Rivals in Practice

by Alison Roberts

  ‘Can I help?’

  ‘I doubt it. I think our prayers have already been answered.’ The man took his eyes off the hospital long enough to smile happily at Jennifer.

  ‘Oh?’ Jennifer glared at the stone-throwing boys. They exchanged a knowing glance, grinned at each other and continued their game. ‘Do you need medical attention for one of the children?’

  ‘No.’ The woman also smiled at Jennifer. ‘We look after our children ourselves. We’re both doctors.’

  ‘Really?’ Jennifer tried to ignore the alarm bells. Maybe it was just a horrible coincidence. She eyed the woman hopefully. Perhaps the arrival of yet another child was imminent. ‘Did you need some attention yourself?’ she queried politely. ‘You look like you’re not far off your delivery date.’

  The woman laughed with genuine amusement. ‘I’ve never needed help with childbirth yet and, goodness knows, I’ve had enough practice! But we do want to see a doctor. Two of them, in fact. Dr Wallace and Dr Tremaine.’

  ‘I’m Dr Tremaine. Jennifer Tremaine.’ There was no avoiding the sensation of total dismay now. The couple were positively beaming at her.

  ‘I’m Peter Grant,’ the bearded man told her.

  ‘And I’m Bethany,’ the woman added. ‘We’ve come for our interview as your new partners.’ She linked her arm with her husband’s. ‘And I know already that it’s going to be absolutely perfect.’

  By the time Jennifer was alone in the office with Brian more than an hour later she was trying very hard not to appear shell-shocked.

  ‘It could be a good idea, having a married couple. One of them would always be available.’ Jennifer searched for something positive to say about the Grants. ‘They’re very enthusiastic.’

  ‘Very,’ Brian agreed drily. ‘Shame the enthusiasm doesn’t extend to keeping their children under control. We’ll have to get someone in to fix that window this afternoon.’

  ‘Some people might appreciate their holistic approach to general practice,’ Jennifer continued doggedly. ‘I’m sure Peter would find a few customers for acupuncture. Maybe even for the homeopathy.’

  ‘I don’t think Bethany’s ideas of natural childbirth and transcendental meditation will be highly sought after.’

  ‘But their CVs are excellent. They’re both competent GPs and they’re very keen to get involved with the community. We have our share of alternative lifestylers. Bethany is already planning weaving classes and a support group for home schooling.’

  ‘I thought you might be going to offer them the use of your house while they found the land for their herb farm.’

  Jennifer grinned. She knew perfectly well she wasn’t going to win this battle. She didn’t even want to. ‘They’ll need accommodation for quite a while if they’re going to build their house out of hand-made sod bricks.’ She sighed. ‘Still, it would have been ideal. A married couple that were both doctors and both keen to live in the area for good.’

  ‘Ideal,’ Brian agreed. ‘If we take on Colin Draper, I imagine that’s what we’d have just as soon as he could possibly manage it.’ Brian grinned. ‘Provided you cooperated, of course.’

  ‘I have no intention of co-operating. I have no interest in Colin Draper. He’s totally unsuitable as a partner. Professionally or otherwise.’

  ‘His CV is even better than the Grants’ and he’s just as keen.’

  ‘That’s the problem. I have no intention of spending my working hours fending off unwanted advances. I’m not interested in Colin Draper.’

  ‘He might grow on you.’

  ‘Like fungus.’ Jennifer grinned again. ‘Still, I suppose it might work out.’ She bit her lip, hoping that what she was about to suggest wouldn’t upset Brian. ‘I may not stay here myself once the new partner is settled and you’re fit to supervise again.’

  Brian didn’t seem upset in the least. ‘You wouldn’t be thinking of going to Boston, would you?’

  ‘I hope that might be a possibility,’ Jennifer admitted a little shyly. ‘It’s not that I want to leave Akaroa but—’

  ‘I understand perfectly,’ Brian said with a smile. ‘You don’t have to explain anything.’

  ‘It might not work out,’ Jennifer added. ‘It could be that I’m hunting something I’ve lost for ever. So maybe I’ll end up staying here after all.’

  Brian was still smiling. Jennifer was relieved that she hadn’t upset him, but the relief was tinged with puzzlement. He wasn’t at all bothered. In fact, he looked almost serene. Maybe some of the Grants’ abundant positive energy had rubbed off on him.

  ‘You never know what you’ll find when you go hunting,’ he told her. ‘I suspect things will work out just perfectly. Right now, we need to concentrate on hunting down a partner for this practice.’

  ‘The choice isn’t that great, is it? I expected a lot more applicants than we got.’

  ‘There is one more.’ Brian checked his watch. ‘The shuttle bus from Christchurch airport is due in five minutes so I’d better go. I said I’d collect him.’

  ‘You didn’t say anything about a late applicant. Where’s the CV? What’s his name?’

  ‘It’s all on the computer somewhere. Came by e-mail.’ Brian was halfway through the door. ‘See you soon.’

  Jennifer could find nothing that looked like a CV or even an application for the position on the computer. She spent a good ten minutes searching and then gave up. Judging by the day so far, CVs and photographs weren’t that helpful. There was no way of telling without a personal interview, but Jennifer was ready to give up the whole business—at least for now. When Wendy appeared to tell her that Brian was sending in the new applicant, Jennifer merely nodded.

  ‘Is Brian coming in as well?’

  ‘He’ll be a few minutes.’ Wendy was staring at Jennifer with an odd expression. Was she disappointed that Jennifer seemed so jaded? ‘He’s just waiting for Ruby to finish icing the chocolate cake so he can bring some in with the coffee.’ Wendy was now avoiding Jennifer’s gaze and staring at her own feet.

  Jennifer nodded again. Brian had already had a chance to size up the new applicant alone. It was probably a good idea for her to have the same opportunity. ‘Send him in, thanks, Wendy. Oh, hang on! What’s his name?’

  But Wendy had disappeared with remarkable alacrity. The odd sound of a muffled giggle kept Jennifer’s gaze on the empty doorway. The figure that filled the space kept her gaze firmly locked into place.

  ‘The name’s Andrew,’ the newcomer announced. ‘Andrew Stephenson.’

  ‘Drew!’ The name came out as a stunned gasp. Jennifer rose slowly to her feet without even realising she was doing so. ‘Come in. What on earth are you doing here?’

  ‘I’ve come about the partnership,’ Andrew stated. ‘I’m applying for the position.’

  ‘You’re not!’

  ‘Don’t you want me to?’ Andrew asked quietly. ‘Have you found someone more suitable?’

  ‘No—of course not.’ Jennifer was still trying to muster some semblance of normal thought processes. ‘But…but what about Boston?’

  ‘Boston isn’t what I want. I knew that almost the instant I arrived, but I was stuck. The court case got delayed. And I was having trouble trying to think of some way of persuading you that you didn’t mean it when you told me not to come back. I was talked into attending that conference but when I got back and found your message waiting, that was all I needed. I got the first flight I could and I rang as soon as I landed. Brian answered the phone. He told me about the interviews today and suggested that we keep my arrival a surprise. He said he had the feeling that you’d welcome a late application.’

  Jennifer felt perilously close to tears. She was at a complete loss for words. She needed time to adjust to having Andrew so close. There was too much that needed to be said, and for the life of her she couldn’t think how to begin. This all seemed unreal. Fragile. If Andrew touched her right now she might break into a million pieces. Could he understand how stunned her emotions were
? That she needed just a little time? He seemed to. He was watching her very carefully. He smiled and raised the large carrier bag he was holding.

  ‘I bought some stuff for the kids,’ he said casually. ‘Twin dolls for Jess and Sophie. A computer game that Mike will love, and a fluffy yellow duck for Angus.’

  ‘The children aren’t here any more.’ So much had changed in the short time since Andrew had left. Had what they’d had between them changed as well? ‘They’ve gone to live in Australia with their father.’

  ‘What?’ Andrew sounded dismayed. ‘When did that happen?’

  ‘A couple of weeks ago.’

  ‘I thought Philip was only coming to visit. Did you know about this before I left?’ Andrew was disconcerted now. His expression was guarded.

  ‘Of course not. In fact, it’s because of you they’ve gone.’

  ‘You mean you sent them away? You were planning to come to Boston after all?’ Andrew shook his head. ‘I hope you didn’t. That’s not what I wanted at all.’

  ‘No. I mean yes.’ Jennifer shook her head in confusion. The movement helped. Suddenly the words seemed to be there and they came rushing out. ‘Yes, I was planning to come to Boston but I only decided that after the children had gone. It was entirely unexpected that Philip wanted to take them. And, no, I didn’t send them away. It was that phone call that did it. The one when I told you Philip sounded jealous of how much the kids were talking about you. Philip was jealous. He didn’t want anyone else stepping into his shoes and it prompted him into really thinking about his future. He bought a house and looked into schools and so on. Even then he wasn’t planning to take them yet. He was just going to plant the suggestion and let them get used to the idea.’

  ‘So what changed?’ Andrew took a step closer. Jennifer was almost ready to touch him. To convince herself that he was real. Talking to him like this made her feel as though nothing had changed between them. He would listen and he would understand how she might feel.

  ‘The kids weren’t going to let him go unless they went, too. Even Zippy and the kitten have gone. The twins wanted to take Button but that wasn’t on. They’ll have to wait till their Christmas visit to ride him again. Philip’s planning to bring the new woman in his life, Anne, on that visit as well.’

  ‘How do you feel about that? Someone stepping into your shoes?’

  ‘I couldn’t be happier,’ Jennifer said sincerely. ‘I look forward to meeting her. It would have been very sad if Philip had clung to the past and his memories and not found someone to share his present and his future.’

  Andrew took another step towards her. He looked very serious. ‘Can I share your present, Jen? And your future?’ His gaze was locked on hers. Jennifer managed to swallow the lump in her throat but it was still hard to speak.

  ‘If I can share yours.’

  ‘Can I make the assumption that I’ve been successful in my application to be your partner, Dr Tremaine?’

  ‘I think so.’ Jennifer hid a tremulous smile and tried to adopt a professional tone. ‘I doubt very much that we could find a more suitable applicant for this position.’ She held out her hand. ‘Welcome to the practice, Mr Stephenson.’

  Andrew shook her hand solemnly. ‘I think I’ll go back to being ‘‘Dr’’,’ he told her. ‘More suitable for a partner in general practice, I think.’ He hadn’t let go of her hand. ‘However, it wasn’t my professional application I was referring to.’

  ‘Oh?’ Jennifer didn’t try to withdraw her hand. The electricity was still there. She couldn’t have pulled away to save herself. Was Andrew pulling her closer or was she making the movement all by herself?

  ‘My application for the position of partner in a much more personal arena was of more immediate interest. Will you still marry me, Jen? As soon as we can collect up our wedding party, of course. Will you marry me at Christmastime?’

  ‘Of course I will.’ The gap between them closed completely and Jennifer welcomed the touch of Andrew’s lips on her own. She gave herself up to the kiss with a sigh of pure joy. The only thing that had changed was that any doubts either of them might have had had been erased. They belonged together. For ever. The perfect partnership. Jennifer wanted to give Andrew the same gift she had received. ‘Are you sure about this, Drew?’ She pulled away just enough to be able to see his face clearly. ‘I could go to Boston. Or anywhere. It doesn’t matter as long as we’re together.’

  ‘You couldn’t go to Boston. Or anywhere else.’ Andrew’s fingers gently brushed the hair back from Jennifer’s face. He kissed her forehead. ‘You belong here, Jennifer Tremaine.’ He kissed her nose. ‘With your family history and home and a community that loves you.’ He kissed her lips. ‘I want to belong, too.’

  ‘You do,’ Jennifer said softly. ‘We belong together.’

  ‘Partners,’ Andrew said with satisfaction. ‘Permanent partners.’

  Jennifer smiled her agreement just before Andrew’s lips claimed hers yet again.

  ‘Perfect partners,’ she murmured. Jennifer wound her arms around the neck of the man she loved. She had no intention of saying anything else for quite some time.

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-5699-9

  RIVALS IN PRACTICE

  First North American Publication 2002

  Copyright © 2002 by Alison Roberts

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