the position in the practice to be near Sue and the boys and she’d seen nothing wrong in that.
But at that time she hadn’t expected he was going to be left in sole charge of Owen, Oliver and the garden centre at the back of Woodcote House. Somebody was going to have to keep an eye on the business and he was the obvious choice, being family and already on the premises.
Where on his list of priorities was the Riverside Practice going to come? she wondered dismally. And where would she come? In spite of her annoyance at what she saw as being let down by him, the old attraction was still there and it wasn’t going to go away.
But it wasn’t sexual chemistry that was her main concern at that moment. Her parents had left with an easy mind, believing that between them the practice would be in safe hands, and today had made her doubt if that was going to be the case.
* * *
Megan wasn’t the only one thinking sombre thoughts about the day that was past. When she’d left for home Luke had told the staff that he would lock up, and when the place was empty he went into his room and stood gazing thoughtfully out of the window.
It was a fantastic view in anybody’s book. The peaks rising ruggedly in the distance, and closer the quaint village street with shops that made the uniformity of supermarkets seem soulless and synthetic.
He could see Megan’s point of view. Understood that she felt he was going to be a loose cannon instead of a reliable partner. Sue going away for a prolonged holiday on her own was something he hadn’t bargained for, yet he could see the wisdom of it. As well as support, the boys needed a firm hand at the moment and she was not in a fit state to provide it, but he was.
As to the business, he would concern himself about that when he had to. At the moment it was running smoothly. The staff were loyal and ready to help the grieving young widow in any way they could.
His main concern now was to convince Megan that he wasn’t going to let her down and after her annoyance of earlier in the day he suspected it wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
At almost the same time as the evening before, Megan heard footsteps on the flagging outside, but this time it wasn’t just one pair of feet, there were others, and she wasn’t out in the garden, watching the sunset. She was hunched on the sofa, staring into space.
A knock on the front door brought her to her feet and, putting the chain on, she opened it warily. Her eyes widened when she saw the trio standing in her porch. Oliver was smiling across at her with a boy she didn’t know by his side, and standing behind them was Luke.
‘We wondered if you’d like to join us,’ he said. ‘It’s a lovely night, perfect for mothing.’
She had to laugh. If this was a peace offering, it was original.
‘I might if you’ll give me time to put on some sensible shoes and tell me what I have to do,’ she told him.
‘No problem,’ he said equably. ‘We’ll wait by the gate. We’ve walked up across the fields and our trainers might be muddy.’
When she appeared minutes later in jeans and a white cotton shirt that would stand out in the darkness, Oliver produced a net for her. She observed it blankly and asked, ‘So what do I do?’
‘We catch the moths in the net,’ he told her. ‘There are lots of them flying around in the dark, and when we shine a torch they are attracted to the light.’
‘And what then?’
‘We keep them in a jam jar so they can’t get away, but Uncle Luke says it’s cruel. So we’re going to let them go when we get home.’
‘Right,’ she said gravely, and saw Luke’s teeth flash whitely as he smiled in the fading light.
‘Are you sure you want to come, Dr Marshall?’ Oliver’s friend asked.
‘Absolutely,’ she assured him. The irritations of the day had disappeared when she’d seen Luke on her doorstep.
As they walked along behind the two boys he said in a low voice. ‘Have you noted the time? Half past nine. No midnight excursions. It’s part of the deal.’
‘You seem to have Oliver eating out of your hand at the moment.’
‘Yes, but will it last?’ he said dryly.
They were out in the fields for an hour and although Megan didn’t catch many moths it was nice to be with Luke again in the quiet night. She stumbled over a tree root and his hand came out to save her. His clasp on her arm was the first time he’d touched her and it felt good. Whether he was experiencing the same sensation she didn’t know. He wasn’t showing it if he was.
When they got back to Woodcote House it was time to release the fluttering prisoners from the jam jars and, as they flew off into the night, Megan said, ‘I don’t know how they survived without air.’
‘They had air,’ Oliver assured her. ‘Mikey and me, we punched holes in the lids.’
The lights were on in the house and Luke said, ‘Sue will still be up.’ He sent a wary glance in her direction. ‘She’s busy packing. Do you want a word?’
‘Yes, why not?’ she said as all her forebodings came back to the surface, and they both went upstairs to Sue’s room.
‘So you are off to France, Luke tells me,’ she said after the two women had greeted each other.
‘Yes,’ Sue replied, looking perkier than she’d been in weeks.
‘And the boys aren’t going with you?’
‘No. I don’t want them to miss school.’
‘So you’re leaving Luke to see to things while you’re gone.’
‘Yes. He says everything will be fine.’
‘I’m sure he does.’ She gave her friend a swift kiss on the cheek and said, ‘Have a lovely time, Sue. Maybe when you come back you’ll be a little nearer to facing a future without Gareth.’
Forlorn once again, Sue whispered, ‘I hope so.’
Having looked uncomfortable while the conversation was taking place, Luke spoke into the silence that followed and said, ‘I’ll run you home, Megan.’
As he went to find his car keys Megan knew she couldn’t leave Sue like this. Putting her arms around her, she said gently, ‘It can only get better. You’ve been at rock bottom, the way now is upwards. I’ll do what I can to help Luke while you’re away.’
* * *
‘So?’ Luke said as he drove up the hill towards her cottage. ‘Am I still in trouble now you know that Sue is definitely going to France?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I really don’t know. I was ashamed back there because I wasn’t being as supportive as I should. Yet I still feel that you are letting me down by taking on this huge burden of responsibility.’
‘So
