Capturing the Single Dad’s Heart by Kate Hardy

used to say, “Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.” Right now it’s very early days and we need to see how you respond to the initial treatment—and, as I said, if the steroids don’t help, there are other treatments we can try. Remember, there’s more than a sixty per cent chance you’ll either make a full or a partial recovery.’
    â€˜And what if I don’t recover?’ Judy asked quietly.
    â€˜Then you’ll learn to adapt,’ Erin said. ‘You’d be surprised how quickly people adapt to a new situation.’
    â€˜I guess you see a lot of that, here,’ James said. ‘With people who’ve broken their back and what have you.’
    â€˜We do,’ Erin confirmed. ‘I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, and a lot of people on this unit do suffer from depression as well as from the physical problem that brought them here in the first place, but we’re here to help you as much as we can. We can give you lots of support and help.’ She smiled at them. ‘And you have each other.’
    â€˜But this isn’t what you signed up for,’ Judy said to James.
    â€˜Yes, it is. “In sickness and in health”,’ he corrected. ‘You’re still the woman I fell in love with and married. And we’re going to get through this, Jude. Together.’
    â€˜I’ll leave you to talk,’ Erin said. ‘But if you have any questions, please come and find me. That’s what I’m here for, OK?’
    Judy nodded, clearly too upset to speak, and Erin left the room.
    She sat in the office, writing up her notes, but it was so hard to concentrate. Judy was clearly worried that she wouldn’t recover and then her husband would leave her. And, although James had reassured her, the whole thing had brought back a lot of painful memories for Erin. The early days after Mikey’s accident, when his girlfriend had walked out, leaving him devastated...
    At the rap on the door, she looked up. Nate was leaning against the door jamb. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked.
    â€˜Sure,’ she fibbed.
    He raised his eyebrows. ‘I need a word. Can I borrow you for a bit?’
    â€˜OK.’
    â€˜Let’s go to the canteen.’
    She frowned, but closed her file and followed him. He bought them both a coffee and cake, and found them a quiet table.
    â€˜What’s the cake for?’ she asked.
    â€˜You look as if you need to talk—and someone very wise once told me that cake makes everything better.’
    She smiled at him, recognising her own words. ‘Thanks. I probably just need cake.’
    â€˜So what’s sauce for the gander isn’t sauce for the goose, then?’
    He had a point, she supposed. But the words stuck in her throat.
    â€˜For the record, I don’t gossip, either,’ he said gently.
    She gave him a wry smile. ‘I’d pretty much worked that one out for myself.’
    â€˜So what’s upsetting you?’
    She took the easy way out. ‘Judy Watson.’
    â€˜The lumbar puncture showed more than inflammatory markers?’ he asked.
    She shook her head. ‘No, it’s definitely TM. I talked her through the prognosis, but she’s not adjusting very well to the idea of not being able to walk, even for a few weeks. She thinks her husband’s going to leave her.’
    â€˜People adjust to their situations—and sometimes they surprise themselves by how well they cope,’ he said.
    She had a feeling that he was talking about his own situation, too. ‘I’m going to put her in touch with a support group. But this is the really hard bit, coming to terms with what’s happened and what it might mean for the future—and for her relationship.’
    â€˜This sounds personal, not just about a patient,’ he said softly. ‘Am I right in guessing that you’ve been here before?’
    â€˜Not with TM.’