Summer Kisses: The Rebel Doctor's Bride

Evanna yawned. ‘Yes. Poor Logan was up and down in the night. First it was Helen, then it was our Kirsty.’

‘How is she?’

‘We’ve moved her from a cot to a bed in preparation for the arrival of her sibling.’ Evanna patted her swollen abdomen gently. ‘And she’s just discovered that she can leap out whenever she likes and come in with us. Which is fine, except she sleeps like a starfish, arms and legs stuck out at angles designed to cause maximum discomfort to those sharing the space.’

Flora laughed. ‘She’s gorgeous. Who is looking after her today?’

‘Meg had her this morning and I’m going home right now.’ Evanna stood up and winced. ‘I can’t believe this is how it feels to be thirty-five weeks pregnant. Remind me to be more sympathetic next time I run the antenatal clinic. Give little Helen a kiss from me.’

‘I will. Why didn’t you tell me that Logan had appointed Conner as the doctor?’

‘Neither of us were sure he’d turn up. It didn’t seem worth mentioning until we knew for sure.’

‘So you really don’t know why he’s back, Evanna?’ Flora tried to keep her tone casual.

‘No. Logan hasn’t said any more to me than he has to you.’

Flora reached for her bag. ‘No pillow talk?’

‘Are you kidding? Our pillow talk revolves around me telling him how uncomfortable I am and him trying not to phone for an air ambulance.’

‘Is he that nervous?’

‘He’s hiding it quite well but, yes, he’s nervous. Of course. His first wife died in childbirth and none of us are likely to forget that, myself included.’ Evanna breathed out heavily. ‘He wants me to go and stay on the mainland, but the baby’s not due for another five weeks and if it was two weeks late I could be stuck over there for seven weeks. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, it just isn’t practical. There’s Kirsty to think of. I don’t want her unsettled.’

‘No. Well …’ Flora leaned forward and gave her friend a hug, carefully avoiding her bump. ‘We’re all keeping an eye on you and we can get you over to the mainland at the first sign of movement.’

‘That’s the plan.’ Evanna stroked her bump. ‘Just hope the baby is listening.’

Flora drove with the windows down, humming to herself and enjoying the breeze and the sunshine. She loved Glenmore at this time of year. Wild flowers clustered on the banks of grass at the side of the road and in the distance she could see the jagged silhouette of the ruined castle.

She waved at Doug MacDonald who was out on his bike and then caught sight of Sonia Davies pushing a buggy on the pavement.

‘Sonia!’ She slowed to a halt and called out to the young mother. ‘Everything OK? How’s Rachel?’

‘She’s beautiful.’ Sonia pushed the buggy over to the car. ‘I’m due in clinic later this week for another immunisation.’

Flora nodded. ‘She’s twelve months, isn’t she? So that will be the Hib booster. Haemophilus influenzae.’

Sonia handed Rachel a rattle to play with. ‘I hope she doesn’t freak out. It’s different when they’re babies, isn’t it? They don’t know what’s happening and it’s over in a flash.’

‘She’ll be fine. Have you booked her in for Thursday afternoon?’

‘Yes.’ Sonia jiggled the pushchair. ‘No sign of Evanna having the baby yet, then?’

‘She has a few weeks to go yet.’

‘I bet Dr MacNeil is nervous.’ Sonia gave a little frown. ‘We all know how uneasy he gets when women get near their due date. When he had to deliver me on the island last year, he was horrified. Never saw him look nervous before that night. I still think that if Evanna hadn’t been there, he would have done a runner.’

‘I’m sure he wouldn’t, although we all know that he prefers babies to be born on the mainland. I’m sure he’ll be packing Evanna off on that ferry in good time. And I’d better go. I have a visit to do before my afternoon clinic.’ Flora slid back into her car. ‘See you later in the week, Sonia.’

She carried on up the coast road, called in on Helen to check on her and offer reassurance to her mother. Then she drove to the medical centre, parking next to a sleek black motorbike.

She gave a faint smile. That explained the black leather. A motorbike.

She couldn’t imagine Conner with anything else. He was a man who always chose to live his life on the wrong side of risk.

Janet was at the reception desk, trying to find an appointment for a patient. ‘Flora has had a cancellation so she can see him straight away, Mrs Gregg,’ she was saying. ‘I’ll put you in with her. If she thinks Harry should see a doctor urgently, she’ll arrange it.’

Looking anxious, Mrs Gregg took Harry by the hand and led him to the chairs in the waiting room.

Flora walked up to the desk. ‘Problems?’

‘Just the one problem. People don’t want to book in with Conner.’ Janet sighed and rubbed her fingers over her forehead. ‘I can’t believe that Logan has done this to us in the middle of summer. His afternoon surgery is bursting at the seams and how many does Conner have? Two people.’

‘Two? That’s all?’

‘No one wants to see him, Flora.’ Janet looked exhausted. ‘I’m sure he’s a very good doctor, but all anyone round here remembers is a boy with a lot of problems. They don’t trust him.’

Remembering what Logan had said to her, Flora straightened her shoulders. ‘His qualifications are excellent.’

‘Well, maybe he’d like to put them above my desk in neon lights.’

‘It’s only his first day. People will settle down,’ Flora said firmly, hoping that she was right. ‘I thought the women, at least, would be queuing up.’

‘I’m sure they will, but not for his medical skills,’ Janet said dryly. ‘If Logan was looking for help, I think he was looking in the wrong place. Anyway, the Greggs are back from holiday and Harry isn’t well. He has a rash and Diane is worried. Your first patient has cancelled so I’ve put them in with you. If you’re worried, perhaps you can persuade them to see Conner, but I don’t hold out much hope.’

‘Leave it with me. If you see Logan can you tell him that I popped in to see Helen and she was fine?’ Flora walked to the waiting area. Harry was sitting on his mother’s lap and his eyes were closed.

‘Hello, Nurse Harris.’ Diane gave her a tired smile. ‘Janet said you might fit us in.’

‘Of course.’ Flora touched the little boy’s forehead with a gentle hand. ‘He’s very hot.’

‘I’ve spent the past two nights trying to bring his temperature down.’ Diane clearly hadn’t slept for days and her face was pale and drawn. ‘But it’s the rash that’s really worrying me. It’s spreading.’

‘I’ll take a look.’

The woman gave her a grateful smile and gently eased Harry onto the floor. ‘You’re too big for Mummy to carry now,’ she murmured, taking his hand. ‘Just walk as far as the consulting room, then you can sit down again.’

Harry murmured a protest but trotted along the corridor towards Flora’s consulting room.

‘Tell me what happened. I’d like to know when Harry first became ill.’ Flora flicked on her computer and stowed her bag under the desk. ‘Presumably it started on holiday?’

‘Three days ago he developed this rash. One minute he was fine and the next he had a temperature, neck stiffness, headache.’ Diane swallowed. ‘He’s gone from well to ill really fast and that’s—Well, I’m worried.’

Understanding that she didn’t want to say too much in front of the child, Flora nodded. ‘And you think the rash has spread?’

‘Oh, yes. Definitely.’