Page 32 of Stranded with the Surgeon
‘Such a shame he hasn’t married again. If anyone needs a family, that young man does.’
‘Well, he didn’t choose very wisely, did he? There’s plenty of nice local girls who would jump at the chance.’
Jennifer was given a curious glance and one of the women smiled, but neither said anything to her. They were still absorbed in their own interchange.
‘Maybe he’s too like his mother.’ The words faded as the women headed for what was presumably Guy’s room down the corridor. ‘He wants what he can’t have.’
The arrival of the two women seemed to have prompted an earlier group to finish their visit. Four middle-aged men and women came out of the room. Had Guy been having an endless stream of well-wishers? Had that prevented him from finding the time to visit her perhaps? More likely being enfolded into the concern of his community had highlighted how different she was. She didn’t fit into his life and never would, so breaking any bond they had formed in their time together was inevitable. The timing of that break should not be of any great significance.
This group also paused near the stairwell as they put on extra clothing before heading out into the chill of an early October evening.
‘Was that her?’ someone asked in a stage whisper.
‘That hot-shot professor from Auckland?’
‘Yes. I recognise her from the papers.’
‘I hear it was her fault the flight plan wasn’t logged,’ a man said.
‘Yeah. Apparently Digger would have made it if they’d found him a bit quicker.’
Jennifer gritted her teeth. Going to the funeral was definitely not a good idea. Did Guy blame her as well? Wasthatwhy he was ignoring her?
‘She reminds me of someone.’ One of the women was pulling a woollen hat over her short brown hair.
‘Yeah,’ her partner agreed. ‘Shannon.’
Who was Shannon? Jennifer wondered. The woman he’d married? Had Guy made love to her because she reminded him of hisex-wife? Embarrassment could turn into anger with surprising ease. Jennifer felt used. A snatch of the previous conversation she’d overheard returned. Guy was too like his mother. He wanted what he couldn’t have. His ex-wife, maybe.
‘Not really to look at.’ The group was finally moving away, thank goodness, but their voices floated up the stairwell to Jennifer’s now straining ears. ‘Though I suppose they’re both blonde.’
‘More a type,’ someone else suggested.
‘Yeah.’ The male voice sounded appreciative. ‘Flashy.’
‘Let’s just hope Guy didn’t fall forher.’ The faint female voice still managed to sound distinctly possessive.
Someone else clearly agreed. ‘We can do without that kind of trouble again.’
Jennifer struggled to her feet.No worries, she was tempted to shout after the group. She had no intention of trying to get any kind of foothold in Guy Knight’s life. He was welcome to his mountains and his protective, insular and probably ignorant community.
Jennifer couldn’t wait to get away.
Back to her real life. And the sooner the better.
* * *
‘Are you sure about this?’ Hugh Patterson was frowning. ‘You’re still going to need a lot of rest. I don’t want you trying to get back to work for at least a week. Preferably ten days.’
‘I’ll be far happier when I get home,’ Jennifer assured the doctor. ‘I’ll rest, I promise. And I won’t try going back to work too soon.’
‘Too soon’ was a nicely elastic term. Jennifer had every intention of getting back into a familiar routine as soon as she possibly could. She could get a lightweight cast put on her arm in a day or two, and she should be able to function in some kind of useful capacity after that.
‘Okay then.’ Hugh was smiling. ‘I’ll sort out the discharge paperwork first thing in the morning. When would you like a flight booked?’
‘What’s the first flight out tomorrow?’
Hugh shook his head, but he was still smiling. ‘Maybe I’d better do that paperwork before I go home tonight.’
