His voice became strong. ‘What’s not fair is meeting someone that you love and not being able to be with them. I want this, April.’ He held up his hands. ‘Whatever this may be, I want it.’
Tears pooled in her eyes.
He leaned closer. ‘Tell me. Tell me if you love me and Finn. Be honest. If you don’t, I can walk away. But I still won’t leave you alone. I’ll still be your friend. I’ll still be around. But look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel the same way that I do.’
She felt her heart swell in her chest. Those green eyes were fixed straight on her. She could see the sincerity. She could see the strength. It was right there before her. His hand was still on hers. But he wasn’t gripping her tightly. He was holding her gently, letting his thumb nuzzle into her palm.
She blinked back tears. ‘I do love you, Riley. And of course I love Finn. But I just don’t feel I’ve any right to. Not when I don’t know what lies ahead.’
He bent forward and kissed her on the forehead then looked at their hands. ‘Your hand in mine, April. That’s the way we go forward. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.’
There was a noise at the door behind them. The surgeon cleared his throat and walked in. ‘Everything okay in here?’
April nodded. Her mouth couldn’t be any drier. She just wanted this part over with.
But as she waited to hear him speak she realised he didn’t look the way she’d expected. He seemed almost jolly. The nurse came in too, holding a glass of water in her hand that she set on the bedside table.
He waved his hand. ‘Chris Potter. I was the surgeon on call. You gave us quite a scare, lady.’
April swallowed. ‘I did?’
He nodded and pointed to Riley. ‘Okay to discuss things in front of your friend?’
Riley’s grip tightened around her hand. ‘Her fiancé,’ he said quickly.
What? He’d just said what?
The surgeon didn’t notice her surprise. He just carried on. ‘It seems that you have quite a high pain threshold. Most people would have been at their GP’s days ago with a grumbling appendix. You must have tolerated that for quite a few weeks. Unfortunately, you’re one of the few that has gone on to develop acute appendicitis. Your appendix actually ruptured and you currently have peritonitis. You’ll need to stay with us a few days for IV antibiotics. We need to ensure there’s no chance of sepsis.’
It was like having an out-of-body experience. April was tempted to turn around to see if he was talking to someone else. Trouble was, she already knew the only thing behind her was a wall. There were no other patients in this room.
‘My appendix?’ she said quietly. Her brain was trying to process. And it was struggling. She hadn’t imagined anything so...so—ordinary. Her mind had immediately gone to the worst-case scenario. There hadn’t been room for anything else.
‘Her appendix?’ Riley said the words like a shout of joy. Then he must have realised how it looked and he tried to look serious again. ‘So, that’s it. Nothing else?’
The surgeon narrowed his eyes for a second, then nodded. ‘I’ve seen your notes, Ms Henderson. I’m assuming you thought it might be something else?’
She nodded weakly.
He shook his head. ‘Had we known about the grumbling appendix, then your gynaecologist and I could have arranged to do surgery together. Unfortunately, as it was an emergency, we didn’t have your consent for any other procedure and your gynaecologist was unavailable. I’m afraid your other surgery will have to be scheduled as planned in the New Year. Another anaesthetic isn’t ideal, but I didn’t have any other option.’
‘But...but you didn’t notice anything suspicious?’
The surgeon sighed. It was obvious he understood her question. ‘I’m not a gynaecologist. I’m a general surgeon, so it’s not my speciality. But no, at the time, on the right side I didn’t notice anything of concern. Nothing obvious, at least.’
It was amazing, the temporary relief she felt. Of course she knew things happened at a cellular level, but even the simple words ‘nothing obvious’ were almost like a balm. That, and the hand firmly connected to hers.
The surgeon gave a nod. ‘So, at least another twenty-four hours of IV antibiotics. Then we can discharge you home on oral. I think you’ll still be sore for a few days and, as I know you’re a physio, I’d recommend you stay off work for at least six to eight weeks.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘I know you healthcare personnel. Itchy feet. Always want to go back too soon.’ He gave them both a wink. ‘But those transverse abdominal muscles take a while to heal properly. I’m sure you both know that.’
He picked up her case notes and left. The nurse with him gave them a smile. ‘I’ll give you some time alone. April, your mum phoned. They’re stuck in traffic but should be here in around an hour.’ She picked up the observation chart and left too.
For a few seconds neither of them spoke. It was as if they were still trying to take the news in—to process it.
Riley’s hand squeezed hers again. ‘When can we breathe again?’ he whispered.
She laughed, instantly regretting it as her stomach muscles spasmed in protest. She didn’t quite know what to say. ‘I guess now would be good,’ she finally said.
Riley didn’t hesitate. He leaned over the bed and gathered April firmly but gently, slipping his arms under her shoulders and hugging her loosely.
She was taken aback, but after a second slid her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, ‘What are we doing?’
He pulled back with a smile, resting his forehead against hers. ‘We’re doing something that a good friend taught me. And we’re doing it in honour of someone else. We’re hugging it out.’
Her eyes instantly filled with tears. ‘Oh.’ Now she really was lost for words. He’d remembered. He’d remembered the one thing she always did with her sister.
He moved and the paper on the gift crackled—it had been caught between them.
Riley picked it up. ‘You haven’t managed to open this yet. I think you should or I know a little guy who’ll be immensely offended.’
She nodded, pulling at the paper again to try to uncover what the pink fluffy thing was. It took some tugging, finally revealing her prize. She pulled it free. ‘Bed socks?’ she asked in surprise.
Riley nodded. ‘Finn said you have cold feet. He was very insistent.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if my son knows you better than I do.’
She laughed as she shook her head, struck that Finn had remembered. Then she frowned. ‘You had bed socks?’
He shook his head. ‘No, I had money. I just had to hand it over to Finn and let him spend it in a shop on the way here.’
She tried to push herself up the bed. ‘Finn is here too?’
>
Riley nodded. ‘Of course he is. Where else would he be?’ He met her gaze again. ‘We’re family,’ he said simply.
A tear slid down her cheek. Riley was proving again and again that he meant what he said. He was here. And she knew he’d still be here if she’d had a bad diagnosis instead of a good one.
Why was she trying to walk away from the two men who’d captured her heart?
She licked her lips and he lifted a glass of water with a straw, almost as if he’d read her mind. ‘Here, the nurse left this for you. Take a sip.’
She took a sip of the water and closed her hand over his. ‘We need to talk.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Why do I feel as if I’m about to get into trouble?’
She smiled. ‘Oh, because you are.’
He perched at the edge of the bed. ‘Hit me with it.’
‘You called yourself something when the surgeon was in. I don’t think we’ve had a chance to talk about it.’
He nodded. ‘Fiancé.’ Then he bit his lip.
Riley Callaghan was actually nervous. It was the moment that she actually loved him most.
‘I know it’s soon. We can have a long engagement if you want. We can wait until after your surgery, and make sure that Finn is doing well, before we plan the wedding.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘But I want to let you know that this is it. This is it for me and Finn. We’re yours, April Henderson. A package deal. And we’d like you to join our package. I love you, April. What do you say?’
She swallowed as a million thoughts swamped her head. Her heart so wanted to say yes. But she was still nervous.
‘They think I’m clear, Riley. But what if I’m not? What if they find something—maybe not now, but later? What then, Riley? I don’t want to put you in that position. I don’t want to do that to you, or to Finn.’
Riley ran his fingers through his hair. ‘How many times, April? How many times do you need me to tell you that I love you? That I accept the risks along with you. No one knows how long they have in this life. You don’t know that, and neither do I. But I do know who I love, and who I want to spend the time I have on this earth with. That’s you, April. It will only ever be you.’