island. Even rockier, given the tight body language and an almost desperate look on his face as Anna edged through the partygoers to join the group of familiar faces.
‘Anna. Merry Christmas!’
‘Thanks, Ben. Hi, Lucy.’ Anna smiled at Ben’s wife, her gaze dropping to the bundle snuggled against the front of her body with a sling. ‘I heard you’d had another baby. Congratulations.’
‘Thanks. Yes, this is Kitty. She’s ten weeks old now.’
A small girl was peeping out from behind Lucy’s legs.
‘This must be Annabel.’ Anna searched her memory. ‘It’s her birthday soon, isn’t it?’
‘Christmas Eve.’
‘Just as well she’s a party animal.’ Ben grinned. ‘She’s loving it.’ He was holding Annabel’s little brother, Josh, but he reached down to touch his daughter. ‘Tell Dr Anna how old you’re going to be on your birthday, darling.’
‘Free,’ Annabel said shyly. Ben tickled her head and made her giggle.
Who could help smiling at the joyous sound? Glancing up, Anna saw Luke’s lips curve and it was, almost, the kind of smile he’d given her that day. Poignant. Real.
But not happy. The sound of laughter around them was virtually constant and Anna wanted to hear Luke laugh. To see and hear him forget himself in a moment of happiness. The feeling that he might never do that was heartbreaking. She tore her gaze away swiftly. Towards another smiling face.
But Josh O’Hara’s smile looked forced and the petite, blonde woman standing beside him wasn’t smiling at all. She was draining a glass of wine.
The A and E consultant noticed the direction of her gaze. ‘Anna? You won’t have met my wife. This is Rebecca.’
Charlotte and James Alexander joined the group, along with another man whom Anna recognised as Nick Tremayne, head of the Penhally medical centre.
‘Has anyone seen Kate? I told her to pop in while I was upstairs visiting my patient but I can’t find her anywhere in this crowd.’
‘Nick!’ Ben stepped closer to the newcomers. ‘So you got in to see Mrs Jennings?’
‘Yes. The surgery went well. She should be up and about with her new hip in no time. Home for the new year.’
‘How’s Jem?’ Anna asked. ‘He was the talk of the hospital there for quite a while.’
‘He’s great. Started senior school in September and seems to be loving it. Still gets a bit tired but it’s been a big year for all of us.’
‘Sure has.’ Charlotte smiled. ‘It’s going to be a special Christmas this year. Your first together as a new family.’
‘It’s going to be wonderful. If I can find my wife, that is. Excuse me. Carry on enjoying yourselves. Oops!’ Nick almost collided with a waiter bearing a tray of brimming champagne glasses.
Anna caught Luke’s gaze and there was a moment of connection there. Neither of them was enjoying themselves in this setting.
It might be better somewhere else, Anna’s response of a smile suggested. Somewhere without any of this crowd and noise. Somewhere they could be alone. Together. It had to be her imagination but Luke seemed to be silently in agreement. If nothing else, he certainly recognised the connection.
‘Drink, Anna?’ someone asked.
‘No, thanks. I’ve still got patients I want to check on before I head home.’
‘Definitely not for me,’ Charlotte said happily.
‘Or me,’ James chimed in valiantly. ‘I’ve climbed on the wagon with my wife.’
‘Oh?’ Ben’s smile broadened. ‘For how long, might I ask? Seven or eight months, perhaps?’
‘Um … actually, there’s something we probably should have told everyone quite a while ago now.’
The tray was still within reach and Josh’s wife swapped her empty glass for a full one. Anna caught the expression on Josh’s face. He’s embarrassed, she thought in surprise. He doesn’t want her drinking any more. No. The tension was deeper than that. It was hard not to get the impression that he wasn’t comfortable having his wife there at all.
She took another glance at the woman she’d never met before. Rebecca had the kind of grooming that came, in her experience, with women who had plenty of money and too much time to spend on how they looked. Flawless make-up. Shoulder-length hair that was beautifully cut and exquisitely highlighted. Her nails sported a perfect French polish and her figure might be curvy but it looked well toned.
Rebecca had also caught the look from her husband. ‘What?’ she snapped. ‘You think I’ve had enough?’ A tiny snort suggested that an unhappy exchange was nothing new to this couple.
It was Anna’s turn to feel embarrassed. She looked away to where Lucy was giving Charlotte a one-armed hug that wouldn’t disturb the sleeping baby in the sling. Ben and Luke were both offering their congratulations to James and they all seemed unaware of the sudden atmosphere Anna was separating them from.
‘Maybe I have had enough,’ Rebecca said, too loudly. ‘Of everything.’
‘I’ll order a taxi for you,’ Josh said. ‘I’ve still got some work I need to do tonight.’
‘Of course you do.’ Rebecca’s laugh was brittle.
‘Let’s go.’
‘When I’ve finished my drink. It’s not as if I have any reason not to, is it?’
Josh’s voice was too low for anyone but Anna to hear. ‘I think we should go now. This isn’t the place.’
‘But it never is, is it, Josh?’ Rebecca raised her glass but, to her dismay, Anna saw that the woman’s lips were trembling too much for her to take a sip and tears were filling her eyes. Debating whether she should say something when it was obviously none of her business, Anna was relieved to see Rebecca blinking hard. Making a determined effort to control herself.
But then she shifted her gaze to where Lucy was standing with her tiny baby and Charlotte had pulled her top tight to show off her rounded belly, and Rebecca’s face just crumpled. She pushed her glass at Josh and turned, tears streaming down her face as she fled. The others all turned in surprise.
‘Oh … God,’ Josh groaned. ‘Sorry about that. I need to. Would you.?’
‘Give it to me.’ Anna took the champagne glass and Josh elbowed his way through the throng in pursuit of his wife.
‘What was that all about?’ Lucy looked worried.
‘What happened?’ Charlotte looked bemused.
‘Josh and his wife. They didn’t look very happy.’
Oh, no. Was this social occasion about to become
