Page 53 of Love, Accidentally
‘I’m not going to get any peace, am I?’ she asks with a sigh.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You. You’ve been staring at me all shift. I can read you like a book, Tilly. You’re desperate to know what happened to Dr Milne.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘OK. You won’t mind if I don’t tell you then. It’s probably confidential anyway.’
Shit. ‘Well, seeing as you brought him up,’ I begin. ‘I guess it would be useful to know, just so I can deal with any queries that might come my way.’
Dr Patel laughs softly. ‘Oh, you’re very good. Congratulations. OK, I don’t think I’m betraying any confidences if I told you that there was a meeting to review how well Dr Milne had settled into his new role. HR, the senior A&E consultants and Dr Milne agreed, after some discussion, that his, umm, unique talents were probably not best suited to our department. A package was agreed for us to part ways, and we wished him all the best in his future endeavours.’
‘Do you know where he’s gone?’
‘I don’t, although I’m sure we’ll get a request for a reference at some point. That’s going to be a tricky one, which I think I’m going to let HR deal with.’
The question is out of my mouth before I can stop it. ‘You didn’t fire him because of me, did you?’
‘Nobody fired anyone,’ she says sternly. ‘It was a mutually agreed decision and your name was never mentioned. The truth is that Dr Milne was too much of a loose cannon to thrive in an environment like this. Dr Rogers and I both had occasions to intervene when he suggested risky or unapproved treatments, and life is stressful enough without having to second-guess your junior doctors. Dr Rutherford comes highly recommended with glowing references and, so far, has been an absolute joy to work with. That really is as much as I can tell you, Tilly.’
‘Thank you, Dr Patel. I appreciate it.’
‘No problem. I trust you have sufficient information to deal with any queries now. Shall we get back to work?’
I’m unprepared for the huge sense of relief that carries me through the rest of my shift. It truly feels like the dark clouds have finally parted and the sun has come out. Luke has gone.
It’s only when I’m on the drive home that a small rain cloud appears on the horizon. Luke may have gone, but I’ve still got Jonathan’s cryptic warning about Will to deal with. What on earth is that about?
23
‘Are you sure you don’t mind doing this?’ I ask Will as he clambers into my car the following Saturday.
‘Mind?’ he says with a laugh. ‘Of course I don’t mind! You’ve saved me from a day of boring Bernard. Are you OK though? I’m not gatecrashing your special one-on-one time with your nephew?’
‘Not at all. If I’m honest, I’m relieved you’re here,’ I tell him. ‘I’ve never taken Isaac out on my own before and I’ve been kind of dreading it. What if everything I’ve planned bores him senseless?’
‘What have you planned?’
‘Soft play this morning. McDonald’s for lunch and then maybe the park this afternoon.’
‘Sounds pretty cool. If I were three, I’d be up for that. Soft-play centres are pretty foetid places on the whole, but it’s probably good for his immunity.’
‘Tash won’t forgive me if I make him ill. Do you think we should do something else?’
‘Does he go to preschool?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then he’s probably already had every disease going. I reckon you’ll be OK.’
‘Wow. When did you become such an expert on small children?’
He grins. ‘A couple of people I work with have them. Whenever we’re not discussing a project they break off to talk about which disgusting bug their little darling has come home with this week, or what incredible milestone they’ve just achieved. I never realised being a parent was a competitive sport until I started listening to them.’
I laugh. ‘Rule number one of being a parent. Your baby is always better-looking and cleverer than everyone else’s baby.’
‘Yup. That sounds about right. It’s tough on the child though, don’t you think?’
