A Proposal to Remember

‘But the person she needs is you.’ Carlo held his gaze and moved another step closer, gesturing behind his back for Matt to move to the right. ‘She needs you with her. This is something you need to work through together for the

sake of the family and there are people who can help you.’

‘I shouldn’t need to work it through.’ The man’s voice was ragged. ‘I should have a healthy child.’

Carlo nodded, his eyes warm and sympathetic but watchful. So far Zan was being her usual brave self but he saw the fear in her eyes.

He also saw the trust and he felt his gut twist.

She was trusting him to sort it out.

His eyes narrowed slightly, measuring the distance. He still wasn’t close enough.

‘Everyone should have a healthy child,’ he said, taking another step forward, ‘but sadly that isn’t always the way. However skilled we become at medicine, there will always be unanswered questions. There will always be children who die.’

‘You could have saved my baby.’

‘No.’ Carlo shook his head and moved again, making a final gesture to Matt and praying that he’d understand.

He did.

Matt moved in from the right, providing a distraction, and in that split second Carlo plunged forward and grabbed the hand that held the knife, twisting it away from Zan’s throat.

The man snarled in anger and turned on Carlo, hurling his body towards him.

Thrusting Zan out of the way, Carlo sidestepped neatly, but the man regained his balance and came back again, this time aiming for Zan.

With a growl of fury Carlo stepped in front of him and punched him hard, wincing as pain exploded through his hand.

The man staggered slightly and Carlo grabbed him by the throat, powering him against the wall.

‘Don’t you ever threaten a member of my family again!’

Under the relentless pressure of Carlo’s fingers the man dropped the knife, his face contorted in pain.

Carlo’s muscles bunched as he held the man captive and he said something in Italian, his words making the man blanch.

Matt frowned and took a step forward, prepared to intervene, but Zan’s warning shout turned his attention to another threat.

The man on the floor was up on his feet and ready to defend his friend. Zan shouted another warning but Matt was already there.

‘I’ve got him.’ With no visible effort he lifted the man off his feet and half carried him to the wall. ‘Stand there and shut up. This has got nothing to do with you.’

Carlo turned his attention back to the man he was holding, trying to contain his anger.

‘Let him go, Carlo.’ Zan was suddenly next to him, her voice soft. ‘He needs help. He’s devastated.’

‘Devastated enough to want to kill a member of my family.’ Carlo’s grip tightened and he felt a murderous rage tear through him.

He’d never thought of himself as violent before, but if anything had happened to Zan…

‘I’m sorry.’ Suddenly all the fight went out of him and the man went limp and started to cry. Great tearing sobs that shook his whole body. ‘I don’t even know what I’m doing any more. I just wanted to blame someone.’

Carlo’s mouth was still tight but he relaxed his grip slightly.

‘Of course you did.’ Zan reached out a hand, her touch gentle. ‘That’s a normal part of grieving for someone you love. It’s easier to blame someone than believe that something so awful just couldn’t be avoided.’

Sensing that the man was no longer a danger to them, Carlo let him go and took a step backwards. Even making allowances for the man’s loss, he couldn’t be as forgiving as Zan.