Zack.’ Tara smiled. ‘You’ll be sure to stop by when you’re home?’
‘I shall.’
They stood and walked off and left Zack with his dad. No doubt his mum was leading them through to the kitchen where she would have some cake ready. It was never just a visit for some patients.
Zack could remember most days getting in from school and the lounge would be full with patients, or families of patients.
‘I’ve been tough on you, Zack,’ his father said.
‘And I get why you have been,’ Zack said. ‘I hate that it all falls down to you. And I do worry about you retiring and what’s going to happen but—’
‘You’ve got your life.’ His father said it without malice now.
‘I’m good at what I do,’ Zack said. ‘I need to stick with it. In the same way you stuck with general practice when it was tempting to go to the city.’
He was about to tell his dad his plans to come back, maybe at Christmas so that he and his mother could have a break, maybe take a holiday, but then Zack smiled to himself. If things worked out, and he hoped that they would, there was no way his parents would be heading off on a holiday the next time their son came home.
Whatever happened between him and Freya there would, God willing, be a grandchild for them to get to know.
Now he just had to sort things out with the person who thought she had it all sorted out—Miss Freya.
HE WAS OVER at Bright Hope the next day and made no effort to contact her. His lack of response to the issue drove Freya insane.
And then, when he finally did rock up at The Hills, at ten the next day, he gave absolutely no indication as to his thoughts or feelings.
He kept her on the boil all week and she made an excuse to have to be there on Saturday afternoon, just because she knew he was passing through.
Zack had brought cake.
A great big white chocolate cake piled with fresh raspberries and the staff all oohed and ahhed and Freya sat there in the staffroom, trying to fathom its meaning.
For a clue.
And she was still searching for the secret sign when he came down and sat opposite her, having cut a large slice. He crossed his long legs and gave her a smile.
‘How are you, Freya?’
‘I’m very well, thank you.’
‘I don’t usually see you here at the weekends.’
‘I’ve got a consulting room for my future clients that I’m setting up,’ Freya said, which was true, but she was hardly grappling with an Allen key. This was The Hills after all. Her consulting room was gorgeous. It was attached to her office and Freya had chosen the artwork and rugs to ensure that it was an oasis of calm.
‘Did James mention that I might have a client for you?’ Zack checked, and Freya shook her head.
‘I haven’t seen James today.’
‘Her name’s Emily, she’s nineteen years old. I’m seeing her sister. Her mother mentioned some of the issues that she was having with her daughter. I gave her your card to give to Emily if the time was right.’
‘Thank you.’
Stephanie stood up. ‘Thanks for the cake, Zack, it was a lovely gesture.’
‘No problem.’
She walked off and Freya sat there facing him.
‘Cake?’ Freya asked.
‘Do you want some?’ Zack pretended that he didn’t know what she meant.
‘No!’ She wanted to know what the hell he was thinking. The only change in him she could see was that he’d brought in a cake and was sitting there with almost a smile on his face.
‘Why cake?’
‘Because I was pretty off the other day, with Stephanie and a couple of others, when the baby died, and I thought I’d apologise to the staff.’ He stood. ‘It’s not all about you, Freya.’
‘We need to talk.’
‘When I’m ready,’ Zack said. ‘Anyway, what’s the rush? You’ve already got it all worked out.’
She closed her eyes in frustration.
‘And we’ve got months to sort things out,’ Zack reminded her, and Freya shushed him.
‘I want this sorted. I want to know what your plans are.’
‘When I’ve decided I’ll be sure to let you know.’
‘You’re the most annoying—’
‘Why?’ Zack said. ‘I only jump into bed, Freya, not to your tune, and my thoughts are measured.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Just that,’ Zack said. ‘No deeper meaning. Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?’
She stared at him and she hated that, yes, she tried to search for a deeper meaning to his offer.
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll pick you up at six.’
‘Six?’ Freya said. ‘Are we going to check out the children’s menu for future reference?’
He resisted laughing. ‘I’m operating early tomorrow, I need to be in bed at a reasonable hour.’
And he still had that smile and she was still, still searching for deeper meaning in every word he said.
He set her on fire.
Just that.
She was squirming on the inside and wondering if it was dinner and bed together, or bed alone, if it was talking or what the hell went on in that beautiful head.
He gave her no clue.
Zack cut himself another slice of cake and walked out.
‘HI...’
Freya had just put the final touches to the consulting room and was about to dash home for a quick shower and change before her very early dinner with Zack when the phone in her office rang.
She
