Page 26 of Prognosis Incompatible

Connie had become a human pincushion but nothing had shown up on any of her tests other than what Madeline had always suspected, which was falling oestrogen levels, indicating Connie was going through menopause. Today, Connie was describing prolonged fatigue - another classic change-of-life symptom.

There were so many things that Madeline had spoken to Connie about to help her through this period in her life but it had all fallen on deaf ears. Connie wasn’t big on effort. She wanted a magic pill that could cure all her ills and didn’t involve too much of a demand on her. Unfortunately, Madeline knew that there was only so much modern medicine could do for menopause symptoms and the rest was up to the patient.

‘I’m thinking I might see if a naturopath has any answers. What do you think, dear?’

Madeline prepared herself for her standard talk she usually gave patients who were thinking of dabbling in the alternative health field. She never said don’t, even though every part of her wanted to. It was her job to guide her clients, give them the correct information and let them make up their own minds. But this was just one of those subjects she found hard to be objective about.

As Connie continued on, warming to the topic, Madeline started to formulate a plan. Yes, she’d said she’d never refer to Marcus but...if the patient wanted a referral then...why not?

Marcus had said she should give it a chance, and if Marcus could cure Connie, well, she’d definitely need to rethink the whole alternative medicine field. A migraine would be a snap compared to Connie and her multiple problems.

If he could make headway with her, she’d have to start believing in miracles!

‘Connie,’ said Madeline, breaking into the monologue. ‘How about I write you a referral to the new natural therapist who’s opening next door? He’s a homeopath. He doesn’t open till tomorrow but I reckon I can get you an appointment first thing.’

‘Could you? Oh, that would be marvellous.’

‘I’ll talk to him this afternoon. Veronica will ring you with the appointment time,’ she said as she wrote out the referral letter on her personalised stationery.

Okay, Marcus Hunt - let’s see what you’re really made of!

***

Marcus was lockingup about five when he saw Madeline coming out of her gate. She gave him a quick wave and walked away in the other direction. Perfect — he was heading that way, too. He grinned to himself at how prim she looked in her navy pinstripe suit, her hair tied in her regulation nape-knot, and wondered as he watched the sway of her hips whether she was wearing lacy lingerie beneath or the cotton underwear he had seen her in the previous day.

‘Who’s that, Uncle Marcus?’

The boyish voice of his nephew intruded on his fantasy. Marcus looked down at Connor, whom he’d picked up from school earlier and brought back to the practice as a favour to Nell, who didn’t knock off until six. He’d helped him with his homework and then Connor had helped him, unpacking boxes like he did it for a living.

Of course, using the skate park as a carrot had helped.

‘Her name’s Maddy. She’s a doctor next door.’

‘Is she your girlfriend?’

Marcus laughed. Only in his dreams! ‘No. Why?’

Connor shrugged. ‘You were looking at her kind of funny,’ he said. ‘And she’s really pretty.’

Marcus nodded. His nephew must have got that keen eye from him. ‘Yes, Connor, that she is.’

‘Can I ride the board to the park?’ Connor asked, throwing it down on the ground and pushing it backwards and forwards with a foot.

‘OK, but stay close and don’t go too fast. Remember you’re going downhill slightly. If you break your arm your mother will kill me.’ His nephew laughed at him as he did up the chin strap on his helmet and checked his knee and elbow pads.

Yeah. Bulletproof.

Madeline had heard the skateboard approach and she hadn’t needed to turn around to know it was Marcus. She was fast gaining a sixth sense where he was concerned. She braced herself for his presence and found herself wishing he’d get thrown off on one of the many cracks in the aged footpath just to avoid having to look at him after last night.

Honestly — a grown man riding a skateboard deserved to fall on his butt!

But the board swished straight past her and the boy riding it gave her a cheeky grin. He was familiar and she realised it was Marcus’s nephew. When Marcus did catch her up a moment later, she jumped.

‘How are you feeling today, Maddy?’

‘Fine,’ she said, not bothering to stop or even acknowledge him as her heart thundered madly. She knew she should thank him again for his help but, given the way the night had ended and the things he had made her feel and the subsequent dreams, the less conversation about the previous day the better.

‘Finished for the day?’

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