Chuckling at her enthusiasm, her father gave her the details. ‘See you soon, Kate. I love you.’
‘I love you, too.’
‘I presume there’s some reason other than for the pleasure of my company that you’ve come over here, face like thunder, to raid my fridge and wear a groove in my flooring?’ Kyle Sinclair drawled, lounging back in an armchair and taking a pull of his drink.
Scowling, Conor paced up and down Kyle’s small living room, tense and moody. It was Friday night and all he had done since the previous afternoon had been to pace and fret and torment himself with dark thoughts.
‘For goodness’ sake, Conor,’ Kyle complained. ‘Sit down and talk to me.’
‘You don’t want to hear about it.’
His friend gave a rough laugh. ‘I sure as hell don’t want to sit here and watch you walking up and down all evening. You’ve listened to me moan on about the mess I made of my marriage and the dismal state of my love life for heaven knows how many months. It’ll make a change to talk about yours. I assume this is about a woman?’ he added with a knowing smile.
Conor paused in his pacing to frown at Kyle. ‘What makes you assume a thing like that?’
‘Because you’re not usually so grumpy and I’ve never seen you like this before.’
‘Bloody women.’ Sighing, Conor dropped on to the sofa and picked up his own drink.
‘Amen to that,’ Kyle agreed with feeling, leaning forward to chink bottles. ‘So, what’s her name?’
‘Kate.’
‘Your new locum?’
‘Yeah.’
Conor’s frown deepened as he thought about the previous afternoon. He had been consoling Jenny when he had seen Kate in the corridor. He’d seen right away she had got the wrong idea about what had been going on and it had ticked him off no end, but he had also been concerned by the paleness of Kate’s face and the pain in her huge brown eyes. Unable to leave Jenny, who had needed privacy and time, he had gone along to Kate’s consulting room afterwards to find out what was wrong and challenge her about her misjudgement of him, but she had been on the phone, making arrangements for a visit from her father. With a busy afternoon of consultations and clinics, plus a minor emergency coming in, he had been unable to talk with her and things had been strained between them since.
‘I just don’t understand why she thinks the worst of me and has some warped view of me as some kind of rampant womaniser,’ he complained to Kyle, recounting the sorry tale, scared all his hopes and dreams were going to come to nothing and he might never win Kate round. If he didn’t, he was going to be the one who ended up with his heart broken.
‘You know that’s not me. I’m not going to tell her one moment that I want to spend time with her and then be messing with someone else.’ He let out a disgruntled huff of breath. ‘The signals Kate’s been giving are far from clear but she admitted she felt the connection between us, even if she’s wary of acting on it. Whether that’s because she’s here for a short time or because she’s been hurt before I don’t know.’ He slumped back against the cushions, feeling deflated. ‘Anyway, that’s why I’m here, as nervous and uncertain as a pathetic adolescent.’
Kyle smiled, his dark blue gaze amused but sympathetic. ‘Why don’t you do something about it if you care for her so much?’
‘Like what?’ Conor growled.
‘Throw her over your shoulder and whisk her off until she surrenders,’ his friend teased, earning himself another scowl.
‘I’m not the caveman type. And I don’t want to upset her.’ He dragged his fingers through his hair in agitation. ‘I know something’s wrong, Kyle, something bad that’s making her hurt inside. She needs gentle handling, not have me charging in like some unfeeling macho idiot. Especially if she already has the wrong impression of me.’
‘Talk to her, then.’
Conor sighed, setting down his drink. ‘Believe me, I’ve tried, but I don’t get anywhere. There are so many mysteries about Kate and it’s so difficult to get close to her. It’s like peeling back layers of tissue paper but the image underneath never clears because there are always more and more layers.’
‘I hope you’re not setting yourself up for trouble, Conor. You said before there were unanswered questions about her CV and why she was working with you. Are you really sure about her?’ Kyle fretted, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.
‘I’ve never felt like this before, Kyle, but I just know Kate’s the one for me. Whether I can ever convince her of that is another matter,’ he admitted, voicing his inner fears.
‘I’m hardly qualified to give advice when it comes to relationships after the way I’ve screwed up mine.’ Kyle took another drink, a frown on his face. ‘But if you feel this strongly, follow your heart. Just be careful. Please. I don’t want to see you get hurt, Conor.’
‘Kate’s an excellent doctor—although she doesn’t believe in herself right now—and the patients love her.’ Hell, he loved her, but he wasn’t confessing that aloud, not while he was so wary of his ground and of ever winning Kate’s trust. ‘She’s smart and kind and she has a true natural beauty. But something is hurting inside her. I can’t find out what it is but I can see the building tension and panic in her eyes. She’s trying hard to fight it but it’s as if she’s hanging onto her control like a climber without a safety rope who’s gripping the only available hand hold with her fingertips and is starting to slip. I’m scared for her, Kyle. What’s going to happen to her when that inevitable fall comes?’
‘You be there to catch her, buddy, and you hang on tight.’
‘I plan to—’ he looked up, meeting his friend’s understanding dark blue gaze ‘—if she’ll let me.’
CHAPTER SIX
KATE looked at the surly teenager slumped on the chair by her desk and smothered a sigh. Fred had offered to switch Saturday surgery with her, knowing of her weekend visitor, but she had declined, anxious to pull her weight and having taken the previous afternoon off to collect her father from Prestwick airport. It had been wonderful to see him. This morning he was content to wander along the seafront and explore the village while she worked, but faced with Lindsay Graham and her mother she was beginning to wish she had accepted Fred’s offer after all.
Her list had included two patients with gastroenteritis, one with angina, one with allergic rhinitis, one sent to hospital with suspected appendicitis, a baby with earache and a young man suffering the after-effects of a binge-drinking night out, which had resulted in him falling off the sea wall, grazing his face, spraining his wrist and bruising his ego. She had been unable to cure the latter symptom but had recommended a more modest consumption rate and some self-control in future. Self-control made her think of Conor, which was not a good idea, given how close her own was to slipping where he was concerned, even though she had yet to solve the Jenny issue, which had given her two sleepless nights so far. She pushed the thoughts aside and concentrated on the glowering teenager and her over-anxious mother.
‘Mrs Graham,’ she began again, summoning her patience and resisting the temptation to call for reinforcements. ‘I think it would be better if you waited outside while I see Lindsay.’
‘But she’s my daughter, she’s only fourteen! She doesn’t have secrets from me,’ the woman wailed, and Kate glanced at Lindsay who rolled her eyes as only a teenager could, willing to bet there were all manner of secrets between mother and daughter. ‘It’s my right to be here.’
‘It’s my right to some privacy and I don’t want you here,’ Lindsay riposted rudely.
Rising to her feet, Kate rounded the desk, her tone placating. ‘This isn’t getting us anywhere, is it? Mrs Graham, please, will you sit in the waiting room for a short while? I’ll call you back in when we’re ready.’
Kate accompanied the reluctant Sara Graham to Reception where Aileen took charge, assessing the situation at once and organising a cup of coffee for the nervy mother, sitting her down with some magazines so Kate could escape
back to her consulting room to face the difficult teenager.
‘OK, Lindsay,’ she began. ‘Let’s start again. Can you tell me how you are feeling?’
The girl gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘I just feel off-colour. Achy and low. And I’ve had a sore throat for a while.’
‘Is it all right if I check you over?’
‘S’pose,’ she agreed uncooperatively.
Kate carried out her examination, finding that the glands in Lindsay’s neck were a little enlarged and tender. Her throat was inflamed but not infected, and there were characteristic petechiae or small reddish-purple spots in the mouth, which helped confirm her suspicions on the cause of the teenager’s problems.
‘Has swallowing been painful, Lindsay?’
Again the disinterested shrug. ‘It’s sore but it hasn’t stopped me eating or talking.’
‘And you’ve had some pain? Does that include headaches?’
‘Yes,’ the girl agreed.
Kate nodded. ‘Have you felt feverish at all?’
‘A bit. Yes. I’m so tired and haven’t any energy to do anything. What do you think it is?’
‘I suspect you have glandular fever, Lindsay. I’m sure you feel quite weak and achy but that will pass,’ Kate reassured her. The girl’s symptoms were fairly moderate and she had detected no enlargement or tenderness of the spleen. ‘I need to take some blood to be tested to ensure nothing else is going on.’
Lindsay remained quiet as Kate did a few more routine checks, taking the blood sample before drawing off her gloves and returning to her desk. She was about to explain what Lindsay needed to do when the phone rang.
‘Excuse me a moment, Lindsay,’ she apologised.
‘Kate, I’m sorry,’ Aileen said when she answered the phone. ‘Conor’s here and has calmed Sara Graham down, but she’s anxious to return to her daughter.’
‘Just a moment.’ Kate put her hand over the mouthpiece and looked at Lindsay. ‘Do you mind if your mother comes back now we’ve finished the examination?’ She took the halfhearted nod as agreement. ‘All right, Aileen. Thank you.’
Sara Graham arrived, with Conor following. Wondering why he was there on his Saturday off, Kate met his gaze, seeing his sympathetic smile, knowing he understood and was waiting to see if there was anything he could do. Rather than seeing it as interference, Kate welcomed the back-up, even if she was very aware of him.
‘Sit down, please, Mrs Graham,’ Kate said.
‘What’s the matter with Lindsay?’
‘It’s nothing very serious,’ she said soothingly. ‘Lindsay has glandular fever and—’
‘But that’s the kissing disease, isn’t it?’ The woman’s eyes widened and she swung round to engage her daughter. ‘What have you been doing, Lindsay? Have you been seeing a boy?’
Lindsay slouched on the chair. ‘Mother, you are so ridiculous.’
‘That’s only one of the ways of catching it,’ Kate intervened, keen to prevent another family dispute.
‘See.’ Lindsay smirked at her mother. ‘Don’t you know anything?’
‘But, Lindsay!’ Mrs Graham fretted.
Conor stepped forward and Kate nodded as he raised a querying eyebrow, welcoming his help. ‘Sara, this isn’t relevant. Why not let Kate explain what help Lindsay needs now?’
‘All right.’ The woman glanced up at Conor with a tremulous smile. ‘If you think so.’
‘Daddy said she only insisted on bringing me so she could flutter her eyelashes at you, Dr Anderson.’
Mrs Graham flushed and turned to remonstrate with her daughter. Kate tried not to look at Conor but couldn’t help it, seeing him make a face behind Mrs Graham’s back, doing an impossibly good impression of Lindsay rolling her eyes. She looked away, managing to turn her burst of laughter into a smothered cough. The man was outrageous. Clearing her throat, she focused on the notes, composing herself before returning her attention to her patient, trying to ignore Conor’s distracting presence.
‘Mrs Graham, we’ll test the blood sample to ensure there is nothing else. For now Lindsay needs lots of rest and plenty of fluids. I’ll prescribe paracetamol for the aches and temperature.’
‘What about antibiotics?’ the woman fussed.
‘Glandular fever is caused by a virus, Mrs Graham. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses, they help treat bacterial infections.’
Mrs Graham turned to look at Conor. ‘Is that right?’
‘Exactly as Kate told you,’ he replied, and Kate appreciated the way he insisted the woman take note of her own opinion and not keep questioning him.
‘But Lindsay could be ill for months with glandular fever, couldn’t she?’ Sara fretted. ‘What will we do?’
Unable to prevent a glance towards Conor, she warmed at the encouragement in his eyes. ‘Most people recover in a few weeks and do not go on to have complications. Lindsay will feel tired during that time, and maybe for a short while afterwards, but she should soon show signs of improvement.’ Kate turned to the sulky teenager. ‘Lindsay, you must drink plenty of fluids and rest. No rough or contact sports for at least a couple of months. You should both know that it is advisable not to share towels, cups and so on and…’ She paused, daring another look at Conor for support, anxious not to spark off another mother/daughter row. ‘Avoid close contact and kissing.’
‘We need to discuss that,’ Mrs Graham stated.
Lindsay rolled her eyes again. ‘Mother.’
‘Close contact and kissing also means with family and friends,’ Conor clarified, hopefully excavating them from another difficult moment.
Kate smiled and rose to her feet, eager to end the torturous consultation. ‘Come back and see me in ten days, Lindsay. We’ll assess how you feel then, and we’ll have the result of your blood test. If you feel worse in the meantime or want anything explained, phone me or come to the surgery,’ she added, handing over the paracetamol prescription.
Thankful that Conor followed the Grahams down the corridor to Reception to see them out, Kate sat down and phoned through to Aileen. ‘Is that it or do I have anyone else to see?’
‘No, pet,’ the practice manager reassured her. ‘You get yourself home and enjoy your weekend. Tom is here, waiting to take you to lunch.’
‘Thanks, Aileen.’
Eager to see her father, she wrote up her notes, logged off her computer and left the room.
Conor held the door open for Sara and Lindsay Graham, thankful when they took their leave. Poor Kate! Things might be tense between them but at least he’d made her laugh. Smiling, he turned towards the reception desk and saw that Aileen was talking with a distinguished-looking man he didn’t recognise. Dark-haired and dressed in casual but smart clothes, the man was tall and trim.
Aileen smiled and beckoned him over. ‘Have you met Kate’s father?’
Interested, Conor walked across to join them just as Kate came along the corridor. Her smile faltered as she saw them together and Conor’s curiosity increased. He waited in silence as Tom enveloped her in a hug, admitting to himself that he had popped in to return some notes, after being called out in the early hours, on the off chance there might be an opportunity to meet Tom Fisher.
‘Hello, darling. I gather you’ve had a busy morning.’
‘It’s been quite eventful.’ Kate drew back and Conor noted her wary expression as she glanced at him. ‘Thanks for your help with the Grahams.’
‘No problem.’
She looked uncomfortable, stepping closer to her father as if for comfort or protection. Either way, Conor didn’t like it. ‘Have you been introduced, Dad?’
‘Not yet.’ Her father smiled, the expression in his brown eyes, so like Kate’s, curious and open. ‘We were just about to take care of that when you joined us.’
‘This is Dr Conor Anderson. He’s one of the partners here at the Solway.’
‘Delighted to meet you.’ Tom smiled, holding out his hand.
Conor shook it, aware of Kate’s nervousness. ‘Hello,
Mr Fisher. It’s good you could visit. I hope you enjoy your stay in Glentown.’
‘Tom, please. And, thank you, I’m sure I shall have a lovely time.’ Tom turned to Kate and rested an arm around her shoulders. ‘My daughter settling in all right?’
‘Kate’s doing very well. We’re lucky to have her with us,’ Conor replied, meeting her anxious gaze with a smile.
‘Good, good. It’s a relief to know she’s making friends.’ The accompanying smile included Aileen. ‘Perhaps you’d care to join us for lunch? We’re having a snack at the local pub before going to explore St Ninian’s Cave while the weather holds.’
‘Dad, I’m sure Conor has other plans.’
Kate’s rush to dismiss him brought out his stubborn streak. ‘Not at all. I’d be delighted to accept,’ he agreed, seeing Kate’s expression close.
‘Splendid!’ The older man turned to Aileen. ‘Would you be free to come, too, my dear?’
‘Well, I—That’s very kind of you,’ Aileen murmured, clearly flustered, her freckled cheeks pinkening.
Conor glanced at Kate, pleased that she was more amused than upset by her father’s interest in Aileen. He wished he could invite them all to his house for a meal, not having had the chance to take Kate there yet, but he held back, knowing Kate would want to spend time alone with her father that weekend. As they waited for Aileen to collect her things, Conor saw Kate murmuring to her father. He met Tom’s gaze and saw the older man’s puzzled expression. What had she said?
If he hoped to learn more about Kate’s mysterious past over lunch, he was disappointed. They had an enjoyable time but there was no opportunity to steer the conversation towards more personal topics. Tom was warm and funny—it was easy to see where Kate had acquired her intelligence and kindness of spirit—and Conor took to the man straight away, finding someone who shared his interest in the environment and who was keen to learn about local history. Kate seemed on edge throughout their meal and he wondered if she was scared her father would let something slip. Frustration gnawed at him. He still didn’t know what the problems were and what Kate was hiding.
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