the co-ordinating domestic violence scheme in the Cove she, Jo, would handle the applications for funding.
‘I think,’ she added, the little frown that creased her brow—one line only—attracting Cam’s attention, ‘that we have to rename ourselves. Being just a co-ordinating committee for the refuge has been fine up to now, but I think we need to show the funding bodies that we’re serious. We need to show we’re being proactive in dealing with domestic violence throughout the community, which is what we’ll be doing.’
‘How about the Domestic Violence Integrated Response Team?’ Mike suggested, showing Cam by his use of key words that he was an old hand at filling out forms for government agencies.
‘Not sure about the “Response”,’ Tom said. ‘Jo’s right, we’ve got to go beyond responding to situations if we want to prove our worth.’
‘Response and Prevention?’ Lauren offered. ‘After all, we do a lot of work with women to show them how to stay safe in their relationships.’
‘Let’s think about it,’ Jo said. ‘We’re on the right track and we’ve enough to go on with for now. But while we’re here, can we get back to schoolies? Mike, have you got enough volunteers for the chill-out zone?’
‘We’ve got the usual lot but can always use more.’
He turned to Cam.
‘You going to volunteer, mate?’ he asked. ‘Up to now, Tom and Jo have shared the call-out duties.’
‘Happy to do it,’ Cam said. ‘I imagine Jo can tell me where to be and when. She’s good that way, my boss.’
Jo decided to ignore him, although she’d heard the tease behind the words. Had anyone else heard it? Would it start speculation?
Not that there was anything to speculate on.
And why would that depress her?
‘Let’s all go to the pub for a bite to eat,’ she suggested, thinking a relaxing beer and a little light conversation with her friends might restore her equilibrium.
‘You’ll have to count me out,’ Tom said. ‘I’ve a patient coming in from a farm up in the hills, suspected broken collarbone. He’ll be arriving any minute.’
‘And I’m on duty at the refuge,’ Lauren said, ‘much as I’d have loved a relaxing evening with friends.’
Whether Mike was going to join them became a moot point when he answered his mobile.
‘Road accident,’ he said briefly. ‘No injuries but both drivers over the limit.’
He left the room as Tom also stood up and closed the file he’d had in front of him. He was watching Lauren as she, too, stood and Jo could see the concern on Tom’s face. He was as worried as she, Jo, was, about Lauren’s health. Her friend was driving herself to exhaustion.
‘I can do some evenings at the refuge,’ Jo offered. ‘Now I’ve got another doctor in the practice, I’m not nearly as busy, and Cam could take any late calls that come in if I’m not available.’
‘I can manage,’ Lauren said.
‘Not for much longer,’ Jo told her. ‘And I’m telling you that as your doctor as well as your friend.’
Lauren sighed. She waited until Tom had followed Mike out of the room, then said quietly, ‘You haven’t heard, have you?’
‘Heard what?’ Jo asked.
‘Nat Williams is coming home for Christmas. Bringing his American wife and their two kids—they’ll be here for a month.’
Jo was so shocked by Lauren’s attitude she forgot a stranger—well, almost stranger—was in the room with them.
‘You can’t possibly still be carrying a torch for that man,’ she fumed. ‘Lauren, get over it—it was, what, nearly fifteen years ago?’
‘I am not carrying a torch for him,’ Lauren said. ‘His dumping me was the best thing he ever did for me. It’s not that, it’s the family thing, coming here with his wife … ‘
She shrugged her too-thin shoulders.
‘I can’t explain it. You know me—practical Lauren—never one to go for vague feelings but the feeling I have isn’t vague and I don’t even know if it’s to do with Nat. Maybe it’s the refuge and the trouble we’re in there, or—oh, I don’t know, Jo, I hate sounding melodramatic and you know that isn’t like me, but I have this terrible sense of impending doom.’
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
