Return of Dr Maguire (Mills & Boon Medical)

by Judy Campbell

  ‘It will heal very quickly. You can even go to your party now if you want to!’

  ‘Well, I’m blessed!’ murmured Mrs Pye in awestruck tones. ‘Can you credit it, just a pin and a match!’

  Christa smiled. ‘We aim to please—but don’t try it at home.’

  Mrs Pye shuddered. ‘Certainly not!’

  The little boy slid off his grandmother’s knee, his policeman’s helmet at a rakish angle over his brow, and Lachlan crouched down beside him.

  ‘You’ve been a very brave policeman,’ he said. ‘It so happens we give medals for brave policemen, don’t we, Dr Lennox? You’re a hero, Alfie!’

  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a metal badge with ‘Bravery Award’ imprinted on the front and stuck it on Alfie’s little jacket. Alfie looked down at it and then a beam split his round face.

  ‘Am I?’ he said, looking at Lachlan round-eyed, and then turned to his grandmother. ‘I’m a hero, Grandma!’

  Lachlan ruffled the little boy’s hair and smiled. ‘Enjoy your party.’

  Mrs Pye smiled tremulously at the two doctors. ‘Oh, thank you so much, I’m really grateful. Come on, Alfie, love.’

  She took the little boy’s hand and they walked out, an incongruous couple—the large elderly lady and a very small policeman, now chattering happily to his grandmother.

  ‘A very different child from the one who came in,’ observed Christa. ‘You’ve made a friend of that young man!’

  Lachlan smiled. ‘It was a job well done,’ he commented. ‘They call it “trephining”, don’t they? A neat little trick!’

  ‘Did it on a short course called “Surgery on a Shoestring”.’ She grinned.

  ‘Very droll...’ He caught her arm as she went past him to the desk and swung her towards him. ‘Christa...about last night...’

  She gazed at him innocently, but a smile quivered at the corners of her mouth. ‘What about last night?’

  He grinned and ran his finger down her cheek. ‘Don’t be a minx...and why do you look so unutterably gorgeous? You should look exhausted after what we did last night...’

  ‘I slept rather well,’ Christa said demurely.

  ‘Well, among other exciting things, last night you said you’d help me with ideas for the house—don’t forget about it! Perhaps you could come over one Saturday or Sunday and we could have a walk and eat a pub lunch after you’ve had a look at things?’

  It sounded idyllic—so unlike the weekends over the past months, which, although there had been many fun times with friends, playing tennis or riding in the hills, had been without that thrilling excitement of being with someone who was the sexiest thing on two legs!

  ‘I might be able to manage that,’ Christa said gravely. ‘I’ll pop round with some sample pots of colour from the decorator’s shop in the village.’

  Lachlan’s hand went behind her neck and he drew her to him, kissing her full on the lips. ‘I look forward to it very much indeed...’ He held her away from him, and his eyes twinkled at her. ‘Don’t let it be too long!’ Then he left the room.

  Christa hoped her flushed cheeks had faded and that Alice didn’t notice anything untoward in her appearance when she came in a few minutes later with the post.

  And then the phone rang, and it was the community nurse, Lorna, to say that Bessie Logan, alone in the cottage, had fallen after Fred had been taken to hospital, and although she was uninjured was finding it difficult to stand unsupported.

  ‘Bessie managed to ring her son, Ian, in Inverness, and he got hold of the rapid response team from the hospital, who came and got her up,’ explained Lorna. ‘She’s adamant she won’t go to hospital because she thinks Fred will be back soon and she must be there for him.’

  ‘I’ll come immediately,’ promised Christa. ‘Surgery’s nearly over and Lachlan can cover for me.’

  On her way through the hills, back to the Logans’ for the second time that day, Christa started singing, filled with a joy of life that she hadn’t had for so long. She’d always loved her job—the variety of it, helping people through the highs and lows of their lives—but the sadness of Colin’s betrayal of her had tarnished that pleasure. How strange that a man she’d been determined to dislike should have changed her whole perception of life in a few hours!

  She considered the Logans and the support they were going to need. Christa didn’t doubt that Bessie would not be at all eager to go into a retirement home, and immediate plans for her future would have to be discussed very tactfully when she arrived at Bessie’s.

  Bessie was sitting up in bed, sipping a cup of tea and chatting with Lorna and three members of the rapid response team. Ian, her son, had also arrived, looking big and brawny in the small room, his face creased with worry.

  ‘Good to see you, Doctor,’ he said. ‘Mum and Dad have given us a bit of a fright today, what with Mum’s fall and Dad being taken in to hospital.’

  Bessie looked frail and frightened. ‘I’m sure they’re going to send me to a home, but I don’t want to go, really I don’t,’ she said in a faint voice, her faded blue eyes looking pleadingly at Christa. ‘I’ll be all right. I just took a tumble, but I’ll be fine.’

  She looked anxiously from Christa to the team and Christa went up and took her thin little hand, lying on the counterpane.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Christa said reassuringly. ‘We’ll sort something out, Bessie. Nobody’s going to send you anywhere—only if you need nursing for a little while. How is your walking?’

  ‘I’m not too bad with a frame.’ Bessie sounded rather defiant, as if to tell them all that she could manage very well.

  ‘We think maybe she’s not been eating, with worry about Fred, and that could be why she’s a little weak,’ explained Lorna.

  ‘I think we’ll take some blood for anaemia and thyroid function,’ said Christa.

  Ian stood by, twisting his cap in his hands and looking frustrated. ‘I’m concerned,’ he said in a low voice to Christa. ‘Mum being all alone in the hills here—it’s not satisfactory. I’d really like her to come home with me.’ He directed his words to his mother. ‘It would just be for a few days, Mum.’

  ‘But I need to be here for your father. He could come home any day.’

  ‘I don’t think he’ll be back for a week at least,’ said Lorna. ‘It’s going to take a bit of time to get on top of the infection he’s got. Would you not go back with Ian for a little while?’

  Bessie tried again. ‘What about one of those disc things that you wear round your neck and can call someone if you fall?’

  ‘You’re still a long way away in the middle of the night, Mum. Please, you know I’ll worry so much if you’re by yourself.’ He turned to the others in the room. ‘I’d come and stay here but I’m in the middle of a new job—I don’t think it would go down well if I took time off.’

  Bessie sighed. ‘Well, perhaps for just a few days, then. Just to get my strength back.’ She looked dolefully at Christa. ‘That Shona of his—she’s a bully, though!’

  They all laughed, and Ian threw his eyes to the ceiling. ‘You need looking after, Mum. You’ve been working so hard here, and a bit of care and feeding up is what you need, and Shona’s looking forward to doing that!’

  ‘Well, when you come back we’ll put forward a plan for your needs,’ said Christa. ‘Hopefully Fred will be back then.’

  Ian came out with Christa to the car. ‘It’s been difficult, Doctor,’ he said wearily. ‘I know she’s a wonderful old lady, but she can be as stubborn as an ox! I really think my parents would be much safer in a retirement home.’

  ‘No one wants to leave their own home, Ian—we can’t force her. We’ll assess their needs for long-term care when she’s come back here. Who knows, in the end she may see for herself that life is going to be very difficult looking after Fred and herself out here. Why don’t you and Shona start looking around homes to see what they’re like? Just groundwork really.’

  He nodded. ‘Aye, we’
ll do that. Anyway, I’ll bring her home with me now and I’ll be in contact with you regarding Dad and his progress.’

  * * *

  It was practically dark by the time Christa returned home. She parked the car and as she fumbled for the key in her bag, the door opened in the next house and her neighbour, Janet, came out, with a bowl of flowers in her hands.

  ‘Hi, Christa, I saw these on your doorstep when I came back from taking Titan for a walk. I took them in, in case that cat down the road started playing with them. Aren’t they lovely?’

  Christa took them from her and buried her nose in the delicate arrangement of tiny tête-à-tête daffodils and freesias in a small blue pottery bowl.

  ‘Mmm, they smell so fresh and springlike,’ she said.

  ‘Looks like you’ve got an admirer,’ teased Janet.

  Christa tore open the note that was stuck on the side. It said, ‘Thank you for the most delicious omelette I’ve ever had in my life.’

  She giggled, then grinned at Janet and stuffed the note in her pocket. ‘Only a thank-you note for a pretty awful meal I made for the new partner in the practice,’ she said lightly.

  And although she glowed with pleasure as she put the little arrangement on the table, she told herself sternly that it was just a polite but amusing gesture of thanks, and that the evening had meant nothing more to Lachlan than a bit of fun between two people who were free agents.

  Of course they were attracted to each other, but hadn’t they agreed, as adults who knew their own minds, to keep it cool without commitment? She smiled wryly to herself. Deep down, didn’t she yearn for more than that with Lachlan? Something that would involve a meaningful future?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Please be ready at seven-thirty tonight for a brainstorm meeting re work, etc., to expand on what we did the other evening. We need to discuss that thoroughly. We’ll go to local restaurant. Lachlan.

  CHRISTA GIGGLED. READING her e-mails at work was usually pretty routine, but this one gave her a jolt of delight. She wondered just how much work would be discussed at the ‘brainstorm meeting’! The ‘etc.’ bit gave her a clue that there would be more to it than talk about the practice, and a lovely feeling of anticipation at meeting him later on kept shooting through her all day.

  This was her first ‘proper’ date with Lachlan Maguire, but she was determined to take things slowly, stick to her airy intentions of keeping everything casual and emotionally detached between them. Well, she could try, anyway!

  She sent him a reply. ‘Look forward to discussing programme...’

  * * *

  Christa was ready hours before seven-thirty. It seemed like a family of butterflies was fluttering in her stomach, and as if this first proper invitation from Lachlan to go out with him was one of the most important dates she’d ever had in her life. She’d gone through every outfit in her wardrobe and discarded them all as unsuitable. During the past year, shopping for clothes had not featured much in her life. Finally she’d selected a pair of black trousers with a soft blue angora jumper that was warm without being suffocating.

  She looked doubtfully at herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair. Was she looking too casual? Not casual enough? Then she laughed, wondering just why she was getting in such a spin. It was just going to be a normal, pleasant evening of chat, wasn’t it? But it had been a long time since she felt this sort of excitement before a date. Had she really felt this pent up before going out with Colin? She bit her lip, remembering how she had sent caution to the winds and had had a wild affair with him that had all ended in tears.

  She certainly wasn’t going to be like that with Lachlan—however much she longed to. He wasn’t for commitment and if anyone got hurt it would be her. If she’d learned anything from her past mistakes it was to be careful when it came to love. Just because she and Lachlan had had an unexpected fling one night, it didn’t mean that was on the agenda for every date!

  She peeped out of the window—the snow had started falling heavily and she suspected the wind would be as sharp as a honed knife. When it was cold in Errin Bridge it was really cold. She put on a coat her mother had given her, a long cream suede with a sheepskin lining, and plonked a Cossack hat made of fake fur on her head, then went to the door when she heard the bell.

  Lachlan had on a large quilted jacket and fleecy hat with ear flaps, his clothes covered with a dusting of snow. He ran his gaze slowly over Christa, taking in the way the tendrils of her auburn hair curled round the white hat, the contrast of her flushed cheeks against the cream of the coat.

  ‘Wow,’ he said softly. ‘You look like a snow queen...’

  He leant forward and brushed her mouth with his lips, his cheek cold against hers. Christa felt herself go limp with desire—so much for keeping things light and casual! If he’d suggested giving up on the meal and going inside to make love, her good intentions might have floated out of the window.

  ‘How gorgeous are you?’ he whispered, drawing back and looking down at her with those sexy eyes of his.

  ‘Well, you look as if you’ve just landed at an airport!’ She grinned. ‘Very macho and rugged.’

  He grimaced. ‘Thank you! Good job I kept this old hat—I used to use it when I was in the Flying Doctor service. It’s come in useful for this weather, although I don’t think it matches up to your outfit in any way. By the way, I hope you’re hungry!’

  Anticipation seemed to have taken away Christa’s appetite. She’d been longing for this all day, and now the time was here she couldn’t think of a thing she wanted to eat!

  ‘Matelli’s’ restaurant was small and intimate and quite busy. There were red and white tablecloths gaily covering the candlelit tables, and on every wall were murals of sunny Italian scenes from the Bay of Naples to hilly views of Tuscany. In a corner a young man was playing Neapolitan songs softly on a guitar, and Christa felt that it was like stepping into another country after the wintry conditions outside.

  Paolo Matelli, the owner, made a fuss of them as he led them to a table in an alcove, talking in a strong Italian accent.

  ‘Ah! My favourite doctors! My bad back ees completely better, thanks to you, Dr Maguire! I miss your dear mother very much—but you are taking over very well! And, Dr Lennox, you look after my wife so well when she had her last baby! Look! I show you how well the bambino does!’

  He whipped out a little leather folder and opened it, revealing several photos of a bouncing baby boy. Then, as the two doctors admired the photos, he fussed around, putting napkins in front of them with a flourish, pouring water into glasses.

  ‘He’s beautiful, Paolo. What do you call him?’ said Christa.

  ‘Vincente. He’s very good, the best baby in the world!’ Paolo’s eyes twinkled at them. ‘I tell you, there is nothing like a happy family to keep you going, eh? I trust that, like me, you will be blessed too!’

  ‘I hope I will, Paolo,’ said Lachlan quietly. ‘And you’re right—everyone needs a happy family.’

  Christa looked at him compassionately. You didn’t have to scratch very much beneath the surface for the experiences in Lachlan’s own family to be recalled in the flicker of sadness in his blue eyes, and a shadow passing over his face.

  Paolo put menus before them. ‘Well, take my advice, and don’t leave it too late. You have to be young to cope with five of them!’

  ‘Five children?’ remarked Lachlan, his grave face breaking into a grin. ‘I’d like children but I think five of them might test me a little.’

  A little throb of longing lodged somewhere in Christa’s brain, the wistful thought that she would love to have his babies—any amount! She looked at his face as he gravely studied the menu. She’d seen him dealing with youngsters over the past few weeks and had thought what a great dad he’d make. Perhaps he’d be strict, but fun and loving, learning from what had happened in his own life.

  For goodness’ sake, what are you like, Christa? she thought wryly. You’re only on a first proper date with the man a
nd already you’re making him a father!

  Lachlan looked at Christa across the table. The light in the restaurant was muted, but in the glow of the candlelight her auburn hair looked lustrous and her eyes as warm as a summer’s day. When she looked down, her thick eyelashes shadowed her peachy cheeks. God, she was perfect! He longed to kiss her full mouth, to run his hands over the light blue angora jumper she was wearing, feel the softness of her breasts underneath. The sudden heat of desire rushed through him—for the first time in his life he knew that he wanted more from a girl than a light-hearted liaison, but he didn’t want to rush things. Christa had had her heart broken before, she probably wasn’t ready for commitment yet! Paolo came up to him, holding a bottle of champagne.

  ‘I hope you accept this from our family—just to help make the evening a happy one!’ He popped the cork and poured the sparkling liquid into two fluted glasses. He beamed benignly at them both. ‘There! You celebrate, yes?’

  ‘Thank you, Paolo—we’ll do our best! We’ve a lot to discuss.’ Lachlan’s eyes held Christa’s, something very tender in their warm depths, and she felt her heart turn over with happiness.

  She laughed as they chinked their glasses together. ‘I thought you wanted to have a “brainstorm meeting” to discuss work,’ she said impishly.

  ‘First things first—let’s order some food. I’m starving! I believe Paolo’s the best cook in the north east of Scotland.’

  ‘I know what I’m having—scallops in wine sauce.’

  ‘Make that two,’ said Lachlan. ‘And I think this bottle of champagne will go down well with that.’

  Paolo bustled away and Lachlan picked up his glass. ‘To us, sweetheart...’ His blue eyes were warm and tender. ‘I can’t believe that only a short time ago I didn’t know you...and now look where we are!’

  They chinked glasses again, and then he leant forward and took Christa’s hand. ‘And now I want to know everything about you—why my mother took you on and when your friendship with Colin Maitland started...’

  Christa swirled the champagne in her glass and watched the bubbles rise. She smiled and shrugged. ‘Not much to tell, really,’ she began. ‘I’d been away for a long time, at med school and then doing my GP training. I returned to Errin Bridge because my mother had had a mastectomy and my father had died. I wanted desperately to be near her, but jobs for GPs weren’t plentiful as there was only one medical centre in the village. I didn’t want to work miles away, and in desperation I went to your mother to see if she needed anyone.’