There was a chorus of denials. Richard smiled. ‘Thank you. I am sure that I speak for everyone in Oncamba when I say how much we appreciate what you are doing for us.’
The party broke up shortly after that. Richard needed to rest and everyone was tired from the stresses the day had brought. Yvonne followed Meg to the door, pausing to blow Richard a kiss, which he returned. She sighed as they walked along the corridor together.
‘What happened today has to be the worst moment of my life. I hope I never have to go through anything like that again!’
Meg smiled sympathetically. ‘It must have been scary for you. It was bad enough for the rest of us because we’ve all grown fond of Richard. I take it that you two have managed to sort things out between you?’
‘Yes. It’s just a shame that it took something as dire as this to make us both see sense.’ Yvonne’s tone was rueful. ‘Richard and I have known one another for ten years now. We met at a ball one year when we were at university and were inseparable from then on.’
They had reached one of the exit doors and they both paused to look out. Smoke was rising from the village fires, pale grey tendrils spiralling into the cloudless sky. Night had fallen and everywhere looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe what had happened earlier in the day.
Meg leant against the carriage wall, feeling the heat from the sun-warmed metal against her bare arm. ‘So what went wrong?’
‘Life. Other people interfering. Doubts.’ Yvonne shrugged. ‘I knew I loved Richard and that he loved me, but I wasn’t sure we could make our relationship work when the odds were stacked against us. Oh, it wasn’t just racial prejudice, although we did encounter a bit of that. However, I think we were both scared of doing the wrong thing and that’s what stopped us from doing what we wanted to do.’
‘Which is?’ Meg queried.
‘Getting married and building a future together.’ Yvonne suddenly grinned. ‘However, nothing is going to get in our way now, believe me!’
She sobered abruptly. ‘I just wish I could stay here and look after him. I can’t bear the thought of flying back to England and leaving him here while he needs me so much.’
Meg straightened slowly. Her heart was heavy but she knew what she had to do. It was something she must do for her own sake but, more importantly, she knew that it would help Jack.
‘There might be a way round that, Yvonne. How would you feel if I offered to swop places with you?’ She smiled tightly when the other woman looked at her in surprise. ‘You’re desperate to stay here and I am desperate to leave so it would make sense, wouldn’t it?’
‘This has to do with Jack, hasn’t it?’ Yvonne asked quietly. She sighed when Meg nodded. ‘Being in love isn’t easy, is it? But are you sure this is the best way to handle the situation, Meg? I know from experience that running away doesn’t solve the problem.’
‘I know that. But I know that it’s best if I leave, best for me and for Jack.’ Meg took a deep breath because it was so hard to say the words out loud. ‘Jack doesn’t love me, you see. Having me here is just an embarrassment for him. It would be easier for both of us if I went back to England.’
‘I’m still not sure that you’re doing the right thing but if it’s what you want, then, yes, Meg. I’ll gladly swop places with you.’ Yvonne reached out and hugged her. ‘But that doesn’t mean I’ve not got my fingers crossed that you two can work things out!’
‘I wouldn’t hold out too many hopes, Yvonne. Some things just aren’t meant to be, and this is one of them.’
They parted company after that. Yvonne slipped back into the hospital bay to tell Richard the good news that she would be staying while Meg went to find Jack. The sooner she sorted this out the better it would be.
He was in his compartment when she tracked him down. He didn’t say anything as he opened the door wide so that she could enter. Closing the door, he turned to look at her and it was impossible to gauge what he was thinking from his expression so Meg didn’t bother trying. There was no point looking for things that weren’t there, hoping for something that would never happen. It was time to face the facts and deal with them.
‘I’ve just been speaking to Yvonne,’ she began without any preamble. ‘I’ve offered to swop with her and fly back to England with Bill and Katu so that she can remain here with Richard. I thought I should clear it with you, although I can’t see that it will cause any problems.’
‘If that’s what you want to do, then it’s fine by me.’ Jack’s tone was flat. ‘Yvonne is well used to this sort of work so it won’t cause any problems.’
‘Then that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Good!’
Meg heard the overly bright note in her voice and hurried to the door before her control gave way. She reached for the handle then paused when Jack spoke softly behind her.
‘I appreciate everything you’ve done while you’ve been with us, Meg. You’ve been a valued member of this team.’
Her heart felt as though it was going to shrivel up and die when she heard the impersonal note in his voice. Was that all she’d really been to him—a valued member of his team?
She didn’t say anything as she opened the door because she didn’t trust herself not to say something she might regret. She went to her compartment and packed her belongings then got ready for bed, but sleep was impossible. Tomorrow she would be leaving and the thought of not seeing Jack again made her feel as though the light had gone out of her world.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘I JUST heard you were back! What happened? I thought you were due to stay in Oncamba for three months?’
‘I was.’ Meg smiled as Maggie Carr came rushing into the office to find her. Maggie had been on holiday since Meg had returned to work at Dalverston General two weeks previously. It was Maggie’s first day back and she was on a late shift. However, it was obvious that she was dying of curiosity so Meg launched into the story she’d told so many times in the past weeks that she was word perfect. Nevertheless, she mentally crossed her fingers, hoping that Maggie would believe all the half-truths.
‘So it ended up with me flying back to England to accompany the two patients who needed treatment.’
‘How come you had to do it?’ Maggie frowned. It was obvious that she’d sensed something wasn’t quite right with the tale. ‘I take it the patients were being flown back by air ambulance, so why wasn’t a nurse sent out to bring them home? That’s the normal procedure in a situation like that.’
‘She was, only she wanted to stay in Oncamba.’ Meg quickly explained about Yvonne wanting to remain behind with Richard. ‘I offered to swop with her. It seemed the most sensible solution in the circumstances.’
‘I suppose so…’ Maggie still wasn’t wholly convinced and Meg inwardly sighed. She really didn’t want to go into the whys and wherefores. It was too painful to recall how Jack had made no attempt to dissuade her when she’d told him she was leaving. Had he been glad that a nice tidy solution to his problems had been arrived at with so little upheaval? Probably!
Meg pushed back her chair, unable to sit there and talk about what had happened. Her emotions were too raw to discuss it, even though she knew that Maggie would be sympathetic if she told her the truth.
‘I’d better go for my lunch. I need to get a bit of shopping as I’ve nothing in the flat to eat. How did your holiday go, by the way?’
‘Don’t ask! I should have smelt a rat the minute Nonna rang and told me how much she wanted to see me!’ Maggie’s eyes flashed. It was obvious that something had upset her and Meg paused on her way to the door.
‘I thought you said that your grandmother had been ill and that was why she wanted you to spend your holiday in Italy with her?’
‘That’s the story I was given.’ Maggie sighed. ‘However, it turned out to be a ploy to get me there so that Nonna could indulge in a little matchmaking. She looked as fit as a flea, I’ll have you know!’
Meg chuckled. Maggie’s family’s frequent attempts t
o marry off their eldest daughter were a source of great amusement to her. ‘So what was he like this time? Cross-eyed and geeky as usual?’
‘No…’ Maggie coloured when she saw Meg’s astonishment. ‘No, he didn’t have cross eyes, neither was he geeky. Just the opposite, in fact. He was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, if you want the truth.’
‘Then what was the problem?’ Meg demanded, astounded by her friend’s attitude.
‘The problem was that he had to be the most arrogant, egotistical, self-centred man I’ve ever met!’ Maggie stated emphatically, glaring at her. ‘Do you know what he had the gall to say to me, that he wasn’t the marrying kind so it would be better if I didn’t get any ideas in my head? I ask you, is that arrogant or what? Just because he’s some top-notch surgeon over in the States, he seems to think he’s God’s gift to women!’
‘Well, he certainly made an impression on you,’ Meg observed pithily, watching the angry colour sweep up her friend’s face.
‘Oh, he did. And it was all bad! Still, the one consolation is that I’m highly unlikely to run into Luke Fabrizzi ever again!’
Maggie stormed out of the office and Meg sighed. It sounded like a disastrous holiday but at least talking about it had distracted her friend from asking any more awkward questions about Meg’s early return to England. From her—admittedly selfish—viewpoint it could be seen as a blessing.
There really wasn’t anything she needed from the shops because it had been just an excuse to get away. However, Meg decided to go into town anyway. She’d found, increasingly, that she became restless if she didn’t keep busy and that her mind started to wander along paths she preferred to avoid if it had nothing to occupy it.
She left the hospital and headed along the road. The day was grey and overcast, a heavy layer of cloud blotting out the sun and settling like a pall over the bustling market town. Meg wandered along the high street, thinking how odd it felt to be back in Dalverston, even though she had been home for two weeks now. She’d grown used to the space and freedom of Oncamba, become accustomed to waking each morning to a cloudless blue sky. Funny how easily you got used to something and grew to love it…
Her mind veered away from that thought because she was afraid where it would lead. However, it was less easy to stop herself thinking back over what had happened since her return to England. She’d spent the first three days in London, getting Katu settled in the hospital where she was to be treated. She’d also visited Bill, who was having to undergo a series of tests to check that the parasitic infection had been successfully cleared up.
Once Meg had been sure that they were both being well cared for, she’d returned home to Dalverston. She’d been intending to have a short break to recuperate but her flat had seemed so empty that she hadn’t been able to bear it.
She’d rung Roger Hopkins, the hospital manager, and told him that she would like to come into work. He’d been only too happy to agree. Getting back into the busy hospital routine had been a relief, something positive to focus on, but Meg knew that the pain was just being held at bay. Not allowing herself to think about Jack, it made life bearable but it didn’t change things. She loved him and missed him, and would have given anything in the world to have him love her in return. Nothing could compensate for the fact that it would never happen.
The church clock struck the quarter-hour and she realised that it was time to start heading back. Meg quickened her pace, not wanting to be late and delay another member of staff from going for her lunch. She turned in through the hospital’s gates then stepped onto the grass verge as a car turned in after her. She glanced at it as it passed and felt her heart ricochet around her ribs when she caught sight of the driver.
Jack!
Meg’s mouth worked but no sound came out. Not that she had any idea what she wanted to say. Seeing Jack here, it seemed to have stolen her ability even to think, let alone voice her feelings!
She took a quick breath, hoping it would calm her. It didn’t work. Her heart was still playing ping-pong with her ribs, her nerves fizzing with tension. It took her all her time to walk up the path, and she ground to a halt when she saw that the car had stopped outside the main entrance and that Jack had got out and was waiting for her.
A great surge of emotion welled up inside her when she saw him standing there. Her legs were actually trembling as she forced herself to walk the last few yards. His face didn’t alter as he watched her walking towards him; it held the same grave expression that she’d seen on it so many times in the past that it left her feeling more confused than ever.
Why had he come? What did he want? The questions were uttered silently inside her own head because she didn’t have the strength or the nerve to ask them out loud.
‘Hello, Meg. How are you?’
‘Fine. And you?’
‘Fine.’
As an example of sparkling repartee it wouldn’t have won any awards, but Meg’s heart rejoiced. Just hearing his voice again, that was so wonderful that she found it difficult to disguise her feelings.
She chose a point beyond Jack’s right shoulder and stared at it, rather than allow herself to look at him. She knew it was better to avoid doing that because she simply couldn’t be responsible for her actions. How would Jack feel if she launched herself into his arms and kissed him? She had no intention of finding out!
‘Look, Meg, we need to talk,’ he suddenly bit out with a touch of asperity. ‘Is there some place we can go?’
He looked round impatiently, drawing her attention to the fact that they were attracting a great deal of interest. There were staff coming and going, with it being lunchtime, and a lot of inquisitive eyes were focused on them. However, Meg knew that it wasn’t just the fact that they were standing slap-bang in the middle of the entrance which had aroused so much interest. Jack was so good-looking that he was bound to attract a great deal of attention wherever he went from the female of the species!
The thought annoyed her, although she knew that she had no right to feel that way. ‘I’m afraid that’s impossible. I’m due back from lunch in…’ she checked her watch ‘…two minutes precisely.’
Jack uttered something harsh under his breath. ‘Then we’ll have to meet later. What time do you finish?’
‘Five. But what do we need to meet for? What is there to say?’ She squared her shoulders, struggling to keep the pain from her voice. ‘I know the score, Jack. So what point is there in rehashing over old ground?’
His eyes narrowed when he heard the challenge in her tone. He took a slow step toward her and his eyes glittered dangerously as they centred on her face. ‘Because I haven’t flown seven thousand miles to stand here in full view of everyone and swop pleasantries!’
‘It would be a first if you had—said something pleasant, I mean,’ she shot back.
‘You could be right. I don’t seem to have a lot of luck when I open my mouth and try talking to you, do I, Meg?’ He treated her to a decidedly wolfish smile as his hands fastened on her shoulders. Before Meg knew what was happening she was in his arms. ‘Still, they say that actions speak louder than words, don’t they?’
The kiss was hot and full of passion. And it was over almost as fast as it had begun. However, Meg’s head was reeling so much that it took her a second to appreciate that fact.
Jack laughed softly and the sound held more than a hint of satisfaction. ‘I’ll see you at five o’clock, then, darling. Don’t be late.’
He got back into his car and drove away. Meg blinked. She felt as though she’d just been woken up in the middle of a dream. Had that really happened? Had Jack been here and…and kissed her?
She touched her mouth with the tip of her right index finger and shivered when she felt the heat that still lingered there from that kiss. It hadn’t been a dream at all. It had actually happened. Now all she had to work out was why it had happened and what it could mean.
Her heart began bouncing around again. Maybe it was silly to feel as though her birthday
and Christmas had both come together but it was hard not to. Surely—surely—Jack wasn’t the kind of man to kiss and run?
Jack was waiting outside the main doors when Meg left work at precisely two minutes past five that evening. She’d broken all records getting changed out of her uniform into her street clothes so consequently was rather out of breath. Seeing him standing there robbed her of what little bit of air she had left.
‘Hi,’ he said softly, taking hold of her hands and pulling her towards him. He kissed her lightly on the mouth then stepped back with obvious reluctance.
Meg struggled to draw in a tiny whiff of air but it was simply too difficult to perform that everyday function. Whether it was the kiss or the fact that Jack was there, she couldn’t seem to make her body obey her. She saw him frown and heard the growing uncertainty that crept into his voice when she remained silent.
‘Maybe I’m being too presumptuous, Meg. After all, why should you be pleased to see me after the way I’ve behaved?’
Why, indeed? Apart from the fact that she loved him to death and had longed for this moment, even though she’d never dared hope that it would happen!
Meg could hear the answer inside her own head but no words came out. Maybe it was the lack of oxygen that was causing the hold-up because there didn’t seem any way she could force them from her lips.
Jack’s eyes clouded with pain when she still didn’t say anything. He turned to stare along the path and she saw a nervous tic start in his jaw as he struggled to retain control of himself. ‘I shouldn’t have come here, obviously. I’m sorry. I was wrong to put you on the spot like this.’
He swung round and began striding rapidly down the path. Meg stared after him in disbelief. Was he really walking out on her? Was she really going to let him? With an almost superhuman effort she managed to force some air into her lungs then used it to expel some sound at last.
‘Jack, wait, damn you!’
Well, maybe that wasn’t quite what she’d been intending to say, but it did the trick. Jack stopped dead in his tracks, although he didn’t turn round. Meg muttered grimly under her breath as she stalked down the path after him. What would it have cost him to look round and maybe smile, even quirk a brow if smiling was beyond him?
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