A doctor. A good doctor. Doing his best for a difficult patient, but being sued for doing so. A solicitor, her marriage failing, beset by personal demons, trying to defend him in court. The Law, impersonal, judgemental, inhuman.This story explores the difference between the law, justice and fairness, and how it affects the lives of ordinary people who are doing their best in difficult circumstances. And how life and death events can damage individuals, drive them apart, and ultimately bring them together. Mistakes. We all make them. But what if you make a mistake, just a simple mistake, and it leads to a disaster for someone you are falling in love with? How will you own up? Will they forgive you? Will you ever forgive yourself?This is a story about failure loss and final resolution, both personal and professional. Antonia, a solicitor specialising in medical law, is defending a doctor, Nick, who is accused of his worst nightmare, professional negligence. Although he did what he thought was his best for a difficult patient, he cannot prove this, and the patient and the law seem out to blame him and punish him As they plan his defence, Antonia learns what it’s like being a doctor, and Nick in turn begins to understand the quirks of the law.Antonia’s marriage is falling apart. Her husband is arrogant and demanding, and she realises she no longer loves him. Motherhood has created unmanageable tensions in her personal as well as her professional life.The doctor’s case finally comes to court, and the dramatic courtroom scenes draws out all the elements that the protagonists have talked about and feared. Rather shockingly, the judge in the case dies suddenly, and the reader watches her dying mind as she fades away. Her death introduces her husband, a complex left wing politician, and hints that he tries to influence the new judge who takes over.Antonia’s mother becomes very ill. Dealing with this, with the trial, and with her mother’s subsequent death, diverts her, so that she makes a bad mistake. As a consequence the doctor’s case is lost. When she realises the mistake, she agonises over whether and how to admit to it, especially as she is deeply attracted to Nick. But how to own up to the mistake, to confess? And will Nick hate her for ever? She finally produces the evidence she has lost in a roundabout way, and as a result, the doctor is exonerated. But she still hasn’t come clean with him…Finally, Antonia plucks up courage to tell the doctor that she has let him down. His reaction is muted, and she fears for the future of their relationship, as well as for her own future, both professional and personal. The epilogue, however, which takes place years later, shows that there is a resolution and peace of mind for both Antonia and her doctor.
