The Rebel Who Loved Her
Jennifer Taylor
Is Mr Wrong the right choice now? Nurse Becky Williams has returned to Bride’s Bay and immediately collides with Dr Ewan MacLeod, the flirtatious rebel who once almost tempted her away from her fiancé. Her marriage didn’t last, and Ewan – although still very gorgeous – is a much changed man.Having passed him up once, single mum Becky can hardly offer herself to him now – especially as she’s unable to give him the one thing he wants: a child of his own. Except Becky hasn’t seen the depths of her one-time rebel’s heart…Bride’s Bay Surgery Juggling medicine with motherhood leaves little time for romance.But for three single mums Bride’s Bay has a magic that lives up to its name.
‘Things just get on top of me at times, that’s all.’
‘It’s only to be expected after everything you’ve been through.’
The kindness in his voice brought more tears to her eyes and she blinked them away. ‘Perhaps. But I try to hold it together for Millie’s sake.’
‘I can understand that, but you can’t be brave all the time. It won’t do you any good in the long run.’
He touched her hand, his fingers lingering for just a moment before he turned to push the swing once more, but Becky felt a frisson of awareness race from her hand and travel through her entire body. It felt as though every cell was suddenly on fire, creating an immense amount of heat inside her. It had been ages since she had felt this way, she realised. Not since those first heady days when she had met Ewan at the hospital had a touch aroused her so swiftly, so completely.
Dear Reader
Can love overcome all obstacles?
That’s the question Becky and Ewan have to find the answer to in this final book of my Bride’s Bay Surgery series. Eight years ago they were deeply attracted to one another, but Becky realised that they wanted very different things out of life and married someone else. When she meets Ewan again she is shocked to discover that the old feelings she had for him are still very much alive. The fact that Ewan feels the same fills her with dread. She has nothing to offer Ewan these days.
Helping Becky and Ewan to find a way through their problems was a real joy, although I have to confess that I shed the odd tear when it looked as if they would never reach a solution! They are such a lovely couple that they deserved a happy ending, and I hope you will agree that I have given them that.
So … do I believe that love can overcome all obstacles? Yes, I do. I wouldn’t be writing romance novels if I didn’t believe it!
Love to you all
Jennifer
About the Author
JENNIFER TAYLOR lives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon
series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical Romance™ that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heartwarming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com
Recent titles by the same author:
THE SON THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE† (#ulink_0fac4192-1b62-5c05-9bd4-9ec9b2317c65)
THE FAMILY WHO MADE HIM WHOLE† (#ulink_0fac4192-1b62-5c05-9bd4-9ec9b2317c65)
GINA’S LITTLE SECRET
SMALL TOWN MARRIAGE MIRACLE
THE MIDWIFE’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
THE DOCTOR’S BABY BOMBSHELL* (#ulink_59cb411b-c56c-5754-9c8e-1c49dca1566a)
THE GP’S MEANT-TO-BE BRIDE* (#ulink_59cb411b-c56c-5754-9c8e-1c49dca1566a)
MARRYING THE RUNAWAY BRIDE* (#ulink_59cb411b-c56c-5754-9c8e-1c49dca1566a)
THE SURGEON’S FATHERHOOD SURPRISE** (#ulink_2b892d4f-18bc-505a-8b3b-55701429ed8a)
† (#ulink_6d8daa8b-099a-5ef0-9eb5-6899ec7593c7)Bride’s Bay Surgery
* (#ulink_70078bd6-41c9-5b6d-8c92-4a688cc3ba08)Dalverston Weddings
** (#ulink_45fc5455-8f55-5404-ac41-296bc29b123b)Brides of Penhally Bay
These books are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk
The Rebel Who Loved Her
Jennifer Taylor
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Good friends are scarcer than hens’ teeth and I am very lucky to have some of the very best friends possible.
So a huge thank you to Barbara, Charlotte and Ted, Jeremy, and John.
Life wouldn’t be half as much fun without you all.
CHAPTER ONE
‘BECKY! HEY, BECKY … wait!’
Becky Williams stopped when she heard someone calling her name. Turning around, she peered at the faces of the other passengers gathered in the baggage hall of Heathrow Airport. The flight had been long and arduous despite the fact that her parents had insisted on upgrading her and Millie to business class. Twenty-plus hours non-stop from New Zealand would have been hard enough on her own, but it had been little short of gruelling with a small child in tow.
Becky sighed when Millie started to whimper. She cuddled her close, hoping it wouldn’t be too long before their pushchair appeared on the carousel. At fourteen months, Millie was getting quite heavy and Becky’s arms were aching from the long hours spent holding her as they had flown across the globe.
‘I thought it was you!’
All of a sudden a man was standing in front of her and Becky jumped. She stared at him in confusion. He was tall, several inches taller than her own not inconsiderable height, in fact, with dark brown hair and the most wonderful deep blue eyes. Although his face wasn’t classically handsome, there was something very appealing about those craggy features and the upward curve of his mouth that hinted at a well-developed sense of humour….
‘Don’t tell me you don’t recognise me. I’m gutted!’ He grinned at her, his face lighting up in a way that was all too familiar, and Becky gasped.
‘Ewan! Is it really you?’
‘It is indeed.’ He gave her a quick hug, his strong arms closing around her for the briefest of moments before he drew back. His blue eyes sparkled with laughter as he stared down at her. ‘Or at least I think it’s me. After all those hours in the air I’m not sure if I’m actually here or not!’
He laughed, mercifully missing her reaction. Becky sucked in her breath as she took a firmer hold of Millie. She was tired, that was all, tired and stressed after the long hours spent travelling. It was little wonder that it had felt so good to have Ewan hold her but it didn’t mean anything. She may have had a massive crush on Ewan MacLeod at one point but that was all in the past. An awful lot had happened since then.
The thought of what had happened in the past year was never far from her mind, but Becky pushed it aside, knowing that she couldn’t cope with all the soul searching right then. The baggage carousel began to move and people stepped forward to look for their luggage. Becky spotted their pushchair and tried to force her way through the crowd but with Millie in her arms, it wasn’t easy.
‘Is that yours?’ Ewan gently moved her aside when she nodded. Leaning over, he lifted the pushchair off the carousel and set it down in front of her. He quickly opened it so she could place Millie in the seat then crouched down before Becky could do so and fastened the safety harness, smiling at the little girl as he did so. ‘There you go, poppet. You can have a little nap now.’
He ruffled Millie’s honey-gold curls and Becky did her best to hide her surprise when Millie laughed. Normally, Millie was wary of strangers. Maybe it was all the upset of the past twelve months but Millie’s usual response when she was approached by someone she didn’t know was to cry. However, there was no sign of tears now, just the opposite, in fact.
Ewan straightened up and Becky hurriedly smoothed her face into a suitably noncommittal expression. Maybe Millie had responded unusually favourably but it meant no more than her own reaction had. They were both exhausted and the sooner they were home in Bride’s Bay the better. She glanced at the carousel, willing her suitcase to appear. Cases were being claimed from all sides but she couldn’t see any sign of her bag.
Ewan reached over and grabbed a battered old holdall and dropped it on the floor by his feet. ‘That’s mine sorted. There’s just yours to come now. Shout out when you spot it.’
He seemed to have taken it for granted that he should help her and Becky wasn’t sure what to do. It didn’t seem fair to make use of him, especially not after the way they had parted all those years ago. The guilt that had become such a large part of her life of late rose up inside her and she shook her head.
‘Don’t worry about us, Ewan. We can manage. You’ve got your bag so you get on off home.’
‘And leave you to struggle on your own?’ His dark brows rose. ‘I can just imagine what my mother would say if she found out. She’d have my guts for garters!’
Becky summoned a smile. ‘I think you’re a bit too old to worry what your mother will say.’
‘True.’ His smile faded and he looked at her with a seriousness that made a shiver pass through her. ‘However, I’d never forgive myself if I abandoned you, Becky. Mum wrote and told me what had happened to Steve. I’m really sorry. Losing your husband like that must have been horrendous. You’ve had a really rough time and I’d like to help any way I can, even if it’s only by seeing to your luggage.’
Becky felt a lump come to her throat when she heard genuine concern in his voice and looked away. She was afraid that she would do something silly if she wasn’t careful, and cry. She had learned to hold back her tears in the past year for Millie’s sake. It hadn’t seemed fair to upset her daughter so what little crying she’d done had been done in private. Maybe it was tiredness or the fact that she’d been caught unawares by seeing Ewan again, but she knew it would take very little to make her break down.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. ‘You’re very kind.’
‘It’s my pleasure.’ He touched her hand then turned towards the carousel, thankfully missing the start she gave.
Becky took a deep breath as she focused on the cases travelling along the conveyor belt. She was tired, so it was little wonder that she seemed to be overreacting. The fact that her pulse had started racing when Ewan had touched her wasn’t an indication of anything else.
She finally spotted her case and pointed to it. ‘That’s my case—the red one with the yellow tag on it.’
‘Okey-dokey.’ Ewan elbowed his way through the crowd and lifted the case off the belt with an ease that belied its weight. Setting it down on the floor, he looked at her. ‘I take it that you’re being met?’
‘Yes.’ Becky sighed. ‘Mum and Dad insisted on coming to meet us. I tried to talk them out of it but they were adamant.’
‘Of course they were.’ Ewan frowned as he released the handle of her suitcase and turned it towards the exit. ‘You’ve just flown right across the globe, Becky. Anyone would be tired after a journey like that—I know I am. Plus you’ve had the added stress of looking after your daughter. What’s the point of making your life even more difficult by refusing to let your parents collect you?’
Becky bit her lip. What Ewan had said made sense but she still felt bad about her parents making the long drive from Devon. They had been through enough in the past year thanks to her and she was determined that she wasn’t going to put them under any more pressure. Once again the thought that she might be making a mistake by returning to England rose to her mind.
She’d thought long and hard before she had made her decision but, in the end, she had accepted that she didn’t have a choice. She needed to work to provide for herself and Millie, and the cost of full-time childcare would have been exorbitant. There simply wouldn’t have been enough money left over each month to pay all the other bills. Her parents had not only offered her and Millie a home, but her mother had offered to look after Millie while Becky went out to work. Becky knew that she should be grateful for their kindness, and she was, but it wasn’t easy to sacrifice her independence. She would be right back where she’d been eight years ago, living with her parents and dreaming about Ewan.
The thought slid into her mind so fast that she didn’t have time to stop it. Becky shook her head, determined to dislodge it as she followed Ewan towards the exit. There was no chance of history repeating itself. Maybe she had fallen under Ewan’s spell once upon a time but it was Steve she had married and Steve she had loved….
Hadn’t she?
Becky felt her breath catch as her eyes rested on Ewan’s broad back. All of a sudden she wasn’t sure what was true any more. Had she loved Steve, really loved him, or had he merely fitted her idea of the perfect husband? Steve had appeared so calm and dependable, so focused on what he wanted from life. They’d held similar views, shared the same objectives—marriage, a home and a family—that she had believed she had found her soulmate. Ewan, however, had been very, very different.
Ewan had been charming, funny, exciting, sexy—everything Steve hadn’t. Although he’d had numerous girlfriends, he’d made no secret of the fact that he didn’t plan on settling down. As he’d stated on many occasions there was a great big world waiting to be explored and he was going to do his level best to see as much of it as possible. Even though she had been deeply attracted to him, and had known he’d felt the same about her, Becky had realised it wouldn’t work. They had wanted such different things out of life that any kind of relationship had been doomed from the outset.
In the end she had chosen to stay with Steve, sure in her own mind that it was the right decision. Steve had offered her the security she’d wanted, the chance to create a marriage exactly like her parents’—stable and enduring. It was only now, looking back, that she found herself wondering if she had made the biggest mistake of her life. Who knew what might have happened if she had chosen Ewan?
Ewan could feel a knot of tension twisting his guts. He took a deep breath, forcing the oxygen through his lungs. Seeing Becky at Christchurch Airport had been a shock admittedly, but he’d had hours to get over it. As he had sat in the cramped confines of the aircraft, he had, quite deliberately, gone over everything that had happened eight years ago.
He’d been doing his rotations and Becky had been in her final year, training as a nurse, when they had met at the hospital where they were both seconded. Although they both came from the Bride’s Bay area, he was a few years older than her so she’d not been part of his set. It had been a while since he’d seen her, in fact, and Ewan had been surprised by how attractive she was. Not only was she extremely pretty but she had a lively and engaging mind.
He’d got into the habit of stopping by the ward she was on, timing his visits to coincide with her breaks. They’d chatted about this and that over coffee, but each knew the conversation was merely a cover for their real feelings. If he was attracted to her then it was obvious that Becky felt the same about him. Although he knew that she was seeing someone—a definite no-no in his book as he made a point of never encroaching on another man’s territory—he asked her out and she accepted.
They went for dinner at a little bistro down by the river recommended by one of his friends. Candlelight, soft music, discreetly attentive waiters—it was so self-consciously romantic that it would have been laughable if Ewan hadn’t been mortified in case Becky thought he was trying to seduce her. However, when he apologised, she simply laughed. And it was then that he realised he could very easily fall in love with her.
He drove her home afterwards with his head in a spin. He had always ruled out the possibility of falling in love just yet. He wanted to see something of the world before he settled down and making a commitment like that would make that impossible. However, meeting Becky had changed everything; he was no longer certain what he wanted any more. And when he kissed her, right there in the street, he was less certain than ever. Maybe he had found something even more wonderful than anything the world had to offer?
In other circumstances he might have asked her if he could spend the night with her but what had happened was just too profound. He drove himself home in a state of turmoil, aware that he needed to decide what he was going to do. However, before he could work it out, Becky came to see him. She told him that she and Steve were getting engaged and that in the circumstances she didn’t think they should see each other again. Whilst Ewan was stunned by the announcement, he was also relieved. Now he could carry on with his plans, do everything he wanted to do. There was nothing and no one to hold him back, although if Becky hadn’t called a halt, he wasn’t sure if he could have done so …
Ewan cursed under his breath as they reached the arrivals hall. He was acting like an idiot by thinking about all that. It was over and done with and they had both moved on. Turning, he smiled at Becky, seeing the dark circles that exhaustion had painted under her eyes. His hands clenched because it was all he could do not to reach out and smooth them away.
‘Where did your parents say they’d meet you?’
‘They said they’d be waiting when I came through Customs …’ She broke off, a smile lighting her face. ‘There they are!’
Ewan turned, glad of the excuse not to look at her. When she smiled like that she looked like the old Becky, the one he had found so beguiling, and it wasn’t easy to reconcile the mix of emotions that thought aroused. There had been umpteen women in his life since Becky. Admittedly, none of them had made much of an impression on him, but he hadn’t wanted them to. He’d been happy to play the field and enjoy his life as a bachelor. Maybe he had decided it was time he settled down, but he wasn’t in a rush. He would wait until he found the right woman …
If he hadn’t found her already.
Ewan felt alarm scud through him. Was Becky that woman? Was it possible that he was still attracted to her? He didn’t want to believe it but he couldn’t pretend that he didn’t feel anything. Maybe it was only sympathy because of what she’d been through, but, there again, maybe it was something more.
He groaned. Once again it felt as though all his plans were up in the air. And once again it was all down to Becky!
CHAPTER TWO
‘DARLING, IT’S so wonderful to see you!’
Becky smiled as her mother enveloped her in a hug. She hugged her back, surprised by the feeling of relief that swept over her. Maybe she did have reservations about coming back to England, but she couldn’t deny that it was good to know she wasn’t on her own anymore. She kissed her mother’s cheek then turned to her father.
‘Hello, Dad. How are you?’
‘All the better for seeing you, sweetheart.’ Simon Harper gave her a bear hug then bent down and chucked Millie under the chin. ‘And for seeing you, too, poppet.’
Becky felt a lump come to her throat when she saw tears in his eyes. Her parents had been marvellous and she knew that she wouldn’t have coped without their support. No matter how difficult it was, she was going to make sure their new living arrangements worked for all of them. Perhaps it would be like stepping back in time, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was a bad thing. A lot of good things had happened in the past, like her friendship with Ewan.
Heat rushed through her as she glanced at him. He was standing to one side, obviously giving them the chance to say their hellos in private. It was so typically considerate of him that Becky’s heartstrings twanged. Despite his playboy image, Ewan had always been incredibly thoughtful. It was one of the reasons why she’d been attracted to him, that plus the fact that he’d been so exciting and sexy, of course. She had never felt bored when she was with Ewan but wonderfully, vibrantly alive.
She blanked out the thought as she turned to her mother again. She wouldn’t allow herself to be seduced by memories. She’d had her fill of relationships and she didn’t intend to make the mistake of getting involved again. ‘Ewan very kindly helped me with my luggage.’
‘Ewan?’ Ros Harper repeated uncertainly as she glanced at him. Her face suddenly cleared and she smiled in delight. ‘Ewan! What a wonderful surprise.’
‘It’s good to see you too, Mrs Harper.’ Ewan stepped forward and shook hands with Ros then turned to Simon. ‘And you, too, sir.’
Simon smiled warmly as he shook the younger man’s hand. ‘Make that Simon, eh? I heard via the grapevine that you were coming back to England, although I thought you’d been working in Australia, not New Zealand.’
‘I was,’ Ewan agreed. ‘I did a twelve-month stint at a hospital in Sydney.’ He shrugged. ‘I did consider staying on there but in the end the lure of home was too strong. I popped over to New Zealand on my way back to visit my sister. Shona’s third child is due any day and I was hoping it would arrive while I was there, but no such luck.’
‘Another grandchild for your parents!’ Ros exclaimed. ‘How many is that now?’
‘Eight … or is it nine?’ Ewan grinned. ‘I’ve lost track. We MacLeods tend to be highly productive in the baby-making department.’
Everyone laughed at the comment, Becky included, although there was a hollow ache inside her. She bent down, tucking a lightweight blanket around Millie so that nobody would notice how much it hurt. She still found it hard to accept that she would never have another child. She loved children and had planned to have at least four, but the accident that had cost Steve his life had robbed her of that chance. She stood up, feeling her heart lurch when she caught Ewan’s eyes and saw the concern they held. Surely, he hadn’t realised something was wrong?
‘Right, let’s get you two home.’
Her father’s voice broke into her thoughts. Becky quickly settled her bag on her shoulder then took a deep breath before turning to Ewan. Maybe he did suspect that something wasn’t right but that was all it would ever be—a suspicion. She wasn’t going to tell Ewan the truth about the accident, wasn’t going to tell anyone, in fact. It was hard enough having to live with the guilt without everyone knowing what she had done.
‘Thank you again for all your help, Ewan. It really was kind of you.’
‘My pleasure.’
He smiled but his deep blue eyes were searching as they rested on her. Becky shifted uncomfortably. Maybe she didn’t plan on telling people the truth but if anyone could get it out of her, it would be Ewan. She had told Ewan things that she’d told no one else, not even Steve. Definitely not Steve.
He looked away and she breathed a sigh of relief, which was short-lived when she heard her father ask him if he wanted a lift. Although she knew it was selfish, she couldn’t face the thought of having to travel all the way back to Devon with Ewan in the car in her present frame of mind.
‘Thank you, but I’m staying in London with my brother until I can sort out my accommodation. Ryan and I plan to down a few beers and catch up on what’s been happening.’ He laughed. ‘Always assuming I manage to stay awake long enough, of course!’
He smiled at them, his gaze lingering a fraction longer on Becky, but she didn’t respond. Maybe he would think she was being churlish but it was better than allowing herself to be drawn into making a confession. When he bade them farewell, she didn’t make a fuss, certainly didn’t make any attempt to arrange to see him again. Meeting him like this had been a chance encounter. It wasn’t an excuse to resume their former relationship.
Becky knew she was doing the right thing, yet it didn’t explain the sense of loss she felt as she watched him wending his way through the crowd. Even though she knew it was foolish, she was going to miss him.
Ewan took a taxi to his brother’s flat and let himself in, using the key Ryan had left with a neighbour. He dumped his bag on the living room floor and flopped down onto a chair with a sigh that stemmed partly from weariness but mainly from frustration. What was wrong with Becky? Why had she behaved so warily towards him?
Closing his eyes, he tried to conjure up her image, surprised by how easy it was. He’d not thought about her in ages and yet—hey, presto!—there she was in his head: honey-gold hair, hazel eyes, that pert little nose. She had changed, of course, but she was still incredibly pretty. Although she was a shade too thin in his opinion, she had a very feminine figure with curves in all the right places….
He groaned as his body responded with predictable enthusiasm to that thought. He might be bone-tired but his libido was in fine fettle! Not that it should be a surprise because Becky had always had this effect on him. In fact, he couldn’t think of a single woman he’d dated in the past eight years who had aroused him the way Becky had done.
The thought was too near the knuckle. Ewan got up and went into the kitchen. Ryan had told him to make himself at home so he took him at his word as he set to and made himself a fry-up. Eggs, bacon, sausages—the plate was heaving by the time he finished. He sat down at the table and tucked in, but after a couple of mouthfuls was forced to admit defeat. He didn’t want food. He wanted answers. He wanted to know what was wrong with Becky and he wouldn’t rest until he found out, although he refused to delve too deeply into the reason why. Suffice it to say that Becky had meant a lot to him at one point. Even though that was all in the past, he hoped they could be friends.
He got up and scraped the uneaten food into the bin, trying to ignore the mocking little voice in his head. Friendship was all he wanted from her. Nothing more!
It was several days before Becky got over her jet-lag. Fortunately, Millie didn’t seem to be affected by it and soon settled down in their new home. Her parents had had her old room redecorated so it felt less like stepping back in time than it could have done. They’d also turned her brother’s room into a bright and cheerful nursery, complete with lots of colourful posters of Millie’s favourite cartoon characters.
Becky could tell they’d gone to a great deal of trouble to make her and Millie feel welcome and she was grateful, but it still felt odd to be living under their roof again. She made up her mind that she would find a place of her own as soon as she could, and that meant finding a job. Although she scoured the local papers each day, there were very few jobs available. As a highly qualified nurse practitioner, she had a lot to offer, but cutbacks in the health service meant there were few posts being advertised. All she could hope was that something would turn up eventually.
She was washing the breakfast dishes a week after she’d returned when her father poked his head round the kitchen door. Millie was helping her and the floor was awash with soap suds. ‘Mind you don’t slip,’ she warned him. ‘This little lady gets as much water on the floor as she gets on the dishes.’
‘I wonder who she takes after,’ Simon said, drolly. He stepped over the puddles and dropped a kiss on his granddaughter’s head. ‘You are doing a wonderful job helping Mummy, poppet.’
Millie smiled beatifically as she beat her small hands up and down in the water and Becky groaned. ‘It’ll be like Noah’s flood in here soon. We’ll need our very own ark!’
Simon laughed. ‘It’s only water, sweetheart. It will soon mop up. Anyway, seeing as Millie is happily occupied, can I have a word?’
‘Of course.’ Becky dried her hands on a towel, wondering what he wanted to speak to her about. ‘Nothing’s wrong, is there?’
‘No, no, not at all,’ Simon assured her. ‘It’s just that I have a proposition for you but before I tell you what it is, I want you to promise me that you’ll say no if you don’t like the idea.’
‘That sounds very mysterious,’ Becky said, laughing.
Simon smiled. ‘I suppose it does. It’s just that I don’t want you to feel that you’re under any sort of … well, obligation.’
‘Curiouser and curiouser. Come on, Dad, tell me what’s going on.’
‘All right. You know that Brenda Roberts took over as practice nurse at the surgery when Emily left to get married?’
‘Yes. Brenda came out of retirement so she could help you.’
‘That’s right.’ Simon sighed. ‘I was really grateful to her, too. Although we had plenty of interest when we advertised the post, we didn’t find anyone who we felt would fit in.’
‘It’s difficult to find the right person,’ Becky observed.
‘Exactly. Anyway, Brenda’s just informed me that she would like to leave at the end of the month. Apparently, her husband, Fred, is taking early retirement and they’ve decided to go and live in their apartment in Spain.’
‘What a shame!’ Becky exclaimed. ‘Not for Brenda and Fred of course, but it’s going to make life difficult for you and the rest of the team.’
‘It is. It will mean us having to advertise again and that will take time. That’s why I was wondering if you’d consider helping out?’
‘You want me to cover until you find someone?’
‘Yes. Or, better still, maybe consider taking the job on a permanent basis,’ Simon said quietly. ‘With all the changes we’re having to make now that we’ve been awarded health centre status, I need staff I can rely on. You fit the bill perfectly, darling, although I’ll understand if you feel it’s too much, living and working with your father.’
‘I’d never thought about it,’ Becky said slowly. ‘But it does make sense. I mean, I need a job and if I’m working here at the surgery then I’ll be on hand for Millie. I have to admit that I was worried about leaving her for long stretches, even if she was with Mum.’
‘So you’ll think about it?’ Simon said hopefully.
Becky smiled. ‘There’s nothing to think about. I’d be delighted to take the job if you think I’m suitable.’
‘Great!’ Simon gave her a hug then glanced at his watch. He grimaced. ‘I know this is a bit of cheek, but is there any chance that you could start right away? We’re overrun with patients needing BP checks this morning and it would really help to take the pressure off us if you would give Brenda a hand.’
‘Slave driver!’ Becky laughed. ‘Of course I can start immediately, so long as Mum will look after Millie.’
‘Oh, there’s no problem about that. Your mother is longing to have this little one all to herself for a couple of hours,’ Simon assured her. ‘I’ll just let her know what’s happening.’
Becky cleared up after her father left, feeling her spirits lift when it struck her that she’d taken her first step towards regaining her independence. Once she was earning regular money, she could look for a place of her own, somewhere she could turn into a proper home for her and Millie. Millie needed stability after all the recent upsets and Becky was determined she was going to give her that.
A shadow darkened her face as she lifted the little girl down from the chair and dried her hands. What had Steve said during their last fateful conversation, that he wished they’d never had a child? Her mouth compressed. No way was Millie ever going to find out that her father had wished she hadn’t been born! It had been a terrible thing to say even in the heat of anger. She couldn’t imagine Ewan even thinking such a thing, let alone saying it.
She sighed as once again she found herself thinking about Ewan. Although she had tried to blot out all thoughts of him, she hadn’t succeeded. Their chance encounter had affected her far more than it should have done and she could only thank her lucky stars that it was unlikely they would meet again. Their paths certainly wouldn’t cross when Ewan was working in London and she was living and working here.
‘Mrs Rose? I’m Ewan MacLeod, one of the registrars. I believe you took a bit of a tumble this morning.’
Ewan smiled at the elderly lady lying on the bed. It was midday and he hadn’t stopped since he’d arrived at six that morning. The emergency department of Pinscombe General Hospital was a very busy place. It served the communities of three major towns plus a number of smaller ones like Bride’s Bay.
His heart gave that all-too-familiar jolt it had started doing every time Bride’s Bay was mentioned, and he swallowed a sigh. He really was a sad case if the mere mention of the place where Becky lived had this effect on him. Drawing up a chair, he sat down beside the bed. It was time to concentrate on his patient.
‘Can you tell me what happened, Mrs Rose?’
‘It was so silly, really,’ the old lady replied. ‘I was carrying my washing out to peg it on the line when I tripped over Mog.’
‘Mog? Who’s that, then? Your dog?’
‘No, my cat, of course,’ Edith Rose said sharply, treating him to a frosty glare.
Ewan grimaced. ‘My mistake. Sorry.’ He frowned. ‘But why on earth did you call your cat Mog? I thought moggies were mice.’
‘Hmm, it all depends which part of the country you come from,’ Mrs Rose informed him tartly. ‘Where I come from, young man, a moggy is a cat.’
‘I stand corrected.’ Ewan laughed, pleased to see that there was nothing wrong with her mental faculties. He had a feeling that Mrs Rose wouldn’t appreciate the usual questions used to determine an elderly patient’s mental prowess, such as the date and the name of the current prime minister. He put a tick in the relevant box on the patient’s history and heard the old lady sniff.
‘Convinced you that I’m compos mentis, have I?’
‘Absolutely.’ Ewan put the clipboard down and folded his arms. ‘There’s nothing wrong with your mind, Mrs Rose.’
‘I wish you’d tell that to my son. He seems to think I’m going gaga. No doubt he’ll try to use this as an excuse to put me into a nursing home.’
Ewan frowned when he heard the tremor in the old lady’s voice. ‘I take it that it isn’t what you want?’
‘Certainly not. I’ve lived on my own for almost forty years now since my husband died. I couldn’t bear the thought of having to live with a group of strangers.’
‘There’s no reason why you should have to leave your home because of this accident,’ Ewan assured her. He picked up the tablet computer and showed her the X-ray she’d had done on admission. ‘There’s no sign of a fracture. Granted, your leg is badly bruised and the cut will need dressing to make sure it heals properly, but you’ll be back on your feet in no time.’
‘Are you sure?’ Relief washed over the old lady’s face when he nodded. ‘Thank heavens. Geoffrey has been going on and on about me moving into a home and I was sure this would be the excuse he needed to have me admitted.’
Ewan shook his head. ‘No. So long as you feel that you can manage on your own, that’s fine. And even if you do have problems, there’s help available. Your GP should be able to put you in touch with social services and they can assess the level of help you need.’
‘That’s a weight off my mind, I can tell you.’ Edith Rose smiled at him. ‘Thank you, young man. You’ve made an old lady very happy.’
‘Good.’ Ewan laughed as he stood up. ‘I’m just going to phone your GP and let him know what’s happened. As I said, your leg will need dressing so we need to arrange for it to be done at the surgery.’
‘Old flesh doesn’t heal as fast as young does,’ Mrs Rose observed wryly and he grinned.
‘I’m afraid not.’
He went to the desk to make the call, unsurprised to discover that Mrs Rose was registered with Bride’s Bay Surgery. A lot of the people he’d seen since he’d started at Pinscombe General had been registered with the practice, which meant it must be a very busy place to work. He asked to speak to the practice nurse when the receptionist answered, shaking his head when one of the nurses came over to see if he could look at a patient for her.
‘I’m tied up at the moment,’ he began then stopped when a voice came over the line, a voice that was all too familiar.
‘Sister Williams speaking. How may I help you?’
Ewan turned to face the wall, not wanting anything to distract him. The one thing he had never anticipated was that Becky would answer his call. He took a deep breath, deliberately ironing all trace of emotion from his voice. Maybe it did feel as though his head was being whirled around inside a washing machine on the spin cycle but he wasn’t going to let Becky know that.
‘Becky, it’s Ewan MacLeod.’ He gave a short laugh, praying that it sounded less forced to her than it did to him. ‘This is a surprise. Again!’
CHAPTER THREE
‘EWAN!’
Becky felt shock race through her when she recognised Ewan’s voice. It was all she could do to concentrate as he continued in the same teasing tone.
‘Of all the surgeries in all the world … I had no idea you were working there.’
‘I … um … it came as a surprise to me too, actually.’ She finally managed to gather her addled wits, relieved to hear that she sounded almost normal. Maybe it had been a surprise to hear Ewan’s voice but did it really explain why it had sent her into such a spin? She blanked out the thought, not wanting to set off down a route that was guaranteed to lead to more questions. ‘Dad needed a practice nurse for the surgery and asked me if I’d consider taking the job, and I agreed.’
‘Sounds ideal to me. Not only are you able to earn your living but you’re on hand if Millie needs you.’
‘Exactly,’ Becky agreed, wondering how he always managed to hit on the salient point. Ewan possessed the rare ability to cut through all the dross and see the bigger picture. It was something else she had admired about him, she realised, his ability to get to the heart of a matter with so little fuss. Steve had been the exact opposite, sadly. He’d got so caught up in the details that he had often failed to appreciate the real crux of an issue. Whenever that had happened, he had blamed everyone else, too, rather than himself. It was one of the things she had disliked most about him, in fact.
The thought made her feel incredibly guilty. It didn’t seem right that she should compare the two men, especially when she had found her late husband lacking. She hurried on, wanting to get the conversation onto a more solid footing. ‘Anyway, I take it that this isn’t a social call?’
‘No. I have one of your patients with me, a Mrs Edith Rose.’ Ewan was all business as he explained what had happened. ‘The cut on her leg is quite deep and it will need dressing. I was hoping I could arrange for her to be seen at the surgery.’
‘Of course.’ Becky opened the diary, relieved to turn her attention to other matters. Ewan was Ewan and Steve had been Steve; she mustn’t make the mistake of weighing one against the other. ‘I’ll book her in for Wednesday morning at eleven. If the dressing’s only been done today, it would be better not to disturb it, although tell her to contact me if she has any problems, won’t you?’
‘I shall. She’s a feisty old lady, very alert and determined, although she does seem worried that her son may try to use the accident as an excuse to have her admitted to a nursing home.’
‘I see.’ Becky frowned. ‘You don’t believe that’s necessary, obviously.’
‘Definitely not,’ he said firmly. ‘In my opinion, Mrs Rose is more than capable of looking after herself, although perhaps she could do with a bit of help.’
‘Would you like me to have word with her about what social services can offer?’ Becky suggested.
‘Are you a mind reader? That’s exactly what I was going to ask you to do!’
Becky felt her breath catch when she heard him laugh. He really did have the most attractive laugh, she thought, so soft and deep and so very, very sexy. She took a quick breath, forcing some much-needed air into her lungs. ‘Great minds think alike, or so they say?’
‘They certainly do.’
There it was again, that delicious, toe-tingling rumble coming down the line, and Becky’s lungs went into spasm once more. She was glad that Ewan didn’t seem to expect a reply as he explained that he would fax through a copy of Mrs Rose’s notes. By the time he’d finished, she was able to speak again, although she kept it brief, wary of pushing things too far.
‘I’ll make sure the information is entered on her file.’
‘Thanks. Right, I won’t keep you any longer. Good to speak to you, Becky. Maybe we’ll run into one another again at some point.’
‘Maybe.’
Becky hung up then went to the window, needing a few minutes to herself before she called in her next patient. So Ewan wasn’t working in London as she’d thought. He was right here in Devon, just a few miles away. Even though it shouldn’t make a scrap of difference, she knew that it did. Did she want to see him again? If anyone had suggested it a week ago, her answer would have been a resounding no, but she was no longer sure. Talking to Ewan had aroused feelings inside her she had never expected to feel again after what had happened with Steve.
Discovering that Steve had had an affair with one of his colleagues had turned her off sex. Even though she had tried to overcome her distaste and make a go of their marriage for Millie’s sake, making love had become a penance rather than a pleasure. The fact that Steve had used it to excuse his own behaviour had only made matters worse. He’d called her frigid, told her that it was little wonder he’d had to seek comfort in another woman’s arms. Although Becky had known it wasn’t true, part of her had wondered if she was to blame in some way. Now, after talking to Ewan, she realised how unjust the accusation had been.
She wasn’t frigid—far from it! She could and did respond to a man. However, the fact that it was Ewan who pushed all the right buttons was what worried her. Ewan wasn’t interested in settling down. He enjoyed playing the field and one woman would never be enough for him, not that she was in the market for another relationship. She had tried her best to make her marriage work and failed, and she wasn’t going to put herself through that heartache again, especially when there was even less chance now of a relationship working. Maybe Ewan was happily single at the moment but the time might come when he decided to settle down and start a family, and a family was the one thing she couldn’t give him or any other man.
She sighed. It would be far better if she steered well clear of Ewan in future.
Ewan found it impossible to stop thinking about Becky. At odd moments throughout the week, thoughts of her would pop into his head. He couldn’t rid himself of the thought that there was something troubling her and it only served to pique his interest even more. When his mother phoned and invited him to lunch on Sunday, he found himself agreeing even though he had planned to start redecorating the flat he was renting. The previous tenant had had a penchant for red and after a couple of weeks of waking up to pulsating scarlet walls, he desperately needed to do something about it. However, the décor could wait. Finding out what was worrying Becky seemed far more important.
He set off early on Sunday morning and made good time. It was the beginning of April and the main bulk of tourists hadn’t arrived yet so the roads were clear. His parents lived in Denton’s Cove but he bypassed the turning to their house and headed into Bride’s Bay. It was just gone ten when he drew up outside the surgery, which was attached to Becky’s parents’ home, and he frowned when he saw all the building work that had been taking place. He’d heard that the practice had been awarded health centre status and it was obvious that a lot of changes were being made.
He made his way to the back door and lifted his hand to knock when he heard voices coming from the garden. Turning, he peered over the hedge and felt his heart lift when he saw Becky. She was pushing Millie on a pint-sized swing attached to a bough of the old apple tree. She was wearing jeans and a white sweater, her honey-gold hair pulled up into a ponytail. She looked so young and so lovely that Ewan felt his senses swim. Eight years may have passed but he was still attracted to her. It was only when Millie let out a shriek of laughter that he pulled himself together.
‘It sounds as though you two are having fun,’ he called, adopting a deliberately upbeat tone. He wasn’t going to make the mistake of harking back to the past. Becky had chosen Steve and it had been the right decision for all of them. Maybe he would like to help her if he could but it was purely out of friendship. He wasn’t planning to get back with her, not that Becky would be interested even if he was.
‘Ewan!’
Ewan heard the dismay in her voice and grimaced. It was obvious that his arrival was less of a pleasant surprise than it could have been. He summoned a smile, not wanting her to suspect how much the idea stung. ‘I thought I’d pop in to see how you were doing. I’m having lunch with my parents so I was heading this way.’
‘Oh, I see.’
She dredged up a smile but it was such a poor effort that Ewan found himself wishing he hadn’t bothered. Even if there was something troubling her, why would she choose to tell him?
‘I should have phoned first.’ He shrugged dismissively. Although he wasn’t vain, most of the women he knew would have been more than happy to have him turn up on their doorsteps unannounced. ‘I’ve been working in Australia for too long. I’d forgotten how much more formal life is here in England. Sorry.’
‘It’s fine, really. I … erm … it’s nice to see you.’
Ewan’s teeth snapped together. Nice! Quite frankly, she couldn’t have said anything more guaranteed to offend him. The first prickle of anger ran through his veins and he smiled sardonically. ‘There’s no need to be polite, Becky. I can tell you’re not exactly overjoyed to see me. Not to worry, I’m not stopping. Enjoy your day.’
He headed back up the path, his temper hovering just below boiling point. So Becky wasn’t interested in seeing him; so what? It wasn’t going to make any difference to his life.
‘Ewan, wait!’
Ewan stopped reluctantly. He turned around, feeling his heart jolt when he saw her hurrying after him. She was carrying Millie in her arms and the picture they made was one he knew would stay with him for a long time to come. His pulse was racing when Becky came to a halt in front of him, the blood pounding through his veins in a way that made him feel both dizzy and yet wonderfully clear-headed.
This was what he wanted from life, he realised with sudden, startling clarity. He didn’t need riches to be happy or professional acclaim. He just wanted someone to love and their child, and he would have everything he could possibly desire. The only thing wrong with the scenario was that it was Becky who featured in it, Becky who had made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want anything to do with him!
Becky could feel herself trembling as she put Millie down. Even though she knew she was probably making a mistake, she couldn’t let Ewan leave like this. He had come with the express intention of checking she was all right and all she’d done was throw his kindness back in his face.
‘Don’t go,’ she said, her voice catching. ‘I know I wasn’t exactly welcoming, but please don’t leave like this.’
‘There’s no point my staying if you don’t want me here.’ His tone was cool and she shivered. Ewan sighed softly. ‘It’s all right, Becky. I understand, really I do.’
‘Do you?’ It was impossible to keep the anxiety out of her voice and he grimaced.
‘Yes. You’re worried in case I want to pick up where we left off.’ He didn’t give her chance to reply as he continued flatly. ‘Well, there’s no need. That’s all in the past and I just thought it would be good if we could be friends.’
‘Friends?’ she echoed uncertainly. Was he right? Was she worried in case he tried to resurrect their relationship, or was it more complicated than that?
‘Yes.’ He smiled. ‘I could be wrong, but I’ve a feeling you could do with a friend right now.’
Becky felt a surge of emotion well up inside her when she heard the sympathy in his voice. She swallowed hard, desperately trying to hold back her tears. Ewan obviously realised her predicament because he bent down and smiled at Millie.
‘How about another go on the swing, poppet?’
Becky watched as he led Millie back into the garden. How had he known that she didn’t want Millie to see her crying? she wondered. He had accused her of being a mind-reader the other day, but he appeared to be equally skilled in the art.
It was a worrying thought in view of the fact that there was a lot she didn’t want him to know. Becky took her time, wanting to be sure that she had herself under control before she went to join him and Millie. The little girl was having the time of her life, kicking her legs up and down as Ewan pushed the swing.
‘’Gain! ’Gain!’ she shouted each time the swing slowed down.
‘That’s high enough, sweetie. We don’t want you flying right up into the sky, do we?’ Ewan said, laughing. He glanced at Becky and raised his brows. ‘All right?’
‘Fine.’ She shrugged, embarrassed about what had happened. Normally, she kept a rein on her emotions but she didn’t seem able to do that when Ewan was around. ‘Things just get on top of me at times, that’s all.’
‘It’s only to be expected after everything you’ve been through.’
The kindness in his voice brought more tears to her eyes and she blinked them away. ‘Perhaps. But I try to hold it together for Millie’s sake.’
‘I can understand that, but you can’t be brave all the time. It won’t do you any good in the long run.’
He touched her hand, his fingers lingering for just a moment before he turned to push the swing once more, but Becky felt a frisson of awareness race from her hand and travel through her entire body. It felt as though every cell was suddenly on fire, creating an immense amount of heat inside her. It had been ages since she had felt this way, she realised. Not since those first heady days when she had met Ewan at the hospital had a touch aroused her so swiftly, so completely. She had never felt this way with Steve, not even when they had made love.
The thought was too unsettling to deal with. Becky summoned a smile, refusing to dwell on it. ‘Do you fancy a cup of coffee?’
‘I’d love one, but don’t go to any trouble on my account,’ Ewan said flatly. ‘I didn’t mean to intrude, Becky. I just wanted to check you were all right.’
‘I know.’ She looked into his eyes, feeling warmth envelop her again when she saw the concern they held. Despite the less than effusive reception he’d received, it was obvious that Ewan genuinely cared about her. She sighed, knowing that she owed him an apology. ‘I really do appreciate you coming here, Ewan, even if it didn’t seem like it.’
‘It doesn’t matter. So long as you’re all right, that’s the main thing.’
He smiled at her, his face breaking into a heart-melting smile, and Becky’s heart did what was expected and melted. She turned away, afraid that if she didn’t put some distance between them she would do something really stupid. Hurrying into the kitchen, she filled the kettle, her mind racing. Tempting though it was, it wouldn’t be fair to pour out the whole story to Ewan and expect him to absolve her of any guilt. Maybe he wanted them to be friends, but how would he feel if he found out the truth about the accident and her part in it? Would he still want to be her friend then?
Pain lanced her heart as she watched him pushing the swing. She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want anything to do with her when he found out that she was responsible for Steve’s death.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘THAT’S GREAT. Thank you.’
Ewan spooned sugar into the mug of coffee that Becky had placed in front of him, wondering what on earth he was doing. What was the point of dragging this out when it was obvious that she had mixed feelings about him being here? He should have taken his leave when he’d had the chance, once he was sure she was all right.
He sighed as he watched her carry Millie into the house for her morning nap. Seeing Becky cry like that had been so damned hard. He had ached to take her in his arms and comfort her, but what comfort could he have offered when she was grieving for the man she loved? His heart spasmed with a pain that surprised him. It shouldn’t matter how Becky felt about her late husband, but he’d be lying if he said that he didn’t care.
‘She went out like a light. She’ll probably sleep till lunchtime by the look of her.’
Becky came back and sat down. Ewan summoned a smile, determined that he wasn’t going to let her know how ambivalent he felt. Maybe he was still attracted to her but that was all it was; he’d get over it. ‘She seems happy enough, I must say. I take it that she’s adapted to living here.’
‘She has.’
Becky picked up her mug and blew gently on her coffee to cool it. Ewan looked away when he felt his stomach muscles clench. The sight of her beautiful lips puckering that way was playing havoc with his self-control. He had to force himself to concentrate as she continued in a no-nonsense tone that immediately demolished any half-baked ideas he’d been harbouring about her doing it deliberately. Becky definitely wasn’t trying to be provocative!
‘I was really worried that the move would unsettle her but Millie’s taken it in her stride. She seems really happy living here with my parents.’
‘It must be a relief,’ Ewan observed, doing his best to match her tone. He had to accept that Becky wasn’t interested in him that way. Maybe she had been interested once but it was a long time ago.
‘It is.’ She took a sip of coffee then put the mug down with a sigh. ‘Although it wasn’t just Millie I was worried about, if I’m honest. I wasn’t sure if moving back here was the right thing for me either.’
‘Because it was a wrench to leave the life you and Steve had created for yourselves?’ he suggested, although it felt a little like rubbing salt into a wound. However, he couldn’t ignore the fact that she had been married even if he wanted to.
‘It was more the thought of having to move back in with my parents, actually,’ she admitted, then flushed when he looked at her in surprise.
‘Really?’ Ewan found it impossible to keep the astonishment out of his voice.
‘Yes, really.’ Her tone was defensive. ‘Steve and I hadn’t lived in Christchurch for very long. We moved around quite a bit so that Steve could further his career.’ She shrugged. ‘I expect that’s why it didn’t seem such a wrench to leave—I hadn’t had time to put down any roots.’
‘I see.’ It made sense, yet Ewan had a feeling that it wasn’t the real explanation. He frowned as he weighed up what he’d heard. Had Becky’s marriage not been as happy as he’d thought, or was he merely putting his own interpretation on what she’d said? He realised that he needed to find out, although he wasn’t prepared to examine his reasons too closely. Suffice it to say that he needed to know all he could if he was to help her.
‘So you moved to Christchurch because Steve got a job there?’
‘That’s right. I would have preferred to stay in the country for Millie’s sake, but Steve was offered a consultant’s post so we moved to the city. He didn’t want to be too far from the hospital in case he was called in after hours,’ she added hastily.
‘I thought he worked in orthopaedics,’ Ewan said, frowning. In his experience it was rare for a consultant in that field to be called into work. Normally, one of the registrars would be expected to cover, unless it was some sort of life-threatening emergency, and they didn’t happen very often.
‘That’s right.’ She took another sip of her coffee and he sensed that she was playing for time. ‘Steve was … well, he was very committed. He never minded being called back into work.’
‘Highly commendable,’ Ewan observed, wondering why he didn’t believe her. Why on earth would Becky make such a claim if it weren’t true? After all, it didn’t matter to him how Steve had conducted his life. However, the fact that she had felt it necessary to lie piqued his interest. ‘Did he get called in a lot?’
‘Quite a bit.’ She grimaced. ‘You know what it’s like—something crops up and the staff don’t want to take responsibility so they call in the boss.’
It was so far removed from his own experiences that Ewan was stuck for an answer. Mercifully, he was saved from having to reply when Becky’s parents appeared. They had another couple with them plus a little boy, slightly older than Millie, and they greeted him in delight.
‘Ewan! How lovely to see you.’ Ros kissed him on the cheek. ‘Becky didn’t mention you were coming. I wish she had done. Simon and I wouldn’t have gone for our weekly constitutional if we’d known you were planning to visit. It would have been the perfect excuse to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning!’
Ewan laughed as he stood up. ‘Becky had no idea, I’m afraid. I’m having lunch with my parents so I decided to drop in on my way over there.’
‘Well, I’m very glad that you did.’ Ros turned to the other couple. ‘You won’t have met Ewan. His family live in Denton’s Cove so he and Becky have known each other for years. He’s a doctor too, although he’s been working overseas for the past few years. Ewan, I’d like you to meet Tom and Hannah. They both work at the surgery. Oh, and this little fellow is Charlie.’
‘Good to meet you.’ Ewan shook hands, taking an immediate liking to the other couple. He smiled at Charlie, taking note of the braces on his feet. He’d seen them before and guessed the little boy had been born with club feet. ‘And you too, Charlie.’
The child solemnly shook his hand then hurried away, heading straight for the apple tree. Hannah laughed as she dropped her bag onto the table. ‘I wondered how long it would be before he made for the swing. He loves it!’
Everyone laughed as she raced after him. Ewan remained standing as the others sat down. ‘It’s time I was on my way. Good to see you all again, and to meet you and Hannah,’ he added, smiling at Tom.
‘Ditto,’ Tom said, returning his smile. ‘I don’t know if Becky has mentioned it, but Charlie is being christened next Sunday. We’re having everyone back to ours for lunch afterwards and it would be great if you could join us, Ewan.’
‘Oh, but …’
‘I don’t think …’ Ewan stopped when he and Becky both spoke at once. He shrugged when he saw the surprise on Tom’s face. ‘What we’re trying to say is that Becky and I aren’t an item, if that’s what you thought.’
‘Sorry.’ Tom laughed. ‘My mistake. Still, it makes no difference. I know Hannah would love you to come along if you’re free.’
‘Thanks. I’m not sure what hours I’m working next week but I appreciate it.’
It wasn’t strictly true. Ewan had seen the coming week’s roster and although he couldn’t remember all his hours, he knew that he had Sunday off. However, it seemed politic not to accept the invitation when he sensed that Becky wouldn’t approve. He adopted a deliberately neutral expression as he turned to her. Maybe they would be friends and maybe they wouldn’t, but one thing was certain—they would never be lovers.
The thought was far too unsettling. Ewan blocked it from his mind as he smiled at her. ‘Thanks again for the coffee, Becky. I’ll see you around.’
‘I expect so.’
She returned his smile but there was no real warmth in it. Ewan guessed that she was merely going through the motions because the others were watching. He sighed as he headed up the path and got into his car. He may as well accept that Becky wasn’t interested in him and stop worrying about it.
The next week flew past. Although Becky had agreed to work only mornings while Brenda was still there, she found herself doing extra hours most days. A couple of practices in the area had closed in the past few years and their patients had transferred to Bride’s Bay’s list. It meant that everyone was under a lot of pressure but Becky was glad, even if it did mean her spending less time than she would have liked with Millie. At least while she was working, she wasn’t thinking about Ewan, and that had to be a blessing.
She had found it increasingly difficult to put him out of her mind since Sunday morning. Although she knew it was stupid, she couldn’t help wishing that she hadn’t lied to him about Steve’s reasons for living in the city. She felt guilty about what she’d done and confused as to why she’d felt it necessary. After all, what difference would it make to Ewan if he found out that her marriage had been less than perfect?
By the time Friday arrived, Becky was worn out from worrying about it. When Mrs Rose arrived to have her dressing changed, she had to make a determined effort to appear upbeat.
‘Come in, Mrs Rose,’ she said, ushering the old lady over to a chair. ‘How are you today?’
‘Fine, thank you, dear.’ Edith Rose winced as she sank down onto the seat and Becky frowned.
‘Is your leg troubling you?’
‘No, no, it’s fine. I just get the odd twinge in my hip from time to time.’ Mrs Rose adjusted her position and smiled. ‘There. That’s better.’
‘Good.’ Becky went to fetch the tray she’d prepared, making a mental note to ask her father to take a look at Mrs Rose. Although the old lady had made light of it, she suspected that her hip was causing her some discomfort. She carried the tray over to the desk and then donned a pair of gloves. ‘I’ll just remove the old dressing and see how the cut is doing. It may be a little uncomfortable, I’m afraid.’
‘You just do what you have to, my dear,’ Mrs Rose told her, stoically.
Becky peeled away the dressing, pleased to see that there was no sign of infection. Although the cut was deep, it was already starting to heal. ‘That looks fine. Using a non-adherent dressing means that the new tissue that’s formed hasn’t been disturbed.’
‘That nice young doctor I saw at the hospital insisted the nurse should use one of those special dressings,’ Mrs Rose told her. ‘She was going to put a gauze pad on my leg but he told her to fetch something else.’
‘He was quite right,’ Becky agreed, feeling a small rush of pleasure run through her. Although she knew it was silly, it was good to hear Ewan receiving praise. ‘The last thing we want is delicate new tissue being disturbed because the wrong type of dressing has been used.’
‘That’s what he said.’ The old lady laughed. ‘You two would get on very well, my dear. You obviously have a lot in common!’
Becky smiled although she didn’t say anything. It was unsettling to realise that she and Ewan held such similar views. She gently cleaned the area around the cut and then placed a fresh dressing over it.
‘There, that’s all done. If it carries on healing as well as it’s been doing then it won’t be long before you don’t need any more dressings.’ She straightened Mrs Rose’s skirt then helped her to her feet, frowning when she heard the old lady suck in her breath. ‘Is your hip bothering you again?’
‘Just another twinge,’ Mrs Rose assured her. However, Becky could tell that she was making light of how painful it really was.
‘Would you like me to ask one of the doctors to take a look at it, seeing as you’re here?’ she suggested.
Mrs Rose shook her head. ‘Oh, no, dear. There’s no need. It’s just a twinge, as I said.’ The old lady smiled brightly. ‘It’s all part and parcel of getting old, I’m afraid.’
Becky laughed dutifully although she couldn’t help feeling concerned as she saw Mrs Rose out. She found herself wondering if Mrs Rose’s reluctance to have her hip examined had something to do with what Ewan had told her. If the old lady was worried that her son would have her admitted to a nursing home if he could prove she couldn’t manage on her own, then she would be wary of admitting that she had a problem.
Becky decided that she would mention her concerns to the rest of the team. They held a weekly team meeting each Monday when everyone had the chance to talk over any problems that had arisen. She made a note to bring it up the following Monday, thinking idly that it would have been even better if she could have discussed it with Ewan. He always had such a clear view of any problems and she was sure that he would have come up with a solution.
She sighed. That was the fourth time she’d thought about Ewan in under half an hour. He seemed to be taking over her life and it had to stop. Ewan was history; whatever might have been between them was over and done with. If she said it often enough, hopefully her brain would get the message.
Although Ewan was used to hard work, he had to admit that he had never worked as hard as he did at Pinscombe General. The fact that they were carrying several vacancies meant there was extra pressure on the staff. He arrived early and left late, usually so exhausted that he could barely summon the energy to make himself a drink let alone a meal when he got home.
As for his social life, it was non-existent. Although several of the nurses had made it clear that they would welcome his attentions, he was far too busy to think about dating, or that’s what he told himself. It was easier than admitting that he wasn’t interested in them now that he’d met Becky again.
Saturday rolled around and he was working the two-to-ten shift. The other registrar had called in sick on Friday so Ewan made a point of arriving early. He was glad that he had when he saw the queue in Reception.
‘What’s happened?’ he asked, looping his stethoscope around his neck. ‘Has war been declared in Devon or something?’
‘It seems like it.’ Cathy Morrison, the senior sister, rolled her eyes. ‘It’s been non-stop ever since I got here at six this morning.’ She plonked a case file on the counter. ‘Can you take a look at this one first? She’s been here almost three hours now and you know what’ll happen if the bean-counters flag up that we’ve kept a patient waiting for that length of time.’
‘We’ll be marched outside and shot at dawn?’ Ewan suggested, drolly.
‘Worse. We’ll be sent on a time management course!’
‘Fate worse than death,’ Ewan concurred, grinning. He headed to the cubicles and didn’t leave them again for the next six hours. Cuts, bruises, fractures, burns: he dealt with the lot. By the time he was able to snatch a break, he had lost track of the cases he’d seen. As he made his way to the canteen, he found himself thinking that it was a good job he hadn’t accepted Tom’s invitation to the christening. After an evening like this, all he wanted to do tomorrow was sleep!
His heart gave an unruly little hiccup as he found himself tagging on a codicil. All he wanted to do was sleep … with Becky.
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