Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
As she did every work morning, Ottilie knocked and pushed open the door to Hilltop farmhouse to check in on Darryl and Ann before she went on to the surgery for her clinic. This time, she was pleased to smell bacon on the air, a moment later seeing Ann at the stove.
‘You look better!’ she said.
Ann turned with a smile. ‘Good morning. I’m feeling much better. Thanks to you and Dr Stokes. He is lovely, isn’t he?’
‘Yes,’ Ottilie replied.
‘Want a cup of tea?’
Ottilie nodded and sat at the table. Darryl was in his usual spot, and he was engrossed in a book. Ottilie glanced at it but then did a double take. It wasn’t his usual book – the train encyclopaedia she’d bought for him that he pored over every day – but a new book. It contained photos of trains, but Ottilie could tell straight away they were different.
‘Morning, Darryl,’ she said. ‘New book?’
He looked up. ‘Yes.’ He held it up to show her. ‘It’s got trains in it.’
‘I can see that. It looks good.’
He nodded briefly and then turned back to it.
‘Have you had your insulin this morning?’ she asked.
When she got no reply, she looked up at Ann, who nodded.
‘That’s good,’ Ottilie said. ‘So everything seems nice and calm here this morning. It’s good to see you up and about, Ann.’
‘It’s good to be up and about…’ Ann put a mug of tea and a plate of bacon sandwiches down in front of Ottilie.
‘A sandwich too?’ Ottilie smiled. ‘I’m being spoiled this morning.’
‘Well, it ought to be a lot more than that, considering all you do for us.’
‘Oh, it’s nothing – only doing my job.’
‘That’s what Dr Stokes said when he came over last night.’
Ottilie held back a frown. ‘He came over last night? After surgery?’
‘About seven. Said he’d been doing some overtime at the surgery and wanted to see if we were all right before he headed home.’
‘But home for him is Liverpool! God knows what time he got back!’
‘Is it?’ Ann mused. ‘Well, that’s extra kind of him. And he brought this book over for Darryl. Said it was one of his favourites as a boy and he’d searched it out because he thought Darryl might like it.’
‘Looks like he does,’ Ottilie said. ‘That was nice of him.’
‘Darryl wasn’t sure at first, but I think he likes him now. He’s anyone’s for a train book.’
Ottilie smiled. ‘That’s true.’
‘It’s a shame Dr Stokes won’t be with us for long; it’s not often Darryl takes to a man. He’s very wary, you know. Feels safer with women.’
‘We’ve still got Dr Cheadle, and she’s a woman.’
‘Yes, but even so, I think it might have been good for him to build up some trust with a man, you know? There’s been nobody since his dad and, well…if I’m honest, Darryl and his dad didn’t always understand each other. His dad could get impatient and Darryl got frustrated; they didn’t communicate well, even though they loved each other.’
Should Ottilie mention that Simon might well be staying in Thimblebury? She quickly decided not to. The matter was far from settled and she didn’t want to get Ann’s hopes up. Besides, if Fliss decided to offer him a part-time position and continued to work herself then Simon wouldn’t always be the GP who visited on the occasions when they needed one. He’d clearly made an impression on them, though. And he was starting to make quite an impression on Ottilie too. Nobody had asked him to come and check on Ann before he’d gone home but he’d done it anyway, and he’d taken the time to search for a book he’d known Darryl would like. She was beginning to hope that Fliss would offer him a permanent position and that he’d say yes. She liked him more and more with each day she worked alongside him.
Darryl lifted the book to his face and almost squealed with delight.
‘Must have seen a good one,’ Ann said with a fond smile.
‘Must have done,’ Ottilie agreed. She drank her tea. It was a bit hot, but she could see she wasn’t needed here and there was plenty to do down at the surgery. ‘If you two are OK I’d better get off. Thank you for the sandwich.’
‘I thought you probably haven’t had breakfast yet.’
‘As always, you’re spot on.’
‘Would you…?’
Ann was suddenly shy and she hesitated.
‘Yes?’ Ottilie picked up her sandwich.
‘Would you mind taking something to Dr Stokes. He’s there today, isn’t he?’
‘Yes.’
Ann went to the fridge and took out a plastic container. ‘It’s some millionaire’s shortbread,’ she said, flushing as she handed it to Ottilie. ‘I gave him the last bit of one yesterday and he said it was delicious so I made another one.’
‘I’m sure he’ll love it,’ Ottilie said. ‘That was a lovely thing to do.’
‘He’s been so kind to us, and I know he’ll be leaving soon, so…’
Ottilie smiled as Ann flushed again. It seemed the charming and handsome and very kind Dr Stokes had been weaving his magic spell here too. He seemed to do that everywhere he went. Unless Ottilie was very much mistaken, Ann was a little bit in love with him.
‘I’ll make sure he knows where it came from,’ Ottilie said as she waved them goodbye and headed off to work.
The lunchtime tradition of eating together that had been instigated by Fliss had fallen by the wayside in her absence. Simon mostly stayed in his consulting room and ate whatever sandwiches he’d brought with him while he caught up on paperwork, and while Lavender and Ottilie still got together in the kitchen, more often than not, they also ate food they’d brought in from home for themselves. Lavender had agreed that with only two of them contributing it just wasn’t the same and didn’t seem worth it.
Lavender was already in the kitchen eating a salad when Ottilie arrived, her stomach growling after her clinic had overrun by a good twenty minutes.
Lavender looked up from her plate. ‘What happened?’
‘Mrs Icke.’ Ottilie flopped into a chair and Lavender grinned.
‘You should have phoned through to me – I’d have cooked something up to get rid of her.’
‘You’d have needed the three-minute warning to shift her today,’ Ottilie said wearily.
‘But she’s so deaf she wouldn’t have heard it.’
‘She’s not deaf, though, is she? She’s selectively deaf. Hears well enough when it suits her.’
‘Fliss is in,’ Lavender said.
Ottilie sat up. ‘Here?’
‘In with Simon.’
Ottilie detected a triumphant little smile. Lavender was trying to keep it from her face, but she wasn’t doing a very good job.
‘Now,’ she said, a note of caution in her tone. ‘Just because she’s in with Simon doesn’t mean we’ve won that battle.’
‘So you admit you want her to stay too?’
‘Of course I do, but I don’t want it if it isn’t what she really wants. I’d hate that.’
Ottilie reached for the teapot and touched a hand to it. It wasn’t exactly piping hot – Lavender had probably made it twenty minutes before when they were supposed to have broken for lunch – but she was so thirsty it would do.
‘But it’s a good sign she’s gone in to see him.’
‘It might be nothing to do with her retirement plans. She might be keeping abreast of progress for one of her patients. She might be signing some paperwork for the agency. Who knows? We’re jumping to a big conclusion.’
‘But you know Fliss – she doesn’t mess about. When something needs doing she gets on and does it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t go home and talk to Charles about it straight after she’d been with us and she’d have made her mind up within the hour.’
‘Usually, yes, but she does have other things to think about. Like Charles.’
Lavender smiled. ‘I see what you’re trying to do there. And I get it. You don’t want to be disappointed, and you don’t want me to be disappointed, and I appreciate that. Let’s see, eh? With a bit of luck we’ll know by this afternoon.’
‘What makes you say that? Surely Simon’s got to think about it too, even if Fliss is talking to him about it right now.’
‘Yes, but you’re pally with him. You can get his early reaction, can’t you?’
‘No pallier than you.’
‘Oh, you are! He’s always popping into your room for a chat.’
‘About patients, yes!’ Ottilie said with a little laugh.
‘It’s more than I get.’
Ottilie poured some tea. ‘Lavender, he comes to reception as often as he comes into my room.’
‘How do you know if you’re in your room?’
‘Because…’ Ottilie paused. ‘I just do.’
‘I’m telling you he doesn’t.’ Lavender had a sudden wicked gleam in her eye. ‘I think he fancies you.’
‘Don’t be daft.’
‘He’s all smiley when you’re around.’
‘He’s like that with everyone. He’s just a nice guy. I was up at Hilltop this morning and he’d been there with a new book for Darryl. Nice guy with everyone – it’s as simple as that.’
‘If you say so.’
Ottilie took her lunch from her bag, trying not to be annoyed at Lavender’s teasing, and then noticed the plastic container with Ann’s millionaire’s shortbread in it. She hadn’t been able to see Simon that morning to pass it on. Seeing it now reminded her that she needed to do that before he left for the day.
‘Do you think Fliss will pop in after she’s done with Simon?’ Lavender asked. ‘Maybe I should reboil the kettle just in case.’
‘I would imagine so, assuming they’re done before afternoon session starts.’
‘She’ll have to be done because Simon will have patients to see to.’
‘Maybe not with much time to spare, though.’ Ottilie narrowed her eyes and regarded Lavender over the rim of her mug before taking a sip. ‘You want to know what’s gone on, don’t you?’
‘No,’ Lavender replied, looking sheepish anyway. ‘I only wonder if she’ll have time to say hello. Anyway, don’t pretend you don’t want to know because you absolutely do.’
‘And I’m sure we’ll find out in good time.’
Lavender folded her arms and grinned at Ottilie. ‘Spoilsport. Play the game with me, would you?’
Ottilie couldn’t help but grin in return. ‘You’re terrible.’
‘I know, but you love it. I bet I’m the best doctor’s receptionist you’ve ever worked with.’
‘You’re the only doctor’s receptionist I’ve ever worked with.’
‘Hey, I’ll take the small victories.’
Ottilie shook her head, still smiling. ‘Daft sod.’
She was about to say more about it when her mobile began to ring.
‘Sorry, got to take this.’
Lavender’s smile faded. ‘Looks serious…’
‘It’s Josh’s old workmate,’ Ottilie said as she hurried from the room.
Out in the surgery garden it was chilly, Ottilie’s skin erupting with goosebumps. This garden had been witness to some intense conversations since she’d been employed here, and Ottilie had a feeling this was going to be another one.
‘Hi, Faith. How are you?’
‘Good. How’s everything there? Still loving the country life?’
Faith sounded cheerful. It was a good sign. Ottilie allowed herself to relax a bit.
‘It’s great, actually. Lovely.’
‘Those Sunday walks must be nicer than they are around here.’
‘I can’t say I go on that many. Too busy most of the time.’
Ottilie waited through a pause. Was there something in particular Faith had called for? They’d promised to keep in touch at the beginning, but contact had tailed off. Ottilie had started to feel that Faith only called when something was happening with the efforts to convict Josh’s killer, and perhaps Faith felt that too, the calls dropping off because she felt they were unwelcome.
‘Anyway,’ Faith said finally, ‘I wondered if you’d had a letter yet about the trial date?’
Ottilie frowned. ‘Trial date? I didn’t even know there was one.’
‘I thought you might not. So much for the grinding wheels of justice, eh? More like ground to a halt. In that case, we’ve got a date. I was wondering if you had plans to come to the trial. I mean, I get it if you’d rather not…and of course, you’re quite entitled if that’s what you’d prefer. But I thought…well, I’d make myself available if I could, like while you’re here.’
‘There’s no way of knowing how long I’d need to be in Manchester for, though, is there?’
‘No, I suppose not. We might get an idea of how long it will last once we’re up and running. But you have family to stay with, don’t you?’
‘I also have a job here and I don’t know how easy it will be to get away from that. When’s the trial?’
‘Next month. That’s if it doesn’t get delayed, of course, and it’s not like that never happens.’
Ottilie was aware of her heart suddenly beating in her ears. Did she want to face the man who’d taken her husband’s life? Could she really be in the same room as him and be OK? She’d always imagined she would stand before him and make certain he knew who she was, because she wanted him to squirm with his guilt, but now that the reality was close at hand, she wasn’t sure she could do it.
‘I expect I’ll get the letter through soon,’ she said, fighting to gather her chaotic thoughts. ‘I’ll see what Dr Cheadle says when I do. I think that’s the best way.’
‘Sounds sensible to me. Listen…’ Faith paused again. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been a bit…well, I’m sorry if you think I’ve forgotten about you. I haven’t; it’s…’
‘I know,’ Ottilie said. ‘It’s OK. I appreciate you keeping me up to date, but it’s weird, right? When we speak like this we’re dragging up a tough time we’d both rather forget. I don’t blame you – in many ways I feel like it’s harder for you than it is for me.’
‘You were Josh’s wife.’
‘Will always be Josh’s wife, but I’m not still doing the job that killed him. I’ve made a new start and it’s OK. In fact, though I feel guilty for saying it, it’s good. I love it here. I miss him, but…’
‘And there’s…Is there anyone…?’
‘Anyone else? No.’
The denial had come out before she’d even processed the question and Ottilie couldn’t understand where it had come from. But she didn’t want to tell Faith about Heath. Faith would think it was too soon; she’d disapprove. She’d wonder how Ottilie could move on so fast, how she could say she was devastated by Josh’s death and yet be in a relationship with someone else. And the fact was, Ottilie had real, deep feelings for Heath, perhaps even close to what she’d had for Josh, but she could never admit that to Faith. Not now, at any rate, and perhaps never, even if she eventually came clean.
‘Right, of course not. Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I only meant?—’
‘You didn’t; it’s totally fine. I suppose it’s a natural question to ask. It’s been almost eighteen months, right?’
‘Exactly – that’s what I meant. People do start to think about it after that sort of time, don’t they? Not that I know, of course. But it’s what I heard. But I suppose everyone’s different.’
‘Listen, I’m sorry but I have to?—’
‘God, of course, you must be at work. I’ll let you get on. Just wanted to keep you in the loop.’
‘Thanks, that’s really good of you. I don’t know what I would have done without you since it happened.’
‘Take care of yourself. And let me know what you decide.’
‘I will. See you soon.’
Ottilie ended the call. With a deep breath, she pocketed her phone and headed back inside. Lunch break was almost over and there were patients waiting to be seen. There would be a time to unpick the tangled knots of her thoughts, but this wasn’t it.