Neurosurgeon...and Mum! by Kate Hardy Read Free Book Online Page B

check?’
    The little girl put her hand just above the scones, near enough to feel the heat radiating from them but not actually touching the surface and risking a burn. ‘They’re still warm,’ she said.
    ‘Warm or hot?’
    ‘Warm,’ Perdy decided.
    ‘That’s the perfect time to eat them,’ Amy said. ‘You like scones, don’t you, Tom?’
    Even if he’d hated them, he would’ve choked one down to please his little girl. ‘Love them,’ he said.
    Amy spread her hands. ‘OK, Perdy, you’re in charge.’
    Perdy made an elaborate fuss, putting butter and jam in dishes and laying the table with three plates, knives and napkins, then carefully put the scones on a plate and brought them over, gesturing to her father and Amy to sit down.
    There was a huge lump in Tom’s throat. His daughter had never, but never, done anything like this before. And yet this felt so right.
    ‘Do you like them, Daddy?’ Perdy asked, as he took his first bite.
    That wariness was back in her eyes. Fear that shewouldn’t measure up. Yeah, and he knew where that came from. He’d seen enough of it in her mother’s eyes. ‘They’re fantastic,’ he said. ‘Gold-medal standard.’
    Amy took a bite of hers. ‘I second that. You’ve made a fabulous job of these.’
    Perdy actually glowed with pleasure.
    And how little it had taken to make her do that. Half an hour or so of Amy’s time and attention, followed by a little praise.
    Why hadn’t Eloise been able to do that?
    He pushed the thought away, not wanting to spoil his own pleasure in the way his daughter was blossoming before his eyes.
    ‘Amy’s going to help me make some “unbirthday” cakes tomorrow,’ Perdy informed him. ‘So I can take them to school and it’ll give everyone something to talk to me about.’
    ‘If you don’t mind,’ Amy added hastily.
    ‘No, I don’t mind at all.’ Anything that would make his daughter smile and settle into their new life—anything that would help him break through to her—was fine with him. Even if Perdy grew attached to Amy, they all knew she was here only for the summer, not for ever, so it was safe to let Perdy befriend her. And maybe Amy could help him find a way of connecting with his daughter again.
    Perdy was actually smiling when Tom saw her into the playground on Monday morning, carrying her ‘unbirthday’ cakes. And he knew exactly who he had to thank for that smile.
    His surgery didn’t start for another twenty minutes; on impulse, he went back to Marsh End House. As he’d half expected, Amy was in Joe’s study.
    ‘Is everything OK?’ she asked from her desk.
    ‘Yes. Can I interrupt you for a quick word?’
    ‘Sure.’
    He walked over to the desk. ‘I just wanted to say thanks for all you’ve done with Perdy this weekend. She actually looked happy going in to school today.’
    ‘Give her time. It’s always hard to find your place when you’re new,’Amy said. ‘And if there are some after-school clubs, they’ll help her meet people and make friends, too.’
    ‘Yes, you’re right,’ Tom said. He paused. ‘Um, I overheard her talking to you on Saturday. I’m sorry she grilled you.’
    Amy shrugged. ‘She asked. I’m not going to lie to her. But I’m also not going to dump stuff on her that’s beyond her years, if that’s what you’re worrying about.’
    ‘No, I didn’t think you’d do that. It’s just…if you ever want to talk about it,’ he offered, ‘you know where I am.’
    ‘Thanks, but I’m fine.’
    He didn’t believe a word of it.
    Before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
    Her eyes widened. ‘What was that for?’
    Because I needed to kiss you. ‘For caring. And for listening to my little girl and hearing stuff I couldn’t.’
    ‘I…’ He could see that she was looking at his mouth. Just as he was looking at hers, wondering how soft her lips were, how she would taste. He found himself swaying towards her slightly, at the same