The Surgeon's Blade (10 page)

Robert looked embarrassed and turned to Libby apologetically. “They’re making it all up you know. I’ve only briefly mentioned you.”

Graham and Stephanie smiled. “Yeah, only in every other sentence. My wife is pleased that he’s finally met someone again who ca—”

“Hey, steady on. We don’t want Libby getting the wrong idea.” Robert turned to Libby. “Please don’t take any notice of them. They’re always trying to matchmake on my behalf.” He turned back towards his sister. “I forgot to tell you that Libby is engaged – to a surgeon from here as a matter of fact. We are just friends. Okay?”

“We’re not here to talk about me. How are you both?” Embarrassed by the personal conversation, Libby moved nearer the bed.

“I’m fine. It’s Stephanie who’s come off worse.”

“Thank you, Libby. I’m okay, a bit uncomfortable. I got a shock when I woke up in here. I’d never imagined I’d end up in ITU.”

“You’ll be moved into the main surgery ward after your op, I expect.” Libby said. “At the moment it’s full, which is probably why you’re here.”

“So they say. Anyway, it’s very kind of you to accompany my brother here today. He loathes hospitals. I’m only sorry we didn’t get to the concert, and you’ve missed it.”

“It’s only a concert, there’ll be plenty more,” Robert said.

“All the same, we’ll go to another one as soon as I’m able.” Stephanie stifled back a yawn.

Libby noticed Stephanie was getting tired. The shock and stress from the accident was taking its toll. It was time for them to leave her to rest.

“Thank you for coming. We’re so pleased to have met you. As soon as I’m home, Robert must bring you over for dinner one evening.”

Robert looked at Libby who nodded in agreement. “That would be lovely. Good luck with your surgery today. You’ll probably end up on my ward.”

Graham saw them to the door. He was patently worried about Stephanie, and Libby did her best to console him. Despite his size, she could see he was a gentle giant, and dearly loved his petite wife. “I don’t know how long she’ll stay in, but I promise to make sure my staff keeps a special eye on her if she comes on my ward.”

~~~~~

“When are you back at work, Libby?” Robert asked, once they were back on the road.

“I’m not sure, to be honest. At the moment, I’m enjoying my free time at home. Luckily, I have plenty of leave I can use, even if the hospital decides I’m well enough to go back in the next week or so.”

“That’s good.” Robert manoeuvred the car around a cyclist. “Why do they wobble so when you overtake them?”

“Mmm. I always find cyclists scary.”

“Thank you for coming with me today. I appreciated your company. As Steph said, I detest hospitals. It’s probably after watching my father die.”

“That must have been horrible.”

“Yes. Not only did he lose his memory, but he had the dreaded big C too.”

Libby flashed him a look of sympathy.

“Look, as we’ve missed the concert, and I do feel guilty about spoiling your fun, how about we go and have some dinner together? I know a great little Italian restaurant not far from here. You must be starving. I know I am.”

“That would be very nice, thank you.”

He gave a laugh, and Libby asked him what was so funny.

“Well, it seems despite your fiancé’s efforts, I am going to be allowed to take you out to dinner after all and without any manoeuvring on my part! Sorry, I’m being mischievous. I’d like to see his face though. He would not be amused.”

Libby smiled, but a small niggle of doubt crept inside her. What if Nigel returned home early? He didn’t even know she was supposed to be with Jem and Simon that day. She shrugged. It was her life and not his. She never knew what he got up to when he was away on business, and there had to some kind of trust between them. “Italian is one of my favourites.”

Chapter 9

Robert surprised Libby with his knowledge of food. The restaurant he had chosen was almost hidden down one of the back lanes of Southampton, and Libby certainly wasn’t aware of its existence. As they entered the establishment, the owner greeted Robert like an old friend, and she knew instantly that Robert was a frequent patron of Alfredo's.

Alfredo slapped Robert on the back with affection and then turned his black, beady eyes upon Libby. A delighted smile greeted her as he took in her elfin looks and slim curvy body.

“Signorina, I am delighted to meet you. But Roberto, she is bellissima! Where have you been hiding this bella donna? It is a long time since you brought a beautiful girl to my restaurant” Alfredo bent over, and his lips brushed her hand. “For you, I have the best table,” he whispered in her ear. “Discreet and secluded where no one can spy on you for your little romantic dinner, eh?” He beamed at them and indicated they follow.

Libby was amused at the little man’s antics and caught Robert’s eye as they sat down. With a flourish, Alfredo whisked the crisp white table napkins onto their laps, handed them menus and then proceeded to tell them about ‘tonight’s specials’.

“I have the special tagliatelle coi gamberi e asparagi, vongole in porchetta, and agnello alla siciliana. To start, may I suggest the Ligurian minestrone and to finish crostata di mandorle. I’ll leave you to look at the menu, and then I’ll be back for your order. A drink to start with, perhaps an aperitif?”

Libby knew little Italian and was thankful that Robert knew his way around the dishes. He consulted the wine list and ordered a classic Chianti, once he knew Libby preferred red wine.

“Robert, you’ll have to help me, as I don’t know much about Italian food apart from the usual pasta dishes. What do you suggest?” she whispered once they were alone.

“Alfredo was suggesting the minestrone soup to start with. How hungry are you?”

“Famished actually.”

“Okay then, we’ll start with that. I’ve had it before and it is delicious. You have a great choice of pasta, and all of it is made on the premises. The specials were, let me see…ah, here. He mentioned tagliatelle with prawns and asparagus, clams with herbs and wine, and Sicilian lamb. Personally, I love his trenette al pesto di noci, that’s pasta with walnut pesto. Trenette are typical of the cuisine in Liguria, which is where Alfredo comes from. For dessert, he suggested almond tart.”

Libby rolled her eyes as he explained. “It all sounds so fabulous. Decisions, decisions!”

“I’m going for the lamb, I think. Starting with the soup, then lamb, and if I’ve room, the tart.

Libby looked through the menu again. “I’ll take your recommendation and try the walnut pesto, as I’ve never had it before.”

Happy with her choice of dishes, Libby took time to look around the restaurant. The restaurant was almost full. When a woman entered and quietly asked for a table, Alfredo graciously showed her to one a little distance away from where Robert and Libby sat. With the glowing light from the flickering candles, Libby couldn’t make out the woman’s features. She only knew she was slim and blonde and obviously enjoyed red wine.
That could be me sitting there on my own,
Libby thought.

Alfredo poured the wine, and they sat back savouring the bold, dry and full-bodied Chianti while waiting for their food.

“This is a delicious wine,” she said after a few tentative sips. “As I mentioned earlier, I know nothing about Italian food or wine. Of course, I’ve been to quite a few restaurants and cheaper pizzerias, but this place is rather special.”

Robert nodded in agreement. “Alfredo is unique in Southampton. His father started the restaurant when he first came over from Italy. Alfredo was just a babe in arms then. Anyway, he eventually followed in his father’s footsteps, and now we have the best-kept secret in the city. I come here a lot.”

“I gathered as much. Do you cook much at home?”

“Yes. I have to feed myself. Besides, I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. What about you?”

Libby gave a sigh. “I’m not very good, I’m afraid. I never seem to have enough time to open a cookery book and make something different, let alone special. I make do with simple things like grills or one-pot meals. Did you teach yourself how to cook?”

“I did. Your grills and one-pot meals are okay. Not everyone has the inclination to spend lots of time in the kitchen. I just happen to enjoy it when I’m at home.” He looked reflective while telling her this, and she wondered if he had ever shared a kitchen with someone, someone who was close enough to matter.

There was a pause before he continued. “Of course you can always come round and try my cuisine,” he said giving her a mischievous look.

Libby smiled and relaxed. “You are naughty. You know how I feel about two-timing Nigel. Mr Cheesman, our relationship must be purely platonic – you know that and you promised.”

He looked sheepish. “I did, didn’t I? I must have been mad to agree to those terms.”

She raised her eyebrows and gave him a warning look.

“Okay, okay,” he laughed, holding up his hands in mock penitence. “I give in. I promise. But the invitation holds. I’d love to cook for you some time. Really I would.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“As you’re smiling, I know you’ll capitulate eventually. No woman can resist my chocolate mousse!”

Their soup arrived, and they tasted Alfredo’s masterpiece in silence.

“This is amazing,” said Libby. “How can he make something to taste so wonderful with just a few diced vegetables?”

“Ah! It’s all in the secret ingredients. I’ve begged him for years to tell me, but he never budges. Wait until you taste the next course. You’ll be a convert for life.”

“I’m already converted.”

“So tell me why you’re working here in Southampton and not London where you trained?” he asked as he laid down his soup spoon.

Libby thought for a moment. “It was Jem. We met in London on a course. We sort of clicked as friends, and I mentioned that I liked sailing but never had the opportunity living in London. When the position of junior sister came up, he let me know, and I applied for it. It seemed like a God-given chance to work near the sea and in a major hospital.”

“I see. And Nigel? I presume you met him at work too?”

Libby nodded as she finished her last mouthful. She wiped her mouth on her napkin and continued. “Yes. He’s one of the consulting gynaecological surgeons, and we sometimes have one or two of his cases on my ward. We started going out together—” She stopped. When did they start going out together?