Summer Seaside Wedding (7 page)

‘And what is that?’ he asked bleakly.

‘You’ve never made love to me or even kissed me. So why did you warn me off, unless you thought the
nondescript French doctor at the surgery might fall in love with you and mess up your pleasure-loving private life? ‘If that
was
the case, you need no longer concern yourself. You are just one of those who have found me surplus to requirements, so fret not.’ And, wanting to make a statement, she strode across to her car with a graceful leisured step until, with her hand almost on the door handle, she was swung round and found her face only inches away from his.

‘Did you listen to a word I said last night?’ he demanded. ‘Or were you so full of your hurt that it didn’t register with you that I was trying to save you from more of the same kind of thing?

‘No, I’ve never kissed you, or made love to you, and you think it’s because I don’t want to, do you? Well, how about this for an introduction?’ Taking her face between his still oily hands, he kissed her, gently at first, then, as she became aroused, more demandingly, until she was limp in his arms.

It took another motorist pulling up noisily in the lay-by to bring them back to reality. With cheeks bright red and the rest of her weak with longing Amelie moved out of his arms and as they faced each other he said huskily, ‘Now do you understand?’

‘No!’ she told him weakly. ‘I don’t. How can I?’

Opening the car door, she eased herself into the driver’s seat and drove off into the summer afternoon, leaving him standing motionless, as if the last few moments had turned him into stone.

T
HE
next morning, with all three doctors closeted with their patients in the first surgery of the day, Amelie considered that for anyone else those stolen moments in the lay-by would have been the beginning of a tender, breathtaking romance, but not when she was the woman involved.

Leo had asked her if she understood after setting her senses on fire but there was no way she could have said she did.

It was as if what had just taken place between them had been an ending rather than a beginning. She was bewildered by what was happening to them. Yet one thing had been made clear. Now she knew that given the chance she could love Leo with heart, mind and body, if he ever gave her the opportunity.

He was passionate, mind-blowingly attractive and kind. But there was no way she was going to let those things sweep her into a situation where she was going to be hurt again. Leo had got it right about that. A man with fewer scruples would have led her on, but not him.

It might work for someone else, a tougher woman, less vulnerable than she was, but not for her. If she was on her own for the rest of her life, it would be better than making a mistake now, so she was going to do as Leo had asked and stay away from him in every way except at the practice, where she would try to avoid him as much as possible.

Right now she had to focus on her patients, and she was surprised to see that her next one was Beverly McBride, her gall-bladder patient.

She had given her a supply of antibiotics to clear the infection and now she was back to say that the inflammation was disappearing, but during the night a clear water-like substance had started to come from the wound and it hadn’t been just a dribble.

Needless to say, it was causing concern and when she’d examined the source of it and taken note of the much-improved state of the infected area, Amelie asked. ‘Did it smell at all?’

The answer was no and she explained that it would be some sort of aftermath of the operation. That sometimes air and fluids are pumped into the area where that kind of surgery was to take place.

‘It doesn’t always happen,’ Amelie told her, ‘but I’ve seen it a few times. It is drainage, which is a good omen rather than a bad one. But on the other hand, if it occurs again I suggest that you ring the hospital just to be sure.’

‘They told me not to get in touch with them if I had any problems,’ Beverly reminded her.

‘Yes, maybe they did, but one thing they
didn’t
tell
you was that this might happen, so I feel you are entitled to put the ball in their court if they refuse to see you.’

When she’d gone, only partly reassured with instructions to ring the hospital, preferably, or otherwise the surgery if it happened again, Maria, the young practice nurse, came in with coffee. She paused for a second to say, ‘My dad thinks you are a fantastic swimmer. He’s looking forward to you giving him some help in the evenings down on the beach.’

Amelie smiled across at her from behind the desk and told her, ‘I’m looking forward to it as well, Maria.’ She added wistfully, ‘From what he has told me, it sounds as if you are part of a very happy family.’

‘Er, yes, I suppose I am,’ she agreed, surprised at the comment but having no cause to disagree. ‘Mum and Dad are fantastic. He’s great with us kids
and
with those he meets on the beach.’

‘Yes, I’m sure he is,’ Amelie said with a vision of brief visits to a chilly chateau coming to mind and years of birthday and Christmas gifts sent by mail order.

Breaking into her sombre memories, Maria said, ‘Have you seen Dr Fenchurch with the children who are brought to the surgery? He is fantastic too. Has lots of patience, makes them laugh, yet doesn’t let a single thing escape him medically. Parents with a sick child nearly always ask to see
him
.’

Amelie swallowed hard. What Maria had said described him exactly. Leo was another man who would make a good father from the sound of it, but he seemed to have doubts about the rest of married life or he would have been spoken for long ago.

It was all becoming just too confusing and when Maria had gone back to the nurses’ room she called in her next patient and so the day progressed.

At six-thirty Leo was still ensconced in his consulting room so she made a quick departure and went back to the house for a snack and a change of clothes before going down to the beach to renew her acquaintance with Ronnie the family man once more.

A short time later, with his day at the practice over now, Leo saw her leave from the window of his apartment and thought that Amelie must feel she had seen and felt enough of him for one day. His presence on the beach this evening would be about as welcome as a rip tide, and, going into his kitchen, he began to make himself a leisurely meal.

A couple of hours had passed and the sun was still high in the sky. He’d been watching for her return and so far it hadn’t materialised. He hoped that Ronnie had sorted something out about getting her employed in the proper sense of the word as a temporary lifeguard and not as a voluntary performer. Giving in to the urge to go and find out, he set off for the headland.

When Amelie had arrived there earlier the beach had been packed with families and teenagers enjoying the sun and the sea as white-tipped breakers surged back to where they’d come from, but now the numbers were lessening as folks went to eat in the café at the top of the causeway, in a restaurant in the village or just went back home for whatever was on offer, and he saw her
sitting on a rock, gazing out to sea as she ate an ice-cream cornet.

He smiled. Just seeing her again was making him feel better and he went striding down from the headland to join her, not sure of his welcome but chancing it nevertheless, and noting as he did so that there was no sign of Ronnie anywhere.

As if she sensed he was near, Amelie turned and her heartbeat quickened at the sight of the golden man who had captured her heart and was wishing he hadn’t. Why was he there? she wondered. To carry on where they’d left off in the lay-by yesterday?

‘Hi,’ he said when he drew level. ‘Where’s Ronnie?’

‘Gone back home for a well-earned meal.’

‘So what sort of arrangement is this going to be?’ he questioned. She was so amenable he wasn’t going to allow anyone to take advantage of it, himself included.

‘He’s got permission from the authorities for me to help out in the evenings and at weekends if I so wish. I’m booked onto a refresher course this weekend, so can start immediately after that.’

‘And are they going to be paying you for it?’

She was frowning. ‘What is all this about, Leo? Yes, I will be paid at the rate for temporary employees, and I’m looking forward to being by the sea and being on hand to help anyone who might need me.

‘It must be a wonderful feeling to be needed, though I wouldn’t know. I’d begun to think that was all going to change, but I was wrong, wasn’t I? Should have known
better and taken note of what Lucy and Maria have told me—that you have only to give them a glance and half the women of the village would come running.’

That was one for him, he thought, cringing at the implication, but it was only partly true.

He’d spent a major part of the previous twelve months driving to and from Manchester to look after his mother while at the same time trying to hold on to the position in Bluebell Cove, which he’d only just settled into when she’d become ill. If his sister hadn’t come over from abroad and offered to take their mother back with her, he would have had to leave the place that he’d fallen in love with on sight, the same as Amelie had.

Ethan had proved a good friend in those dark days by keeping the position open for him, even though he hadn’t been there half the time, and he wasn’t ever going to forget that.

Maybe he had gone off the rails a bit when his sister had stepped in. He’d been on a high after months of pressure, but it didn’t mean he’d slept around or deliberately gone out of his way to attract the opposite sex. The reason for that had been because he’d never met anyone who could replace Delphine until now and here she was, sitting on a rock, licking a cornet and wanting him gone.

He hadn’t come down to the beach to preach the gospel according to him, as she’d described it. It was a matter of needing to know that she was all right, and maybe get some feedback on that kiss. But after the conversation they’d just had he was beginning to wonder
if it had actually happened. If he’d made her even more disgruntled with him, it would be just another mountain to climb.

‘Is Ronnie coming back, or what?’ he asked.

‘No. He would have done, but I told him not to, that I would stay until the light went and that would be it. After all, there are enough notices around the place to warn the people who come here of the currents and the fast tides.’

He was looking around him. The beach was deserted except for a man walking his dog, and the light was going already, so he said, ‘The light has almost gone and I know the guy with the dog. He’s one of my patients who has lived here all his life and isn’t likely to get himself into any trouble down here with the comings and goings of the tides. So I’ll walk you back to the village.’

‘Do I have a choice?’ she asked coolly, concealing her pleasure at the thought.

‘No, you don’t,’ was the reply. ‘I am not leaving you down here on your own. It will be dark soon and in future don’t be so generous with your offers to our friendly neighbourhood lifeguard.’

‘Don’t be so crabby!’ she exclaimed, unaware that he wasn’t sure if his suggestion that she help out on the beach had been a good idea.

‘I’m not,’ he told her, ‘but I know what you’re like.’

‘No, you don’t!’ she declared. ‘I can be strong and inflexible if I have to…so take care.’ She was smiling
but it didn’t reach her eyes and he wondered whether she was referring to the past or the present.

On the walk back to their respective dwellings they chatted about local events, the surgery, the weather, everything but themselves, and when they reached her gate she was wishing him goodnight and whizzing up the drive with her door key in hand as if she was wary of him asking to come in.

There had been no likelihood of that, he thought. The wish to do so had been there, but after the hurt he’d caused the other night it wouldn’t be the right thing to do.

In the days that followed they both still kept to his suggestion that they cool it. Their only lapses had been
the
kiss and their meeting on the beach when she’d been filling in for Ronnie.

The only time they were in each other’s company now was at the practice, and both kept contact there down to the minimum. She was miserable and lonely, and he was causing much speculation amongst his socialising friends by never being available when it was party time.

Harry was the only person who guessed what was going on and he said nothing but thought a lot, along the lines that Leo was crazy if he was keeping the young French doctor at a distance. She was good at the job, a charming young woman, and he was a great guy.

But remembering all the ups and downs and misunderstandings that he and Phoebe had had before it had all come right, he could sympathise with Leo, whose
attractions seemed to cause more misery than pleasure in his life. But something told him that Amelie would not be swayed by outward appearances, she would need more than that.

The stalemate between them was still in place the week of the Big Summer Picnic that was held on the field behind the village hall. It was free, the only thing asked of those who attended was that they bring their own food and drinks, otherwise it wouldn’t be a picnic.

Amelie was looking forward to it as something to break into the routine she had fallen into of surgery and beach on weekdays, and the beach again for most of the weekend.

One of the most painful things about cooling it with Leo was them living so close to each other. When she looked across at his apartment it was as if it was a tree bearing forbidden fruit, beckoning her to come and taste. She sighed at the stupidity of the way they were behaving, but if ever they were to put an end to the painful pretence they were involved in, Leo would have to be the one to do it because it had come from him.

He looked on the closeness of their homes as a mixed blessing. It was comforting to know she was so near, but agonising not to be able to talk to her, hold her, and the blame for that was his alone for not facing up to the past.

Until now he’d never met anyone who’d made him feel uneasy about the memory time warp he was caught up in, but with the coming of Amelie a voice in his mind was telling him to look to the future and forget the past.
But he’d lived with the memory of Delphine for a long time, so would he be able to put it to one side and find happiness with Amelie?

Most of the surgery staff were going to the Big Summer picnic and, knowing how interested she was in any local event, he was pretty sure she would be amongst them. So if nothing else they would be around each other for a few hours if the warm lazy days of summer that had become a regular thing over the last few weeks didn’t disappoint the picnickers.

He’d promised the vicar’s wife he would be around all the time in case of accident or injury, and knew that Harry would also be there with Phoebe and little Marcus. And with Amelie also amongst those present, health and safety would be well represented should the need arise.

He had been right when he’d thought that Amelie wouldn’t want to miss the picnic. The days were long without him in her life when she was away from the surgery. Even the time on the beach with Ronnie, which she really enjoyed, didn’t make up for his absence. So
she
was hoping
he
would be at the picnic, if only for the chance to be near him in a less restricted way than when they were working.

She set off for the village hall with a picnic basket optimistically holding enough for two, and knew she could be asking for a disappointment, yet it was worth a try.

He was there before her, supervising the erection of
a carousel beside the large marquee that was always provided in case of rain. But today the skies were blue and the sun was beaming down graciously on to the scene below.