Page 52 of The Vow We Made
As I turn the corner, I immediately notice her crowded bedside. Her mother, father and best friend surround her, together with a nurse and one of the porters.
Her bright, beautiful smile beams as I approach. “Aiden, how lovely to see you.” She seems pleased I’m here, but something in the tone of her voice feels off.
“Victoria.” I nod and say hello to everyone else.
“Doctor James. I was under the impression Miss West was Doctor Trevelyan’s patient.”
Nurse Emilia Richards and I previously spent a few years in A&E together and she’s a stickler for procedure. Any potential change in arrangements would annoy the hell out of her and she hurriedly flicks through her paperwork to make sure her facts are straight. “We were just going through the discharge arrangements.”
“I’m not here in a professional capacity Nurse Richards.”
And with that, Abigail West announces, “Definitely not professional.” She shifts in her seat by Victoria’s bedside and her eyes sparkle with excitement. “Actually, Victoria and Aiden are quite the item.”
“Abigail!” Dominic protests, but his wife is adamant she knows all the facts.
“Come off it Dominic, we’ve only just stopped talking about the two of them.” To which she adds, “Men,” and rolls her eyes.
Silence sweeps over our small group until Steph saves an awkward moment. “Wishful thinking again, Abigail.” She tries to laugh it off with an eye-roll of her own and a smile. “I told you, they’refriendsand there’s nothing more to it.”
Mrs West huffs out her breath. “Stephanie Ellison-Rose, don’t lie to me, young lady. You’re not five anymore, you’re a grown woman.” She turns to Nurse Richards once again. “She used to tell her mother and me the most shocking fibs when she was tiny,” she tuts.
I note poor Victoria dying with embarrassment as she quickly tries to stop her mum from making it worse. “Mum, I’m sure the nurse has lots of other patients to see and we’re taking up her time.”
“Alright darling, if you say so, but I know there’s some sort of cover-up operation going on here. I’m not stupid.”
Her raised eyebrows and pouting mouth show a different side to Victoria’s mother and I can’t believe this is the same woman. When I met Abigail yesterday, she barely said a word, now she won’t shut up. The initial shock of her daughter’s accident has naturally subsided and I think I preferred it when she said very little.
“Well she wouldn’t be the first patient, or indeed nurse, to have a crush on our Doctor James.” I note the slight smirk to Nurse Richards’ mouth and catch an unspoken, knowing exchange between her and the porter. This is the worse time to put gossip in the minds of hospital staff and all I need right now.
I move the conversation on quickly, deciding it’s probably best if I don’t hang around. “I wanted to say hello and check you were comfortable. I’m on my way to work, so thought this would be a good time. Instead, I can see you have no shortage of visitors.”
“That’s kind of you Aiden, thank you,” Victoria says, as a blush forms over her cheeks. I bet her embarrassment is equal to mine, purely because of what’s been said.
“No problem, it’s good to see you doing well. That was one hell of a knock you took.”
She looks away, hiding her face with her hands. Is she self-conscious because of her injuries? She shouldn’t be. Her beauty runs far deeper than just skin and I have to stop myself from telling her while I’m in front of this particular audience. Instead, I put the focus back on her medical condition. “From the impact of the two vehicles, you could have easily sustained greater injuries. I think you were lucky to get away with a broken ankle and you should give yourself a pat on the back for being so resilient.”
She smiles briefly while bowing her head and staring at her fingers now twisting together. I wonder what’s going through her mind and I hope I haven’t made her feel uncomfortable.
I can’t even explain myself in this environment, so I decide not to prolong the agony we’re both clearly going through. “Well, you look very well Victoria and I’m pleased to learn you’re being discharged.” The smile I receive is sad and all I want to do is tell everyone else to leave so I can hold her. If I could, I’d be the man she wants me to be right now, but I can’t step-up while she’s still a patient here. Instead, I have to play things down. Does she wonder what I’m playing at and where she stands? I’m fucking this up but the situation calls for me to be professional, so this is out of my hands. “I better get going, or I’ll be late for my shift. Lovely to see you all again.” I glance at the girl now slipping away from me. “Victoria.” I nod in her direction, but her smile is despondent.
“Bye Aiden and thank you again.”
I absorb her reaction while this whole situation stabs at my gut. There isn’t a chance in hell I can get Victoria alone any time before she leaves the hospital and once I’m back in my department, I doubt I’ll get a second to sneak away. This is all going wrong and I have no idea what to do about it. Perhaps the best thing is to read those notes as Aaron suggested. I’m sure we can sort things out from there.
* * *
My break is the first chance I get to read the hospital records. Victoria’s are relatively simple and nothing out of the ordinary apart from the noticeable difference in name. She’s listed as Victoria West-Hughes.
She was brought in after a car accident and treated for cuts and bruises; there was no sign of a concussion and she was discharged without further concern. I’m confused as to why Aaron would want me to see this when there’s nothing out of the ordinary until I note some additional links to other family members and guess it’s about her husband. The man I have no knowledge about. Why would I? She was probably sizing me up before she told me anything so personal.
I read on in the hope of finding the link I’ve been warned about and discover the notes regarding Andrew Hughes and the extensive list of injuries he suffered and the massive internal bleeding which caused his death. I continue to read quickly through the report until Aaron’s reasons become all too apparent. The doctor’s name at the bottom of the report jumps out at me like a punch to the gut.
Dr Aiden James.
I stare at the screen, trying to remember what happened. Why was I unable to save this man? Victoria’s husband lost his battle all because there was nothing medically I could do for him. My mind is in turmoil; I squeeze my eyes together, swallow hard and walk in frustrated circles with a sense of dread at the pit of my stomach. “Fuck.”
Aaron enters the cubicle where I’m situated and can see from my screen, exactly what I’m looking at. “I’m sorry Aiden. I felt sure I’d be telling you things you already knew.”
“I had no idea.” I run my fingers through my hair, “Shit. I can’t believe for all the crazy twisted things to have happened, it would bethis. What do I do Aaron? This is a fucking mess.”
“Sit down a sec Aiden, you look like crap and you need a minute.” I do as he asks placing my head in my hands. “If you want to continue your relationship with this woman, you have to tell her.”
“I can’t, it’s too cruel and I won’t do that to her. No, it’s not an option for me.”
“Calm down, breathe and before you take any kind of action, think it through. It isn’t anyone’s fault, just a shitty case of coincidence. If you like her as much as you’re telling me you do, it will be worth your honesty, but if she’s a one-night deal—”
“She isn’t,” I snap as irritation burns inside my chest. “She could never be.”
He places his hand on my shoulder. “Then you have your answer. Take your time. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, you always do.”
