Dr. Sotiris's Woman by Margaret Barker

Author:Margaret Barker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

SAILING across from Nimborio Bay, Francesca leaned back against the side of the wooden seat, watching Manolis at the wheel. She felt as if she’d lived here on Ceres all her life. In the few weeks since she’d started work at the hospital she’d always enjoyed these early morning trips across the water.

What a way to start the day! Sun on her face, wind in her hair, cloudless blue sky…what more could she have wished for?

Only that life could go on for ever like this! The wonderful climate and friendly atmosphere of the people here on Ceres all contributed to her feeling of well being but the main source of happiness in her life now was her relationship with Sotiris. So long as she remembered not to look too far ahead, everything was sailing along wonderfully. Just like the Metcalfe family boat with Manolis at the helm was doing at the moment as it rounded the point leading into Ceres harbour.

During the past few weeks, Sotiris had engineered that they spent most of their days off duty together. It hadn’t gone unnoticed at the hospital, but that didn’t worry Francesca. There was no professional reason why they shouldn’t both be absent from the hospital at the same time. Sotiris always appointed a deputy when he wasn’t there and Francesca made sure there were doctors to cover her patients.

‘Will you need a lift home this evening, Francesca?’ Manolis asked, as he held the boat steady for her to alight onto the quayside.

Francesca smiled. ‘No, thanks, Manolis. I’ve got a half-day off duty, so I’ll make my own way home later this evening.’

‘Have a nice day!’

‘You too, Manolis.’

She’d become very fond of Manolis and Maria his wife since living at the Nimborio house full time. She’d known them for a few years now since they’d come to work at the house before Francesca’s father had actually bought it.

Francesca headed straight for the children’s’ ward as soon as she got into hospital. She was surprised to find that Sotiris was already there.

‘Kali mera, good morning, Dr Francesca,’ Sotiris said, in professional mode, fully aware that medical staff and patients were watching them.

Francesca smiled. It was strange to see the transition from the ardent lover Sotiris had been only hours before. ‘Kali mera. You’re in here early.’

‘Sister asked me to come and have a word with Makis. He didn’t want to eat his breakfast this morning and he didn’t sleep very well last night.’

Francesca sat down on the edge of Makis’s bed. Myeloid leukaemia had been confirmed by the tests she’d performed on Makis and she’d begun injecting the drug interferon alpha just under his skin. Some of the initial symptoms weren’t so bad now, but in the long term she knew she was going to have to instigate more radical treatment.

‘How are you feeling now, Makis?’ she said, reaching for the little boy’s hand. It felt much too cold.

‘I’m OK,’ he said, listlessly. ‘Just not hungry. I’m a bit fed up with being in hospital.

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