Page 1 of London
Chapter One
Dr. Gerard Leon headed to his office to remove his lab coat and grab his jacket and keys before going home. The day had been a disappointing one. How long before the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency saw reason?
Laughter from the visitor’s room, always welcomed at HOPE, drew his attention. He stopped in the doorway, mesmerized by the scene before him. The colorful shutters softened the late day sunlight, creating a diffused glow around the woman and the children surrounding her. One of the clinic’s air conditioning vents blew in her direction, teasing at the strands of her long, blonde ponytail, making them dance around her head.
So this was the clinic’s benefactress. Rumor had it she was in the building. He’d expected an impersonal businesswoman in a sharp suit, one who oozed old money, sporting expensive jewelry, using the charity for self-promotion. Instead, he saw a modest, affectionate artist in a long, bohemian summer skirt and a matching white blouse.
Like many Frenchmen, Gerard admired and adored women, but this one intrigued him.
She mothered the sick children, like lively, cheerful David, who sat on her lap, leaning against her shoulder, listening to the story she read. The five-year-old was receiving treatment for incipient leukemia.
His heart skipped a beat when she lifted her head from the book and turned to him. Spectacular eerie blue eyes, edged by dark, curvy lashes, stared straight at him.
“Hello,” she said, her curious voice tinged with a sultry Italian accent. “Can I help you?”
“Bonjour.I’m Gerard Leon.” Despite his French ancestry and accent he’d never managed to lose, he gave his name the English pronunciation and offered his hand.
“Linda Coriola. It’s nice to meet you, Mister Leon.” She smiled, reached for his outstretched hand and shook it, her hand soft, her grip firm.
“The pleasure’s mine. While we’ve never met, I’ve heard about your generosity.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
The gesture emphasized her aristocratic face, with its high, elegant cheekbones and sensual lips. She’d requested anonymity, but everyone here knew the truth.
Gerard cleared his throat. While he knew she came from a wealthy Italian family and had made her own fortune with a successful art career, she probably had no idea who he was. The white lab coat he wore, the standard uniform for all clinic employees, wouldn’t explain anything.
“I’m one of the doctors and scientists on staff,” he clarified.
Her face brightened. “Doctor Leon. Of course! I’ve heard about you. Actually, I was going to request a meeting with you. Your research efforts are incredible, and I understand they’re about to pay off. Is it true you’ve discovered a miraculous cure that may work on a number of different types of cancer?”
He grinned, excited, and more than a little proud that she’d heard of his work.
“That’s always been my hope,” he said, emphasizing the last word, which was a perfect name for the clinic. HOPE was not only a facility for treating children with cancer, it was also a research center. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to thank you for your contributions, Miss Coriola. They make it possible for us to continue our research efforts to find effective treatments and support the necessary testing.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
She glanced down at David, stroking his hairless head. The child looked up at her, all smiles.
The resilience of his young patients, even those who were terminal, never ceased to amaze Gerard. Cancer, the silent killer, claimed more lives annually than any other illness. Despite their tremendous suffering and the debilitating side effects of some medications, the children always found the strength to smile. David’s round, browless eyes and innocence tugged at Gerard’s heart. Those eyes, and dozens like them, were why he fought so hard to heal these children. The fact that he was so close to succeeding spurred him on.
“Evening, Doctor Leon, Miss Coriola.” He turned at the sound. Despite her plumpness, the nurse moved silently on her rubber-soled shoes. “It’s time for their dinner.” She turned to the children. “Come on, lovies! Time to wash your hands.”
The children lined up, each buddied to their own metal pole from which hung bags of fluid. They said goodbye and followed the nurse out of the room, soldiers fighting an invisible war that some would lose.
Gerard refocused his attention on Linda, watching as her sorrowful gaze followed the little ones out the door. Her sadness was palpable, mirroring his own. A tear slid slowly down her cheek.
Unable to stop himself, Gerard knelt in front of her chair. “Are you alright? Would you like a cup of tea?”
She shook her head, turning her face away to compose herself.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
She twisted a ring on her finger, as though trying to find a proper way to express herself without saying too much in front of a stranger. Finally, she took a deep breath.
“It’s just that every time I come here, I’m overwhelmed with sorrow. Seeing their pale faces, watching the effects of chemotherapy and God knows what other treatments, is heart-wrenching. Some still have hope, but others know the fight’s almost over, and they’ve lost. I can see it in their eyes. It upsets me that I can’t do more for them. I can’t give them what truly matters—health and a normal pain free life.”
She pulled a tissue from her bag. Gerard reached for it and gently wiped her tears himself. What possessed him to be so bold? When she looked at him, he knew he’d done the right thing.
