Swallowbrook's Wedding of the Year (The Doctors of Swallowbrook Farm) Read online

  When he and Julianne had come face-to-face in the corridor outside the nurses’ room he hadn’t put into words that he knew who she was. He hadn’t needed to. His manner when they’d discussed the patient who’d complained about having the cortisone injection had made it clear enough. It had been while his glance had been on the printout she’d been holding that he’d seen that his surmise that she too would have found herself a husband by now had been wrong. There had been no wedding ring on her finger.

  The cottage and the waterfall had come into view and as he pulled up beside them and gave the car a quick glance he thought that it was the first time he’d ever bought a car without some degree of thought, or worked his first day in a new practice with both events barely registering because of a woman, but that had been the case today,

  Tomorrow was going to be different, he vowed silently. The bridesmaid of long ago was not going to put him off his stride, no way!

  * * *

  Later that evening Aaron went out for a stroll and ran into Helena Carey, the senior practice nurse, who was out walking her dog.

  ‘So how did your first day go, Dr Somerton?’ she asked, her frisky boxer straining at its lead.

  ‘Fine, thank you,’ he replied. ‘Needless to say, it was very different from the surgeries I have worked in over the last few years, but they all have the same end in view, don’t they?’

  ‘Yes, they do,’ she agreed, and then to his surprise asked, ‘What do you think of the staff at the surgery?’

  ‘They seem great. Why do you ask?’

  ‘I thought that maybe you hadn’t hit it off with Nurse Marshall as you seemed to be having a disagreement at one point during the morning. It was unusual as Julianne is held in high regard by everyone at the practice.’

  ‘Yes, I am sure she is,’ he said calmly. ‘It was just a moment of confusion on both our parts, that’s all.’

  ‘Ah, that’s good,’ she replied, and went on her way, leaving him to think that the face from the past seemed as if she had a fan club at the surgery. So what? There would be no likelihood of him joining it. He had seen her and her sister in their true colours and was not going to be deceived twice.

  * * *

  That second night he slept better. The sound of the waterfall was no longer disruptive. This time it was a constant, reliable sound that helped him to relax, and no sooner had his head hit the pillow than he was out like a light.

  Until he heard the sound of the first of the passenger launches going across the lake at seven o’clock the next morning and then it was a shower, a quick breakfast and off to the practice with what would have been sheer pleasure if it wasn’t for the thought of meeting up again with Julianne.

  As he drove along the main street she was there, brisk and immaculate, unlike her appearance of the morning before, and about to get into her car. On impulse he drew level at the kerbside and as she looked up questioningly he said tonelessly, ‘I saw Helena last night down by the lake and she was concerned that we weren’t going to get on with each other, so I thought I’d stop to let you know that during working hours there will be no problems as far as I am concerned, though I’m sure you must realise that if I’d known you were part of the package of Swallowbrook’s health care I wouldn’t have taken the job.’

  Here it comes, Julianne thought miserably. It hasn’t taken him long to put me in my place. Would he have recognised me if it hadn’t been for my name? But she was not going to argue.

  ‘I’m sorry that my presence at the surgery has taken away your pleasure in coming home, Aaron,’ she said levelly. ‘When I knew that you were going to be Libby’s replacement, I must admit I thought about leaving, but decided that as I’d done nothing wrong, why should I? A truce while we’re working together would be most acceptable, and for the rest of the time our private lives will stay how they are meant to be, private.’

  He didn’t take her up on that, just nodded, and keen to know if she already knew that Nathan was having thoughts about them working in pairs asked, ‘Did you know that Nathan is considering us working in twos, a doctor and a nurse working together?

  ‘At the moment we have four doctors and three nurses so he will probably leave Ruby working solo until she leaves to look after their little adopted child when it arrives. It would be better if we didn’t work so closely together.’

  She almost groaned out loud and ignoring his last comment said, ‘No, I didn’t know. Maybe I can ask him not to do that before he decides who is with who, but of course he will want to know why and...’

  ‘What? You wouldn’t want him to find out that you are not as bright a star as he thinks you are? I will say one thing, Julianne, you have certainly got them all bedazzled, Nathan, Helena, the nice guy at the bakery, but of course they don’t know the sort of things you get up to, do they?’

  On that discordant note he drove off and left her standing on the pavement with a lump in her throat, thinking miserably that no man would relish having to endure what had happened to him, and if she wanted no further hurt along the way she would need to tread carefully when he was around at the practice, which was going to be most of the time.

  When Julianne arrived Aaron was already ensconced in the kitchen with some of the other staff, enjoying the early morning brew that the first to arrive always made for the rest of them, and when he saw her downcast expression Aaron felt a sharp pang of guilt. If they’d been handing out medals for arrogance he would have been top of the list.

  On impulse he said to those gathered there, ‘I wonder if you folks would like to be my guests tonight at somewhere while I celebrate my return to the UK, which has brought with it the pleasure of meeting you all?’

  With one exception, Julianne thought. There had been no joy for him in meeting up with her again. So what was the reason for his sudden invitation? Yet did it matter? Whatever it was, she wouldn’t be attending.

  For one thing, he wouldn’t want her there, and for another it was her night for helping out at the hospice at the far side of the lake, and no matter how low she might be feeling she never arrived there without a smile on her face.

  Nathan had just appeared and Aaron was asking him if he and Libby could get someone to mind the children for a couple of hours at such short notice.

  After thinking for a moment, Nathan replied, ‘I’m sure that my father will do the honours as long as both Toby and Elsey are asleep when we leave them.’

  With a glance at the other two doctors, Hugo Lawrence and his recently qualified young wife, Ruby, Aaron said, ‘And would you folks be free for a couple of hours?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Hugo replied, and to the rest of those gathered in the kitchen, ‘Where would you suggest? Aaron doesn’t know the night life in the area like we do. There’s The Mallard, of course, or a new restaurant that has just opened on the lakeside that we’ve had good reports of. You have a good social life, Julianne, where do you suggest?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ she said. ‘We all have our likes and dislikes, and in any case I won’t be there, it’s the night I go to help out at the hospice, and I can’t let them down.’

  So much for that, Aaron thought. He’d suggested the get-together mainly because he felt guilty for being so abrupt earlier, and was now realising that he needn’t have bothered extending an olive branch as she had other plans.

  But he couldn’t go back on what he’d suggested and showing no disappointment at the thought of her absence he decided on the new restaurant. A decision that was met with approval from everyone except Julianne, who was just relieved to have a good reason for not being there and didn’t have to think up an excuse.

  It was always very late when she arrived home on the nights she worked at the hospice. If there was an ambulance driver free, or any other member of the staff going her way with a car, they would give her a lift, otherwise she phoned for a taxi. She
had a little runabout car, but was always so tired when she’d finished there after working at the practice all day that she daren’t risk using it in case she fell asleep at the wheel.

  Tonight it was one of the doctors at the hospice who had brought her home and as he drove off, the surgery crowd appeared, strolling along the pavement on their way home from the impromptu party, all in high spirits after the unexpected get-together in a smart restaurant.

  The last thing she wanted was to have to face Aaron again and she fumbled around in her bag for the door key, hoping to get inside before they drew level. The ones at the front didn’t pause, just called their goodnights and ambled on.

  At the same second that her fingers closed around the key she could see Aaron looming up in the rear, chatting to Ruby and Hugo, and he’d seen her.

  As the other two doctors wished her goodnight he stopped beside her. She turned the key quickly in the lock and as the door swung open stepped inside then swung round to face him.

  She didn’t speak. If he had something to say, let him say it and be gone, she thought. Her evening had been spent mostly surrounded by the terminally ill with the sadness that such situations brought with them and now she just wanted to go to bed. She was tired in body and soul.

  He did have something to say and it took her by surprise. ‘If they are looking for volunteers at the hospice I could give them a couple of nights, or weekends, on a regular basis. Just thought I’d mention it as I was passing.’ He turned to go. ‘At different times to yours, of course.’

  Stung by the comment, she said, ‘But of course. It wouldn’t do for you to be mixing with a wrong ’un. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I would like to go to bed.’

  ‘Sure. I’ll be on my way.’ And without further comment he went striding off in the direction of the lake, the waterfall and the cottage, and his last thought before he slept was about Julianne again. So far she hadn’t put a foot wrong. Either she was playing him up, or he’d got his wires crossed somewhere.

  Maybe tomorrow he would ask her about Nadine—where she lived, how often they met and were their parents still around? Though perhaps not. He’d only been back a couple of days and was already showing an exaggerated interest in Julianne.

  * * *

  Both Aaron and Julianne were waiting for Nathan to mention the working-together-in-pairs arrangement and so far he hadn’t, but that omission was about to be dealt with late on Friday afternoon before the surgery closed for the weekend, when he said to them, ‘I’ve sorted out the new working arrangements.

  ‘I will pair with Helena. Hugo with Gina, who is going to extend her hours to match his now that her young ones are capable of being left for a short time after senior school, and the two of you will make up the third pair. I have every confidence that you will work well together, with Ruby being at hand if any of us doctors are not available for some reason, until such time as she becomes a stay-at-home mother like Libby with our young ones.’

  The phone in his room was ringing and before they could say anything he’d gone to answer it. Aaron said in a low voice, ‘Maybe we should let it ride if we don’t want to be the objects of gossip.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ she agreed reluctantly, and without further comment went to make sure that the nurses’ room was immaculate before the surgery closed for the weekend.

  Nathan shortly followed her into the room.

  ‘So you’re happy with that arrangement, then, Julianne?’ She shook her head.

  ‘You’re not?’ he exclaimed.

  ‘Not over the moon, no,’ she said flatly. ‘Do we have to?’

  ‘Do we have to what?’ he questioned, surprised at her reaction.

  She was usually the easiest of people to deal with and he was taken aback by her lack of enthusiasm.

  ‘Work together.’

  ‘Why? Don’t you like the guy?’ he questioned.

  ‘He’s all right, I suppose.’

  She’d once liked him a lot more than was good for her, and even now was accepting it without protest when Aaron made no secret of what he thought about her.

  The head of the practice was laughing. ‘Don’t overdo the enthusiasm. Is there some sort of a problem that I don’t know about? It isn’t like you to be so choosy.’

  Wanting my sister’s fiancé wasn’t like me either and no good came of that, she could have told him.

  ‘Shall we see how the two of you get on together for a trial period?’ he suggested.

  Julianne forced a smile but said nothing more on the subject. Pulling on her coat, she wished Nathan a good weekend and headed out into the cold.

  On arriving back at her cosy flat, she collapsed onto the sofa. Her usual vitality was in short supply and it was all because of what she saw as Aaron’s lurking presence.

  She was still stunned by his willingness to do the same as she did and offer his services to the hospice. Maybe he was lonely and needed something to fill the hours away from the surgery, but he would soon have company when it got around that the new doctor was very easy on the eye, and would be no less handsome when the tan wore off.

  After she’d had a meal of sorts that evening Julianne rang the group that she usually socialised with on Friday nights and informed them that she wouldn’t be going into the town to a cinema with them, as had been arranged earlier in the week, because she needed an early night after a hectic week.

  It was only half-true. She’d gone with them many times when she’d been tired at the end of the week at the practice and with the time spent at the hospice and had always perked up as soon as they were all together, but those had been when Aaron hadn’t been back in her life, when he’d been far away in Africa, and now it wasn’t like that any more.

  He was living almost near enough to touch, and although he’d made it plain that he hadn’t forgotten the past and was enduring her presence at the practice only because he had no choice. She had the feeling all the time that he would be watching everything she did and wouldn’t be awarding any Brownie points for excellence.

  The fact remained, however, that she just couldn’t stay closeted in her small apartment on a Friday night, it would be just too stifling, and on that thought she wrapped up warmly and went for a walk by the lake in the opposite direction from The Falls Cottage.

  She could see in the distance that the light was on and thought that Aaron must be having a quiet night too. It was dark everywhere, the light of day having gone completely. The coloured lanterns around the lake hadn’t yet come on and it was beginning to feel spooky beside the trees at the water’s edge as she seemed to be the only one walking there.

  With a sudden yearning for warmth and light she turned swiftly to go back the way she had come and was faced with the sound of someone moving towards her through the trees.

  Bereft of her usual quick thinking, she stood motionless until a hand appeared and parted the branches of the tree nearest her at the same moment that the lanterns came on.

  ‘What on earth are you doing here, rambling about on your own in the dark?’ Aaron asked in gritty greeting.

  She thought illogically that he would never be any good as a Father Christmas unless he had a charisma transplant.

  ‘I’m doing the same as you, it would seem, walking by the lake,’ she said calmly, ‘only I’m not skulking about amongst the trees. I was just about to go back when the lights came on.’

  ‘I don’t know the place as well as you,’ he told her, ‘and thought I could take a short cut from one side of the lake to the other, but didn’t get it quite right. I must say that you are the last person I was expecting to see out here. I would have thought Friday night would be party night.’

  ‘It usually is in some form or other. My friends were surprised to hear that I was giving it a miss.’

  ‘And why are you?’ he asked, thinking that he must be
insane, wanting to know the workings of her mind.

  ‘I didn’t want to risk meeting up with you again,’ she said with a hollow laugh, ‘but maybe it would have been wiser if I’d stayed in. Look at us here by the deserted lake, not a soul in sight, just the two of us. When I left the practice tonight it was with the thought that I wouldn’t be seeing anything of you for two whole days, but I was wrong.’

  She was hugging her top coat more tightly around her, shivering in the night air, and he said, ‘Come on. I’ll buy you a hot drink at the hotel and then, unwelcome as my presence might be, will see you safely home.’ As she was about to refuse, he added, ‘Don’t argue!’

  * * *

  They drank their coffees largely in silence and Julianne didn’t think she could feel more uncomfortable in Aaron’s presence until he asked quite suddenly, ‘How is it that you’ve never married?’

  ‘That is soon answered,’ she replied. ‘The man I was attracted to didn’t love me and I’ve never felt like that about anyone since.’

  ‘It would seem to be that we do have one thing in common, then,’ he said sombrely, and looked at his watch.

  She saw him and said, ‘Do you want us to make tracks?’

  He shook his head and as if his thoughts were elsewhere said absently, ‘Whenever you’re ready will do.’

  ‘I’m ready now,’ she replied, with a sudden urge to be back where she belonged, away from this strange encounter that was the last thing she’d been expecting when she’d left the apartment earlier.

  * * *

  Once they were outside the bakery Julianne said, ‘Thanks for the coffee, Aaron. I had no intention of breaking into your evening, just the opposite, in fact.’

  ‘Don’t fret about it,’ he told her. ‘It was just a one-off,’ and even as he spoke he was turning in his tracks and with a wave of the hand was gone.