One Kiss in Tokyo... (15 page)

It was definitely Avery. He was slumped halfway against the back wall and the side of one of the machines. His eyes looked half-glazed. She crouched down. ‘Avery? Are you okay?'

She reached forward and touched his hand. He looked up.

Those eyes. Those pale green eyes that had mesmerised her right from the beginning. Those confident, cocky pale green eyes that seemed to both taunt her and flirt with her at the same time. They didn't look like that tonight.

She flung her bag to the side and knelt on the floor. ‘Avery? What's wrong?' She shuffled a little towards him. His permanently too-long hair was ruffled in every direction but the right one. ‘Honey?'

His eyes connected with hers. He looked exhausted. Completely exhausted.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. ‘What's wrong?'

He shook his head. ‘Nothing.' Then gave her a dopey smile as he lifted up his other hand and shrugged. ‘Everything. I was hungry. I just came in here to find some food. That's what I was doing when I found Lily.'

She froze. It was the way he'd said her name. She got it. She really got it.

‘Come on, Avery. You're exhausted. It's been a horrible shift for us all. But you were the doctor in charge. Everything was on your shoulders.' She reached forward and ran her fingers through his hair. ‘You need to get some sleep.'

She pulled at his arm a little more, bringing him closer to her.

He gave his head a shake. ‘I just sat down for a second.'

She smiled. ‘I know. I get it. I've been there. But let's go. This isn't the best place to hang out.'

He pushed himself up and she grabbed hold of him. ‘Do you have any food in the house?'

He frowned and then nodded, giving her a curious look. ‘Why?''

She touched his cheek. ‘Because I'm going to make you something to eat.'

He paused and let out the longest breath. ‘Kat—'

She held up her hand. ‘Whatever it is, it can wait. You did good today. We all did good.'

He shook his head, then spun around unexpectedly and took a kick at one of the vending machines. It rocked backwards and forwards for a few seconds.

He didn't shout but the voice that came out was one of pure and utter frustration. ‘I didn't! Why didn't I notice something was wrong with Lily? What if I hadn't walked into the coffee room when I did? She'd vomited. She could have choked. Anything could have happened.' The worry lines on his forehead were so deep and she could practically see the thoughts churning around his head. Both hands pushed against the glass of the machine, then his head sagged down against it.

She was stunned. She'd never seen him like this. The whole time she'd been in that resus room she'd been giving silent prayers of thanks that Avery was the doctor on duty. She trusted him. She had faith in him.

She reached out and touched his shoulder.

‘Well, if you missed it, so did her obstetrician. So did I. So did Frank. So did Samuru. So did everyone on duty tonight. And so did Lily. You heard Dr Tanaka. He thinks it was very rapid onset. It can happen.' She pulled him around to face her and clasped his hand. ‘I heard you. I heard you tell Dr Tanaka that you'd only delivered two babies in the last seven years. You were totally out of your comfort zone tonight and I think I was the only one that noticed.'

He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘You have no idea how much I was out of my comfort zone. And it's ridiculous. I've treated bomb injuries. Even though I'm not a surgeon I've ended up in Theatre more times than I care to remember. I've seen hundreds of kids even though I'm not a paediatrician. If I had a dollar for every MI or chest infection I've diagnosed, I'd be a millionaire. But obstetrics?' He shook his head. ‘I've hardly seen any cases.' He paused for a moment. ‘Lily spoke to me last week about how happy she was and how much she was looking forward to this baby. She couldn't wait to be a mother. When I thought that might slip away today and it was all in my hands...'

He stared off into the distance. Katsuko put her arms around his neck, staring up into his eyes. She kept her voice low. ‘When you shouted me through to the coffee room and I saw Lily fitting on the floor I thought I was going to be sick. When you didn't find a heartbeat straight away I thought I was going to be sick again. When Dr Tanaka said he was over an hour away I wanted to cry.'

His gaze met hers. There it was. The flash of recognition in his eyes. He nodded in appreciation, then said slowly, ‘But this is our job, Katsuko. This is the life that we've chosen. I just hate it that I didn't know everything in there.'

He looked so racked with guilt that her heart squeezed. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, her lips coming into contact with his stubbled jaw. ‘Avery, I'm sure I've heard of HELLP syndrome but I could barely remember what to do. I heard you. You spoke to the obstetrician straight away and were completely honest with him. The treatment you'd started was correct. You did nothing wrong. Lily was in good hands. Lily was in safe hands. That first hour was crucial.'

He ran his fingers through his hair again. ‘But what if she ends up in organ failure? It's still a possibility. She isn't out of the woods yet.'

Katsuko nodded. ‘I know she isn't, but if we go upstairs now we'll just get in the way. Blake told us all to go home. That's what we need to do.'

His stomach growled loudly in protest and she let out a laugh and threaded her fingers through his. She was a nurse. She was used to taking care of people. But she wasn't on air force time now. She was on her own. And this was the first time she'd been absolutely sure about her next step.

Avery wasn't dating her because she was the General's daughter. Avery wasn't looking for promotion. Avery wasn't trying to win friends and influence people. Avery was just a guy, trying to do the best job that he could.

And it was quite possible she loved him for it.

‘How about a little company?'

He blinked. Then his gaze narrowed a little as if he was trying to work out what she was saying. ‘What kind of company?'

She licked her lips and met his gaze. She wasn't embarrassed. It didn't feel awkward. It felt completely natural.

‘Overnight company.' Her words were assured.

He put his hands on her hips and leaned back a little. ‘Katsuko, did you just proposition me?'

He was teasing her again. He was starting to get back to normal.

She stood on tiptoe. ‘So, what if I did?'

He grinned. ‘What if you get seen leaving the Captain's house first thing in the morning?'

She placed her hands on his chest. ‘I've no intention of being seen leaving the Captain's house first thing in the morning. I'm planning on sleeping late and having breakfast in bed.'

He slipped his arm around her waist as they started walking back along the corridor. ‘What do you eat for breakfast?'

She slapped his arm. ‘Eggs. You'd better have some.'

He stopped walking and pulled a face. ‘Oops.'

‘And obviously I'll want my favourite coffee.'

‘I don't think I can whip up a skinny vanilla latte with my poor kitchen supplies.'

‘What exactly do you have in your cupboards and fridge?'

He smiled. ‘I have some sushi, a can of beans and some beer.'

She shook her head and wagged her finger at him. ‘Watch out. I expect to get exactly what I want.'

He picked her up and twirled her round. The twinkle in his eye that she was used to was back. ‘I'm sure I'll be able to give you exactly what you want.'

‘Promises, promises.' She pushed open the door. ‘How about a wager?'

He raised his eyebrow. ‘I like the sound of that. What's the wager?'

She looked around. ‘Oh, I've left my jacket by the vending machine. Can you grab it?'

‘Sure,' he said. He walked back down the corridor quickly and she didn't even try to hide her smile.

‘Avery, the wager?'

He bent to pick up her jacket. ‘Yes?'

‘Last one back to your place has to do the coffee run in the morning.'

And with that she winked and raced out into the dark night.

CHAPTER NINE

‘C
APTAIN
F
LYNN
,
WILL
you report to the Major General's office, please?'

Avery nearly choked on the cup of coffee that he'd just taken a drink from.

‘Of course. I'll be there directly.'

He stood up and looked around. He was dressed in scrubs so he'd need to change into his uniform.

He stuck his head around the door of Blake's office. ‘Blake, I've been told to go to the General's office.'

Blake looked up. It was obvious he was trying not to grimace. ‘Any idea what about?'

Avery shook his head. ‘Not a clue.'

Except for the fact I've been seeing his daughter ever since I got here.

Everyone knew. They didn't even try to hide it. Katsuko had stayed over at his house on more than one occasion. The last month had been a steep learning curve. He'd learned how to make her the coffee she liked. He'd learned not to wash her delicate underwear with his uniforms. He'd learned that she mumbled in her sleep. But most of all he'd learned just how much he enjoyed being around her. She was feisty. She was smart. And loved to laugh. And sometimes she was vulnerable.

If he was working a shift and she wasn't on duty he'd started to look at the clock and count the minutes until he could see her again. Part of him wanted to tread warily—he'd never really been like this before. But the other part of him just wanted to enjoy it.

‘Better hurry along, then,' quipped Blake. ‘I'll cover your patients.'

It only took five minutes to change, then another ten to walk across the base to the General's office. He was a grown man having an adult relationship with a grown woman. So why did he feel like a teenage boy?

He'd never actually met the General. Katsuko had made a few vague noises about them meeting at some point but it hadn't been an issue he'd laboured. He just hadn't expected to get called to the General's office.

There was no way he was going to act nervous. He pushed his shoulders back and held his head high as he entered.

The General's secretary looked up and smiled. ‘Captain Flynn? Good. I have something for you.'

She stood up and walked to a table behind her and picked up a large envelope.

Avery glanced at the General's door. It was closed. No sounds. Maybe he wasn't even in?

The secretary held out a log book for him to sign. She handed the envelope over with a rueful look. ‘It seems like this has taken a while to get to you. It seems to have been halfway around the world.'

She wasn't kidding. His name and rank, along with various base addresses, had been crossed out and rewritten on the front of the ragged envelope.

He looked at the return address. An attorney firm in New York. He'd never heard of them. There was an uneasy pang in his stomach. Was he being sued for something? Doctors did get sued for malpractice, but he'd never had any complaints raised.

He held up the envelope. ‘Is this it?'

The secretary smiled and nodded. ‘That's it, Captain.' She sat back down in her chair and carried on working.

Part of him was relieved. The General didn't want to see him at all. It was nothing to do with the General.

He walked outside and tore open the envelope, pulling out the papers inside.

As executors of the estate of the late Stuart Elijah Flynn, we are acting on behalf of our client, previously undeclared dependant Mary Elizabeth Flynn...

Who?

It was like a blast from the past. No one brought up Uncle Stuey's name any more—only him. His eyes scanned the rest of the letter. There. A date of birth. A daughter? Uncle Stuey had had a daughter? Since when?

He kept reading. According to this letter—which had taken nearly a year to reach him—Uncle Stuey had fathered a child twenty years ago in Brazil. It appeared that the daughter had only found out who her father was when her mother had become unwell and had since put in a claim on the estate.

What estate?

There was also a request for a DNA sample from himself to assist verification of the familial links.

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe a single word of it. The one person in his family he'd actually respected. The one person he'd actually looked up to had refused to acknowledge the birth of his daughter.

He could feel fury build inside him as he stalked back towards the ER.

‘Avery! Avery! What are you doing? I thought you were on duty?'

Katsuko came running up behind him, her hair pulled back from her face and her swimming bag on her shoulder.

‘I am.' He kept walking.

‘Hey,' she said, tugging at his arm. ‘What's wrong?'

He paused and thrust the letter towards her. ‘It seems that Uncle Stuey had a daughter he'd never acknowledged. She's put a claim on his estate.'

‘What?' Katsuko looked horrified. She started to scan the letter but couldn't stop the barrage of questions. ‘How do you know he never acknowledged her?'

‘Well, I've never actually heard of her.'

Katsuko screwed up her face. ‘When was she born? Twenty years ago? How long is it since your uncle died?'

Avery stopped walking. ‘Just short of twenty years ago.'

‘Then did he even know about her?'

Avery took a breath. That hadn't even occurred to him—probably because he hadn't been thinking straight.

‘Brazil? Was that one of the places your uncle visited? And how do you even know she's your uncle's daughter?' Her voice climbed in pitch and she stopped walking. ‘They want you to do a DNA test?'

She shook her head. ‘Avery, this is crazy.'

He pulled his hat off his head. ‘I know. I can't believe it. Uncle Stuey was the one person I thought had got life right.'

Katsuko wrinkled her nose. ‘Even though he “acquired” artefacts he probably shouldn't have?'

It was a valid question. And one that he'd spent most of his life ignoring. He waved his hand. ‘I've never really looked into all that. I was young at the time. And my father has never wanted to discuss the details of what Uncle Stuart really did. I only have what I can remember.'

‘Then let me ask the key question.'

‘What's that?'

‘The estate. This is all about inheritance. Did your uncle leave you anything and if he did, is there anything left?'

The realisation hit Avery like a bolt of lightning. Money. Of course. These were attorneys. This was actually about money.

He let out a laugh. ‘After all these years someone wants money from Uncle Stuart? Well, it's long gone. He left me some money to help pay for college and medical school. All I've got left now is his fedora.' He shook his head. ‘And I'm not handing that over to anyone.'

‘I don't get it. Isn't she far too late anyway? Doesn't the statute of limitations apply?'

Avery pointed to the bottom paragraph of the letter. ‘I have no idea. They're talking about a discovery rule and something about probate. It doesn't matter anyway. There's nothing to claim.'

Katsuko reached over and put her hand on his arm. ‘Then why are you getting so worked up over this?'

The tension that had been building inside him bubbled over. ‘Because of that!' He pointed at the letter. ‘The implication in it. It destroys the memory of the man that I knew. The only good memories I have of my family are the ones of Uncle Stuart. He was my one hope that I wouldn't grow up to be like my father or my mother. You know that old nature versus nurture debate?'

She nodded.

‘Well, I don't win on any count. Uncle Stuart was the last chance that the family genes might actually be okay.'

Katsuko took a deep breath and looked away. He hadn't meant to shout but he hated everything about this. He hated to be blindsided and this had been totally unexpected. No one had ever mentioned that Uncle Stuey had had any love interests. Avery couldn't ever remember his uncle talking about a girlfriend or anything like it. Everything had always been about the excitement of his job.

He frowned. But why would a grown man talk about adult relationships with a nine-year-old?

‘You know what?'

Katsuko's words snapped him away from his thoughts.

Her brown eyes were flashing. She looked mad. ‘I get it that you're annoyed about someone slighting your uncle. And I know that lots of families have issues. But you still have your parents—both of them. You still have a family that you could choose to fit into if you want to.'

Were those words supposed to make him feel guilty?

‘And you have the General. And your grandmother. But you don't want to visit her, do you?'

She stepped back as if she'd been stung.

He shook his head. ‘You have no idea what they're like, Katsuko. After ten minutes my father would probably be trying to date you, my mother would probably be trying to date Don, and my sister would be trying to con you into giving her a credit card.'

He threw up his hands. ‘I mean, what am I even doing here—with you? No one in my family has ever had a relationship that worked out. My father has been married four times—each marriage more ridiculous than the one before. Any day now he'll reach number five. My mother just looks for the next rich, eligible bachelor and my sister is going exactly the same way. Uncle Stuey was the only person who gave me hope—and now I wonder why. He didn't even have any relationships with anyone that I knew about.' He stopped dead and looked her straight in the eye. ‘I can't give you what you want, Katsuko. I can't give you what you need, or what you deserve. My family track record says it all. I'll be gone soon and you have a career to build. You can do better. You can do better than me. Go and find him.'

The words were out. He didn't want to mean any of them. But he had to be honest with her. He had to tell her what he was. What type of family he was a part of. What could he really offer her?

He wanted to be so much more than the sum of what he thought he was. Did genes really play a part in who you were? Could he ever hope to have any kind of loving, normal relationship?

She worried so much about fitting in. The truth was, it was the other way round. His family would never fit with the beliefs and ideals she had in her head.

He wasn't good enough for her. His family wasn't good enough for her.

Katsuko looked away. It was clear she was still upset. Her hands were shaking.

He hated himself right now. He wanted to put his arms around her and promise her that he would do his best for her. But would that ever be good enough? Right now, he wasn't sure.

She stared at the ground for a few seconds, then spoke quietly. ‘I guess you'd better get back to work.'

Silence filled the air between them. He'd been too blunt. He hadn't meant to hurt her. His mind flew back to that first night when she'd run her finger over the picture of her mother and father.

He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Look, I'm sorry.'

She gave a nod. ‘So am I.' And turned and strode away.

* * *

The words played on his mind for the rest of the day. He was mad with himself. It was almost as if he was trying to push her away. Why would he do that?

No matter what he did, he couldn't get Katsuko out of his head.

She was there. She was there to stay.

He'd met her grandmother. She was impossible. It didn't matter that he couldn't speak Japanese. The language she spoke was pretty universal.

There was no love or compassion in her eyes for her granddaughter. And Katsuko certainly hadn't acted like the
faiyakuraka
she was nicknamed after at work. In her grandmother's presence she was meek.

Some people might call it respectful, and in a way it was. But she shouldn't need to hide her personality and nature from her grandmother. He'd hated the expression in her eyes as she'd run after her grandmother. She was a nurse, caring was in her nature, being downtrodden was not.

He wondered if he'd experienced a little of what Katsuko's father and then Don had. It lit a little fire inside him.

His fists clenched as he sat at the computer screen at work. He shouldn't be wearing green scrubs, he should be dressed as a Neanderthal. That was how he felt. He wanted to protect her. Let her know how much she was valued. Let her know how much she was loved.

His hands sprang apart—the fists lost. His skin prickled and he looked down. This was the first time he wasn't looking forward to the end of a posting. In fact, he was secretly dreading the fact he didn't even know how long he'd be here. The commander of the medical service had already let him know that because of his willingness to step in at the last minute with no fuss or complaint, his next posting was his call. But did he really want to leave at all?

Katsuko had already spoken about looking at other postings. He should be excited for her—some of the places she was considering he'd already worked in. Now he was doing something he'd never done before. Instead of thinking about facilities and new experiences all the different bases had to offer, he was thinking about miles. And the distance that could be between them. And that was brand new for him.

He'd never tried a long-distance relationship. He'd never wanted to. But now, all of a sudden, it was definitely on his mind. Lots of colleagues in the forces had long-distance relationships. They had to. Families couldn't go to some bases. If husbands, wives or children had certain medical conditions it could mean they were deemed unsuitable to live in some bases with restricted facilities. Husbands, wives and families could be apart for months—and with his family history, what made him think he could even be cut out for that?

He hated these doubts. He hated feeling like this. He hadn't even sat down and had this conversation with Katsuko yet—the
What about the future?
conversation. It terrified him.