the choice of vocabulary. She would have to find time to ring a washing-machine repair firm or she would be in trouble tomorrow morning. Oliver was still speaking distractedly.
‘Poor Sophie’s not feeling at all well herself. She threw up three times before we even got to work.’
‘She’s got the written exam for her GP registration tomorrow, hasn’t she? Is it nerves, do you think?’
‘No.’ Oliver couldn’t suppress a grin as he reached for the ECG trace Janet was holding outstretched. ‘We’re pregnant.’
Janet gasped in surprise. ‘I didn’t even think of that!’
‘Neither did we.’ Oliver was still grinning. ‘Toni did. She thought that was why Sophie was so tired and hungry all the time, but she didn’t miss a period. Twice. They were a lot lighter, she said, but they were still on time. You could have bowled us both over when we got the results of the blood test. I talked a mate into doing a scan over the weekend and it turns out she’s about ten weeks along.’
Janet was nodding vigorously. ‘The same thing happened to me. Exactly. Only I didn’t find out until I was twelve weeks pregnant. Gave the father enough time to swan off and get someone else pregnant.’
‘You’re joking!’ Oliver’s face was a picture of disgust. ‘I never knew. What a bastard!’
‘You said it.’ Janet tried to lighten the atmosphere with a grin. ‘No wonder I was put off men for life, was it? No chance now, even if the twins are desperate for a father.’
‘Did he know about the twins?’
‘No.’ Janet looked thoughtful. ‘I was going to tell him but there didn’t seem much point when I found out about the other woman.’ Janet laughed without a trace of amusement. ‘She was my best friend, would you believe?’
Oliver didn’t look amused either. ‘We’re not all like that, Jan. You’ll find the right person one of these days.’
‘That’s the problem, Oliver,’ Janet said sadly. She kept her gaze on the ECG strip which Oliver appeared to have forgotten he was holding. ‘I thought I had found the right person. I was so sure of it. Now I’ll never be able to trust my own judgment again.’ She managed another smile. ‘Anyway, I’m so pleased about you and Sophie. That’s great news.’
‘Thanks. We’re delighted. At least, I’m delighted and I’m sure Sophie will be, too, when she stops throwing up all the time.’ Oliver finally spread the trace out beside the one already on his desk. ‘That’s good.’ He nodded seconds later. ‘No change at all. Tell her to come back in as soon as she’s dressed.’
‘You’ve probably got time for a coffee,’ Janet told him dryly. ‘Or you could have a quick look at a wee girl in the waiting room. She’s a casual, in town visiting her grandmother, but she’s been here before to see Josh. She’s running a fever and is anorexic. She’s also got a cardiac history of some kind.’
‘OK. Put her in the side room and I’ll be there in a minute. I hope we don’t get too many casuals today.’
‘What did the agency say in the end?’
‘They’ll send someone else. When or if they can find someone. There’s a heavy demand for locums at present. Apparently we’re in the middle of conference season.’
Luckily, Miss Little had decided to dress herself again without waiting for clearance. Janet despatched her towards Oliver’s room. There was an unusual silence in the waiting area as she headed back to the front office. All conversation had stopped. Sandy was staring over the counter, looking slightly pale. Janet’s nose provided the first clue to the new development to the day. Young Katy Prendergast had vomited, dousing both the carpet and the contents of the toy basket. Eighteen-month-old Toby Dawson was openly fascinated. Katy’s mother was appalled.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry! Can I find something to clean up with?’
‘I’ll do that,’ Janet told her. ‘Don’t worry. These things happen.’ She nudged Sandy. ‘Take Katy and her mum down to the side room. Get one of the cardboard containers out of my dressings cupboard in case Katy feels sick again.’
Joshua Young’s mother emerged from Sophie Bennett’s room. Joshua was still howling and his mother looked weary. Her expression changed and her nose wrinkled with distaste as she moved towards the counter. Sophie followed her patient out. Her eyes widened in dismay as she neared the waiting room, then she clapped her hand over her mouth and nose and ran for the toilet, slamming the door hurriedly shut behind her.
Janet donned gloves and quickly gathered a bucket of hot water and disinfectant, tucking a supply of floor cloths under her arm. Toby’s mother was trying to keep the active toddler away from the toy basket.
‘Take him into the treatment room, Margaret,’ Janet suggested. ‘I won’t be long. Sorry to have kept you waiting.’
‘No problem.’ Toby’s mother smiled. ‘You look like you’re having a bad morning.’
Janet nodded wearily. There were still three people left in the waiting room after Margaret and Toby left. One was waiting to see Sophie who had still not emerged from the toilet. May Little was in Oliver’s room and Katy was next in line for his attention. The elderly Mr Beaumont and his wife would have to wait a while longer for their appointment to see Dr Spencer.
Sandy Smith looked ready to cry. ‘I wish Toni was here,’ she told Janet mournfully. ‘I don’t think I’m ready to cope with this job on my own. I’m only a receptionist, not a practice manager.’
‘You’re not on your own,’ Janet told her. ‘I’m here. And this is as bad as it gets around here. Honestly! If you can cope with this, you can cope with anything.’
Sandy sniffed dubiously and Janet patted her arm. ‘Open the windows in here for a while. As soon as I’ve finished with wee Toby I’ll come back and look after the desk and you can have half an hour for lunch. Take a walk by the river and get some sunshine and fresh air.’
Sandy brightened. ‘I could go down to the shops. Outboard’s getting low on cat food and kitty litter.’
Janet eyed the still firmly closed door of the toilet. ‘Get some water crackers as well. They’re supposed to be good for morning sickness.’
Not that there was much of the morning left. Toby and his mother had been waiting for over an hour for their appointment.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Janet apologised again. ‘It’s been chaos this morning. I don’t think we had any idea how disruptive it was going to be, having both Josh and Toni away at the same time. And our locum didn’t show up.’
‘I’m not bothered,’ Margaret assured her. ‘It’s not often I get the chance to sit and read magazines. Where did Josh and Toni go for their honeymoon?’
‘They’re cruising the Caribbean,’ Janet said with mock bitterness. ‘If they send a postcard of some tropical paradise with ‘‘wish you were here’’ scribbled on the back, it will definitely be the last straw.’
Both women laughed, and Toby beamed at the sound. Janet held out her hand.
‘Come
