‘Alex! What a lovely surprise,’ Hannah greeted.
Glancing over her shoulder at the car in the driveway, Alex hesitated. ‘I should have rung first. If you have visitors…’
‘Nonsense. It’s just Kate. The guys have gone out walking in the hills for the day, so we’re having a good chat.’ Hannah smiled and gestured her inside. ‘Come on in and join us.’
‘Thanks.’
‘You look very smart in your new uniform.’
Alex looked down at her rumpled tunic and grimaced, thinking what a contrast she was to the svelte, perfectly groomed Penny. Not that she wanted to think about her any more right now. ‘I’ve just finished my Saturday shift, and as I was close by I thought I’d call in and collect that trap we talked about.’
‘Of course. Still no luck catching the stray?’
‘Not yet.’
Hannah, her long, auburn hair falling in fiery waves down her back, led the way into the cosy country kitchen where various animals vied for space in front of the range. Kate, GP wife of Conor Anderson, from the practice in Glentown-on-Firth some miles to the south-west on the Solway coast, sat at the table which held the remains of lunch. Alex eyed the remaining food and fought down the hungry rumble from her stomach.
‘Hello, Alex.’
Meeting the attractive brunette’s smile, Alex saw how blooming she was. Clearly married life with the irrepressible, sexy Conor was agreeing with her. ‘Hi, Kate. Sorry to barge in.’
‘It’s good to see you again,’ the other woman assured her with genuine pleasure.
Although she had only met Kate and Conor a couple of times here at Nic and Hannah’s, Alex had taken to the couple immediately.
Hannah crossed to the range. ‘Have you had any lunch, Alex? Help yourself to anything. What would you like to drink—tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juice?’
‘Thanks. Tea, if you’re sure. I must admit I missed lunch, and those remaining sandwiches do look tempting! It seems for ever since breakfast.’
‘Long shift?’ Kate asked, sympathy in her dark brown eyes.
‘More difficult than long.’ Alex sat down and frowned. ‘Especially at the end.’
A short while later they all had refreshments, and Alex was satisfying her hunger as they chatted about the animals and about Conor and Kate’s honeymoon to Africa. The trip sounded so exciting and Alex sighed, wishing she could visit the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania one day, and see the wildlife in Kenya’s reserves.
‘I hear you have an elephant,’ Alex commented, relaxed and replete after her meal, enjoying the company.
‘Our favourite wedding present,’ Kate agreed with a smile, as Hannah, balancing Wallace the ginger cat on her lap, reached out to take a photograph off the fridge door and passed it across.
Alex looked at the baby elephant enjoying a mud bath, and laughed. ‘Oh, she’s gorgeous!’
They chatted on for a while and then the talk turned to work. ‘So, how was your first week?’ Hannah asked, stroking the purring Wallace.
‘Mixed,’ Alex admitted truthfully. ‘It’s great getting back to nursing. I thought I’d be rusty, but after the first day nerves it was almost like I’d never been away. I’ve met some interesting patients and I like working both at the surgery and out in the community…’
‘But…’ Hannah prompted as the pause lengthened.
Alex took a sip of her second mug of tea. She didn’t want to sound as if she was moaning, but it was nice to share her thoughts with understanding friends. ‘The staff have been very welcoming. Mostly,’ she added, seeing Hannah and Kate exchange a telling look.
‘Don’t tell me.’ Hannah shook her head, a frown on her face. ‘Poison Penny.’
‘Is that what you call her?’ Alex couldn’t help laughing, some of her tension easing at the knowledge she wasn’t alone in her dislike of the ice-cold nurse.
Kate’s smile was wicked. ‘Amongst other things! I’ve never met her, thankfully, but she’s not one of Hannah’s favourite people.’
‘That’s putting it mildly,’ Hannah groused. ‘So, you’ve had a run in with her already?’
‘Let’s just say Penny’s made it quite clear she doesn’t want me in Rightownbrae.’
Hannah’s frown deepened. ‘She’s a bitch. I’ve never trusted her…professionally or personally.’
‘Professionally?’ Alex set her mug down and considered for a moment. ‘Have you heard anything about her—as a nurse, I mean?’
‘Nothing I have real evidence for. But we’ve had more than one patient join our list after leaving Glenside Surgery because they were either scared of her or complained about her lack of care,’ Hannah confided after a moment.
‘You look worried, Alex,’ Kate murmured as a silence lengthened. ‘Has something happened?’
Alex hesitated, wondering how to word her concern. ‘I had an unscheduled call added to the end of my list today, that’s why I’m so late. Penny had seen the patient yesterday, and he wasn’t left in the best condition. I had to sort things out with his catheter and he confessed that he didn’t like Penny, that she was sometimes rough and not very thorough, but he was anxious about complaining.’ She paused a moment, remembering poor Bill’s discomfort. ‘I also found a pressure sore that had been neglected.’
‘Oh, my.’ Kate shook her head.
‘I wish I could say I was surprised.’ Hannah looked fierce, her gold-flecked green eyes filled with fiery sparks. ‘What are you going to do?’
Sighing, Alex ran the fingers of one hand through her hair. ‘First I’m going to check which doctor the patient is with and report the pressure sore. I’ve advised the patient and his wife to be frank with the doctor, and not be afraid to make a complaint or express how they feel about the care they have received—or lack thereof. I can’t do anything yet, on one incident and hearsay. Penny is established at Glenside, I’m the incomer, and I need real evidence before accusing her officially. But you can bet I’ll be watching her like a hawk and noting anything else suspicious. And if I find it…Well, regardless of her warnings to me and her being close to Kyle, I won’t hesitate in putting patient welfare first,’ she stated with raw determination, not wanting to consider what might happen if she did find something—or how Kyle might react to it.
A silence followed her statement and she looked at her two friends, wondering if they thought she was wrong or over reacting. Kate looked anxious, Hannah furious.
‘What?’ Alex asked after a moment, unable to stand the growing tension.
Kate shook her head. ‘It’s what you said about Kyle and Penny being close.’
‘No way.’ Hannah’s voice rose. ‘No way in hell is that woman getting her hooks into Kyle, not after all this.’
‘Conor and Nic wouldn’t let that happen,’ Kate soothed, dark eyes expressing her worry.
Hannah seemed to relax at that, and nodded in agreement. ‘That’s true. We’ll kidnap him if necessary. Penny’s been subtly trying to insinuate herself into Kyle’s life these past months, and he’s been too distracted to notice.’
‘Poor Alex looks startled!’ Kate smiled.
‘It’s true I don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation,’ Alex allowed, thinking what an understatement that was given her utter confusion.
‘Don’t mind us; we just get protective of our own, especially Kyle.’ Hannah’s smile was affectionate and sad. ‘He’s had a horribly unhappy eighteen months.’
Kate looked down and rested a hand across her belly. ‘Which is the reason I’m so worried at telling Kyle our news.’
‘You’re having a baby?’ Alex smiled at the excitement in Kate’s eyes and the flush on her face as her friend nodded. ‘That’s wonderful, congratulations!’
‘Thanks! Conor and I are so excited.’
Hannah laughed. ‘To say the least!’ she teased.
‘Mmm.’ Kate sobered. ‘It was hard enough telling you and Nic.’
‘Oh, Kate, don’t,’ Hannah insisted sincerely, reaching for
Kate’s hand. ‘I’ve known for a long time that I may never have children. Nic and I are fine with it. What happens, happens. And we haven’t ruled out adoption or fostering. Until then, we have a whole menagerie of animals who need us, a big extended family of friends, not to mention the community around us and all our patients. Please don’t worry about how we feel. We couldn’t be happier for you. Honestly.’
Tears pricked Alex’s eyes at the emotion-filled atmosphere.
Kate sucked in a breath and sent them a watery smile. ‘Thanks. It doesn’t make it any easier telling Kyle, though.’
‘He’ll be fine,’ Hannah stated, but Alex could see the shadows in her eyes and wondered again what was going on, why there were undercurrents rippling around them.
‘Why would Kyle mind?’ she asked after another silence stretched between them.
Both women looked at her, and Hannah sighed. ‘You don’t know much about the story?’
‘No.’ Alex shrugged, trying to pretend she wasn’t interested, but everything inside her was tying her in knots. ‘I’ve heard a couple of comments about his marriage breaking up, that’s all. Not that Kyle would tell me anything. He doesn’t like me. I only got the job thanks to Robert and Elizabeth outvoting him.’
Again her friends looked at her in surprise. ‘That’s not like Kyle,’ Kate pondered, sharing a glance with Hannah.
‘Kyle’s not been like Kyle for a while now.’ Hannah set a wriggling Wallace back on the floor. The cat stretched with customary feline grace, before stalking across to the range to shift assorted cats and the three-legged Border terrier, Hoppity, aside so he could insinuate himself in the most comfortable spot. Sighing, sadness in her eyes and voice, Hannah continued. ‘The divorce was difficult enough. Kyle’s had a hard time trying to come to terms with that—but he’s never recovered from, or properly grieved for, his dead baby.’
CHAPTER FOUR
ALEX forgot how to breathe. For a moment if felt as if her heart had stopped. Every part of her ached with pain for what Kyle had been through, the enormity of it only beginning to sink in. She registered Hannah’s further explanations about a routine scan and the lack of movement, the absence of a heartbeat, of losing the baby late in the pregnancy as it died in the womb. From the first moment they had met she had sensed Kyle’s dark unhappiness, his inner restlessness, his aloneness. She had heard that his marriage had ended. What she hadn’t known, had never imagined, was the extent of his loss and how much hurt and torment he had been through.
As Hannah and Kate talked on, Alex was lost in her thoughts. What had happened to Kyle and his wife? How had losing their baby driven them apart rather than cemented them closer together? Why did Kyle feel so guilty? Had his wife, in her distress, blamed him—a doctor unable to save their child? She ached for his suffering. No matter that she hadn’t known him long, no matter that she struggled to convince herself it was simply her nursing instinct—she could see how much Kyle was hurting and she hated it, wanted to help him despite his reserve and Penny’s warnings.
But what could she do? Kyle had the very best of friends in Nic and Hannah, Conor and Kate. All four of them clearly cared for him and watched out for him. They were the ones closest to him, best placed and qualified to help him. And, whatever Hannah and Kate believed, there was the possibility, the likelihood, that Kyle had Penny too. On top of which, Kyle didn’t even like her as she had discovered first hand this week with his reaction to her when they’d worked together or met in the surgery.
Male laughter followed by the sound of a door closing and coats being hung up in the hall announced the arrival of the men back from their hill walk, and Alex glanced at her watch, surprised how long she had lingered in the warm companionship with Hannah and Kate. She was even more surprised when it wasn’t just Nic and Conor who came into the kitchen but Kyle, too. Dressed in black jeans and a thick black jumper, he looked delicious—sinfully attractive but darkly brooding. She could see the tension snap through him when he registered her presence, and the scowl on his face only confirmed her previous thoughts…as did his words.
‘What are you doing here, Alexandra?’
‘Kyle!’ Hannah’s reprimand was sharp and swift, filling the uncomfortable silence that followed Kyle’s harsh demand.
‘It’s OK. I was just going, anyway. Lots to do at home.’ Alex rose to her feet, maintaining as much dignity as she could. She said goodbye to Hannah, Kate, Nic and Conor, allowed herself a brief nod of acknowledgement in Kyle’s direction, and turned to the door. ‘Good to see you all again. And to hear your news,’ she added with a smile at Kate. ‘Thanks for the refreshments, Hannah.’
She was halfway home before she realised she had forgotten the cat trap, the very thing that she had gone to Lochanrig to collect. No way was she going back now.
‘Thanks very much, Kyle. I hope you’re pleased with yourself,’ Hannah grumbled after Alexandra had left.
Hannah rose to her feet, kissed Nic, and then moved across to the range to put the kettle on. Kyle felt shame tighten his stomach, and he squatted down to make a fuss of a wriggling Hoppity, focusing on the dog because he couldn’t bring himself to meet his friends’ gazes, knowing he was in the wrong and that they were disappointed in him. Hell, he was disappointed in himself. But he’d been caught completely off-guard when he had walked into the kitchen and Alexandra had been sitting there, firing blood that didn’t want to be fired, and stirring senses that didn’t want to be stirred. Even in the shapeless uniform she’d looked amazing, all curvy and feminine, her grey eyes tempting and gentle. Eyes that had filled with hurt…thanks to him.
‘You’re not getting on with Alex?’ Nic asked, puzzlement in his voice.
Cursing under his breath, Kyle rose to his feet and jammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. ‘I don’t know her. She’s a good nurse.’
‘The best,’ Hannah stated, clearly not ready to be mollified. ‘Perhaps if you took the time to get to know her instead of being rude and unwelcoming you’d come to appreciate all her other qualities, too.’
‘I don’t socialise with staff.’
‘That kind of uncharacteristic snobbishness is beneath you, Kyle. You used to socialise with everyone…and enjoy it. Now we hardly see you.’ Kyle flushed under Hannah’s admonishing gaze, knowing all his friends were shocked by his irregular behaviour, that, while they understood, the new distance he placed between himself and the rest of the world upset them. ‘It must be a barrel of laughs working with you. Poor Alex.’
Conor shook his head, green eyes sad and confused. ‘I know you’ve had a rough time, but you never used to be so cold to people.’
‘Alex has had a rough time, also,’ Nic added, pouring tea into mugs as efficiently as he poured on the guilt. ‘It is only a short time since she lost her father. They were very close. It’s not been easy for her, and she’s still grieving too.’
Which made him feel even worse, Kyle acknowledged, wishing they would change the subject and talk about something else. He didn’t want to talk about Alexandra, didn’t want to think about her. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her. He was scared he could like her far too much—that was the problem. She was a threat. He had promised himself there would be no room in his life ever again for a woman, and nothing had made him question that…until Alexandra. Experiencing an unwanted reaction to her had scared him, shocked him, and made him put up protective walls. He’d believed in dreams once. In love and happiness. But not any more. They weren’t for him. His trust and his spirit had been broken. He had given everything he had to a woman but it hadn’t been enough, and he had nothing left to give.
‘Kyle?’
Kate’s voice impinged on his consciousness and snapped him from his dark thoughts. ‘Mmm?’ He summoned a smile, watching as Conor sat down and drew Kate on to his lap.
‘Conor and I have something to tell you…’ She offered him a tremulous smile in return, exchanging glances with Hannah and Nic before cuddling further into her husband’s arms
.
‘Is everything all right?’ Kyle asked, concerned at the sudden tension in the room.
‘Fine,’ Conor reassured him, one palm resting over Kate’s belly. ‘We’re pregnant.’
Kyle managed to hold it together, swallowing down a wave of pain as the familiar grief hit him. ‘You are? That’s great! Congratulations!’ Crossing the room, he gave Kate a kiss and clasped Conor’s shoulder.
‘We’re conscious what it means to you. There was never going to be a right time to mention it.’ Kate took his hand in hers, her gaze reflecting the way her anxiety for him tamed her inner joy. ‘We don’t want to add to your hurt.’
‘You’re not, don’t be daft. I’m delighted for you,’ Kyle insisted, plastering a smile on his face, genuinely happy for his friends despite his own emptiness and bitter sense of loss.
Tears glistened in Kate’s dark eyes, and Kyle felt choked as she drew his hand to her lips and kissed him. ‘Thank you. Conor and I want all three of you to be godparents.’
‘We should have a meal out or get together to celebrate,’ Kyle suggested with forced brightness, both touched and horrified at the thought of being so closely involved in the baby’s life, wanting it, but dreading it too.
‘A good idea, my friend.’ Nic smiled, and Kyle sensed the Italian fully understood the mixed emotions rampaging inside him. ‘We’ll arrange something, no, next time we are all off duty at the same time?’
Everyone agreed. They talked on for a while, and Kyle was thankful when the time came when he could reasonably make his excuses to leave for home. He needed some space to think, to get himself back together.
‘Are you going straight back to Rigtownbrae?’ Hannah asked.
‘I am.’
‘Could you do me a favour?’
‘Sure,’ he agreed, anxious to make amends for his earlier bad mood.
Hannah nodded, a suspicious gleam in her gold-flecked green eyes. ‘Good. As Alex was chased off in such a rush she didn’t take the cat trap she came here for, and she’ll be wanting to catch the injured feral she has hanging around her place as soon as possible. You can go down the back road and drop it off on your way. I’ll give you directions.’
His Very Special Nurse Page 5
