She turned to Sophie, who had managed to placate the baby. ‘Sophie, would you mind seeing if Dr Stuart is back? If he is, could you ask him to come in for a minute?’
‘What is it?’ Rhona was beginning to look anxious. ‘Why do you need Dr Stuart? I told you, a day or two’s rest, although how I am going to manage that is beyond me—is all I need. I don’t want you to go to any more trouble. I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is.’
Meagan was disappointed when Sophie returned without Cameron. Although she was pretty sure her diagnosis was correct, she wanted another opinion. And if she was right, she needed to arrange further tests.
‘Dr Stuart is still at the hospital. I’ve got him on the line, though,’ Sophie told Meagan.
Meagan excused herself to Rhona and went into Cameron’s room to take the call.
‘Hello, Meagan,’ he said without preamble. ‘You have a problem?’
Meagan quickly outlined her findings and then, with a slight hesitation, her fears.
‘I think she may have a tumour, Cameron. And she’s only 26—my age—with three young children.’ There. It was out. She had said it.
‘You could be right,’ Cameron said, his voice soft. ‘But there’s no point in imagining the worst until we know more. Send her along here for a chest X-ray. Ask her to come straight to the hospital and I can have a look at her before my visits this afternoon.’
‘Thank you. The sooner we know what’s going on, the better. I’ll come too. I’d like to see the X-ray.’
‘It’s your afternoon off. Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you once I’ve had a look at the film?’
Meagan shook her head before realizing he couldn’t see her.
‘If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather come to the hospital,’ she said, praying she wouldn’t have to argue with him. Rhona was her patient now.
‘Of course. I’d do the same in your shoes. I’ll see you shortly.’
Meagan hung up and went back to her patient. She explained about the X-ray.
‘Are you sure it can’t wait? You’re not worried about me, are you?’ Rhona managed a shaky laugh.
‘It could wait, but Dr Stuart is there now, so I see no reason for us to delay. Have you got your car? I could give you a lift, if you like.’ Rhona seemed to realise that Meagan was determined to get her to the hospital, and gave in with a weary smile.
‘Its OK, I’ll take mine. It has the baby seat. I’ll just phone my babysitter and let her know I’ll be late. You don’t think it will take too long, do you?’
As Meagan drove to the hospital she tried to swallow her anxiety. If she was right, what would the diagnosis mean to Rhona and her young family? It was the worst side of medicine, and the bit about general practice Meagan was beginning to realise she’d find the toughest—knowing the people you were about to deliver bad news to. She was already beginning to think of her patients as an extended family.
When she arrived at the hospital, she found Cameron in the emergency reception area, his dark head bent over patients’ notes. She watched him for a second. Strangely, she felt comforted knowing he was here and would be helping her look after her patient.
He looked up and, seeing her, stood and crossed the space between them. He brushed her shoulder with a hand as if he knew instinctively that she needed some reassurance.
‘Rhona’s arrived and is having her X-ray. She won’t be long, then we can have a look. But you do know there are a number of things it could be?’
Meagan took a deep breath and returned his look steadily. She didn’t want him to think she was the type of doctor who couldn’t remain professional at all times.
‘I know. But I did take a full history. And it’s not that I’m being over-cautious because of Robert Maclean.’ She couldn’t help but slide a glance in his direction.
‘You’re just being thorough. That’s good. But let’s just wait and see. Take it step by step.’ Cameron smiled down at her. ‘Shall we go and see if they are finished?’
Ten minutes later Cameron had Rhona’s X-ray up and Meagan’s heart sank. All over the chest were large white circles, indicative of tumours. She looked at Cameron, shocked. He was frowning, his mouth set in a grim line.
‘Looks like you were right. It seems pretty clear she has metastasis in her chest,’ he said. But Meagan felt no satisfaction at his words. She wished desperately that she had been wrong.
‘We need to talk to her,’ Cameron said.
‘I need to tell her,’ Meagan said quietly. ‘She’s my patient. Although how I’m going to tell a young woman with three small children that it looks as if she has a terminal illness is beyond me.’
Cameron looked thoughtful. ‘We’ll talk to her together. I’ve known Rhona for years. I delivered her last two babies. I wonder what the primary source of the tumours are? I’d like to examine her again.’
‘Why? What are you thinking?’
‘It’s a long shot, but you said she’d been nauseous. Has she missed a period?’
‘She said she’s not had a period since the birth of her baby. She’s been breastfeeding, so it’s understandable that she hasn’t, isn’t it? Are you thinking that she’s had a tumour through her last pregnancy and that the pregnancy accelerated its growth?’
‘No,’ Cameron said. ‘She was sterilised when she had her last baby. They did it at the time of her C-section. It’s something else. See these tumours—the size of them? They are referred to as cannonball tumours.’
Meagan was puzzled. She didn’t know where Cameron was going with his thinking.
‘I’m going to examine her. I’ll ask one of the nursing staff to do a pregnancy test.’
Meagan confusion deepened. Hadn’t he just said himself that Rhona couldn’t be pregnant? And what was the point in delaying talking to their patient? The sooner they spoke to her, the sooner she they could arrange for her to start treatment. It probably wouldn’t give her much more time, but every minute longer she had with her young children would be precious. She felt her throat close and she blinked away tears. However upset she felt, she didn’t want Cameron to see it. But it seemed she couldn’t hide her feelings quickly enough.
‘Hey,’ he said, ‘let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’ For a moment it looked as if he was going to reach out to her, but he let his hands drop to his side.
‘But she has three young children. How can any woman cope with the thought of leaving them? Why is life so cruel?’
‘We’ll do out best for her, Meagan. You picked it up, and at least she has a chance to prepare herself. Let’s go and see her and then we’ll talk again.’
Rhona was waiting in the consulting room, feeding her baby. The baby was sucking contentedly and the three adults watched as her eyes closed and she fell asleep.
‘Well?’ Rhona asked as she settled her child in her buggy. ‘Can I go?’
‘I’m afraid you can’t. Not yet at any rate,’ Cameron said gently.
‘Why? What is it?’ She looked at the two doctors. ‘What is it?’ she said again, her voice rising. ‘There’s something you’re not telling me. C’mon, Cameron Stuart. You’ve known me for years. You know I like straight talking.’ Despite her brave words, Meagan could hear the fear in her voice.
‘We found something