Page 85 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘Oh, he was lovely,’ Ann gushed. ‘So kind to me, and Darryl really took to him. That’s rare enough as it is – he doesn’t say much, my Darryl, but he’s a very good judge of character. If he likes you, chances are you’re a good one.’
Everyone had only good things to say about Simon, apart from Heath. He hadn’t said anything bad, but he hadn’t said anything good either, and it was obvious he had thoughts he wasn’t about to share with Ottilie because he knew she’d disapprove. Everyone wanted to know what Simon’s story was too – and Ottilie was reminded of the secrets she kept for him once again when Corrine aired her curiosity.
‘I know he lives here alone, but I wonder if he’s ever been married,’ she mused as she watched him talk to Mackenzie. ‘Must have been – a man like that would have been snapped up by now. Very good with children too, by the looks of it. Do you think he has any? I bet you know, don’t you, Ottilie? As you work with him, you must know.’
Ottilie paused to choose her words carefully. ‘There’s no wife and no children,’ she said slowly. ‘But I think it’s best if people leave that subject alone.’
All three of them turned to her now, and there was no mistaking their intense interest.
‘Please,’ Ottilie said, knowing she was probably appealing to the three most sensible and considerate souls in the room, ‘don’t ask me any more about it and please don’t bring it up with him.’
Corrine nodded, some kind of understanding seeming to dawn on her. ‘Of course.’ She glanced over again. ‘Poor man,’ she murmured, and although Victor seemed confused by her statement, he didn’t ask. They’d have plenty of time to speculate together later, and Ottilie didn’t doubt for a minute they’d be doing that once they got home. She was certain that they would come to a conclusion reasonably close to the truth of the situation – that Simon had somehow lost his family in tragic circumstances – and as long as she could be confident she’d kept her secrets about it then she was fine with them working it out for themselves.
Ottilie gave a knowing smile as she noticed Fliss corner Chloe at the drinks table. Poor Chloe looked shell-shocked. It was probably the longest social conversation she’d ever had with Fliss, and as Fliss was already tipsy, Ottilie thought she might like to be a fly on the wall for it. Chloe looked as if she wanted nothing more than to run away, but Fliss appeared determined to keep her to finish whatever it was she was telling, or asking, or whatever she was doing.
‘Dr Cheadle seems happy to have the new fella on board,’ Victor said.
‘I think it suits them both,’ Ottilie said. ‘The timing for him arriving back in England couldn’t have been better – he says so himself.’
‘Ah yes, that’s right. Africa, wasn’t it?’ Victor sipped at his beer.
‘Yes, he…’
Ottilie’s sentence tailed off again. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. But she’d noticed Simon give Mackenzie to Stacey and make his way over to Flo and Heath. Presumably he was making an effort to get to each guest and have a quick word – as any good host would do. But knowing how they’d both been gossiping about him moments before she wasn’t entirely sure she trusted either of them to stay as tactful as they ought to be.
‘I won’t be a minute,’ she said vaguely, already beginning to walk away. ‘Just got to see Heath…’
Victor replied, but Ottilie didn’t catch it. She’d go back to them later and make it right, but for some reason she couldn’t put her finger on, she felt as if she had to intervene in the conversation that was about to take place across the room, if only to make sure Flo and Heath behaved. Somewhere in the back of her mind was the notion that she shouldn’t have to do this for two grown adults, and perhaps she was overreacting, but it didn’t stop her from going over anyway.
‘We were just talking about you…’ Simon greeted as she looped her arm into the crook of Heath’s and offered them all a smile that was far breezier than she felt.
‘Oh? I hope it was to say how amazing I am.’
‘Actually, it was,’ Simon said with a fond smile that made her heart sink.
She glanced up at Heath. Why was this so stressful? Surely there was no need for her to feel this way?
‘I was saying,’ he continued, ‘how dedicated you are and how much the patients love you and how you’ve been so welcoming to me.’
‘Oh.’ Ottilie wafted away the compliment. ‘It’s only what anyone would do.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong,’ Simon said. ‘I’ve done short-term stints at a few other places since I got back to England and I’ve never enjoyed them like I’ve enjoyed being at Thimblebury surgery. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to take on a permanent position with them, even though I’d been looking for one. It’s great here. I hope I’m here for a long time.’
‘We do too,’ Ottilie said firmly.
‘Where did you say you came back to England from?’ Heath asked.
‘Botswana.’
‘I bet that was different.’
‘It was, but I enjoyed my time there.’
‘You were working as a doctor? Was it good pay? Better than here?’
Simon laughed. ‘The pay was non-existent. God, if I’d done it for that, then I’d have realised what a huge mistake I’d made after the first week and come home.’
‘You were there a long time then?’
