Page 51 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘I don’t think it can. I don’t think you can put ideas like this in my head and then make me wait.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘Heath…what’s so bad you need to say it in person?’
‘Nothing!’
To her relief, Ottilie could hear humour in his voice now.
‘God, nothing bad!’ he repeated. ‘I just think we need to clear the air. I owe you some explanations, and I’d rather we talk them through in person. Honestly, that’s all it is.’
Sometimes it felt as if they were going backwards. Instead of being more certain as time went on, Ottilie was more confused. She longed for that day when they’d be as comfortable as she’d been with Josh, but she had to wonder, as she tried to work out now what exactly was going on here, whether that day would ever come.
‘I…’ He stalled again, and once again Ottilie was thrown. ‘I get it – you need to be there tonight.’
‘Sorry, but I do. I wish I could…’
She was about to say she wished she could get out of her commitment with Fliss, but actually, why would she say it when it wasn’t true? Why did she feel the need to placate everyone all the time, pretend their needs were more important than hers when they weren’t? People-pleasing Ottilie. Safe, reliable Ottilie. Here she was again, and she wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry.
‘I could see you tomorrow if you want.’
‘It’s OK; I’ve got a lot on. We’re meant to be going out Thursday anyway, aren’t we? Let’s leave it at that, eh?’
Ottilie nodded, and then realised he couldn’t see it. ‘Yes. If you want.’
Ottilie said goodbye and went back to her shower. She was still unsettled and unhappy with the way they’d left things, but there was no time to think about that now.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rustic pasta had never smelled so good. Ottilie arrived at Fliss’s house at the same time as Lavender and she could smell the herbs even from outside the front door. They both held up their bottle of red.
‘Snap,’ Lavender said. ‘You can’t go wrong with red when you’re coming to Fliss’s house.’
‘Has it been in the fridge?’
‘Of course!’
‘Mine too. Is it just me who finds that cold red thing weird?’
‘It’s weird. She’s weird, but she’s our weirdo.’
Ottilie smiled and knocked. ‘I wonder if Charles will be eating with us.’
‘Me too. I hope so. I like Charles and it feels as if we haven’t seen him in ages. Too much excitement for him, right?’
‘Us? You might be, but I’m definitely not!’
A moment later a smiling Charles opened the door.
‘Speak of the devil!’ Lavender kissed him lightly on the cheek.
‘And he shall appear – yes, I know. Hello, Lavender.’ He turned to Ottilie. ‘Hello, Ottilie. Both bang on time, of course. And of course, we’re not. Fliss is still cooking, so I thoughtI’d better rise up from my sickbed to get the door before she finished the job the heart attack didn’t manage. Come on in. Simon’s already in the sitting room.’
‘How are you doing?’ Ottilie asked as she and Lavender followed him inside.
‘I’m no expert, but I appear to be doing very well,’ Charles said. ‘Or so I’m told, though I confess I don’t feel like someone who’s doing well. I’m exhausted all the time, but I suppose that’s to be expected for a while.’
‘You look well,’ Lavender said.
