Page 9 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“We used to go to primary school together. Your mum was one of the teachers. I left the area when my family moved to Somerset in the summer before I was due to start secondary school. I thought I recognised you earlier, but then you said you didn’t live around here...”

“I don’t — I live in New York.”

“Wow.”

“It’s pretty great,” Jessica said, mustering a smile. “Wait, I remember you. You used to sit opposite me in Year6. Nathan Townsend!”

“That’s right.”

“And you’re a doctor now?”

“A GP. I just started at the surgery here about a month ago.”

“My mum mentioned something about a new doctor. So, you moved back?”

They’d reached the gate and Jessica was impressed he managed to open it and get both of the dogs through without having to put her down.

“Yes, the job came up, and I remembered being happy here so I applied for it. Dennis, heel,” Nathan said, and the dog stuck right by his master as they walked across the car park to Nathan’s Land Rover.

Nathan opened the front passenger door and lifted a wincing Jessica into the seat. “Apologies for the dog hair,” he said.

He took Monty’s lead from Jessica and put the dogs in the back. “I don’t have a seat belt for Monty I’m afraid, but if your parents still live in the same house, it’s not far.”

“You know where my parents live?”

“Yeah.” Nathan blushed. “I came to a couple of your birthday parties.”

“Of course you did,” confirmed Jessica.

“And you had that Halloween party one year.”

“Was that the one your little sister was sick at?”

“Yes! I’d forgotten about that!”

Nathan started the car and began to drive to Jessica’s parents’ home. She gritted her teeth when her foot jarred as they went over a speed bump. Jessica had to admit that it was a good thing Nathan had insisted on helping her. She’d probably still be by the side of the river if it wasn’t for him. Plus, he’d somehow done an amazing job of distracting from at least some of the emotions threatening to flood her brain and overwhelm her.

Nathan pulled up outside the house. “Thank you,” Jessica said. “I really appreciate your help.”

“It’s not a problem. How will you get to the hospital? Have you got someone you can call to take you as your parents are away? Is there anyone staying with you here?”

“I’m staying by myself,” Jessica admitted.

“In that case I’m not leaving you here,” he said. “I’m dropping Monty off in the house and then I’m taking you to A & E.”

“I can get a cab,” argued Jessica. She wished he’d just go and leave her alone.

“The longer you’re trying to move around on that foot without it being in a boot or plaster, the more likely you are to do additional damage. It’ll be quicker for me to take you and I can help you out of the car at the hospital.”

“OK,” agreed Jessica reluctantly. He was right: the sooner her foot was seen to, the better. As for Monty, well, she might be hours in the hospital, but there wasn’t anything she could do about that. She didn’t have the phone numbers for anyone who lived locally who could come and sit with Monty. He would just have to be brave.

“Give me the house keys and I’ll put him inside. Do you want anything with you?”

“My handbag from the hallway, please. It’s the blue one on the floor. Could you lock Monty in the conservatory? There’s a dog bed for him in there.”

“No problem.”

Nathan hopped out of the Land Rover, and had soon deposited Monty in the house and returned with Jessica’s bag.

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