Max had stopped wailing now and was lying on the trolley, moaning quietly.

Andreas turned to his SHO with a list of instructions and tests that he wanted performed. He was leaving absolutely nothing to chance.

‘Let’s get him back to the room and let him sleep,’ he said quietly, his gaze flickering to the parents. ‘I’m sorry. This is all very worrying for you, I know, and I’m aware that we haven’t had much time for explanations because of the urgency of the situation. If there is anything you’d like to ask me now, please do so.’

Heather’s eyes filled. ‘He looks so poorly. What will happen?’

‘We wait for the results of these tests and we watch him,’ Andreas said, his eyes flickering to the child who was shifting restlessly on the trolley. He frowned slightly and pulled back the sheet Libby had used to cover Max. ‘He has a rash.’

Libby followed his gaze and saw that the child had indeed developed a rash all over his body.

Andreas looked at her and his eyes were warm. ‘You did the right thing, giving that penicillin,’ he said softly, and she swallowed.

She really needed to talk to him but she didn’t know when an opportunity was going to present itself.

* * *

Max started to improve over the next two days and once it was clear that he was no longer on the critical list, his parents started to relax slightly and even take short breaks away from the room.

Andreas had maintained a constant presence on the ward when the child had first been admitted, but once Max was out of danger he’d visited less frequently, kept busy by the other considerable demands of his job.

He made no attempt to seek Libby out and she wondered if it was intentional.

Was he giving her space?

Did he realise that she was desperate to speak to him?

In the end she came up with a plan and waited nervously for him to appear on the ward.

It was almost the end of her shift when he finally arrived, looking grim-faced after dealing with a tough case in A and E.

‘I wanted to check on Max before I went home,’ he said, walking past her into the room and smiling at the little boy.

‘Well, someone’s looking better,’ he murmured, watching as Max played happily with some toy cars that Libby had found for him in the playroom. ‘He is one lucky boy.’

Libby nodded, watching while he checked him over. ‘I wonder why the GP didn’t give penicillin?’

Andreas straightened. ‘Who knows? But the sooner your brother Alex gets out there the better, if you ask me.’

Libby smiled. ‘Alex won’t be working in London. He’s found himself a practice in Cornwall so that he can sail and windsurf and indulge in all the other hobbies he loves.’

Andreas looked at her. ‘What will you do about the flat?’

She blushed slightly. ‘I don’t know yet. His job doesn’t start until the end of August.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Andreas, I wanted to give you something.’