is fortunate as Tom’s pretty good at giving them.’
Tom’s dark brows rose but a grin clung to his lips. ‘Only because most people need them.’
Gretel smiled and touched her hair. ‘Thanks, Dr Grey, not just for saving my life but for saving most of my hair.’
‘You’re very welcome, but it was very much a team event, with Mr Jordan guiding me through it.’
‘I know, he told me all about it.’ Gretel glanced between the three of them, but spoke directly to Hayley. ‘I can’t believe all this has happened to me, but at least the tumour isn’t cancerous. I’m so lucky that you and Mr Jordan were here tonight and now to have Mr Renwick looking after me.’
Tom patted Gretel’s hand and gave her a big wink. ‘He’s almost as good a neurosurgeon as me except for his lousy taste in music.’
‘So now you’re taking on Mozart?’ Lewis folded his arms in mock effrontery.
‘I always let my patients choose their playlist for the awake part of their surgery.’
The joking faded from Tom’s voice and Hayley saw how much he missed hospital life. It wasn’t just the surgery but his patients as well. Perhaps the patients even more than the surgery? The thought hovered for a moment before she discarded it.
‘I tell you what, Gretel …’ Lewis made a note on her chart ‘… ask your family to bring in your MP3 player and as long as there’s no hip-hop on it, you can listen to your music while I’m removing the tumour and the anaesthetist is asking you questions.’
‘That’s awesome, Mr Renwick. Thank you.’ Gretel touched the bandage on her head. ‘It’s going to be weird being awake while you’re operating on my brain.’
Hayley gave Gretel’s foot a pat. ‘I’ll leave you to talk to Mr Renwick about the surgery as I’m heading home now, but I’ll call by later tonight when I’m back on duty.’
‘I’ll come with you.’ Tom rose and flicked out his cane.
Hayley’s feet stayed still in surprise. He’d been brilliant in Theatre, but she could still vividly remember what he’d said when he’d first answered the phone. Now he wanted to leave with her? It didn’t make sense.
He’s in ICU with machines everywhere. He’ll need some guidance to get to the safety of the corridor.
Yep, that would be it.
Logic didn’t stop the sneaking fizz of disappointment.
‘You’re in good hands, Gretel.’ Tom’s voice suddenly took on a parental tone with an underlying warning. ‘Take care of her, Lewis.’
Hayley stepped up to Tom and said quietly, ‘Would you like to put your hand on my shoulder or tap your way out?’
His entire body stiffened. ‘I’ll take your elbow.’
She lifted his hand and guided it to her left elbow. ‘Are you ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be.’
The prickly man was back and she didn’t try to make polite conversation. She walked normally, but she did slow just before the nurses’ station. ‘Do you want to speak to any staff before you leave?’
He frowned and his mouth flattened. ‘Is there any point? Gretel isn’t my patient.’
She didn’t even try to stop the snarky tone in her voice. ‘Oh, right. How could I have possibly forgotten that you don’t do social niceties?’
The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t say a word.
She kept walking and was about to say ‘The door is just ahead’ when Tom got in first.
‘Five steps to the door,’ he said. ‘If you open it, I’ll walk through the doorway and meet you on the other side.’
‘Okay.’ She did as he asked and then rejoined him in the corridor. She wondered if he might insist on walking on his own but he took her arm again.
As the music played around them in the lift, he said, ‘You did a great job today.’
‘Thank you.’ The ping sounded and the doors opened.
He gave a brisk nod. ‘I’m going to use the exit into the lane.’
She thought about where she’d run the other day. ‘The one where Pete’s got the rubbish dumpster?’
‘That’s it.’
It was on the other side of the hospital from the exit she usually used, and she wondered if it was Tom code for I’ll walk on my own now? But he hadn’t let go of her arm so she kept walking with him toward the door. Just as Hayley pushed open the heavy external door, a ward clerk, hurrying in for the morning shift, stopped to let them through.
‘Mr Jordan?’ The woman’s face lit up with a huge smile. ‘It’s Penny. It’s so great to see you. You’ve been missed.’
Tom extended his hand, which the clerk pressed warmly. ‘Penny, it’s great to hear your voice. How’s Ben doing?’
‘He’s thriving, thanks to you. Can you believe that he’s even playing football in the under nines?’
Tom moved his head toward her voice. ‘I can believe it. He was a determined kid and I’m pleased to know he’s doing so well.’ He gave her a warm smile. ‘You take care, Penny.’
Hayley stared at him, hardly able to recognise the man standing next to her.
Be fair. He was like this with Gretel.
Just not with me. Her silent sigh dragged her shoulders down a touch.
‘You take care too, Mr Jordan.’ Penny squeezed Tom’s hand again. ‘Goodbye.’ She hurried inside to work and the door slammed shut behind her.
Tom’s grip on Hayley’s arm increased ever so slightly and he leaned in towards her, his deep voice caressing her ear and sparking such a swirl of longing that she wanted to move her head so her lips would brush his.
‘And you thought I didn’t do social chitchat.’ He tapped his cane and grinned. ‘Time to pick your jaw up off the ground, Hayley Grey.’
Just when she thought she’d got Tom Jordan figured out, he went and did something totally unpredictable like this. She tried to close her gaping mouth, but before she could, a giggle escaped, and then another and another, until she couldn’t stop. It was like her veins were full of laughter bubbles and they just kept rising to the surface, being carried up on a wave of fatigue and sheer relief that the night was finally over. Everything seemed uproariously funny and she gave in to it, loving the reckless feeling and the joy that came with it.
Tom’s bass laugh joined hers, making her laugh even harder until tears streamed down her face, her sides ached and she could hardly hold her head up. She let it fall onto his shoulder as she gasped for breath. ‘I don’t even know why I’m laughing.’
