Ally gritted her teeth. Thanks, Jack. Thanks a bunch. ‘Well, it was very cold, sweetheart, and people can die of being too cold. But they’re fine now, so why don’t you just forget about them and get ready for school?’
Charlie didn’t want to forget it. ‘Karen doesn’t always wear her coat in the playground so does that mean she could die?’
‘No, it doesn’t,’ Ally said quickly, wiping her hands on the towel. ‘It isn’t the same thing at all. The boys on the mountain were wet through from a waterfall and that made them even colder. And up in the mountains is much colder than the playground. Now then, if you don’t hurry up and clean your teeth you’re going to be late.’
Charlie slipped off the stool, skipping through the kitchen to the stairs.
Ally breathed a sigh of relief. Having a five-year-old with an enquiring mind was a mixed blessing.
She grabbed both coats and Charlie’s schoolbag, and they climbed into Ally’s little car to drive the short distance to her friend Karen’s house.
They were met at the door by Tina, Karen’s mother.
‘Hi, there!’ She gave them a bright smile and ruffled Charlie’s hair as the little girl darted past her to join her friend who was finishing breakfast in the kitchen.
Ally bit her lip and looked at her gratefully. ‘Thanks, Tina. I don’t know what I’d do without—’
‘Forget it! You know we love having her.’ Tina gave her a friendly push. ‘Get going or you’ll be late for surgery. Don’t forget our Hallowe’en party on Saturday. Are you coming?’
Ally shook her head. ‘I’m working, but Mum will bring her.’
She gave her friend a quick hug and sprinted back to her car, thinking how fortunate she was to have a good friend who was prepared to have Charlie to play every morning for the short time before school so that she herself was able to make morning surgery without being late. Her parents collected Charlie after school and looked after her until Ally finished evening surgery. Fortunately the senior partner, Will Carter, restricted her on-call responsibilities so she rarely worked evenings or weekends. All in all, the arrangements worked well, although she would have liked to be at home for Charlie more.
A feeling of sadness shot through her and she pushed it away. She had no choice about the way things were and she never had. She did the best she could in the circumstances.
She pulled into the surgery at the same time as Will.
‘Morning, beautiful! How’s that girl of yours?’
Ally rolled her eyes. ‘Too inquisitive for her own good.’
Will laughed. ‘You wait. It gets worse.’
‘Don’t tell me that!’ Ally threw him a grin. She adored Will. Nearing retirement age, he had developed a practice that the whole of Cumbria admired. Without Will she would never have survived the trauma that had surrounded Charlie’s arrival. ‘Karen Butler is having a Hallowe’en party on Saturday and they’re all dying of excitement.’
Will frowned and pushed open the health centre door for her. ‘Aren’t you working on Saturday?’
‘Yes, but it’s not a problem.’ Ally tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. ‘My mum is taking her and that’s fine by Charlie.’
‘Sure?’
Ally nodded as they walked through to the spacious reception area. ‘Quite sure, Will, but thanks for the thought.’
She knew that Will would have taken over at the drop of a hat and she didn’t want that happening. He already picked up more than enough of her workload so that she could spend as much time as possible with Charlie.
Will greeted the reception staff in his usual cheery manner and strode through to the staffroom, still talking to Ally.
‘Talking about Saturday, Tony Masters is having a dinner party and I thought—’
‘The answer’s no, Will!’ Ally interrupted immediately, knowing what was coming. The same thing that happened every time they were on their own together. Will trying to play Cupid. With the best of intentions, admittedly. ‘I know what you’re going to say, and not only do I hate dinner parties where I’m the available woman but I’m quite happy as I am. I don’t need you matchmaking.’
Will scowled and flicked the switch on the kettle. ‘Ally, you’re young and beautiful and you shouldn’t bury yourself because of Charlie.’
‘Charlie and I are fine.’ Ally shrugged off her coat and hung it up, before filling her mug and standing by the door ready to make her escape into her consulting room.
Will’s mouth tightened. ‘You’re far from fine! You don’t have a social life, apart from Charlie’s friends, I know you struggle financially because that louse—’