Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way (4 page)

‘He was…what…fifteen years old then?’

‘About that.’

‘So what does a fifteen-year-old brother know? He was probably hurt.’

‘I’ve sent my family Christmas and birthday cards every year, but never got one back.’

‘Maybe they didn’t know what to say?’

‘How about “To Eden. Merry Christmas from your parents”?’

‘Did they know where to send them?’

‘They had the address of the agency.’

‘Maybe things didn’t get through to you?’

‘The agency always passes on mail to staff. All of Sasha’s letters and cards made it through. Besides, I was in Darwin at medical school for a lot of that time, and although I was working in the Outback during vacations they still could have contacted me.’

‘Stop avoiding the question, Eden. Are you going to see them or not?’

‘I don’t know,’ she huffed, and crossed her arms defensively over her chest. ‘And stop being on their side. You were my friend first.’

‘This isn’t about sides, Eden.’

She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. Finally she looked at David and shrugged. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘You must have known this question would arise when you decided to come back.’

‘Yes, of course. But honestly, David, if I’d allowed myself to focus on that I might not have come. I’m here for Sasha. First and foremost.’

‘No one’s disputing that, but what’s stopping you from healing this old wound? You’ve locked your family away in a box marked “DO NOT TOUCH”. It’s not healthy for them to stay there for the rest of your life.’

He had a point. What he didn’t know was that she had a box with his name on it marked ‘DO NOT TOUCH’ as well, and yet here she was, sitting opposite him, drinking in the sight of him, allowing herself to be swayed by him. He’d always been able to make a convincing argument, and she had a feeling he wasn’t going to let this one drop.

The worry, the concern and the repressed pain were clearly evident on her face. ‘I don’t know if I’m strong enough to handle more rejection from them.’ She dropped her hands, dejection overcoming her with force. ‘My father kicked me out, David. He told me to leave and to never come back.’

‘He’s changed, Eden.’ David came around the desk, but still kept a clear distance between them. ‘You’re so driven, so focused, and you are always there for others. Be there for
them
.’ His words were deep, imploring. ‘Apart from all of that, I’ve already told you that you are the strongest woman I know.’

She sighed and gave him a small smile. ‘And I thought that was because I used to beat you at arm wrestling.’

He matched her grin. ‘I used to let you win.’

Her smile increased, her tension starting to dissipate. ‘I know.’

David paused, his tone encouraging. ‘See them, Eden. Perhaps now is the time to put the past behind you? To start afresh?’

‘Next you’ll be saying that life is too short to have regrets.’

‘It is.’

‘Do you have regrets?’

‘Who doesn’t?’

‘I mean about me.’ Eden’s heart started pounding fiercely against her chest as she spoke. Could he see she wasn’t joking around or teasing this time? Could he feel that she needed some sort of reassurance? He’d rejected her and it had hurt. Then he’d left, adding even more pain and guilt to the rejection she’d suffered.

David was silent, and she was about to tell him to forget it when finally he answered. ‘Of course I do. But we were both so young.’

‘You still rejected me, David. Rejection is never easy to handle. First you, then my family. Oh, I’d been used to being on the outside at school, in fact, ever since my parents moved to the “money” suburb after their lottery win, but rejection, especially at such a young and impressionable age, hurts.’

‘I tried to let you down as gently as I knew how.’

‘By leaving me? By cutting yourself off?’

‘If I wasn’t around, I knew it would protect both of us from heading in a direction which was—’

‘Oh, you don’t need to explain. I understand now, being older, but still, rejection is never easy to deal with. I would have gone completely around the bend if it hadn’t been for Sasha. She was the only one, still
is
the only one, who’s always been there for me. It’s why I needed to come back. She needs me and I’m here.’

‘Yet you didn’t make it to her wedding.’

‘We’ve discussed this, David.’ There was a warning in her tone, a warning not to push her, but he needed to know.

‘Not really, Eden. I still don’t understand why you didn’t come. It makes no sense. Too busy helping others? Researching? Writing papers? Couldn’t that have waited? Your best friend got married and she wanted you there.’

‘Sasha understood.’

‘So you say.’

‘No, David. Sasha
really
understood.’

‘Then explain it to me.’

‘I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. I’ve been on enough of an emotional roller-coaster for one day and I don’t need another turn.’ She walked towards the door, eager to put some distance between them—for when he looked at her with such cold confusion Eden’s heart started to break. She was far too vulnerable right now to discuss such a topic with him. Not only because it had been one of the darkest times in her life, but because she’d no doubt end up in tears again.

‘I should get back and check on Sasha, or at least chat to Robert if Sasha’s sleeping. He’s so perfect for her.’ Eden’s smile came naturally when she thought about the way Robert and Sasha looked at each other. Along with that smile came a natural yearning to one day experience that sort of love. Would she ever find the right man? Was he standing right in front of her?

She was changing the subject and David let her, but hopefully she’d realise he wasn’t going to let the subject drop. It was important to him. He needed to understand, because not turning up for her best friend’s wedding had been so unlike the Eden he thought he’d know. He didn’t want to think he’d misjudged her character, that the young woman he’d distanced himself from was someone very different deep down inside. It was for that reason alone that he was determined to discover the real reason why she hadn’t been there to share in Sasha’s special day.

‘Yes, he’s good for Sasha. Loves her one hundred percent.’

‘It’s so rare to find that happily-ever-after, and I’m so glad it happened for Sasha. I know they’ve got a long and difficult road ahead of them, but I honestly believe they’ll make it.’

David agreed. ‘Rob’s a patient man. He’ll stand by her.’

Eden smiled. ‘Must be good that he has your approval. Good for Sasha, I mean. Your opinion means so much to her.’

‘Does it mean anything to you?’

‘Your opinion?’ Eden was a little surprised at the question. ‘Of course. I value your opinion, David. I always have.’ Didn’t the man have
any
idea of the influence he’d had on her life? She had measured every other man she’d come across against David. He was her yardstick, and so far no one had ever come close to matching him in integrity, in honesty, in ethics or principles, and of course looks and sex appeal. David definitely had those last two in spades.

‘Well…that’s nice to know. Hopefully you’ll trust me enough to tell me why you didn’t make it back for the wedding.’

Eden’s sigh was heavy and she gripped the door handle a little tighter. ‘It’s not that I don’t trust you, David. It’s just that…’ She knew he wasn’t going to let it go. He wanted an answer and he would eventually drag one from her. He was a man who, once he decided on something, usually followed through.

She rubbed at her temple with her free hand. ‘It’s just that it was a
very
difficult time in my life. But as I said, I’ve had enough emotion for now, and bringing it up would only make me upset again. I’d no doubt end up back in your arms and then we’d have to fight this…’ she waved her hand about to indicate the space between them ‘…this chemistry thing which still exists between us. I don’t have the energy for that. You say you’ve read my papers. Read them again, David, and this time read between the lines.’

It wasn’t the answer he’d been expecting, and seeing the hint of raw pain and anguish in her eyes made him feel uneasy. He shouldn’t have pushed so hard, so fast.

David nodded. ‘I’ll do that.’

‘OK.’ She opened the door, but stopped halfway through it. ‘Oh, and I’m sorry about before. The crying thing.’

‘No need to apologise. I understand.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Feeling stronger?’

Eden smiled, but it wasn’t like the other smiles which had touched her eyes, and he knew he was the one who had taken that glow from her earlier spark. ‘Back to my old self.’

‘Heaven help us.’ He rolled his eyes heavenward. ‘Go see Sasha.’

He kept his encouraging smile in place until she’d gone, but the instant he was alone he closed his eyes and shook his head. Why did the woman affect him so much? She’d been here for less than an hour and already he was so tied up in knots he’d need a steamroller to squash them out. And then he’d gone and pushed her. He’d wanted to know, and all she’d left him with was a cryptic message and a sadness around her eyes.

He recalled numerous times when she had sent him out to collect petition signatures for one lost cause or another…and he’d done it. He also remembered one occasion where she’d taken himself and Sasha to an old quarry mine simply to rescue a stray kitten she’d seen entering the dangerous zone. She’d been wild and adventurous and had really made him believe that one person, one voice,
could
make a difference in the world. Now…he’d upset her.

He opened his eyes and raked a hand through his hair. ‘Nice going, Montgomery.’ He walked around to his chair and sat, looking at the empty seat opposite him. Her scent still lingered in the air and the memory of how perfect she’d felt in his arms was potent. Just like before. Eden Caplan, the girl who had made him laugh, made him take a step out of his comfort zone, made him see her in a whole new light.

He knew it was inevitable that when a person grew up and had varying experiences in their life that it would change them. Sure, she still portrayed the same carefree Eden on the surface—but what was beneath the surface? A woman with scars? A woman who’d been through something that brought pain and anguish into her beautiful emerald-green eyes at the mere mention of it?

David stood and went to the bookshelf, pulling down the two volumes of paediatric journals he knew contained Eden’s published papers.

He had no need to consult the index, flicking to the page almost automatically. He’d read the articles a few times and he’d been impressed and proud of her brilliance, glad she’d put that amazing intellect of hers to good use.

One of the papers was on the specialised care of underdeveloped children in an unsterilised environment, which he knew she’d encountered daily during her work overseas in Third World countries, but it was another article he wanted, about an unusual epidemic which had resulted in over twenty unexplained deaths. The paper cited the signs and symptoms as well as the probable causes. It was a well-formulated and well-written paper, giving information in the matter-of-fact way that was required for journal publications. Emotions weren’t put on the page, but Eden had told him to read between the lines.

Although Eden was listed as the primary author of the paper, several of her colleagues’ names appeared as well. He’d initially presumed she’d come across this information second-hand and decided to publish it for the common good, which was so typically Eden, but David now realised he’d been mistaken.

‘She
lived
this.’ The shocked words were whispered into the cold silence of his office. He read the article again, taking particular note of the statistics in which twenty children, ranging from one to seven years of age, had died before the cause of the epidemic had been discovered.

Eden had been the one trying to save those little lives. He knew it because he knew her. She would give and give and keep on giving everything she had to any cause other people classified as lost. She rooted for the underdog. She worked hard to lift the oppressed. Eden had been the one fighting for the lives of those children, and those twenty deaths would have weighed heavily on her heart.

The time she’d made him and Sasha help her look for the lost kitten in the quarry had shown him how closely she felt loss. They’d eventually found the kitten after dark, all of them using searchlights in a fenced-off area, but the poor animal had already died.

Eden hadn’t said a word, but had lifted the creature and cradled it in her arms while they’d carried it back to her house. He’d dug a hole and they’d buried it in the backyard. She’d been solemn and sincere, saying a few brief words once he’d finished covering the small mound with dirt. Her younger brother Todd had found her grief funny, but that had been more due to his immature age than anything else.

Once the deed had been done, David and Sasha had left, but later that night he’d heard his sister on the phone, consoling a broken-hearted Eden, and he’d realised then just how deeply senseless loss affected the beautiful girl with the expressive eyes and gorgeous red hair.

Realising she’d witnessed the death of all those children, been unable to ‘fix’ them, and no doubt been with the families when the small mounds had been covered, made tears spring to his eyes.

If this was the reason Eden hadn’t made it back for Sasha’s wedding then he
did
understand. Just as Sasha had. He also understood why Eden wouldn’t want to discuss it. Something so deep, so tragic and unnecessary—and she would have taken it all on as her fault. As doctors, they all lost patients now and then, and they coped with that. They’d been trained to cope. But twenty children? All at once? All with the same signs and symptoms…with more to follow? His heart ached for Eden and the empathic pain he knew she would have experienced.

David shook his head, disgusted with himself for pushing her. He now had his answer and he knew he needed to apologise. It was also a relief to realise he hadn’t misjudged her. Eden missing Sasha’s wedding had surprised him, but he should have trusted her to have had a good reason. It did appear that in essentials Eden Caplan hadn’t changed at all.