The Spanish Consultant (Westerling)

Charles gave a groan and Katy tiptoed to his side.

‘It’s all right, Dad,’ she said quietly, aware that her mother was standing next to her, tears in her eyes.

‘Do you hear that, Charles? Despite everything you’ve done, your daughter is prepared to offer you comfort. I hope you’re ashamed of yourself.’

Katy blinked. ‘Mum, this isn’t the right time.’

‘This is exactly the right time,’ Caroline said calmly, her eyes fixed on her husband’s face. ‘If you want to apologise to Katy, then now would be a good time.’

Katy thought she must have misheard. She’d never heard her mother use that tone with her father before, and he was ill.

What was going on?

‘Charles…’ Her mother leaned forward and moved the oxygen mask slightly, her hand trembling. ‘I know you can hear me. You know there’s something that you want to say to your daughter.’

At that moment the doors to Resus swung open and Libby flew into the room, her blonde ponytail swinging wildly as she hurried across to them.

Aware that a family drama was unfolding, she stopped dead, glancing quizzically at Jago who shrugged his broad shoulders.

Charles opened his eyes and suddenly all the fight seemed to leave him.

‘Come here, Katy.’ He spoke with considerable difficulty and Jago frowned.

‘He needs the oxygen, I don’t think he should—’

His patient waved a hand feebly. ‘I need to speak,’ he said hoarsely, and Katy stepped c

loser, feeling her heart pounding. What was it that her father wanted to say?

‘I haven’t been…’ He broke off and licked his lips. ‘I owe you…’

Her mother’s mouth tightened. ‘Just say it, Charles!’

‘What your mother means is that I’m sorry,’ he croaked finally, closing his eyes and sinking against the back of the trolley which had been raised to allow him to be upright and thus improve his breathing. ‘I didn’t know just how much you loved Jago. I thought it was just a fling.’

Aware of Charlotte’s round-eyed curiosity, Katy felt her face colour. The one time her father came near to an apology for his behaviour, it had to be in front of an audience.

And she didn’t really want Jago reminded of how much she’d loved him.

Her father cleared his throat and fiddled with the mask. ‘I thought you’d get over him, but you never did.’

‘Dad, let’s forget it now.’ Mortified by the disclosure of such personal details, Katy wanted to fall through the floor.

‘And he never got over you,’ her father continued, turning his head with difficulty so that he could see Jago. ‘When you told me that you loved her and wanted to marry her, I was furious. And worried. She was only eighteen and I thought you were wrong for her.’

Katy froze, wondering if her father was rambling. As a doctor she was well aware that a heart attack could cause confusion. Why else would he be saying that Jago loved her? Jago had never loved her. And he’d certainly never wanted to marry her.

‘He’s trying to apologise,’ her mother said, ‘but unfortunately he hasn’t had much practice. I have to confess that it’s probably my fault that he’s had a heart attack. He came roaring back from your flat last night, told me what had happened and we had a blazing row.’

Katy stared.

They’d had a row?

To the best of her knowledge her mother had never answered her father back in the entire thirty-six years of their marriage.

Her father struggled to speak. ‘I couldn’t believe that you and Jago had found each other again and were planning to get married.’

‘We’re not.’ Finally Jago intervened, his tone flat and emotionless. ‘You can relax, Mr Westerling. You’ll be relieved to hear that your daughter has refused to marry me.’