Someone To Save you (39 page)

Eventually Louisa nodded.

Sam smiled his appreciation. ‘Thanks for trusting me.’

Louisa looked thoughtful. ‘You couldn’t have done anything to save her,’ she said. ‘None of us could. It took me a long time to realise it. Maybe I only just have.’

Sam didn’t need to ask for clarification about what Louisa meant. He simply nodded. ‘I know. I think I’m only just realising that too.’

Louisa placed a hand on his arm. ‘I’ll be there when you come out,’ she said, ‘for as long as it takes.’

‘You don’t have to,’ Sam replied. ‘It could be a very long night.’

‘That’s fine,’ she said, ‘I offered to wait with Sarah in the family room. She doesn’t want to be on her own tonight.’

‘Tom’s not with her?’

‘No, he’s still missing. She hasn’t seen him now for days.’

Sam shook his head. ‘He should be here, with his family. Where the hell is he?’

Sarah Jackson managed to raise a smile as Sam stepped through into the family room. But her face told a different story, bearing the stress and strain of the situation. She looked like a woman on the edge, in danger that just a gentle puff of wind could send her plummeting into the abyss. He would have to tread very carefully.

‘I’m so glad it will be you in there, Sam,’ she said, standing up to greet him, her smile forced and nervous. They both sat back down. ‘Is everything going okay?’

Sam nodded. ‘All the preparations have gone fine.’

‘So this is really it?’ she said.

‘Yes.’

She ran a hand through her hair, and then sat back, her head against the wall, looking up as if for divine intervention. ‘I wish Tom was here.’

‘I know,’ Sam agreed. ‘Have you heard anything from him?’

‘Not a word,’ she said. ‘He’s still not answering his mobile. He hasn’t turned up for work since he disappeared. I’ve called friends, family, work colleagues. I’ve been to places where I think he might go – places we visited together – parks, museums, the cinema. I even went to the Zoo,’ she lamented, her laugh humourless. ‘Can you believe it? I paid and walked around, looking for my husband in London Zoo.’

‘I’m sure he’s okay.’

‘Oh, I’m sure he is,’ she said. ‘But what about me and Sophie?’ She turned to face Sam, searching desperately for an answer. ‘Doesn’t he care about us at all?’ Her face registered regret as soon as she asked the question.

‘I’m certain he does,’ Sam comforted. ‘I know it’s hard to understand what he’s done, but I’m sure it’s because he’s upset. It’s not because he doesn’t care about you, or Sophie. He loves you both more than anything.’

‘I should have seen it coming,’ she said. ‘The other day, when Sophie deteriorated and I just left him here on his own to deal with things, something changed in him. I should never have left him like that. I don’t know why I did it. I think I just had to get away, I felt like I was suffocating with everything that was going on.’ She shook her head. ‘I just wish I’d realised things were that bad.’

‘You couldn’t have done anything.’

‘I’ve left a message on his phone,’ she said. ‘I’ve told him you’re doing the operation tonight. Maybe he’ll be here.’

‘I hope so.’

Sam waited a few beats. ‘The nurses have explained the operation, and how long it’s likely to take?’

She nodded.

‘And you know about the bed next door?’

‘I won’t be sleeping.’

Sam nodded. ‘Louisa will be with you. If you want anything, just ask – drinks, food, something to read…’

‘Will there be updates? Updates on how it’s going?’

‘I can’t promise anything,’ Sam replied. ‘Possibly – but usually we don’t tend to comment until after it’s over.’

Sarah nodded.

‘But as soon as it’s over, I’ll come to see you.’

She smiled. ‘Thanks, Sam.’ For a second she just looked at him, and Sam could see the question in her teary eyes. ‘What are the chances?’

This was of course what any relative really wanted to know, but ironically it was the one question he could never really answer. ‘As good as they can be,’ Sam replied. ‘Much better than they were a week ago. Sophie is a fighter. And she’s in the best hands. Professor Khan is a world class surgeon.’

‘So she’s probably going to be alright?’ she asked hopefully.

‘We can never say that.’

The brutal honesty seemed to land an almost physical blow on her fragile frame. ‘Please don’t let her die.’

Sam watched Sarah Jackson crumple before him, and it took all of his inner strength not to fold with her.

The call came through ten minutes later from the surgical team.

‘They’re ready. Professor Khan requests your presence in theatre.’

‘Thanks.’ Sam replaced the handset and moved towards the door. But as he swung it open, Ed Stansfield was on the other side, his fist raised to knock.

‘Hello, Sam,’ he said, startled. ‘I wonder if I can have a quick word?’

‘It’ll have to wait,’ he replied, ‘I’ve got to get straight to theatre.’

‘I know. That’s partly why I’m here. Just one second? It’s really important.’

Sam sucked on his top lip, not really wanting to spare a moment. ‘Okay, one second.’

They backed into the room and Ed Stansfield didn’t waste any time. ‘I wasn’t sure whether to tell you now, or after the operation, but I’ve decided you should know the full facts before you go in there.’

‘Go on.’

‘The hospital has withdrawn its allegations against you,’ he said. ‘You’ll be notified officially tomorrow. The Board are going to offer a full and unreserved apology and the incident will not be kept on your record. Carla wants to see you personally to express her regret at what happened.’

The news was fantastic, but puzzling. ‘Why are they so sure now? I mean, they obviously weren’t convinced with what you or I had to say.’

‘Because someone has confessed to setting you up,’ he replied.

‘What? Who?’

‘Miles Henderson.’

‘Miles? What, they caught him with drugs?’

‘No,’ he replied. ‘He came forward and confessed. He said that he’d planted the drugs in your locker and then called security.’

Sam thought it over. Even though Miles had always been a name in the frame, the news still came as a great shock, to think one of his colleagues could do such a thing. ‘Did he say why?’

‘Not yet, no – but it’s fair to assume that he saw it as a way of getting the consultant post. With you discredited, he was the clear favourite.’

Sam shook his head in disbelief. Miles had never been the most ethical of characters, and he was desperate for the job, just as he was, but to plunge to those subterranean depths, to do such a thing to a colleague and fellow clinician.

‘I thought it might put your mind at rest, before the operation,’ Ed said, watching Sam carefully as he took the news in.

‘No, it has, thanks,’ Sam trailed off, still lost in his thoughts. In truth, it had done the exact opposite.

44

Sam watched Sarah Jackson as she slept in what looked like the most awkward position imaginable. Her legs were tucked underneath her body, which was wedged across two plastic chairs. Her head lolled back like a broken puppet and her mouth was set open. Sam looked across at Louisa, who was just waking up, holding her neck and grimacing. She threw him a glance that was somewhere between a mix of bewilderment and hope.

Sam reached for Sarah, touching her lightly on the shoulder. This conversation would transform her life forever. He wondered whether she was dreaming of Sophie - dreaming of that knockdown smile as she held her daughter in her arms.

‘Sarah.’

She woke slowly at first. But then realisation dawned and her eyes snapped open. She almost scrambled upright in what could only be described as blind panic. ‘Sophie is she okay, is she...’

Sam smiled. ‘It went really well.’

The news didn’t seem to register at first. It was as if she was waiting for some cruel punch line.

It went really well. But...’

When none came, her face exploded with joy and she leapt up, embracing Sam and squeezing tightly, burying her head in his shoulder. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’

Sam smiled across at Louisa. ‘It’s my pleasure.’

‘My little Sophie, she’s going to be okay. She’s going to be okay...’ Suddenly Sarah began sobbing and she pulled back. ‘She’s really going to be okay? She’s going to be fine?’

Sam nodded. ‘It’s early days,’ he said, not wishing for one moment to puncture her joy but mindful that it was early days. The first few hours after an operation, especially one of such magnitude, were fraught with dangers – internal bleeding, rejection of the heart by her body, a reaction to the drugs used to suppress her immune system’s response, a post-operative infection. The list went on.

‘But you think she’ll be alright?’ Sarah’s tears had stopped, but there was a new cautiousness.

‘I’m as sure as I can be that Sophie will be okay,’ he comforted. ‘The operation went better than I could have hoped.’

Indeed, during the eight hour procedure, everything had worked like a dream. The team had performed brilliantly. Professor Khan had directed with confidence and skill, giving Sam a leading role while at the same time being a rock for everyone in the theatre. Sophie had remained strong throughout. There hadn’t been one moment when he’d feared that it wouldn’t work out.

It was amazing really.

Sarah’s smile returned. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’

‘Like I said, it’s my pleasure. Would you like to see Sophie?’

Her face lit up with joy. ‘I can see her now?’

‘Yes,’ Sam smiled. ‘She’s not awake yet, but she’s welcoming visitors.’

Sam and Louisa stood back as Sarah Jackson approached her daughter, who was sleeping in a private room in the Intensive Care Unit. She looked back at them for confirmation that it was okay to get closer, and Sam nodded. They watched as Sarah cupped Sophie’s head with her palm, and gently brushed away stray strands of blonde hair from her forehead.

‘She looks so well,’ she said, turning to them.

Sam nodded. It might have only been a matter of minutes since the operation, but you could already see the difference in Sophie. Her skin was glowing, her body radiating the new chance of life that the donor heart had gifted.

Sophie turned back to admire her daughter. ‘I’m so happy you’re okay,’ she said. ‘You’ll never know how happy.’

Louisa stole a glance at Sam, smiled and squeezed his arm. ‘Well done,’ she whispered. ‘Miracle man.’

Sam returned with a tight smile. Although this was a happy occasion, outside of this there was nothing to smile about. Despite his best efforts, he had been unable to stop himself thinking about Anna during the operation. He leant in close to Louisa’s ear. ‘Have you heard from Marcus?’

Louisa shook her head. ‘I’ve called a few times, but he’s not picking up.’

‘We need to find him, Louisa.’

‘I know.’

Just then the doors to the room opened and Nurse Hennessey entered. ‘I’ve got a visitor for Sophie,’ she said, her eyes bright and excited. ‘Would you like me to bring him in?’

‘Definitely,’ Sam replied, as realisation hit Louisa about who the visitor was.

‘Tom?’ she mouthed to Sam, as Nurse Hennessey left.

Sam nodded.

Sarah had seemed oblivious what was happening, so engrossed was she in her daughter. Even as Tom entered the room, almost cowering behind Nurse Hennessey, she didn’t notice his presence. Tom Jackson looked like a man who had been living on the streets. His hair was all over the place, his face bearded. His blue eyes seemed shrunk against his skin which was tanned with an accumulation of London dirt.

Suddenly Sarah did sense something, and snapped out of her worship. Her eyes widened with amazement and she broke into a wide smile. ‘Tom!’

‘I’m so sorry for leaving you,’ he said, his body poised for surrender against the expected oncoming onslaught of emotion. ‘I’m really sorry.’

But there was no anger, no recriminations. And instead it was Sarah who surrendered to him, throwing herself into his arms. They hugged tightly for several seconds. Sam thought of Anna and how they had embraced in the same way, just days earlier, three people joined as one. What he wouldn’t do to have that again.

‘It’s okay, Tom, really,’ Sarah said, cupping his face and looking deeply into his eyes. ‘Everything’s going to be fine now, everything’s going to be okay.’

They embraced again. Then Tom, still holding his wife, looked over at Sam. ‘Thank you Sam, thank you so much.’

Sam acknowledged the appreciation. ‘Go and speak with your daughter.’

As Sarah and Tom moved towards Sophie, Sam gestured to Louisa that it was time for them to leave. They moved out of the room, standing just outside the door.