‘Go, you.’ This girl had already learned that the only way forwards was to keep pushing herself.
The morning wore on, then it was afternoon and the number of patients waiting for Tori didn’t appear to have dwindled at all. ‘Where do they all come from?’ she asked her secretary, who delivered coffee and a sandwich to eat before Tori raced along to see Dean.
Dean had woken minutes earlier, and she wanted to be there to reassure him she was around the place. ‘Hey, sleepyhead, you’re looking good,’ she told him.
‘I’m sore. My stomach and head hurt.’
Tori read the charts Karen handed her. Everything looked good. ‘You’ve had an operation, that’s why you’re uncomfortable. You’ll feel better next time you wake up.’
‘Not tired.’ He was already nodding off, trying to fight sleep but rapidly losing the battle.
‘Of course you’d say that. Being tired means being ill to you,’ she said in a whisper, as she brushed that same errant curl aside. ‘Next time I drop by you’ll be asking if you can get up.’ Fingers crossed.
‘His mum and dad texted to say they’d be back shortly,’ Karen said.
She had no excuse to stay with him. Tori sighed. She felt drawn, wanted to watch over him until he was up and laughing and ready to take on the world again. She always felt this way with her patients, as though she could give them some of her energy and strength. Except she didn’t have any spare at the moment. ‘Guess I’d better go back to my other patients.’
‘I hear they’re pouring in the doors today.’
‘They have been since I got back.’ Tori smiled tiredly at Karen, then noticed the nurse’s focus was on something behind her. ‘What?’ She turned, and gasped at the man standing in the doorway. ‘Ben?’ So her exhaustion had finally caught up with her, had her hallucinating. She’d had a momentary hiccup earlier, craving him, wanting his shoulder to lean on, his arms around her. Seemed she’d wished too hard. Shaking her head, she dashed a hand over her eyes. ‘I’m losing my grip on things.’ But when she focused on the man again she saw only Benji.
‘Tori, sweetheart, it’s me.’ Those arms she’d wished for were engulfing her, pulling her close to that broad chest she needed to lay her head against. ‘I’m real.’
Pine and citrus scent teased her, convincing her sluggish brain. Tipping her head back, she gazed into the most wonderful pair of caramel eyes she’d ever seen. ‘Yes, I think you might be.’
Right then she heard Julene say, ‘Oh, sorry, are we interrupting something?’
Tori turned in Ben’s arms to see Dean’s parents hovering anxiously near the door. ‘Hey, of course you’re not. This is Dr Ben Wells. He’s a cardiologist from London.’ Though what he was doing here in her clinic she had no idea. ‘Ben, I talked to you about Dean. Julene and Leo are his parents.’
As Ben shook their hands he glanced at Dean. ‘You replaced the device?’
‘No.’ As Tori explained Dean’s situation she couldn’t stop the questions rocketing through her brain. Why was Ben here? Was this a fleeting visit? Had someone in his family taken ill? What was going on?
‘Tori?’ Karen nudged her. ‘Are you all right?’
No. She didn’t have time for this. ‘I’m fine. Ben, sorry, but I’ve got a very full schedule for the rest of the day.’
Ben stepped up beside her. ‘I heard about your staff shortage due to flu. Need a hand dealing with all those patients lined up in the waiting room?’
I’d love it. Spinning around, she started walking towards her office. ‘Are you up to it? When did you land? Had any sleep?’
‘I don’t think I’m as tired as you appear to be.’ He reached a hand to her cheek, ran a finger down to her mouth. ‘I got in at seven this morning, have had a few hours’ sleep. Anyway, I got bumped up to first class so I slept most of the way over.’
‘Then you’re on. I feel like I’m taking two steps forwards and three back at the moment.’ And now Ben’s here and I still don’t know why.
Ben’s hand on her elbow was familiar and worrying. ‘Let’s get it sorted, then we’ll talk.’
Talk? Now, there was a novel idea. ‘Thank you for stepping up. I really could do with an extra hand at the moment. In fact, if you didn’t already have one on the other side of the world I’d offer you a job right now. The clinic’s growing by the week and I need to take on another specialist.’ Ben would be the obvious choice—if only he was available.
Ben pulled her to a stop and turned her to lay his hands on her shoulders. ‘I’ve missed you, Tori. More than ever.’ His lips brushed hers, returned for a more serious kiss, one that lightened every aching muscle in her body and gave her hope. Hope was dangerous, and probably about to explode in her face. But that was definitely hope flaring in her stomach, her head—her heart.
* * *
Tori went looking for Ben, found him in deep conversation with Conrad at Dean’s bedside. ‘Hey, you two seem to be getting on fine.’
‘Why wouldn’t we?’ Ben asked.
‘No reason.’ She dredged up a smile for him, automatically reaching for Dean’s notes. Glancing down the page, she said, ‘All good. Dean, you feeling better now?’
‘Yes, Tori. Ben talked to me when I woke up. Have you heard how Maelee’s doing?’
‘Her doctor in Paris emailed me the other day,’ Tori said with a smile. ‘He said she’s recovering well.’
Glancing at Ben, Tori found his gaze fixed on her. It was time to find out why he’d turned up. If only she didn’t feel so lethargic. ‘Feel like heading out of here for a bit, going to the apartment maybe? Conrad’s feeling well enough to cover the evening rounds and be on call for the night. Which means I can get some sleep.’ After we’ve talked. Or would that be better left until after sleep? Falling asleep mid-conversation wouldn’t earn her any goodwill.
Ben smiled. ‘Sounds like a good idea as long as I can drive. You’re beyond it.’
She dug the keys out of the handbag slung across her shoulder. ‘All yours.’ This being looked out for was a novelty. And she could ask questions on the way home and still get her sleep once she got there.
Some plan that turned out to be. She woke as Ben opened her door of the car at her apartment. ‘Come on, sleepyhead.’
‘We’re home already?’ She struggled to stand up, and Ben placed an arm around her waist.
‘Home, and I’ve ordered pizza. It’ll be here shortly.’
‘I’m not hungry.’ Just in need of fifty winks.
‘You can’t do the hours you’ve done on one sandwich.’ When her eyebrows rose, he nodded. ‘Yes, I know what you’ve eaten today. Next to nothing.’
Ben was in their home for the first time since that awful day he’d left her. Sure, it was her place now but this was where they’d lived after they’d married, the home they’d picked together. She shivered with trepidation. Why was he here? She couldn’t take another knock-back.
In the lounge her eyes locked on the photo she’d framed of them, taken at the Moulin Rouge. About the only thing she had managed to unpack yet. The urn was due to arrive next week.
Ben picked the photo up. ‘You looked stunning that night. More stunning than usual,’ he added with a smile that reminded her of everything they’d done after the show.
The bell rang, announcing someone in the foyer downstairs.
‘That’ll be dinner.’ Ben headed for the button to open the door.
‘Talk about a quick save.’ She smiled around a yawn and sank onto the nearest chair.
Barely managing to eat two slices of pizza, Tori found herself yawning again and again. So much for having a meaningful conversation.
‘Go take a shower.’ Ben nudged her in the direction of her bedroom before she could voice the questions battering her brain.
She managed to mutter,
‘When did you get so bossy?’ as she staggered through the bedroom to the bathroom. Benji was home. What did that mean?
She’d never felt this tired, not even in the days she’d worked as a registrar. She dozed off, standing upright with a shoulder against the shower wall.
‘Hey, come on, Tori. Time you were tucked up in bed.’
A hand shook her shoulder gently. ‘Benji?’
‘Who else would you let into the bathroom with you?’ He grinned.
‘I am so zonked.’
‘I know. It’s almost insulting.’ He flicked the water off and held a towel out, ready to dry her off.
As she stepped onto the mat she asked, ‘How long are you here for?’ She could get used to this all too easily.
‘I’m home for good.’ Ben dried her with the fluffiest towel she owned.
‘That’s great.’ What did that mean? Home, as in where?