St Piran's: Italian Surgeon, Forbidden Bride (6 page)

Gio waved, drawing Ben’s attention as the men stood up from their table. Ben smiled at her, and she blushed, hoping he would think she was including all of them, and not that she had any special interest in Gio, as she sketched a wave in return and hurried out of the canteen.

As she made her way to A and E, her thoughts remained with Gio. Beyond the dangerous attraction, she enjoyed his company, admired him, professionally and personally, and felt good with him. If she had any sense, she’d guard her heart and keep her distance, but she feared it was already too late. She’d begun to slide down the slippery slope by foolishly convincing herself it was
OK to be friends with him… provided they both knew friendship was all it could be.

She knew Gio was curious and wanted to know more about her, but he’d been circumspect so far and she was grateful. Meeting in the canteen each evening challenged her resolve but his comments on how he hated returning to the empty house he was renting had touched a chord within her. She knew all about the loneliness found between the walls of somewhere that didn’t feel like home. One more of the many things they had in common.

Arriving in A and E, Jess set thoughts of Gio aside. Ellen, a senior staff nurse in the department, greeted her and outlined the reason for the call.

‘The girl came in very distressed, asking after a young man killed in a road accident,’ the middle-aged woman explained, shaking her head. ‘She’s terribly young, Jess, but she insists she’s the girlfriend. Unfortunately we’re rushed off our feet and as she’s not physically injured or ill, we don’t have time to spend with her, but we didn’t want her to leave in such a state.’

‘I understand. Has she been told anything?’ Jess asked, her heart going out to the unknown girl.

Ellen sighed again. ‘I’m afraid one of the inexperienced clerks told her the boyfriend, a lad named Colin Maddern, had died.’

‘Oh, hell.’

‘Exactly.’ The nurse’s displeasure matched her own. ‘The girl wants Colin’s things. He had no one but her. And there are photographs of her in his jacket, so she’s genuine. I’ve checked with the police and they don’t need anything, so I’ll arrange to have the jacket and the possessions we salvaged brought to her.’ Ellen nodded
in the direction of the closed door to one of the quiet rooms used for relatives. ‘She’s in there. She wants to see him, but…’

‘You don’t think it’s a good idea,’ Jess finished for her.

‘No, I don’t. The poor boy wasn’t wearing a seat belt and there was no air-bag fitted. He was hit at speed, went through the windscreen and was killed. A broken neck. And his face is a mess.’

Jess struggled to keep her emotions from showing. ‘And the other driver?’

‘Returning home drunk after lunch at the golf club. The police have arrested him. Needless to say he’s not even bruised. Josh had to deal with both of them and he’s furious. It’s so unfair,’ Ellen finished, mirroring Jess’s own sentiments and explaining the grim expression on Josh’s face when he’d arrived in the canteen.

‘Do we know the girl’s name?’ Jess queried, jotting a few notes on her pad.

‘No. Other than asking for Colin?and his things? she’s not said anything. She broke down after she learnt of his death.’

‘Thanks, Ellen.’ She would not have relished the task of delivering the news, but Jess wished the girl had learned the truth in a more gentle and caring way. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

The woman smiled. ‘If anyone can help her, love, it’s you.’

Jess hoped so. After Ellen had gone, she drew in a breath, hoping to find the right things to say in an impossible situation. Tapping on the door, she opened it and stepped inside. A junior nurse sat awkwardly near
the sobbing girl, and jumped to her feet, clearly glad to leave.

Once they were alone, Jess pulled a chair closer and sat opposite the plump form huddled on the two-seater sofa. With her face buried in her hands, a curtain of straight, corn-coloured blonde hair swung forward, hiding her face from view. A cooling cup of tea remained untouched on the table beside her.

‘Hello. I’m Jess Carmichael. I’ve come to see if there’s anything I can help you with.’ Jess waited for some kind of response or acknowledgement of her presence. ‘I’m very sorry to hear about the accident.’

Slowly the girl looked up, her hands dropping away from her face and falling to her lap. Jess barely managed to smother a shocked gasp as she discovered how terribly young she was… no more than sixteen. Grey eyes were awash with tears, leaving no doubt at the depth of her devastation.

‘They won’t let me see him,’ she murmured. ‘Is it because I’m not officially family?’

Jess hesitated, unsure how to explain without causing further upset. ‘It’s a difficult decision. I’d urge you to think carefully, because once it’s done, it can’t be undone. They advised you against seeing Colin because of the nature of his injuries,’ she continued, deciding it was important to tell the truth, even as the words caused the girl to flinch. ‘Wouldn’t you rather your last memory of him was a good one? What would he want for you?’

‘Colin wouldn’t want me to do it,’ she admitted, a frown creasing her brow.

‘There’s no hurry to make a decision, so have a think about it.’

‘OK.’

Jess hoped she would decide not to see him. ‘Is there someone I can call for you? Your parents, maybe?’

‘No!’ The denial was instant and accompanied by a vigorous shake of her head. ‘I can’t.’ Taking a tissue from the box on the table, she blew her nose. ‘No one knows about Colin and me.’

Jess let it go for now, not wanting to pressure the girl or distress her further, hoping instead to build rapport and a level of trust that would enable her to help if she could.

‘Can you tell me your name?’

The girl fiddled nervously with the chain around her neck, suddenly clutching it before tucking it inside her blouse and doing up the top button, as if to hide it. Before Jess could consider the odd behaviour, the girl shifted nervously, her gaze darting around the room.

‘Marcia Johns,’ she finally offered, barely above a whisper.

‘Thank you, Marcia.’ Jess smiled, accepting the name, even though she was unsure at this point whether or not it was genuine. ‘Would you like to talk about Colin?’

A firm nod greeted the suggestion, and although tears shimmered in her eyes, a wobbly smile curved her mouth, revealing how pretty she could be. ‘Yes, please. Is that OK?’

‘Of course. I’d like to hear about him. When did you meet?’

‘Over a year ago when I started my summer job,’ she explained. ‘Colin worked nearby. He was three years older than me, and never in a million years did I imagine him noticing
me.
Tall and handsome, with dark hair and
blue eyes and a gorgeous smile, he was the one all the girls wanted. I’m shy and overweight and always fade into the background,’ Marcia continued, revealing low self-esteem. She shook her head, as if in wonder, and gave a little laugh. ‘When Colin began spending time with me, I couldn’t believe it! There were all these thin, pretty girls chasing after him but he kept saying it was me he wanted, that he saw the real me inside. That I was kind and smart and funny, and he loved me the way I was.’

What a lovely young man, Jess thought, seeing how Marcia lit up talking about him. And what a terrible tragedy that his life had been cut so short. Sensing Marcia’s need to talk, she encouraged her to continue.

‘We were going to get married when I finished school and got a full-time job,’ she said, toying with the friendship ring that encircled the middle finger of her right hand, no doubt a gift from him, Jess thought. ‘His father died when he was twelve, and his mother when he was sixteen, so Colin had to look out for himself. He was much more responsible and steady than the boys I knew at school. There was never much money, but that didn’t matter. We spent all our time together, walking on the beach, having picnics, watching DVDs or listening to music at his flat, talking for hours. Talking about everything. For the first time I felt as if someone really knew me and understood me.’

‘Don’t you feel that at home?’ Jess probed, hoping to find out more about Marcia’s background.

‘Not really.’ She gave a casual shrug, but it obviously mattered to her. ‘We’re a big family. My parents are busy working and caring for us all, and my brothers and sisters are all outgoing and active, and so much more
attractive than I am. They all have the family colouring. I got the eyes but my hair is dead straight and mousy blonde. I’m interested in books and music, not sports. I don’t understand them and they don’t understand me. I know they love me,’ she added, wiping away the twin tears that tracked down her rounded cheeks. ‘They just don’t
see
me. Everything is so hectic and noisy. I don’t think they notice whether I’m there or not.’

‘But Colin noticed.’

‘Yes. Yes, he did.’

Jess understood how special and important the young man must have made Marcia feel, boosting her confidence and setting her free from the shadow of her vibrant family. Marcia might be very young, but she had a sensible head on her shoulders and for her, her relationship with Colin had been a close and genuine one.

Marcia pulled her shoulder bag on to her lap and rummaged inside for a moment before producing a couple of photos and handing them across.

‘Thanks.’

Jess looked down at the first picture, seeing a very handsome young man dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket, wavy black hair brushing over the collar. The blue eyes were startling, full of intelligence, humour and kindness, his smile adding to the impression of warmth and friendliness. The second picture, of Marcia and Colin together, banished any lingering doubt about the full extent of this young girl’s relationship with Colin. No one seeing the two young people together could question their feelings. Their happiness and love shone out, and the expression of devotion on Colin’s face as
he looked at a laughing Marcia brought a lump to Jess’s throat.

‘They’re lovely. Thank you for showing me,’ she murmured, handing the pictures back.

Marcia looked at them for several moments before tucking them carefully back in her bag. She sobbed, pressing a hand to her mouth, despair in her eyes.

‘What am I going to do?’ Rocking back and forth, tears flowed in earnest once more. ‘Colin was my whole life. I love him so much. And I need him. He can’t be gone. He
can’t.
It isn’t fair. Oh, God… Why?
Why
has this happened? What’s the point in anything if Colin isn’t with me?’

As she tried to comfort the girl, Jess wished she had answers to explain the cruel and senseless loss of a life. Fresh anger built within her at the driver who had thoughtlessly climbed behind the wheel of his car, his selfish actions shattering two young lives. He should be made to see Colin’s lifeless, damaged body, and witness the terrible grief Marcia was suffering. What words could she possibly offer the girl that didn’t sound trite?

A knock at the door announced the arrival of Ellen and provided a welcome distraction. ‘May I come in?’

As Marcia nodded and mopped her tears, Jess met the kindly nurse’s gaze, seeing the sympathy and sorrow in her eyes.

‘I have Colin’s things for you, love,’ Ellen said, setting a black leather jacket on the seat beside Marcia, the same jacket Colin had worn in the photos.

Marcia drew the jacket into her arms, closing her eyes and burying her face in the wear-worn leather. ‘I saved up for ages to buy this for his birthday. It smells
of him,’ she whispered, clutching the familiar garment more tightly to her and rubbing one cheek against it.

A lump in her throat, Jess exchanged a glance with Ellen. Maybe having Colin’s jacket would bring Marcia some comfort and familiarity in the difficult times ahead.

‘Here are the photographs and the other things Colin had with him,’ Ellen said, holding over a large padded envelope.

Refusing to let go of the jacket, Marcia took the envelope with her free hand. ‘Thank you, it means a lot. And thanks for being so kind to me.’

‘You’re welcome, my love.’ Suppressed emotion made Ellen’s voice huskier than normal. ‘I’m so sorry.’

After Ellen had left them alone once more, Jess allowed Marcia some quiet time. While she waited, she took a page from her notebook and jotted down some information for the girl to take away with her.

‘I don’t like to think of you going home alone, Marcia. You’ve had a horrible shock. Are you sure I can’t call your parents? Or I could arrange for someone here to take you home,’ Jess suggested, willing to drive her there herself, but Marcia was withdrawing and shaking her head.

‘No. No, I don’t want that.’ She took another tissue and mopped her eyes. ‘Thank you. I’ll be all right.’

Jess didn’t believe it for a moment, but she couldn’t force her and she didn’t want to break the tentative trust between them. All she could do was encourage Marcia to keep in touch.

‘You can contact me here at any time, Marcia,’ she told her, adding another telephone number to the list. ‘I’ve also given the details for the Samaritans. If you
need to talk to anyone in confidence, day or night, you can call them. I volunteer once a week, usually on Friday evenings, but you can talk freely to anyone.’ ‘OK.’

Jess was relieved as Marcia took the sheet of paper, looked it over, and then tucked it into her bag, suggesting she might actually use it and not toss it into the first litter bin she came across.

‘I’d really like to know how you are. And if there’s anything I can do…’ She let the words trail off, not wanting to nag.

The sound of her pager intruded. Smothering her frustration, Jess checked the display before glancing around the room and discovering there was no telephone.

‘I’ve taken up too much of your time,’ Marcia murmured, beginning to gather her things together.

‘No, no, it’s fine, honestly.’ Jess smiled and told a white lie. ‘I’m not in a hurry. I just have to reply to this. If you don’t mind waiting, I’ll just pop into the next door room to use the phone. I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

Jess found a phone and made the call. She doubted she’d been gone more than a minute, but by the time she returned, Marcia had gone.