There wasn’t a lot she could say to that so she followed him in, and as she was introduced to the staff and shown the room that was going to be hers, Kate began to unwind.
By the time she’d hung up her long winter coat and arranged the swivel chair behind the desk to her satisfaction he was observing her from the doorway and asking, ‘Are you all right?’
‘Er…yes,’ she told him. ‘The room is fine. The staff have made me feel very welcome and…’
He was shaking his head. ‘I meant are you all right after our earlier moment of noncommunication?’
‘Yes,’ she said softly, ‘and you know I do understand. What happened to you was awful, and how you choose to live your life is your affair and no one else’s.’
‘I’m relieved that you see it my way,’ he told her, and wondered why he didn’t sound more positive.
CHAPTER FIVE
KATE’S first patient in her new role as a GP was a man with a streaming nose and hacking cough that she suspected might be allergy related as they had only surfaced since his wife had brought home a large, exotic, flowering plant from a recent shopping trip.
‘She is insisting that it can’t be the plant,’ William Harris croaked, ‘but I’m sure that it is. I was fine until she brought the ghastly triffid into the house.’
Kate sounded his chest and it was clear. So the cough did seem to be from some sort of irritation rather than a bronchial ailment.
‘I’m going to prescribe you some antihistamines, William,’ she told him. ‘If it is an allergic reaction they should help to counteract its effect, and in the meantime see if you can persuade your wife to put the plant somewhere not so prominent for a while. You’ll be able to tell whether it’s causing your symptoms when you aren’t near it for a few days.’
William Harris was followed by Katherine Donald, a young mother with her two-year-old daughter. Little Kirstie had swallowed a small plastic bead. ‘I have to watch Kirstie all the time for this sort of thing,’ Katherine said anxiously, ‘but on this occasion I wasn’t quick enough.’
‘Has she got all her milk teeth?’ Kate asked.
‘No. There are two to come through and it is always the same when she’s teething—everything goes into her mouth.’
‘That’s not uncommon, and the bead should pass through her in the normal way,’ Kate explained reassuringly. ‘Let me know if you have any concerns or worries but she’ll be fine.’
And so it went on until Jenny brought her a coffee in the middle of the morning. When the receptionist had gone, Daniel appeared briefly to inform her that he’d phoned the headmaster to ask if Alex was all right and had been told that he was fine. That the first lesson had been art and he’d done a drawing that was quite exceptional for his age
‘Were you aware of his artistic talent?’ Graham had asked, and he’d had to admit that he hadn’t been. Yet he hadn’t been surprised as Lucy had been a talented artist herself.
‘So Graham didn’t think you were fussing,’ Kate said.
‘I don’t know. He might have done, but I won’t lose any sleep over it if he did,’ was the reply. ‘Alex’s welfare is more important than what the headmaster thinks of me.’
She sighed and he observed her questioningly.
‘What?’
‘You would make a wonderful father.’
‘And you a fantastic mother,’ he said quietly, ‘but for now let’s make the most of being parents by proxy for Alex, shall we?’
‘Yes, why not?’ she agreed, thinking, What a state of affairs. They were both cut out for family life with parenting as a big part of it, but Daniel had just hit the nail on the head. Neither of them were moving in that direction at the present time.
‘And now let’s talk about your morning so far. How’s it gone?’ he asked.
That brought a smile. ‘Great! I love it,’ she told him. ‘I’ve seen quite a few strange faces.’
‘According to Jenny, that’s about to change. She tells me that your next patient is known to everyone. Though I’ve had no cause to get to know him since I’ve been living in this rural paradise.’
‘Who is it?’
‘The arm of the law. Jim McIntyre, our local policeman.’
She smiled. ‘Yes. I know Jim. He lives in a cottage beside the locks on the way to the canal basin. It’s a beautiful part of the village and very popular with visitors. Do you know where I mean?’
‘Yes. Keith Baxter, who came to consult me yesterday, has a narrowboat on the moorings up there. I almost thought of doing the same until I saw the land for sale beside the river. When he was here he caught sight of you and spoke as if he knew you.’
‘I know who you mean. I’ve seen him around the village when I’ve been home on previous occasions, but I don’t know him apart from that.’
Good, Daniel thought as the irritation that Keith had aroused in him the previous day diminished. Kate was too special for the likes of him. ‘The policeman will be your last patient from the morning surgery and then it’s home visits,’ he said, getting back to the business of the day. ‘And as you know the village and the surrounding area far better than I do, I’ll leave you to it. Miriam has already started hers.’
‘When are you going to take me to see Billy, the little lad with Sydenham’s chorea?’ she asked.
‘So you haven’t forgotten?’ he commented, pleased that she’d remembered.
‘No, of course not.’
‘Tomorrow maybe. I passed him over to the neurologist once I’d seen his hands. He followed it up with various tests of his own and now Billy is in his care. But I call regularly to make sure that the poor kid is still having bed rest and that his mother is making sure he gets the sedation that has been prescribed for him.’
About to go back to his own room, he paused in the doorway and said, ‘I’ll pick Alex up this afternoon.’ Seeing Kate look at him disappointedly, he sighed comically. ‘Yes, I am fussing. I admit it. You can have your turn tomorrow.’
That made her laugh. ‘All right. So we take it in turns.’
Jim McIntyre was a big, bluff, Lancastrian from one of the mill towns, who had moved into the Cheshire constabulary some years ago and was happy to be spending the last few years of his working life amongst country folk. Even though he was prone to say that wickedness came from within, and some folk there were no more saintly than those in the towns.
When he saw Kate seated behind the desk he said, ‘This is a nice surprise, Kate. Are you back to stay?’
Was she back to stay? she thought. Yes, she definitely was, and the reason was just a few feet away in the next room.
‘Yes. I am, Jim,’ she told him. ‘So what can I do for you?’
‘I’ve got the copper’s curse, lass. Sore feet from years of being on them.’
‘So let’s have a look, shall we?’ she said with a smile for the grizzled policeman.
When he’d taken his shoes and socks off she exclaimed, ‘Oh, dear! Those bunions must be painful, and they’re making your toes overlap. It isn’t going to be just a case of corn plasters or toe protectors, Jim. You need to see someone in orthopaedics.’
He groaned. ‘I was expecting you to say that. The missus will say I told you so when I tell her. She’s been on at me for ages to do something about me feet.’
‘Well, better late than never. I’m going to make you an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant and will give you a ring when I’ve got a date. You’re never going to catch law breakers if you have to chase them on those feet.’
‘Aye. I suppose you’re right,’ he agreed reluctantly, and went on his way not exactly rejoicing.
Alex came out of school with a smile on his face and carrying a large sheet of white paper. When he saw Daniel he held it out for him to see and said, ‘Miss said that she wants to put it up on the wall when I’ve shown it to you and Kate.’
‘I’m not surprised. That is very good indeed. How about we take it to show your dad on Saturday before the teacher puts it on
the wall?’ he suggested, as it became obvious that Alex’s first glimpse of the joys of village life had stuck in his mind. It was a drawing of the river as it flowed past the building site, and swimming along in its waters was a big silver fish.
‘Yes!’ he cried. ‘Dad is good at drawing too, and so was Lucy.’
It was Daniel’s turn to smile. It was obviously a real family talent, and for once hearing Lucy’s name didn’t bring its usual ache.
‘Where’s Kate?’ Alex wanted to know.
‘At the surgery and longing to know what your first day in a new school has been like. We’re going there now so you can tell her all about it before we start seeing our patients. Are you hungry?’
‘Yes. I’m starving.’
‘That’s no problem. She got you something from the bakery at lunchtime.’
‘Kate is looking after me like Lucy used to, isn’t she?’ Alex said. ‘I’m going to pretend that she’s my big sister.’
‘Yes, why not?’ Daniel said, taken aback.
When Lucy had come into the conversation again he’d taken it in his stride, and almost as if he was testing him Alex went on to say, ‘She would be pleased that I’m happy here with you and Kate. Lucy never liked it if any of us were miserable, did she, Uncle Dan?’
Dark eyes were fixed on him, waiting for an answer, and Daniel said slowly, ‘No, she didn’t, Alex. Your big sister liked to see everyone happy.’ Having got the reassurance he’d asked for, Alex went chasing on ahead, making sure that the stiff breeze that was blowing didn’t harm his work of art.
Following at a slower pace, Daniel was thinking that there had been no guile in what the boy had said. It had been just general conversation about someone they’d both loved. But though Alex would not have been aware of it, his innocent description of Lucy had held a message that he, Daniel, had needed to be reminded of. She would want him to be happy, and keeping his private life empty of all the things that created contentment wasn’t going to bring that about.
‘So?’ Kate said as soon as they came through the door, ‘How was school, Alex?’
‘All right,’ he said, waving the drawing under her nose. Having been forewarned, she was ready with the praise it deserved. ‘That is very good indeed! Isn’t it, Daniel?’
‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘The three of us are going to take it to show Tom on Saturday.’
‘Good thinking,’ she said as Alex tucked into the jam doughnut that had been waiting for him on her desk, and Daniel thought that it might cheer Tom up to find that an attractive and caring woman was involving herself in his son’s well-being.
‘So how do you feel after your first day back?’ he asked after they’d shut out the chilly night and were having coffee in the sitting room at the end of the meal while Alex played with his toys up above.
She smiled her brilliant smile. ‘Wonderful. I’d forgotten just how rewarding general practice can be. One’s patients aren’t just ships that pass in the night on their way to the wards or Theatre, or having been diagnosed as not serious are sent home. They are part of our small community and when it comes to their health the village doctor shares their smiles and their tears.’
‘We certainly think alike on that,’ he said. ‘I’ve been happier since I came here than I’d been in a long time. For one thing I met your mother and will always remember how good she was to me before she was called away. I hope she’ll be back soon.’
‘I hope so too,’ Kate told him, ‘but she won’t leave my gran until she’s sure she can manage. It would be easier all round if she would come to live with us but she won’t be persuaded, so Mum is stuck there for the time being, just as Tom is far away in hospital. He must be missing Alex a lot. How long do you think he will be in there?’
‘I really don’t know,’ he said flatly, noting that he didn’t have a mention in her concerns. Her mother, yes, Alex, absolutely, even Tom, whom she’d never met, was being considered. But he had only himself to blame for feeling on the outside. He’d made sure Kate knew that his life was sorted.
Thinking that his downbeat tone was due to the weight of his worries for Lucy’s family, she went and perched beside him on the side of his chair and placed her arm lightly across his shoulders.
‘I’m so sorry that you are having to cope with this anxiety over Tom and Alex,’ she said consolingly. ‘But I’m sure it will all come right in the end, Daniel.’
He could hardly take in what she was saying so aware was he of her nearness. Her perfume, light yet tantalising, was in his nostrils. He could feel her soft breath on his face, and the curve of her breast was touching his neck as she leaned against him.
He turned his head slowly and as their eyes met Kate saw that their thoughts were running along different channels.
‘What?’ she questioned, moving her arm from around his shoulders.
‘This,’ he replied, and reaching up he cupped her face in his hands and brought it level with his. Then he was kissing her, long and lingeringly on the mouth, and as she kissed him back it felt so right that it took her breath away.
But there were footsteps on the stairs and Alex’s voice calling, ‘Can we phone the hospital again, Uncle Dan? I want to tell my dad about my drawing.’
‘Yes, of course,’ he murmured, putting Kate away from him gently. And turning to the table beside him, he picked up the phone and dialled the hospital, while she went to stand by the window to regain her composure.
They’d tried to get through a few times already since arriving home but the lines had been busy, and now as he dialled the number, with Alex standing beside him expectantly and Kate keeping a low profile, Daniel was telling himself that he wasn’t being fair to the generous, loving woman that he’d just been kissing like a starving man at a feast.
There was an answer at the other end of the line this time and, putting his own affairs to one side, he asked to be put through to whatever ward Tom had been placed in.
‘How’s my boy?’ was the first thing the older man said.
‘He’s fine, Tom,’ Daniel told him. ‘Right here beside me and longing to hear your voice. But first before I put him on, how are you?’
‘Average,’ Tom replied with a dry laugh. ‘They are controlling the pain up to a point, and I am about to be involved in some in-depth physiotherapy tomorrow. I shudder to think how long it will be before I’m really mobile again, but thanks to you and your friend, Kate, at least one burden has been lifted from me. I know that Alex is in good hands and I can cope with anything if he’s all right.’
‘Well, here he is,’ Daniel said, ‘and you’ll be seeing him soon. We’re bringing him to see you on Saturday.’
‘Wonderful! That’s wonderful!’ Tom said, choking on the words. ‘I can’t wait.’
Alex went to sit on the bottom step of the stairs while he talked to his father and Daniel went to stand by Kate, but before he could speak she forestalled him by saying in a low voice, ‘What is it with you, Daniel? Are you playing mind games with me or what?
‘I’ve already had one unpleasant experience with a man who didn’t know his own mind. Craig used me and I don’t want that to happen again. Since I’ve met you I’ve realised what it’s like to know a man who stands out from the rest in every way but one.’
‘And that is?’
‘You know what I’m talking about, so don’t pretend. Please, don’t use me, Daniel, because I’m here, and Lucy isn’t, and don’t use the love that you had for her as an escape from anything that might seem too much like commitment.’
He sighed. ‘So that’s how you see me, is it? I suppose it’s what I deserve. It was just that when you sat on the arm of my chair and were so close, I couldn’t resist you.’
‘Is it because I’m like her?’ she asked. ‘That would be the last straw. To be used because I’m her lookalike.’
‘No!’ he said vehemently. ‘You are nothing like Lucy The exact opposite, in fact. I’m not looking for a clone. Lucy was small, dainty, with brown hair and eye
s, and was a very tranquil person.’
‘So I’m large, clumsy, and boisterous, am I?’
He shook his head despairingly. ‘Don’t put words into my mouth, Kate.
‘You have your own kind of magic. Have no doubts about that. You came into my orderly existence like a whirlwind even though you were far from well, and nothing has settled into place since. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you and promise that it won’t happen again.’
She wanted it to happen again, she thought. Time and time again, because she had fallen in love with him, but not under these circumstances. What she’d felt for Craig was as nothing compared to this.
At that moment Alex joined them, having finished talking to his father, and to all appearances normal life resumed.
Later, when he was asleep and Kate had just come off the phone after a long chat with her mother, Daniel said levelly, ‘Regarding the weekend, Kate, I’ve been thinking that it would give Alex and Tom more time together if we booked in overnight at a hotel somewhere near the hospital. That way we could drop Alex off at the hospital on Sunday morning before we come back, which would give Tom some time alone with him for a couple of hours. Then we can drive back here in the afternoon, which won’t interfere with him going to bed early, ready for school the next morning.’ He paused for a moment, then went on, ‘On the other hand, if you have something already planned for Sunday and don’t want our visit to Tom to take up the whole weekend, feel free to say so.’
It would have been a good moment to tell him that all she wanted from the coming weekend was to be near him, and to bring some happiness to Alex and his father. But in view of what had gone on earlier it wasn’t a good moment for any further displays of feeling, so she just said, ‘I have nothing planned, Daniel. I think it’s a great idea, and typical of your usual common sense and thoughtfulness.’
He gave her a quick sideways glance. Had the reference to ‘common sense’ been a reminder of his promise not to get amorous again? But the bright blue eyes looking into his were clear and guileless and he decided that it was too much to hope that Kate was as attracted to him as he was to her.
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