A Single Dad at Heathermere

by Abigail Gordon

  Life in the apartments was all right, Jon thought that night as he recalled the conversation he’d had with his mother. Soon after she’d moved in Laura had suggested that she make the evening meal for them all, so that he wouldn’t have to cook when the late surgery was over. Knowing that it irked her to always be on the receiving end of his thoughtfulness, he’d agreed.

  So a routine had established itself with the four of them eating together in her apartment, with the children chattering about their day at school and the two doctors discussing what had been going on downstairs in the surgery.

  Once they’d cleared away the dishes they separated for the rest of the evening and didn’t meet up again, unless one of them invited the other across the landing for a bedtime drink.

  That he often lay thinking about Laura as he lay in his solitary bed was something that Jon kept to himself, along with his reluctance to leave her after they’d had that last drink of the day.

  He sighed and leaned back in his chair, gazing unseeingly at his computer. He was noticing things about her that had never registered before. The way her eyes sparkled when she was happy. How she bit into her bottom lip with even white teeth when she was undecided about something. But most of all he was aware of how good she was with Abby. If Laura had no tender leanings towards him, it wasn’t so with his daughter.

  He and Liam were getting on well too. When they were all together the small boy was always by his side, wanting to play football or cricket, and when they went off to the recreation ground and left Abby and Laura doing their thing, he thought that maybe Liam’s need for a father figure was as great as Abby’s longing for Laura’s company.

  They were bonding, Liam and himself. So were Abby and Laura. But what of themselves? They were friendly enough down below in the surgery and here up above, but sometimes he saw a look in her eyes that contradicted the smile on her mouth and he wished he knew why. With another heavy sigh, he finished up and went upstairs.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  AS THEY were tidying up after the evening meal on a balmy night in early August, Jon said, ‘Do you fancy a stroll by the river before the light goes?’ Laura looked at him questioningly and he added, ‘There is something I want to discuss with you.’

  She was immediately curious about what it could be, but knew one thing that it would not be. Their relationship had settled down into a pleasant sort of camaraderie, with Jon making no demands of her other than in the practice, the children happy in each other’s company, and Laura herself taking each day as it came, content to be near him and lost when they disappeared into their separate apartments.

  ‘Yes, all right,’ she agreed, and went to tell the children they were going for a walk along the riverbank. They didn’t need to be asked twice. To them it was an exciting place with canoeists paddling past and the wildlife that the water attracted along its banks.

  As they strolled along, a flock of Canada geese flew in formation overhead, with the setting sun behind them, and Laura thought how wonderful it was to be back in this place that she knew every inch of, with those that she loved so much.

  Jon would always have a place in her heart. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t loved him. Liam was flesh of her flesh, her cherished son, and Abby, the loving, dark-haired child who trusted and loved her in return, was another precious source of joy.

  The children were running on in front and as if Jon was tuning into her thoughts he took her hand in his, gave it a squeeze and said, ‘Does it remind you of us way back, Laura?’

  ‘Everything reminds me of the old days,’ she told him, and was tempted to tell him, You most of all, but an elderly man was coming towards them. She’d seen him around the village a few times and remembered him from way back. His name was George Lacey and when he drew level he stopped, ready for a chat.

  ‘Evening to you both,’ he said, and with his faded blue gaze on Laura, he added, ‘It’s Laura Hewitt, isn’t it? Welcome back, my dear. You’ve been gone too long, hasn’t she, Jon?’

  ‘I think I can agree with that,’ Jon replied, letting her hand go. ‘How are you, George? It seems a while since I saw you at the surgery.’

  The old man chuckled. ‘You’re not sorry, are you? I know I’m not. It’s because you’ve been looking after me too well.’ He turned to Laura. ‘I’ve never married, but if I’d had a son I would have wanted him to be like this fellow here. And talking of sons, I believe that you’ve got a young lad of your own.’

  ‘Yes. I have, George,’ she told him with a smile. ‘He’s five years old and his name is Liam.’

  ‘So he’ll be the next one climbing over my fence to do some scrumping off my apple trees, will he?’ he said good-humouredly. ‘Like the two of you used to do.’ He pointed to a solid-looking limestone house not a hundred yards away. ‘How about calling your young ’uns back and joining me in a glass of home-made elderflower cordial?’

  ‘Yes, why not?’ Jon said, and Laura realised that while she’d been gone, Jon and George had formed an affectionate relationship.

  As they all sat around a big wooden table with glasses of elderflower cordial in front of them, in the centre of a kitchen cluttered with fishing tackle, George said to Liam, ‘Your mother and Abby’s dad used to come along here when they were your age. When they weren’t at school they used to roam all over the place. I never saw one without the other, and I’ve a feeling that you children are going to be the same. Am I right, Jon?’

  ‘I think you could be,’ he said, smiling across at the children. ‘Abby and Liam get on well together, just like Laura and I used to. It’s a shame that we all have to grow up.’ His glance was on her and Laura saw regret in it and something else that she couldn’t quite put a name to.

  ‘We’re going to have to make tracks I’m afraid, George,’ he said, as if bringing his thoughts back from a far-away place. ‘It’s school in the morning for our two young ones and bedtime is approaching.’

  ‘Aye, all right,’ George said as he got slowly to his feet. ‘But do remember that you’re welcome any time. It’s nice to have some younger blood around the place.’

  ‘He’s a great old guy,’ Jon said as he waved them goodbye. ‘George is content with what he’s got and there aren’t many of us who can say that.’

  ‘Are you speaking personally?’ she asked.

  ‘I might be.’

  ‘Why? You have Abby and your wonderful mother…and the practice.’

  ‘Yes, I know. I’m a lucky man.’

  ‘So?’

  I want more, he thought. I want you, Laura. And in that moment all his restlessness and yearnings crystallised. He was in love with her. Totally, committedly, in love for the first time in his life, and with the realisation of it he was speechless.

  When he turned to face her she was still waiting for an explanation, and all he could do was shrug and call to the children who were once again way ahead of them to slow down.

  He was silent as they walked the rest of the way back to the apartments and when they reached the landing opposite their front doors he said briefly, ‘Goodnight, Laura. See you in the morning.’

  Which she took to mean they wouldn’t be having a last drink of the day together. So what had happened to wipe out the happy atmosphere down by the river and in George’s house? she wondered. It couldn’t have been anything she’d said as Jon and his old friend had done most of the talking.

  With Abby fast asleep, Jon was lying wide awake in bed, thinking that he must have been blind and stupid to have let Laura disappear from his life all that time ago. Yet deep down he knew it wouldn’t have made any difference. It had been Kezia he’d wanted. Laura had been like a wistful shadow in the background that he’d wished would go away, and she had.

  She’d become the calm, independent woman that she was now at the same time that he’d been facing up to his responsibilities, and he’d fallen in love with her. It wasn’t just an attraction that he felt. He was deeply and achingly in love. So much so that she wa
s never out of his mind for a second. The tenderness she aroused in him made his heart melt, and his loins ached for her with a passion that he’d never known the like of before.

  So what was he going to do about it? Nothing for the moment, he thought. They were getting on well together, yet was it just because of the children? There were no signs that Laura returned his feelings and having spoilt things once long ago, he wasn’t going to risk it again unless he was sure that she loved him in return.

  He had learned to be patient, was no longer the impetuous youth he’d been then. So there was no way he was going to go and knock on her door and ask her to marry him at this moment, much as he longed to do so.

  Unaware of the tumult of emotion that Jon was coping with, Laura did some ironing, washed her hair and, after watching the late news on television, went to bed. Her last thought before drifting off to sleep was that he’d never told her what it was he’d wanted to discuss.

  The next morning Jon was his usual self, with no signs of the withdrawn attitude of the night before. Having decided that she wasn’t going to question him about it, Laura greeted him in a similar manner and the day began its course.

  It was almost midday. Jon and Tim had set off on their house calls and Laura was about to do the same when a phone call came through from the Bun and Muffin, the café in the main street of the village, a cheerful little place where good food was served. It attracted a lot of the walkers who passed through Heathermere on their way to the peaks and the moors beyond.

  The message was that someone had collapsed in the café and would a doctor come quickly? Deciding that it was as quick to walk as to drive there, Laura grabbed her bag and hurried down the street.

  When she opened the door the first thing she saw was a middle-aged man on the floor, unconscious and having the convulsions associated with an epileptic seizure. Ellie Thompson, who owned the café, was kneeling beside him while a scattering of customers were standing around, bemused by the drama that had interrupted their morning coffee.

  Laura moved swiftly to his side and told the young café owner, ‘OK, Ellie, let me have a look at him. Good that you’ve put something soft under his head. Can you tell me how long he’s been unconscious for?’

  ‘By now about ten minutes, I think,’ said Ellie, as Laura checked his response, pulse and breathing, and made sure the clothing at his neck was loose.

  ‘OK, that’s a long time so could you ring for an ambulance, please, Ellie?’ The convulsions had stopped but he hadn’t come round. Thankfully he was still breathing. Laura put him carefully onto his side in the recovery position and asked, ‘Does anyone know who this man is?’

  It seemed not. No one came up with a name, which wasn’t all that surprising as he was dressed, like many of his kind, in walking clothes.

  When the ambulance had arrived and taken him on board, the atmosphere in the café lightened. Laura reassured Ellie that she had done all the right things by making him comfortable and keeping him safe from injury.

  ‘The hospital will sort him out now,’ she told the worried café owner. ‘The poor man will wonder where he is when he comes round, but they’ll explain what happened and find out if this has happened before, and make appropriate arrangements afterwards. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.’

  ‘Thanks, Laura. Can I offer you a coffee and a scone before you dash off?’ Ellie asked.

  Laura shook her head. ‘Don’t tempt me, Ellie. I’d love to linger, but I’ve got some home visits to make and I’m sure that those on my list wouldn’t want to think I’d been snacking in here while they were waiting to see me.’

  As she walked back to the surgery to get her car, Laura was thinking about what had happened. It was no wonder Ellie had been apprehensive. It could be quite frightening to see someone having a seizure but, in many cases, a person diagnosed with epilepsy would come out of it within a few minutes and be fine. But some cases were more complicated, such as for this man, and an ambulance would be necessary. She hoped Ellie was feeling a bit better now.

  When she arrived back after doing her house calls Tim was there before her and he said, ‘Jon has phoned to say that he’s finished his calls and is going into town for an hour to do some shopping. I’ve put the kettle on so shall we have our lunch?’

  She nodded and wondered why Jon hadn’t mentioned going shopping earlier. But he didn’t have to report all his movements to her, did he? She would have been dumbstruck if she’d known he was heading for a jeweller’s with her in mind.

  He was crazy Jon thought when he came out of the shop. He’d just bought a ring that might never rest on Laura’s finger. But the buying of it had made him feel more positive in his mind. More optimistic that on the day when the right moment came along she would be impressed to know just how long the circle of sapphires and diamonds had been waiting for her.

  She was up in the apartment, looking for a medical journal that she wanted to refer to, when he came back, and as he paused by her open front door she noticed that he didn’t have any carrier bags with him.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘What’s new?’

  ‘Not a lot,’ she told him. ‘I was called out to the Bun and Muffin just after you’d gone this morning. A man had a seizure.’

  ‘Did he come out of it all right?’

  ‘More or less. The convulsions stopped but he’d been unconscious for more than ten minutes, so we called an ambulance. I’ve just called the hospital to check up on him and he’s doing OK now. Anyway, did you enjoy your shopping trip?’

  ‘Hmm. Yes. I think so.’

  His gaze was on her hands and she looked down to see why, but couldn’t see any reason for it and said, ‘Last night you said you wanted to discuss something with me.’

  ‘Yes, I know I did, but there is no urgency. It can wait. It’s almost time for afternoon surgery and the waiting room will be filling up.’ And on that reminder they went downstairs to involve themselves with practice matters once more.

  When Jon came back upstairs at the end of the day he came into her kitchen where she was putting the finishing touches to the meal, and said, ‘I’m thinking of letting Abby have riding lessons and wondered how you would feel about Liam having them, too. It would be my treat, if that’s all right with you, and if they take to it maybe they could each have a pony of their own one day,’

  He saw her stiffen and when she looked up from what she was doing there was a spot of bright red colour on each cheek and he knew that somehow he’d hit the wrong note.

  ‘It’s kind of you to think of him,’ she said quietly, ‘but, no, Jon. I’m afraid that it isn’t all right with me.’

  ‘Why ever not?’ he exclaimed. ‘Is it because you think he’s too young?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘So it’s that pride of yours again.’

  ‘Yes. If that’s what you want to call it. I have nothing against Liam learning to ride. I know that we both did and loved it. But I don’t want him doing it at your expense.’

  He was angry now. “What are you on about? I want to pay for Liam’s riding lessons because to me he’s like a son. The son I might never have. Why are you always so touchy when I try to please you? Am I still not forgiven for what I did all that time ago?’

  ‘Of course it’s not that. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t “do” anything.’

  He was calming down. ‘Why are we arguing, Laura? The main thing is whether you would be prepared to allow Liam to have riding lessons.’

  ‘Yes, of course I would.’

  ‘Good. Abby will be delighted when she knows they are both going to learn how to ride. I know someone who has riding stables. They are at the top of Rabbit Lane, and the owner is called Sarah Carpenter. When she first came to Heathermere I was asked to make her welcome by someone that I knew, so I took her to a party and while she was there I introduced her to the man she has married.’

  ‘So it was the riding lessons you wanted to discuss with me last night.’

  ‘Er, not exactly. I h
ad something else in mind.’

  ‘What was it?’

  ‘As our social lives are somewhat restricted, I wonder if we could go out for the evening some time. I could book a table somewhere and my mother would come over to be with the children, if you haven’t any objections to that suggestion.’

  She felt like weeping. Jon was kind and considerate and she didn’t deserve it. He had their welfare at heart all the time, hers and Liam’s, and she repaid him by throwing his generosity back in his face, too proud and stubborn for her own good.

  ‘I’d love to go out for the evening,’ she said awkwardly. ‘I can’t remember when last I did anything like that.’

  ‘Good. So how about this coming Saturday when we won’t have been on the run at the surgery all day?’

  ‘Yes,’ she agreed immediately.

  ‘No need to get dressed up. Just be the Laura that I know for once,’ was his parting shot as he went to see what the children were doing.

  In other words, he didn’t want to be dazzled and swept off his feet, she thought. He just wanted good old Laura across the table from him in some restaurant. As she dished out the meal Laura sensed that there’d been a veiled rebuke in what he’d said, and the pleasure of just the two of them socialising together was draining away.

  Clearly Jon wasn’t enraptured with the person that she’d become, but what did he expect her to be? The same good-natured innocent who hadn’t been able to endure watching him mess up his life with Kezia Carter?

  When she looked up he was standing in the kitchen doorway, taking in the food cooling on the plates and the cook staring into space. ‘Shall I take it in before it goes cold?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ she replied absently. ‘I’ll follow you with the gravy.’

  He didn’t linger after the meal, which for once had been a subdued affair, with the adults thinking their own thoughts and only the children finding something to chatter about.

  When Abby had been tucked up for the night Jon once more found himself trying to sort out his thoughts. He regretted laying down the law about the dinner date that Laura had agreed to. No wonder she was so often restrained in his presence. He was overpowering and bossy, always said the wrong thing, and it was clear that she didn’t like it.