Leah Martyn – Outback Doctor, English Bride (страница 7)
Unfolding her clenched hands, Maxi held her palms against her thighs. ‘Yes, thanks. Um, what time do you usually have breakfast?’
He gave a hollow laugh. ‘I
She gave a disapproving little shake of her head. ‘You can’t possibly start your day on a banana! How early do you leave for the surgery?’
‘Seven-thirty-ish,’ he said, his voice curiously gruff. ‘If there are patients to see at the hospital, I do a round first and then go on to the surgery.’
‘I could do your hospital round,’ she offered. ‘I’ll be going there anyway to start Karryn on her programme.’
He seemed to hesitate and then he said, ‘Fair enough. Thanks,’ he added, almost as an afterthought.
‘Then what?’ Maxi prodded. ‘I’ll come to the surgery?’
‘Will that be before or after you’ve seen Liz Maynard?’
She sent him a brief exasperated look. ‘After, I imagine.’ And, please, take me seriously, she wanted to add, but didn’t. She turned away. ‘I’ll say goodnight, then.’ Suddenly, it was all just too difficult.
Maxi couldn’t sleep. And it wasn’t as though the bed was uncomfortable. It wasn’t. And the sheets and pillowcases were of softest cotton, sweet and sun-dried. But she’d been overtired, she realised now, her thoughts all over the place.
She sighed and turned over, plumping up the pillow yet again. The absolute quiet was getting to her, unnerving her. That was until the cicadas started their concert outside her window, of course. It was driving her nuts. But that was nothing compared to the fright she’d experienced when a long mournful howl had pierced the night air and had had her jackknifing up, her heart banging inside her chest. Now,
Oh, lord… Closing her eyes, she began some relaxation techniques… Surely Australia didn’t have wolves, did it? But the howl had sounded like a wolf. And so close—so close…
She finally slept, rising early and strangely more in control. And under the needling warmth of the shower, even a three-minute one, she felt her body revive and her mind begin to focus.
Dressed for work in well-cut linen trousers and crisp white figure-hugging shirt, she made her way along to the kitchen, surprised that Jake hadn’t surfaced yet. She’d give him a surprise and fix breakfast.
Her eyes tracked around the kitchen. It was lovely, homely. She’d hardly had time to register anything last night, she thought, going forward to place her hand almost reverently on the scrubbed pine table, touching her fingers to the tiny dips and grooves in its surface and speculating about the doctors, young and possibly not so young, who had sat here. What stories they could tell now.
She moved across to the pantry and peered inside, raising an eyebrow in surprise. It was well stocked. And obviously down to the lady who came in—Marie. The fridge was similarly well provisioned and Maxi made a little sound of annoyance in her throat. There was no need for Jake to be skipping meals at all. Or as good as.
But, then, it wasn’t much fun cooking for one, she guessed. And wondered anew just how lonely and isolating it was for him here.
Locating bowl and whisk, she broke in several eggs and began to fluff them. A tiny frown pleated her forehead. Had disillusionment from their break-up driven him here? she wondered. Had her inability to join him really done that to him? She turned the beaten eggs into a pan and adjusted the heat.
‘What’s going on here?’
Maxi spun round from the cook-top and shot Jake a haughty little look. ‘Good morning. I’m fixing breakfast. And don’t tell me you don’t have time to eat.’
A little bemused, Jake leaned against the doorframe, watching her. She looked so absolutely right here, he thought, his mind sharpening with memory. Until he cautioned himself bleakly, silently, Just don’t get used to it, chum. There may be history between him and Maxi but there was definitely no future. He wasn’t about to set himself up to be hurt all over again.
‘Well, don’t just stand there, Doctor.’ Maxi beckoned him in. ‘I could use your help here. We need some toast to go with these scrambled eggs.’
Jake pushed himself away from the door and moved across the kitchen to look over her shoulder. ‘You really didn’t have to do this, Max.’ His voice was edged with a gruff quality, his hand of its own accord coming up to rest fleetingly at the nape of her neck.
Maxi felt warning signals clang all over her body and turned her head a fraction. With only the merest encouragement from him, she could have flung herself into his arms. Instead, she took a steadying breath, finding herself breathing in the fresh tang of his sandalwood shower gel. ‘I was up early,’ she improvised quickly. ‘It seemed logical to start breakfast.’ She swallowed a laugh. ‘You can take your banana for your play lunch instead.’
His chuckle was a bit rueful. ‘Perhaps I will. Anything would be better than Ayleen’s scones.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Maxi’s mouth turned down at the corners. ‘That bad.’
‘They give a new perspective to the meaning of rock cakes.’
Maxi chuckled. ‘I guess she’s just trying to be kind.’
‘Oh, she is,’ Jake agreed, sliding bread into the toaster. ‘She thinks I need looking after.’
‘Lord, no.’ He pretended to shudder. ‘I’d never talk my way out of that. I smuggle them out and bring them home for Chalky.’
‘Is that good for him?’ Maxi seemed shocked by the very idea.
Jake shrugged. ‘Chalky loves them. They’re so hard, I think he cleans his teeth on them.’
Listening to his crazy banter, Maxi felt a strange sense of lightness.
‘Only on a Friday.’
‘But that’s today!’
He gave a crooked grin. ‘Better brace yourself, then.’
Maxi felt a swirl of pleasure, watching Jake obviously enjoy the simple meal they’d more or less prepared together. She poured the tea and handed his mug across. ‘So, am I going to be seeing some patients today or are you intending to keep them all to yourself?’
Very deliberately, Jake took a mouthful of his tea. ‘I’ll sort out a few for you to see.’
‘Good.’ She smiled, activating the tiny dimple in her cheek. ‘I’d like a nice mix, then, please. Don’t feel you have to give me all the females.’
Jake put down his mug and wrapped his hands around it. ‘Be aware, Maxi, some folk will present with physical ailments that are purely manifestations of stress.’
‘So an unexplained pain somewhere but in reality they need to talk?’
‘Exactly.’ He gave her a brief nod of approval, seemingly pleased with her grasp of things. ‘There’s also been an upswing in drug and alcohol use. So use your own judgement but if you’re in doubt at all, check with me before you prescribe anything.’
‘I think I can manage that.’
It was just on ten o’clock when Maxi arrived at Jake’s surgery. Ayleen was, of course, in attendance, beckoning Maxi to the end of the counter out of earshot of the waiting patients. ‘Jake thought you might like to settle in a bit, Doctor, and then see a couple of patients after lunch.’
Maxi nodded. ‘That sounds fine. And, please, don’t let’s be formal. Call me Maxi.’
They exchanged a smile. ‘And I’m Ayleen. So now that’s settled, I’ll show you where to go and you can start getting your bearings.’
‘Brilliant.’
‘This’ll be you.’ Ayleen opened the door on a reasonably sized consulting room.
‘Oh, wow.’ Maxi blinked a bit, seeing a well-equipped, although impersonal domain. It set her thinking and she turned to the receptionist, a query in her eyes. ‘So, was this always a two-doctor practice?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Ayleen was only too happy to supply the information. ‘Jake joined Tom Wilde a couple of years ago but then Tom and his family had to leave for various reasons and Jake’s been soldiering on alone ever since. Such a relief you can stay for a while.’
Yes, but for how long? Maxi’s gaze clouded slightly. ‘The locum’s not turned up, then?’
Ayleen shook her ash-blonde head and gave a little sniff of disgust. ‘Changed his mind, according to the agency.’
‘There’s no chance he’ll change it back?’
‘Not when he’s accepted a job on the Gold Coast instead! Some people have no sense of personal responsibility these days,’ Ayleen proclaimed. ‘It all boils down to lack of respect, of course. In my younger days, you wouldn’t dare
Her thoughts very mixed, Maxi followed.
‘Treatment room through here,’ Ayleen said, pulling back a screen.
‘Looks a good work area.’ Maxi was impressed with the array of equipment and would have liked to linger but Ayleen was on the move again.