Kitabı oku: «The Playboy Doctor», sayfa 3

Because normally she hid herself behind drab clothes. Suddenly he was intrigued. Maybe there was more to her than he’d thought...

Seeing her almost dropping off at the table, he cursed under his breath. Joanna was totally exhausted.

‘You ought to be in bed.’ He stood up, the chair scraping on the kitchen floor. ‘Just tell me where I’m meant to sleep and then you can go and get some rest.’

The drowsiness was gone in a flash and her blue eyes flew open. ‘Where you’re meant to sleep?’ Her voice was a horrified squeak. ‘I have no idea where you’ll be sleeping, Dr Macaulay, but it isn’t here.’

Dr Macaulay. So they were back to that.

He counted to ten—slowly.

‘George told me I’d be staying at the surgery,’ he said, emphasising his words carefully so that there could be no misunderstanding, ‘and you know it makes sense. This place is enormous. There’s plenty of room for two people to live together here and not see each other.’

She stared at him. ‘Are you trying to tell me that you haven’t sorted out any accommodation for yourself?’

‘I didn’t need to.’ He tried hard to control his mounting irritation. ‘When George asked me to help out it was on the understanding that I’d stay in the house. There was never any question of sorting out accommodation.’’

A long silence followed and her gaze slid away from his. It was clear from her expression that she’d forgotten. ‘Maybe that’s true,’ she conceded finally, ‘but obviously I didn’t know it was you.’

Seb ground his teeth. She might be prettier than he’d first thought but she was just as aggravating!

‘Just point me to a room, Joanna,’ he growled, his patience stretched to the limit. He’d never known a woman who could get under his skin like this one did! ‘I’m staying here and that’s final. And if you’re worried about your virtue, don’t be. I think we both know that there’s no chance of either of us ever finding the other attractive. The best we can work towards is an amicable working relationship.’

The look of utter disbelief she shot in his direction left him in no doubt that she thought he was asking a great deal. It was obvious that she thought it extremely unlikely that they’d ever manage anything remotely approaching amicable.

And maybe she was right.

If there was a vulnerable side to her—and he was beginning to think he’d imagined it—then she kept it very well buried.

‘All right,’ she said finally, her expression grudging. ‘You can stay, but a few house rules first.’

Seb closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. Now what?

‘I’m a very private person, Dr Macau—I mean S-Seb.’ She corrected herself quickly and paused slightly before continuing. ‘I’d appreciate it if you would stay in your corner of the house and not come over into mine.’

What was she expecting? That he was going to jump on her in the night? She should be so lucky!!

‘I’ll try and remember that,’ he said dryly, his humour returning as he suddenly realised just how much fun this could be. Every time he wandered into her side of the house she’d throw a wobbly. ‘Any more rules I should know about?’

‘I set the burglar alarm before I go to bed.’ Suddenly her eyes slipped away from his. ‘If you’re out late, you’ll have to turn it off and reset it when you come in.’

So she was nervous in this big house on her own. Well, well, she most definitely did have a vulnerable side.

‘I’m sure I can manage that.’

‘OK.’ She ploughed on. ‘About night calls...’

‘We won’t be doing any,’ he said, smoothly interrupting her in mid-sentence, ‘at least not for the time being. I’ve arranged out-of-hours cover for the next few weeks.’

She gave a gasp of outrage. ‘How dare you? I don’t—’

‘You’re exhausted, Joanna,’ he said sharply, cutting through her protests before they’d really begun, ‘and I don’t know the area. Between us we’re a liability. Once George comes back you can do what you like. Until then, we’re taking whatever help we can get. Now, go to bed before you faint again.’

She shifted uncomfortably. ‘I’ve already told you, I did not faint.’

He gave her a warning look. ‘Either you go to bed voluntarily in the next ten seconds,’ he said with exaggerated patience, ‘or I’m going to carry you there.’

She stood up immediately, as he’d known she would. ‘I’m going,’ she said with quiet dignity, ‘because I’m too tired to argue with you—’

‘Alleluia,’ he muttered, and she lifted her chin and walked to the door, glancing over her shoulder as she tugged it open.

‘Don’t think that the subject is closed. You had no right to change my arrangements for night calls without discussing it with me. This is my practice and from now on I make the decisions.’

With that she walked through the door and marched up the stairs, slamming what must have been her bedroom door firmly behind her.

* * *

The next morning Joanna stared at the packed waiting room in disbelief.

‘Where have they all come from?’ she asked Laura in horror. ‘How can all these people suddenly have become ill overnight?’

‘They’re not ill,’ Laura said with a giggle. ‘They’ve just seen that incredible car in the car park and they’ve come to take a look at the owner! Talking of which, where is he?’

‘I have no idea,’ Joanna said shortly, picking up the post and flicking through it quickly. ‘I’d assumed he’d be here to start surgery, but doubtless—’

‘I am here.’ Seb’s deep voice came from behind her and she turned, her sharp retort dying on her lips as she met those cool blue eyes.

‘Good. We’re going to be busy,’ she said stiffly, and he gave a careless shrug.

‘I can cope with busy. I assume you just want me to see George’s patients?’

‘Yes—thank you. Laura will help you if you have any problems,’ she said, and then gritted her teeth as she noticed the adoring look on Laura’s face. Oh, for heaven’s sake! What was it about the man that turned her entire sex into fools?

‘Anything at all you need, Dr Macaulay,’ Laura was saying breathlessly. ‘Anything at all, just give me a shout.’

Her meaning was crystal clear but Seb’s response was suitably neutral.

‘Thanks, Laura.’

Neutral or not, Joanna wasn’t prepared to take any chances.

She nodded to Laura and then followed him through to his consulting room. ‘Just one more thing, Seb.’

He settled himself at George’s desk and flicked on the computer. ‘What’s that?’

Joanna steeled herself. ‘Please, don’t seduce my receptionist. Laura is very young and very impressionable. She couldn’t possibly cope with a man like you.’

There was a long silence and then his eyes lifted to hers. ‘A man like me.’ His mouth twitched slightly. ‘As I said last night, you know nothing about the sort of man I am.’

‘I know that you’re the sort of outwardly flashy, macho male that girls like Laura fantasise about.’

Just as she had about Charlie when she’d been Laura’s age.

She almost laughed at her own thoughts. Laura’s age? The truth was that she wasn’t that much older than Laura was—she just felt it.

Joanna rubbed her aching temples with slim fingers. Goodness, she was tired. One undisturbed night didn’t seem to have made any difference at all to the way she felt.

Seb’s handsome face was expressionless and for once he didn’t answer her.

She took a deep breath and tried again. ‘I accept that you’re not responsible for the fact that women throw themselves at you. I’m just asking you not to give her any encouragement.’

Finally he spoke. ‘Did I give her any encouragement just now?’

She hesitated. ‘No, but—’

‘And I don’t intend to,’ he said quietly, leaning forward in his chair and returning his attention to his computer. ‘Relax, Joanna. And don’t worry about Laura. If it becomes a problem, I’ll take care of it.’

Joanna licked dry lips. ‘She’s got a massive crush on you already.’

‘Then I’ll handle it,’ he said calmly, his eyes flickering down the list of patients who’d booked to see him. ‘It won’t be the first time, trust me.’

She could well believe that. Women had always behaved really foolishly around Seb, and it was fairly easy to see why. He was rich and breathtakingly good-looking—qualities enough for most women.

But not her. She knew better.

‘All right, then, I’ll leave you to get on with your surgery. If you have any problems during your surgery, press the top right-hand button on the phone—it connects with my room.’

She gave Seb a brief nod and left the room, eager to get on with her own surgery.

Her first patient was Vera Peters, an eighty-two-year-old lady whom she saw from time to time with minor illnesses.

‘Hello, Mrs Peters, have a seat.’ She greeted the old lady warmly, wondering what the problem was. There were no clues in the notes. ‘What can I do for you today?’

‘My skin has flared up again,’ Mrs Peters grumbled, ‘It’s really causing me problems.’

Joanna examined her carefully and gave a nod. ‘I can give you some cream for that,’ she said quickly, tapping away at the computer. After a few moments a prescription issued from the printer.

‘Well, that was simple,’ the old lady muttered, taking the prescription with a nod of thanks. ‘I wish you could do something about my John as easily as that.’

‘John? Your husband?’ Joanna knew that the couple lived in one of the flats on the edge of the village. From what she knew, they seemed to manage very well. ‘What’s the matter with him, Mrs Peters?’

‘He’s stealing,’ Vera Peters said crossly, clutching her handbag firmly on her lap and pursing her lips. ‘That’s what’s wrong. He’s stealing everything in sight.’

‘Stealing?’ Joanna looked at her in astonishment, surprised by the violence in the old lady’s voice as much as by what she was saying. She’d always thought of her as a very gentle sort, the last person in the world to be aggressive. ‘What’s he stealing, Mrs Peters?’

‘Things that aren’t his.’ Her fingers tightened on the handbag. ‘Last week he took my handbag, this week it’s my coat. I suppose he thought I wouldn’t notice, with the weather being so hot, but he was wrong! I did notice.’

At least the man wasn’t on the rampage in the local shops.

Joanna cleared her throat, trying to clarify what she’d just heard. ‘So you’re saying that your husband is stealing things from you?’

‘Yes!’ Vera glared at Joanna and then thumped her fist on the desk. ‘And it’s got to stop. And it’s not just stealing. Sometimes he moves things just to annoy me.’

Sensing that the old woman was very upset, Joanna reached across the table and gave her hand a squeeze, her voice gentle. ‘What does he move, Mrs Peters?’

‘My hairbrush and my shoes. They’re never where I left them!’

‘I see.’ Joanna thought carefully, wondering exactly where the problem lay. ‘And how is Mr Peters at the moment?’

‘Same as ever. Difficult and cross. But he isn’t ill, if that’s what you mean.’

Joanna sat back in her chair and nodded slowly. ‘Right. Well, don’t worry too much about it at the moment, Mrs Peters. Let’s give it a few weeks and see what happens. I’ll need to see you again to check your skin anyway. We can talk about it again then.’

Maybe by then she’d have had a chance to question the husband.

She watched Vera Peters shuffle out of the room and made a mental note to visit the pair of them at home. Things often made more sense when viewed in the context of the patient’s home life.

She called her next patient and worked her way steadily through to the end of the list, glancing at her watch in surprise when Seb strolled into her consulting room and announced that he’d finished.

‘I thought it might be sensible if we did the calls together. I want to get a feel for the area. It’s years since I was here.’

Joanna’s heart sank. Have him in the car with her? She couldn’t think of anything worse.

Before she could reply, her phone rang and she answered it quickly, her mouth tightening as she handed Seb the phone. ‘It’s for you. Someone called Gabby.’

‘Gabby?’ There was no mistaking the pleasure in his voice as he took the receiver and spoke warmly to the person on the other end.

Joanna was forced to listen as he made arrangements for that evening, irritation bubbling in her veins. It was so typical of Seb. He’d only been in Devon for five minutes and already he had women phoning him. No wonder he wasn’t interested in Laura. The man probably didn’t have time to fit her in.

He was going to be just as bad as Dr Wetsuit. Doing the bare minimum of work—

She stood up and reached for her bag and car keys, moving towards the door as he replaced the receiver.

‘So...’ His smooth voice came from behind her. ‘Can I join you?’

What choice did she have?

‘I suppose so.’ She walked briskly through to Reception and nodded to Laura. ‘We’re off. If anything else comes in you can call me on my mobile.’

Seb adjusted his long stride to match hers as they walked to the car park. ‘Do you want to take my car?’

She glanced at the long, low sports car and gave a wry smile. ‘Not unless you fancy losing your suspension on a rutted farm track.’

To her surprise he returned the smile. ‘Good point. It’s not the most practical mode of transport for a country GP, is it? We’ll take yours today, on the understanding that you let me take you for a ride in mine when we get back.’

She looked at him, startled. ‘Why would I want to do that, Dr Macaulay?’

‘For fun, Dr Weston,’ he said softly, a strange light in his eyes. ‘For fun. You know, something you do simply for the pleasure of it. Haven’t you ever done anything on impulse just because it felt right?’

For a brief moment Joanna stood frozen to the spot, her hands clenched on her car keys. The answer was, yes, she had. And she was still feeling the pain years later.

Shaking herself mentally, she glanced at him, flushing under that sharp blue gaze. Bother. He’d noticed her reaction.

‘So you have done something for sheer enjoyment—how interesting.’ His voice was thoughtful as his eyes searched hers. ‘What was it, Jo?’

‘I’ve asked you before not to call me Jo.’ She unlocked her car, anxious to escape from that narrowed gaze.

‘Why?’ Seb slid into the car next to her, fastened his seat belt and shifted slightly so that he could look at her. ‘Did someone else call you that? Does it bring back memories?’

‘No, it does not.’ She gritted her teeth and started the engine, her stiff profile warning him not to ask any further questions. Over the years she’d tried to come to terms with her past and she didn’t want to think about it more than she had to. And she most certainly didn’t intend to discuss it with Seb Macaulay. ‘And if you don’t mind, I’d rather we confined our conversation to work from now on.’

‘Why?’ His eyes were suddenly curious. ‘Why can’t we have more general conversations? You never know. We might suddenly discover that we like each other.’

She gave him a withering look. ‘I think we both know that there’s very little chance of that, Dr Macaulay.’

It was bad enough working with him. She certainly didn’t intend their relationship to get more personal than that. And as for actually liking him—well, she’d never heard anything so ridiculous in her whole life.

CHAPTER THREE

‘SO WHO are we visiting first?’ Seb pulled the list out of his bag and scanned it quickly. ‘Ruth Kenton. Thirty weeks pregnant. What’s the history?’

Joanna turned the car onto a farm track and slowed her speed as she carefully negotiated the potholes. ‘The baby isn’t growing as it should and we’re all monitoring her really closely. She’s got moderate pre-eclampsia, which is probably affecting the growth of the baby.’

Seb lifted an eyebrow. ‘Shouldn’t she be in hospital?’

‘Possibly.’ Joanna nodded. ‘But I’m working closely with the consultant and we’ve agreed that she can stay at home providing she rests and we check her daily.’

Seb frowned. ‘That makes a heavy workload for you.’

Joanna shrugged. ‘Helen, the community midwife, does the lion’s share. She’s keeping a close check on Ruth’s weight and blood pressure, as well as her urine and the foetal heart. The consultant started her on low-dose aspirin a while ago,’ she told him, pulling a face as the car lurched into a pothole. ‘Bother. This road is appalling.’

‘It would be easier for you if she went into hospital.’

‘Easier for me, yes, but not for her. This is a rural community,’ Joanna said quietly, pulling up in front of a rambling farmhouse and switching off the engine. ‘If Ruth goes into hospital, it means that her husband will have to make a sixty-mile round trip every time he wants to visit her, and that’s not practical. Like most farmers these days, he’s stretched to the limit.’

‘So you’re keeping her at home for his sake?’

‘For everyone’s sake. She’s more relaxed in her own home and she isn’t worried about her husband travelling long distances to see her when he should be working on the farm. He’s happy because she’s under his nose. Anyway, she doesn’t need to go into hospital yet. And when she does, we’ll send her there.’ Joanna opened the car door and smiled as four dogs surged round her, barking furiously. ‘Hello, you gorgeous things.’

Joanna stooped to pat them, laughing with delight as they jumped all over her, their tails wagging. She realised that Seb was watching her with an odd expression on his face, and the laughter died in her throat.

‘What?’ She stiffened self-consciously. Why was he staring at her?

‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen you laugh.’ He took a step backwards as she stalked past him and lifted a hand to ring the doorbell.

‘I laugh all the time,’ she said frostily. ‘I just don’t laugh at the same things as you.’

‘Obviously not. I didn’t have you down as a dog sort of person.’ He was looking at her with frank curiosity and she grew defensive.

‘And what exactly does a ‘‘dog sort of person’’ look like?’

‘I don’t know.’ His broad shoulders lifted and for once in his life he seemed to be struggling to find the right words. ‘I just didn’t think you—’

Before he could complete his sentence the door opened and a young woman with a neat pregnancy bump opened the door.

‘Oh, hello, Dr Weston. Come on in.’ She looked at Seb suspiciously and Joanna gave her a smile and introduced him.

‘This is Dr Macaulay. He’s my new partner, here to cover for Dr Mills until he’s back from Australia.’

Ruth’s gaze was suddenly hostile. ‘Well, I hope you’re more use than the last doctor who came to supposedly help poor Dr Weston.’

Seb looked taken aback. ‘Well, er, I certainly intend—’

‘He was totally useless,’ Ruth interrupted, standing aside so that they could both enter the house. ‘Poor Dr Weston worked herself to the bone, covering for him. We were all glad when he left, weren’t we, Dr Weston?’

‘Well, he had his good points,’ Joanna said, trying to be tactful as she followed Ruth through to the homely sitting room. The sun shone through the huge windows, illuminating the piles of magazines and cushions piled haphazardly on old, battered sofas.

Joanna put her bag down and sat down next to Ruth. ‘So, how have you been?’

‘Oh, fine,’ Ruth said brightly, patting her stomach gently. ‘But I must say that sitting around is pretty boring.’

Joanna examined Ruth’s fingers for swelling and then looked at the rest of her body. ‘You’re a bit swollen, Ruth.’

A flash of panic crossed the young woman’s face. ‘The weather’s hot, Dr Weston.’

‘I know that.’ Joanna removed a stethoscope from her bag and checked the woman’s blood pressure.

‘Is it high again?’ Ruth chewed her lower lip as she waited for an answer.

Joanna hesitated. ‘It’s OK. Still up, obviously, but it’s holding steady,’ she said. ‘We need to check it again tomorrow. Have you done me a urine sample?’

She tested the sample, recorded the results and then settled herself back down next to Ruth, who looked at her anxiously.

‘I’m going to have to go into hospital, aren’t I?’

Joanna shook her head. ‘No. Not yet. But you know that the possibility is always there.’

Ruth nodded wordlessly and Joanna glanced at the notes. ‘You’re going on Friday for another scan—who’s taking you?’

‘Tom. He’s got cover for the afternoon. Do you think they’ll keep me in, Dr Weston?’

‘I don’t know,’ Joanna said honestly. ‘They might. It depends on the growth of the baby. You know that last time they scanned you they thought that part of the placenta wasn’t functioning properly.’

‘I know, and I’m really worried about it.’ Ruth’s voice was suddenly choked. ‘Why me? Why me, Dr Weston? Other people have babies all the time with no problem at all. They pop them out as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. But with me everything is going so wrong...’

She started to cry and Joanna slipped an arm round her shoulder and gave her a hug.

‘Try not to upset yourself, Ruth,’ she said softly, holding the young woman as she sobbed. ‘I know it seems unfair, but it’s best not to dwell on other people’s pregnancies and birth if you can help it. Just focus on coping with what’s happening to you.’

‘But they said at the hospital that if he stops growing or my blood pressure goes up any more, they’ll just have to deliver him—and he’s only thirty weeks.’ Ruth sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. ‘He’s going to die, I know he’s going to die, and we’ve wanted a baby for so long—’

‘He’s not going to die, Ruth,’ Joanna said firmly, ‘That’s why we’re keeping such a close eye on you. They have fantastic facilities at the hospital. If he has to be delivered early, it’s certainly true that he’ll be very small and will have to stay in for quite a few weeks, but eventually you’ll be able to bring him home safe and sound.’

‘But how would we manage if he was in hospital all that time?’ Ruth reached up her sleeve and pulled out a tissue. ‘They said that he could be in for weeks and weeks, and I won’t be able to drive because I’ll need a Caesarean section. Tom can’t do that journey every day—our business will go under. And I won’t be able to see my baby.’

‘Can I say something?’ Seb’s calm voice stopped Ruth’s tears and she looked up in surprise, as if she’d forgotten he was there. ‘It seems to me that you’re worrying about too many things before they happen. At the moment the baby is still safely inside you, which is exactly where the hospital will keep him until they feel there’s no other choice but to deliver him.’

‘But he’s definitely going to come early,’ Ruth told him miserably, shredding a tissue with shaking fingers. ‘And I don’t know how we’re going to manage.’

‘The hospital should be able to provide accommodation for at least two weeks,’ Joanna reassured her, ‘and maybe longer than that. Dr Macaulay’s right, Ruth. You’re worrying too much about things that haven’t happened yet, and it’s not good for you.’

Ruth bit her lip. ‘Well, that’s all I’ve got to do, sitting here with my feet up, ‘‘resting’’. I’ve got too much time on my hands, that’s the trouble. Too much time to think and worry.’

‘I’ll make some enquiries about accommodation,’ Joanna said, giving Ruth’s shoulders a squeeze before standing up and snapping her case shut. ‘That way at least you’ll know what the options are if you do have to go in early. In the meantime, let me know how you get on at the hospital on Friday.’

‘I will, Dr Weston. And thanks. You’re such a kind person.’

Joanna blushed, aware of Seb’s scrutiny. ‘Not at all,’ she said briskly, ‘Any doctor would have done the same.’

Ruth shook her head. ‘No. Lots of doctors wouldn’t bother, and don’t think I don’t know that. They would have left it to the midwife or had me admitted to hospital. You’re the reason I’m still at home, Dr Weston, and Tom and I are really grateful for that.’

‘You’re very welcome,’ Joanna said quietly, embarrassed by the praise.

Seb turned to her as they climbed back into the car. ‘She’s right, you know. Lots of doctors wouldn’t have bothered doing what you’re doing. They wouldn’t want to take the risk and they wouldn’t want to make life so hard for themselves. You’ve been good to her.’

Joanna frowned and turned the car carefully back towards the lane. ‘Are you saying that you think I’m taking a risk with the baby’s health?’

‘No.’ He shook his head and gave her a wry smile. ‘Calm down. For once I’m not arguing with you. I don’t think you’re taking a risk because you’re prepared to monitor her so closely. I’m just saying that the approach you’re taking is making you a great deal of extra work.’

‘Well, aside from the work, I actually think she’s likely to do better, staying in her own home,’ Joanna said, indicating right and turning onto the main road. ‘Hospitals are notoriously stressful places at the best of times. I always think it’s something of an irony that they admit pregnant women to hospital for rest.’

Seb laughed. ‘You’ve probably got a point.’ He glanced down at the list. ‘Who’s next?’

‘Ian Clarkson,’ Joanna told him. ‘He’s a fifty-five-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He’s not on the list but he had a pretty awful winter, poor chap, and he’s been trying desperately hard to give up smoking. He’ll never come to the surgery unless he’s at death’s door, so I want to check up on him.’

She pulled up outside a row of cottages and walked briskly up the path to the front door of one of them, Seb keeping pace beside her.

The door opened immediately and an overweight, balding man greeted her with a smile. ‘What a lovely surprise! Come on in, pet, I’m just about to put the kettle on.’

Joanna smiled and followed him into the house. ‘Haven’t really got time for tea today, Ian, but thanks anyway. I’ve got our new locum, Dr Macaulay, with me. I’m just showing him round.’

‘Right.’ Ian turned and stared at Seb and then gave a nod. ‘And you’ve moved in with our Dr Weston, have you?’

Seb cleared his throat. ‘Well, yes, in a manner of speaking.’

‘Good.’ Ian wheezed slightly as he filled the kettle and flicked the switch. ‘That girl shouldn’t be on her own in that big house. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.’ He turned and took another look at Seb. ‘At least you’re built like a proper man—should be able to cope with any intruders.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ Seb said dryly, his eyes narrowing slightly as they rested on Joanna’s tense features. ‘Have you had intruders?’

‘Just children,’ she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. ‘It happened just after Dr Mills left for Australia, so I suppose they knew I was on my own.’

‘You shouldn’t have been on your own,’ Ian growled. ‘There are too many things that could happen in a house that size. How’s that roof of yours, by the way? Everything fine?’

‘Brilliant.’ Joanna gave him a grateful smile and then turned to Seb. ‘Ian saved my life a few months ago. I had a leak in the middle of that awful wet spell and Ian sorted it out for me. He’s a roofer. Anyway, enough of that. I popped in to find out how much you’re smoking, Ian.’

‘Haven’t had one for three weeks,’ Ian said proudly, and Joanna leaned forward and hugged him in delight.

‘Ian, that’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you.’

‘Yes, well, there’s no way I’m having another winter like the last one,’ he said gruffly. ‘I figure I’ve got the summer to get myself right. I’ve had terrible cravings, mind, but I rang that number you gave me and I joined that stop-smoking group in the village.’

‘You’re a total star, Ian! How much are you using your inhaler now?’ Joanna asked.

He pulled a face. ‘Varies. About three times a day, I suppose.’

‘That’s good. It’s time I gave you a proper check-up so next time you’re near the surgery get Laura to slot you in. Will you do that, Ian?’

‘You’re the boss.’ He gave a smile. ‘Are you sure you won’t have a cup of tea?’

She shook her head. ‘No, but thanks for the offer. I’ve got a list of calls as long as my arm to do.’

‘Well, thanks for calling Doctor,’ Ian said as he showed them to the door. ‘And any problems with the surgery building while Dr Mills is away—don’t be afraid to give me a ring. Anything at all.’

‘Thanks, Ian.’

They said their farewells and climbed back into the car, working their way steadily down the list.

After their last call Joanna sat in the driver’s seat, her expression thoughtful. ‘I’ve got one more call to make,’ she said quietly, ‘but I’ll drop you back at the surgery first.’

Seb frowned. ‘Why?’

‘Because it’s a bit sensitive.’

‘I’m a doctor, Joanna,’ he said impatiently. ‘I can deal with sensitive.’

She hesitated and then gave a little shrug. ‘All right.’

Why not? He’d think she was mad, but who cared? His opinion of her was already so low it really didn’t matter what he thought.

She pulled up outside a small terraced house and switched off the engine.

‘So why are we here?’ Seb undid his seat belt. ‘Why is it sensitive?’

‘Their dog was killed on the road yesterday,’ Joanna muttered, not quite able to meet his eyes. ‘I want to check up on them.’

There was a long silence while he digested her words. ‘You’re visiting them because they’ve lost their dog?’

The incredulous note in his voice made her lift her chin defensively. ‘He was more than a dog to them,’ she said shortly, ‘and you can stay in the car if you like.’

With that she climbed out of the car and walked briskly down the path towards the front door.

A woman answered the door with eyes red-rimmed from crying. ‘Oh, Dr Weston...’

‘I heard from Alice,’ Joanna said quietly, aware that Seb had joined her. ‘I’m so sorry, Paula. I know how much you loved your dog. I just wanted to check that you were all right. I brought my new locum with me, Dr Macaulay. I hope you don’t mind.’

Paula sniffed hard. ‘He must think you’re mad, doing a house call because someone’s lost their dog. You must have a hundred more important things to do.’