One Week to Win His Heart

* * *

Melody spent her Christmas working at the hospital and even though there weren’t too many patients in the wards and all the hospital administrative meetings had been cancelled until the new year, she was glad of the opportunity to lose herself. Thinking about George every hour she was awake and then dreaming about him all night was almost becoming exhausting. Almost…

Two days after Christmas, though, the CEO had told her to take time off work. ‘Go home, Melody. See your family. Go and see your new niece and spend some time with Ethan in the wine district. You’re starting to look as ashen as he used to.’

‘But there’s so much to do,’ she’d protested, but had been overruled.

‘And there will be plenty of time to do it,’ she’d been told in return. ‘This request is not negotiable.’

And so Melody had headed to see Ethan and CJ for the New Year, delighting in spending time with Lizzie-Jean, who was crawling all over the place and starting to pull herself up on furniture. She watched her brother and CJ together, amazed at just how happy Ethan really was, and she yearned to be equally as happy.

She’d received the usual text message emojis from George, the exhausted or sleepy one and—on Christmas Day—a Christmas tree with a smiley face. Had she been wrong to send him the heart emoji? Had she scared him off?

It was only two days into the new year when her phone rang and she quickly checked the caller identification—her heart plummeting when she realised it was only the hospital’s CEO.

‘Melody, I’m sorry to call you but we actually need you to come back to the hospital.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing’s wrong,’ the CEO told her. ‘We’ve found the perfect candidate to take over from you as head of department. Isn’t that great news?’

‘It is. Do you need me to come back and do a handover?’

‘That’s exactly what we need. If you can have one week with the new head, handing things over while the operating lists and patient numbers are low, that would be helpful. Then, when clinics start up in another week, he’ll be ready to take on the full duties and you’ll be free to return to your position as resident orthopaedic surgeon and devote as much time to your research project as you’d like.’

Melody breathed in a cleansing breath. It also meant she’d be able to move to Melbourne if she needed to.

‘Who’s the new head, then?’ Ethan asked, as he watched his sister pack.

‘I didn’t ask and I don’t really care.’ She laughed with delight. ‘I’m free, Ethan. I don’t have to worry about letting everyone down and I can move to Melbourne to be near George and—’

‘What happened to giving him space?’

‘I think he’s had enough space. I’m through marking time. I’m going to find that man and make him see sense. I’m going to let him know that I love him and I’ll wait for as long as I need to until he can tell me he loves me, too because I’m pretty sure he does…’ She frowned. ‘At least, I hope he does.’

‘Don’t go second-guessing yourself,’ Ethan encouraged as he zipped up her bag and carried it out to her car. ‘It’s not that I want you to leave, sis, but, seriously, go and get this whole thing sorted out so I can see you being happy instead of being as miserable as a wet week.’

Melody laughed, not taking offence at her brother’s words. It was because he loved her, because he wanted the best for his sister that he was all but pushing her out of his home.

The drive back to Sydney was refreshing as she started making plans for her new future.

She hadn’t realised how much of a weight the head of department job had been around her neck until it had been lifted. When she arrived at her apartment, it was to find George standing there, knocking on her door.

Melody closed her eyes and blinked one very long blink as she continued to stare at him. Was she seeing things?

‘George?’

He turned to look at her, taking in the bag in her hand and the sunglasses on her head. ‘You weren’t home.’

‘No. I was at Ethan’s.’

‘Oh. I didn’t know.’

‘How could you?’

They stood there, so close to each other and yet so far apart, both of them having the most ridiculous conversation as they drank in the sight of each other. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I—uh—sent you a text message.’

‘You did?’ She dug in her bag for her phone. ‘I have it off when I drive so I’m not tempted to answer any calls or messages.’

‘Good. Safe driving practice,’ he stated. ‘That’s good.’