Page 76 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘Oh, they’re all good.’
‘And how are you?’ Ottilie added in a more significant tone.
‘Never better.’ Corrine’s smile was broad and full of genuine gratitude.
‘That’s good.’
‘How’s everything with you?’ Corrine asked. ‘How’s that man of yours?’
‘Oh, you know… lovely.’
‘You seem to be a magnet for lovely men,’ Ann said, offering her a freshly filled mug. ‘I hear the new doctor moved in yesterday.’
‘He did,’ Ottilie said.
‘I’m so glad he’s staying.’ Ann sat down at the table and ruffled an oblivious Darryl’s hair. ‘He’s been brilliant with us. Everyone likes him.’
‘I wonder if they’d have liked him quite so much if he’d been taking over from Dr Cheadle and not just going into partnership with her,’ Ottilie said, and all three of the women laughed lightly.
‘True enough,’ Corrine said. ‘Nobody much cares for change around here. I remember the fuss they made when you took over from Gwen.’
‘So do I!’ Ottilie said with such conviction that Corrine laughed again.
‘Is the new doctor married?’ she asked after it had died down. ‘I hear he’s moved into Charles’s old place alone – is that right?’
‘Yes. Not married, and before you ask, because I know you will, he doesn’t have any children either.’
‘There’s a surprise, a lovely man like him on his own. I wonder what happened.’
Ottilie wished people wouldn’t wonder – at least not out loud to her. She loved Corrine dearly and she recognised that neither Corrine nor Ann were gossips, but still, she knew things about Simon that she felt she ought to share out of friendship for them, even though her friendship with him deserved her discretion. She half wished she didn’t know and then she wouldn’t feel the burden of the secret in the way she felt it now. She wondered if he’d told Stacey yet. They’d seemed to be getting on well, and even as Ottilie spent a few hours with them the previous night it seemed to her they were getting closer, right before her eyes.
Corrine shot a shrewd look at Ottilie and then smiled brightly at Ann. ‘None of our business, though. I suppose if he wants people to know then we’ll know in good time.’
‘True enough,’ Ann agreed. She turned to Ottilie. ‘Now then – bacon sandwich this morning? There’s plenty to spare.’
‘That sounds amazing. I ought to be a bit more restrained, though. You might start to think I only turn up here to get my breakfast cooked for me.’
Ann laughed. ‘Heck of a trek up this hill to get a sandwich! But even if you did, I’d never complain. There’s nobody save my Darryl I’d rather cook for.’
‘That reminds me,’ Corrine said. ‘Ottilie, are you down for the community kitchen this week?’
‘I think so. Thursday night, if memory serves me. Why?’
‘I thought I might lend a hand and it’d be nice to do the same time as you. Give us a chance to catch up. We don’t see you so much these days.’
‘Too busy being in love,’ Ann said.
Ottilie forced a smile. She was in love all right, but she couldn’t say the same about Heath. He still hadn’t actually said the words, and after their argument the night before she had to wonder if he even felt them in the way she’d hoped and believed he did.
‘I’m sorry, I’ve been so busy time keeps getting away from me. Before I know it, a new week has started and ended, and I’ve done nothing I meant to do with it. I’ll make an effort to come up to the farm and see you and Victor this week, I promise. But if you still want to help out at the kitchen I’m sure Janet would be grateful.’
‘I’ll give her a tinkle later,’ Corrine said. ‘Wouldn’t be a bad thing to cook for someone other than Victor once in a while.’
‘Don’t let Victor hear you say that.’ Ann wrapped Ottilie’s sandwich in some greaseproof paper and put it on the table in front of her.
‘Thank you,’ Ottilie said. She looked at Darryl. ‘Everything all right this morning, Darryl?’ she asked. ‘Insulin done?’
He glanced up and nodded once, and then went back to his books again.
