‘Because I like animals – present company excepted.’ Millie eyed him with disdain. ‘I’ve decided to apply for a foundation degree in veterinary nursing. What areyourlife goals, other than to starve for your art?’
Ben glared at her. ‘You have five seconds, Millie,’ he warned her, a thunderous look flitting across his face. ‘And then I’m gone, and you can find your own way there.’
‘All right. I said I’m coming. Keep your gorgeous hair on. Agitated doesn’t suit the carefully cultivated laid-back arty look.’ She gave him a flat smile and patted his cheek as she sailed by him to the front door.
Ben rolled his eyes. ‘Counselling,’ he mumbled, picking up his portfolio and trudging out after her. ‘I need advice on how to divorce my sister.’
‘I’ll let your father know.’ Emily smiled, and cautioned herself to ignore Ben’s flash of anger. It was justified, since his sister had been deliberately winding him up. ‘Good luck, Millie,’ she called. ‘And well done on getting the interview. Don’t forget you have to—’
‘Concentrate on my studies as well, get good grades, don’t let myself be distracted or dictated to by anyone …’ Millie picked up, with an irritated sigh. ‘Yes, Mum, I know. You tell me about a thousand times a week.’
‘Only because I care about you.’ Emily felt a bit hurt. ‘I just don’t want you—’
‘Making the same mistakes you did. I got that bit too.’ Millie smiled flatly over her shoulder and headed out the door.
Emily tried not to mind. She probably did go on a bit. Going into to the kitchen, she found Jake swilling back an instant coffee.
‘Let me know what?’ he asked warily. He looked absolutely shattered. She noted the dark shadows under his eyes and wished he would slow down a little.
‘Your son’s decided he needs counselling in regard to his sister,’ she informed him, glancing at the kitchen clock. The dishwasher needed emptying, but that would have to wait. Jake had a full list this morning and, as practice manager, Emily needed to be there. Their cleaner, Fran, who squeezed in a day at the house in between cleaning at the surgery, was due in later anyway. It wouldn’t hurt her to actually do a bit of work rather than nattering.
‘Again.’ Jake smiled amusedly. ‘Tell him I’ll make a referral.’
‘God forbid.’ Emily walked across to him to straighten his tie. Ben did have a tendency to lose his temper, something she was naturally wary of, particularly since the episode when, escorted home by the police after drinking far too much and arguing with another youth outside the pub one night, he’d openly challenged Jake. Jake had handled it well, although he’d been shocked by Ben’s sudden volatility. Emily had tried to reassure herself it was just normal teenage rebellion. Ben showed no signs of calculated malice, thank God. Underneath his moodiness, which, after all, was normal at his age, he was a sensitive soul, she was sure, artistic by nature like her. She wished he would confide in her more, but she doubted he would easily open up to anyone.
‘Do you think she’s serious?’ Jake asked, nodding after Ben and Millie.
‘About the foundation course? She seems to be.’ Emily turned to grab her multivitamin tablets, washing them down with the coffee Jake had made her. He wasn’t convinced they actually did any good, but the woman at the healthcare shop had persuaded her they would help reduce her levels of stress and anxiety and also improve her memory and mood. Emily wasn’t entirely convinced either, but the way she was feeling at the moment, anything was worth a shot. Remembering that the bottle she kept on her desk was running low, she made a mental note to collect some more at lunchtime.
‘She’ll need to buckle down and apply herself at school,’ Jake said, depositing his mug in the sink and then grabbing his case from where he’d left it on the kitchen island.
‘As I keep reminding her.’ Emily sighed, worrying afresh about the impact Millie’s late nights would have on her grades. Jake had been out on a call when she’d rolled in last night. He’d been here the previous time she’d come home the worse for wear, though, and was as worried about her as Emily was. ‘We probably need to have a talk to her, present a united front,’ she suggested. ‘Shall we have a chat about it, make sure we’re singing from the same hymn sheet? Later this evening, maybe?’
‘Can do. I’ll make sure to get back a bit earlier,’ Jake promised. ‘Oh, and in case I forget, could you have a word with Ben? He left the back door unlocked again when he was out smoking last night.’
Emily noted his despairing look and sighed inside. Having met with a ‘we can’t all be perfect’ comment from Ben the last time he’d tried to point out the health risks of smoking, Jake tried not to go on at him. Emily dearly wished Ben wouldn’t smoke. Aside from the health issue, it was an addiction, and that worried her. Harsh reality had jolted her from her own addiction, but if Ben had inherited a propensity for dependency, would he be able to easily give it up?
‘I’ll leave him a note,’ she said, as she went to the hooks on the utility room door for the spare key. At least if Ben kept one on his key ring it might remind him to lock up after himself before they were all murdered in their beds. Finding it missing, she sighed again, wearily, and added ‘get key cut’ to her mental to-do list.
‘Are you leaving without breakfast again?’ she asked, an admonishing edge to her voice as she turned back to find Jake swinging towards the hall.
‘No time. I’ll grab something from the village shop on the way.’
‘Make sure you do,’ Emily said, thinking she sounded more like his mother than his wife. But then someone had to keep an eye on him. He skipped too many breakfasts and worked far too many late nights now that his father was retiring. Jake and Tom shared partnership of the practice and Tom still worked part-time, but he’d wanted to be less involved to free up his time so he could concentrate on his role as chair of the clinical commissioning group governing body. Privately Emily couldn’t help thinking his time might be better managed if he didn’t spend a large proportion of it chatting up every attractive woman in the village. For Jake’s sake, though, she avoided commenting.
‘Yes, miss,’ he called from the hall. ‘Don’t forget you have your blood test with Sally this morning. See you there.’
He was worried about her, thinking her recent dizziness, fatigue and general inability to concentrate might be symptoms of anaemia. She’d thought it was just due to her inability to sleep – which, Jake had pointed out, was also a symptom of anaemia, along with the bouts of nausea she’d had. She was glad that he cared, but wished he wouldn’t worry with so much on his plate. It was probably just a virus she couldn’t shake off.
‘I’ll be ten minutes behind you,’ she called back. ‘Don’t forget you promised Edward Simpson you would oversee the duck race at the village fair on Saturday,’ she reminded him. ‘You’ll need to ask Tom if he’ll cover the emergency surgery. It won’t hurt him to—’ She stopped, cocking an ear as she heard Jake’s mobile ring. That was probably Tom now, wondering where he was, or else their receptionist, Nicky, wondering whereshewas. It looked like she would probably be skipping breakfast again too.
‘Dr Merriden,’ she heard him answer. The phone pressed to his ear, his eyes flicked to hers as she stepped into the hall. ‘I’ll have to call you back,’ he said quickly and ended the call.
‘Anyone interesting?’ Emily asked him curiously. He wasn’t normally so brusque with callers, even unwanted ones.
‘Just a sales rep,’ he said, giving her a short smile as he pocketed the phone.
‘Oh, right.’ Emily watched him leave. He hadn’t kissed her goodbye, which he always did.Idiot. She pulled herself up. He was tired, distracted, and she was being ridiculous. The vivid dream hadn’t helped, bringing back too many memories she dearly wished she could forget. Perhaps Jake was right about the blood test, she pondered, collecting her own phone as it beeped with a text. It would be nice to get to the bottom of what was going on.
