Another Chance At Love

By Clair Gibson

Emily has suffered from kidney disease for 8 yrs. She moves to Scotland after the break up of her abusive marriage and the death of her father. When she attends her local hospital for treatment, she meets her new consultant Stuart.

After a few chance encounters, Emily shares interesting conversations with him and the two of them strike a friendship.

He is torn between being her doctor and wanting more from her than friendship and when their friendship turns into a fledgling relationship, their encounter is seen and Stuart's happiness is short lived. Bureaucracy soon catches up with him.

Emily's condition deteriorates, she needs a transplant and fast. She needs Stuart to be her friend and her doctor.

Can he save her and in doing so save himself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clair Gibson
• Release date: Apr 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310017469

Clair Gibson

Clair Gibson currently splits her time between Glasgow and Manchester and sees writing works of fiction as her true venture in life and is currently working on her next offering.She has nine books available -Another Chance at LoveFat Bottomed GirlsBlackpool Here We ComeLeft BehindAll for HerYours, mine & the truthStifado for twoThe price of friendshipBroken returnSee her blog for details of those and new works in development

Book preview

Another Chance at Love

Clair Gibson

This is a work of fiction.

The characters of this book are the products of the author and co-authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead is coincidental.

Book cover by Clair Gibson.

Copyright 2013 by Clair Gibson.

All rights reserved.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it for your use, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter List

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

More from the Author

1.

Emily glanced at the building across from the car park with its white painted walls all clean and new. Great. She sighed in despair as she lifted her overnight bag and walked towards the main entrance. A picture postcard hospital, it's bad enough I need to go through the rigmarole of talking to new doctors and nurses prodding me with needles. Now I need to do it in a place that looks like it's just opened. Not what I needed today.

As the automated doors swung inwards, she braced herself for the usual commotion of trolleys passing by at breakneck speed and voices screaming to get out of the way. She glanced around but there was only silence and people milling about in hushed conversation, then she spotted a reception desk off to the side.

Hi, err I think I might be in the wrong place. I have a Urology clinic appointment in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Yes, you are in the right place, the receptionist interrupted.

Okay, can you tell me the best way to get there, please? Emily looked around the area and noticed several boards of information and a mass of arrows pointing in all directions. Shrugged her shoulders, she smiled at the young lady.

The young woman returned the warm smile and stood. First visit is it? Go down the corridor, just there on your left and follow it as far as you can. When you reach the double-doors, at the end, well that's the clinic.

Thanks. Emily turned ready to walk away.

You're welcome, replied the receptionist before returning to her typing.

Emily pulled her overnight bag back onto the top of her shoulder and followed the directions, passing corridors and doors along her path. Every member of staff she encountered smiled and gave a friendly nod. Hmm okay, she pondered as she walked along, turning back every so often to make sure she wasn't imagining things. Why's everyone so happy? Signs appeared on the walls every twenty feet for the trust that ran the hospital. Her previous consultant said part was a private hospital. Is that why it's different, she said aloud before quietening her voice.

In no time at all, she saw the double doors and her stomach churned a little with the thought of what lay on the other side. Okay, she said and exhaled a big blast of air. Here we go. She pushed open the doors to find it looked like any other ward, except with more open space.

Hello. Are you Emily Squire? asked the short blonde nurse striding towards her with her hand extended.

Yes I am. Emily's brows furrowed. How did you know?

We pride ourselves on knowing all our patients and you're the only new patient we have today. She turned and led her into a room unlike any other hospital accommodation. It could give most hotel rooms a run for their money.

This can't all be for me, Emily exclaimed putting her bag on the bed.

Yes, it's all yours until tomorrow morning. There's a shower room with a toilet. The TV has full satellite service and wireless internet in the room, so if you have a laptop or mobile phone you can connect to the internet. The nurse walked around the bed and pointed at a panel on the headboard. Call button is here on the panel as are the light switches for the two rooms. You get settled in and I'll come back in a few moments and we'll get you started.

Emily giggled as she walked out. Next you'll be telling me there's a mini bar.

She unpacked her pyjamas, then two books which she always brought along to pass the time once connected to the dialysis machine, and sat on the bed admiring the room. Through the window, she could see the river that ran along the side of the hospital and the patient gardens, lined with tall oak trees and dotted with commemorative benches. She watched as patients and their families walked the gravel paths and enjoyed the sunshine on their faces.

I've let Mr Anderson know you've arrived. If I can just get your blood pressure and a blood sample, I'll take you to his office.

Emily turned to see the nurse standing in the doorway with a chart in her hand. Mr. Anderson? she asked, the name confused her.

He's your consultant.

Right, Emily said with a nod. In the last hospital on the south coast of England, consultants were Doctors, since moving up to Scotland she learned fast that their version of a health service was different. She sat back on the bed and watched as the nurse attached the pressure cuff to her arm.

With the results noted on the chart, the nurse lifted the syringe. Do you have any preference for taking a sample, right or left?

Left is better. Emily smiled and braced for the prick of pain, but she didn't feel a thing.

I'll get the results while you are talking to Mr. Anderson, the nurse said as Emily lifted her bag to her shoulder ready to follow. No that's okay. All the doors are lockable while you're not in the room. Your things are safe here. Together they walked out of the room and closed the door. Emily turned as the nurse locked it and handed her the key. See, safe and sound.

Wow, this definitely isn't a normal hospital.

She followed the nurse to the end of a small corridor and waited as she knocked before opening the door. Emily Squire is here.

A deep and raspy, yet tender voice answered, Show her in

I'll be back in ten minutes with her blood results. The nurse stepped back, smiled and allowed her to enter.

Won't you come in?

Emily watched as a tall, slim, confident man strode across the room and thrust out a huge hand that took hers and shook it.

Sit down, sit down. I imagine this is a shock to you.

She blushed, then gave a nervous tug on the neck of her jumper, trying in vain to lessen her hot flush.

Amazing hospital, isn't it? Built as a private facility, it attracted some very impressive clientele, the rooms and facilities are superb. Today the NHS part own us, but it doesn't mean we treat anyone different. Everyone gets the same level of care. It's why we're a top establishment.

Emily studied her new consultant. Never hearing a doctor speak with such passion about a hospital before. His pride seemed genuine of the care he provided.

He smiled to melt her obvious apprehensions. I can see from your file you've been managing your kidney disease well, over the last few years. He opened the folder and flicked through the paperwork. You have one of the largest files I've seen for a long time. He looked up at her, with wonderment shining across his face, then lowered his gaze, back to the file.

She half smiled back, unsure of the man before her. Doctors didn't have big hearty laughs or a sense of humour. They were a cold species, aloof from the normal world. I suspect it's not the entire file you have there.

No, you're right. Can I call you, Emily? Is it okay? She nodded. The rest went to our on-site records facility last week, but not before I read your case, it intrigued me. The cases I see are for much older people and it seemed odd, you being so young.

Emily blushed for the second time in his company.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant nothing. He stuttered as he tried to apologise. I meant I've never treated a patient my age with these kinds of problems. A knock at the door broke his explanation. Good, results.

The nurse entered, smiled at Emily and handed Mr. Anderson her test results before retreating out of the room.

Not bad, not bad at all, he said studying the print out. You have elevated potassium levels but not to worry we can fix it. He slotted the printout into the top of the folder, closed it and rested his hands-on top. Right, first things first, we should send you for an MRI scan then we can get a clearer picture, and after that we'll hook you up for some dialysis. When I have the scan results, I'll have a further chat with you.

You mean tomorrow or next week? she asked and pressed her hands into her lap.

No, no, they'll take a few hours. Around here we like to do things straight away. He walked around the desk and held his hand out to help her from the chair.

As she stood, she gazed into his eyes, which were dull and icy cold. For a man who oozed caring and humility, it seemed odd and confusing. He walked through his office door without a second glance.

Mr Anderson walked past the nurse's station looking around until he caught the gaze of one of the duty nurses. I'm taking Emily down to MRI suite, back in five minutes.

Emily followed him through a few doors and along a long corridor that looked the same as the last, trying to take careful note of the route.

He saw her looking at the signs on the wall. It's easy to find your way back. We're on the same level, just tucked away in the corner. His hand gestured along the corridor. You can't get too lost. All the corridors branch off one central one and we are at the end of the central one.

His raspy voice made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Emily gave him a half smile in acknowledgement, she understood. Here we are. He opened the door allowing Emily to enter first.

The MRI tech looked up from his computer and smiled. What do you need, Stuart?

Can you get me a complete kidney series for my new patient?

Sure, and you want them as soon as possible. The tech laughed and looked across at Emily. You can get changed in there. He pointed to the door that faced them.

Thanks. Emily returned his smile before walking away to change.

In the room, she found shelves stocked with new gowns of all shapes and sizes. Emily located one that would fit and opened the packet. As she changed, she heard her consultant and the technician laughing. As she exited the changing room, she pulled the gown around to cover herself unsure if the laughter was about her.

Ahh you're ready. Okay, I'll leave you to do the tests and I'll see you when we have the results.

Emily smiled at her consultant as he left the room, but he didn't look back. She climbed up onto the tray and followed the tech's instructions to lay still and enjoy the ride.

Music wafted above Emily's head to keep her occupied while the scanner ran its many passes over her body, but her mind drifted elsewhere. Mr. Anderson confused her, even unnerved her. All her previous consultants were older, father figures and knew how to use it to their advantage when telling her how best to manage her disease. He seemed nice enough, but something brewed beneath his professional outer shell. It wasn't anything he said or the way he said it, just something about him. Maybe he didn't like young patients or treating someone his own age had affected him.

She lay in the scanner for almost half an hour and the more she thought of him, the more she saw him as a man and not a doctor. His tall rugged looks worked well for him, handsome in his own way and his hearty laugh made her smile, but the coldness of his eyes left her wondering. Oh, what the heck, she whispered to herself. Let's give it a chance, new hospital, a new start. So, what if he has a movie star smile with cold eyes. There's more to him than his eyes. The more she dwelled on it, the more she convinced herself. Her combined feelings were nothing more than nerves, new environments and handsome doctors. The MRI tray juddered and trundled out of the machine interrupting her pondering.

All done, you can get dressed and head back to the clinic and I'll sort out the results, assured the technician.

Slowly she sat up and swung her legs from the tray.

Ten minutes later, she walked through the doors to the clinic looking for her room. After finding the right door, she unlocked it and went inside to finish organising her stuff.

After a short time, a nurse pushed a dialysis machine into the room. Emily lay on the bed watching the local evening news. Do you need a hand? She chuckled watching her struggle with the cumbersome contraption.

No. Not at all, I can manage, the nurse replied as she plugged the dialysis machine into the wall and programmed the settings. You are to have six hours and we'll connect your left arm for three hours and then swap to your right. Sound to okay you?

Yeah, sounds fine.

The nurse picked up the two tubes and connected them via catheters and needles to Emily's arm. She covered the needles with tape and started the process of cleaning Emily's blood. Okay, I'll be back to check on you in a little while and bring you some dinner. Just buzz if you need anything.

Emily lay back on the bed, remote control in her hand, flicking between the multitudes of channels on the TV. Her arm always itched for the first hour of dialysis and she fought the urge to scratch. As the area numbed, she fell asleep.

***

Stuart sat behind his large desk, flicking the keyboard keys, looking at each set of results. Mmm, he murmured, then turned to the paper notes stored in a folder on his desk. For my first solo patient you're a mixed bag Emily.

He pushed his chair back, stood and lifted his empty coffee cup off the end of his desk. He walked out into the small urology unit and looked around. The nurses were busy going into individual patient rooms and although he could hear the beeps of dialysis machines, he smiled at the stillness of the unit.