Page 73 of Prognosis Bad Timing

It may have been narrow but she’d been...content.

Maybe she’d just settled as a way to punish herself for Harry’s death or for her naivety over Rupert. Maybe it had been a way of protecting herself from further emotional trauma. Whatever it was, Charlie had turned it all upside down. He’d given her back something she hadn’t even realised she’d been missing.

But more than that, he had given her medicine back.

The excitement she’d once felt at the prospect of helping sick people get better, of improving their quality of life or helping them to a dignified death.

The thrill that came with the power to heal. The joy of knowing she was making a difference.

No matter what happened after this morning, she was trading in her pinstripes for a white coat.

Carrie parked her car as a swirl of emotions whirled in her head. A part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and rush in head first. But the lessons of Rupert weren’t easily forgotten and she knew she had to be more responsible this time. It wasn’t just her future, her fate she had to decide on.

There was an innocent four-year-old also involved.

Of course, after today it was probably all going to be moot anyway. Things seemed fairly insurmountable at the moment. Even if they did somehow manage to get past her part in the centre’s closure, there was the issue of Dana.

She couldn’t force Charlie to be a father to her daughter and he seemed to have it in his head that he wasn’t up to the job. Parental influences could be powerful and far-reaching — half the centre’s runaways were a perfect example of how not to parent. But it was obvious to anyone with even the slightest vision that he was a natural with kids.

So how could she convince him he wasn’t like his father? And how, after her bombshell today, could she convince him to even listen?

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Carrie heard voicesfrom Charlie’s office as she swung by and her stomach twisted into another knot. She wanted to be anywhere but here today, doing this. She stood in front of his door, took a deep breath and poised her hand to knock.

‘Charles, you’re not seriously involved with that Carrie girl, are you?’

Carrie stopped before her knuckles hit the wood. His door wasn’t completely pulled to and she could hear the conversation easily. Was that Charlie’s father?

‘What makes you think that?’ Charlie bounced a rubber ball against the wall as he lounged back in his chair. It hit the floor, hit the wall and returned to him in a perfect arc.

He’d learnt a long time ago to tune out during one of his father’s phone calls. Don’t react, don’t supply him with any ammunition — just say yes and no and give noncommittal grunts in the right places and get the hell off the line as fast as possible.

‘You missed Sunday lunch. Your mother was most upset.’

Charlie smiled. Playing hooky was the only thing that had improved his mood over the weekend. It had given him a brief respite from thoughts of Carrie. ‘Sorry.’

Carrie dropped her hand and leaned closer. No, she thought, there was too much of an echo. Charlie must have him on speakerphone.

‘You know she has an illegitimate child? That’s not really something we encourage in the Wentworth family.’

Carrie blinked. Illegitimate? Did anyone seriously use that word anymore? Did anyone seriously care anymore? She was beginning to see why Charlie wasn’t a fan of his father.

Charlie grimaced. Pompous ass. He was doing exactly what Charlie had known he’d do. Stick his nose into Carrie’s background to check out her pedigree. ‘She’s a friend, Dad, that’s all.’ Bounce. Bounce.

Carrie sucked in a breath. She was surprised how much Charlie’s dismissal of their relationship hurt. It shouldn’t, that’s what they’d agreed, after all. She should be happy that he was trying to stick to their deal. But the deal had come before her revelation.

And she knew now she could never just be friends with Charlie Wentworth.

‘Veronica was asking after you the other day?’

Carrie swallowed. She should stop. This was a private conversation and none of her business. But, try as she may, she couldn’t drag herself away.

‘Really?’ Charlie stifled a yawn. Bounce. Bounce.

Carrie’s breath caught in her throat. He was interested?

‘Said she missed you.’

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