Summer Fling

Having been away for a month, it was bound to take her a little while to get back into the swing of island life.

‘How’s it been going with Amy Foster?’ She turned back to her sandwich-making. With a minimum of fuss she buttered bread, layered the ham, added a dab of mustard and handed him the sandwich. ‘She seems sweet with Kirsty. Is it working out, her helping you out?’

‘I’ve no problem with the way she cares for Kirsty.’ Logan bit into the sandwich, wondering how she’d managed to make something so delicious from the limited contents of his fridge.

‘But you have a problem with something else?’ Evanna sat down opposite him and Logan gave a weary smile.

‘Only the usual. She’s obviously one of the many people who think that I should get married again. Soon. Preferably to her.’

Evanna cut her sandwich in two. ‘Oh, dear.’

‘I’m a widower.’ Logan rubbed a hand over his brow and then gave a bitter laugh. ‘Do you have any idea how much I hate that word? It sounds so pathetic.’

‘Pathetic?’ Evanna frowned and put the knife down. ‘You’re the strongest man I know, Logan. And it’s natural that women are going to fall for you.’

‘Why?’ It didn’t make sense to him. ‘Because I’m single and well off with a child who needs mothering?’

She stared at him for a moment and he had a strong feeling that she was about to say something. Then she blushed slightly and lifted her sandwich. ‘I’ve no idea why.’

‘Well, of course you haven’t.’ He laughed. ‘That’s why we’re such good friends. In fact, I think you’re the only woman on this island, apart from my sister and cousins, who hasn’t made a pass at me in the last year. Our relationship is wonderfully platonic. Perhaps what I really need is a male nanny. Anyway, I’ve tactfully firedAmy. I told her that you were back from the mainland and that I wouldn’t need the help any more. One of the cousins is going to look after her during the day when Meg is busy at the café, but I worry about Kirsty having so many different carers.’

Evanna nibbled at her sandwich. ‘They’re mostly family,’ she muttered, apparently absorbed by what was on her plate. ‘Kirsty will be fine.’

‘You’re not eating much.’

She put the remains of her sandwich down and stood up. ‘I’m not that hungry. I’ll clear up here and get back to the surgery because I still have some paperwork to catch up on before the immunisation clinic this afternoon.’

‘You’ve had less than half an hour.’ He frowned at her. ‘I know we’re busy but don’t overdo the work, Evanna.’

‘It’s fine. I’m fine.’ She gave a quick smile and backed towards the door.

If he hadn’t known better, he would have said that she was anxious to get away from him and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with her.

Pushing away thoughts of that entirely disturbing conversation over lunch, Evanna tried to concentrate on her work.

Her first patient of the afternoon was Sonia, who was thirty-four weeks pregnant. Evanna noticed that she looked hot and bothered. ‘How have you been?’

‘All right.’ Sonia sank into the chair and rubbed a hand over her swollen abdomen. ‘I wish it wasn’t so hot. This is Glenmore. We don’t normally have heat waves. Suddenly I’m longing for a good old storm to clear the air. I brought you a sample. I assume you wanted one?’

Evanna nodded and took the sample. ‘I’ll just test this quickly and then check your blood pressure.’ She used a dipstick and checked that there was no protein in the sample. Then she checked Sonia’s blood pressure. ‘That’s a bit on the high side, Sonia. Why don’t you lie down on the couch and I’ll feel the baby and then I’ll check it again.’

She skilfully palpated Sonia’s bump, feeling the lie of the baby, and then she used her tape measure to check the size. ‘Well, that’s all as it should be.’

‘Apart from the blood pressure.’

‘I’m going to try that again now that you’ve sat down for a few minutes.’

Sonia watched anxiously while she checked it. ‘Well?’

‘It’s still a bit high, Sonia.’ Evanna recorded the result. ‘I’m going to mention it to Dr MacNeil and I’ll pop round to your house on my way home and check it again.’

‘Will it be different in my home?’ Sonia sat up and wriggled off the trolley.

‘It might be.’

Sonia bit her lip. ‘Will I have to go to the hospital?’

‘I hope not. We certainly need to keep an eye on that blood pressure but there’s nothing to worry about so far. Are you feeling plenty of movements?’