help and support as he could. So maybe she would at least talk to him about the possible treatments. ‘I might know someone who can give me some more information about exactly what to expect and if there are any other alternatives to surgery,’ he said.
‘Really?’
‘I can’t make any promises, but I’ll have a word with her and see what I can find out. But in the meantime, let’s try a different drug to see if that helps.’ Sometimes antidepressants worked where anticonvulsants didn’t. He sorted out a prescription and talked her through the medication change. ‘We’ll need to reduce the dose of your other prescription gradually—if you stop taking it all at once, you’re likely to get some nasty side effects.’ He wrote down the doses she needed to take for the next week. ‘Come and see me this time next week so I can see how you’re doing, but give me a ring if it gets any worse.’ He flicked into the computer to schedule another appointment, and wrote it down for her. ‘I’ll refer you to the neurology department as well, because we might as well get the ball rolling—I don’t want you to have to wait in pain any longer than you have to.’
‘Thank you, Dr Ashby. I’m so sorry to make a fuss.’
‘You’re not making a fuss at all. This kind of pain’s pretty nasty and you’re doing really well to cope with it as long as you have. I’ll do my best to help you beat this,’ he said softly, and her eyes filled with tears. He reached over to squeeze her hand. ‘Try not to worry.’ And he’d talk to Amy tonight.
About his patient.
And the other problem they needed to sort out.
Tom clearly went straight from his surgery to doing house calls and then the school run, Amy thought, because she didn’t see him again until half-past three. She’d just made herself a mug of coffee when Perdy ran into the kitchen, positively glowing, and gave her a huge hug. ‘Thank you for making cupcakes with me, Amy. Everyone said they were really scrummy! And Alexis has invited me to tea on Wednesday. Can I ask her to tea here on Thursday, please?’
‘Better ask your dad. It’s his decision.’
‘If he says yes, can we make some more cakes?’
So much for not getting involved. Faced with Perdy’s earnest, shy smile and seeing the little girl begin to blossom…how could she say no? Amy smiled back at her. ‘Sure we can.’
She glanced at Tom; his expression was slightly dazed, and then she realised where he was looking.
At her mouth.
Was he remembering that kiss this morning?
The thought of it still made her blood heat and desire coil in her belly. And she really hoped she wasn’t blushing. ‘Tom, what do you think about Amy having her friend over on Thursday? It’s my turn to cook, but I don’t mind if it’s OK with you. As long as I know what Alexis does and doesn’t like to eat, that is.’
‘Sure.’ He still didn’t look particularly with it. ‘Um, can I have a quick word with you a bit later?’
‘No problem,’ she said, trying to sound casual, but her heart rate had speeded up.
She knew exactly what he was going to talk to her about.
That kiss.
In London, maybe she would’ve suggested having a mad affair to get it out of their systems. But here it was different; it was a small community, where people noticed what was going on, and Tom had Perdy to think about. So, however strong the attraction between them, they couldn’t act on it.
She’d just have to keep taking cold showers and reminding herself that she didn’t need the added complication of a love life—she was meant to be using this time to think about her future and what she wanted to do.
Chapter Five
A FTER Tom had checked that Perdy was settled in bed and kissed her goodnight, he headed downstairs. He could hear a piano playing softly; he followed the sound to discover Amy reading in the conservatory with the stereo on.
‘I like this. What is it?’ he asked.
‘Einaudi. I love the simplicity and
‘Really?’
‘I can’t make any promises, but I’ll have a word with her and see what I can find out. But in the meantime, let’s try a different drug to see if that helps.’ Sometimes antidepressants worked where anticonvulsants didn’t. He sorted out a prescription and talked her through the medication change. ‘We’ll need to reduce the dose of your other prescription gradually—if you stop taking it all at once, you’re likely to get some nasty side effects.’ He wrote down the doses she needed to take for the next week. ‘Come and see me this time next week so I can see how you’re doing, but give me a ring if it gets any worse.’ He flicked into the computer to schedule another appointment, and wrote it down for her. ‘I’ll refer you to the neurology department as well, because we might as well get the ball rolling—I don’t want you to have to wait in pain any longer than you have to.’
‘Thank you, Dr Ashby. I’m so sorry to make a fuss.’
‘You’re not making a fuss at all. This kind of pain’s pretty nasty and you’re doing really well to cope with it as long as you have. I’ll do my best to help you beat this,’ he said softly, and her eyes filled with tears. He reached over to squeeze her hand. ‘Try not to worry.’ And he’d talk to Amy tonight.
About his patient.
And the other problem they needed to sort out.
Tom clearly went straight from his surgery to doing house calls and then the school run, Amy thought, because she didn’t see him again until half-past three. She’d just made herself a mug of coffee when Perdy ran into the kitchen, positively glowing, and gave her a huge hug. ‘Thank you for making cupcakes with me, Amy. Everyone said they were really scrummy! And Alexis has invited me to tea on Wednesday. Can I ask her to tea here on Thursday, please?’
‘Better ask your dad. It’s his decision.’
‘If he says yes, can we make some more cakes?’
So much for not getting involved. Faced with Perdy’s earnest, shy smile and seeing the little girl begin to blossom…how could she say no? Amy smiled back at her. ‘Sure we can.’
She glanced at Tom; his expression was slightly dazed, and then she realised where he was looking.
At her mouth.
Was he remembering that kiss this morning?
The thought of it still made her blood heat and desire coil in her belly. And she really hoped she wasn’t blushing. ‘Tom, what do you think about Amy having her friend over on Thursday? It’s my turn to cook, but I don’t mind if it’s OK with you. As long as I know what Alexis does and doesn’t like to eat, that is.’
‘Sure.’ He still didn’t look particularly with it. ‘Um, can I have a quick word with you a bit later?’
‘No problem,’ she said, trying to sound casual, but her heart rate had speeded up.
She knew exactly what he was going to talk to her about.
That kiss.
In London, maybe she would’ve suggested having a mad affair to get it out of their systems. But here it was different; it was a small community, where people noticed what was going on, and Tom had Perdy to think about. So, however strong the attraction between them, they couldn’t act on it.
She’d just have to keep taking cold showers and reminding herself that she didn’t need the added complication of a love life—she was meant to be using this time to think about her future and what she wanted to do.
Chapter Five
A FTER Tom had checked that Perdy was settled in bed and kissed her goodnight, he headed downstairs. He could hear a piano playing softly; he followed the sound to discover Amy reading in the conservatory with the stereo on.
‘I like this. What is it?’ he asked.
‘Einaudi. I love the simplicity and
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