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‘That’s rubbish and if eating ice cream gave me your fantastic curves then I’d eat it for every meal. You look great in that red top. A bit like a flamenco dancer.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Sort of sexy and sultry. All dark hair and dark eyes. But you need to wear your hair loose to complete the effect.’
‘It’s too hot.’ Evanna ran a hand over the back of her neck. ‘And the only reason I’m looking sultry is because we’re in the middle of a heat wave. I’m boiling.’
‘Was it hot in the city?’
‘Unbelievable. I honestly don’t know how people can live their lives in a place like that. It’s all so—’ Evanna frowned as she searched for the word ‘—closed in. There’s no air. It’s like being in a forest of buildings and everyone is busy, busy, busy. There’s no room to breathe, whereas on Glenmore there’s just so much space.’ She shuddered at the memory and Kyla smiled.
‘So you didn’t enjoy yourself?’
‘I enjoyed the work. It was fantastic to be back on the labour ward. You know I loved my midwifery and I don’t exactly get the chance to practise much on Glenmore.’
‘What are you complaining about? It’s like a rabbit colony here.’ Kyla waved the spoon. ‘Both Sonia Davies and Marie Tanner are pregnant. And Lucy Finch’s baby is only four days old, so you’ll be visiting her for a while.’
‘I know.’ Evanna gave a soft smile. ‘I actually delivered Lucy in the labour ward on the mainland. It was amazing and, of course, it’s great that Sonia and Marie are pregnant. But it’s hardly enough to make up an entire workload.’
‘Well, Sandra King had a far-away look on her face this week and I know that she and Paul have been trying for ages, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in the surgery soon. And we don’t just want you for your midwifery skills. This island needs two practice nurses. I know midwifery is your first love, but don’t even think about abandoning me!’
‘I wouldn’t leave you. I love it here and I love the variety.’ Evanna glanced out of the window and caught sight of Janet, the practice receptionist, who was walking past, carrying two bags of shopping. She smiled and waved.
‘But you love midwifery most of all. You’re totally soppy about babies.’ Kyla gave a wry smile. ‘Go on. Has working on the labour ward made you broody?’
Evanna felt a grey cloud drift across her happiness. ‘Of course not,’ she lied, turning back to Kyla with a smile. ‘How can I be broody when I don’t even have a boyfriend? You know I believe in doing things in the right order.’
‘You always were an old-fashioned girl.’ Kyla watched her for a moment and then looked up as her aunt approached. ‘Aunt Meg, Evanna needs feeding.’
Meg was a plump woman with a generous smile and a mass of curling blonde hair. ‘Good to have you home, Evanna.’ She wiped her hands on her apron and reached for a pad. ‘What can I get you? Same as Kyla?’
‘Just a coffee, thanks. Americano. Decaff, no milk.’
‘That’s all? I’ve a chocolate cake that’s enough to make a woman cry.’
Evanna ignored temptation. ‘Just coffee.’
‘And how’s that going to give you energy through a long day?’ Meg tutted her disapproval as she put the pad back in her pocket. ‘You need flesh on your bones, lass.’
‘I have flesh on my bones,’ Evanna said dryly. ‘I can’t lecture people on losing weight if I’m overweight myself. At the moment I can still fit into my clothes and that’s the way I want it to stay, especially given that it’s the swimsuit season.’
‘Could you stop being so perfect? You’re ruining my enjoyment of this ice cream.’ Kyla licked her spoon and looked regretfully at the empty dish as Meg removed it and walked back towards the kitchen. ‘So—did you meet anyone gorgeous while you were away?’
Evanna hesitated. ‘Sort of.’
‘Really?’ Kyla’s eyes were suddenly interested. ‘Tell me.’
‘There’s nothing to tell. He was a registrar in obstetrics and he was really…nice.’
‘Nice? What sort of a word is nice? It doesn’t tell me anything. Was he good-looking? Sexy? Intelligent?’
‘All those things. We went out for a few drinks.’
‘And?’
‘There is no “and.”’
‘Did you sleep with him?’
‘Kyla!’ Evanna shot an embarrassed glance across the café but everyone was engrossed in their own conversations. She answered the question in a low tone. ‘No, I did not.’
‘Shame.’ Kyla was unrepentant. ‘If you ask me, you could do with some unbridled passion in your life.’
