

He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to go on.

"Well let's see. I finally get the courage up to put myself back out there, and I end up getting screwed over in more ways than one by a scumbag who turns out to be married!"

Robert chuckled sympathetically, but pressed on. "But you are interested in getting back out there?" he ventured.

She looked him dead in the eye and nodded her head. This is it he's going to ask me out! she thought.

"Cause y'know if you are, I could fix you up," he said.

Bloody what?!

"You could?" she said trying not to sound disappointed. "What like a blind date?"

"Yeah... yeah I know a great guy, very eligible, he's a professional, loves kids and all things British. – and he's not married or remotely attached," he continued smiling mischievously. Elizabeth caught the glint in his eye and cottoned on.

"Sounds promising, why hasn't he been snapped up?"

"Ah, he's hard to please in that department... you see, he's unwilling to settle for anything but the best." He leaned in closer to her.

"Well, he certainly sounds like someone I would like to meet. How soon do you think you could arrange it?" She leaned in to meet him.

An inch from her face, he stopped. "Tonight too soon?"

"That's a bit short notice, what would I do for childcare?"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind staying in."

She could feel his warm breath on her face. "Robert?"

"Yeah?" His eyes locked on her mouth.

"Does he have hair?" she smirked.

That threw him off slightly. "Why?"

"Because I think I may have a thing for bald men," she giggled and closed her eyes expectantly.

"Well I guess it's your lucky day then." He sat up straight suddenly, and downed his coffee. "Well, your daughter has tired me out, I'd better get some rest. Shall we say eight o'clock?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him in shock. "What?"

"Your date, shall I tell him eight o'clock?" he said standing now.

Elizabeth stared up at him, unsure of what had just occurred, and simply nodded, before Robert turned and headed off up the stairs.

TBC