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‘But if the chemo works, surgery might get rid of it.’

‘It’s a possible option,’ Alex said carefully, ‘but the lesion is in an exceptionally difficult location.’

‘Have you done surgery like this before?’

‘I’ve done similar,’ Alex said, and Jack stepped in.

‘Each case is unique.’ He was as calm as always, Nina noted, and, she conceded, sometimes it was a good thing, because the emotion in the room was palpable. ‘Each case is continually assessed. We’ll know more once we see how Tommy responds to the chemotherapy.’

‘But—’

‘We’re going to do our best for your son,’ Jack said, ‘but it would be wrong of us to say that this is a straightforward case—it’s incredibly complicated. However, you do have the best team and the best resources available to your son. That much I can guarantee you.’

Mike nodded, stood when Alex did and shook his hand.

‘Right.’ Nina stood too once Alex had left. ‘I’ll take you up to the oncology ward and show you around.’

‘I can do that,’ Gina said. ‘I’m going there now and I want to go over some of the side effects of the medication with dad.’ She smiled at Mike. ‘It will be good for Tommy if you’re already familiar with the place when we bring him over.’

Which left Nina alone with Jack.

‘You’ve been avoiding me.’

‘I haven’t,’ Nina lied. ‘I’ve just been busy.’

‘Well, after work tonight …’

‘I’m working at the pro bono centre,’ Nina said quickly.

‘If you’d let me finish,’ Jack said, ‘I was going to ask if I could speak with you after work about the pro bono centre—I was hoping to find out some more about it.’

Liar, Nina thought, but she was in no position to refuse him. Someone with Jack’s skills would be an amazing coup for the pro bono centre, but she didn’t like being manipulated and certainly she wasn’t going to go through another dinner with him, or another kiss goodnight, because she knew full well what might happen. So she smiled sweetly back at him, played along with his game, but on her terms.

‘Come and watch tonight,’ Nina said. ‘I’m running a clinic—it might give you a feel for the place.’

‘Great!’ Jack grinned through gritted teeth, because he’d been hoping to discuss things over a nice bottle of champagne. ‘I’ll pick you up—’

‘I’ll meet you there,’ Nina broke in. ‘My clinic starts at seven.’

‘See you there then!’ Jack said. ‘What time does it finish?’

‘About nine, nine-thirty.’

His smile only left his face when she was out of the office. A night at some pro bono centre was something he so did not need, but it would be worth it, Jack decided.

He’d have her in bed by ten.

She hadn’t changed, Jack noted, because she had on the same purple stockings and a jumper that she’d been wearing earlier. He stood outside the pro bono centre and as she walked towards him he realised that her entire work wardrobe consisted of a black skirt, a grey skirt, a grey pinafore and then stockings and jumpers of various shades.

He wanted to take her shopping.

He wanted to spoil her, which was a first for Jack.

Oh, he was a generous date and lover. He had both a boutique florist and jeweller on speed dial and had tabs at the smartest bars and restaurant, but somehow with Nina he knew that wouldn’t impress her.

And he wanted to.

‘You’re probably going to be bored,’ Nina warned. ‘I really deal mainly with paperwork, helping people with social security forms and housing and benefits and things.’

Jack had done a lot of work for charity, but had never actually worked for one. He really had no idea what to expect, a sort of massive soup kitchen perhaps, but he was surprised at the modern offices and the air of organisation.

‘There’s a doctors’ clinic on tonight as well,’ Nina explained. ‘They’re held alternate nights.’

‘Well, while I’m here …’ Jack said, more than happy to pitch in, but Nina shook her head.

‘Sorry. You have to formally apply, your references and registration need to be verified, insurance …’ She looked at him. ‘It’s not a back-street organisation, it’s a non-profit organisation with some salaried staff and an awful lot of volunteers.’ She gave him a smile. ‘You can sit in with me if you like.’ She saw his eyebrows arch. ‘Though I’ll have to ask each client if they mind you being present.’

It was like being a medical student again and Jack felt a surge of irritation. Every minute of his day was accounted for, and now, when he could really help, he was forced to take a back seat instead.

Literally.

He sat in an office as client after client came in.

Nina would explain to each of them that Jack was a senior paediatrician and there to observe, and that he was, hopefully, considering joining the centre. Most smiled and thanked him.

For sitting there.

Some asked that he wait outside.

Nancy gave him a very suspicious look but agreed that he could stay. She was an exhausted-looking lady with a nasty scar over one eye and a nose that had been broken and not reset.

‘Where are the little ones?’ Nina asked.

‘Steven’s home and watching them,’ Nancy said. ‘He’s doing good now, much more sensible.’

‘How was court?’ Nina asked.

‘I’m here,’ Nancy said. ‘No conviction recorded.’

‘That’s great,’ Nina encouraged.

‘I’m so grateful. I don’t know what I was thinking back then.’

‘Four children to feed maybe?’ Nina said.

‘Nancy left a violent household with her children,’ Nina explained. ‘They were on the streets for a while and Nancy got arrested for shoplifting. It was then that she was referred to us and we arranged emergency shelter. Nancy has found employment since then, but a conviction would have threatened that. She was represented by one of the centre’s lawyers …’ And Jack listened and heard how in the year since she’d left home Nancy really had turned her life around. She was out of emergency housing now and in rental accommodation and her eldest son, Steven, was finally attending school and taking it seriously. Nina was going through some welfare forms with her now that her circumstances had changed. ‘Things are looking a lot better.’

‘They are.’ Nancy nodded.