at the surgery, no doubt, or their paths would cross in the village, but he would concern himself about that when it happened. And in the meantime there was Fenella, bright, beautiful, anxious to please, yet nobody's doormat.
There were no words to describe how much it would have 'pleased' him to have taken her in his arms and kissed her beautiful mouth that morning in his consulting room, but she'd caught him off guard, still bemused by the news that his ex-fiancée was back on the scene, and he'd known that she'd been hurt and embarrassed by his reaction.
Had he used Sonya's return as an excuse for not taking advantage of the moment? he asked himself. If he had, he was a crazy fool. Sonya meant nothing to him, hadn't for many long years. While Fenella was something else. She brought with her the promise of wonder, of a new begin ning, and the first time she'd made a move he'd shot her down in flames.
She was doing fine in the practice. Watching her with the children who came and went was a pleasure. She was gentle with them and patient. Made them laugh even when an injection or something similarly unpleasant was required. Incredibly it seemed as if she was out to charm him too.
When he'd had his evening meal Max knew that until he'd seen her again and explained what was going on in his life, he wasn't going to settle. He'd tried to talk to her a few times during the day and on each occasion she'd made sure she was too busy. But if he went round to the house on the hill she would have to listen to what he had to say. There would be no patients to see or surgery clinics to assist with. If Ann was at the hospital he would have Fenella to himself.
He groaned as he was about to turn into the lane where she lived. Her mother's car was outside, so either Ann hadn't yet gone to the hospital to see Simon, or she wasn't going. His spirits lifted as his practice manager came out of the house at that moment, got into her car and drove off in the opposite direction.
When he rang the doorbell he heard quick footsteps on the tiled floor on the other side of the door. Then it was flung open and before she'd seen who was there Fenella was asking, 'What have you forgotten?'
'Oh!' she said in surprise. 'I thought it was Mum coming back for something.' Her voice cooled. 'What do you want, Max?'
'A word with you.'
She stepped back reluctantly. 'You'd better come in, then.' When he'd settled himself into an easy chair by the fireplace she went to stand by the window, squirming inwardly as she waited to hear what he had to say.
'I'm sorry about this morning, Fenella,' he said, breaking the silence. 'Only minutes before I'd heard that my ex-fiancée is back in the village. The news brought back a very traumatic part of my life that I'd thought I'd forgotten, and with it came a reminder of the hurts that relationships can bring. All of which was not of your making and I'd like to make amends.'
'Such as?'
'I do want us to get to know each other better and for starters I wondered if you are free tomorrow night.'
Her eyes widened. 'Why do you ask?' she enquired coolly, wondering what was coming next. Max had some cheek if he was going to ask her for a date after the morning's embarrassment.
She was about to discover that he wasn't and as she listened to what he had to say she wondered if he was thinking that there was safety in numbers.
'There is a meeting of the Village Community Society tomorrow night. We're entering the competition for the Village in Bloom prize, which is awarded each year. I've been roped in as secretary. The vicar is chairman, and we're always on the lookout for volunteers. How are you fixed?'
'Meaning what?'
'For coming to the meeting and assisting generally.'
'What would I have to do?'
'We intend to attach hanging baskets to the lampposts on the main street, place large tubs of summer blooms outside every shop, floral displays in windowboxes wherever possible, and encourage everyone to brighten up their
There were no words to describe how much it would have 'pleased' him to have taken her in his arms and kissed her beautiful mouth that morning in his consulting room, but she'd caught him off guard, still bemused by the news that his ex-fiancée was back on the scene, and he'd known that she'd been hurt and embarrassed by his reaction.
Had he used Sonya's return as an excuse for not taking advantage of the moment? he asked himself. If he had, he was a crazy fool. Sonya meant nothing to him, hadn't for many long years. While Fenella was something else. She brought with her the promise of wonder, of a new begin ning, and the first time she'd made a move he'd shot her down in flames.
She was doing fine in the practice. Watching her with the children who came and went was a pleasure. She was gentle with them and patient. Made them laugh even when an injection or something similarly unpleasant was required. Incredibly it seemed as if she was out to charm him too.
When he'd had his evening meal Max knew that until he'd seen her again and explained what was going on in his life, he wasn't going to settle. He'd tried to talk to her a few times during the day and on each occasion she'd made sure she was too busy. But if he went round to the house on the hill she would have to listen to what he had to say. There would be no patients to see or surgery clinics to assist with. If Ann was at the hospital he would have Fenella to himself.
He groaned as he was about to turn into the lane where she lived. Her mother's car was outside, so either Ann hadn't yet gone to the hospital to see Simon, or she wasn't going. His spirits lifted as his practice manager came out of the house at that moment, got into her car and drove off in the opposite direction.
When he rang the doorbell he heard quick footsteps on the tiled floor on the other side of the door. Then it was flung open and before she'd seen who was there Fenella was asking, 'What have you forgotten?'
'Oh!' she said in surprise. 'I thought it was Mum coming back for something.' Her voice cooled. 'What do you want, Max?'
'A word with you.'
She stepped back reluctantly. 'You'd better come in, then.' When he'd settled himself into an easy chair by the fireplace she went to stand by the window, squirming inwardly as she waited to hear what he had to say.
'I'm sorry about this morning, Fenella,' he said, breaking the silence. 'Only minutes before I'd heard that my ex-fiancée is back in the village. The news brought back a very traumatic part of my life that I'd thought I'd forgotten, and with it came a reminder of the hurts that relationships can bring. All of which was not of your making and I'd like to make amends.'
'Such as?'
'I do want us to get to know each other better and for starters I wondered if you are free tomorrow night.'
Her eyes widened. 'Why do you ask?' she enquired coolly, wondering what was coming next. Max had some cheek if he was going to ask her for a date after the morning's embarrassment.
She was about to discover that he wasn't and as she listened to what he had to say she wondered if he was thinking that there was safety in numbers.
'There is a meeting of the Village Community Society tomorrow night. We're entering the competition for the Village in Bloom prize, which is awarded each year. I've been roped in as secretary. The vicar is chairman, and we're always on the lookout for volunteers. How are you fixed?'
'Meaning what?'
'For coming to the meeting and assisting generally.'
'What would I have to do?'
'We intend to attach hanging baskets to the lampposts on the main street, place large tubs of summer blooms outside every shop, floral displays in windowboxes wherever possible, and encourage everyone to brighten up their
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