Chapter Fifteen
‘G’day, Amelie!’ I’ve become accustomed to the sounds of building work at the back of the practice, and also the way that Frank, the builder, pops his head around the door to the surgery.
As today is Friday and his men clock off early, Frank, who takes pride in his team’s workmanship, is on his own. ‘Do you want to have a look around?’
‘Sure.’
When Jimmy told me the living area of the terrace would be gutted, he wasn’t exaggerating.
But now Frank and his crew are putting things back together.
Thankfully, there’s no hint of the old kitchen and dining area, which will be replaced, Frank has told me, by sleek cupboards, a pantry, space for a coffee machine, a cooktop and oven and an integrated fridge.
‘Nothing like the old one,’ he says with a wince.
‘Good to hear.’
‘This …’ He stands in the middle of the room and swings his arms in parallel lines like an air traffic controller, ‘is where we’ll install the island bench.’
‘It sounds great.’
‘Upstairs is coming along too. One bedroom, only small but cosy, a bathroom and a snug little study. You’ll be set.’
‘I’m only here for another few weeks.’
‘Where’s your next job?’
‘I’m not sure yet.’
‘Look how busy you’ve gotten here.’ He smiles. ‘Why were you late in this morning?’
‘I was making house calls. Laura’s Pekinese, Enid and Barry’s labrador and Ruby’s chooks.’
‘I bet you fixed them all.’
‘Ruby’s prize-winning chicken died last night, so she wanted me to check her other birds.’
‘Summerfield needs a vet, no doubt about that.’
‘Julia is only supposed to work two days, but she’s working three. What Summerfield also needs is another doctor.’
‘It clear went out of my mind!’ Frank slaps his forehead with the palm of his hand. ‘Did the doctor find you?’
‘What doctor?’
‘Good-looking bloke.’ Frank’s brow furrows. ‘Dr Ferguson? Dr Finnigan? A medical doctor, he was a hundred percent clear about that, not a vet.’
‘I don’t know—’
‘Amelie!’
Technically, Dr Alex Flanagan and I were together for almost two years, but I was working on my first PhD, he was preparing to sit yet another set of surgical exams and we both worked full time.
When I refused to go to a function where he’d network with senior doctors and proudly squeeze my hand whenever anyone complimented my face or dress, he claimed that, in bed and socially, I held back: ‘You’re not present . ’
As I’d been trying to behave in ways I thought a regular girlfriend would, his words hurt and we broke up.
Almost immediately, he started going out with someone else.
We had mutual acquaintances and I’ve seen him occasionally in the past few years.
Are we friends? Only in a limited way, but he hugs me warmly and kisses both cheeks.
‘It’s good to see you.’
‘What are you doing here?’
Frank holds up a thumb and grins as he closes the door behind us.
‘I’ve missed you, Amelie.’ Alex is worryingly sincere.
‘Is this in response to my email about Julia McLeod, the GP next door?’
‘Yes and no.’
‘You’re not a GP.’
He smiles. ‘Granted.’
‘So why are you here?’
‘Didn’t you hear what I said? I’ve missed you.’ He takes my hand. ‘We can discuss how much over dinner.’
Even though I don’t want to kiss Cameron again because kissing him and leaving him left an ache in my heart that gets worse every time his name comes up, I don’t want to kiss Alex or anybody else.
‘I send out invoices at night and—’
‘We can also talk about my thoughts regarding the GP you’re looking for.
A mate from England, Jack Breckinridge, is one possibility—he’d only be short term but is keen to see something of country life.
A colleague who’s decided orthopaedic surgery isn’t what she’d hoped it would be is the second option. She’s a country girl herself.’
‘They both sound good.’
Alex smiles. ‘I didn’t tell Jack that the hot vet next door is only here short term.’
How often have I said I’ll be here until the end of January? A lot of times. But now the words make me feel unhappy and lonely and—
‘I’m staying at the motel just out of town,’ Alex says. ‘Name your time.’
I have no interest in having dinner with Alex. But I don’t want to let Julia down by turning away possible candidates.
‘Julia doesn’t work Fridays, but she’ll be at the pub tonight. I could introduce you to her.’
‘A restaurant might be more intimate.’
‘As the only doctor here for thirty years, Julia is an expert in pretty much everything and you’ll be able to hear that for yourself. She’s skilled, hardworking and respected, and there’s plenty of work in this town. Also, there’s food at the pub.’
He laughs. ‘If meeting the GP gets me over the line with you, I’ll do it.’