her to know just how much the idea appealed to him. He couldn’t afford to get too deeply involved with her, although how he was going to stop it happening in view of what he had suggested was anyone’s guess.
‘I’m sorry but I have to go,’ she said flatly. ‘Where are you staying?’
‘One of those new hotels, near the Alfred Dock.’
‘Albert.’ She gave him a quick smile and his heart lifted when he saw the amusement in her eyes and realised he was responsible for it. ‘It’s Albert Dock, not Alfred.’
‘Of course. My mistake. Mi scusi! ’
Vincenzo smiled back, enjoying the fact that he could make her smile even at such a tense moment. It struck him all of a sudden that he wanted to do it again, wanted to watch her eyes light up and her mouth soften, wanted to see the strain melt from her face. He breathed in sharply, stunned that he should feel this way. When had someone else’s feelings been so important to him? Why did he care if she was happy or sad? He couldn’t explain it but he knew that he cared how she felt and that he cared an awful lot too.
‘I hope I’m not speaking out of turn but are you Vincenzo Lombardi, by any chance?’
Vincenzo looked up when the other man addressed him, although it was an effort to drag his eyes as well as his thoughts away from Lowri. ‘Sì.’
‘I thought so!’ The man laughed as he stepped forward and held out his hand. ‘Simon Rivers. I was lucky enough to hear a lecture you gave a couple of years ago about brain injuries. It was most enlightening, I can tell you.’
‘Grazie.’ Vincenzo shook his hand. ‘I assume you have an interest in neurosurgery, Dr Rivers?’
‘Very much so, although I’m not in your league.’ Simon turned to Lowri and smiled ruefully. ‘Dr Lombardi is in a class of his own, although I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that.’
The implication was only too clear. Vincenzo felt heat run through him when he realised that Simon believed he and Lowri were an item. He was about to correct him when one of the nurses came rushing into the office.
‘Can you come, Lowri? Poppy’s sats have dropped again.’
‘Of course.’
Lowri hurried out of the door with Simon Rivers hard on her heels, and after a moment’s hesitation Vincenzo followed them. They were already bent over the child when he reached the bed so he stood to one side and watched as they went through the familiar routine of checking her obs. He glanced at the monitor and frowned when he saw how low her oxygen levels were. The situation needed to be addressed urgently.
‘It looks like another bleed,’ Simon concluded. ‘We need to get her into Theatre pronto.’ He looked up. ‘I don’t suppose you’d care to observe, would you, Dr Lombardi? I would appreciate your advice.’
‘Of course. I’d be honoured,’ Vincenzo replied, and realised that he meant it too. It had been such a long time since he’d been in Theatre, far too long, in fact.
It was all systems go after that. Poppy was taken straight to Radiology and by the time they had scrubbed up, the results of the scan were up on the screen. Vincenzo nodded when Simon Rivers pointed to a darkened area that could only have been caused by another bleed. The area in question was worryingly close to the medulla, the part of the brain that relayed signals to the muscles involved in speech. It also contained groups of nerve cells involved in the regulation of heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure and digestion. Operating in this area was always nerve-racking as there was so much at stake.
Simon wasted no time. Vincenzo stood to one side, close enough to observe what was happening and yet not so close that he would get in the way. Simon worked swiftly and neatly and Vincenzo voiced his approval.
‘ Bene . It is good to have confidence in your own ability. You are less likely to make mistakes that way.’
‘Thank you.’
Simon didn’t labour the point but Vincenzo could tell he was pleased and was
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Bridge to Yesterday