Accidental Reunion

‘So you’re an item?’ Sue pushed happily, delighted to be the first with the gossip.

‘Well, we are living together,’ Yvonne admitted, blushing ever deeper as she did so. ‘So, yes, I guess we are.’

The knife was working rapidly now, slicing the cake with lightning speed. It had never even entered her head. Not for a single second. Even with Yvonne’s accent, even when Declan had mentioned he’d worked in Scotland, even the fact they’d started on the same day. Not once had it occurred to Lila that they might be together.

There just didn’t seem to be anything between them. OK, so she’d hardly seen them together, just at Yvonne’s lecture and for a couple of minutes this evening, but there was nothing that had indicated to Lila they were a couple. No stolen glances, no sexual tension, nothing. Yes, they were at work. And, yes, you didn’t have to be constantly touching to be a couple, but surely there would have been some vibe? Surely. Her mind whizzed back eight years. They could have been on the other side of the room yet there had always been an energy between them—a constant awareness that had permeated the room.

She wasn’t still hung up on Declan—it was over, over, over.

It just seemed so unfair, that was all. His life had moved on, ever onwards, while she herself seemed frozen where he’d left her. And not even there, apart from her wardrobe perhaps. Eight years ago she had been stunning, had had a great social life and a glamorous job. Eight years, five extra kilos and no social life later, that’s where Declan had found her.

‘Are you still here?’ Declan grinned at Yvonne.

The same way he grinned at everyone, everyone except her.

‘Still here. One more patient to admit and then I’ll head off home, though I think I might wait for her to arrive in the doctors’ mess and have a doze while I’m waiting. I don’t suppose you picked up milk, like I asked?’

Yvonne glanced over at Lila, an almost imperceptible flash of triumph in her eyes. She knows about us, Lila realised, and she’s making sure I know that they’re together now.

‘Of course I didn’t,’ Declan answered cheerfully, completely oblivious to the sudden tension in the tiny annex. ‘I’ve rung Chest Med, Lila,’ he said, changing the subject. ‘They want the patient sent straight up to the ward and they’ll clerk him there.’

‘I’ll go,’ Sue said, swinging down from the work bench.

But Yvonne hadn’t finished turning the knife. ‘Anything else you want me to pick up from the all-night store, Declan—anything you fancy?’

Declan laughed ‘Plenty, but let’s just leave it at milk for now, huh?’

Once Yvonne had gone Declan helped himself to a huge piece of cake. ‘Who made this?’

‘Lila,’ Sue said as she picked up the patients’ files and headed off to the ward.

‘Really?’ Declan took a tentative bite and grabbed his throat. ‘Put out a crash call, I’ve been poisoned.’

‘Very funny,’ Lila said, suddenly finding her tongue. ‘But, then, everything always was a joke to you.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Declan asked, his voice suddenly serious.

‘You know full well.’

‘No, Lila, I don’t. What have I done now?’

She shot him a look. ‘You mean apart from strolling back into my life and expecting us to be friends?’

‘Yes, Lila.’ His voice was deep and his eyes searched hers. ‘Yes, Lila,’ he repeated. ‘Apart from that.’

What could she say? That the news he was living with Yvonne had devastated her? That, though she hadn’t even realised it, she had somehow harboured a hope that maybe, just maybe there might have been a chance for them?

Of course not. She tore her eyes away. Lying was hard enough without looking at him. ‘I think I made a mistake yesterday,’ she replied finally, ‘when I said we could be friends. There’s too much water under the bridge.’