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It was the oddest sensation. He’d thought he’d wanted to come here to sort out how he felt about the next part of his career—the next part of his life. But here he was, volunteering to work on a day job. Wanting to spend the next two weeks finding out more about this woman and this place.
He almost laughed out loud. No wonder his ex had complained he couldn’t switch off from work. He just didn’t want to. Being a doctor and doing his best for other people was ingrained in him, running through his veins in his blood.
As they walked inside the front doors of the hospital he turned to Arissa. ‘Hey, I don’t know any Malaysian names. I can’t pick a name for this little cutie.’
‘Give it some thought. You’re about to meet a million new people.’ She wagged her finger at him. ‘I’ll warn you now, they’ll all start campaigning for their own name.’
His footsteps faltered a bit. He wasn’t quite sure what she meant. ‘They’ll know we’re looking for a name?’
He looked down at the little face. So innocent. So pure. A little girl abandoned by her mother for a million reasons he didn’t know about.
Arissa reached over and touched his arm. He almost jerked at the feel of her warm fingers on his skin. ‘Our babies are special,’ she said softly. ‘Everyone in the hospital supports the safe haven project. As soon as they see us, you’ll feel like a superstar.’
There was an edge to the way she said the words. A touch of sadness. He looked at her curiously. ‘Does the publicity help?’
She shuddered. She actually shuddered. ‘No. We don’t talk outside the hospital about the babies. We don’t want to do anything to compromise the safety of the person who has left their baby. It’s just internal. Word spreads fast. Everyone always comes to see the new baby.’ She sighed. ‘There’s a lot of love around here. By tomorrow, they’ll have an emergency foster carer ready to take her.’
He gave a nod. Did they have all this set up in Corinez? Was this something he could add into his newly purposed health system? His brain was spinning. He had to make some links. He had to talk to some of his advisors—and to some of the staff and ministers he would be working with.
It was weird. He’d resigned himself to this new life. But he’d never really felt the spark of excitement for it that he did now. The truth was he’d felt a little bitter about his future plans. Or maybe bitter was the wrong word, maybe it was overwhelmed. It was easy to work as a doctor somewhere and complain about lack of supplies or long hours. To be tasked with trying to implement change in a system that was so focused on finance? That was something else entirely. Free healthcare—even just maternity systems—would cost Corinez in a way that hadn’t been experienced before. He had to pitch things just right.
The one thing he was sure about was that he wanted to do well.
And for the first time, things were starting to take shape in his mind.
Thanks to this. Thanks to Harry. Thanks to Arissa.
Her hand was still on his arm and it tightened a little as they walked through the next set of doors. She gave him a smile. Ahead of them was a whole heap of expectant waiting faces. Nurses, admin staff, kitchen aides and cleaning staff were all standing at the nursing station.
‘Word does travel fast, doesn’t it?’ he said in wonder as they all started walking towards him.
‘Welcome to Temur Sapora,’ Arissa said as she raised her eyebrows.
Philippe surprised her. Of course, she’d pulled out her phone and emailed and checked his registration and references—which were all glowing. There was a small gap in the dates in his CV. But she wasn’t concerned. Lots of doctors took a few months out at some point in their lives. Maybe that was why he was here?
After he’d done the obligatory baby checks under her scrutinising gaze, she’d almost expected him to disappear back to his luxury resort. But no.
He stayed at the hospital while the paediatrician did their own assessment of the little girl then admitted her overnight for observation. Instead of leaving, Philippe settled down in a chair next to the cot in the nursery. He even asked if he could give the baby her first feed, which she gulped hungrily.
