by Sarah Morgan
‘Not kind at all. I’m only saying what everyone else is saying.’ Angela Parker slipped on her shoes. ‘We’re all so thrilled that you’ve come back to the island to take over from our Kyla. Only yesterday I was saying to Meg in the café that we could have ended up with some mainlander with no idea how things work on Glenmore but, no, Dr MacNeil managed to tempt you back. When your father died I thought you might never return but then Nina reminded me that your aunt is here. Did you miss it when you were away?’
Flora felt a sudden shaft of pain as she thought of her father. She still missed him. ‘Well, I suppose I—’
‘Of course you did and now you’re back, which is perfect. And Logan has been in desperate need of a practice nurse since Kyla and Dr Walker left, and what with poor Evanna being so pregnant.’ Without waiting for Flora to respond, Mrs Parker forged ahead like a ship in a force-nine gale. ‘Well, we all know that Dr MacNeil is worried about her, given the tragedy with his first wife. Not that Evanna should have a problem in that direction. She’s a girl with good childbearing hips.’
Flora winced and hoped that no one repeated that comment to her friend and colleague. ‘Logan doesn’t seem worried,’ she lied, ‘and Evanna is a midwife, so if anyone understands her condition, she does!’
‘Do you really think she should still be working, this close to having that baby?’
Aware that whatever she said would be spread around the island by nightfall, Flora once again kept her answer suitably neutral. ‘She isn’t on her feet that much. She’s just doing the odd morning clinic.’ She sat down at her desk and updated the notes on the computer. ‘It’s fortunate that their house is attached to the surgery. At least she doesn’t have to come far to work and I do all the community calls so she doesn’t have that to cope with.’
‘You see? That’s what I mean. It’s great that you’re back.’ Angela Parker picked up her bag and stood up. ‘Everywhere I go I hear people saying, “Have you seen our Flora? Doesn’t she look well?”’
An intensely private person, Flora felt herself shrink slightly inside. ‘People are talking about me?’
‘Of course,’ Angela said cheerfully. ‘A new nurse on Glenmore is big news. People are thrilled. We’re all hoping you’ll meet a nice young man and then you’ll be a permanent fixture on the island. Glenmore is a good place to raise a family, dear.’
A family? ‘I think it’s a bit soon to be thinking of that,’ Flora said faintly, deciding that it was time to end the conversation before gossip about her ‘wedding’ reached the pub. ‘Your leg is healing well, Mrs Parker. Make an appointment to see me again on your way out.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that. I certainly won’t be seeing Conner, that’s for sure.’ She sniffed. ‘I value my health far too much for that.’
Flora opened her mouth to reply and then realised that no reply was expected because Angela Parker was once again answering her own question.
‘I think this time Logan will discover he’s made a mistake.’ She slid her bag over her arm. ‘If he’s not careful, he’ll find himself handling the summer singlehanded and that won’t be an easy task with a toddler and a new bairn.’
Knowing that to comment on that statement would trigger a conversation she didn’t have time for, Flora stood up, worried that she’d never finish her clinic if all her patients had as much to say as Angela. ‘It was nice to see you. Don’t forget to put that leg up when you’re sitting down.’
‘I always do that.’ Angela opened the door. ‘Take care of yourself and give me regards to your aunt.’
‘I’ll do that, Mrs Parker.’ Flora waited for the door to close behind her and then sank back into her chair. A quick glance at the clock on the wall confirmed that she was now running seriously late and she gave a despairing shake of her head. She still hadn’t adjusted to how long each appointment took on Glenmore. Everyone had something to say and a consultation involved so much more than it did on the mainland.
‘Problems?’ Logan stood in the doorway, a question in his eyes. ‘Angela Parker was with you a long time. Is her leg giving her trouble?’
‘She still has some signs of eczema around the ulcer but that’s because she isn’t using the cream you gave her. She’s not pyrexial and there’s no pain or tenderness to speak of and no obvious signs of cellulitis or infection. I’ll keep an eye on it. If it isn’t looking any better next week, I’ll give you a shout.’
Logan walked into the room and closed the door behind him. ‘If there’s no sign of healing in another month or so, I’ll refer her for a biopsy. We need to exclude malignancy.’
‘I think it is healing, it’s just that she doesn’t do much to help it along.’
‘So why are you looking so worried? I can’t believe that Mrs Parker’s leg ulcer is responsible for that frown on your face.’
‘I’m hopeless at this job,’ Flora confessed simply. ‘Absolutely hopeless.’
‘That’s utter nonsense.’ It was Logan’s turn to frown. ‘You’re a brilliant nurse.’
‘It’s not the nursing that worries me, it’s the rest of it. The gossip, the chat, the rumour machine.’ Flora waved a hand in a gesture of despair. ‘I’m just no good at it. I’ve never been any good at just chatting. When I did the clinic in Edinburgh, patients just wanted me to dress their leg or take their blood. On Glenmore, I’m supposed to have an opinion on everything from the Carpenters’ divorce to Janey Smith’s speeding fine.’ She brushed her hair out of her eyes and shot him a helpless look. ‘I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t want to join in, I have no intention of revealing confidential information, but I don’t want to look rude. How do you do it? How do you cope?’
‘I say “That’s interesting” a hundred times a day and if they’re really rambling on I adopt my “this could be something serious” look and that soon focuses their minds back on their medical problem. The skill is to cut them off tactfully.’
‘I definitely need to work on that skill,’ Flora muttered. ‘And I confess that I hate the idea that everyone is talking about me.’
‘This is Glenmore,’ Logan said easily. ‘Of course people are talking about you. They’re talking about everyone. But it’s mostly friendly talk. People care and that’s what makes this island so special. You’ve been in the city for too long. You’ve forgotten what island living is all about. You’ll adjust.’
‘But the talk isn’t friendly about Conner, is it?’ Troubled, Flora looked at him. ‘They’re being horrid to him. I mean, I know I was shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he’s a doctor, but boycotting his surgery…’
‘Some of the patients saw him and word will spread.’ Logan smiled. ‘Providing he isn’t too outrageous. Don’t worry about Conner. He can look after himself.’
‘Maybe.’ She suddenly noticed the dark shadows underneath his eyes. ‘You look really, really tired, Logan. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘You’re already doing it. Being tired is part of the job description when you work here, as you’re fast discovering.’ He rubbed his fingers over his forehead. ‘And on top of that I was up in the night with little Helen Peters because she—’
‘Had a nasty asthma attack,’ Flora finished his sentence with a laugh, ‘and before you ask, the reason I know is because Mrs Abbott mentioned it when she came in to have her ears syringed and she heard it from Sam when she was buying fish on the queue this morning and Sam knew because—’
‘He lives across the road from the Peters’ sister.’ Logan looked amused. ‘Relax, Flora. This is how things work on Glenmore. Don’t knock it. Sam was the one who called me because there were lights on all over the house and he went across the road to see if he could help.’
Flora’s eyes softened. ‘That was kind.’
‘People are kind here. Don’t worry—you’ll soon get back into the swing of it. And they’ll get used to Conner.’
‘I hope you’re right. So what happened to little Helen? Did you change her medication?�
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‘No, but I talked to her mum about exercise.’ He frowned. ‘It was sports day yesterday. I’m confident that the physical exertion is what triggered it. Any chance that you could you pop in and see them today? It was pretty scary for everyone and I think they’d appreciate an extra dose of reassurance. You might want to have a conversation about lifestyle.’
‘I’ll pop in, no problem.’ This was the Glenmore she knew and loved. Where else would the medical team find time for that sort of visit? That level of care and attention was what made the island special. And she was doing the job she’d been trained to do. Feeling more relaxed, Flora added Helen’s name to her list of afternoon calls.
‘I’ll see you later.’ Logan opened the door to leave and Conner strolled in.
Flora’s world tilted and her insides knotted with an almost unbearable tension. ‘Conner.’
He stepped aside to let Logan pass. ‘Isn’t Angela Parker a little old to be training for the Olympics? She took one look at me and ran as if the hounds of hell were after her. What’s the matter with her leg?’
‘Venous ulcer. She’s supposed to be mobilising but she doesn’t do enough of it.’
‘Then perhaps I should stand behind her more often. She ran so fast I could have entered her in the Derby.’
He was so confident, so easy with a situation that most people would have found agonisingly awkward. He really didn’t seem to care that the locals had been distinctly unwelcoming. But if he’d cared, he wouldn’t be the man he was.
Flora cleared her throat. ‘Mrs Parker was a little surprised to discover that you’re now a doctor.’
Conner smiled. ‘Sweet Flora, always coating the truth with honey. Come on, angel. Tell me what she said. The truth. It will be good for you. And my shoulders are broad. I can take it.’
She knew his shoulders were broad—in fact, she was far, far too conscious of his body.
‘She doesn’t believe you’re a doctor and she values her health too much to see you.’
‘And I value my sanity far too much to see her, so both of us are happy. If her health is that good, she doesn’t need a doctor anyway. So I’m spared.’
‘It’s not funny.’ Ignoring the amusement in his eyes, Flora kept her head down and put a box of vaccine back in the fridge. ‘You have no idea what things are like here! We’re overwhelmed with work and every day the ferry brings more tourists. Logan needs help. He’s barely had time to see his wife and daughter since Ethan left and the baby is due in a few weeks. He needs someone he can trust.’
‘And you think he can’t trust me?’
‘I don’t think that’s relevant.’ Desperate to make him understand, she turned to face him. ‘If the patients won’t see you, then it doesn’t matter what Logan thinks.’
‘Relax. The tourists will see me. I’ll talk to Janet and make sure she allocates me a surgery full of patients who know nothing about my wicked past.’
‘Conner—’
‘I wasn’t expecting a hero’s welcome, Flora.’ He gave a faint smile. ‘And now you’ll have to excuse me. There’s a bit of a rush on. Patients are fighting to see me and I don’t want to disappoint them.’
Her heart bumped against her chest and she didn’t understand it. She couldn’t possibly find him attractive. It was ridiculous to find him attractive. So why were her legs shaking so much she needed to sit down?
CHAPTER FOUR
‘GLENMORE is in an uproar. Eight patients refused to see him this morning and insisted on waiting for Logan.’ In the café near the harbour, Flora leaned across the table and helped herself to one of Evanna’s sandwiches. ‘These are delicious. Why aren’t you eating them?’
‘Because there’s no room in my body for anything except the baby.’ Evanna shifted in her seat, obviously uncomfortable. ‘They refused to see him? Really? Oh, poor Conner, that’s dreadful. Were his feelings hurt, do you think?’
‘Does he have feelings?’ Flora glanced out of the window, watching idly as groups of tourists walked from the ferry towards the beach. ‘Since when did Conner MacNeil care what people think of him? He is Mr Tough Guy.’
‘Deep down, I’m sure he cares.’
‘If he cared he wouldn’t have done his surgery wearing black leather and half an inch of stubble.’ Flora winced as a toddler tripped over a fishing rod and fell hard onto the pavement. She watched the mother scoop up the child and offer comfort. ‘Believe me, he has no intention of modifying his behaviour to please anyone. He was as defiant and confrontational as ever.’ And sexy. Indecently sexy.
‘If he didn’t care, he’d be living in his parents’ old house up on the cliffs.’
Flora was silent for a moment. She hadn’t given any thought to where Conner was living. ‘And he’s not?’
‘Logan gave him the barn.’
‘I thought it was let for the summer.’
‘It is. To Conner. When Logan thought he might be coming back, he kept it free for him. I suppose he knew Connor wouldn’t want to stay in his parents’ house.’ Evanna shrugged. ‘Who can blame him? I don’t suppose it has any nice memories for him. By all accounts, he had a pretty miserable childhood.’
‘Then why didn’t he sell it after his father died?’
‘He hasn’t been here to sell it. Perhaps he’ll deal with it this summer.’
‘Break his final tie with the island? Do you think that’s why he’s come back? To sell the house?’
‘I wouldn’t think so. He could have done that with one call to the island estate agent. Perhaps he’s laying old ghosts.’ Evanna gave a suggestive smile. ‘Or maybe he’s laying old girlfriends.’
‘Evanna!’ Struggling between shock and laughter, Flora sent a weak, apologetic smile towards the tourists eating lunch at the next table. ‘If you’re going to make obscene comments, lower your voice. We still have to work here after Conner’s gone.’
‘And life will be considerably more boring.’
‘Pregnancy has driven you mad.’
‘You might be right.’ Evanna shifted in her seat. ‘I can’t remember what it’s like not to be fat and exhausted.’
‘I think Conner is trying to shock them on purpose. I suspect he wants to provoke a reaction from them.’ Flora looked at her and smiled. ‘Do you want to know something funny?’
‘Not too funny.’ Evanna patted her enormous bump gently. ‘I have to be economical with laughter at the moment. Go on.’
‘Mrs Ellis saw him.’
‘As a patient? You’re joking.’
‘I’m not. I expected her to walk straight back out and call the police, but she was in there for ages and she came out smiling.’
‘So he even charmed her.’ Evanna sighed wistfully. ‘You see? It doesn’t matter how badly he behaves, women just can’t help themselves. It’s the danger, I suppose. The fact that he’s a bit volatile and unstable just adds to his appeal. If you had a date with Conner you never quite knew whether you were going to end up in bed or in a jail cell.’
Flora gasped. ‘What exactly do you know about dates with Conner? There is no way your parents would have allowed you anywhere near him.’
‘Didn’t stop me dreaming.’ Evanna sipped her tea. ‘I had fantasies, just like you.’
‘I did not have fantasies.’
‘Now you’re lying.’ Evanna grinned placidly. ‘Every woman dreams about the local bad boy.’
‘Conner is well educated.’
‘Which makes him all the more attractive,’ Evanna sighed.
‘My idea of a perfect date never involved a close encounter with the police,’ Flora said lightly, ‘and I don’t believe yours did either. You were always crazy about Logan.’
‘That didn’t stop me looking. I suppose that’s part of the reason Conner was so attractive,’ Evanna said simply. ‘He was forbidden. Are you seriously telling me you’ve never had a few fantasies about Conner?’
‘Never.’ Keen to end what was increasingly becoming an uncomfortable conversation,
Flora finished her sandwich and glanced at her watch. ‘I have to go. Little Helen Peters had an asthma attack in the night. I’m going to call on her on my way back to the surgery.’
Evanna yawned. ‘Yes. Poor Logan was up and down in the night. First it was Helen, then it was our Kirsty.’
‘How is she?’
‘We’ve moved her from a cot to a bed in preparation for the arrival of her sibling.’ Evanna patted her swollen abdomen gently. ‘And she’s just discovered that she can leap out whenever she likes and come in with us. Which is fine, except she sleeps like a starfish, arms and legs stuck out at angles designed to cause maximum discomfort to those sharing the space.’
Flora laughed. ‘She’s gorgeous. Who is looking after her today?’
‘Meg had her this morning and I’m going home right now.’ Evanna stood up and winced. ‘I can’t believe this is how it feels to be thirty-five weeks pregnant. Remind me to be more sympathetic next time I run the antenatal clinic. Give little Helen a kiss from me.’
‘I will. Why didn’t you tell me that Logan had appointed Conner as the doctor?’
‘Neither of us were sure he’d turn up. It didn’t seem worth mentioning until we knew for sure.’
‘So you really don’t know why he’s back, Evanna?’ Flora tried to keep her tone casual.
‘No. Logan hasn’t said any more to me than he has to you.’
Flora reached for her bag. ‘No pillow talk?’
‘Are you kidding? Our pillow talk revolves around me telling him how uncomfortable I am and him trying not to phone for an air ambulance.’
‘Is he that nervous?’
‘He’s hiding it quite well but, yes, he’s nervous. Of course. His first wife died in childbirth and none of us are likely to forget that, myself included.’ Evanna breathed out heavily. ‘He wants me to go and stay on the mainland, but the baby’s not due for another five weeks and if it was two weeks late I could be stuck over there for seven weeks. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, it just isn’t practical. There’s Kirsty to think of. I don’t want her unsettled.’