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She took a deep breath and sat down on the chair next to him. ‘I talked to her,’ he said quietly.
‘That’s it?’ She couldn’t hide how taken aback she felt.
‘And I listened,’ he added.
‘But her questionnaire...’ she began.
He held up his hand. ‘Her questionnaire is just a little bit of her. It’s a snapshot in time. I listened. I listened to how she was feeling and talked to her and let her know that some of this is normal for a new mum. She’s beyond tired. She hasn’t had a full night’s sleep in two years. How do you think that would impact on anyone’s mental health?’
‘But you let her leave...’ Her voice trailed off, as her mind jumped ahead.
‘I let her leave with an assurance of some support systems in place. While she was here, she phoned her sister and asked her to take the kids overnight. She’s coming back to see me again tomorrow and we’ll talk again.’
‘Oh.’ Kristie sagged into the chair a little. Her stomach still churned.
There was so much here that was tumbling around in her brain. She knew that most of the thoughts she was having weren’t rational—they were all tinged by her own experience. That desperate sense of panic.
She took a few breaths and tried to put her counselling head on. The one she used three nights a month. Rhuaridh had taken time to talk to the mother and acknowledge her feelings—usually the single most important act someone could do. Then he’d arranged follow up and support. Just like she would hope and expect from a health professional.
Rhuaridh leaned forward and put his hand over hers. ‘Kristie, is everything all right?’
And for the first time in her life she wasn’t quite sure how to answer. Should she tell him? Should she let him know she worked as a counsellor and what she’d been through herself?
Her mouth was dry. He was looking at her with those bright blue eyes—staring right at her as though he could see right down to her very soul. To all the things she kept locked away tight. Part of her wanted to tell him. Part of her wanted to share.
But something was stopping her. Something wouldn’t let her open her mouth and say those words. So before she could think about it any longer, she got up and rushed out.
CHAPTER FIVE
September
‘YOU’VE NEVER WATCHED?’
Rhuaridh shook his head as Magda cradled baby Alice. She gave him a curious smile. ‘I can’t believe it. You should. I have to admit, I’m almost a little jealous.’
‘Of what?’
He was drinking a large cup of coffee while he compared a few notes with her on a few of their chronically ill patients. On Arran, a doctor would never really be off duty, and Magda was far too nosy not to want to discuss some of their long-term cases.
‘Of you.’ She waved one hand while she fixed her gaze back on her fair-haired daughter while she screwed up her nose and gave a sigh. ‘But no. If I’d been in the show that wouldn’t have worked anyway.’
Rhuaridh put down his cup and held out his hands. ‘Give me my goddaughter and tell me what on earth you’re talking about.’
Magda stood up and put Alice into his arms, before settling back and putting her feet up on the sofa. ‘It’s all about the chemistry.’
‘Chemistry? I thought you didn’t like chemistry. You always complained about it when we were students.’
She shook her head and looked at him as if he was completely dumb. ‘Not school chemistry. Chemistry. You know...between a man and a woman. Phew! If I need to teach you about the birds and bees I’m going to question whether you should be working as a doctor.’
He shifted in the chair, realising where this was going to go. He shook his head and Alice wrinkled her face. He stopped moving. He knew who was in charge here.
He spoke quietly. ‘I’ve no interest in watching myself on TV. I know everything that’s happened—not all of which I’m entirely proud of.’
She gave a sigh. ‘You know. They edit things. And they’ve edited the show for the drama. To be honest, I’m surprised we’ve not got women heading to Arran by the boatload.’ She raised one eyebrow. ‘They always seem to catch your good side.’
‘Do I have a bad side?’ he teased.
But it was almost as if Magda was still talking to herself. ‘Then again, most of the women would know they wouldn’t get a look in. The chemistry between you and Kristie...’ she kissed her fingertips then flicked out her fingers ‘...is just off the scale.’ She gave him a smile. ‘You’re doing so much better than the others in the show. I can’t even watch the country and western singer. And the astronaut is possibly the most arrogant person on and off the planet.’
His mind was spinning. Was everyone who was watching thinking the same thing about him and Kristie? He felt like some teenage boy under scrutiny. He hadn’t even really worked out what was going on between them.
He liked her. He knew he liked her. But anything more just seemed...ridiculous.
But was it?
Alice made a little noise in his arms. Magda closed her eyes. ‘She didn’t sleep a wink last night.’
‘Didn’t she?’
Rhuaridh looked around and glimpsed the pram near the doorway. ‘Do you want me to take her for a walk? Mac is mooching around outside anyway. I was planning on taking him for a walk.’
‘Would you?’ As she said the words she snuggled down further into the sofa. ‘Just an hour would be great.’
Rhuaridh smiled and settled Alice into the pram, closing the door as quietly as he could behind him.
Mac gave him a look. Rhuaridh wagged his finger. ‘Don’t get jealous, old one. Just get in line. We’ve got a new boss now.’
‘Really?’
Rhuaridh nearly jumped. Kristie was standing behind him with a bag in her hand.
‘Where did you come from?’
She grinned. ‘LA. You know, America.’ She made signals with her hands. ‘Then a plane and a boat.’
‘Okay, okay, I get it.’
She was wearing a pair of black and white checked trousers and a black shirt tied at her waist. Her hair was l
oose about her shoulders and she seemed totally at ease as she leaned over him and looked into the pram. ‘I came to see my favourite girl, but I see you’ve already kidnapped her. Whaddya say we share?’
Rhuaridh gripped the pram a little tighter as he smiled back. ‘Ah, but this is my goddaughter. And this is the first time I’ve actually managed to kidnap her.’
Kristie made the little clicking noise she always did when she was thinking. He leaned a little closer and caught a whiff of her light zesty perfume. ‘To tell you the truth, I think Mac’s a little jealous.’
Kristie dropped to her knees and rubbed Mac’s head, bending down to put her head next to his. ‘Poor boy. Is he neglecting you again?’ She wrapped her hand around Mac’s lead. ‘How about we take turns? I’ll take Mac, then swap you on the way back.’
Rhuaridh gave a nod and they started to walk down towards the town. The weather was bright with just a little edge in the air. Kristie chatted constantly, telling him about plane delays and double-booked accommodation. It didn’t take long for her to turn the conversation back to work. ‘Have you seen that young mum again?’
Rhuaridh gave her a sideways glance. Last time he’d seen Kristie she’d been more than a little preoccupied about the case. She’d rushed out the room when he’d asked her if something was wrong, and the next day she’d left to go back to LA. He hadn’t seen her since.
He’d been curious about why she’d been so concerned. He’d had enough experience in life to know when to tread carefully. People didn’t come with a label attached declaring their past life experiences.
‘I’ve seen her quite a lot—so has Ellen, the health visitor. She’s talking, and I don’t think she’s going to feel better overnight, but I think if we have adequate support systems in place, and an open-door policy, I think she’ll continue to make improvements. Ellen has visited her at home a lot—talked through how she’s feeling about things. They’ve even been out walking together—like we are today.’
