A Proposal to Remember

‘So why are we late?’

Anna glanced at them fondly as she pulled up outside the termi

nal building. Since her own parents had died, Elizabeth and David had stepped into the role. And why not? David had been at medical school with her father. They’d worked together for all those years and she’d taken over her father’s role in the practice when he’d been forced to retire because of ill health. It was hardly surprising that the McKennas regarded her as a daughter.

Suddenly filled with an awful feeling that her whole life was about to change, and hating the thought, Anna switched off the engine and turned towards them. ‘I want you to be careful,’ she said urgently, undoing her seat-belt and reaching across to hug David. ‘I want you to rest and take it easy. I couldn’t bear it if anything—’ She broke off, a lump in her throat, and David hugged her back, as understanding as ever.

‘Nothing’s going to happen to me, Anna, so stop worrying,’ he said gruffly, stroking her long, dark hair with an affectionate hand. ‘It was just a nasty dose of pneumonia brought on by mixing with too many ill patients! I’m recovering well and I’m intending to see my grandchildren grow up.’

Anna sniffed and then gave him a shove. ‘You’re definitely getting senile. I keep telling you, you haven’t got any grandchildren.’

‘Yet.’ Over the top of her head, David winked at his wife. ‘Gather your belongings, woman. Time to get this show on the road.’

Anna pulled away from him, feeling as though something momentous was happening. Suddenly she really, really didn’t want them to go. Which was utterly ridiculous, she told herself firmly, since this whole sabbatical idea had been her brainchild.

What was the matter with her?

She wasn’t the sentimental sort. She was practical and efficient and she really tried not to let emotions get in the way. David and Elizabeth needed a break and it was great that they were finally having one. She should be delighted. It was just the last few months, she decided, stepping out of the car and walking round to retrieve the luggage from the boot. She’d been working too hard. Not having enough time off.

Suddenly she envied David, taking a long break.

She tugged one of the cases from the boot, the reality of her life looming large in her brain. ‘David, you still haven’t told me about this locum and I—’

‘Oh, no!’ David peered into the boot and pulled a face. ‘Don’t say we forgot the green case. Elizabeth, did you remember to bring the green case from the bedroom?’

‘It’s here.’ Anna shifted the luggage. ‘Under the blue one.’

She dragged it out and added it to the pile on the pavement.

‘Thank goodness for that. It contains all my reading matter.’ David rummaged in his pocket for his glasses. ‘All right, now, have we got everything? Tickets, passports, money—’

Anna tried again. ‘About this locum—’

‘Surgery door keys? Did we give Anna the spare set?’ Elizabeth fussed in her handbag and Anna realised with a mixture of frustration and affection that neither of them was taking the slightest bit of notice of her. They were already on holiday. Far away from life in a Cornish fishing village. Far away from her and the practice.

David patted his other pocket and smiled. ‘I left the spares on the kitchen table. Now, we really need to dash.’ He leaned forward and kissed Anna on the cheek. ‘No need to come in with us. It was wonderful of you to bring us this far. I hate goodbyes and you have to get back to the needy.’

He waved a hand at a porter, who immediately brought a trolley and loaded the bags.

It was only after the glass doors of the terminal building had closed behind them that Anna realised that he’d left without answering her question about the locum.

She gave a sigh of exasperation and settled herself back in the car, ready for the long drive back to Cornwall. She knew nothing about the doctor David had appointed to cover his absence, except that it was a man. But perhaps it didn’t matter. She didn’t really need to know the details. Just that he was going to turn up.

Knowing that the summer holidays were almost upon them, Anna just hoped he liked hard work. Because he was going to get it in spades.

‘Do you think she’s guessed?’ From inside the privacy of the terminal building, David watched Anna’s little car pull away. ‘She kept asking and I kept evading the question. Now she thinks I’m going senile.’

‘She was joking. If she’d guessed then we wouldn’t be standing here now,’ Elizabeth said calmly. ‘You know what our Anna is like when she loses her temper. We’d be lying in pieces on the pavement and the fire brigade would be on their way.’

David rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and cast her a dubious look. ‘I hope we’ve done the right thing. Just because you and Anna’s mother always had this thing about our children marrying each other…’

‘You and Philip had the same dream,’ Elizabeth reminded him firmly, ‘and don’t think Susan and I didn’t know it. You wanted to hand the practice over to the two of them. You still do.’

Her husband shot her an impatient look. ‘Well, of course I do. It would be perfect. The only thing that isn’t perfect is that they can’t stand the sight of one another. I have to admit that, much as I would like this whole plan to work, I can’t see how it is going to.’

Elizabeth delved into her handbag for a mirror. ‘They’re both strong characters. Neither would want an insipid partner for the journey through life. They suit each other. It’s just that they’re both too stubborn and blind to see it themselves and that’s just because they’ve never been forced to spend time together. Hopefully, by the time we return, they’ll have discovered that they can’t live without each other.’

David pulled a face. ‘They might kill each other first.’