He certainly would be, Rocco reflected, but if he was honest he felt relieved for little Josh’s sake. At least now the child would be spared over-indulgence coupled with emotional manipulation—which, Rocco and his brothers believed, had led to Antonio turning into the adult he had become.
Julie was grateful to the doctor for having taken Rocco’s attention from her, and even more grateful when he asked quietly if he could talk to her in private about the results of her blood tests.
She was just about to nod her head when Rocco shocked her, by confronting the doctor and telling him crisply, ‘Patient confidentiality is all very well, Luca, but since I have a vested interest in Julie’s health, I should warn you that I intend to be made fully aware of her results and your diagnosis.’
In saying that he had a ‘vested interest’ in her health, was he reminding her that he had paid Dr Vittorio’s fees? Julie wondered uncomfortably. It was humiliating to know that she simply could not afford to stand up and tell him that she would pay her own bills and buy Josh’s and her own clothes.
‘Julie must give her permission.’
They were both looking at her.
He knew the secret she had been keeping from him now, so what was the point in refusing? Except, of course, for the boost it would give her pride. Until he pointed out that she had no money to pay the doctor’s bill.
‘I don’t know why you should be interested in my health,’ she told Rocco, before turning away to look up at the doctor and say quietly, ‘But, since obviously you are, then, yes, Dr Vittorio—I give my permission.’
The doctor opened his bag again and withdrew a file of papers, giving Julie a brief, reassuring smile as he saw the anxious look she gave it.
‘You are, as I thought, suffering from anaemia,’ he told her. ‘But as the blood tests I ordered have not shown cause for concern in the form of any kind of serious medical complaint which could have led to problems with your blood cell count, I think we must put your condition down to other influences. You are a young woman in sole charge of a small child, with no partner or family to support you. You told me yourself that Josh had health problems of his own, and I can guess that the deaths of so many people close to you must have had a traumatic effect. If in addition to that you have perhaps had financial problems…’ He paused tactfully, whilst the colour came and went in Julie’s face.
‘I… The nature of the deaths of my sister and our parents has meant that there will be delays in sorting things out. Josh and I are, of course, the sole beneficiaries of my parents’ estate, but my parents’ will did not cover this kind of eventuality. My solicitor is doing his best, but he doesn’t know how long it will be before we are able to receive anything. I did have some savings—not much, and when Josh was ill I had to take time off work. Then…’ She bit her lip, not wanting to betray Judy. ‘There were certain monies owing that had to be paid.’
‘You mean that your sister left you her debts?’ Rocco challenged her.
‘Not deliberat
ely. Judy didn’t know what was going to happen.’
‘She knew she had a child to support, and that she was shortly to get married.’
‘Things have been difficult,’ Julie admitted to the doctor, ignoring Rocco.
‘There is no real serious problem with your health, but I do not wish to minimise the danger of your anaemia. You really do need to eat properly and rest. Some warm sunshine and freedom from the burden of the worries you have been carrying would do a great deal to improve things.’
Julie managed a small smile.
‘I shall do my best to follow your advice,’ she told him, turning back to Rocco to say coolly, ‘Now that Josh has been ruled out as a potential Leopardi, I’d like to return to London as soon as possible. There’s no need for us to remain here now.’
It was Rocco’s turn not to answer. She was right. There was no reason for her to remain here now. His duty to his brothers and the Leopardi name was done; it only remained for him to inform Falcon of the results of the DNA tests.
There was, of course, the matter of their financially recompensing Julie for the disruption to her life—as Falcon had said they must if her child should prove not to be Antonio’s.
Rocco started to frown. That should surely be his responsibility, since he was in the best position to judge what adequate recompense might be. Swiftly he mentally surveyed his memories of the area in which Julie and Josh lived, and their circumstances when he had found them, adding them to the information about her health that the doctor had just given them. He came to an immediate decision.
‘On the contrary,’ he corrected Julie tersely. ‘There are two very good reasons why you should remain here, and I am surprised that you have not thought of them for yourself.’
Julie looked at him uncertainly and waited.
‘I am sure that Dr Vittorio will agree with me that, given your own poor health—’
‘My health is not poor. I am anaemic, that is all.’
Ignoring her outburst, Rocco continued, ‘And given the fact that Josh is making such good progress here, it not only makes sense but in many ways I consider it essential that you should stay here until your health has improved.’
‘I can’t do that,’ Julie protested. But even though she was saying the words, she knew perfectly well that there was nothing she really wanted more than to stay.
‘Rocco is right.’ Dr Vittorio joined the conversation, nodding his head. ‘In fact, I cannot think of a better prescription for both you and Josh.’
‘I have a job, and a flat, and…’