by Laura Burton
It had been a long time since anyone had opened a door for her, and rather than annoying her, she found it yet another evidence of Pat’s thoughtfulness. He had such nice manners.
“Don’t look in the rear,” he told her. “There’s a mess in there.”
“Why is that not surprising?” she retorted, glancing back at the assortment of jackets, papers and shoes strewn across the back seat.
Pat lowered his head, trying to look ashamed even though he was grinning. “That’s my spare wardrobe,” he said. “Whenever something is missing, I look there.”
“You have an unusual filing system,” Jennifer agreed. “So, I guess it’s not surprising that your wardrobe operates in much the same way.”
“That’s me,” he agreed cheerfully, getting into the driver’s seat. “Now, where am I taking you?”
“Home would be best. I might get into mischief if you dropped me off to roam the streets,” Jennifer joked.
She gave him directions and soon they were on their way. They were quiet for a moment in the intimacy of the dark vehicle, and Jennifer felt uncomfortable as she remembered Sarah’s warning. It was easy to remain on lighthearted, friendly terms on the tennis court, but here, in Pat’s car as he drove her home … well, that was dangerous ground.
“Here we are,” she said a few minutes later as they pulled up outside the neat cottage she called home.
“You have a nice house,” Pat observed.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m happy living there.”
Pat turned to her in the dim light cast by the dashboard. His features were dark, highlighting the shape of his strong chin and straight nose. His eyes met hers, shadowy and serious.
“I had a great time tonight,” he said softly. “I’m glad I got to bring you home.”
“I enjoyed myself too,” Jennifer replied.
“You want to know something?” Pat asked, his voice quiet.
“What?”
“Coming here was the best thing I ever did,” he said. “And you’re a big part of that.”
Jennifer caught her breath. “Why do you say that?” she asked.
“You’ve made me welcome and helped me to fit in,” he replied. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“I’m glad you came here instead of the other Pat,” Jennifer said. “The clinic is so different since Annette left.”
“Different in a good way? Or do I not want to know about the other options?”
Jennifer smiled. “Different in a good way,” she said. “I can’t imagine going back to how it was before.”
“That sounds alright, then. I can take my fingers out of my ears now.”
Jennifer laughed. “You make me laugh,” she said. “Even with your dreadful jokes. I like that.”
“So, do you think you’ll have me stick around for a bit longer, then?”
“I couldn’t imagine the clinic without you,” she answered honestly. “You can stay for a bit longer if you like,” she added with a grin.
“That’s what I was hoping to hear,” he said. “I’ll walk you to your door.”
“There’s no need …” she began, but he was already out of the car and coming to open her door for her.
“I want to make sure you’re safely inside before I leave,” he said.
“Thank you. Where did you learn such nice manners?” she asked.
“My mother insisted that I learn to open the door for her. I guess it’s stuck with me all my life,” he said.
“Well, I like it,” Jennifer decided.
Pat looked pleased. “There are some that don’t,” he replied.
They reached the front door and he turned to face her. “I meant it when I said I had a good time tonight,” he told her softly. He stood looking at her for a moment, then leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “Good night, Jennifer.”
Chapter 6
Virginia dressed for her interview with care. She was hoping to get the job she’d applied for. Today was the big day; if she was successful at the interview, the practice manager had already told her that she’d be starting right away. She felt that she had a good chance; she’d worked at clinics in the past and also had experience working with colorectal surgeons. She ought to; she’d once been married to one, after all. This opportunity absolutely must work out; she needed to return to the lifestyle she’d enjoyed during her marriage. She couldn’t fail at this; it was her big chance, and she had to do everything in her power not to blow it. When she’d found out where Pat had gone, she’d checked out the clinic where he worked. Seeing the ad for a nurse had made her jump up and down with excitement. Surely, this was meant to be. She couldn’t have asked for better life directions.
Jennifer sighed as she said goodbye to the agency nurse who had worked with them for the morning. Some of them had been fantastic, while others had been incompetent or unreliable. She was hoping that the nurse she was about to interview would work out. She’d already told the woman that they needed her to start right away if she was successful at the interview.
Right on time, a neatly dressed woman entered, and walked up to the desk. “I’m Virginia,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m here for the interview for a nurse.”
“Pleased to meet you, Virginia,” Jennifer said. “Come to the back room where we’ll have some privacy.”
Half an hour later, Jennifer was feeling good about the interview. “I think you’ll be a good fit,” she said. “Welcome to the team! Let’s fill out the paperwork.” She held out her hand, and Virginia shook it. “Can you start today?”
“Great!” Virginia replied. “I can start right away.”
When the paperwork was complete, Jennifer rose from the desk and ushered Virginia out the door. “I’ll introduce you to the doctor you’ll be working with,” Jennifer said. “He’s got patients you can help him with this afternoon.”
As they walked out to the reception desk, Jennifer noticed that Pat was there. Perfect.
“Pat, I’d like you to meet our new nurse, Virginia,” she said.
Pat turned around to face them, and Jennifer saw the color drain from his face. Shock and horror flitted across his features, instantly replaced by a bland, inscrutable mask of politeness.
“Hello, Virginia,” he said quietly.
“It’s good to see you again, Pat,” she replied.
Jennifer looked from one to the other. “Have I missed something?” she asked. “Do you two already know each other?”
Pat sighed and looked directly at her. “Jennifer, meet Virginia, my ex-wife,” he said. “It appears that we’ll be working together again.”
Horror coursed through Jennifer’s entire body. She couldn’t believe her ears. Virginia was Pat’s ex-wife? What was she even doing here? Pat had said she’d stayed in New York, living in the house that had once belonged to both of them. She couldn’t possibly be here. It must surely be a nightmare that would soon end. She would awaken, feeling breathless and disturbed and the sun would be shining and all would be well in her world.
But it was not to be. Virginia was no fantasy, the product of a bad dream. She was very real. And as Jennifer watched Virginia follow Pat up the hall, it seemed that there was something triumphant in her posture. Jennifer had the uncomfortable feeling that Virginia had planned this, and had known how it would end. Was Virginia playing some kind of game where only she knew the rules?
Jennifer couldn’t fathom how this latest hire had gone so horribly wrong. The doctors usually left the hiring of staff to her; she was their practice manager, she was experienced, and they knew she would choose well.
But it seemed that lately, all she’d done was cause monumental disasters. She was beginning to lose confidence in her ability to hire the right staff without drama and mishaps. It had worked out well for Pat to come to the clinic; they’d been fortunate. But she was quite sure that this situation could become tense and volatile quickly. And poor Pat. How was he going to cope working with the woman wh
o had broken his heart? Jennifer only hoped that he didn’t leave because he couldn’t handle it. She knew that terminating Virginia’s employment would not be an easy option; wrongful dismissal laws were murky and complex, and could leave the clinic open to legal action should Virginia choose to take that path.
By the end of the day, she knew she must talk to Pat if they were to find a way forward. She followed him out to his car as he was ready to leave. Virginia had already left, but several of the other staff were still there. She wanted to talk to him in private.
“I’m sorry, Pat,” she said without preamble. “I had no idea she was your ex-wife.”
“You weren’t to know,” he said. “Please don’t feel bad. We’ve needed a nurse for quite a while now, and on paper, Virginia looks perfect for the job.”
“I still feel bad for you,” she countered. “How are you going to work with her?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I need some time to get my head around it.”
“I can’t dismiss her without a reason,” Jennifer said. “It would leave the clinic open to legal action if I did.”
“I know,” Pat replied. “I don’t want to leave, either. I like it here. The clinic is a great place to work, and I’ve left my old life behind. I don’t want to pack up and start all over again somewhere else.”
“I’m sorry to put you in this position,” Jennifer said again. “Why did she come here? I’m sure it wasn’t an accident that she chose our clinic.”
Pat sighed. “I don’t know,” he said. “You’re right, she’s here for a reason. I’m sure she’s up to something. I just don’t know what.”
“I hope that we can make it work,” Jennifer replied. “It’s been so nice over the past few weeks, with everyone getting along so well. It almost feels like a family to me.”
“It’s been a wonderful work atmosphere,” Pat agreed. “I’ve worked in plenty of places where no one wanted to turn up each day.”
“Well, I just hope it doesn’t change,” Jennifer said.
“We can only wait to see what tomorrow brings,” Pat replied. He looked directly at her. “I just want you to know that no matter how this works out, I don’t regret coming here,” he said. “It’s been worth every moment.”
He opened the car door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said and swung into the seat.
Jennifer watched him go with foreboding in her heart. She’d never seen him so shaken and apprehensive, and it was her own fault that he was suffering. If only she’d known.
Virginia followed Pat into his consulting room. He’d said little to her the day before when they’d worked together, but she could tell that he was shocked and unhappy that she’d come to work with him. Since the divorce, he’d refused to speak to her. He’d told her that everything was finalized, and he just wanted to get on with his life. He could see no reason for further communication. They were not friends; it had not been an amicable separation. She refused to dwell on her part in it, instead choosing to focus on the future. A future that included Pat, if she had her way.
But she would have to play her game carefully. She would have to make it appear that she had no interest in him beyond the workplace. She knew he was already suspicious of her motives for being here; that couldn’t be helped since she’d turned up at his workplace. She would have to be patient, and carefully work through her strategies. When they got back together, she wanted Pat to think it was his idea.
But even as she was planning her next move, Pat turned to face her.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at,” he told her. “But whatever it is, it won’t be affecting me or the patients. I won’t tolerate it. It’s no accident that you’re here. What do you want?”
“Nothing,” she said innocently. “I saw the ad for a nurse here, and thought I might like to get away from the city for a while. How was I to know you worked here?” She didn’t tell him about the extensive search she’d undertaken to find him, nor about how the truth had finally been revealed accidentally by a former colleague.
His eyes narrowed. “If you think I’m stupid enough to believe that, then you’re crazy,” he told her, his Irish accent becoming more pronounced. It was one of the ways that she could tell he was upset. “I’m not interested in playing games and I won’t be a part of whatever you’re scheming. Let’s get that clear right away. When we’re in this room, it’s strictly professional. Not a word of the past or private matters. Got it?”
She nodded demurely. “Got it. Just the way I want it, too.”
He looked at her hard for a long moment then turned away. “As long as it’s clear,” he said.
Virginia looked around the room. Some things stayed the same, she thought wryly. Pat still left his belongings everywhere and he still had the same old photos and memorabilia that he’d had in his office years ago. It was both comforting and vaguely disturbing that he hadn’t changed.
After Virginia’s arrival, the clinic settled into an uneasy routine. Jennifer and the other staff felt as if they were tiptoeing around Pat and Virginia, worried lest they say or do something that might be regarded as inappropriate by one or the other. The easy camaraderie was gone, replaced by a wary tension. The lighthearted banter ceased as each person concentrated on their own tasks, trying not to pay too much attention to the others.
But the biggest change was in Pat. Jennifer felt sad one day as she realized that she no longer heard his happy whistle heading up the hallway to his room. The patients no longer came out grinning over his silly jokes, and Pat stopped lingering at the reception desk to talk to her. It was as if the candle that lit up his presence had been snuffed out, leaving a quiet, wary shell behind. Jennifer hated the change in him, and was constantly reminded that she was directly responsible for it. He’d withdrawn to a place inside himself that no one else could reach, and in shutting out the world, he’d shut her out, too. She missed him.
Virginia, of course, had no idea how her arrival had impacted the spirit of the clinic. As the days passed and she settled into her new role, Jennifer started to see glimpses of the strong-willed woman beneath the calm exterior. As Virginia began to assert herself in subtle ways, Jennifer realized that she would make a formidable opponent. It would be interesting to see how long it would take for her true colors to show. Jennifer had the uneasy feeling that there would be a confrontation one day, and she was concerned that it might hurt Pat. She still remembered Sarah’s warning about him, but so far, she’d only seen a kind and caring man who didn’t deserve to be hurt again by the woman who’d broken his heart. Jennifer was torn between wanting to protect him and heeding Sarah’s advice to stay away from him. She could hear her friend’s voice telling her to leave matters alone; that he deserved whatever came to him because of all the hearts he’d broken. It was a dilemma that she couldn’t resolve.
Chapter 7
As the weeks passed, Pat seemed to come to terms with having his ex-wife in his space day after day. He started smiling again, and so did the patients. Jennifer heaved a sigh of relief; perhaps the whole nasty situation was going to be workable, after all. Her admiration for Pat grew; it couldn’t be easy to wake up each day and face the woman who broke his heart.
One day, she was about to enter Pat’s room with a message for him when low voices stopped her. She paused, not wanting to intrude on a personal conversation, unsure if she should just go back to her desk.
“I’ve told you before, this is work,” Pat said, exasperation in his tone. “We will not be discussing personal matters here.”
“But you won’t talk to me anywhere else,” Virginia wheedled. “You owe it to me to talk about what went wrong between us.”
“No, I don’t,” Pat told her firmly.
“Can we go out for dinner? That’s outside of work hours.”
There was a pause. “Alright,” Pat sighed, resignation in his voice. “We can go out for dinner tonight. I’m free then. But I don’t know what you think this is going to achieve.”
> “Oh, thank you, Pat!” Virginia exclaimed. “You’ve made me so happy!”
Jennifer backed away and returned quietly to her desk, feeling anxious and uneasy. Guilt ate at her; she felt bad for eavesdropping, even though it had been unintentional. But one thing was clear: Virginia wanted something from Pat. And despite his reluctance to allow her back into his life, he’d given in. What else would she persuade him to do?
Two weeks later, Jennifer was sitting at her desk, trying to ignore the vibes flowing around the office. Virginia had started to assert herself amongst the other staff, through her strong personality alone since she was new and had no other authority. She’d also taken to dropping hints about how she and Pat were doing things together outside of work, and generally looked smug and self-satisfied.
“That woman!” growled Belinda, handing Jennifer a report.
“Who?”
“Virginia, of course. No one else is so annoying!”
“What’s she done now?”
“She’s trying to undermine my relationship with Carl,” Belinda said. “She told him that I made a mistake the other day when it was actually her. And she’s told him that I rush through my work.”
“That’s not true,” Jennifer defended her friend. “You and I both know that you are very thorough. Carl knows that, too.”
“It’s not the only trouble she’s causing. She’s been going around dropping hints that you’re interested in Pat, then counters that by telling us all about the things they’ve been doing together.”
Jennifer felt anger growing inside her but forced herself to remain calm. “She’s a troublemaker,” she said. “I don’t know what her motives are but I won’t be trusting her to tell the truth. She’s here for a purpose, I’m sure of it. I just don’t know what it is yet.”
“Well, we’ll both be keeping an eye on her,” Belinda said. “I don’t trust her, either.”
Later that day, Pat came out of his office and handed Jennifer an information pack.