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Katsuko nodded and headed back to the cubicle. She could hear Avery talking to Abigail and she paused outside to listen.
He was joking with her. ‘So, you’ve been here quite a lot. What is it you like so much about this place?’ He slapped his hand on his chest. ‘It’s me, isn’t it?’
The little girl shook her head, looking from side to side. ‘Don’t be silly, it’s not you. You just got here.’
Avery had moved her from the trolley to the chair but she jumped down and looked underneath the trolley.
‘Is it the candy? Did you hear that some of the nurses carry candy for kids?’
Abigail frowned. ‘Not all of them.’ Then she smiled. ‘But Frank does. He has Jelly Bears.’ She’d moved over to the curtains separating the cubicles and was trying to peer around them.
Avery walked over the pulled the curtain back. There was no one in the next cubicle. ‘Did you want to see something?’
Abigail walked over and bent down, looking under the other trolley, then shook her head and stood back up.
Katsuko couldn’t help but grin. While her actions were curious, she was acting more like a little old lady than a kid.
Abigail pressed her lips together and looked carefully at Avery. ‘Can I go over there?’
She was pointing to the cubicles at the other side of the bay. Now Katsuko was definitely intrigued.
Avery spoke gently to her. ‘What are you looking for, Abigail?’
There was a long pause. It was clear she wasn’t sure about replying. She looked around as if she was checking who was listening. ‘I’m looking for my caterpillar,’ she whispered.
‘Your caterpillar?’ Avery looked as confused as it was humanly possible to look.
‘I had it with me when I fell off the trampoline. I lost it. I didn’t remember until I got home.’
Katsuko smiled. Now things were starting to make sense.
‘So why didn’t you just ask someone to find it for you?’
The little girl pressed her lips together. ‘It matched a book that Nanna bought me.’
‘What was the book?’
‘It was about a caterpillar. You could stick your finger through the pages.’ Katsuko nodded. She’d had the same book as a child. Most kids had probably had the same book.
Abigail’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Nanna’s gone now. I can’t tell Daddy I’ve lost her caterpillar. He’d be angry.’
Katsuko caught her breath. Things were becoming crystal clear. This was why Abigail had created a range of reasons to come back to the ER.
Avery shook his head and pulled Abigail up onto his knee. ‘I don’t think he would be, sweetheart. I think he’s more worried about the fact you keep coming back here. Is that why you do it? You want to come and try to find your caterpillar?’
She nodded and he sighed. ‘What say I speak to my favourite nurse and see if we can try and find your caterpillar?’
‘Will she tell?’ whispered Abigail.
‘I can promise you she won’t tell. She’s very good at keeping secrets.’
Katsuko leaned back against the wall for a second. She could still just see them. He had a good way with kids. He knew how to engage with them and he knew the right questions to ask. Not all military docs could do that. Most of them were used to dealing with adults instead of kids. There was something so sexy about seeing a guy who was good around children.
Avery stood up and put Abigail back on the chair. ‘Lieutenant Williams, are you around?’
She felt her chest swell a little. A tiny little part of her had hoped that he had been talking about her. But she hadn’t really been sure.
She pulled back the curtain. ‘Yes, Captain Flynn.’
He smiled at her. ‘Do we have a lost property box here?’
She frowned. ‘I think we might have. But I’m not sure if there’s much in it. Do you want me to look for something?’
He glanced over at Abigail. ‘Would you be able to check it for a caterpillar?’
Katsuko tried not to smile. She kept her face as straight as possible. ‘And what does this caterpillar look like, Captain Flynn?’
He knelt down next to Abigail. ‘Can you tell Katsuko what your caterpillar looks like?’
She nodded. ‘It’s green and yellow. And squishy. With a red face and purple...things.’
Katsuko touched Abigail’s shoulder. ‘Give me a second and I’ll go and check.’
Avery shot her a grateful smile and it sent a little buzz right through her system as she walked down the corridor. It only took a few seconds to find the lost property box. Katsuko had a quick rummage through it. Umbrellas, hats, books and kids’ jacket. There was even a single shoe. But no squishy caterpillars.
She sighed and bit her lip. There had to be a solution. She pulled out her phone and did a quick search. It didn’t take long to find what she needed.
She smiled and stuck her phone back in her pocket, walking back to the cubicle. She ducked in behind the curtain, glancing between Avery and Abigail. The little girl was clutching her arms to her chest, waiting for the news.
Katsuko knelt down next to her and spoke carefully. ‘I couldn’t find the caterpillar, Abigail. I’m sorry.’
The little girl looked as though she might cry, and Katsuko put her hand over Abigail’s. ‘But I think I might know where I can get one.’
Abigail’s eyes widened. ‘You do?’
‘You do?’ Avery knelt down beside her and Katsuko almost laughed as she was hit by the overkill of his aftershave again. She pulled her phone out and turned it around.
‘Does your caterpillar look like this, Abigail?’
&nbs
p; The little girl let out a squeal. ‘Yes! That’s it. Where is it?’
Avery closed his hand over hers to take the phone. Tingles shot up her arm.
She met his gaze. Those pale green eyes fixed on her and she swallowed. It was almost as if the person who’d chosen their obligatory green scrubs had picked the exact shade of his eyes. She’d never seen green eyes quite that pale before. It was making her think a whole lot of thoughts she shouldn’t about a guy she hardly knew. A guy who seemed to flirt for fun.
Thing was, flirting back was kind of fun. And when was the last time she’d done that?
‘There’s a bookshop nearby that sells a boxed set with the book and toy together. I’m sure we’ll be able to find one.’
Abigail gasped. ‘There’s another caterpillar?’
Avery smiled and leaned forward. He whispered, ‘What if I promise that I’ll buy you another caterpillar? If I can get you one and Katsuko brings it around, would you stop finding reasons to come to the ER?’
Abigail nodded solemnly, her eyes wide.
‘Is everything okay?’ They both turned towards the voice. Abigail’s father was standing at the curtains. ‘Can I take her home?’
Avery nodded. ‘Of course you can. We’ve had a little chat about Abigail’s visits to the ER. Here’s hoping we won’t see you again for quite a while.’
Abigail’s dad looked a bit confused but he nodded and picked up Abigail. ‘Come on, mischief. Let’s get you home.’
Avery leaned against the wall and watched father and daughter go down the hall. He was smiling that dopey smile again.
She’d need to watch out. He was beginning to do strange things to her normally rational mind. The last thing she wanted to do was let her guard down. Not with an American. Not with someone who would disappear in a few months when he was reassigned. Fitting in around here was hard enough, without becoming the talk of the base by dating a co-worker.
A gentle nudge at her waist brought her out of her thoughts. He was looking very pleased with himself. ‘You know what this means, don’t you?’
She shook her head. Her stomach was starting to rumble and it was definitely time for coffee. ‘No. What does it mean?’
