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From the size and shape of the package it was another scarf. His mother and Ranjini had been exchanging scarves for years. They were light and easy to send, and always appreciated and worn, which made them an ideal present. But both women still maintained the illusion that they didn’t know what was inside the carefully wrapped packages.
‘And your brothers? I hear that Caroline is to become a grandmother yet again...’
Jaye leaned back in his chair. By the time he and Ranjini had worked through his brothers and Ranjini’s three daughters, he and Megan would both have had every opportunity to cool off. And he would have an apology ready.
* * *
‘Megan, I said the wrong thing, in the wrong way. I apologise unreservedly.’ Jaye’s voice behind her sounded stilted and strange.
Megan had retreated to the drugs cupboard to rage a little, cry a little and then tell herself how stupid she’d been. The usual process, which had worked its way inexorably round to the stage of self-reproach and flushes of embarrassment when the slo-mo repeats of what she’d said to Jaye played back in her head.
She took a deep breath, and turned. ‘I don’t accept your apology.’
His gaze scanned her face. ‘You’ve been crying.’
‘Yes. You don’t look as if you have.’
That slow smile spread across his face. ‘No, I haven’t. That doesn’t mean I’m not sorry.’
‘I don’t doubt your sincerity.’
Jaye nodded. ‘So you accept the sincerity of my apology, but not the apology itself.’
‘You were right. It was important that I call you, and I didn’t. I was...’ Embarrassed. Not sure what Jaye would say. Afraid he might think she was presuming on a relationship they’d both admitted was wrong. Afraid she might break down and cry as soon as she heard his voice....
Megan heaved a sigh. It was too much to go into right now and would only provoke another argument. ‘All of the above.’
He shot her a puzzled look, and then smiled, seeming to understand what she meant.
‘There was nothing stopping me from picking up the phone either. But...all of the above.’
It was a fragile truce but it could hold. It had to hold.
‘I’m sorry for slamming your door.’
‘Sometimes calm and quiet requires clearing the air first. And I think my door will survive. You didn’t hurt it.’
But she’d hurt him. If Jaye wanted to pretend that he was only capable of as much feeling as his office door, Megan knew differently. He could retreat behind the mask of good manners, a gentleman in every sense of the word, but she knew that there was a lot more to Jaye than that.
‘Look, Jaye, if we’re going to work together...’
‘You want us to work together?’ Jaye’s smile invaded his eyes suddenly.
‘Yes, I want us to work together. Everyone here says that you have an innovative approach and that you’re a very good doctor. And a good boss as well. I want to see what you’re made of.’
‘I want to see what you’re made of too.’ He was clearly turning his words over carefully in his mind. ‘In a professional sense, of course.’
That was a start. And if all that Megan could countenance was a professional relationship, which could bring with it respect and friendship, then that actually was a very great deal.
‘There might be a few disagreements along the way.’
‘Goes without saying. I wouldn’t expect anything less of you, Megan.’
Megan nodded. ‘That works for me.’
They stared at each other silently. Jaye was the first to break the spell and suggest a way forward.
‘So... Would you like some help with this?’
