Page 10 of Only You

Olivia’s childcare was why Andrew moved jobs and city over a year ago. Working in the north had been difficult, especially when Olivia had started school. Breakfast clubs and after-school clubs were finite in the time, they looked after their charges. Problematic when, as a surgeon, Andrew’s job had no distinct hours. If he was in surgery, he could not very well get up and leave a patient on the operating table to collect his daughter from school.

When Olivia was little, he employed an experienced nanny. Nanny Bea had been the perfect nanny. Olivia’s birth mother had abandoned them both after her birth, leaving Andrew to raise their daughter alone. Nanny Bea had stepped in and helped Andrew as a new father, who had still been in the middle of his speciality training as a cardiologist and out of his depth. For five years, Bea had been a mother figure to Olivia, but when her husband had a heart attack, she took stock of their life and made the hard choice to leave her job and nurse her husband.

Olivia had been inconsolable. But fate had stepped in, and the perfect position had arisen in London. A position that had seen Andrew and Olivia move nearer to his parents. His mum and dad had been ecstatic, volunteering to look after their only granddaughter while he was working. Disaster averted, Andrew had jumped all over it, uprooting their lives and moving them there. Until recently, it had been perfect. He had peace of mind when he was working, as he knew Olivia was safe with his parents and being well cared for. He could do his job, and Olivia was happy. Or at least she had been until now.

“So, what are you going to do?” Suzie pulled him back into the present.

“Honestly... I don’t know.”

Andrew sighed, looking at the clock. His next patient was due, so he needed to get his head in the game. He had four weeks to sort out the mess. He had holiday allowance due, so if he needed to, he would take annual leave and look after Olivia himself.

Suzie got up, leant over the desk, and patted his arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll have a think and see what I can come up with. We have time.”

Thewein her statement made Andrew feel less alone. Suzie had become more than a secretary. She was his friend. He had to remember to give her a large Christmas bonus.

∞∞∞

Andrew gave a sigh of relief as his last patient of the morning left. They had all been follow-ups who were recovering well, so his mood had lifted. He loved success stories.

Grabbing his mobile from his top drawer, Andrew glanced down. A message from his best friend flashed up on the screen.

JOHN:Still on for dinner this evening?

John Hammond, his childhood best friend, and oldest partner in crime. They had even gone to university together, although John had studied finance, not medicine. He had been Andrew’s best man at his wedding and was Olivia’s godfather. He was happily married with three children. They had been together through good times and the bad.

Dinner was another thing Andrew had forgotten. He remembered they had organised a meal out a few weeks back. His parents had Olivia tonight, as he was due at the television studio by five thirty in the morning, ready for makeup. Olivia stayed over, so his parents could do the Wednesday morning school run. Andrew groaned at the thought. His early morning television role was going to be another problem.

ANDREW:You’re on. See you at seven-thirty.

JOHN:Make sure you’ve showered!

Andrew smiled. John had never understood how his friend could work with blood and bodily fluids.

Chapter Six

Ana

Ana stood on the pavement outside Mount Crystals and stared, wide-eyed, at the frontage. A vast difference from Randy’s rundown Bar and Grill. The frontage and pavement were clean, the paintwork immaculate, unlike the peeling paint and rotting timber that had fronted Randy’s. Ana still had to pinch herself that she was there, and it wasn’t a dream.

Once George had told her about the position, she gave Ana her uncle’s number and told her to call him. Ana had held her breath as she dialled the number, unable to believe that life might, at last, be taking a turn for the better. When George’s Uncle Robin—Robin Downsend—answered, he had been friendly and put Ana at ease. They had spoken at length, and he had invited her for a trial that evening. Ana had jumped at the chance. They would provide her with a uniform, but she needed to be there at six-thirty. They offered almost double the pay from Randy’s and shared tips equally. Ana had nearly fallen off her chair when Robin had told her what she might expect in her pay packet.

Ana shook out her arms before stretching her neck from side to side and breathing deeply. She knew her traits were standoffish and prickly. Years of looking in from the outside, both at school and home, had taken their toll. But that night, she needed to beamiable Anaand channel the few hours she had spent in Millie and George’s company that afternoon. Who knew she’d appreciate the company of others? Maybe her time in London wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.

Ana gathered her courage and entered.

Her eyes were instantly drawn to the art déco bar that spanned one side of the restaurant and the kitchen entrance. The place was a hive of activity. Bartenders were busy polishing glasses while others were restocking the fridges. The opposite wall housed private dining booths, beautiful artwork hung above on darkened walls while ambient lighting gave off a calm, welcoming vibe. Each round table was made up perfectly on top of crisp, white tablecloths. The restaurant’s centre was awash with individual tables of varying sizes, each positioned far enough apart that guests were extended their privacy. The whole restaurant resonated with class and sophistication, the atmosphere so calming, Ana felt her nerves begin to drop away.

A man rushed forward.

“Welcome, you must be Ana. Mr Downsend told me to expect you. I’m Thomas, the maitre d’ of Mount Crystals. Please follow me, and I’ll introduce you to the team and get you your uniform.”

His smile was welcoming and soon Ana found herself quickly drowning in a sea of names and new faces.

“Don’t panic,” Thomas said, laughing. Ana knew her expression must be one of total panic. “No one expects you to remember their names, but we are a welcoming crowd.”

Thomas ushered her into the staffroom. She had already given her clothes size when she had spoken to Robin on the phone, so she shouldn’t have been surprised when a set of pressed trousers and a black, logo-embossed shirt were waiting for her.

“I’ll pass you over to Julie,” Thomas said. “You’ll be working alongside her this evening. She will show you the ropes. Good luck.”

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