Playing the Playboy's Sweetheart by Carol Marinelli Read Free Book Online

Ernest’s stomach. ‘When can I get a cup of tea?’
    ‘That’s a bit of a way off for you,’ Hugh said. ‘I’ll come and see you in Recovery after the operation and then later again on ICU.’
    Ernest rolled his eyes. All he wanted to know was when his next drink would be, but soon he was under and Emily moved him through to the theatre and then came back to prepare the room for the next patient.
    ‘Morning,’ Emily said, as Anton and Declan, another anaesthetist, came in just as Emily had finished setting up for the epidural.
    ‘Change of plan.’ Declan smiled, unlike Anton, who just got straight down to business.
    ‘We’re going attempt a vaginal delivery in Theatre,’ Anton said. ‘Then we will do the planned cases.’
    He went into Theatre to get ready and Emily rolled her eyes at Declan. ‘Nice of the labour ward to let us know,’ she said, just as the phone rang with that very news.
    It was just a busy morning, punctuated by the sound of a woman grunting and screaming. Louise was in her element, Emily was wincing and Rory laughed when Hugh came in once Ernest’s surgery was over.
    ‘Lovely background noise,’ Hugh said. ‘I’m just going to speak to Ernest’s wife and then I’ll have a quick drink. I’ve sent down for the next one.’
    ‘Mr Bailey didn’t take long,’ Emily commented.
    ‘It went better than expected,’ Hugh said. ‘I didn’t end up doing a colostomy, he’ll be pleased about that.’
    As an ear-splitting scream filled the morning. Rory came in and laughed when he saw Emily’s reaction. ‘Is that with an epidural?’ Emily asked him.
    ‘Apparently she doesn’t want any drugs.’ Rory peered through the window into Theatre. ‘Declan’s just gone in, so maybe she’s changed her mind. No, it looks like Anton’s going to use forceps.’
    ‘Oh, my,’ Emily said.
    ‘Is childbirth not for you, lovely Emily?’ Rory asked, because Emily was the opposite of Louise and avoided that side of Theatre whenever possible.
    ‘Not even with drugs,’ Emily said. ‘God, listen to Anton!’
    It sounded like a football match was taking place, with the woman screaming, Anton urging her on and even Louise was cheering. Then there was a long stretch of silence, followed by lusty screams.
    ‘Phew,’ Emily said. ‘I can uncross my legs now!’ But Hugh didn’t laugh at her joke, as he usually would have, and Emily remembered that they weren’t talking.
    ‘The next one up is very nervous,’ Hugh said to Rory. ‘I’ll come and have a word with her before she goes under.’
    ‘I ordered her a strong pre-op,’ Rory commented, ‘though I think it’s the mother who needs it.’
    Emily chose not to grab a coffee and spend another uncomfortable ten minutes with Hugh. Instead she opted for a cola from the vending machine before setting up for the next patient—Jessica O’Farrell, an eighteen-year-old in for an exploratory laparoscopy.
    ‘Mum wants to come in while she goes under.’ Connor put his head through the doors and gave Rory a wry smile. ‘I’ve said no but she’s asked me to double-check!’
    Rory shook his head. ‘I’ve already spoken to Jessica about this. Mum’s more stressed than her.’
    Hugh was soon back from his quick coffee break and asked where the patient was as he was ahead of schedule and hoping to fit another patient onto the end of the list.
    ‘Connor is just bringing her in now,’ Emily answered, but as the trolley was wheeled in, for a second Emily froze.
    She had been Jessica Albert when Emily had known her but of course her name might have changed all these years on.
    ‘Emily!’ Jessica’s tears halted and the surprise in her voice had Hugh look at Emily for her reaction, but she just stood there as Jessica’s tears actually stopped in mid-stream. ‘It
is
you.’
    ‘Jessica!’ Hugh watched as Emily pushed out a smile but though it was a wide one, Hugh could see the shock in Emily’s eyes and that her smile was guarded.
    In all