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‘I heard a rumour in the pub.’ His long fingers tapped several keys and the printer whirred. ‘Why does everyone around here seem to be pregnant?’
‘Because it’s a natural consequence of relationships?’ Evanna kept her voice steady. ‘I’ve put all Sandra’s observations onto the computer so it should be easy enough to just add in the results of your examination.’
‘Thanks. Ethan just rang from the hospital. They’ve admitted Jason to keep an eye on him.’
‘I can’t believe she let a six-year-old go out into the Atlantic in a blow-up boat.’ Evanna shuddered as she thought of what might have happened. ‘Why do people leave their brains behind when they go on holiday?’
‘I don’t know.’ Logan rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. ‘That beach is clearly marked as unsafe for inflatable boats but perhaps she didn’t see the sign.’
‘The baby is obviously wearing them out.’ Evanna thought about what the woman had said. ‘I might call later in the week and check on them. I hope Jason is going to be all right. I dread to think how long he was under the water for.’
‘Hypothermia can actually give some protection against hypoxia. There have been cases of children recovering after being submerged in cold water for more than forty minutes.’ Logan shrugged. ‘Once the core temperature drops below thirty-two degrees Celsius, the brain needs less oxygen. Because children get cold very quickly, generally much faster than adults, they might reach that low core temperature before damage occurs from lack of oxygen.’
‘But presumably you’re worried or you wouldn’t have called for the helicopter.’
‘There can be late complications, obviously, which is why we transferred him to hospital, just to be on the safe side.’ Logan stood up. ‘But on the whole the prognosis is reasonable. He was submerged for less than ten minutes, he’s young and his core temperature was thirty-four. On the downside, all the signs were that he did aspirate seawater, so they’ll need to keep an eye on him until they’re sure he’s all right. They’re going to miss a few days of their holiday.’
‘In the circumstances, they’re lucky that’s all that they’re missing.’
‘Evanna, about Saturday…’ Logan glanced towards her. ‘Kyla and I are having a barbecue in your honour. Usual crowd. Six o’clock, my place. We’re starting early so that Kirsty can join in. Is that all right with you?’
Evanna’s heart lifted and then sank. She should say no. Hadn’t she promised herself that she wasn’t going to spend so much time with him? It was bad enough seeing him at work, without seeing him socially. But to refuse would look odd because they always socialised in a big group. She just had to adjust her own attitude. She had to try to look at him differently. ‘I— That will be lovely.’
‘What’s the matter?’ His eyes searched her face. ‘You don’t seem your usual cheerful self.’
What could she possibly say to that?
She could hardly confess that she was trying not to be herself because she badly needed to stop loving him! At the moment she would have happily become someone entirely different. Not that that would necessarily help, she thought gloomily, because half the women on the island were in love with Logan MacNeil. The other half was either too old or happily married.
He was perceptive, she acknowledged, about absolutely everything except her feelings for him. And perhaps that was just as well. She didn’t really want him knowing how she felt. It would damage their friendship and make things too awkward.
‘I’m fine, Logan.’ She kept her tone light. ‘Just a bit tired after the drive.’
He was still watching her. ‘It’s probably being in the city. It’s far more exhausting than living here, on the island. Well, get some rest before Saturday. Meg, Kyla and a bunch of the cousins are going to be there and I know they’ll be disappointed if you don’t make it. And Kirsty has really missed you. You have a way with her that no one else has.’
What about you, Logan? she wanted to ask. Did you miss me, too? Instead, she smiled through stiff lips. ‘In that case, I’ll try and be there.’ She left the room and bumped into Kyla, who grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the treatment room.
‘You look as though you’ve just been to the dentist for root-canal treatment. What’s wrong?’
Evanna told her and then gave a wan smile. ‘What am I supposed to do? If I avoid him then I also avoid all the people I love, like Kirsty, you, Meg—your cousins—’ She broke off and chewed her lip. ‘That’s the trouble. I promised myself that I was going to spend less time with him but if I do that then I don’t have a social life.’
‘It would be much simpler if he just realised that he loved you,’ Kyla said gruffly, resting her hips on the couch. ‘I’ve come up with plan B. Plan A, which was for you to forget about him, obviously isn’t going to work. So plan B is to make him notice you. Once he notices you, he’ll realise that he’s been in love with you all his life.’
‘He married Catherine. He was in love with Catherine.’
‘Maybe. But life moves on and I also know that you’re perfect for him.’
‘Don’t start that again.’ Evanna started to turn away but Kyla grabbed her arm.
‘Just hear me out.’ Kyla’s voice was urgent. ‘I think one of the problems is that you grew up with Logan. You’ve been my best friend for ever and he’s used to seeing you around. He sees you as my friend. His practice nurse. So we need to change all that.’
‘And how are we going to do that?’
Kyla grinned. ‘Operation makeover. Don’t be offended. You’re already stunning, it’s just that we need to make your charms a little more obvious, so that my thick brother sits up and takes notice of something other than your skill with his patients.’
‘What do you want me to do?’ Despite her love for her friend, Evanna found it hard to keep the exasperation out of her voice. ‘Strap a sign to my body?’
‘Figuratively speaking.’ Kyla tilted her head to one side. ‘Fancy a shopping trip after work tomorrow? Alison has some really nice dresses in the boutique and she’s open until eight in the summer. We could grab an early supper in the café afterwards. It would be fun.’
