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Chapter Fourteen
‘MEGAN?’ HARRY’S TONE implied that he was expecting some kind of welcome. When she didn’t give it, he turned to Jaye.
‘I’m Megan’s uncle,’ Harry lied smoothly, holding his hand out towards Jaye. ‘I was just passing, and came to see what she’s up to.’
Jaye shook Harry’s hand, his face impassive. ‘Pleased to meet you. You’re very welcome here.’
‘And you are?’ Harry always liked to know whether the person he was talking to was worth his time.
‘I’m sorry... Jaye Perera. I’m the clinic’s director.’
Jaye never referred to himself as the director. He was happy with being the doctor, or peacemaker, or even temporary cook and bottle-washer if one was required. But he was on his guard, asserting his authority here.
‘Is Mum all right?’ A thought suddenly struck Megan and she blurted the words out.
‘Your mother? She’s fine. I called her last week and she told me you were here.’
When Megan thought about it, it wasn’t very likely that Harry would come all the way here just to tell her that something had happened to her mother. And it was just like her mother to discuss what Megan was doin
g with Harry, even though Megan had asked her not to.
‘She told you that I’d be back in London in a week?’ She tried to dislodge the lump in her throat. When it came to the crunch, her mother’s first loyalty was to Harry and Megan had to accept that. It was just one of the things that had driven her away from home as soon as she had been able to pack her things and go.
‘Yes, she did. That’s why I’m here now. There’s something I want to talk to you about. And since I was on my way over to Australia on business I decided to stop off on the way.’
It was something of a detour. Whatever it was must be important, though Megan thought that it would turn out to be important to Harry and not to her.
‘Aren’t you going to ask me inside?’ Harry smiled reproachfully, as if a welcome was something that might come naturally in this situation.
She supposed she should. Her bungalow was probably the best place to take Harry, so they could speak in private, but she hadn’t allowed him admittance to anywhere she lived for a while now.
‘Why don’t you take my office?’ Jaye spoke up suddenly, reaching into his pocket for the key. ‘I’ll rustle up some tea.’
‘Thank you.’ Harry beamed at Jaye again. ‘I’m sure I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble—’
Jaye cut Harry short. ‘It’s no trouble. Is that all right with you, Megan?’
She looked up into his gaze. Warm and protective. If she asked Jaye to turn Harry off the compound, he would have done it, but just knowing he was there meant she didn’t have to. Whatever had brought Harry here, she could face it.
‘Yes, thank you. Everything’s fine.’
‘Okay. I’ll see you later.’ Jaye flashed another look at Harry, which seemed to threaten bodily harm if he put one toe out of line, and walked back to his car to fetch their bags.
‘This way...’ She started to walk along the veranda to the door that led to the offices, and then stopped. ‘What about your driver?’
‘He’ll be all right in the car.’ Harry looked up at the sky. ‘Does it always rain like this here?’
‘No. Not always.’
* * *
She’d let Harry into the office and pulled up two guest chairs. Harry had ignored them and walked around the desk, sitting in Jaye’s high-backed chair.
‘How have you been, Megan? It’s been a while.’ He leaned his elbows on the desk and smiled, for all the world as if he were interviewing her.
‘Yes. It has.’ Megan wasn’t going to apologise for the length of time she’d managed to avoid seeing him. ‘I’m well, and enjoying it here.’
‘And working closely with Dr Perera, I see. Or does he prefer to use his title?’
