A Life Less Lonely Page 4

  Andrea shrugged. “I suppose I shall have to contact an agency.”

  “What about her neighbour? This Lizzie seems to have time on her hands and her views on the afterlife aren’t relevant when it comes to your mother’s well-being.” Richard glanced at his computer screen as it warbled a reminder.

  ‘I think my mother can look after her personal needs,’ said Andrea. “Getting dressed sometimes poses a challenge, though not always. The house appears tidy except that -” Andrea pictured the tap left running and recalled the glass jar abandoned on the cooker hob. In the kitchen, she’d held her breath until she reassured herself the oven wasn’t switched on.

  “Let’s see what an assessment brings out.” The Prof’s eyes were kindly. “From what I’ve heard, your biggest worry seems to centre on your mother’s tendency to wander.”

  “Each time it’s worked out with no harm done except to my shredded nerves.” Andrea shrugged. “Maybe there have been other occasions when she’s got back OK. Next time, who knows? What if she goes out and forgets the way home? How awful if she’s turning into a toddler!”

  “You can make sure she’s in good hands. You won’t be short of expertise to help you put a care package together if that’s what you decide.” He smiled at her. “I know you have a lot on your plate, especially now Keir’s offered you this exciting opportunity.”

  “It’s odd how much easier it is to think straight when you aren’t dealing with your own flesh and blood,” said Andrea. She got up. “Don’t mind me. I’m feeling sorry for myself. Thanks for your time, Richard. I’ll approach Lizzie Dean and I’ll keep you posted.”

  ***

  An appointment was arranged for Rosemary’s assessment to be carried out by one of the professionals attached to the GP surgery. Andrea rang her mum’s neighbour to let her know.

  “Wednesday at three, you say. Would you like me to be with her?” Lizzie asked. “So you don’t have to take time off work? Or will they need you there?”

  “No, I checked with the CPN – sorry, the Community Psychiatric Nurse. He knows how to contact me. Really, it’s best he sees Mum without me hovering. Maybe I could ask you to call round beforehand and make sure she remembers she has a visitor coming. If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

  “You can leave it to me. But I do need to speak to you soon, Andrea, when you can spare a few minutes.”

  “Is this something to do with my mother, Lizzie? You can talk to me now if you like.” Andrea crossed her fingers. Was Rosemary concealing some other problem?

  Lizzie hesitated. “It’s more about my personal situation. But yes, it does affect Rosemary, in terms of my keeping an eye on her long term. I’m sorry to say, I’m going to have to put my house on the market.”

  Andrea gasped. “But I thought you were quite happy living there!”

  “I am very happy. I know so many people and there’s my little job - I’ll miss all the children. And the staff – even though they tease me about never missing a Corrie episode.”

  Andrea chuckled. “I can imagine. It all sounds very good.”

  “Certainly is.” Lizzie hesitated. “When we moved into our house, there were three of us living here. I wish I didn’t have to make this decision but the time has come to downsize. The garden’s too much for me to manage on my own, and the car gobbles cash. I’m afraid my own feelings don’t enter into the scheme of things. It’s crunch time, Andrea.”

  “Have you said anything to Mum about this?”

  “Not yet. She might be upset. On the other hand, she mightn’t take it in. Probably best to wait until I know the For Sale sign’s going up.”

  As she put down the phone, Andrea’s spirits plummeted. Lizzie was a terrific neighbour, always friendly and supportive since Andrea’s mother had moved in two years before. Lizzie had lived in the close for a decade before being widowed but she was years younger than Rosemary. As for her job, Andrea knew she worked as a dinner lady at the local primary school. No doubt they’d miss her as much as she’d miss them. But life was like that, all about facing change. Maybe Lizzie would decide to move closer to her married daughter, wherever that might be. Well, that was her decision.

  From a selfish point of view, she felt bitterly disappointed by this news. She’d no doubt whatsoever Lizzie proved better at dealing with Rosemary than she could ever hope to be. That was often the way. But, the seed of an idea slowly sprouted, bringing Andrea a tiny ray of hope.

  ***

  The phone rang around eight-thirty that evening. Andrea, on the couch in red pyjamas and slipper socks jumped at the sound.

  “Is this a good time?” Her friend’s voice sounded wary.

  “Kirsty, I was just thinking about ringing you. Josh is in the land of nod. Otherwise he’d want to say hi.”

  “So, how’s it all going?”

  “Oh, you know. It’s often the little things. I found a gold locket the other day, wrapped in tissue paper. It was tucked inside a box full of Greg’s old school reports and swimming certificates. Stuff like that. He’d written me a little note and folded it inside the velvet case. The gift was meant for my birthday so I’m going to keep it ’til then and unwrap it again.”

  “That’s not a little thing, Andrea. That’s a hugely wonderful symbol of how much your husband loved you. What a beautiful guy Greg was.” Kirsty gulped. “Whoops, you’ve got me reaching for a tissue now!”

  “I sometimes wonder whether he knew what was going to happen.” Andrea curled up, tucking her feet beneath her. “While Josh was playing the other day he found a new miniature tank hidden inside a green plastic hippo he’d forgotten about.”

  “I can’t answer that one for you, sweetie. It might be something to do with being in a war zone and carrying a kind of acceptance around. It’s the real deal, isn’t it? Their lives are literally on the line.” Kirsty cleared her throat. “Now, Luis keeps asking me when Josh can come to stay. I’ve explained you have a lot on at the moment. That boy can nag worse than I can.”

  “You’re my oldest friend and I’ve been neglecting you.”

  “I’ll forget you said that, silly. How’s work?’

  “Work’s fine. Richard should get a knighthood for putting up with me. There are some question marks around Mum. I’ll email you about it. We’re going to have to make some changes.”

  “Move her in with you and Josh, do you mean?” Kirsty sounded concerned.

  Andrea sighed. “I love her to pieces but we’re chalk and cheese, as you very well know. I’m looking into ways of keeping her in her own place, but with more care than I can offer.”

  “It’s quite a while since you mentioned you and Greg had concerns.”

  “Yes, on his last leave, I obviously couldn’t take extra holiday so he took Mum to do her big shop. She abandoned her trolley while he was looking at DVDs. It was as if she’d forgotten he was with her. Eventually he found her roaming round the car park but she hadn’t a clue which car was ours, even though she’s been in it dozens of times.”

  “I’m sorry you’ve got all this on your plate,” said Kirsty. “If only we lived closer.”

  “We don’t do too badly. 31 miles each way isn’t too dreadful, is it? But you mustn’t worry. How many weeks are you now?”

  Kirsty chuckled. “Seventeen and counting.”

  “Wow. How are you feeling?”

  “Amazingly well and utterly determined not to be informed whether this one’s a girl or a footballer.”

  “Girls play footie too, you know,’ said Andrea.

  “Hmm,” said Kirsty. “So were you about to ring just for a chat or can I help with anything?”

  “Kirsty, there is something I need to run past you. It would mean asking you a really big favour. Please don’t feel you have to agree. I’ll quite understand if it’s out of the question.”

  “Try me.’

  “OK.” Andrea took a deep breath. “I have the chance to fly to Canada with Dr Shiny Pants and speak at an important conference. Side by side,
me and him. Keir Harrison, I mean.”

  “Surely Dr Harrison can’t be all bad if he thinks enough of you to want you along to hold his hand?”

  Andrea kept quiet. The image was disturbing.

  “When would you go and how long would it be for?”

  “It’s the last week in May,” said Andrea. “I’d have to leave on the Tuesday and fly back the following Friday. So, three nights in Montreal but the Heathrow trips and airport formalities either side make the time away longer, of course.”

  Kirsty cut short the apologies. “Of course you must go. We’d love to have Josh stay. And as for him being a bit cranky sometimes, try living with a pregnant woman and a Spanish man who wears his heart on his sleeve. Luis is going to be ecstatic at the prospect of having Josh to play with.”

  Andrea felt a rush of relief. “I just don’t know how to thank you.”

  Kirsty laughed. “I’d have been miffed if you’d asked anyone else. Cross, even. Now, hang on a mo … yep, sounds like the guys are back from swimming.”

  “I’ll let you go then. Give Rafael and Luis our love and I promise to email you dates and flights and contact numbers. Maybe when I bring Josh over, I could come an hour or so before I really need to?”

  “Fantastic. Give him a hug from me.”

  “I will. Thank you so, so much, Kirsty. Speak soon.”

  Andrea put down the phone. Little things were often what did it, she’d said. Her friend and her architect husband had got on well with Greg. Rafa looked upon Josh as a second son. But no way would she ever again hear Greg bringing Josh back from the leisure centre, gently scolding him for dumping his soggy swimming kit in the middle of the kitchen table. Those days were gone and she’d better face up to it.

  ***

  Keir’s gaze focused on the expectant faces. “Are there any more questions for the moment? No? Well, thanks again for putting up with my less than perfect presentation skills. I’m sorry I’m not as computer savvy as most of you appear to be.”

  A ripple of laughter travelled around the conference room.

  “All right, it’s time to attack the refreshments. Get to know one another a bit better. We’re no longer Hartnett General Hospital and University of Hartnett.” He looked around the room. “We’re … erm…”

  “The X Factor?’ A bearded, spiky-haired doctor offered.

  “Thanks, Marcus, but no thanks. I wouldn’t recommend you giving up the day job.” He paused as people chuckled. “Any further suggestions can be fielded by my long-suffering PA and it goes without saying Lyn will be your point of contact if I’m away from the hospital. I’d like you to make known anything unusual in your findings, however trivial, as the trial progresses.”

  Andrea was seated next to Richard. “He’s good,” she said as they stood up.

  “Yes, he has excellent people skills. That talk impressed all of us, I think. OK, it wasn’t Panorama but I prefer good plain facts to smoke and mirrors any day.”

  “Your knowledge of popular television shows never fails to impress me, Richard,” Andrea laughed.

  They joined the small group helping themselves to refreshments. Andrea smiled at a petite woman, dressed in green scrubs and possessing a fiery halo of curls. “Hi,” she said. “Without checking your name badge, I think you’re Moira? One of the nurse trio?”

  The redhead passed cups and saucers to them. “That’s me,” she said. “One of the faithful.”

  Andrea noticed how Moira’s eyes assessed her swiftly before she turned to Richard. He made some quip about the biscuits being more upmarket than the ones they got at the Uni.

  A man’s woman, Andrea thought, watching Moira focus on the Prof as if at that moment she considered him the centre of her world. She filled her coffee cup and moved away from the urn. The nurse who she knew was called Susie and who had a kind face was talking to the spiky-haired doctor. Andrea didn’t like to butt in. All of a sudden, a frisson of panic struck her. She put down her cup on a windowsill and stood with her back to the room, intending to find someone to talk to in a moment, once she’d succeeded in painting her professional face back in place.

  “It’s very stuffy in here, don’t you think? Let’s try and open a window.”

  She didn’t need to look around to know who stood beside her. Keir Harrison’s physical presence impressed her as much as it had at their first encounter. Would this present a problem over the coming months? The panicky feeling had changed into a feeling of longing for something or someone she couldn’t have, or might that be something she shouldn’t have? Her emotions were in the blender these days. Nor did it help when Keir reached overhead, the movement sending a drift of aftershave in her direction. Andrea closed her eyes briefly. She hated being battered by synthetic waves of the stuff and Keir used just enough to make her want to move closer and breathe him in.

  His PA, immaculate in a silver grey trouser suit, brought him coffee. She greeted Andrea and Keir thanked her as she bustled away.

  “Lyn spoils me,” he said. “I was just about to fetch my own. Scout’s honour! I don’t just snap my fingers and expect her to pull rabbits from hats. Her theory is that my time’s more costly than hers.”

  “She seems very efficient,” said Andrea, picking up her own cup and wondering whether his wife’s life kept her too busy to cosset him as his PA did.

  He pulled out a chair for Andrea and seated himself beside her. “You were with me when I got the green light to conduct the trial. Now you know what a great mix of skills we have in this team. You included.” He turned his head to look at her.

  “Keir, you really shouldn’t monopolise Dr Palmer like this.” The red-haired nurse appeared as if by magic, standing as close to Keir as physically possible without actually touching him.

  She turned her attention to Andrea. “I forgot to say how much I’m looking forward to working with you, Dr Palmer,” she said.

  “Thank you, Moira. Same here. You and I come from different ends of the spectrum, don’t we? Let’s wait and see if we can’t set the sparks flying.”

  “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I need a quick word with Richard.” Keir rose and moved away, leaving the two women together.

  Andrea needed to subdue a grin. The look of disappointment on Moira Haynes’ face said everything. Clearly the nurse harboured a gigantic crush on the consultant. Briefly she wondered what it must be like to be a man capable of commanding such adoration from the opposite sex.

  She took pity on the other woman. “I notice from the blurb we’ve been given that you worked in Edinburgh before moving down here. I have very fond memories of the place. How has your first year down south gone? And please call me Andrea.”

  Across the room, Keir glanced at the two as he waited for Richard Bailey to finish his conversation with one of the other doctors. How different the anthropologist and the nurse were, apart from obvious things like their individual, impressive track records and the respect afforded them in their chosen careers. Each was also an attractive woman. But whereas Moira Haynes displayed an open invitation in those Persian kitten blue eyes each time she looked at him, Andrea still wore an invisible shield. Yet she was the one he longed to know better. What’s more, he didn’t only mean in a professional capacity.

  This could only lead him into dangerous territory and, to his shame, the kind of thinking he’d previously accused Richard Bailey of. It was imperative to regard Dr Palmer as a professional colleague. Nor should he wonder, even for one minute, what exactly her feelings were about him.

  As soon as Richard became free, Keir saw Moira glance at her watch. From across the room she nodded at him and made her exit. Moira might be a flirt but her timekeeping could land her a job minding Big Ben.

  “Are you in a hurry to get away, Richard? I just need to speak to Andrea,” Keir said. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be rude.”

  “Not a problem. I’m driving her back so I’m ready when she is.”

  Keir made his way to where Andrea sat, checking her phone. She
looked up as he approached.

  “So,” he said. “Do you intend keeping me in suspense?”

  For one wild moment she thought he meant their encounter at the lift. Neither of them had mentioned it. Was he going to try the ‘I keep thinking I’ve seen you somewhere before’ routine?

  Swiftly, she focused. “You mean the clinical trial? I’ve given it a lot of thought, Dr Harrison, and my decision is I’d very much like to be involved. Canada included.”

  “That’s brilliant news, Andrea. But, please call me Keir. It’s all about bonding these days, isn’t it?” His eyes twinkled.

  She nodded. “I believe Richard’s mentioned my mother’s situation to you.”

  “That’s right. I think you’ve made the right decision there too. But then, I would say that, wouldn’t I?” He held her gaze.

  Andrea swallowed. How much more intense the blue of his eyes seemed when he wore a forget-me-not coloured tie. She tried in vain to think of something intelligent to say. Why did he possess the power to catapult her back into her tongue-tied teenage days?

  ***

  Richard’s professional-looking car had an engine that purred and room to put your feet without encountering sweetie wrappers, sand, and the odd discarded plastic gun. Little boys and toy guns - big boys and heavy artillery. When Andrea clenched her jaw it had nothing to do with the Prof’s driving skills.

  “Interesting group of people,” said Richard, waiting at a junction. He glanced sideways at her. “Forgive me if I’m jumping to conclusions here, but has the nurse with that amazing hair got the hots for Keir Harrison?”

  Andrea chuckled. “You’re very naughty, Richard. What an expression to use! Far be it from me to pass comment on my professional colleagues.”

  “So I’m just an old gossip? But I’d bet my lunch money I’m right.”

  “Your lunch is safe. Of course you’re right. What’s more, I saw his PA looking daggers when Moira shimmied up to Keir while he dared to speak to me. No prizes for guessing what’s going on there either.”