Page 11 of Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘Not sure that’s a traditional reason for throwing a party to celebrate.’ He’d smiled in the way that seemed to transform his whole face, but the smile had slid away just as quickly. ‘The reason I don’t like to make a big thing of it is because the catalyst for my father walking out of our lives happened on my tenth birthday. He only came back once more after that and he caused a massive scene. So I prefer to play it down. I don’t need any reminders of my father and neither does Mum.’

Amy’s heart had ached for him. Lijah was her best friend and he’d been there for her when she’d been bullied by some of the other girls in her year. She really wanted to be able to do something nice for his birthday, to thank him for all he’d done for her, but she didn’t want to bring back any painful memories. So, when Maria had confided in her that she wished Lijah would let her organise something to mark his sixteenth birthday, Amy had bitten her lip, not sure whether to tell Maria she had it wrong. But Maria had seen the expression that must have crossed Amy’s face and had coaxed the truth out of her. When Maria discovered the real reason that Lijah had always insisted on not having a birthday celebration, she was determined to mark his sixteenth in the kind of style that would make up for years of low-key days, and she’d roped Amy in to make sure they got it right.

‘I’ve always been the interfering sort, never afraid to stick my nose in someone else’s business.’ Amy smiled at him now, making a joke the way she so often did when emotions suddenly heightened. ‘I think it’s part of what makes me a good nurse.’

‘I bet you’re a great nurse, but then I knew you would be.’ She didn’t doubt his words; Lijah had supported her dreams every bit as much as she’d supported his, but then again, most people would argue that it was far easier to become a nurse than it was a successful musician. When she looked up at him, he was still holding her gaze. ‘I always knew it was the right decision for you to choose nursing, but when we were together, I couldn’t help wishing that you wouldn’t.’

‘We were so young, it would never have lasted either way.’ She gave him a half smile, her words coming out with far more conviction than she felt, because there was a huge part of her that couldn’t help wondering what might have happened if she’d taken a leap of faith when he’d left for London, just like she had on the night of the party. She’d had to take the risk of losing their friendship, so that they could become so much more and, despite how it ended, she wouldn’t have traded their three years together for anything.

One of the things she’d loved most about Lijah was that he’d never been afraid to let people see just how much his mum and his aunt meant to him. He hadn’t been remotely embarrassed at the fact that the two women had spent most of the night on the dancefloor at his sixteenth birthday party. Lijah had happily joined them and watching him up there Amy could no longer pretend she justlikedLijah, her feelings for him were much bigger than that. But she was realistic enough to know she didn’t stand a chance with someone like him, or at least that’s what she’d thought. Even when he’d come to her at the end of the party to thank her for helping his mother organise it, she had no idea what was about to happen. It was probably for the best, because if she’d thought he was going to kiss her she might have freaked out. When Lijah had suddenly leaned forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her heart had been thudding so hard she was sure he must be able to hear it.

‘You’re the best girl here, Ames. You know that, don’t you?’ His voice had been low. ‘I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed tonight, and it was all because of you.’

‘It was mostly your mum, I just helped with?—’

‘I didn’t mean organising it.’ Lijah had cut her off, putting a hand on her bare arm, his touch lighting her up from the inside and she hadn’t trusted herself to speak. ‘I like you Amy, and there’s no one I enjoy spending time with more than you.’

She’d frozen to the spot then, not wanting to risk making a fool of herself by taking a step forward if she’d somehow misread the signs. Instead Lijah had closed the gap between them and, when he kissed her, it was everything she thought it might be and more. She knew they were risking their friendship, but it had been a chance she’d needed to take and, in that moment, she wasn’t sure she could have stopped herself, because it was something she’d wanted for so long. There hadn’t been a moment when she’d regretted that kiss, not even in the aftermath of their breakup when even saying his name had hurt more than she’d ever have believed. Torturing herself with what ifs would be a whole new form of torture, and it wasn’t a path she was going to allow herself to go down, especially when Lijah would almost certainly disappear from her life again just as quickly as he had reappeared.

‘We didn’t give ourselves a chance to find out whether or not it would last.’ There was something in his eyes she couldn’t quite read, but the corners of his mouth were twitching, as if he might be trying not to laugh. She was the girl who’d loved him from afar, for years before he’d even noticed her, and now here she was again, going all gooey eyed over the memory that probably meant far less to him than it had to her, despite what he might have said. Either way, she wasn’t here to amuse Lijah Byrne, she had a job to do, one she was very good at. Withdrawing her hand from his, Amy took a step back. He spent his whole life with people fawning over him, but she wasn’t about to become one of them. He needed medical attention, not to have his ego inflated even further by the thought that she’d never got over him.

‘It wouldn’t have worked and thankfully I figured that out pretty quickly.’ Her tone was cool and his mouth turned downwards in response, but he didn’t have a chance to reply, as Nick yanked back the curtain of the cubicle and came in.

‘Coffee’s up.’

‘Perfect timing, thanks Nick.’ Amy arranged her face into what felt like a smile, but she couldn’t be sure. She’d lowered her guard with Lijah by reminiscing about the night of his party, but she was already wishing she hadn’t. Nothing about his lifestyle seemed genuine to her and it was almost impossible to believe that anyone who pursued that kind of life could be genuine either. Only a fool would think the last decade hadn’t changed him beyond all recognition. ‘I’ve cleaned Lijah’s wound, but I want the surgeons to take a look at it to see if any of the tendons or ligaments need surgical intervention. Then we’ll have to work out if he needs a tetanus shot, or if he’s already up to date.’

‘Where does that go, in his bum?’ Nick laughed and Amy responded with a genuine smile this time.

‘It can be arranged.’ She tried to look more serious for a moment. ‘For you too, if you don’t behave yourself.’

‘I’ll be good I promise.’ Nick grinned again, and inclined his head towards the coffees he was holding. ‘I even tracked you down a mocha, I’m assuming you’re still a chocaholic, Amy?’

‘Guilty as charged. You must be used to Lijah’s every wish being your command.’ There was an edge to her voice that she couldn’t stop from creeping in. She was on the defensive, but she didn’t want Lijah to think he impressed her. He probably hadn’t got a coffee for himself in years, but that didn’t make him any more special than her other patients.

‘He’s pretty low maintenance actually, although he’s still a teabag snob and it’s always got to be Yorkshire.’ If Nick was offended by her jibe about his job he didn’t show it. ‘You’d never believe he was born and bred around here the way he goes on about it.’

‘It is pretty hard to believe.’

‘Why do I get the feeling that isn’t a compliment?’ Lijah asked, but before she could respond Nick thrust a family sized packet of Maltesers in her direction.

‘I’m glad you still like chocolate, because my decision to buy these for you must make me almost as big a hero as Lij. Although I just took a call from Dolly.’ Nick turned towards Lijah and Amy caught her breath at the sound of the familiar name. ‘And I don’t think buying any amount of chocolate could compete with your heroics. The vet’s confident the dog will make it, because of you.’

‘Did you say Dolly?’ Amy took a step closer to Nick, willing him to shake his head.

‘Yes, do you know her?’ Nick frowned and nausea swirled in her stomach. It couldn’t be Monty. Dolly would have let her know. She asked the question all the same.

‘The dog that got attacked… do you know what breed it was?’

‘A little Jack Russell, wasn’t it?’ Nick turned towards Lijah again and he nodded.

‘Yes, such a sweet little thing. His name’s Monty.’

‘Oh my God, are you sure?’ Amy was desperate for Lijah to say something to convince her she’d got it wrong, but he was already nodding.

‘Are you okay? Do you know whose dog it is?’

‘Monty’s mine.’ Tears were brimming in her eyes as she looked at him again, and he took hold of her hand for a second time.

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