The Consultant's New-Found Family. Kate Hardy

you go?’ Ally, the receptionist, asked, looking hassled.

      It wasn’t as if Lisa had anything more pressing lined up than a workout at the gym, a long bath and then a good film. It wouldn’t matter if she stayed a bit later. ‘Sure,’ she said with a smile, and took the proffered notes.

      She saw several patients; when the queue had started to die down, she was finishing her paperwork and thinking about leaving when she overheard Ally saying, ‘I’m sorry, Dr Mortimer’s with a patient. I’ll get a message to him as soon as I can.’

      ‘When can I see him?’

      ‘It depends on the patient,’ Ally said. ‘Please, take a seat. I’ll call you as soon as I can.’

      ‘But I need to see Joel now,’ the woman insisted. ‘It’s really important.’

      There was a note of almost panic in the woman’s voice. It sounded as if something was wrong, and maybe Joel was the only doctor she trusted.

      Lisa could understand that. When she’d been panicking on the icy hill, Joel had been the one to calm her down. But rescuing was what she was trained to do, too. Maybe she could help.

      She walked over to the reception desk. ‘Excuse me, I couldn’t help overhearing you just now. I’m one of Joel’s colleagues. Can I help at all?’

      The woman shook her head. ‘Thanks, but I have to see Joel.’

      Desperation etched the other woman’s face and Lisa felt for her. ‘I’ll see what I can do. Can I give him any idea what it’s about?’

      The woman sagged with relief. ‘My mum’s ill. I need to get over to her right now and I can’t take Beth with me. Joel was meant to be collecting her. It’s not usually a problem if he’s late or he’s been called out on a shout, but right now…’

      Beth.

      Lisa noticed the little girl standing next to the woman, holding her hand. A very feminine version of Joel, albeit with stunning deep blue eyes and a rosebud mouth she’d probably inherited from her mother. The rest of her colouring was pure Joel—alabaster skin and long near-black hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She was still wearing her school uniform; she was biting her lower lip and shuffling from foot to foot, clearly feeling she was a nuisance. Lisa’s heart went out to her.

      ‘Look, Joel’s probably not going to be that long.’ He’d been due off shift at the same time as she had been—a good hour ago. ‘I’ll sit with Beth, if you like, until he’s free.’

      The woman looked torn between gratitude and reluctance.

      Lisa smiled and proffered her ID card. ‘I’m Dr Lisa Richardson. And I won’t run off with young Beth. Ally’ll vouch for me—won’t you, Ally?’

      The receptionist nodded. ‘Course I will.’

      ‘Well, if you’re sure.’ The woman still looked doubtful.

      Lisa crouched down so she was at eye level with the little girl. ‘Beth, my name’s Lisa and I work with your daddy. Would you like me to read you some stories while your daddy’s making somebody better?’

      Beth nodded shyly.

      The woman paused for a moment, then sighed. ‘Thank you. Beth, your daddy will be here soon. Be good for Dr Richardson, OK?’

      Beth nodded again, then bit her lip. ‘Hannah, is your mummy going to die like mine did?’

      Hannah must be the childminder, Lisa thought. And she looked very close to tears: clearly she was worried sick about her mother.

      ‘Hey, not everyone dies when they’re poorly,’ Lisa said gently. ‘Doctors can do a lot to make people better. That’s what your daddy does.’

      ‘He couldn’t make my mummy better,’ Beth said, matter-of-factly.

      Ouch. ‘But he makes lots of people better,’ Lisa said.

      ‘My mum’s not going to die,’ Hannah said. ‘She’s just not very well and I have to go to her.’

      Lisa smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll look after Beth until Joel’s free. She’ll be fine with me.’ She stood up and held her hand out to Beth. ‘Shall we go and wait in your daddy’s office?’ It would be quieter there, and the little girl would be protected from any traumatic scenes in the reception area.

      Beth nodded.

      ‘Ally, when Joel comes out, can you tell him where we are, please?’

      ‘Sure,’ Ally said with a smile.

      ‘OK, Beth. Let’s choose a story.’ She let Beth pick a couple of books from the box in the reception area, collected her handbag from her locker, then led the little girl through to Joel’s office. She read the story, encouraging Beth read some of the easier words and talking through the pictures with her. As they neared the end of the book, Beth became less shy with her and eventually remarked, ‘Your hair’s really spiky.’

      Lisa smiled. ‘Yes. Short hair makes life easier at work. But when I was your age, I had long hair like yours.’

      ‘Did you have a ponytail, too?’

      Lisa nodded. ‘Though sometimes my mum used to put it in plaits before I went to bed, so it was wavy the next day.’