preferential treatment.’
‘And why on earth would they think that?’
‘Well, I’ve had a lot of time off recently and …’ She felt flustered as she attempted an explanation. ‘You’re the boss. If you think it’s OK then I’d best take your advice.’
He put on a serious expression. ‘I’m absolutely certain. Easy does it.’
‘You’ve been so kind to me.’ She was merely stating the obvious while no one was around to hear her praising him. She just felt she’d had preferential treatment and had to be careful.
‘I’m just being an attentive doctor to a valuable colleague.’ His voice was husky. He cleared his throat, before continuing in a totally neutral voice without a hint of emotion, ‘You’re a very useful doctor in our department so we don’t want to mess up the treatment you’ve had at this stage.’
She felt another surge of gratitude. ‘I was wondering …’
‘Yes?’
‘I’m truly grateful for the way you’ve taken care of me since I sprained my ankle and I’m sorry for the way I was so grumpy when you found me lying in the sand.’
‘Oh, Chantal, you were suffering from shock. Completely understandable. You were in pain. It was perfectly natural for you to behave like that. Forget it.’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking.’
She paused as she reflected that she really had been thinking too much about this delicate situation. It had started while she’d had to spend a lot of time resting during the early part of her treatment. Now was the time to act before she lost her nerve.
‘I’d like to buy you supper one evening as a means of thanking you for all your help in getting me back on my feet’
He was staring at her now, seemingly lost for words. ‘Chantal, you don’t have to buy me supper.’
‘Oh, but I’d like to.’
She’d rehearsed this invitation so often, not knowing how he would take it. She hadn’t meant to deliver it in this awkward position, sitting sideways to the desk, holding her convalescent ankle with both hands. She must look so ungainly.
‘Of course I know you must be busy in the evenings so if—’
‘I’d like to take up your offer, Chantal. Thank you. What did you have in mind?’
He was smiling now, trying to lighten up. She’d caught him completely off guard. It had been the last thing he’d expected from her.
‘Well, I thought it would be fun to have supper at that old wooden beach café near the place where you rescued me from that killer stone. I used to be taken there for lunch after a morning on the beach at Club Mickey. It was before my father died, I remember.
‘Every August my cousin Julia and her brothers came over from England with their parents for a holiday and that was where we’d all meet up. It was such a treat. Our mothers—they’re twins—were always there. Our fathers were both English so the conversation over lunch switched from English to French all the time. It was such a happy time in my life.’
He noted the poignant hint of nostalgia in her voice before he spoke to reassure her of his interest in this kind invitation.
‘I’d enjoy going to the beach café, Chantal. Actually, I’ve never got around to visiting it. It looks a quaint sort of place.’
She smiled. ‘I’m not surprised you haven’t tried it yet. It looks very shabby now. The winter winds and rain mean it needs repainting every summer. They haven’t got around to that yet this year but it’s got its faithful clientele just the same.’
‘Will you make the booking or shall I?’
‘Oh, we don’t need to book. It’s first come first served. Just let me know when you’re free.’
‘How about tomorrow?’
She hid her surprise at his prompt reply. She’d expected him to defer his answer and then possibly forget about it. She wouldn’t have had the nerve to repeat her invitation.
‘Yes, that would be good. If I’m only working for the afternoon I won’t be tired.’
He nodded. ‘That was exactly what I was thinking. We’ll go straight there when we come off duty. Now, finish your report as soon as you can and go and rest that ankle on your bed with a pillow to elevate it. Be sure to call Housekeeping and order supper to be brought up to your room.’
‘Oh, I didn’t know that was possible.’
‘All things are possible for the medical staff of the Hôpital de la Plage.’
He was reaching across the desk for the internal phone. ‘This is Michel Devine. My colleague Dr Winstone will be resting in her room this evening. Could one of your staff take her a supper tray? Yes, about seven o’clock.’
He broke off to speak to Chantal. ‘Coq au vin, omelette, or salade Niçoise?’
‘Salade Niçoise, please.’
He relayed the message. ‘So I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, Chantal. Now, do rest that ankle.’
He turned and moved towards the door to stop himself regretting his decision to have supper with Chantal. Closing the door after he’d passed through it, he leaned against it, breathing heavily.
‘You OK, Dr Devine?’
He hadn’t noticed a junior nurse coming along the corridor.
‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you, Nurse.’ He recovered quickly and smiled down at the young lady who was looking earnestly concerned about him.
He started walking in the other direction. Taking care of Chantal as a colleague posed no problems. But spending a whole evening with her in the romantic setting of the beach as the sun disappeared behind the hills? What was he thinking? It was the sort of situation he’d avoided since Maxine had died. OK he’d play it cool, very cool. No emotional involvement.
Two colleagues having supper together, discussing … well, whatever colleagues are supposed to discuss. Nothing remotely romantic. Books, theatre, cinema. That sort of thing should keep the evening going without too many gaps in the conversation. Ah, she’d lived and worked in Paris, hadn’t she? He could leave most of the talking to her.
Chantal could tell it was already morning before she even opened her eyes. She could hear the sound of footsteps hurrying down the corridor. Everybody was going on duty. But she had been ordered to rest.
She opened her eyes and looked at the travel clock on her bedside table. Eight o clock! She hadn’t set her alarm for once. No need for that this morning.
The phone rang. It was housekeeping asking if she would like breakfast. Dr Devine had left instructions for them to call. ‘Would you like a croissant?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘And a coffee
