Outside the open window, a dog barked and a woman’s voice said, ‘Daley, no, stop that!’
Jackknifing into a sitting position and bouncing off the bed, Bea peered out and waved down at Christina. ‘Hey, we’re up here! What’s Daley doing?’
‘Hello! Oh, he’s being naughty and trying to chase the ducks. Daley, sit. Behave yourself, wicked boy. How’s Hallie?’
‘She’s good. Everything’s great.’
‘It’s quiz night at the pub this evening,’ said Christina. ‘Are you coming along?’
‘Ooh, that’s an idea. We could make up a team between us. Brilliant,’ Bea said cheerily. ‘See you later.’ She waved again, then jumped back on to Hallie’s bed. ‘That’ll be fun, won’t it? And Luke’s dead clever, so we might even stand a chance of winning. Are you completely sure you’re OK with me seeing Ross?’
‘Absolutely.’ Hallie offered her the bag of toffee eclairs and this time Bea took one.
‘Well he could come along to the quiz then, couldn’t he? He’s clever too. We can be an unbeatable team of five!’
Hallie hesitated. In due course, if her intuition told her anything, handsome charmer Ross would inevitably move on to the next girl in his life, leaving Bea in pieces and vowing never to fall for such a handsome, charming bastard ever again. For now, though, she was in the midst of that giddy, swooshing-with-adrenalin honeymoon stage. And Hallie wasn’t sure she felt like being the odd one out at a table of ecstatically happy couples.
‘I don’t know. To be honest, I’m not feeling that great.’ Was it tempting fate to get out of it by pretending to be iller than she was? Rubbing her throat and looking poorly-but-brave, she coughed a bit and said, ‘I think I might be coming down with something. Probably best if I stay in tonight.’
‘Oh no, poor you! Shall I cancel Ross? If you want me to stay in and keep you company, I will.’
She would, too. Hallie smiled, because Bea was a good friend, and she loved her. She shook her head. ‘No, don’t cancel him. I’m going to have an early night. You all have fun at the pub and win the quiz as an unbeatable team of four.’
Arriving home from work, Tasha found Rory asleep on the sofa, looking sicker than ever. OK, this was the fourth day now. No more excuses. She gently shook his shoulder until he opened his eyes.
‘Hmm? Oh, hi. How was work?’
‘Never mind me. How are you? Did you make that appointment with the doctor?’
Rory grimaced and shook his head. ‘There’s no point. It’s just flu.’
‘Maybe, but you need to get checked out.’ A warning signal was niggling away inside her. She flipped open her phone. ‘I’m calling the surgery now.’
‘I don’t need to see a doctor. You’re just making a fuss over nothing. Give me a couple more days and I’ll be fine.’ As she began to make the call, he protested, ‘I won’t go.’
‘OK, now listen to me. You’re ill.’ Tasha gave him a look to show that this time she really meant business. ‘You either see someone at the surgery, or I get one of the doctors to come here.’
Rory closed his eyes in defeat. ‘OK, OK. Make an appointment. I’ll go.’
‘Thank you.’ Exhaling with relief, Tasha disguised her growing concern with a weak grin. ‘It’s like a miracle – man agrees to see GP. I’ll alert the media.’
‘Very funny,’ croaked Rory.
‘Luke? Before you go, Dr West wants a word.’
Luke nodded at Susie on reception. ‘OK, thanks.’
It was telling that everyone else in the surgery called each other by their first names but he was the only one brave enough to call Jennifer Jennifer. And it still didn’t come naturally. He was sure she’d probably rather be referred to as ma’am.
‘Come in,’ said Jennifer when he knocked on her office door. ‘Ah, Luke. Sit down. I have something to tell you.’
‘OK.’ Was there a problem of some sort? Had there been a complaint made against the practice? Jennifer’s customary brisk manner and general lack of warmth meant it was impossible to tell.
She removed her reading glasses and blinked in that intense bird-of-prey way of hers. ‘I’m leaving Carranford, leaving the surgery. Leaving the UK, in fact.’
Crikey.
‘Wow,’ Luke said aloud.
‘Yes, yes.’ Jennifer waved her hand in a dismissive fashion. ‘I’m sure you’ll miss me terribly. Anyhow, you clearly need to know, which is why I’m telling you now. I’ve tendered my resignation and obviously need to work my three months’ notice. We’ll have to find a suitable replacement, of course.’