Читать книгу 200 Harley Street - Lynne Marshall - Страница 27

TOO LATE, LEO stayed well away.

A pale-faced, red-eyed Lizzie did her best to avoid him as he threw himself back into work and his social life, got straight back on the horse and asked a favourite blonde who knew the rules to join him on Saturday.

And Lizzie did the same.

Or rather she checked herself into the bed and breakfast and spent a weekend trying to assuage the guilt that she’d rather be with Leo than with her parents.

She walked on the beach and remembered getting a text from him, recalling all the thrill and excitement that had been there then, and, instead of crying, she lugged her broken heart into a wheelbarrow and left it sitting there for a little while as she thought about Leo without pain in the mix. She walked and thought of dancing and dressing up and the bliss of that night and every night she had spent with Leo.

With her heart on hold she could examine it without pain. Their time together had been amazing, for the first time she’d had a glimpse of freedom, had tasted exhilaration—how could she possibly regret that?

So she fetched the wheelbarrow and replaced her heart and, yes, she was still better for her time with him.

One big cry, Lizzie decided.

Tonight, after she’d had birthday cake with her parents, she’d head to the shops and get supplies. With chocolate and wine and her favourite movie, she’d lie on nylon sheets and howl, but on Monday, if she valued her job, she’d better work out rather quickly how to face him better.

‘I’ll be up on Friday.’ Lizzie kissed her father goodbye.

‘We’ll look forward to it, won’t we, Faye?’ Thomas said to his wife. ‘Lizzie’s coming up early next weekend. We’ll have three days of her.’

‘No.’ Lizzie’s face was on fire. ‘I’ll be going home on Saturday morning. I’m just coming up for the procedure.’

‘I just thought …’ Thomas huffed. ‘We haven’t been seeing so much of you lately.’

‘I’ve got a new job, Dad,’ Lizzie said. ‘Sometimes I have to go to work functions …’ And she just stopped making excuses to her father for actually having a life. ‘I need to catch up with some of my friends too.’ She gave him a kiss. ‘I’ll see you on Friday.’

No, she would not be a martyr, Lizzie told herself on Monday as she walked past Leo’s office. The door was open and there he was, looking a little seedy.

‘Busy weekend?’ Lizzie smiled.

‘Er, a bit.’ He was caught unawares. She’d been busily avoiding him late last week and Leo had been only too happy with that, but it was a very together Lizzie who greeted him now.

She saw his slightly guarded expression as she unbuttoned her coat. ‘It’s okay, Leo, I’m not going to do a Flora.’

He was surprised at how easily she still made him smile and he bit back his response because he’d been about to say, ‘Pity.’

‘You’re okay?’ Leo settled for instead.

‘I’m fine.’

‘I mean …’ Leo wasn’t brilliant at apologies. ‘I was a bit harsh,’ he admitted. ‘The things I said about your parents …’

‘Were spot on.’ Lizzie rolled her eyes. ‘I just want to be clear about one thing—you won’t get a better head nurse than me.’

‘I know that,’ Leo said. ‘Ethan’s worried I’ve upset you.’

‘You can tell Ethan to call off the firing squad. I just needed a few days to lick my wounds.’

‘And you’re really okay?’ Leo checked, not sure if he was actually pleased that she seemed to be.

‘Of course,’ Lizzie said. ‘I know it sounds like a line, but it really was good while it lasted.’

‘I hate it that it ended in a row,’ Leo admitted.

‘It didn’t.’ Lizzie did the hardest, bravest thing she had ever done. She went over to Leo and with a smile she bent over and gave him a very brief kiss.

‘That’s how it ended,’ Lizzie said.

‘How?’ Leo frowned. ‘Show me again.’

‘Nope.’ Lizzie stood straight and then headed to her office and breathed out loudly. Yes, it had been amongst the hardest things she had ever done but it had been necessary.

Very necessary to appear completely fine, but it was terribly hard at times.

The chocolates for the patients were delivered on Wednesday, the scent of them driving her crazy, and, of course, Leo had to catch her when she caved in.

‘What’s behind your hand?’ Leo asked as he knocked and without waiting walked into her office.

‘Nothing!’ But it didn’t come out very well with a mouth that was full.

Leo actually had to stop himself from going over and having a little wrestle to get to the chocolates or prising her mouth open with his tongue to get a taste.

Instead, he remembered what he had come in for. ‘I need a new prescription pad.’

Not even chocolate on her tongue could disguise the bitter taste as she went and replaced the pad she’d outlived only marginally.

Ethan had almost been right.

Valentine’s Day dawned and Lizzie had to get there early and watch as the florist and her assistant carried bucket after bucket of red roses through the clinic.

It hurt.

She just couldn’t let it show.

Though Leo made her laugh when he saw all the roses. ‘God, I hope no one’s got hay fever.’

‘You’d better check the expiry date on the adrenaline shots,’ Declan said, and then asked Lizzie what she was up to for Valentine’s Day.

‘I’m visiting my mum,’ Lizzie said. ‘So it’s not exactly a romantic one for me.’

‘Oh, well, you can always do Valentine’s tomorrow,’ Declan said. ‘Free and single in London is a very nice place to be.’

‘It is.’ Lizzie smiled and Leo felt his back straighten a touch. She was trying to make him jealous was his first thought, but, then, Lizzie didn’t have to try, he already was.

‘You’re staying the weekend in Brighton?’ Leo asked.

‘Nope.’ Lizzie kept that smile on. ‘Just tonight. I’ve been a bit absent of late with my friends …’

Leo loathed the thought of Lizzie let loose in London and paced his office floor, stopping as she popped her head in to say goodbye before leaving early for the weekend.

‘You’ve got Francesca at two,’ Lizzie reminded him. ‘Have a great weekend.’

‘Don’t forget your flowers,’ Leo said, because he’d made sure there was a bouquet for each of the women who worked at the clinic, but, realising it might be a bit insensitive, he added, ‘You could take them for your mum.’

He stood there, rigid, as Lizzie just laughed and because it was Friday she let rip just a little some of the hurt she was holding onto, just enough to confuse him.

‘If you weren’t such a good boss, Leo, I’d tell you where you could shove your flowers. Happy Valentine’s Day!’

Wry was the smile on his face when he watched from the window as Lizzie walked down the steps and into the street.

No, she hadn’t taken her flowers but, of course, she’d taken the chocolate! He was so busy watching her that he didn’t even notice, till he heard a voice, that Ethan had come in and was standing behind him.

‘Lizzie,’ Ethan said, ‘would be the best thing that ever happened to you.’

‘I thought you wanted me away from her.’

‘It’s way too late for that, but if you do love her …’

‘What do you know about love?’ Leo quipped. Ethan had so easily admitted to Leo that time that he’d only been using Olivia. Ethan’s heart was pretty much closed.

‘Oh, I know …’

Something in Ethan’s voice was enough to tear Leo’s gaze from the spectacular sight of Lizzie’s rear end and turn round. ‘Ethan?’

‘Leave it,’ Ethan said.

Which meant leave it.

It really did.

Francesca had all her sparkle back.

‘Leo!’ she greeted him warmly. ‘Where’s Lizzie?’

‘Lizzie’s got the afternoon off.’ Leo had to stop himself from snapping out his reply.

‘Getting herself ready for Valentine’s night?’ Francesca asked. ‘I hope you are taking her somewhere nice.’

‘Francesca, the ball we attended together was a work function.’

‘Please!’ Francesca rolled her eyes but he moved the conversation on. ‘What can I do for you, Francesca? And please tell me it doesn’t involve surgery.’

Francesca gave a little shiver. ‘It’s cold.’

‘It’s a beautiful day,’ Leo corrected her, but headed over to the brandy and poured her one.

‘Of course I don’t want surgery,’ Francesca said, ‘but I was reading in my magazine abut cosmetic tattooing. My hands are a little shaky these days …’

‘You could just have one of these before you put your make-up on,’ Leo teased, handing her the brandy.

‘It has nothing to do with brandy.’ Francesca laughed. ‘It is age.’

When it suited her, Leo thought dryly. ‘I don’t do tattooing.’

‘I thought not—it’s hardly a tattoo parlour. I just hate Tony seeing me without my eyeliner on,’ she said.

‘I can give you a name,’ Leo said. ‘How are you two doing?’

‘That’s the real reason I’m here.’ Francesca smiled. ‘We’re getting married, Leo!’

He was over in an instant. His favourite patient was getting married, this time to a man she loved, and he couldn’t be happier for her.

‘I’m thrilled for you.’ He gave her a hug. ‘Hell, you didn’t need to make an appointment to come in and tell me that!’

‘I know. It’s just a small wedding,’ Francesca said, and she took out an invitation. ‘I put Leo and Lizzie …’

‘Just change it and put Leo plus one.’

‘I want Lizzie to come.’

‘Well, invite Lizzie, then,’ Leo said, but his collar suddenly felt tight at the thought of Lizzie’s plus one.

‘Leo, please listen.’

‘Francesca, you are one of my most valued clients but that doesn’t mean—’

‘I remember your father, Leo. I remember waiting for the first of many facelifts and him falling down drunk. He was a fool.’

‘You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.’

‘And I remember your mother.’ Francesca would not stop. ‘Her affairs and her social life and all the things she put before your brother and you.’

‘Just leave it.’

‘Is that how you want to be?’

‘I don’t have affairs.’

‘I’m not talking about cheating, I’m talking about family. How old are you, Leo?’

‘A lady never asks a gentleman his age …’ Leo smiled but he was smarting a little inside. Thirty-eight and a brilliant career to show for it, but a reputation with women that had had Lizzie running off into the woods, or rather choosing a weekend in a nursing home than being in Paris with him.

‘I regret and I regret and I regret,’ Francesca said, ‘because I was too stupidly proud to admit what a fool I’d been and too vain and too young …’

Leo stood to halt her, to let her know his valuable time was up, but Francesca stood too.

‘I am your friend, Leo,’ Francesca said, ‘which is why I’m going to tell you this. Do you know one of the reasons I’m so scared of getting old?’

Leo didn’t answer.

‘There is no more a selfish profession than that of a ballerina … although a surgeon might come a close second.’ Leo swallowed as Francesca spoke on. ‘I’m not talking about the back end of a chorus line, Leo. I’m talking about being centre stage. These hands …’ she held hers up to him ‘… this face, this body, this neck … do you know how many people were counting on me to be on form?’

‘I get it.’

‘No, you don’t,’ Francesca said. ‘Because I didn’t and now that I am old I realise all the love I let slip through my hands.’

‘So, what?’ Leo wasn’t going to be swayed by Francesca’s dramatic musings. ‘I’m supposed to marry Lizzie and have lots of children so when I’m old and mad I’m not alone?’

‘No,’ Francesca said. ‘So when you’re old and sane you don’t spend every day regretting the choices you made.’

‘Thanks for the lecture, Francesca.’ He was not about to be dictated to by some eccentric patient, but he softened his abruptness with a smile and it was back to doctor mode. Carefully he examined her face. ‘Geoff has done a good job,’ Leo admitted, but still held his own. ‘I wouldn’t have put in as much filler, though.’

‘I like it,’ Francesca said, ‘but I think the glow isn’t from Geoff’s filler, more Tony and I making—’

‘I get the picture,’ Leo interrupted. That image he really didn’t need! ‘Right, I’ll give you that name of the tattooist and if you decide you need something done for your wedding, I hope, this time, you’ll listen to me.’

‘I will come in and see you.’

‘And if I say no, will you listen?’

‘Yes, Leo.’

‘Because there’s no point otherwise,’ Leo scolded. ‘If I know you’re just going to take yourself off to someone else every time you don’t get your own way …’

‘I will listen to you, Leo.’

‘Good.’ He went to walk her out then realised he’d almost forgotten. ‘Happy Valentine’s Day, Francesca …’ He kissed his favourite patient on the cheek as he handed her her flowers and chocolates. ‘Of course I shan’t be offended if you don’t take them—I don’t want to cause any friction between you and Tony.’

‘Ah, a little mystery is a good thing in a relationship.’ She held the bouquet and inhaled the scent, just as if she were accepting the accolade on stage. ‘But isn’t there someone else who you should be giving these to?’

Leo didn’t have the heart to tell Francesca the staffroom was filled with the blooms. ‘As I said …’ Leo gave a tight smile. ‘I don’t need you to sort out my love life.’

‘Love life?’ Francesca checked. ‘I thought Leo Hunter only had a social life.’ She shook her head before walking off. ‘You’d be mad to let her go.’