“I should’ve told you about Carter.” Fallon broke the peace of the kitchen. “I also needed to check you weren’t stewing the tea.”
“Only because you like it to be gnat’s piss.” Fallon hated strong tea. She’d been known to suggest sharing a tea bag.
“Sensitive taste buds.”
“The men of London would suggest otherwise. When did you hear about Carter?” I needed more information.
She leaned against the breakfast bar. “About two weeks ago. I saw his name on a document so I sent him a message. Idon’t think I’ve seen you since, else I’d have mentioned it. I just assumed he’d have let you know.”
“He didn’t. I’ll text him later.” I took her tea bag out first. “He probably figured you’d pass the message on.”
“Probably.” She looked puzzled. “You know he’s gone into upper GI surgery.”
“He did tell me that. I think his dad was disappointed.” I knew his dad had been disappointed, wanting Carter to follow him into cardiothoracic. Carter had struggled with the decision, wanting to please his dad but make his own way at the same time.
I’d been lucky; both my parents were solicitors, working together at my dad’s family’s legal practice. Neither had encouraged me to follow in their footsteps, actively discouraging it. Some of my cousins had taken up law, which was probably inevitable. Others had chosen completely different careers, my favourite being Ted who’d decided to be a landscape gardener. No one knew where that’d come from, given he’d grown up in London with parents whose skills weren’t practical in the slightest.
“It’s good he’s back though, isn’t it? Especially with Harriet going away.”
I heard a note of worry in Fallon’s voice, concern about me. I’d lived with Harriet through university and then together afterwards, so this was a big change.
“He won’t replace Harriet. And he’ll be busy at work a lot.” His shifts would be more demanding than mine, and he’d want to prove himself.
“He won’t be working all the time, Rose.” She twisted her hair out of the top knot. “Put a bit more milk in my tea.”
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “At least he’ll drink proper tea.”
I sent Carter a message that night.
I believe you’re back soon? X
It was left unread.
CHAPTER 2
Rose
It took three days for him to read it, and another five for him to reply.
Back in a week – moving into the old house now it’s empty. Sorry I didn’t tell you – figured Fallon would broadcast it. X
I was too busy to reply, on a shift at work when the message came through and dealing with a patient I had concerns about. I had concerns about all of them, none of them were with us because they were well, and all of them had families that were struggling too.
This patient was different though. A thirteen-year-old girl who was threatening suicide, the shallow cuts on her arms and a mother for whom nothing was good enough or quick enough or senior enough. It wasn’t the first time her daughter, Carly, had been admitted, and there had already been more than one complaint against staff in the outpatients’ department. The mother was a force to be reckoned with, especially for her daughter.
Four hours after my shift ended, I left the hospital, fatigued and in need of something that looked like lightness. I took a crowded tube home, ignoring my phone and the ten messages waiting for my attention because I needed to decompress first.
Harriet was out, the apartment quiet and tidy because my friend liked organisation. I left my phone in my bag and set to work making something edible, or finding what Harriet had left in the fridge – a spice vegetable stew that filled the kitchen with warmth as it heated up.
I would miss her when she moved. Life would be different, but that didn’t mean it would be worse. There would be trips to Stratford-Upon-Avon and places nearby, weekend stays in the country and another place to explore. She was enthusiastic about the new job and the move, looking at cute little cottages in the surrounded countryside to the town, including one near the house where Anne Hathaway – Shakespeare’s wife – had grown up.
I sat down with a large mug of tea and a piece of cake that was still fresh and gooey with sugar, eventually looking at my phone. I sent quick responses to Fallon and Erin, confirming I could meet for breakfast in the morning before work, and then dealt with the latest family saga which involved an upcoming trip to my grandparents’ house in Oxfordshire for my uncle Max’s birthday. Then there was the Eliza crisis – an ongoing issue she was having with her flatmate who was also the girlfriend of one of the other cousins.
It was all very draining.
I came to Carter’s message last. Deliberately.
Back in a week – moving into the old house now it’s empty. Sorry I didn’t tell you – figured Fallon would broadcast it. X
