He considered that. “Dark chocolate is acceptable.”
“Dark chocolate is an abomination. It’s milk or nothing.”
He winced. “I don’t want you to show up in one of my clinics in twenty years.”
“Twenty years?” She tugged off her boots and flexed her toes. “Right now I’m trying to survive the moment.”
“That’s what everyone says. Live for now. Drink the wine. Smoke the joint.”
She laughed. “I’ve never smoked in my life, and you know it. I don’t drink much, either. I get my five a day. I run in the mornings, work up a sweat. Milk chocolate. That’s my vice. And I get a free pass because one of my best friends is a cardiologist.”
“Really? Do I know this person?”
She punched his arm lightly. “I’m relying on you to save me from my own lifestyle.”
He shook his head in despair. “What about work life balance?”
“What about it?”
“Do you have it? Balance I mean.”
“Work’s a passion. The only thing that’s stressful about my work is the people I’m working with.” She sighed. “Maybe Ishould turn freelance. Sell myself to the highest bidder. Then I could live anywhere.”
“You’ve had enough of London?”
She’d said enough. Probably too much.
“I just wonder if it’s time for a big change, that’s all. But I’m going to forget about it now. It’s Christmas. My gift to myself is to give my brain a rest from worry and stress.” She squinted out of the window. “It’s snowing hard. Do you think we’ll make it?”
“The motorways will be clear, I’m sure. It will be the roads further north that might give us a problem, but let’s see how it goes. No point in worrying. It’s not as if we have a lot of other options to consider. How’s Rosie doing?”
“She’s great, I think.”
“You think?” He glanced at her sharply and then focused on the road again.
“Figure of speech. I mean she’s fine.” Was she? Of course she was. Rosie was now happily married and building a new life. “She and Declan are crazy about each other. They’re blissfully happy.”
He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “But you’re not seeing much of each other?”
“Not as much as we did, obviously. Declan’s apartment isn’t that close to mine, and the new job has been taking up a lot of my time.” They’d reached the motorway and she was relieved to see that it was running pretty smoothly, although the snow continued to fall heavily. “Also she’s married, and she doesn’t need her sister hanging around like a spare wheel.”
He was silent for a moment and the only sound in the car was the soft swish of the wipers clearing snowflakes. “That’s a big adjustment for you.”
Becky felt an ache in her chest. “That’s life, isn’t it? It requires constant adjustment. Nothing stays the same.”
Although if she was honest she’d thought her relationshipwith her sister would. She’d never anticipated this. She’d assumed that she and Rosie would always be close, whatever their life situations.
But now she could see that she hadn’t thought it through. That she hadn’t considered the impact of having a significant other in their lives.
He adjusted his grip on the wheel. “I know you don’t really like talking about things—”
“You’re right, I don’t.”
“That’s fine, but I just wanted you to know that if you need someone to listen, I’m here. And if there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
She kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead.
He knew.
