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liar, cheat and drunk.
    “So your mother’s surname is...?”
    “Bowen. Her name is Sandra Bowen.” Vivian sighed and gave Reece the rest of the info he would need to admit her.
    “Vivian?” her mother moaned as she woke up.
    “Right here, Mama.” Vivian gripped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
    “Where am I?”
    “Cumberland Mills,” Reece reminded her gently.
    “Why?” Then her mother winced and looked at her bandaged wrist. “More than a blip?”
    Vivian nodded. “Dr. Castle wants to admit you.”
    “I’m not suicidal,” Sandra snapped. “Please believe me. The knife slipped.”
    It broke Vivian’s heart because Reece had seen the old scars. Scars from a long time ago when her mother had been just that. Another reason why Vivian had wanted to sever the ties between her and her father.
    “We know, Mama. It’s not that at all...”
    “I’m running an Alzheimer’s trial. Your daughter, Dr. Maguire, will be helping and you’re a perfect candidate, Mrs. Bowen.” He smiled at her, one of those charming smiles which could win over any woman with a pulse and it worked like a charm on her mother.
    “Oh, well, that sounds great. What’s the trial testing?”
    “Medication, Mrs. Bowen, that will hopefully cure Alzheimer’s.” He smiled again, but wouldn’t look at Vivian. “I take it Vivian is your medical power of attorney now?”
    “I am,” Vivian said. Then she looked at her mother. “What do you say, Mama? Do you want to be part of the trial?”
    “Of course.” Her mother grinned. “Besides, I’ll get to see you in action.”
    Reece smiled and patted her mother’s arm. “That’s the spirit. I’ll get a porter to take you up to your room. Dr. Maguire, can I speak to you for a moment?”
    “Sure.” Vivian kissed her mother’s head. “I’ll just be a moment.”
    “Of course, darlin’.”
    Vivian shut the door to the trauma pod. “What do you need, Dr. Castle?”
    “I just wanted to clarify something.”
    “Okay.” Now she was confused. She thought everything was fine. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
    “I said you were involved with the trial to ease her, but since you want her connection to you kept quiet you can’t have any involvement.”
    “I assumed as much,” she said, trying to not let her anger take over. Did he think she was so obtuse?
    “I also want her MRI. The one her GP sent you.”
    “Of course. Anything else?”
    Reece shrugged with indifference. “No, I’ll update you as I know more.”
    “Okay. For what it’s worth, thanks.” She didn’t wait for an answer. He’d made it quite clear why he was doing this for her mother. It was purely medical and she was fine with that. She expected that. Whatever they had in the past was long gone. And really all she wanted now for their working relationship was tolerance and professional indifference.
    * * *
    Reece regretted his demeanor toward Vivian the moment he uttered those words, but it was for the best. He knew bringing Vivian’s mother on his trial was not going to distance himself from Vivian. Far from it. So he tried to delude himself. Tell himself the only reason he was doing it was because Vivian’s mother was a perfect candidate for the trial. It had nothing to do with old feelings.
    Keep telling yourself that.
    It was hard to remind himself of that because every time he looked at Vivian he remembered every kiss, every touch.
    The scent of her hair, the taste of her lips.
    That was why he’d never had a long relationship after her. Vivian haunted him.
    She’d taken his trust, something that was so hard for him to give, and crushed it. He knew he’d never feel that way again. Never open up again. So he didn’t bother after a handful of bad dates and failed attempts at a relationship.
    They always broke it off, saying he was never there.
    And it was true.
    His heart was in Germany.
    I have to get away from here.
    Reece turned and shut the door to the office. He was overtired and maudlin. Past