Small Town Marriage Miracle

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Excerpt

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Copyright

Her voice was so low that it was a moment before Daniel realised what she had said. He frowned, unsure where this was leading. ‘You’re sorry?’

‘Yes. About the way I … I’ve behaved recently.’ She tipped back her head and looked him squarely in the eyes. ‘I agreed to call a truce and I haven’t kept to that. I apologise.’

‘I know how difficult this situation is, Emma,’ he said quietly, more touched than he cared to admit. ‘I find it hard, too.’

‘Do you?’ She looked at him in surprise and he sighed.

‘Yes. I can’t just forget what happened five years ago. You meant a lot to me, Emma.’

‘Did I?’

‘Of course you did.’ He frowned when he saw the uncertainty on her face. He had never tried to hide his feelings—how could he have done? She had meant the whole world to him, and all of a sudden it seemed important that she understood that.

‘I cared a lot about you, Emma,’ he said quickly, wishing that he didn’t have to use such a milk-and-water term to describe how he’d felt. Claiming he’d cared barely touched on the way he had really felt about her—but what else could he say? Admitting that he had loved her with every fibre of his being wasn’t what she wanted to hear. His heart ached as he repeated it with as much conviction as he dared. ‘I really and truly cared about you.’

About the Author

JENNIFER TAYLOR lives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon® series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical™ Romance that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heart-warming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com

To Pam and Dudley. Thank you for always being there.

CHAPTER ONE

‘I feel terrible about what’s happened, Emma. You came home for a rest, not to be faced with this.’

‘It doesn’t matter. Really it doesn’t.’

Emma Roberts smiled soothingly as she led her aunt, Margaret Haynes, over to a chair. She sat down beside her, seeing the strain that had etched deep lines onto the older woman’s face. Her aunt had aged a lot since the last time Emma had seen her and she couldn’t help feeling guilty. She should have realised that something was wrong and returned home sooner than this.

‘Now tell me what the consultant said,’ she ordered gently.

‘He said that it’s imperative your uncle has a coronary artery bypass done as soon as possible. If Jim waits any longer, there will be no point doing it.’

‘Wait? Do you mean that Uncle Jim has been putting off having it done?’ Emma queried in surprise.

‘Yes. I’m afraid he has.’ Margaret Haynes sighed. ‘His angina has been getting worse for some time now. Even his medication doesn’t always help when he has a really bad attack. I kept nagging him to have the bypass done, but you know how stubborn he can be.’

Emma smiled. ‘I do indeed. Once Uncle Jim gets an idea into his head, it’s impossible to shift it.’ She sobered abruptly. ‘But from what you’ve said, it sounds as though the situation is extremely urgent now.’

‘It is.’ Margaret gave a little sob. ‘I thought I was going to lose him yesterday. He was in such terrible pain.’

‘Shh, it’s OK. He’s going to be fine,’ Emma assured her. She put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders, wishing she were as certain of the outcome as she was trying to appear. Her aunt and uncle had brought her up after her parents had died and she loved them dearly. The thought of anything happening to Uncle Jim was almost more than she could bear.

‘Of course he will. I’m just being silly, aren’t I?’ Margaret blew her nose. ‘The consultant told me that he has high hopes the operation will be a complete success, so I have to remember that and not get upset. I certainly don’t want your uncle to see me weeping and wailing.’

‘It’s the last thing he needs,’ Emma agreed, admiring her aunt’s steely determination. ‘Uncle Jim will need plenty of rest after he’s had the operation, though. I hope he understands that.’

‘Oh, I shall make sure he does,’ Margaret said firmly. ‘He’ll be in hospital for about twelve days and after that I intend to take him away to the cottage. Jim will need at least six weeks to recover from the operation and I won’t be able to keep him out of the surgery for that length of time if we’re at home.’

‘Which is where I come in,’ Emma said quickly, stifling a small pang of regret. Maybe she had been looking forward to a much-needed rest after a gruelling six months spent working overseas, but this was an emergency. If she ran the practice while her uncle recuperated, he would be less likely to worry. It was a small price to pay for all the love her aunt and uncle had lavished on her over the years.

‘I’ll take charge of the surgery while you’re away,’ she began, but her aunt shook her head.

‘Oh, no, you don’t need to do that, dear. Daniel will be here, so if you could just help out if it gets really busy, that would be more than enough.’

‘Daniel?’ Emma repeated, somewhat at a loss.

‘Yes. I’m sure I told you last night when you phoned that Daniel had agreed to step in earlier than planned. Or did I? I was so worried, you see.’

‘Daniel who?’ Emma put in hurriedly before her aunt could drift off at a tangent again.

‘Daniel Kennedy.’

Emma swung round when a deep voice answered her question. Her green eyes widened when she saw the tall, dark-haired man who was standing behind her. Just for a moment shock stole her ability to speak as she stared at him in dismay. It had been five years since she’d last seen him, and a lot had happened during that time, yet all of a sudden it felt as though she was right back to where she had been all those years ago—madly in love with the man she wanted to spend her whole life with. The thought scared her witless.

‘Hello, Emma.’ Daniel smiled at her but there was a wariness about the look he gave her, Emma realised, as though he wasn’t sure how she would feel about seeing him again.

He was right to wonder, too, Emma thought grimly as she rose to her feet. Maybe she had believed at one time that Daniel was the man for her, but she didn’t believe it any longer. The truth was that Daniel had used her, slept with her and then cast her aside when he had discovered she’d been getting too serious about him. It had taken her a long time to accept what he had done, but nowadays she was under no illusions. Daniel had never truly cared about her. He’d only ever cared about himself.

Emma took a deep breath. Maybe she hadn’t expected to see him here, but she would deal with it. She was no longer the naïve and trusting young woman she had been back then. She had grown up now and she had seen too much of the world to be dazzled by a man like Daniel Kennedy ever again!

Daniel felt as though his smile had been pasted into place. He had been dreading seeing Emma again for a number of reasons, although he wasn’t about to delve into them right then. He held out his hand, playing the role of old friend to the best of his ability even though he knew it wasn’t true. He and Emma had been a lot more than friends at one time.

‘It’s good to see you again, Emma. How are you?’

‘Fine, thank you.’

She shook his hand and a frisson ran through him when he felt the coolness of her skin. Just for a moment he was reminded of all the other occasions when he had touched her. Her skin had been cool then but it had soon warmed up as he had stroked and caressed her. The memory sent a surge of heat coursing through him and he hurriedly blanked it out, knowing how foolish it was to go down that route.

‘This must have come as a shock to you?’

‘It has.’ She glanced at her aunt and drew him aside. ‘Aunt Margaret just told me that Uncle Jim has been putting off having the bypass done. Is that true?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Daniel sighed. ‘You know how dedicated Jim is. I expect he was worried about what would happen to the practice if he took any time off.’

‘That’s so typical of him. He puts everyone else’s needs before his own.’ She gave him a hard look. ‘Did you know that he was delaying having surgery?’

‘No. I knew Jim had angina, of course, but he never admitted how bad things had got until last week,’ Daniel answered truthfully. ‘I suspect he only told me then because he needed my help. He’d finally agreed to have his op at the end of the month and he wanted me to cover for him.’

‘Really?’ Emma frowned. ‘I don’t understand why he asked you to take over the practice. He knew I was coming home, so why didn’t he ask me?’

‘I can’t answer that. You’ll have to ask Jim, although I suggest you leave it until after he’s had his operation.’ He shrugged when he saw her mouth tighten. It was obvious that she didn’t appreciate his advice but he refused to let it deter him. ‘Jim needs peace and quiet more than anything else at the moment. What he doesn’t need, Emma, is for us to be conducting some sort of personal vendetta.’

‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ she snapped back. ‘The days when I cared enough to fight with you, Daniel, are long gone.’

‘Good. Then it won’t cause any problems if I’m in charge of the practice in your uncle’s absence.’

‘The only problem I have is understanding why you’ve agreed to do it. I mean, working in the middle of nowhere is hardly a step up the professional ladder, is it, Daniel?’

Daniel flinched when he heard the scorn in her voice. It didn’t make it any easier to know that he only had himself to blame for it either. He’d been so desperate to convince her that there was no future for them that he had led her to believe that all he was interested in was his career. Now he was reaping the consequences.

‘It’s all good experience,’ he said quietly. ‘Plus, I’m very fond of your aunt and uncle. I’m happy to help in any way I can.’

‘How very altruistic of you.’ She smiled but her green eyes were chilly. ‘Of course a cynic would wonder if there was an ulterior motive to your generosity. Still, I’m sure the truth will come out at some stage.’

She turned away before he could reply, not that he could think of anything to say in his defence. Emma wouldn’t believe him if he told her that he wasn’t interested in personal advancement and never had been. All of a sudden he bitterly regretted those claims he had made about going into private practice one day, but what else could he have done? Accepted what she’d been offering him, knowing that it could ruin both their lives?

Daniel’s heart was heavy as he excused himself and made his way along the corridor. There was a coffee machine at the bottom of the stairs and he fed some coins into it. It disgorged a stream of insipid-looking liquid into a plastic cup but he didn’t care how it looked or tasted even. He took it over to the window and stood there staring out across the town. Avondale was a pretty little market town in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. During the summer months, the population virtually doubled thanks to a steady influx of tourists, but at this time of the year there were few tourists willing to brave the inclement weather. He had first come to the town to do his GP training and that was how he had met Emma. She had just completed her rotations and was enjoying a well-deserved break before she took up a junior registrar’s post in Scotland with a top surgical team.

Daniel knew that competition for surgical posts was always fierce, and that it was particularly hard for a woman to break into that field. Whilst most consultants paid lip service to the idea of equality between the sexes, far too many refused to accept a woman as part of their team. The old prejudices were still rife: what was the point of training a woman when she would only leave to have a family? That Emma had overcome such narrow-minded thinking and secured a prestigious post for herself proved how hard she must have worked. He was impressed. He was also deeply attracted to her.

Almost before he’d realised what was happening, Daniel had fallen in love with her and she with him. It had been a gloriously blissful time for them both until Emma had announced one day that she had changed her mind about going into surgery. She no longer wanted such a demanding career, she’d claimed. She wanted a private life, time for them, so she would stay in England and train as a GP instead. That way they could be together.

Daniel had realised immediately that he couldn’t allow her to sacrifice her dreams for him. Although she might truly have believed that she was happy to give up her plans to become a surgeon, he knew how much it meant to her and that it would drive a wedge between them eventually if she didn’t fulfil her goals. He had seen it happen to his own parents, watched as his mother’s resentment at forsaking her career had eaten away at their marriage, and he had sworn the same thing would never happen to him.

For Emma to succeed in her chosen field, Daniel knew that she would need to focus all her attention on her training for the next few years. Even though he could have found a job in Scotland easily enough, he realised that it wasn’t the answer. She would be working long hours and wouldn’t have time to devote to a relationship. He would be a distraction for her, a hindrance, and he couldn’t bear the thought that she might fail because of him. Although it was the hardest decision he had ever made, he decided that he had to give Emma up rather than run the risk of her ending up hating him.

He sighed as he recalled her shock when he had told her curtly that he had no intention of making a commitment at that stage in his life. He had plans for the future and they were far more important than their relationship. The contempt in her eyes as she had told him that she understood had devastated him. He had almost weakened at that point and admitted that he’d lied, but somehow he had managed to hold back. She had packed her bags and left that same night and he hadn’t seen her again until today.

The sound of footsteps made him look round and he felt pain stab his heart when he saw her coming along the corridor. She must have come straight to the hospital from the airport because her clothes were crumpled after the long flight, her red-gold hair lying in tangled waves around her shoulders, but that didn’t matter. She was still the most beautiful and most desirable woman he had ever seen. It was only when she drew closer that Daniel could see the lines of strain that tugged down the corners of her mouth.

He knew from what Jim Haynes had told him that she’d been working overseas for the past six months and could imagine how hard it must have been, working under the most gruelling conditions. However, he also knew that it wasn’t the work or the shock of learning that her uncle was ill that made her look so drawn. It was seeing him again that was the problem. In that second Daniel realised that he had to make the situation as easy as possible for her. He couldn’t bear to think that he might end up hurting her again as he had hurt her once before.

Emma took a steadying breath as she stopped in front of Daniel, but she could feel her heart racing. Seeing him again had been a shock—she had admitted that—but she could handle it. She certainly didn’t intend to go to pieces just because the man she had once mistakenly thought she’d loved had reappeared in her life.

‘Aunt Margaret has gone in to see Uncle Jim,’ she said coolly. ‘They’ll be doing the bypass later today and she wants to sit with him until it’s time for him to go to Theatre.’

‘The sooner it’s done, the better.’

There was a roughness to Daniel’s voice that troubled her until she realised how stupid it was to let it worry her. Daniel Kennedy was part of her past, nothing more than a memory she had long since relegated to the darkest reaches of her mind.

‘Definitely.’ She glanced along the corridor, giving herself a moment to absorb that thought. When she turned to face him again, she was pleased to discover that she didn’t feel a thing. ‘I’m not sure how long it’s going to take, but there doesn’t seem any point you hanging around here.’

‘It isn’t a problem.’ He checked his watch and shrugged. ‘I don’t need to get back to the surgery for another couple of hours yet, so I’ll stay a bit longer.’

‘There’s no need. Aunt Margaret will be fine.’ Emma stood up straighter, determined to get her own way. ‘I’m more than capable of looking after her.’

‘I’m sure you are.’ He smiled, his hazel eyes skimming over her face before they came to rest on her mouth, and despite her resolve, Emma felt a little flutter of awareness in the pit of her stomach. She took a quick breath, determined that it wasn’t going to grow into anything bigger. The days when one of Daniel’s smiles could turn her insides to jelly were long gone!

‘You always were very good at looking after other people, Emma, but you need to think about yourself for once. You’ve had a long journey to get here and you must be tired. Why not let me stay with your aunt while you go home and get some sleep?’

‘I don’t need you to tell me what to do!’ she shot back, terrified by the speed of her response. One minute she’d had herself under control and the next …

She shivered as a wave of fear swept over her. She couldn’t bear to think that Daniel still had an effect on her. Five years ago she would have done anything for them to be together, but he had made it clear that all he’d cared about was his career. It had been a devastating blow but it had taught her a valuable lesson: she would never make the mistake of falling in love again.

‘I am not trying to tell you what to do. I’m just making a suggestion. It’s entirely up to you whether you stay here or go home.’

His tone was reasonable in the extreme and she felt her face heat. She knew she was overreacting and she hated to think that Daniel might read anything into it. She didn’t care about him any longer, but if she carried on this way, he would never believe that.

‘I apologise. I shouldn’t have jumped down your throat like that.’

He shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s little wonder that you’re stressed after everything that’s happened. All this coming on top of the journey you’ve had would be a lot for anyone to cope with.’

It was on the tip of her tongue to deny it until she realised that she was in danger of digging an even deeper hole for herself. Did she really want to admit that it was seeing him again that was causing her to behave so irrationally?

‘Probably.’ She glanced at her watch and came to a swift decision. ‘If you’re happy to stay then maybe I will go back to the house. I need to unpack and get settled in.’

‘It’s fine by me,’ he agreed equably.

‘Right, that’s what I’ll do, then. I’ll just let Aunt Margaret know what’s happening first.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ He shrugged when she glanced sharply at him. ‘I’d like to see Jim before he goes down to Theatre, set his mind at rest that the practice is in safe hands. You know what a worrier he is.’

‘That’s true.’ Emma headed back along the corridor, very conscious of the fact that Daniel was just a step behind her. She paused outside the door to the private room where her uncle had been taken and glanced at him. ‘It would be best if Uncle Jim didn’t have to worry about anything at the moment, so I suggest we call a truce.’

‘That’s fine by me.’ He smiled at her and Emma felt her breath catch when she saw the warmth in his eyes. She had never expected him to look at her that way and it threw her for a moment. It was an effort to concentrate when he continued. ‘I don’t want to fight with you, Emma. It’s the last thing I want, in fact.’

‘Me too,’ she replied stiffly.

‘Then we’ll agree to set our differences aside, shall we?’

‘Yes.’

She turned away, struggling to contain the emotions that were welling up inside her. It had been months since she’d even thought about Daniel, although in the beginning the memory of what had happened had tormented her. She had kept going over everything he’d said, reliving the pain of discovering that she had meant less to him than his precious career had done. Only by immersing herself in her work had she got through that terrible period and she refused to place herself in the same position again.

She squared her shoulders. No matter what Daniel said or did, no matter how convincing he sounded, she would never trust him again.

CHAPTER TWO

BY two o’clock Emma had finished unpacking and put everything away. She looked fondly around the room that had been hers since childhood. It had changed very little over the years and she found it reassuring to see her collection of stuffed toys on top of the wardrobe and the shelves of books she’d read while she had been growing up. She had moved house several times in the past few years and although it had never bothered her, it was good to know that there was somewhere permanent she could return to.

She sighed softly as she stowed the canvas hold-all in the bottom of the wardrobe because if Uncle Jim was forced to give up the practice, there would need to be a lot of changes made. The surgery was attached to the house and it was unlikely that her aunt and uncle would want to carry on living here. Nothing was truly permanent and she had to get used to the idea, even though she hated the thought of not being able to call this place her home.

Emma closed the wardrobe door and headed downstairs to make herself a cup of tea. She glanced at the clock as she filled the kettle. Uncle Jim should be leaving Theatre soon, so she would drink her tea then go back to the hospital to keep her aunt company. It would give Daniel time to get back for evening surgery.

‘I wouldn’t say no to a cup of tea, if you’re making one.’

As though thinking about him had somehow conjured him up, Daniel suddenly appeared. Emma looked round in surprise when she heard his voice. ‘What are you doing here? I thought you were going to stay at the hospital until I got back.’

‘I was, but your aunt insisted that she’d be all right by herself.’ He grimaced. ‘I tried to persuade her to let me stay but she wouldn’t hear of it. I think she was worried in case I was late for evening surgery.’

Emma sighed. ‘She’s as bad as Uncle Jim. Their lives revolve around the practice and have done for years. It isn’t right that it should come first, especially not at the moment.’

‘It certainly isn’t.’ He pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘They need to concentrate on making sure that Jim makes a full recovery and that’s where we come in.’

Emma wasn’t sure she appreciated that we, although she didn’t correct him. She poured boiling water into the pot then went to fetch the milk out of the fridge. The days when she and Daniel had been a couple were long gone and she, for one, wouldn’t wish them back again.

‘So what do you suggest?’ she asked, adopting a deliberately neutral tone to conceal the pain that thought had aroused, oddly enough.

‘Basically, what we agreed on today. We make sure we do nothing to cause your aunt and uncle any concern.’ He shrugged. ‘Margaret told me that she’s hoping to take Jim to their cottage on the coast while he recuperates, but he’ll refuse to go if he thinks you and I are at loggerheads.’

‘I can assure you that I have no intention of causing a disruption,’ Emma said sharply, trying to ignore the squirmy feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was one thing to agree to a truce but it could be something entirely different to stick to it. Could they really maintain a wholly professional relationship when they had once been lovers?

The fact that she should be experiencing such doubts when she was determined not to let Daniel affect her in any way annoyed her and she glared at him. ‘I said it before but obviously it didn’t sink in so I’ll repeat it. I don’t care enough to fight with you, Daniel. OK?’

‘Good.’ He smiled calmly back at her. ‘It should make life a lot simpler for all of us.’

Emma didn’t say anything as she poured the tea. Daniel obviously believed her and that was all that mattered. She certainly didn’t want him to suspect that she had doubts, not that she really did. She had moved on from the days when splitting up with him had left her feeling utterly devastated.

Of course it must have been easier for him to get over their break-up, she thought as she placed the cups on the table. He had never invested as much of himself into their relationship as she had done. Although he had told her at the time that he loved her, it patently hadn’t been true. He would never have chosen his career over her if he’d felt even a fraction of the love she had felt for him.

She frowned. It made his decision to work in Avondale all the more difficult to understand. Taking time off to come here didn’t make sense when he was so keen to pursue his ambitions. Did he have an ulterior motive? It was what she had accused him of earlier in the day, although she hadn’t seriously believed it. Now she found herself wondering if it was true. As she knew to her cost, Daniel’s career meant more to him than anything else.

Daniel wasn’t sure what was going through Emma’s mind, but he could tell that it wasn’t anything pleasant. He bit back a sigh because he had a nasty feeling that it had something to do with him. Once again he found himself wishing that he hadn’t misled her five years ago, even though he knew that he’d had no choice. He had loved her far too much to let her sacrifice her dreams for him.

‘Are you still working in London?’

He looked up when she spoke, trying to control the surge his pulse gave as his eyes alighted on her face. Although he had been out with a number of extremely attractive women since they’d parted, he had never been tempted to have a long-term relationship with any of them. A few dates and that was it: finito. In fact, he’d gained a bit of a reputation amongst his friends as being a ‘love them and leave them’ kind of guy. He always laughed off the accusation by claiming that he simply hadn’t met the right woman, but now he realised the truth was far more complicated. He had never met anyone who could match up to Emma.

It was an unsettling thought and he tried not to dwell on it as he answered her question. ‘Yes. It’s a busy practice, lots of variety, and I get on well with the rest of the team so I’ve not been tempted to leave.’

‘And they don’t mind you taking time off to work here?’

‘No. They were very sympathetic, in fact,’ Daniel replied, wondering what was behind her sudden interest.

‘It must have caused a problem when you had to drop everything without any warning, though,’ she persisted. ‘Didn’t you say that Uncle Jim had asked you to cover from the end of the month originally?’

‘That’s right. Fortunately, our practice manager was able to juggle the timetable and fit it in.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s worked out quite well, actually. I had some leave owing, so I’m using it up.’

‘Really?’ Her brows rose. ‘You had six whole weeks of leave stored up?’

‘One of the senior partners was pregnant last summer and we couldn’t get locum cover for part of her maternity leave,’ he explained. ‘I offered to carry my leave forward. It’s lucky I did as it turns out.’

‘Hmm, very lucky indeed.’

Daniel frowned when he heard the scepticism in her voice. He wasn’t sure what had caused it and before he could ask, the telephone rang. He stood up before he was tempted to explain that it wasn’t the first time he hadn’t taken his full holiday entitlement. It always seemed like a waste of time, taking time off, when he could be working. Although he had never been driven by personal ambition, he wanted to learn all he could so he could help the people who relied on him for their care. That aim had become even more important since he and Emma had parted.

‘I’ll get that,’ he said briskly. It wouldn’t help the situation to dwell on how much his life had been influenced by what had happened between him and Emma. ‘It’s probably Ruth checking that there’ll be a surgery tonight. Morning surgery had to be cancelled so I expect it will be busy this evening.’

‘I’ll give you a hand when I get back from the hospital,’ Emma offered.

‘That would be great.’ He smiled at her, relieved that she was willing to do her bit to maintain the peace. ‘Thanks.’

He went out to the hall to take the call. As he’d expected, it was the practice receptionist, Ruth Hargreaves. He assured her that surgery would go ahead as scheduled and hung up. There was no sign of Emma when he went back to the kitchen but he heard a car starting up and looked out of the window in time to see her driving away. She hadn’t bothered saying goodbye but why should she? So far as Emma was concerned, she would do what had to be done and that was it. She wasn’t going to suddenly want to become his best friend and he didn’t blame her. He had hurt her badly and the worst thing was knowing that he could never atone for what he had done. Even if he told her the truth, and even if by some miracle she believed him, it was far too late to get back what they’d had.

The waiting room was packed when Emma got back shortly after five p.m. Aunt Margaret had decided to stay the night at the hospital so Emma had come back on her own. Ruth was on the phone when she went in, looking unusually harassed. Emma waited until the receptionist finished the call.

‘Problems?’

‘Oh, just the umpteenth person phoning to see if we’re open.’ Ruth rolled her eyes when the phone rang again the second she put down the receiver. ‘That’ll be another one. I’m sorely tempted to take the wretched thing off the hook!’

‘I don’t blame you.’ Emma smiled sympathetically. ‘I’m helping out tonight so you can send the next patient in to me when you get the chance.’

‘Will do.’

Ruth snatched up the receiver as Emma made her way along the corridor. There were two consulting rooms and she guessed that Daniel would be using the one her uncle normally used. She made her way to the other room and switched on the light. The room hadn’t been used very often since her uncle’s partner had retired some years ago. Although Uncle Jim had tried to find a replacement, few doctors had been keen to relocate to the area. The younger ones thought the town too quiet to consider living there permanently, while the older ones weren’t willing to cope with the difficulties of the job.

As well as caring for the townsfolk, the practice provided care for the people living on the outlying farms. Some home visits could be extremely difficult to reach, especially during the winter months. The few candidates who had applied for the post had soon lost interest when they’d discovered what the job had entailed, so in the end her uncle had given up advertising and run the surgery single-handed. However, if the number of patients in the waiting room was anything to go by, it really needed more than one doctor to run the practice.

It was something that needed thinking about in view of her uncle’s health, Emma decided. However, there was no time to worry about it right then. A knock on the door heralded the arrival of her first patient, a young woman who looked vaguely familiar. Emma smiled at her.

‘Please sit down. I’m Dr Roberts. I’m helping out while my uncle is in hospital.’

‘Oh, I remember you!’ the young woman exclaimed. ‘You were in the same class at school as my sister—Cathy Martindale. Remember her?’

‘Of course I do.’ Emma laughed. ‘No wonder you look so familiar. You’re very like Cathy. How is she, by the way?’

‘She’s fine. She lives in Leeds now with her husband and her two little boys.’

‘Tell her I was asking about her, will you?’ Emma picked up the folder of notes that the girl had brought in with her. ‘So, Judith, what can I do for you today?’

‘It’s my periods, Dr Roberts. They’re so heavy and irregular that they’re causing me a real problem. I also suffer the most awful pain in my tummy and lower back each time it happens.’

‘I see. How long has this been going on?’ Emma asked.

‘About a year now. I came off the Pill eighteen months ago because my husband and I want to start a family. My periods were very erratic after I stopped taking it, but I thought everything would settle down once the drugs were out of my system. Instead, it’s just got worse.’

‘Have you had any other symptoms? Pain on having intercourse, perhaps?’

‘Yes.’ Judith blushed. ‘I’ve never had a problem before, but recently I dread making love with David because it’s so uncomfortable.’

‘Which doesn’t help when you’re hoping to have a baby,’ Emma said sympathetically, standing up. ‘I’ll just check your blood pressure and then I’d like to examine you, if that’s all right?’

‘Oh, yes, of course it is.’ Judith sounded relieved as she slipped off her coat. ‘I’ve been putting off coming for weeks, to be honest. Dr Haynes is lovely, but I felt so embarrassed about having to explain it all to him. I couldn’t believe my luck when Ruth told me I’d be seeing you tonight!’

‘Good.’ Emma laughed, although she couldn’t help wondering how many other women were delaying making appointments because they felt uncomfortable about discussing their problems with an elderly male doctor.

She checked Judith’s BP, which was fine, then asked her to undress and lie on the couch while she examined her. She gently palpated her abdomen and then performed an internal examination but could find nothing to indicate what was causing the problem. Judith had had a smear test the previous month and that had come back clear.

‘And there’s been no other symptoms at all?’ she asked after Judith had got dressed again. ‘Not even something that is apparently unrelated?’

‘No … well, apart from the fact that I’ve had several bouts of diarrhoea. It’s not something I’ve ever suffered from before, but it’s happened a few times lately. Either that or I get constipated,’ Judith added, grimacing.

‘I see.’ Emma frowned thoughtfully as she considered what she’d heard. ‘It’s possible that you’re suffering from endometriosis, although I wouldn’t like to make a final diagnosis without sending you for some tests first. However, the symptoms you described could point towards it being that.’

‘Endometriosis?’ Judith repeated. ‘What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.’

‘It’s when tiny pieces of the lining of the womb, the endometrium, are shed during menstruation but don’t pass out of the body. Instead they travel up the Fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity and attach themselves to the pelvic organs. They continue to respond to your menstrual cycle so each month they bleed, but because the blood can’t escape, it causes cysts to form. And they’re the cause of most of the pain and discomfort.’

‘How weird!’ Judith exclaimed. ‘And you think that’s what is wrong with me?’

‘I think it’s worth investigating further.’ Emma brought up the relevant document on the computer and filled in the patient’s details. She glanced at Judith. ‘You need to be seen by a gynaecologist so I’ll organise an appointment for you. Basically, what it means is that your pelvic cavity will need to be examined. It’s done by using a laparoscope, which is a special instrument that’s passed through the wall of the abdomen. There’s a tiny camera on the end of it so the gynaecologist can see what’s going on inside you.’

‘It sounds horrible,’ Judith said, shuddering.

‘It’ll be fine,’ Emma assured her. ‘And it will be worth having it done if it means we can sort out this problem you have.’

‘If I do have this endometriosis, how will you treat it?’

‘It depends how severe it is. Drugs can be very effective in some cases. In others, where the cysts are very large, surgery to remove them is the best option. Pregnancy can also suppress the condition.’

‘So I can still have a baby?’ Judith asked anxiously.

‘Yes, although it’s only fair to warn you that endometriosis can affect your fertility. However, let’s find out if my diagnosis is correct before we worry about that.’ Emma tried to sound as positive as she could but she could tell that Judith was upset by the thought that she might not have the baby she longed for.

Emma saw her out and buzzed for her next patient. The evening flew past and before she knew it, it was time to pack up for the night. She collected up the files she had used and took them into the office. Ruth looked up from the computer and smiled at her. She had worked at the practice for many years and had watched Emma growing up so there was no question of her standing on ceremony.

‘I bet you’re sorry you came home now, aren’t you, love?’

‘It did cross my mind,’ Emma replied, jokingly. She held up the files. ‘You’d think we should be able to do away with all this paperwork now that we have computers to help us.’

‘I wish!’ Ruth replied cheerfully. ‘The trouble is that computers have a nasty habit of breaking down, so we need the files as back-up.’

‘I suppose so.’

Emma looked round when she heard footsteps in the corridor, feeling her pulse surge when Daniel appeared in the doorway. She had been too stressed about seeing him again to take much notice earlier in the day, but all of a sudden she found herself taking stock of the changes the past few years had wrought. Although he was still extremely good looking with those craggy, very masculine features and that thick dark hair, there were lines on his face that hadn’t been there five years before, an underlying sadness in his hazel eyes that surprised her. Daniel looked as though he had suffered some kind of sorrow in his life and she couldn’t help wondering what had happened. Was it possible that he had fallen in love and been let down?

The thought sent a shaft of pain searing through her. Emma bit her lip to contain the cry that threatened to emerge. That Daniel might have experienced the same kind of unhappiness as she had done when they’d parted should have filled her with a certain satisfaction, but it didn’t. All she felt was an overwhelming sense of grief that he might have loved some other woman more than he had loved her.

‘I hope it isn’t always as busy as that?’ He grinned at Ruth. ‘Sure you didn’t ring round all the patients and ask them to call in tonight so you could put me through my paces?’

‘How did you guess?’ Ruth winked at Emma. ‘Drat! We’ve been found out.’

‘I … um … it looks like it.’ Emma did her best to respond to the teasing comment but it wasn’t easy. The thought of Daniel loving another woman was more painful than it had any right to be. She was over him and it shouldn’t matter, but it did. She took a quick breath to control the pain when she saw him look at her in surprise. ‘We’re only joking, Daniel.’

‘That’s good to hear.’ He smiled coolly. ‘I’d hate to think you had it in for me, Emma.’

Emma flushed when she heard the irony in his voice. She turned away, busying herself with placing the files she’d used in the tray. By the time Daniel added his, it was brimming over. ‘Do you want me to put these away so you can have a clear run in the morning?’ she offered.

‘There’s no need. Dr Haynes took on a part-time receptionist at Christmas,’ Ruth explained. ‘There was some sort of wretched tummy bug doing the rounds and I was snowed under with all the extra paperwork. Claire comes in three mornings a week and helps with the filing, et cetera. We’ll soon get everything sorted out between us.’

‘Oh, right. That’s fine.’ Emma placed the referral letter she’d printed in the tray for posting. ‘There’s just the one letter that needs sending as well.’

‘And I’ve got another one here.’

Daniel leant past her and dropped his letter on top of hers. Emma tried not to flinch when his shoulder brushed against her but he must have felt the small involuntary jerk she gave. He stepped back, his face betraying very little as he told Ruth that he would lock up and set the alarm.

Emma took it as her cue to leave. She murmured a general goodbye and hurriedly left. Although the surgery was attached to the house, it was completely self-contained and she had to walk round to the front door to let herself in. She hung her coat in the hall then made her way to the sitting room to turn on the gas fire. Although the central heating was switched on, the house still felt chilly.

She sighed. It probably felt chilly because her body hadn’t adjusted to the change in temperature yet. When she’d left South Africa early that morning the temperature had been in the high 30s, so it was bound to be a shock to her system to be plunged back into the tail end of a British winter. Still, she would soon adapt.

Emma looked round in surprise when she heard the front door open. It slammed shut and a moment later she heard footsteps crossing the hall. Her heart was already racing when Daniel appeared, even though she had no idea what he wanted.

‘Oh, good. You’ve got the fire going. It’s a lot colder up here than it is in London,’ he observed, crossing the room to warm his hands.

‘I suppose it is,’ Emma agreed uncertainly. She frowned when she realised that he wasn’t wearing a coat. He’d had it on earlier so why had he taken it off? A horrible suspicion started to rear its head and she stared at him in alarm. ‘What are you doing here, Daniel?’

‘At this precise moment, I’m trying to warm up. But give me a couple of minutes and I’ll make myself useful.’

‘Useful?’

‘Uh-huh. I’ll cook dinner tonight. It doesn’t seem fair to expect you to do it after the day you’ve had.’

‘Cook dinner?’ Emma took a quick breath when she realised that she was repeating everything he said. ‘Why on earth would you want to cook dinner?’

‘Because we both need to eat,’ he replied reasonably. He glanced at her, the light from the fire reflecting in his eyes so that she found it impossible to read his expression. ‘We can work out a rota if you prefer, but tonight I’ll cook.’

He straightened up and headed for the door but Emma knew that she couldn’t let him leave before she found out what was going on. ‘Why do we need a rota? Surely you’ll be having dinner wherever you’re staying? Most of the guest houses will provide an evening meal if you ask them to.’

‘Your aunt hasn’t told you, then?’ He stopped and turned, and she could see the concern on his face. It made her feel even more alarmed. ‘Told me what?’ she snapped. ‘That I’m staying here.’

CHAPTER THREE

‘EVERYTHING happened so fast that there was no time to arrange accommodation before I left London. I was going to sort something out when I got here, but Margaret insisted that I stay at the house.’

Daniel shrugged but he could tell from the frozen expression on Emma’s face that the news had come as a shock to her. ‘I can’t see that it will cause a problem, Emma, but if you aren’t happy with the arrangement then, of course, I’ll find somewhere else.’

‘There’s no need,’ she said stiffly. ‘If Aunt Margaret invited you to stay, I’m certainly not going to object.’

‘Fine. If you change your mind, though, just let me know.’

Daniel managed to maintain an outward show of indifference as he left the sitting room, but he sighed as he headed for the kitchen. Emma’s reaction to the news that they would be sharing the house was upsetting but what did he expect? It might have been different if her aunt and uncle had been there, but she probably didn’t relish the idea of them being on their own. All he could do now was monitor the situation and find somewhere else if it looked as though it was going to create friction.

It was the logical solution, although it didn’t make him feel good to know that he was persona non grata so far as Emma was concerned. He tried not to dwell on it as he made a start on dinner. He was just mashing the potatoes to go with the lamb chops and green beans he had cooked when Emma appeared.

‘I’ll set the table.’

She busied herself with place mats and cutlery, glasses for water and condiments. Daniel suspected that it was displacement activity, aimed at taking her mind off the thought of eating with him. He couldn’t help feeling sad as he remembered all the other meals they had shared—impromptu picnics in the country, lunches in one of the local pubs. It hadn’t mattered what they’d eaten or where because they’d always enjoyed it. Just being together had added extra zest to the food.

‘Remember that meal we had at the Golden Goose?’

Emma’s voice cut into his thoughts and he felt a tingle run through him. That she had been recalling the good times they’d had seemed too much of a coincidence, yet why should it be? It wasn’t the first time their thoughts had been so in tune. Maybe there was still some kind of connection between them.

Daniel hurriedly quashed that thought. He couldn’t allow himself to think like that; it was too dangerous. ‘Not really,’ he replied offhandedly.

He spooned mashed potato onto the plates, ignoring the flicker of hurt that crossed her face. He was doing this for her sake. They couldn’t go back and they couldn’t go forward either. Not together. Leaving aside the fact that Emma no longer loved him, the old objections were as valid today as they had been five years ago. He knew from what Jim had told him that Emma was determined to make consultant one day. If that was to happen then he knew that she needed to remain completely focused. If she failed to achieve her goal, she would regret it just as much as she would have done if she’d given up surgery all together.

Daniel’s heart was heavy as he carried the plates over to the table. Even if Emma was prepared to give them a second chance—which she wasn’t!—there was no future for them. ‘I hope this is all right for you. There’s no gravy, I’m afraid. I’ve never mastered the art of making decent gravy.’

‘It’s fine. Thank you.’

Her tone was painfully polite and it cut him to the quick to know that she was deliberately distancing herself from him. He didn’t react, however, as he pulled out a chair and sat down because there was nothing he could do that would help. Emma sat down as well and began to eat. Apart from the faint clatter of cutlery, the room was silent and Daniel could feel the tension mounting as the minutes passed. He searched his mind for something uncontroversial to say, but all he could come up with was work. Still, it was better than nothing.

‘How did you get on tonight?’

‘Fine, thank you.’ Emma forked a little potato into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed it then looked at him. ‘How about you?’

‘Oh, yes, fine. Thanks.’ Daniel inwardly groaned when he heard the stilted note in his voice. This was hardly the best way to improve the atmosphere, was it?

He cleared his throat and tried again. ‘I was surprised by how busy it was, to be honest. I know morning surgery had to be cancelled, but even so I didn’t expect that many patients to turn up. Did you?’

‘No.’ She scooped a little more potato onto her fork then hesitated. Daniel held his breath, hoping that she would find something else to say. If the next few weeks weren’t to be an ordeal for them both, Emma needed to meet him halfway.

‘To be frank, I don’t know how Uncle Jim copes on his own. It was obvious from the number of people we saw tonight that it needs more than one doctor to run this practice.’

Daniel felt like punching the air in relief, but managed to control the urge. Two sentences didn’t make a conversation. And they definitely didn’t make up for past hurts. ‘I agree. The workload is way too much for one person, especially when that person has health issues of his own,’ he agreed soberly, trying to ignore the pang of guilt he felt. He had never set out to hurt her, far from it. He’d done what was necessary to safeguard her happiness and he had to remember that, even though it was hard.

‘We have to find a way to make Uncle Jim understand that.’ Emma sighed. ‘It won’t be easy, though. You know how independent he is and admitting that he needs help will be extremely difficult for him. Then there’s the problem of finding someone suitable who’s willing to work here. That will be another major hurdle.’

‘Jim told me once that he’d not had much luck finding a replacement after his partner retired,’ Daniel said quietly.

‘No. There were very few applications when the post was advertised, so he wasn’t exactly spoiled for choice. And the couple of candidates he interviewed changed their minds when they discovered what the job actually entailed.’ She shrugged. ‘It takes a certain type of person willing to go out to a call at one of the farms in the middle of winter.’

‘Not many doctors are as dedicated as Jim is, but he has to face facts. He’s not getting any younger. Even without this operation, he would have had to think about at least scaling back even if he doesn’t intend to retire. Quite frankly, he can’t go on working as hard as he’s been doing.’

‘We know that, but convincing Uncle Jim is another matter. The practice means everything to him,’ she added worriedly.

‘I know it does, Emma, but somehow we have to make him see that he needs to think about himself for a change. And about your aunt, too. She must be worried sick about him.’

‘She is.’ Tears welled to her eyes and she looked away.

Daniel reached out and laid his hand over hers, hating to see her looking so upset. ‘We’ll work something out, Emma. Promise.’

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his heart lifting when he felt her fingers curl around his for a moment before she pulled away. Picking up her cutlery, she started eating again and he knew that the all too brief moment of togetherness had passed. They finished the meal as it had begun, in silence. Daniel knew there was no point trying to draw her out again, even if he’d had the heart to try. Emma was deliberately shutting him out and although it hurt like hell, he understood why. She didn’t trust him after what had happened and he couldn’t blame her.

Emma refused both dessert and coffee. Her nerves were stretched so tightly by then that she would have been sick if she’d consumed anything else. She stacked her plate and glass in the dishwasher then went upstairs to her room. Daniel had mentioned something about watching television in the sitting room, but she had no intention of joining him. Dinner had been enough of an ordeal.

She sighed as she lay down on the narrow single bed. The thought of having to spend the next few weeks making stilted conversation wasn’t appealing, but what choice did she have? If she asked Daniel to find somewhere else to live it would only arouse her aunt and uncle’s suspicions that things weren’t right between them. Although Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jim knew that she and Daniel had spent a lot of time together five years ago, they had no idea just how serious the relationship had been or, rather, how much it had meant to her. As far as the older couple were concerned, it had been nothing more than a summer romance and she didn’t intend to disabuse them of that idea. She and Daniel would have to muddle through as best they could, although one thing was certain—if he tried to touch her again, she would make it clear that he was overstepping the mark.

Emma tried to ignore the tingle that shot up her arm as she recalled the warm grip of his fingers. She got up and went to the bookshelves, selecting a well-worn copy of Black Beauty, a childhood favourite. Curling up on the bed, she proceeded to reacquaint herself with the familiar characters. She must have drifted off to sleep at some point because the next thing she knew, the telephone was ringing.

She got up and hurried out to the landing, but Daniel had beaten her to it. He had already lifted the phone off its rest and was holding it to his ear. Emma felt her breath catch when she discovered that all he was wearing was a pair of pyjama pants resting low on his narrow hips. His chest was bare, the thick, dark hair outlining the solid strength of his pectoral muscles before it arrowed down to disappear tantalisingly beneath the waistband of his pants. It was only when he dropped the receiver back onto its rest with a clatter that she managed to drag her gaze away.

‘That was Harry Groves from High Dale Farm. Apparently, his wife has gone into labour and the midwife is at another call. Harry has phoned for an ambulance but it will be at least an hour before it gets there,’ Daniel explained. ‘I said I’d go over there straight away.’

‘High Dale Farm is right up in the hills. It’s a long drive even from here, so no wonder the ambulance will need time to get there,’ Emma agreed worriedly.

‘Is it marked on the map?’ Daniel asked, referring to the Ordnance Survey map they kept in the surgery.

It showed the location of every farm in their catchment area, with the roads leading to it marked in red.

‘It should be. It’s certainly one of the most difficult places to find if you don’t know the area.’ Emma hurried back into her room and slipped on her shoes. ‘I’ll fetch it while you get dressed.’

‘Thanks. Oh, and can you bring me a printout of Mrs Groves’s most recent notes? I don’t want to go unprepared.’

‘Will do.’

Emma ran down the stairs. There was a set of keys for the surgery on the hook by the door and she picked them up then snatched her coat off the peg. Although it was the end of March, the air felt frosty as she made her way to the surgery and let herself in. Once she’d turned off the alarm, she found the map and checked that the farm was marked on it. She groaned as she traced her finger along the route. As she’d thought, it was one of the most difficult places to reach.

After printing out a copy of Sarah Groves’s notes, she ran back to the house. Daniel had started his car and was ready to leave by the time she got there. Emma hurried round to the passenger side and opened the door. ‘Turn left as soon as we leave here, then right at the crossroads.’

‘You don’t need to come, Emma. So long as I have the map, I should be able to find the place.’

Emma shook her head as she slid into the seat. ‘You can’t map-read and navigate these roads. They’re little more than cart tracks in places.’

She fastened her seat belt, hoping that he wasn’t going to argue with her as she really didn’t feel like a confrontation at this time of the night. It was a relief when he put the car in gear and headed out of the drive.

‘Seeing as you’re here, can you read through Mrs Groves’s notes,’ he suggested as soon as they were on the road. ‘Her husband said that it had been a textbook pregnancy so far, but I’d like to be sure. There’s a torch in the glove box. You can use that instead of turning on the interior light.’

Emma nodded as she found the torch. It would make it easier for Daniel to see where he was going if he didn’t have to contend with the glare from the interior lights. She shielded the end of the torch with her hand as she quickly read through the notes that had been made when Sarah Groves had last visited the surgery.

‘There’s nothing here to indicate a problem,’ she told Daniel as they reached the crossroads and turned right. ‘She was seen last week and her BP was fine. Nothing showed up in her urine sample either, and there was no sign of oedema.’

‘How many weeks is she? I asked the husband but he was in such a state he couldn’t remember.’

‘Thirty-five,’ Emma told him, checking the woman’s chart.

‘That’s not too bad, is it? I know that technically a baby is considered premature if it’s born before thirty-seven weeks, but it should be a decent enough weight by this stage.’

‘I wonder why she’s gone into labour. Did the husband say if she was bleeding?’

‘No. I did ask him, but he was almost incoherent and didn’t seem to be taking much in. He just kept asking how soon I could get there.’ She felt him glance at her. ‘You’re wondering if there’s a problem with the placenta?’

‘Yes.’ Emma felt a shiver run down her spine when he correctly interpreted her thoughts. Once, the fact that they’d been so much in tune had delighted her, but now it filled her with alarm. She didn’t want to share that kind of closeness with him ever again.

‘It’s one of the causes of premature labour so we certainly can’t rule it out.’ He slowed down and peered through the windscreen. ‘There’s another junction coming up. Which way now?’

‘Straight on for about ten miles then we’ll need to turn off the main road and head into hills,’ she told him, checking the map.

‘That’s when the fun really starts, is it?’ he asked with a laugh as he picked up speed again.

‘It will be fine.’

‘Spoken like someone who’s used to tearing around the back of beyond. Jim told me that you’ve done several stints overseas in the last couple of years. How did you get into that sort of work?’

‘Richard suggested it. He worked for an aid agency when he was a junior registrar and said it was invaluable experience.’

‘Richard?’

‘Richard Walker, my boss,’ she explained.

‘You obviously get on well with him,’ he observed, and she frowned when she heard the edge in his voice.

She had the impression that something had displeased him, but had no idea what it could be.

‘Yes, I do,’ she said a shade defensively. ‘All the team think very highly of him, in fact.’

‘I see.’ He changed gear then glanced at her and there was no sign of anything other than friendly interest on his face. ‘Working overseas must be challenging, I imagine.’

‘Sometimes.’ She shrugged. ‘It all depends where you’re working. If you’re based at a clinic, like the one I’ve just worked in, then it tends to be easier. The facilities are better, and there’s usually more staff to help out than if you’re working at a field hospital.’

‘And do you enjoy surgery as much as you thought you would?’

Emma frowned. She had the strangest feeling that her answer was important to him and couldn’t understand why. Why should it matter to Daniel if she was happy or not? He certainly hadn’t cared about her happiness five years ago, had he?

The thought pierced a hole right through the protective shell she had built around her heart. It was an effort to respond when it felt as though it was in danger of cracking wide open. It was only pride that gave her the strength to carry on, pride plus a desire not to let him know how badly he had hurt her.

‘Yes, I do. It’s everything I hoped it would be.’ She laughed wryly. ‘I suppose I should thank you, Daniel. If you hadn’t been so committed to your own career, I might have turned down the chance to become a surgeon and that would have been a huge mistake. I don’t doubt that in time I would have come to regret my decision.’

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