style="font-size:15px;"> ‘Pleased to meet you.’
Alex wiped his hand on his jeans and held it out. Carol shook it, nodding at him quickly, and then turned to Marie.
‘Did you mean what you said? To Nisha?’
‘About coming to see me? Of course. Is there something wrong?’
Carol nodded, tight-lipped.
‘Do you want to come inside and talk?’
Perhaps it was something Carol didn’t want to say in front of Alex.
‘No. No, that’s all right. I’ve got to get home—this one’s going to start playing up in a minute.’ She gestured down at Georgie, who was wriggling in the pushchair, clearly cross that the park was on hold for the moment.
Alex squatted down on his heels and poked his tongue out at the toddler. Their game of pulling faces seemed to be keeping them both occupied for a moment, which left Carol free to talk with Marie.
‘Is there something Nisha needs? Something we can help with?’
‘Yeah. Look, I can’t really talk about it…’
Carol was almost whispering now, and Marie lowered her voice too.
‘That’s okay. Has she been to see her GP?’
‘No, she won’t. This place looks…’ Carol shrugged. ‘She might come here. I could get her to come. But you will see her, won’t you? I don’t know that it’s a strictly medical thing.’
‘If it’s not a medical problem I’ll refer her to someone who can help her. The whole point of this place is to find whatever answer is appropriate.’
‘Right. Thanks. When are you opening? For…um…whatever… Appointments?’
‘Next week. But Nisha doesn’t need an appointment—she can come at any time. All you need to do is get her here and I’ll make time to see her.’
‘Great. Thanks.’ Carol looked down at Georgie, who was laughing and trying to reproduce the faces Alex was making. ‘I’d better get back. I told Nisha I was just popping back for something at the shops and I’d meet her in the park.’
‘All right. But, Carol…’ Marie caught Carol’s arm before she could leave. ‘This is important. If you think Nisha’s in danger in any way you must get her to call someone. Or bring her here.’
‘No, it’s nothing like that. Her husband’s a good man. It’s just…embarrassing. You know?’
‘Okay. I can do embarrassing. Get her to come and see me—you can come with her if that helps.’ She glanced down at Alex, raising her voice to catch his attention. ‘I don’t think Alex’s quite used up his stock of funny faces.’
Alex grinned up at Carol, getting to his feet. ‘He’s a great little chap.’
‘Thanks. He can be a bit of a handful.’ Carol was smiling now. ‘I’ll see you, then…?’
‘I hope so.’ Alex gave her a smile and Carol turned and hurried away.
‘What was all that about?’
Marie shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Something about the friend she was with a moment ago. She wouldn’t say.’
‘You think she’s in any danger?’ Alex’s first question was the same as Marie’s had been. It was always their first question.
‘No, Carol says it’s embarrassing.’
He nodded, tipping his glass towards hers. ‘Here’s to your first patient, then. Congratulations, you’ve pipped me to the post. I haven’t got any yet.’
‘Thank you. I dare say that’ll change, but I’m quietly triumphant over having beaten my excellent and glorious co-director.’
Marie took a sip of her lemonade and saw the corners of Alex’s mouth quirk downwards. Maybe the joke was a little too close to the mark for him.
‘All right. Never say that again.’ His face was serious for a moment, and then he smiled, knowing he’d fooled her. ‘I might consign you to the dungeons.’
‘How about Your Majesty? I suppose that’s out as well?’
He chuckled. ‘Definitely. That’s a throwing-from-the-battlements thing…’
‘Get back to work, Alex.’ Marie drained her glass, handing it back to him.
MARIE HAD MADE no secret of the fact that staying away from the courtyards was driving her insane with curiosity. Alex had escorted her off the premises at five o’clock and gone back to work, sorting out the best of the bricks and discarding those that were damaged.
The second day of Alex’s practical introduction to laying pavers had involved an early start and a concentrated burst of work, but by the afternoon he was surveying the newly swept paving with Charlie, the lad Jim Armitage had sent to help him. Alex suspected Charlie had also been instructed to report back to Jim if it looked as if he was about to make a complete mess of things, and it was a matter of some pride to him that Charlie hadn’t gone to seek out his boss at any point.
‘What do you think, Charlie?’
Charlie nodded sagely. ‘Nice job. Are we going to lay out the planters now?’
‘Yes, I think so. Then we can show it to Marie.’
‘She can put her flowers in. She’ll like that.’
Charlie spoke with the certainty of all his nineteen years, and Alex smiled. The warm colours of the brick had made all the difference to the space.
‘Yes, I think she will. Thanks for all your hard work.’
Charlie nodded, obviously pleased.
They set out the planters from the chart Marie had given them, and Alex left Charlie to bring some of the shrubs through from the other courtyard while he went to find Marie.
She was sitting in the reception area, where she could keep an eye out for anyone whose curiosity had brought them to the door, staring at the screen of her laptop.
As soon as she saw him she jumped to her feet. ‘Is it finished?’
‘Yes. You want to come and see it?’
‘There are a few things I have to do, but I’ll have a look later on…’ Alex’s face must have shown his dismay and she laughed. ‘Of course I want to come and see it!’
‘Okay.’ From his pocket he produced the extra-large handkerchief he’d brought from home that morning, brushing a speck of brick dust from it. ‘Stand still for a moment.’
