Page 69 of The Christmas Holiday
He turned his head. ‘Mia. I said I’m good.’ His voice was soft now. He paused. ‘Are you?’
‘Yep,’ I replied, not meeting his eyes. ‘Absolutelyfine. I still think everyone’s making a fuss over nothing. I’m sure if Doctor Dexter weren’t friends with Sandeep, I wouldn’t be having to go for a scan. Obviously he wants to show he’s doing everything, even if it’s not necessary.’ I shrugged. ‘I can understand that. I’d probably do the same in his position.’
‘Doctor’s aren’t in the habit of doing unnecessary procedures.’
‘Hunter. Thisis America and it’s private. It’s an industry.’
Hunter gave me a smile but there was no humour in it. ‘I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any more cynical. You’re always a surprise. I give you that.’
‘I’m not being cynical!’
‘Of course you are! Do you even hear yourself? You just said the guy is Sandy’s friend. Do you think he’d be charging his mate for a CT scan if he didn’tthink it was necessary?’
‘It’s on insurance.’
Hunter shook his head. ‘I don’t think this is under insurance, Mia. You don’t generally get seen within an hour on insurance.’
I looked up at him, absorbing what he was saying.
‘They were really worried about you.’
‘Thanks to you!’ I said, getting up and pacing around the room. ‘So now, not only have I screwed up the schedule andworried them both, I’ve also cost them a bunch of money! Oh God! How much is one of these scans?’
Hunter shook his head. ‘No idea.’
I narrowed my eyes at him. ‘I don’t believe you.’
Hunter stood and caught my arm to stop me pacing. ‘It doesn’t matter how much it is. You’re more valuable.’
‘Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’s going to have to pay it back!’
‘And neitherare you! Sandeep wouldn’t let you even if you tried!’
‘I could give it to one of their charities. They wouldn’t be able to refuse then.’
He held my gaze and the fire in his eyes softened as he looked at me. ‘You really are impossible.’
‘You say that a lot.’
‘I mean it a lot.’
The door behind us opened and Doctor Dexter re-entered, along with a nurse. We were soon on our wayacross the clinic to the imaging suite. Hunter was shown to the waiting area and I was taken through to a private dressing area where the nurse then instructed me to change into a gown, ensuring I removed anything metal, adding that she’d be back in a few minutes to collect me.
I did as she said, tucking my jewellery into my trainer and putting on the gown. Then I filled out the assessmentand permission form ready to hand over. Once I was done, I sat in the little room and waited. A hum of machinery could be heard but all else was silence. Gingerly I touched the bump on my head. And then, without warning, everything caught up. The pretending, the pain, the headaches, the fighting with Hunter about it all and the fact that, despite what I’d said to him about being fine, I really wasn’t.I’d genuinely expected the doctor to send me home with an all clear, and maybe some painkillers. Further investigation had never even registered. And I knew Hunter was right – he wasn’t doing it just for something to do. He had a reason and now, in the quiet, away from the need to put on a front for anyone, it frightened me. My eyes burned and I swiped at my cheek with the back of my hand asthe tears began to escape. I cursed myself but I couldn’t stop them and I wasn’t sure why.
‘Mia?’ The nurse’s sing-song southern-accented voice came through the door.
‘Yes. All ready,’ I replied, quickly blowing my nose and running my fingers under my eyes to try and tidy up any make-up that had run and disguise the fact that I’d had a bit of a blub.
The door opened and I immediatelygot the idea that my countermeasures hadn’t worked.
‘Oh honey!’ she began after taking one look at me. ‘It’s OK.’
Oh God. Please don’t be nice to me. You’ll set me off again!
‘Ummhmm!’ I said, smiling and using every bit of willpower I had to keep the rest of the threatening tears in check.
She gave a little squeeze to my hand as she took the form from me. ‘You ready?’
I nodded.Safer.
‘OK then.’ She opened the door and we crossed the corridor that separated the changing area from the scan rooms.
As we did, I caught a movement to my right. Turning, I saw Hunter stop mid pace as he saw me. The look on his face was confirmation that my attempts at hiding the tear stains had been fruitless. He took a step towards me but I shook my head and he halted, the expressionon his face slicing through me. I knew he wanted to be there for me and I really did appreciate it. It was his thing. His duty, as he saw it, to take care of those he was working with. But I couldn’t accept that care. Especially not at this moment. Because I was worried that if I took it then, I might want it all over again and never want it to stop. And I couldn’t risk that. His blue-eyed gazehardened a little and he took a step back, his silence an understanding of sorts. But I knew deep down that, really, he didn’t understand at all.
