Chapter Seven
Luke
A few weeks have passed since I last saw Fallon, and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I probably won't be seeing her again. Although last week I gave in to temptation and popped into Jenson’s bar to get her number from him, but the staff said he was away and weren’t sure when he'd be back.
So the next thing my inner stalker started to do was walk past her salon, but every time I have walked by there, it has been closed, which is just inconvenient.
It's like they have all up and disappeared. Every link I have to her is unavailable. I must have been a let-down for her to have to go into hiding like this. So, I have decided it's time to let go and move on.
Which is exactly what I plan to do. I’m off for the next few days and plan on doing absolutely nothing other than going out with the boys.
Actually, I’ll go to see my family up in Cheshire.
That sounds like a better idea than being stuck here, moping over a woman who clearly wants nothing to do with me.
Within the hour, my bags are packed, and I'm in the car making the two-hour journey home. It’s been far too long since I've been back there.
Probably because I tend to avoid my mother like COVID-19.
She is lovely, really she is, but I cannot be around her and all the women she tries to marry me off to.
I like my life the way it is. On my own, with no complications and no one to stress over.
“Oh my darling. It's been too long. Anyone would think you had been avoiding me,” my mother says as I walk through the door.
“What would give you that impression?” I smile as I take her into my arms.
My mother is a very typical, wealthy Cheshire woman. Her makeup is immaculate, her glossy brown hair styled to perfection with no grey hairs to be seen, and she's wearing heels… in the house. I have never understood that, but each to their own.
“Well, if I’d seen you a little more, I wouldn’t have to complain about it. You work too much,” she pouts. Quite literally, her bottom lip is out and everything.
“It’s kind of what happens when you're a doctor. There's no rest for the wicked. Where's Dad today?” I ask, glancing around as we make our way to the kitchen island.
“He’s out the back in the stables. You know he loves those damn horses more than me,” she jokes. “He’ll be in for lunch soon. Now, tell me, have you finally found yourself a woman yet?”
Well, that took all of three minutes.
“Or a man, I'm not fussy. I just wish you'd settle down,” she says.
“Not yet,” I grumble, but my mum's eyes seem to lighten at that.
“But there might be? Who is she? Where's she from? What's her name? Is she pretty? I bet she's gorgeous…” she rambles on, only stopping when I raise my hand and laugh.
“There isn’t anyone, I swear,” I tell her firmly.
Her eyes bounce between mine, as though she is trying to read into my soul.
“Okay. I don’t believe you, but I'll let it drop… for now,” she says, turning her back to me and walking over to the fridge. “But, let's just say there is someone, is it anyone I know?”
“Nope. Now drop it, you psychotic woman.”
“Leave the boy alone, Elaine. You know he hates to divulge anything with the people that made him,” my dad's deep voice calls from the door. “Luke. It’s good to see you, son.”
“You would think I haven’t been here in years, not months. You could both always come down to see me, too, you know,” I tell them as my mum passes me an ice-cold glass of lemonade. Probably one she made herself with all the free time she has, as she hasn’t been able to meddle in my love life.
“You know we can’t leave the animals without major planning,” my dad grunts, taking the seat beside mine.
“Ah, just like I can't leave my patients,” I raise a brow.
“Okay, don’t get smart with me, boy,” my dad says, though I know he is joking.
Although my mother's meddling can be annoying, I really have missed it here.
The house is an old stately home, with yellow bricks covered in flowers and beautifully manicured gardens.
To the rear of the land are my father's pride and joy, his horses. My mum wasn’t kidding when she said he loves them more than her, because I truly think he does.
But when you're this rich and retired, you need something to keep you going. For him, it's his horses.
We continue to chat, eating some lunch and catching up on all things work, when my phone starts to ring.
I never usually answer numbers I don’t recognise and leave it to go to voicemail.
With the way scams are these days, the chances are it's someone wanting my bank details using a mobile number.
But the moment it stops, it starts up again.
Confused, I stare down at my phone, but the call ends again.
“Someone is desperate to speak to you,” my mum says, glancing my way as it starts to ring again. “Answer it, love. It must be important.”
With a nod, I lift the phone to my ear and don’t even get the chance to say hello.
“Doctor Smyth?” A male voice booms down the receiver. “It's Tommy Jackson, Maya Houghton's boyfriend. She’s in trouble, and we need you. You're the only one I can trust.”
“Tommy? Where are you? What's happening with Maya?” I ask professionally, my tone not wavering.
Maya is one of my patients whom I have been seeing for a while.
She was almost killed by a speeding car that happened to have her ex-boyfriend behind the wheel, and then said ex has been stalking and harassing her ever since.
Maya and Tommy have been through a lot over the past year, and she always requests that it's me who sees her.
I can't say I blame her after all she's been through. She needs something stable in her life, even if it’s just her doctor.
“She’s in an ambulance and on her way to the hospital. He… he's hurt her. Please, could you meet us there?” He pants down the phone, his voice sounding defeated.
“Of course, I’ll call ahead to let them know I’m coming and will set off straight away,” I say, leaving my gaping parents at the table as I throw on my coat. “What's her condition?”
“I honestly don’t know. They rushed her off whilst I tried to find him. I’m only a few minutes behind her.” He groans. I can hardly imagine how he must be feeling. “And Smyth? Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I say, ending the call.
Turning back to my parents, I give them a sheepish look.
“It looks like I’m not having a day off after all,” I say, wincing. “I’m sorry to leave so suddenly.”
“I’m disappointed to not spend more time with you, but I think I can say from both of us, we’re also incredibly proud. I hope whoever it is is okay.” My dad says, squeezing my shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad, Mum,” I turn to hug her. “I promise I’ll be back up as soon as I can.”