Joanna Neil - The Doctor's Longed-For Family

‘Surgery? They told me over in A and E that she was bruised where she fell onto the arm of the chair. She’ll be all right. I can take care of her. You don’t know my wife. She hates being in these places. They make her nervous and unsettled. She’ll be far better off at home with me.’

‘I’m afraid that’s not an option, Mr Stanton. You have to understand that it would be dangerous for either of them to be discharged right now. Arrangements have been put in place for them to be admitted.’

‘Then you’ll have to cancel them.’

She tilted her head back. ‘I’m sorry, but that wouldn’t be wise.’

His expression hardened. ‘I don’t think you realise who you’re dealing with. I know what’s best for my wife and son.’

He took hold of the handles of the wheelchair and started to turn it around. Ryan began to whimper as he saw his mother being trundled away, and as his lungs constricted the oxygen monitor started to bleep a warning. The nurse hurried over to attend to him.

Abby positioned herself in front of the door. ‘So do I, Mr Stanton. I’m in charge here, and I have a duty of care to my patients. If you insist on attempting to remove them against their will, I shall have to call Security.’

Her heart was thumping erratically as she said that. She was taking a chance here because Melanie hadn’t actually said anything about wanting to stay, and it was only the woman’s haunted expression that drove her on…that and Ryan’s distress. She was going out on a limb to defend them both.

The man’s jaw hardened, his mouth making an ugly line. ‘You think you’re going to stop me from taking my family home where they belong? You don’t have a leg to stand on.’ He swung around to look at his wife. ‘Tell her, Mel. You want to come home, don’t you?’ His mouth was curved as though in a smile, but his eyes were as cold as ice, daring her to oppose him.

‘I suppose I…I…’

Abby was desperately afraid that Melanie would give in to his pressure. What on earth could she do to resolve the situation if the woman allowed him to badger her? She had already extended her powers to the limit and beyond.

‘Your wife is too ill to make that decision,’ Matt intervened, moving to stand between Melanie and her husband, and Abby felt an immediate rush of relief sweep through her. ‘Leaving here at this time could lead to her suffering a life-threatening relapse, and if you persist in trying to remove her, I will testify as such in court. The same applies to your son. You can hear the heart monitor bleeping. It means that his heart rate has accelerated dangerously and he is in desperate need of medical attention. Your presence here is hindering the accident and emergency team from being able to do their job. I suggest you leave before I assist Dr Byford in calling Security to remove you.’

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