I frowned. “The dark haired one who looks like a young George Clooney?”
“That’s the one. Second date time.”
“Have you slept with him yet?”
“Surprisingly no. Medical ethics.”
“That’s okay then. I was about to pass out with shock. I thought you were looking better.” She’d had more energy recently.
“I need another operation,” she said quietly. “But he’s changed my meds and it’s helped.”
I frowned. “I’m impressed with your restraint. But I’m glad about your meds.”
“Thanks on both counts. I actually quite like him.” She sounded surprised. “He’s got more than two braincells.”
“Always helpful for a cardiologist. Where are you going on Thursday?”
“A restaurant on the Southbank. It’s classy so I’ll need to wear something scandalous. I might wear it for the wedding too. Are you okay about it? The wedding, not my date.”
“I’m trying to pretend it isn’t happening but you keep reminding me.” It was the truth. I needed this week to be over, everything to have happened, gone smoothly and then slip into the distant past.
“I don’t think burying your head in the sand is healthy.”
“Well, it’s what you’ve done with not going to your cardiology appointments.” I wondered if I was going to regret saying that.
“Fair enough. Carter wouldn’t shut up about you when we were on a break together yesterday. It was actually annoying.”
“What was he saying?” I was fifteen again.
“I’m not telling you but it was all good. He’s smitten.” She picked the grapes up off the floor. “I’ll phone you on Thursday between the wedding and my date. If I think anything’s a bit suss I’ll tell you.”
“I feel like the other woman.”
“Except the woman yourCarter’smarrying knows about you, is really cool, and is over the moon that you and Carter have finally seen sense and bumped uglies. Do you want these grapes? The floor was clean.”
“Put them back in the box and Harriet will probably eat them, or me, if I forget where they’ve been.” I forced myself up out of the chair. “I’m glad you’ll be there at the wedding.”
“I can always stand up and say they shouldn’t be married, if you like. It’s not like I haven’t done that before.”
“Twice.”
“Three times a charm. Just say the word.” She picked up her black leather jacket off the back of a kitchen chair.
“No, I just want to get it out of the way.”
“Carter does as well. He regrets suggesting it to Laurie. I’ll tell you that much.”
I shrugged. “Things are too far along now to back out, and I’d feel too bad for her.” I’d had a meal with Laurie and Fallon two days ago, and it’d been fun, and she hadn’t let it be awkward.
Fallon nodded. “Let me know if you change your mind.” She gave me a hug. “Chin up, buttercup. He’ll soon be fully yours.”
I was in work while Carter was getting married, assessing a young girl who’d been brought in following an attempted overdose. She was fifteen, confused and sad, and it was my job to start the formulation to see how we were going to support her. For the next two hours, I forgot about what was going on elsewhere, doing the job I loved, the job I’d trained to do because I wanted to help people make sense of the world.
When I realised what time it was, Carter was a married man, and while I knew it was temporary, I still went home and sobbed into my pillow.
CHAPTER 20
Carter
