make a cup of tea for the old man in cubicle six? He’s really shaken up and it might help to steady him. I’d make it myself only I’m a bit pushed this morning with Ben being off sick.’
‘No problem,’ Melanie replied cheerfully, dropping a tea-bag into a second mug and topping it up with boiling water from the kettle. ‘What’s up with Ben, by the way? Any idea?’
‘He’s suffering from a nasty case of diarrhoea apparently. Trish took the message.’ Heather grimaced. ‘Let’s hope it isn’t catching. The last thing we need is the rest of the staff going down with some bug or other.’
‘I doubt that will happen. Ben doesn’t get close enough to pass on his germs,’ Melanie observed ruefully.
Heather laughed. ‘I take it that you’ve had no luck with him?’
‘Nope! Not even a flicker of interest. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Maybe you could give me a few tips?’
‘Tips?’ Heather stared at the younger woman in surprise. ‘What do you mean?’
‘That if I had the same kind of effect on our dishy Dr Carlisle that you had on that fireman, I’d be a happy woman.’
Melanie picked up the mug of tea and headed for the door. She grinned as she eased past Heather. ‘I saw him talking to you, Heather. He’d obviously made a special detour down here to see you.’
‘I…um…Yes.’
Heather blushed. She’d tried to forget about Ross Tanner’s visit by concentrating on work, but Melanie’s teasing comment brought it all flooding back. She had been so shocked when he’d asked her out to dinner that she’d not even stopped to think. Her refusal had been instinctive yet all of a sudden she found herself wondering why Ross had invited her out. Had it been simply his way of thanking her, as he’d claimed, or because he was attracted to her, as Melanie believed?
The thought made Heather blush all the more and she heard Melanie laugh. ‘There’s nothing like a hero to make a woman go weak at the knees, is there, Heather?’
Fortunately Melanie didn’t wait for her to reply as she hurried away with the tea. Heather followed more slowly, taking several calming breaths to get herself under control. Maybe some women were attracted to the heroic type of man but she wasn’t one of them. If…and it was a very big if…she ever formed another relationship with a man then she would make sure he was someone who spent his working life safely ensconced behind a desk.
She had reached for the phone to ring for a porter when it struck her that a few days ago she wouldn’t even have considered another relationship. She’d had her work and Grace and they had been more than enough. Her throat constricted with a sudden attack of nerves. Although she hated to admit it, she couldn’t deny that meeting Ross Tanner seemed to have affected her thinking. What a good job it was that she’d refused his invitation to dinner.
It was Friday before Ross came up with a plan to see Heather again. It had been a busy week and Red Watch had been called out a number of times while they’d been on duty. They were off duty that weekend and Ross was looking forward to spending some time with his sister, Kate, and his nephews. It made a nice change, being part of a family, even if it was only for a couple of days.
The plan occurred to him while he was catching up with some of the never-ending paperwork. A memo from divisional HQ, reminding station officers about the need to keep on top of issuing fire certificates, had the same effect as a light being switched on. When was St Gertrude’s due for an inspection?
A quick check of the files told him that the hospital was scheduled for a visit that very month. Ross closed the filing cabinet drawer with a satisfied smile. If he could time his visit to coincide with when Heather was on duty, that would be the perfect opportunity to speak to her again. She couldn’t refuse to co-operate because all public buildings required an up-to-date fire certificate. And whilst he was dealing with the essentials he would try to draw her out. If he could just get past her defences then he might be able to get to know her better.
He sighed because there was no reason to imagine that Heather would want to get to know him.
Saturday was cool and blustery, a brisk May breeze sending the clouds scudding across the sky. Heather was off for the whole weekend but she was up before seven and had time to shower and dress in jeans and a long-sleeved navy T-shirt before Grace woke.
She took the little girl into the kitchen and popped her in her high chair then gave her some cereal. It was always a treat to be able to have breakfast with her daughter because most days she was in such a rush to get to work that she had to leave it to her mother to feed and dress Grace. It worried Heather that she was unable to spend very much time with the little girl but Grace seemed happy and well adjusted and there was little else she could do when she needed to earn a living.
Sandra came in just as Heather was wiping Grace’s hands. She dropped a kiss on her granddaughter’s curls then smiled at Heather. ‘You two are early birds this morning. You make me feel quite guilty.’
‘Rubbish! It’s about time you had a lie-in, Mum,’ Heather declared, lifting Grace out of her chair. She glanced at the kitchen clock and grinned. ‘Although not many folk would consider getting up at half past seven as having had a lie-in, especially at a weekend!’
Sandra laughed as she poured herself a cup of tea from the pot. ‘I suppose not. Anyway, what have you got planned for today? I managed to do the grocery shopping yesterday so you don’t have to worry about that.’
‘Catch up with some washing then take Grace to the park if the weather stays fine.’ She glanced at the little girl and smiled. ‘Do you want to go and play on the swings, darling?’
‘Yes!’ Grace clapped her hands in delight.
Heather laughed. ‘That’s my day sorted out. How about you? What are you planning on doing, Mum?’
‘Oh, I thought I might pop into town if you don’t need me.’ Sandra shrugged, feigning nonchalance. ‘I’m going out with David tonight and thought I’d treat myself to something new to wear. Silly really because I’ve got heaps of clothes.’
‘Of course it isn’t silly!’ Heather replied firmly. ‘You want to look your best, don’t you?’
‘Well, yes…But it’s just a drink, Heather. Nothing more than that,’ Sandra said quickly.
‘A drink or a meal, what’s the difference? You deserve a night out, and if this David is anywhere near as nice as I imagine he is then you’ll have a great time. Now, I’d better get this little madam dressed.’
With a last encouraging smile at Sandra, Heather left the room. She was really glad that her mother had decided to accept David Harper’s invitation. It was about time Sandra went out and enjoyed herself instead of staying at home all the time. Just for a second the memory of Ross Tanner’s invitation came flooding back before she quickly dismissed it. She had turned him down and she’d been right to do so. She didn’t need that kind of a complication in her life.
Ross arrived at his sister’s house at eleven and by ten minutes past the hour he was on his way to the park with his nephews. According to his sister, the twins had been watching for his car since they’d finished their breakfast and he didn’t have the heart to make them wait any longer.
His sister was seven months pregnant and
