The thought set light to her temper. Pulling out a chair, she sat down. If Jack had got it into his head that she found him irresistible, then it was time she set him straight!
‘I see you had the same idea as me.’
‘Really?’ Alison glowered at him. ‘And what idea would that be?’
‘Coffee, of course.’ He frowned. ‘Why? What did you think I meant?’
‘Nothing.’ Alison felt her face suffuse with heat and hurriedly picked up her cup.
‘Why do I get the feeling that I’m missing something?’ Jack said softly. He leant forward so that she was forced to look at him, and she felt her heart lurch when she saw how serious he looked. ‘If there’s something you want to say, Alison, then tell me. I hate it when there’s an atmosphere brewing.’
‘Of course there isn’t an atmosphere. You’re imagining things.’
Jack sighed. ‘No, I’m not. I can tell that you’re very uptight about something. If it’s what happened yesterday, then I can only apologise again. I don’t want us falling out over something so stupid as that.’
Alison bit her lip. She knew that she should deny it was that nearly-kiss that was bothering her, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie to him. ‘It’s partly that. But it’s mainly the fact that I don’t want you thinking that I’m…well, chasing you.’
‘Chasing me?’ He looked at her in bewilderment. ‘It never crossed my mind. Why on earth did you think it would?’
‘Oh, I don’t know. The fact that I accompanied Hazel here this morning…’ She tailed off, wishing she hadn’t said anything. It was obvious that Jack had never imagined she might be interested in him. Why should he have done when he clearly wasn’t interested in her, as he’d been at pains to point out? What was it he’d said yesterday? That he’d been tired after the busy night he’d had and hadn’t been thinking clearly? He couldn’t have made his feelings any plainer than that.
Alison pushed back her chair. She couldn’t bear to sit there a second longer and know what a fool she’d been. ‘I have to go. I’ve just remembered there’s an antenatal clinic this afternoon and I need to get back to the surgery.’
She knew she was gabbling, but it was preferable to admitting that she was disappointed because Jack hadn’t really wanted her. She had just fulfilled a few basic criteria—young, female, available.
Pain lanced through her as she hurried to the door. She heard Jack call her name but she ignored him. She certainly wasn’t going to let Jack know how devastated she felt because he would have responded the same way to any woman.
There was a taxi dropping off a fare so she asked the driver to take her back to the surgery. And all the way there she could feel the weight of her own stupidity pressing down on her. What made it doubly painful was that she’d made the same mistake once before, thought that she was someone worth loving, someone special.
Sam’s father had shown her how wrong she’d been. He had found another woman to replace her and it would be exactly the same with Jack. He might enjoy the odd kiss, but he would soon grow tired of her, as Gareth had done.
A single tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped it away. There would be no tears and no wishing that things might have been different. She would accept that she’d made a mistake and put it behind her. Jack meant nothing to her. And she most definitely meant nothing to him.
CHAPTER NINE
JACK hurried to the door, but by the time he got there Alison was getting into a cab. He could only stand and watch as it drove away. He couldn’t go after her when he was due in Theatre, and anyway what could he have said? That not even for a second had he imagined that she might be interested in him?
He made his way back inside, struggling to get to grips with the idea. She’d done nothing to make him think that she was attracted to him—apart from not pushing him away when he had almost kissed her, of course.
Jack stopped dead. Up till then he had blamed himself for what had happened, but was he solely at fault? Alison could have stopped him any time she’d wanted, but it had been he who had stopped, he who had realised the dangers of what they’d been doing. If he hadn’t called a halt she would have let him kiss her and probably kissed him back.
The thought hit him with all the force of a bomb exploding. When his bleeper chirruped, he couldn’t think what was happening at first. He hurriedly checked the display and discovered it was Theatre, calling to tell him they were ready for him. He headed for the lift, knowing that he didn’t have time to think about the situation with Alison any more right then. But later, after he had finished work, he would need to decide what he was going to do.
The antenatal clinic was under way by the time Alison arrived back at the surgery. She popped her head round the door to let Nick know she was back and he quickly excused himself.
‘How’s Hazel?’ he demanded, following her into the corridor.
‘She needs surgery. Apparently the iliac vein had been nicked, and that’s why we couldn’t stop the bleeding. Jack said that he would keep her in overnight, but that she should be fine by the morning.’
‘So Jack’s doing the op, is he?’ Nick asked.
‘Yes.’ Alison shrugged, desperately trying to keep a rein on her emotions. ‘He responded to the call from A and E. I think Hazel was pleased he was going to do the op.’
‘I’m sure she was. She’s always had a soft spot for Jack. Like all the women around here,’ Nick added wryly.
Alison couldn’t think of anything to say. She knew it was true, and that was part of the trouble. Most women would be delighted to have Jack as their doctor, or as anything else for that matter. Fortunately, Nick didn’t appear to expect a reply.
‘I’d better get back. Gemma’s coping extremely well, so we may as well let her carry on. You take a break now. You’ve earned it after all the rushing around you’ve done.’
‘Thanks.’
Alison made her way to the staffroom and switched on the kettle. Normally she had her lunch at home, after collecting Sam from the nursery, and she didn’t have anything with her to eat. She poked around in the cupboard and came up with half a packet of chocolate biscuits that had got shoved to the back. She had just made herself a cup of tea when Sue poked her head round the door.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but Louise Appleton’s in Reception. She’s got Chloe with her and she wants to know if the poor little mite has chickenpox. Everyone’s out on house calls except Nick, and I didn’t know if I should disturb him.’
‘I’ll take a look at her,’ Alison offered immediately.
She followed Sue back to the waiting room, smiling sympathetically when she saw Louise struggling to calm her fractious four-year-old daughter. ‘Hello, Louise. I’m afraid all the doctors are out on calls at the moment, so shall I take a look at Chloe for you?’
‘Please. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the state of her. Her tummy is absolutely covered in spots!’
Louise looked harassed as she bounced the little girl on her knee. She was a single mother and had had Chloe while she had still been at school. Fortunately, once her parents had got over their shock, they had rallied round. With their support Louise had continued her studies after the baby had been born, and had earned herself a place at the local college where she’d studied floristry. Now she had her own shop on the outskirts of the town, and was doing extremely well, by all accounts.
Alison crouched down in front of them. ‘Can I take a look at your tummy, Chloe? I promise I’ll be quick.’
‘No!’ Chloe shrieked, pushing her hands away.
Louise apologised but Alison shook her head. ‘Don’t worry about it. She doesn’t feel well, so it’s understandable if she doesn’t want people poking and prodding her. However, I think it might be better if we took her up to my room in case anyone comes in. I wouldn’t like folk to think that we torture our patients in here!’
Louise laughed as she picked up her daughter and followed Alison up the stairs. It took a lot of cajoling, but in
the end Chloe agreed to be examined. Alison nodded when she saw the small red spots that covered the child’s torso.
‘Yes, that’s chickenpox. You’ll probably find that the spots appear in crops—on her tummy, behind her ears, under her arms, maybe even in her mouth. They’ll turn into blisters soon, and then dry up and form scabs.’
‘What should I do about them?’ Louise asked anxiously. ‘I don’t want her to be scarred, so is there anything I can use to help them heal?’
‘The main thing is to stop Chloe scratching them. That’s easier said than done because they can be very itchy. You need to cut her nails and keep dabbing the spots with calamine lotion—that usually helps. And do make sure that she doesn’t pick at the scabs once they form. It can set off a secondary infection, and that’s what causes the worst scarring.’
‘Is there anything I can give her to make her more comfortable?’
‘Just junior paracetamol if she’s running a temperature,’ Alison advised her. ‘Most kids are a bit out of sorts for a couple of days, but they’re not really ill. It’s far worse for adults who get chickenpox, so I hope you’ve had it.’
‘I’m not sure. My mum will know though. She kept a record of everything me and my sister Sarah had when we were children.’ Louise grinned. ‘I’m sure I’ll never be that organised!’
‘Me neither. Anyway, see how Chloe is tomorrow, and if you’re at all worried about her, phone for an appointment.’
‘I shall.’ Louise stood up. ‘How long will it take before it goes? I have to do the flowers for a couple of weddings next week, and it’s going to make it difficult if Chloe can’t go to the nursery.’
‘It’s roughly ten days before chickenpox runs its course, I’m afraid, and you’ll have to keep her off school for at least that length of time.’
Louise grimaced. ‘Oh, dear. Maybe my sister can look after her if I’m stuck. Mum and Dad are going on a cruise at the weekend, and they won’t be back until the middle of April.’
Alison frowned. ‘Sarah’s pregnant, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, she’s just coming up to eight months. Why? Is that a problem?’
‘It could be. Chickenpox can be quite dangerous to an unborn child if the mother is in the latter stages of pregnancy. Unless you’re sure that Sarah has had it, I think you should keep Chloe away from her.’
‘Oh, I will. What a good job you told me.’ Louise picked up her daughter. ‘Thanks, Alison. I really appreciate all the advice you’ve given me.’
‘It’s my pleasure.’
Alison saw them out, then went back to her tea, but it had gone cold by then. She emptied it down the drain and switched on the kettle again. Talking to Louise had given her a breathing space and helped her to get back on track after what had happened at the hospital. She felt a bit of a fool, in fact, for having run off like that, but there was no point dwelling on it. Anyway, she doubted if Jack cared one way or the other. He wasn’t interested in her, and so long as she kept reminding herself of that fact, she wouldn’t have a problem.
Jack went straight from Theatre to the afternoon ward round. Alex had made a start by the time he arrived, and she nodded when he explained where he’d been. They worked their way through the list until they came to Becca and Alex handed over to him.
Jack ran through the girl’s case notes, so that everyone was up to speed, then knocked on the door of the side room and went in. He wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would receive. Becca had been very cool with him since he’d told her how long it would take before her face healed, so it was a nice surprise when she greeted him with a cheery smile.
‘Hi, Dr Tremayne. How are you today?’
‘Very well, thank you, Becca.’ He waved a hand towards the rest of the group. ‘Is it OK if I bring the gang in to see you?’
‘Of course it is!’
She seemed in remarkably high spirits as he set about examining her, and he found himself wondering what had caused such a marked improvement in her mood. ‘Everything is looking great, Becca,’ he told her after he’d finished. ‘There’s just your cheek to sort out, and I’m going to do that tomorrow morning, exactly as we discussed.’
‘Great. Will you be operating on me before Ryan?’ She grinned at him. ‘I bet him that you’d do my op first and his second, you see.’
‘Did you, now?’ Jack laughed as he realised what had brought about the change in her attitude. There was nothing better than a little attention from a member of the opposite sex to cheer a person up. ‘Well, I might have to think about that.’ He chuckled when she groaned. ‘OK. You can tell Ryan from me that you’re first on my morning list.’
‘Brilliant!’ Becca whooped with delight and everyone laughed. They all trooped out of the room but Jack hung back.
‘So what did you bet him? Something good, from the sound of it.’
‘Two tickets to a concert this summer. Whoever wins gets to choose the show.’ She beamed at him. ‘That means I’ll get to choose it now.’
‘I see.’
Jack sketched her a wave and left, thinking how simple life was when you were that age. It was as you got older and took on more responsibilities that life became so complicated. That thought immediately reminded him of what had happened in the coffee-shop, and he sighed. The sensible side of him knew he should ignore it, but another side of him couldn’t bear to let it go. If Alison was attracted to him then surely it was too good an opportunity to miss?
Saturday turned out to be a gloriously sunny day. Although Alison had been planning to catch up with some housework, the weather was far too nice to waste the day being stuck indoors. She decided to take Sam out for a picnic, so packed some lunch for them and set off in the car. It had been ages since she’d been to Rock, where she’d been born, and she headed in that direction.
The town was just coming back to life after the winter lull. There was quite a lot of traffic on the road, although it was nowhere near as busy as it would be once the season got under way. A lot of people had holiday homes in the town, and during July and August the place was packed. However, there were just enough people about that day to make it feel alive but not overly crowded.
Alison parked her car and headed for the harbour. Sam loved boats, and she knew he would enjoy watching the yachts. There was quite a stiff breeze blowing, and the tiny craft seemed to dance across the water, their brightly coloured sails bobbing about in the sunshine.
They sat down on the harbour wall while she unpacked a flask of coffee and a carton of squash for Sam. She helped him pierce a hole in the top of the carton with the plastic straw, then poured herself a cup of coffee, sighing in pleasure as she inhaled the fragrant aroma.
‘That smells good. I don’t suppose there’s any to spare?’
Alison’s head swivelled round and she gasped when she saw Jack standing behind her. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Playing truant.’ He grinned as he helped Freddie onto the wall. ‘I’d made up my mind that I was going to decorate the house today. I had it all planned, too—I was going to start in the hall and work my way through all the rooms. But when I woke up and saw what a lovely day it was, I caved in. I’d much rather spend the day at the beach than up a ladder!’
‘I know what you mean,’ Alison conceded. ‘I’ve got a stack of housework to do, but I couldn’t bear to stay in when the sun was shining.’
‘So you’re skiving off, too? Great! It makes me feel a less guilty to know I’m not the only delinquent around here.’
He sat down beside her, his face breaking into a smile which immediately made her insides churn. He looked so handsome as he sat there with the sun bouncing sparks off his dark hair. He was dressed as casually as she was, in wellwashed jeans and a navy-blue sweater over a pale blue shirt which brought out the sapphire colour of his eyes. A pair of disreputable trainers on his feet added to the picture of a man who was at ease with himself. Obviously Jack didn’t feel that he had to dress up to impress. He didn’t need expensive cl
othes to boost his ego either. He was comfortable in his own skin and it was something she admired about him.
Gareth had been very different. He’d spent a lot of time worrying about the impression he made, and the impression she made as well. He had been highly critical at times, so that she’d come to dread meeting his friends. He had continually compared her to the other women he’d met, and she had invariably come off worst, so it was little wonder her confidence had taken such a battering. However, she knew instinctively that Jack would never behave that way.
The thought was far too disturbing. Alison drove it from her mind as she reached for the flask. She topped up the cup and offered it to him.
‘I’m afraid I haven’t brought a spare cup with me.’
‘Don’t worry. I don’t mind sharing.’
He lifted the cup to his mouth and her heart started to pound as she saw his lips touch the very same spot from where she had drunk a moment before. She turned away, busying herself with finding another carton of squash for Freddie. She’d made a fool of herself once before, and she didn’t intend to repeat her mistakes again today.
‘Here. It’s your turn now.’
Jack handed her the cup and her heart started doing its yo-yo trick again. The thought of drinking from the cup after he’d used it made her feel very odd, but she could hardly refuse. She steeled herself as she raised it to her lips, wondering if it was the heat of the coffee that was making her mouth tingle this way. It was ridiculous to imagine that Jack’s lips could have left an impression on the cup, although she couldn’t remember experiencing such an odd sensation before.
By the time the coffee had been drunk, Alison was a bundle of nerves. Being with Jack was a strain, and there was no point pretending it wasn’t. She was so aware of him that every cell in her body seemed to be humming with tension. When he stood up, she breathed a sigh of relief. He would probably thank her for the coffee and leave, no more keen to prolong this meeting than she was.
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