The Surgeon and the Princess by Karin Baine (ebook reader with android os .TXT) 📕

‘Does it hurt?’ she asked, when the scars and operation Georgiana had endured seemed too much for someone so young, so small, to have to deal with.

Hannah shook her head.

‘You’re not much of a talker, huh?’ Georgiana didn’t blame her for being uncooperative on so many different levels when so many strangers had come into her life uninvited recently. It was her way of keeping some control. The same reason Georgiana was clinging to her privacy.

‘Only until she gets to know you, then she never shuts up.’ Her father laughed and Hannah stuck out her tongue at him.

‘Would you like to see my new leg?’ Georgiana used her interest to their advantage and handed her prosthetic to Hannah for inspection. There was no doubt this was surreal, especially with an audience, to be waving about the leg she’d been trying so hard to hide.

Hannah had trouble lifting it off the ground and dragged it over to the end of her stump where it dwarfed her.

‘This one’s too big for you but I’ll show you how it works.’ She was sure to have seen videos and leaflets but perhaps it was different when confronted with the real thing. Hannah was playing with her trainer-clad foot, making it comically hop lopsided across the floor.

‘We have some more your size, Hannah, if you want to see?’ Ed had spotted the ideal opportunity to introduce her to the idea of prosthetics and fetched several samples for her to see.

‘Hey! I never got to choose a colour.’ Georgiana feigned outrage as the youngster was handed a hot-pink prosthetic. One surely fit for a princess or a lover of fairy tales.

‘You should’ve come to me earlier,’ Ed joked, but she’d been thinking the same thing herself. In the space of a few days in his company she was swimming again, treating medical emergencies and meeting people. If only she’d met him sooner her recovery might have been further on than it was currently. He pushed her to the limit without the sort of interference and control she’d feared. Whatever happened from here, she had a lot to thank him for.

This had been such a risk for Ed to take but worth it, judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces. Hannah was full of wonder, handling and working out how the prosthetic moved. Her parents were sitting back, letting her explore without interference but seeming relieved. Then there was Georgiana. He hadn’t seen her shine as brightly as she was now. Her eyes welling up with happy tears showing how much this meant to her too.

Hannah was responding to her, opening up to the idea of a prosthetic, and that could only bring positive news regarding her future. Georgiana was blossoming right alongside her. He was watching her interact, no longer self-conscious, and it was glorious.

‘What’s this funny one?’ Hannah dumped one of the prosthetics in his lap, demanding his attention.

‘This one is for running. It’s called a blade. Do you see how it’s curved at the bottom? It’s springy too.’ He bent down to demonstrate it, much to Hannah’s amusement.

‘There are all types of ones you can get and having one of these means you can walk on two legs again. Wouldn’t you like to do that, Hannah?’ Georgiana shifted back up into her seat and proceeded to attach her prosthesis.

Hannah was watching her every move with rapt fascination as her princess stood at full height. Mrs Howell gave a sob. This was such a milestone for them even Ed found himself getting choked up.

‘I can make an appointment for you to get fitted for one of your own, Hannah.’ He’d make sure to get her in as soon as possible before she changed her mind.

‘Since you’re here, we thought you could go to the pool with us. I can show you how to swim. Would you like that?’ Georgiana had put the idea to Ed and, in turn, he’d suggested it to the Howells. Going to the pool would be a huge step for both her and the little girl, but they hoped in seeing her Hannah would recognise it was possible to still have fun with only one leg.

After considering the proposal Hannah solemnly nodded her head and everyone else in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

‘Why don’t we sit on the edge of the pool? That’s okay, isn’t it, Hannah?’ Georgiana was perched poolside, letting her leg dangle in the water.

Apart from the lifeguard, they were the only people in the pool area, which Ed knew she’d appreciate. After their talk about her insecurities it was a move in the right direction for her to bare herself to these strangers. Even if she was wearing a modest one-piece.

Ed and Mr and Mrs Howell sat down too and Hannah watched them with sceptical interest from her mother’s arms.

‘Do you want to sit next to me, Hannah?’ Georgiana patted the space between her and Ed. After apparently deciding it wasn’t a trick, Hannah clambered off her mother and scooted over beside Georgiana. Ed noted she was careful not to go anywhere near the water as she settled in between them.

Georgiana splashed her foot in the pool and Ed did the same.

‘Do you ever have water fights, Hannah?’ She playfully scooped some water over him, careful not to hit Hannah and upset her.

‘Oh, she loves having water-pistol fights with her daddy. Don’t you, Han?’ Now her mother seemed to get the gist that they were trying to make her comfortable around water and started splashing her feet too.

This time Hannah nodded enthusiastically and shuffled closer to the edge. It wasn’t some sort of phobia she had, at least.

Ed flicked some water back and showered Georgiana.

‘Hey!’ she shouted with good humour and retaliated.

Ed shook the drops out of his hair and scooped the water with his hand to soak everyone this time. To his delight Hannah was giggling at the exploits of the adults. It wasn’t long before the