by Lucy Clark
‘Fletcher.’
His smile was natural, wide, hypnotic and she had a difficult time not being affected by it. Why did he have to be even more handsome than when they’d first met? His hair was still dark, still wavy, the only change being a little bit of grey on the sides near his ears. His shoulders were still broad and she quickly clutched her suddenly itchy fingers together in an effort to stop herself from reaching out and touching the perfectly sculptured abdominals that she knew were hiding beneath his blue shirt.
However it was his eyes, his wonderful blue eyes that had melted her heart on so many different occasions, that now seemed to connect with her soul, reuniting them in a way she’d never even known existed.
‘You seem surprised to see me,’ he said.
‘I…er…am. How are you?’
‘Stunned that you didn’t even compliment me on my magic tricks.’ Fletch held his arms out wide as he walked towards her. ‘Not even a hug?’
‘Fletcher.’ She put her hands up to stop him. ‘Don’t.’ He dropped his arms back to his sides but she realised he was standing closer now than before and the scent of spicy yumminess, the scent she’d always equated with him, surrounded her. Molly closed her eyes for a second, fighting the overwhelming urge to throw her arms around his neck and press her lips to his. This was Fletch. Her Fletcher. She’d never thought she’d ever see him again, especially after what they’d endured together, but here he was, right in front of her, looking even more wonderful than before. She swallowed and opened her eyes, determined to gain control over her mind and traitorous body.
‘Don’t what?’
Molly fixed him with a glare, clearly noting that twinkle in his eyes. He’d always been such a larrikin, a delightful teaser, an expert flirter. She didn’t want to flirt with him. No. She was seeing Roger and, for all she knew, Fletch could have a wife tucked away somewhere. In short, she knew nothing about his present situation and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. He was her past, not her present. ‘Do the old long-lost-friends greeting thing.’
‘But we are old friends and when I see old friends, I give them a hello hug.’ He paused for a second before continuing. ‘Or…we could just nod politely at each other instead.’ He nodded his head once in greeting then shrugged one shoulder as though he didn’t really care one way or the other.
He was doing it again. He was twisting her thoughts, making her flustered, causing her heart rate to increase, her breathing to become shallow, her knees to go weak. Why was he still so handsome? Why were the sensations she’d thought blissfully dormant now surging to life, zinging around her body as though humming a happy tune?
‘I thought you were a magnificent clown,’ he stated, when she didn’t say anything.
Molly stared at him for a second, a little perplexed. ‘You knew it was me?’
Fletch’s warm chuckle washed over her, soothing her like a warm blanket. She’d forgotten just how wonderful that sound was. ‘I’d know you anywhere, Molly.’ He leaned against the wall, his tone sincere. ‘How have you been?’
She frowned, opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again and shook her head. She moved away from him, needing distance. ‘I can’t do this, Fletcher.’
‘Do what? Talk to an old friend?’
‘We’re not friends, Fletch.’ There was a hint of warning in her tone. Seeing him again had turned her mind to mush, had brought back all those old memories, those old feelings, those old hurts. She couldn’t remember another time in her life, except with the death of her parents, when she’d been more devastated and miserable than when she and Fletcher had parted ways.
‘We’re not?’ He seemed surprised by this and she wasn’t sure why. Didn’t he remember how things had ended between them? What he’d said to her all those years ago?
‘Look…I just…I can’t.’ With that, Molly turned on her heel and all but sprinted towards the stairwell, praying he wouldn’t follow her. She stalked through the hospital, hearing someone call her name but not stopping to see who it was. She just needed to get home, to a place of sanctuary. She needed to sort out her thoughts but most of all she needed to breathe properly as the pains in her chest were starting to squeeze her.
She shouldn’t be surprised that they’d returned. The only other time she could remember having bad anxiety pains was when she’d been arguing with Fletcher. She hadn’t been able to fathom how someone she loved so much could exasperate her even more. It was ridiculous. She could work for over twenty-four hours and still concentrate. She could help raise her siblings, dealing with all sorts of problems. She could even perform difficult surgical procedures and throughout all of these usually stressful situations she’d never once experienced the anxiety pains she had when she was around Fletcher.
‘Time to call for reinforcements.’ As she walked she pulled her cell phone from her bag and instantly called the first number on her speed dial. ‘Stace. It’s me,’ she said as soon as her sister answered the call. It was great that she could always count on her family for support. Being one of three, even though she was the youngest triplet, meant she’d never been alone and that bond, the one she shared with Stacey and Cora, made her happy, especially when she needed them—like now.
‘Hi. I’m just about to call in my next patient. Busy clinic,’ Stacey offered. ‘Can I call you—?’
‘Fletcher’s here.’ Molly’s words tumbled out in a rush. ‘In Sydney. At the hospital. I’ve just seen him. Just spoken to him.’
Stacey gasped at this news. ‘OK. Um…where are you?’
‘I’m walking home.’
‘Right. I’ll call you in five minutes.’
‘Get Cora.’
‘I was going to.’ There was love and support radiating in her sister’s tone and when Molly disconnected the call, she was able to drag in a deep and calming breath. ‘Thank goodness for sisters,’ she muttered as she tossed her phone back into her bag and took out her house keys. The hospital owned several cottage and duplex properties close by, making them available for medical staff to rent.
Molly had been fortunate to complete the majority of her surgical rotation in Newcastle, close to her siblings, but, to finish her training, a move to Sydney had been imperative. For her final year of surgical rotation, she’d been able to secure a placement in Sydney, which was only a short two-hour drive from Newcastle. Now that her sister Cora and her husband, Archer, along with their adopted son Nee-Ty, or Ty, for short, were also in Newcastle, providing further family support, Molly hadn’t felt so bad in shifting to Sydney.
The small ground-floor duplex cottage she’d been able to rent was exactly what she’d needed. Two bedrooms, one bathroom and plenty of room for her to lounge around and watch old black-and-white movies to help unwind from the busy bustling of the hospital. Since she’d been living here, the other half of the duplex next door had only been rented on a short-term basis, several visiting surgeons, professors and nurses staying there, most of them keeping to themselves and not bothering her.
Usually, she found her little place quite relaxing, but now all she could do was to pace around, cell phone in hand, waiting impatiently for her sisters to call her back. When her phone rang, Molly instantly connected the call.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ she wailed without even bothering to say hello.
‘Oh, Molly.’ Cora’s tone was filled with empathy. ‘I feel your anxiety.’
‘So how did he look?’ Stacey, the sensible triplet, asked, her voice echoing a bit due to the call being on speaker phone. Molly had always been able to rely on Stacey to get her thinking more logically but at the moment she wasn’t sure it was going to work.
‘He looks…so good.’ Molly breathed the last two words. ‘But what could I expect? He’s Fletcher. He’s always been devastatingly handsome and now he’s even more distinguished and gorgeous.’
‘Why is he there? Is it a permanent move?’ Again Stacey came back with the solid questions.
‘I might be able to come to Sydney f
or a few days,’ Cora added. ‘I can get Archer to cover my clinics.’
At the support she was receiving from her sisters, she started to calm down. Her initial anxiety and stress over seeing Fletch, of talking to him, was starting to wane. Perspective. All she needed right now was a bit of perspective. Cora’s offer to drop everything to come and be with her helped Molly realise that her situation wasn’t really that dire.
‘No. I should be fine. Even just talking to the two of you on the phone is helping me to calm down.’
‘That’s what we’re here for,’ Cora added.
‘So you don’t know why he’s at the hospital?’ Stacey’s question was a good one.
‘The paediatric sister said he was a visiting research doctor. Not sure in what discipline but—’ Molly stopped talking as her brain started working.
‘What is it?’ Stacey asked.
‘I have to attend a lecture this afternoon.’ Molly sighed heavily.
‘I didn’t think you had lectures today.’ Cora always knew her schedule off by heart. It was that amazing memory her triplet had and as Molly was about to sit her final exams, she wished she’d been the triplet to get the almost photographic memory.
‘It’s a special one as a visiting researcher has arrived at the hospital and is generously sharing his knowledge with us. Alexis told me about it, said it would be important to attend as some of the techniques he’ll be talking about may appear in our final surgical examinations.’
‘And you think this visiting researcher is Fletcher?’ Cora’s tone held intrigue. ‘I wonder what the lecture’s on.’
‘That’s not the point, sis.’
‘Do you really think it’s Fletcher? He might be there for another reason,’ Stacey added.
‘Ha.’ Molly laughed without humour. ‘Of course he’ll be the one delivering the lecture. It would be just my luck not to be able to avoid him while he’s at Sydney General.’
‘Wait a second,’ Stacey said. ‘Did he know you worked there?’
Molly frowned for a moment, considering her sister’s question. ‘I don’t know. He didn’t seem surprised to see me. At least, I don’t think he did. Remember, the first time I saw him I was dressed as Moppet the clown.’
‘Well, as a visiting doctor, at least it means he’ll only be there for a short while.’
‘Good point, Stace.’ Molly was happy with this information.
‘You only need to hang on, keep your emotions under control and then he’ll be gone again,’ Stacey continued.
‘And we’re here to help you cope with any repercussions from bumping into him,’ Cora continued.
‘And you only need to see him at the hospital and you have clinics and operating sessions and emergencies to help you avoid him as much as possible.’
‘And we get to talk everything through any time you need.’
Her sisters’ words tumbled over each other and again Molly found she was able to let go of her tension. Deep breaths were easy now, the pain in her chest completely gone. ‘You’re both right. I can do this. It’s only for a short while and I’ll be home with you all on the weekend.’
‘You can do it, sis.’ Cora’s tone was filled with determination.
‘I only need to see him at the hospital.’ There was a knock at Molly’s front door. ‘I can do this,’ she reiterated to her sisters. ‘Hang on a moment, there’s someone at my door.’
With phone in hand, feeling more relaxed and calm, Molly opened her front door—only to come face to face with Fletcher Thompson once more.
‘Molly!’
‘Fletcher!’
‘You live here.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘Yes.’ She glared at him. ‘Did you follow me home?’
‘What? No!’ His denial was instant and as she glanced at him, still dressed in the same suit he’d been wearing at the hospital, it was only then she also realised he had a suitcase beside him and a set of keys in his hand. He pointed to the second duplex cottage. ‘I’m…er…supposed to be staying there for the next two weeks.’
He reached into his jacket pocket for a piece of paper and showed it to her as though needing to prove that he wasn’t stalking her. With her mind whirring, her body zinging to life due to his nearness and her annoyance rising, she all but snatched the paper from his hand and quickly read it.
Sure enough, it stated that Dr Fletcher Thompson, MBBS, PhD, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Visiting Research Fellow, was staying next door for a two-week period.
Molly dropped her hand back to her side and stared at him in shock. ‘It’s true. You’re living next door to me.’ Then, to her chagrin, a slow, small smile spread across Fletcher’s gorgeous lips, his hypnotic eyes alive with delight, his eyebrows wiggling up and down in a teasing and friendly manner.
‘Howdy, neighbour.’ He winked. ‘Mind if I borrow a cup of sugar?’
CHAPTER TWO
MOLLY HAD BEEN so shocked at this new turn of events she’d simply closed the door in his face, trying not to be affected by his deep chuckle. She put the phone back to her ear and stalked to the farthest part of her house away from the connecting wall, her anxiety back in full swing.
Cora and Stacey did their best to calm her down yet again but Molly now felt like a caged animal. She’d been so tired, so drained before but now it was as though she were living on pure adrenaline and it was powered by anxiety. Not the best thing when she needed to concentrate on the upcoming lecture—a lecture she was now positive Fletcher was giving. Soon she would be a qualified general surgeon but not if she couldn’t get her mind in gear.
She’d been taught how to pigeonhole her thoughts, how to concentrate solely on the patient and to push everything else aside. She needed to do that now. She needed to pigeonhole Fletch Thompson, the man who had once been the love of her life, and focus on whatever Fletcher Thompson, brilliant surgeon and visiting speaker, had to say.
Instead of staying home and trying not to listen for sounds of Fletch moving around next door, Molly headed back to the hospital. If she wasn’t going to be able to rest, she’d at least focus her thoughts on something practical. She had a mountain of paperwork to get through and patients to review.
She sat in the little office she shared with Alexis, dictating letters. When Alexis walked in a while later, she was surprised to find her there.
‘I thought you were at home,’ Alexis said.
‘Mind’s too busy.’
‘Hmm.’ Alexis nodded thoughtfully and sat down at her messy desk. ‘Does it have anything to do with the lecture Fletcher Thompson is giving?’
Molly turned and stared at her friend. ‘So he is giving it.’ She sighed with resignation, a part of her having still hoped she’d grasped the wrong end of the stick. ‘How? Why? Why is he even here? How did it happen?’
Alexis grinned at her. ‘You really are in a tizz about him, aren’t you?’
‘Just…answer the questions. Please?’
Alexis shrugged one shoulder and picked up the top set of case notes from the huge pile on her desk. ‘All I know is that last week, the CEO contacted the department, said a visiting research fellow was willing to add Sydney General hospital to the end of his touring schedule and that he’d arrive this week. He’ll be giving a series of lectures as well as hands-on theatre demonstrations over the next two weeks.’ Alexis looked at her with concern. ‘Molly? What’s going on?’
At Alexis’s words, Molly dragged in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she opened her eyes. Focus on work. That was what she had to do. ‘Do we know what he’s demonstrating? Is it a new technique?’
Alexis gave her a quizzical look but thankfully didn’t probe further. ‘Could be both. I guess we’ll have to go and find out.’
Molly smiled absently. ‘It’d just be like Fletch to invent something that helps others.’
‘Fletch?’ Alexis raised both eyebrows with great interest and it was only then Molly even realised she’d spoken her thoughts
out loud. ‘What’s going on here? You’re as jittery as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Clearly you know the great and powerful Fletcher. What gives?’
Molly clutched her hands together, looking down at the ground before raising her gaze to meet her friend’s. ‘I can’t…talk about it, Lexi.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘Not now.’
Alexis continued to stare at her for a moment, concern in her eyes. ‘Fair enough. Besides, we both need to concentrate.’ Alexis opened their office door and as they stepped out into the corridor she put a reassuring hand on Molly’s shoulder. ‘Want to slip in at the back of the lecture theatre? That way you won’t run the risk of bumping into him again.’
Molly sighed with relief and hugged her friend. ‘Thank you.’
Alexis smiled and the two of them headed off to the large hospital lecture theatre. Molly was pleased that the lights had just dimmed as they slipped into the lecture theatre, the slide presentation about to start. Even though Fletcher was standing down at the front, illuminated by the light near the lectern, she hoped that if she concentrated just on the slides and not on his handsome face or sultry voice, then she’d have some chance of remembering what was being presented.
It didn’t take long for her to recollect what a genius the man was. When they’d met, he’d just finished medical school and had had plans not only to study surgery but to dedicate his life to working in Third World countries, of helping those less fortunate than himself, of participating in scientific breakthroughs and, if necessary, inventing new equipment to deal with whatever needed to be done. It was one of the reasons why, when they’d parted, she’d known it was the right thing to do. Yes, they’d had a connection, yes, they’d been impulsive and yes, they’d shared a tragedy but as far as Molly had been concerned, they’d both wanted different things for the future and there was no way she was going to be cited as the reason why Fletcher hadn’t achieved his dreams.
She’d been only eighteen when they’d met and almost twenty-one the last time she’d seen him…before today. Now, at thirty-four, she was not the same impulsive innocent. Sure, she liked to go out dancing and, yes, she was definitely a people person, but if there was one thing tragedy had taught her it was to enjoy life to the best of her ability while still keeping sight of what was important.
