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‘Good. Any issues you’d like to disagree with me about?’
Megan grinned. ‘No. I’m picking my battles. I’ll let you know when something really big comes to mind.’
Chapter Nine
FRIDAY MORNING DAWNED bright and clear, after the first really big storm of the rainy season during the night. The clinic’s medical outreach truck had been loaded the night before, and there was only enough time to grab a coffee and a piece of toast before she saw Jaye walk across the compound with Ranjini. They were talking together, her sari bright against his loose white shirt and pale chinos.
He leaned against the door of the truck, still talking, the keys dangling loosely from his hand. In the last few days Megan had learned that he and Ranjini discussed everything, and the easy, friendly way they did it was setting the tone for everyone else. And if jealousy nudged at her heart every time she saw Jaye talking things through with someone else, she could remind herself how hard she’d fought to be just another member of the team in his eyes.
‘Ready to go?’ He and Ranjini had shared a joke, and remnants of its warmth still lingered in his face.
‘Yes, I’m good.’ Megan opened the passenger door before Jaye could move. Today, working alone with him, she had to be on her best behaviour. And just another member of the team.
* * *
It was a special kind of torture. The clinic compound gave Jaye a certain amount of freedom because he knew that he was never truly alone with Megan. But out here, on the empty road, there probably wasn’t another living soul for miles. Today would test all their good resolutions to the limit.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have suggested they do this so soon. But that would be falling short of the task he’d set himself. He was determined to set the clinic to rights, have it running the way that it should, and that included giving Megan the opportunities that had been promised and which, so far, she hadn’t had.
As they wound their way up into the mountains, the track grew muddier, evidence of heavier rain in the last few days. Megan’s head was turned away from him, her gaze glued on the surrounding countryside.
‘You haven’t been up here before?’
‘No, I haven’t. It’s beautiful.’
‘Yes.’ Jaye didn’t want to think about beautiful right now. Not while he was sitting so close to Megan in the cabin of the truck. ‘It can be unforgiving at times.’
‘I imagine so.’ She didn’t turn to look at him. ‘Where are we headed first?’
‘We’ll follow up on Ashan.’ The boy with dengue fever had been released from the clinic the previous day, and Jaye had promised to call in on him and see how he was doing. ‘There are a couple of long-term patients in the same village who I also want to look in on. Landmine victims.’
‘You provide social care, as well as medical care?’ She turned to him suddenly, smiling. ‘I saw in the clinic’s accounts that there were expenses marked “training and development”.’
‘Yes, we do. Although I’m not entirely sure where the line between the two lies.’
‘No, me neither.’ Megan turned her head back towards the window, and Jaye concentrated on the road.
The rest of their journey was made in silence, but when they reached the village Megan seemed suddenly more animated. She followed him from the truck, drinking in everything around her. The clay-brick houses, with thatched roofs extending o
ver porches that were often larger than the houses themselves, providing a living area for each family. The well-tended gardens, and lush vegetation that provided food. The men who approached Jaye to greet him, the women and children standing further back but watching all the same.
When they came to Ashan’s home, Jaye hung back, waiting to see what Megan would do. The boy’s mother welcomed her, and she exchanged a few smiling pleasantries in Sinhalese. The boy was resting in the shade of the porch, and although Megan clearly didn’t understand his chatter, the warmth was obvious. As she nodded and smiled at the boy, her fingers brushed his cheek, checking for any fever.
‘How is he?’ Jaye had been watching, trying not to be entranced by her.
‘I think he said he’s happy to be home. He seems happy to be home.’ Megan looked up at him. ‘Are you taking a look at him?’
‘I thought you might do that.’
‘Will you ask his mother how he’s been?’
Jaye didn’t move. He wanted to see how Megan coped on her own.
Her lips narrowed into a line. Any reaction from Megan, even if it was a frown, felt better than her studied professionalism. He was going to have to be careful.
‘My Sinhalese isn’t good enough. I might miss something she says.’ She picked up the medical bag from where it lay at his feet and flapped her hand at him, chivvying him along. ‘Come on. Pull your weight, Jaye.’
‘This is how you treat your boss?’ He couldn’t help grinning.
