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‘A couple, but it didn’t look as if the cuts had been too deep. I don’t think she’s done it a great deal before now.’
‘No, that’s what she told me.’ He was glad to have Anna’s confirmation of that, though.
‘And how did things go with her parents? Did they mind that you didn’t take her straight home?’
‘No, they were fine with that. They know us and I think that they were much more comfortable with having someone there to help mediate. Everyone got to say their piece, and Spark understands how traumatic it was for them when she went missing.’
Anna sighed. ‘She must be hurting so much. To do something like that.’
‘The worst thing is that she’s always been so determined not to show it. When she saw how upset her parents were, I think she realised that they can cope with her grief and she doesn’t need to protect them from it. What they can’t cope with is her disappearing without a word.’
‘Well, I’m glad you’re there. For Spark and her parents. Will you be working with them again?’
‘Yes, I suggested that they might like to come to us for family therapy, and her mum and dad were really keen on the idea. I think there are a few things they need to talk about as well.’
‘I so wish I could help her.’ Anna turned the corners of her mouth down. ‘But there are some things that no one can ever put right.’
‘Yes and no. We can’t bring her brother back, and we can’t make all that grief go away. But we don’t exist to do that. Our aim is to help show our kids that there’s still a way forward.’
Anna fell silent, staring into the fire, her fingers clutching tightly at his shirt. Jamie hugged her, wondering what she was thinking. He was becoming more and more sure that there was something that she couldn’t put right. Something to do with her marriage, which had hurt her so badly that she’d chosen a way forward that didn’t allow for it to ever happen again.
Maybe she’d tell him. He hoped so, because it stood between them, a silent barrier that he couldn’t tackle because he didn’t know what it was. For the moment, though, he had to be content with just holding her.
‘So what about this shepherd’s pie, then?’
Anna shook herself out of her reverie. Kissing him, she gave him a bright smile. ‘I’ll just go and put it in the oven...’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘WOULD YOU SHOW me your software?’
‘Is that a proposition? Or are you really interested in computers?’
Jamie’s soft chuckle sounded from the other end of the phone. ‘It would be a proposition if this wasn’t a Wednesday. I’m sticking to computers today.’
It was an odd arrangement, but it worked. For the last two and a half weeks Jamie and Anna had been professional whenever they saw each other at the clinic. Never asking about what they were doing that night, never mentioning the Hastings Hustlers, apple pie, or anything else that belonged to the weekend. Never taking the other’s presence for granted, because they had their own lives.
The weekends were theirs alone, and they’d become what Anna liked to call loving friends. They didn’t go on dates. They just did things together. And their nights were full of tenderness and passion.
‘Okay. When are you free?’ Anna pulled her business diary across the desk.
‘Jon’s being discharged tomorrow, and I’m going to take him down to Caroline’s, he’s staying there for a while and travelling back up to London for counselling and to see Dr Lewis. But I’m free after about four o’clock.’
‘I have patients until five. Say half five? What exactly do you want to do with my software?’
His quiet laugh wasn’t exactly appropriate for a Wednesday. Anna ignored it, because it was so nice. ‘We’re holding a workshop at the youth centre next week on body image. A few of the kids have asked for one, and it’s an issue that affects most of them in one way or another. I was wondering whether you could take me through a typical consultation process and show me the software you use to indicate the difference that surgery will make, so I can answer any questions about that.’
‘Fine. No problem, I’ll see you then.’ Anna adopted a brisk, businesslike tone and Jamie followed suit, confirming the time and giving a brief goodbye.
* * *
He appeared in the doorway of her office at five thirty sharp the following day, holding two coffees. Anna
had brushed her hair and refreshed her make-up, but she’d do that for any meeting. Probably. He pushed one coffee across the desk and she thanked him.
‘Shall we get started, then? I’ll just give you a quick demonstration and you can ask questions as they occur to you.’
Jamie sat down in the chair she’d placed next to hers at her computer. She opened the software, aware suddenly of his scent. Enjoying that was okay as long as she didn’t mention it.
