Doctor Knows Best by Ann Jennings

go to rehearsal tonight, she thought. Not many free nights left before Christmas; the revue starts next week, and then it’s Christmas week. She was off duty for Christmas and was looking forward to snatching a few days with Richard and her mother. She and Richard had planned to drive down to Devon together.
    It was only after she had showered and washed her hair that it suddenly dawned on her that she still hadn’t explained to Giles Elliott the reason for her presence in the Woodpecker the previous night. Oh well, she thought, heaving a sigh of resignation, it doesn’t matter anyway—he’ll be seeing his darling at the weekend!
    The telephone in her room rang, the double ring of an internal call. Probably Susan, thought Megan, picking it up. “Hello,” she said, expecting to hear Susan’s voice.
    â€œIs that you, Megan?” a deep familiar voice came down the line. Megan’s heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be—not Giles Elliott, surely? “Megan?” he said again, a questioning note in his voice.
    â€œYes, it’s me.” Megan’s voice was hesitant. “Who is it speaking?” Although even as she asked she knew.
    â€œIt’s Giles here. I wondered if you were doing anything this evening. Do you have another rehearsal?”
    â€œNo, I don’t,” replied Megan. Then she added, for the sake of something to say, “I’ve just washed my hair.”
    A deep chuckle came down the line. “At least you can’t give me the excuse of saying you’ve got to wash your hair!”
    â€œExcuse?” echoed Megan.
    â€œYes, excuse,” he said firmly. “Is there any other reason you can think of that will prevent us from going out and having a meal together tonight?”
    Megan paused, conflicting thoughts and emotions racing one after the other through her head. “No,” she said finally.
    â€œGood,” he replied. “I’ll pick you up outside the nurses’ block in an hour’s time.” Then the phone clicked. He had put down the receiver without waiting for her reply.
    Megan sat still, transfixed, holding the dead phone in her hand. Half of her was pleased that he still wanted to take her out for a meal, the other half annoyed at his imperious assumption that she would acquiesce!
    However, she scurried round and got herself ready. She chose one of the dresses she liked best, a jade green woollen dress that clung to the youthful curves of her slim figure and swirled out in graceful folds from the hips. The colour suited her delicate colouring and brought out the hint of red in her dark tresses. Brushing her hair vigorously she wondered whether to wear it down loose or whether she ought to put it up in a chignon. Deciding that a chignon would be more elegant and make her look more sophisticated, she carefully pinned it up.
    Putting on her one and only winter coat, a dark brown velvet, Megan picked up her handbag and gloves and left the flat.
    She was ready and waiting on the pavement of the perimeter road when Giles’ car drew up smoothly beside her. “I hope you haven’t been waiting out here in the cold long,” he remarked, opening the door for her.
    â€œNo, I’ve only just come out,” replied Megan, suddenly feeling shy and self-conscious in his presence.
    He laughed. “I think you are too polite. You would have said that even if you had been standing in that freezing wind for ten minutes,” he said.
    â€œThat’s where you are wrong,” retorted Megan. “I should have waited five minutes, then I would have gone back inside.” She thought for a moment; now seemed a good opportunity to explain her apparent rudeness the night before. She cleared her throat in embarrassment. “I know you think I didn’t have a rehearsal last night, even though I said I did because…”
    â€œThe rehearsal finished early and you went to the pub,” he