‘Good morning, Staff. I wanted to take a look at Lauren’s ankle, if it’s convenient.’
She swung round when she recognised Luke’s voice. She’d been so deep in thought that she hadn’t heard him approaching. She saw his brows rise when she failed to answer and hurriedly dragged her mind back to the job.
‘Of course, Dr Fabrizzi. I’ll draw the curtains.’ She swished the curtains around the bed, earning herself a smile.
‘Thank you.’ His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he turned to Lauren. Maggie let out her breath in a small hiss. Her nerves felt as though they had been shot to pieces, her pulse was racing, her heart was beating far more rapidly than it normally did, yet she had no idea why. A visit by a doctor to a patient wasn’t something to get upset about!
Unless that doctor was Luke Fabrizzi, a small voice whispered insidiously.
‘Rubbish!’ She didn’t realise that she’d spoken out loud until she saw Luke glance round. ‘Um, this rubbish that’s dropping off the ceiling is causing all sorts of problems,’ she quickly ad libbed.
‘I can imagine.’ He frowned as another shower of plaster flakes drifted down on them. ‘Does Roger Hopkins know about this?’
‘Yes. He should be here any minute to take a look.’ She broke off as Tracy Penrose, their third-year student, waved to her. ‘I think that’s him now, in fact.’
‘Fine. I’ve finished here.’ He smiled at Lauren. ‘Everything is looking good, you’ll be pleased to hear. I believe you’re going to physio this afternoon?’
‘That’s right. I have an appointment for two-thirty.’ Lauren plucked at a loose thread on the bedspread. ‘When will I be going home, Dr Fabrizzi? Have you any idea?’
‘Probably Friday afternoon, although you’ll need to come back several times a week for physiotherapy.’
Lauren brightened. ‘Oh, good! I don’t suppose it’s possible to choose the days you come for physio, is it?’
Luke shrugged, although Maggie could tell that he was surprised by the question. She hid her smile because she had a good idea why Lauren had asked it. ‘I’m sure the physiotherapist will do her best to accommodate you, Lauren. I suggest you have a word with her this afternoon and see what you can work out. OK?’
Lauren nodded happily as they left her bed. Maggie glanced back and laughed softly when she saw David making his way back up the ward. ‘I think Cupid has been firing off one of his arrows.’
Luke looked round and his face broke into a smile as he saw the young man perch on the edge of Lauren’s bed. ‘Oh, I see. Does that explain why she was so keen to choose the time for her physiotherapy appointments?’
‘So that she can meet David while she’s there?’ Maggie nodded. ‘I expect so. He’s going to need physio as well. I imagine they’ve worked out a plan so that they can meet in the coming weeks.’
‘I take it that there are problems about them seeing each other? Anything to do with Mrs Atkins, by any chance?’
His tone was so dry that she laughed. ‘How did you guess? Still, they say that the course of true love never runs smoothly, don’t they?’
‘So they do, although I’m no expert. Anyway, if it makes them both happy then good luck to them. They’re both old enough to know what they are doing.’
‘Oh, I agree. Hopefully, Lauren will learn to stand up for herself soon.’ Maggie sighed. ‘Although I’m not the one who should be saying that, am I? Not when you think about the problems I have with my own family.’
‘Well, you know the answer to it, Maggie.’
Was he right? If they teamed up, would it be the solution to her problems as well as his? She still couldn’t decide but there was no time to stand there debating it. Roger Hopkins was waiting to speak to her and she had a ward full of patients needing her attention. It spurred her into making a suggestion she might not have made otherwise.
‘Look, can you meet me at lunchtime, Luke? I’d like to discuss your idea again, to make sure that we’d be doing the right thing.’
‘Lunch is out, I’m afraid. I’m due in Theatre soon and I don’t know what time I’ll finish. The list is never-ending today. I tell you what, why don’t we make it after work instead?’
She knew it made sense. They needed to talk through the pros and cons of this plan before she made a decision. ‘Fine by me. Where and when?’
‘I’ll collect you and we can go for a drink.’ He checked his watch then started edging away. ‘I’ll have to go. See you about eight?’
‘Fine,’ Maggie agreed. She determinedly focused on the problems caused by the dust as she showed Roger Hopkins around, refusing to let herself think about the coming evening. After all, it wasn’t as though she had anything to worry about. If she did decide to go along with Luke’s plan, it would be purely a means to an end. It wasn’t as though they would actually become lovers…
Her mind stalled at that point and maybe it was a blessing. She certainly didn’t want to follow that thought through to any kind of conclusion!
CHAPTER FOUR
IT TOOK Maggie ages to decide what to wear that night. Nothing seemed quite right and she lost count of the number of times she changed outfits. In the end she opted for the casual look—khaki-green cargo pants teamed with a cream, V-necked T-shirt. The blister on her heel was still a little tender so comfortable backless mules were the answer.
At least Luke wouldn’t think that she was trying to impress him, she thought as she looked in the mirror. Good! If they were going to join forces then she intended to start as she meant to go on, and that meant keeping things on a strictly business footing.
He arrived a few minutes after eight and she hurried down to the door as soon as he rang the bell. She had her bag with her plus a sweater and he nodded approvingly when he saw that she was ready to leave.
‘Great. We can get straight off. Robin told me about this little pub on the way to Ulverston so I thought we’d go there. He spoke very highly of it.’
She laughed. ‘Probably because they sell real ale. Robin is a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to beer,’ she explained when he looked at her curiously.
He groaned. ‘By real ale do you mean that the beer is warm and the colour of treacle?’
‘Not necessarily.’ She grinned. ‘It could be warm and taste like treacle if we’re really unlucky!’
He shook his head in despair. ‘Can’t they teach someone in this country to brew beer the way it’s supposed to be brewed? And then show them how to chill it?’
‘No chance. We like our beer just the way it is, dark and warm!’ she retorted, following him down the steps. There was a smart silver saloon parked by the kerb and her brows rose when he stopped beside it. ‘Yours? I am impressed.’
‘Mine for the next six months, anyway. And don’t be too impressed.’ He opened the door with a flourish and grinned at her. ‘It was the only model the rental company could offer me that had an automatic shift, or gears as you folk prefer to call it. Driving on the wrong side of the road and having to change gear sounded like too much of a challenge to me!’
Maggie chuckled as she slid into the seat. ‘What do you mean, the wrong side of the road? We drive on the correct side—everyone else does it incorrectly!’
He rolled his eyes. ‘I’m definitely not getting into that argument. I know when I’m beaten!’
He closed her door then got into the driver’s side and started the engine. Maggie fastened her seat belt, wondering how he would fare, driving on the opposite side of the road. However, it soon became apparent that she needn’t have worried because he handled the car as though he’d driven that way all his life.
It was so typical of him, she thought, watching him expertly overtaking a car and caravan combination. Everything that Luke did, he did with panache. He was that sort of person. For some reason her heart filled with pleasure when she realised it.
They kept up an easy conversation on the way to the pub. Maggie was surprised to discover how alike their tastes were as they di
scussed books they’d read and films they’d seen. Luke loved old black-and-white movies, just as she did, and was very knowledgeable about the subject. The time flew past so that before she knew it he was turning the car down a narrow lane that ended at the river.
He parked beside a couple of other cars and switched off the engine. ‘We have to cross that bridge on foot, evidently. The pub is just behind those trees.’
Maggie’s brows rose as she stared across the river. ‘How on earth did Robin find his way here? It’s way off the beaten track.’
‘It is. Let’s just hope that it’s worth the hike.’ He got out of the car and glanced at her feet when she went to join him, grinning when he saw her footwear. ‘Well, they look a bit more comfortable than those sandals. How’s the blister doing, by the way?’
‘Fine. You have healing hands, Dr Fabrizzi—has anyone told you that?’ she teased.
‘Nobody who really counted,’ he retorted with a smile that sent her blood pressure soaring. Was it because he was so good-looking that she responded to him like this? she wondered as they crossed the footbridge. Possibly…
Definitely! she amended firmly, recalling her decision to start as she meant to go on.
The pub was tiny, with a low, beamed ceiling and walls that had once been painted cream but which had faded to a soft ochre colour with the passage of time. There was no jukebox, no games machine, no horse-brasses or great swathes of chintz. It was a simple country pub frequented by locals, and Maggie loved it on sight.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she declared, taking a seat by the window. Through it she could see the river flowing past, smooth as a sheet of glass, and beyond that the green sweep of the hills. ‘Have you ever seen a more beautiful view than that?’ she demanded when Luke came to join her, carrying their drinks.
‘I can’t say that I have.’ He set the glasses on the table then took a tentative sip of his drink. Maggie saw his brows rise in surprise. ‘It’s not only cold but it’s delicious, too.’
She chuckled as she took a sip of her shandy. ‘We’ll make a convert of you yet.’
‘You very well might.’ He sighed as he settled back in his chair and stared out of the window. ‘This has to be one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Everywhere is so green and lush, isn’t it?’
‘That’s because of the amount of rain we get here. Still, it’s worth it when you get a view like that,’ she observed quietly. ‘I love living here. Even when I go away on holiday, I’m always glad to come home.’
‘So you think that you’ll spend your life here in Dalverston?’ he queried. ‘You can’t imagine living anywhere else?’
‘Not at the moment, no.’ She shrugged, wondering why he seemed to be watching her so intently… She brushed aside that thought. ‘How about you? Where do you see yourself living in ten years’ time? Boston?’
‘It’s hard to say. At present I’m fairly happy with my lot but I tend not to plan too far ahead. I certainly wouldn’t rule out the possibility of moving someplace else to work. It would all depend on the offer.’
She took another sip of her drink, realising that he’d been telling the truth when he’d said that his life was geared to his work. He would go wherever it took him without a second thought. The idea was vaguely unsettling so she didn’t dwell on it because that wasn’t what they’d come to discuss. Setting her glass on a coaster, she got down to the reason they were there instead.
‘I may as well be straight with you, Luke, and admit that I’m tempted by what you suggested the other day.’
‘But?’ He smiled, looking so relaxed that it helped to allay her fears even before they discussed them. Like Maggie, he’d opted for the casual look that evening, and the jeans he was wearing with a ribbed black T-shirt suited him every bit as much as his usual garb of smartly tailored suits.
Maggie felt her heart perform its usual appreciative somersault and pasted a smile to her mouth. Luke was a good-looking man and no red-blooded woman could fail to notice that, as she’d decided once already that night. However, her reaction definitely meant no more than that.
‘But I’m concerned that we might be getting into deep waters if we go ahead with this plan. I don’t want to hurt my mother. If she ever found out that we’d deliberately set out to trick her…’
‘She won’t find out,’ he put in quickly. ‘It will be our secret, Maggie. Neither your family nor mine will ever find out the truth.’ He shrugged but his gaze was intent all of a sudden. ‘I don’t want anyone getting hurt either.’
He meant his family, of course, she assured herself. Luke was as worried as she was about his parents being hurt if they discovered that they’d been tricked. But it was harder than it should have been to convince herself that had been all he’d meant, and it worried her a bit.
‘Anyhow, what prompted you to suggest we talk about the plan tonight?’ His tone was wholly businesslike once more and she felt the momentary feeling of unease recede.
‘Because my mother has invited me to lunch on Sunday and I just know that she has something planned.’ She quickly recounted the message that had been on her answering machine and he grinned.
‘Reckon that candidate number nine hundred and ninety-nine will be produced for your inspection?’
‘Don’t! I go weak at the thought of another meal spent making polite conversation with some man I have absolutely nothing in common with!’
‘You could try giving your mother a list of your likes and dislikes. You know height, weight, eye colour…’
‘The fact that I’d like someone with the odd brain cell still functioning,’ she put in tartly. ‘This isn’t a joke, Luke. I’m desperate. I love my mother dearly but she’s driving me insane! If and when I do decide to get married, I want to choose my husband myself!’
‘Well, I can’t argue with that even though I don’t share your sentiments about getting married. Marriage is a no-go area for me and that’s not going to change,’ he stated bluntly.
‘Once bitten, twice shy?’ she ventured, wondering if he would tell her more about his past and obviously disastrous relationship. It had to be that which had put him off marriage so completely and she felt her heart ache at the thought. She didn’t like to think of him loving another woman to that extent, strangely enough.
‘Yes. I’m no masochist and can’t see any point in repeating my mistakes.’
‘A lot of people have bad experiences where relationships are concerned. But it would be foolish to allow one mistake to determine the rest of your life,’ she protested, wondering why it seemed so important that she convince him.
‘And even more foolish to risk repeating it, to my mind.’ He smiled thinly. ‘I appreciate your concern, Maggie, but there’s no need to worry about me. What happened is over and done with. Work is my main priority now. Actually, it always has been and I should have realised that sooner and saved myself a whole load of grief. Anyway, enough of that. What else is worrying you? We may as well talk this all through now so that we both have a clear idea of what we’re aiming for.’
It was obvious that he didn’t intend to discuss the subject any further. However, it wasn’t easy to put what she’d learned out of her mind. Luke might claim to have put the past behind him but how could she believe that when it was clearly having repercussions on his life even now?
She forced herself to concentrate when she realised that he was waiting for her to answer, frowning as a thought struck her. ‘Why do you feel that you need a cover story at the moment? Surely it must be easier now that you are in England? There should be less opportunities for your parents to interfere at any rate.’
‘In theory I would agree with you. One of the reasons I opted to come on this exchange visit was because I’d hoped it would give me a breathing space. However, the reality is that several thousand miles are not going to deter my mom from what she sees as her mission in life.’ His tone was dry. ‘I’ve been here—what—just over two weeks? And in that time I’ve received no less than t
hree invitations to dinner from friends of my parents who all just happen to have eligible daughters.’
‘Really?’ Maggie couldn’t help laughing, earning herself a reproachful stare.
‘Think it’s funny, do you? I’m glad you’re amused because I’m not. My parents have a lot of friends here in England and Mom must have been surfing her address book trying to match me up with that one special person who’s going to make my life complete.’
He sounded so disgusted that Maggie was hard-pressed to suppress her mirth. However, she knew to her cost how annoying such well-intended interference could be, and said so.
‘It must be difficult. I can understand why you’re keen to win yourself a respite from all the pressure.’
‘That’s all I want, a few months without any hassle. I don’t want to be put on the spot by having to make excuses all the time. I want to be able to concentrate on my work and get the benefit from being over here. It’s very different, working in England, to working in the States.’
It was obvious that he was telling the truth. Maggie realised that it was decision time because now she had all the facts she needed. Should she tell Luke that she would go along with his plan?
A sudden burst of activity near the door as a party of people came into the pub was a welcome distraction, giving her the opportunity to put off her decision a little longer. They were in very high spirits, apparently celebrating the birthday of one of their number.
The landlord called to his wife that he was going down to the cellar to fetch some champagne. Maggie watched curiously as he raised a hatch in the floor. His wife called out to ask him to fetch up another bottle of white wine as well and he glanced round. What happened then wasn’t clear but one minute he was standing by the open hatch and the next there was a cry of alarm as he plummeted head first into the cellar.
The Italian Doctor Page 6