The Rebel and the Baby Doctor by Joanna Neil Page B

to see—Emily liked the horse riding while we were there, but sometimes, if she was feeling less energetic, she spent time in the craft centre. There would be children of around your age staying there, so you could perhaps make some new friends.’
    Jamie looked pleased with what she told him, and glanced towards his mother. ‘I think I might like that,’ he said. ‘Could we do that?’
    Mrs Brannigan was cautious. ‘I’m still not sure, Jamie.’ She turned to Connor. ‘The thing is, I don’t know how I would cope if he had any problems while we were there. I really want him to have some fun, but there are so many things I need to bear in mind, like sorting out the medication he needs, and what to do if he has any more after-effects from the operation…like the way he collapsed last night. We still need to learn to adjust to his condition.’ She looked at her son. ‘I know I said that I would take you away for a break after the operation, but perhaps it’s too soon.’
    Jamie looked crestfallen and appealed to his father. ‘It’ll be all right, won’t it, Dad? Tell Mum it’ll be all right. I’m getting stronger every day.’
    His father looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know, Jamie. You’re still quite frail. Perhaps your mother’s right. We ought to wait until you’ve managed to put on a bit more weight, and you’re feeling better. We hadn’t expected any of these complications, and I won’t be there to help out, will I?’
    ‘There is another solution, perhaps,’ Connor put in. ‘You were planning on going there at the end of next week, weren’t you?’
    Mrs Brannigan nodded. ‘That’s right. I’d made a tentative booking, but after he collapsed I had second thoughts about it.’
    Connor nodded. ‘That’s understandable, but I might be able to come along and help you out for a couple of days at the weekend, if that would be of any use. I’d like to see the centre for myself so that I’ll know whether to recommend it to other patients. I could see how Jamie copes with the activities and perhaps give you some advice along the way.’
    Mrs Brannigan’s eyes lit up. ‘Would you really be prepared to do that for us? It’s such a lot to ask of you, but it would make me feel so much easier in my mind if I knew that you were going to be there, too. You’ve been so good, explaining Jamie’s condition to us and helping us through this. I’d probably be able to cope with the rest of the stay by myself once we had managed the first few days.’
    Connor glanced at the boy’s father. ‘How do you feel about that?’
    The man smiled. ‘I would certainly feel a lot easier in my mind, knowing that a doctor was going along with my boy. Are you sure that we wouldn’t be putting you out too much?’
    ‘Not at all,’ Connor said. He hesitated, a brief look of uncertainty crossing his features. ‘Of course, you have to bear in mind that I don’t have any experience of the centre myself, and I wouldn’t want to put you wrong on that score. Dr Linwood here is the expert on that, and I know she volunteered there from time to time. In fact, I had an idea she still does occasionally.’ He sent Phoebea vaguely questioning look, as though he was floundering a touch.
    For her part, Phoebe was surprised that Connor knew any of that. She hadn’t told him about her stint at the centre, and he wouldn’t have heard it from her parents, since they still had their doubts about him. Of course, he had kept in touch with her sister over the years, hadn’t he? But why was he showing signs of uncertainty? That wasn’t at all like him. Maybe he was concerned for this young boy.
    When she remained silent, thinking things through, Connor told the boy’s parents, ‘I can help you out with Jamie’s medical condition, but Phoebe is the one who knows all there is to know about whether the activities might be suitable. She would be the best one to guide you on that score.’
    Mrs Brannigan turned to Phoebe.