The Doctor's Christmas Homecoming, page 6
‘I only know this because my mother started a business in creating high-end merino fabric. And by high end, I mean the best. With her contacts in the fashion industry, she ended up being in huge demand to supply the kind of quality that you see in Armani suits or a Dior coat.’
‘That sounds like a high-pressure career.’
‘She was always away,’ Tilly told him. ‘For fashion weeks or photo shoots all over the world. Taking suitcases full of samples and meeting with designers and tailors. She took me to Italy with her on one trip but I hated it. I missed her when she was away, but I missed my pony and my dad too much when I went with her.’
‘Your dad didn’t go too?’
‘No. He adored my mother but he was just as passionate about his work. He’s always had a huge sense of responsibility to his patients and community. He still does.’
Harry nodded. ‘I can see that. He’s going to hate being out of action for as long as it takes for his ankle to heal.’
‘I might have to take some more time off and help out until a locum can be found. It’s the least I should do after he practically brought me up by himself, even before Mum died.’
‘How old were you when you lost your mum?’
‘Nine.’
‘What happened? Was it sudden?’
Tilly nodded. ‘Instant. She had a cerebral aneurysm—at a fashion show in Paris. They said she wouldn’t have known anything about it.’
Harry could remember being nine years old. When his mother was by far the most important person in his world and her love had been as sought after as sunshine. Losing her mother like that—not even being anywhere near her when it happened—must have been an incredibly traumatic part of her childhood, but Harry wasn’t about to step onto such personal ground by asking any more questions.
‘You’d be the perfect locum,’ he suggested instead. ‘You probably know all his patients as well as he does.’
‘Hardly. I left to go to university and I’ve never been back for more than a few days at a time since then.’
Harry regretted his suggestion as Tilly turned away. He could almost feel shutters coming down and the way she leaned on the horn to scatter the final sheep from the road was the kind of warning signal you might expect from an Ice Queen. This wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, was it? And it wasn’t any of his business anyway.
So why was he becoming increasingly curious?
Tilly might have had a closer relationship with her father, but had she been hurt by her mother’s absence in her early years? Left feeling abandoned at times? Was that part of why her father worried about her being lonely as an adult? And, if she and Jim had such a close bond, why had she been avoiding spending time back here?
Harry could almost see the curling corners of layers to Matilda Dawson, and it was tempting to try peeling them off to discover what was underneath but he knew that wasn’t a good idea. Getting too involved with anything—or anyone—was never a good idea because it inevitably led to tears and even if they weren’t his own tears, or if they were symbolic rather than real, Harry had learned it was better to avoid them as much as possible. You kept your distance and, as an insurance policy, you moved on and made a fresh start as often as possible.
It was a relief to distract himself as well as Tilly as they rounded the next bend and then pulled to a halt. He jumped out to open and then close the wide wire gate that would keep the sheep safely enclosed in the ‘long acre’. And minutes later they had arrived at their destination.
The sprawling old homestead they arrived at was a hive of activity. A tent was being put up on the front lawn. Several small children, wearing bathing suits, were playing in the spray of a garden sprinkler, shrieking with delight. A man about Harry’s age was on a ladder on the veranda, winding long strips of tinsel through the wrought iron lacework.
‘Hey... Tilly... I heard you were going to drop in.’ He climbed down off the ladder. ‘Long time, no see.’
‘Hi, Doug. How’s it going?’
‘Oh...you know.’ He was rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Kind of crazy, but wonderful. Biggest gathering of the clan we’ve ever had for Christmas, but knowing it’s the last one for Mum is...well...’ He cleared his throat. ‘We’re under instructions to make it the best one ever and apparently that means putting up every Christmas decoration that five generations of Grimshaws have accumulated.’
Doug was giving Harry a curious glance and he wondered how Tilly was going to introduce him, but it seemed that wasn’t necessary.
‘You must be the boyfriend we’ve heard about. You’re very welcome, mate. I went to school with Tilly, and we all knew she was going to end up being a doctor like her dad.’ Doug was smiling as he held out his hand to shake Harry’s. ‘Knows her own mind, this one. Bit bossy, even...’
Wow...news travelled fast in these parts. Harry caught Tilly’s gaze and could read what felt like a confirmation that information was not only widely shared around here but would be a subject of great interest. That there could be repercussions for anything that was seen or heard by others and that Tilly was nervous about an upset that could spoil the next few days. Mainly for her father, he suspected, but also for herself. She might be choosing not to live where she grew up, or even visit very much, but this place—and its people—were important to her.
It didn’t even feel as if Harry was acting as he gave her the kind of reassuring, loving smile that a couple might share before returning Doug’s firm handshake.
‘Sometimes bossy can be a very good thing,’ he said. ‘Tilly’s the one you want to be in charge if you’re badly injured or sick, that’s for sure.’
It was Doug who was smiling at Tilly now. ‘I’ve heard that. You probably don’t realise how proud your dad is of you. Come inside. Mum’s looking forward to seeing you.’ His smile widened. ‘And the first man you’ve ever brought home.’
* * *
The interior of the old homestead had been renovated over the years to create a huge open area of a kitchen and living area—a welcoming space that was full of light. It was also very full of Christmas decorations at the moment. The tip of a real pine tree in one corner touched the high ceiling and was smothered with fairy lights and decorations. The bucket it was anchored into was invisible behind a mountain of brightly wrapped parcels. Tinsel and paper streamers were looped over the rest of the ceiling, numerous stockings were attached to a wide mantelpiece over the fireplace and every available flat surface had some kind of seasonal ornament on it.
The most notable feature of the room, however, was a hospital bed that was positioned so that its occupant had a clear view of the living area, the kitchen and the views of the gardens and mountains from the windows. The bed had silver tinsel wound around the metal framework, a cheerful red blanket and two small children sitting quietly on the end of the bed playing with toys. As Tilly and Harry approached, two teenagers moved closer to gather up the children and Doug scooped up a toddler from the floor nearby.
‘Let’s all go outside for a few minutes,’ he said, ‘and let Dr Tilly talk to Nana.’
Harry had seen Tilly approach all sorts of people in her work environment, patients and colleagues, in all sorts of situations. Even in an emergency—okay, maybe especially in an emergency—she always gave the impression of being perfectly calm and in total control. Just the way you’d expect an Ice Queen to behave.
He’d never seen her like this. With tears in her eyes and a wobble in her voice as she reached to hug the woman propped up amongst a cloud of pillows.
‘Oh, Maggie...’
‘If it can’t be Jim looking after me, I’m so glad it’s you, darling.’ Maggie’s skin was almost as pale as the white pillows she was resting against but her eyes were bright as she shifted her gaze. ‘And you must be Harry. It’s another gift for me this Christmas, to know that she’s found someone special enough to bring home.’
Oh...help...
Suddenly, this game of pretending to be Matilda Dawson’s boyfriend for a day or two had become something very different. Something that really mattered to people that Tilly cared about. Something significant.
‘It’s a privilege to meet you, so it is, Maggie,’ Harry said.
‘Oh...’ Maggie’s face lit up with a smile that was directed at Tilly. ‘That accent... I can see why you fell for him.’ She looked back at Harry. ‘I had such a crush on Tilly’s father when I was at school,’ she told him. ‘I still had my eye on him after he came back as a newly qualified doctor, but then he met Chiara when she was here for a fashion shoot in the mountains and that was that. Mind you, I could hardly blame him. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen and then she became my best friend...’ Maggie paused for breath and then patted Tilly’s hand. ‘I’ve got a photo of us in the box over there. I was just sorting them. Can you find it to show Harry?’
It was an old photo. Black and white. It was only Maggie’s smile that made her recognisable as one of the young women sitting on a rock beside a lake, but Harry could have sworn that her companion was Tilly. Chiara’s dark hair was long and loose, being lifted by a gust of wind, and she seemed to be laughing as she tried to keep it out of her eyes.
And Maggie was right. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen as well.
He raised his gaze to Tilly and realised that he’d only ever seen her like this, with her hair scraped back so hard it almost looked like glossy black paint on her skull. If she let it escape from that tight style she could look like her mother’s twin. A vibrant, dark angel with no hint of ice anywhere.
Harry listened quietly as Tilly got on with what needed to be done on this visit. She topped up the syringe driver that was delivering a steady dose of narcotics beneath Maggie’s skin and she changed the transcutaneous patch that was also part of her pain relief. They talked about how effective the medications for nausea and other symptoms were and whether there was anything else that was needed medically at the moment.
And he kept sneaking more glances at Tilly’s face. Imagining her with her hair loose. Taking notice of more than simply her hair. He’d noticed the difference this morning, when he’d seen Tilly wearing clothes other than the baggy scrubs she wore at work, but she’d chosen jeans and a designer sweatshirt to travel in. She’d changed almost as soon as they’d arrived home, and now she was wearing a pair of light cargo pants that ended below the knee and she had a white singlet top beneath a shirt that was mostly unbuttoned. How had he not noticed the generous curve of her breasts on that slim frame? That subtle hint of cleavage, even?
He was seeing the shape of her body in a whole new light as he realised how attractive Tilly actually was.
No... Harry could feel his heart sink as he corrected himself. As he realised how attracted he actually was to Tilly.
This was definitely not a part of the plan.
Neither was getting emotionally involved. With a family determined to make the most of a last Christmas with a beloved mother and grandmother, or with someone who had ties with this family that were linked to her own, possibly complicated, past.
He could see the tight grip of Maggie and Tilly’s hands. He could feel the emotion and bond between them.
‘I’ll be back around the same time tomorrow but don’t hesitate to call before then if there’s anything bothering you.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
They all knew that Maggie was not going to be fine but Harry saw the way Tilly followed the older woman’s courageous lead. She even found a smile.
‘We’re off to the pony club party now. I’m filling in for Dad to help judge the fancy-dress competition.’
‘I’ve got two of my grandies there. Look out for Sammy and George. They’re twins. Do you remember Doug’s older brother, John?’
Tilly nodded. ‘Of course. He’s got a farm just outside Arrowtown, hasn’t he?’
‘Yes. But the twins brought their ponies here to get dressed up for the party so I could see them.’ Maggie’s smile was overly bright. ‘They’re being Christmas elves and the ponies are reindeer. Nice and easy this time. Do you remember when you won? With your princess costume?’
‘You took me,’ Tilly said, nodding. ‘Mum was away and Dad got called to an accident at the last minute and I was so upset because I thought I wasn’t going to be able to go to the party. I remember him ringing you in a panic.’
‘He’ll be so happy to have you home for Christmas,’ Maggie said. ‘Are you staying around a bit longer this time?’
Harry could sense that Tilly was trying to put those shutters up again, the way she had when he’d suggested she could work here as her father’s locum. It was obviously harder for her to try and shut Maggie out, however.
‘Ah, well...’ Maggie reached up to touch Tilly’s cheek. ‘You’ll be back when you’re ready, darling. It’s your home.’ She lay back against her pillows, letting her gaze drift around the room with all its decorations and the smell of Christmas baking. ‘We all need to be home in the end,’ she said softly.
Both Harry and Tilly were quiet as they drove back through the mob of sheep on the farm’s private road. Maybe Tilly was already feeling the grief of losing someone special in her life and he could understand that. All too well. He might be trying to stay uninvolved but maybe it was already too late. And maybe he could offer Tilly a small amount of comfort?
‘It’s very sad,’ he said finally. ‘But how lucky is Maggie to be at home with her whole family gathering around her? I was the only family my mam had, and I was too far away when she died.’ Harry found himself swallowing hard. ‘It’s something I’ll have to live with but it’s made it too hard to go home ever since.’
Tilly didn’t speak but her wide-eyed glance said it all. Harry could see surprise that he’d shared something so personal and a connection in that they’d both lost their mothers too soon. It was a glance that only lasted a heartbeat but it gave Harry a glimpse behind the shutters and he could see a child who had lost something she’d never been able to replace. That perhaps she’d never had enough of in the first place? He could feel that vulnerability he’d sensed when he’d wondered if she was lonely and that sense of connection that had hit him like a brick when she’d explained why she had decided to pretend to her father that she was in a serious relationship. After his own revelation when he’d seen that photograph of her mother, there was physical attraction adding a powerful new element to the mix.
Had he really thought he could stay uninvolved?
That ship had already sailed, hadn’t it?
And the mix of emotion he was wading through was suddenly enough to make something else seem crystal clear.
‘I think Maggie was right,’ he added. ‘We do all need to be home in the end. I keep going to new places thinking I’m going to find whatever it is I’m looking for and I never do. I think it might be time for me to go home. Perhaps whatever it is, is waiting for me back in Ireland.’
All he could see in Tilly’s glance this time was curiosity. ‘What is it that you’re looking for?’
‘I don’t know exactly,’ Harry admitted. ‘I just know there’s something missing.’
‘Have you ever thought that you might have already found it, but you kept going because you didn’t recognise it?’
Harry shook his head. ‘I’d know.’
‘How?’
Harry shrugged. Then he shook his head to signal an end to a conversation that was getting far too philosophical. ‘How are you going to know,’ he countered, ‘who the best dressed-up pony is?’
Tilly threw him a smile. ‘I’ll know,’ she said. ‘Because it’ll feel right.’
CHAPTER FIVE
THE CRAIG’S GULLY DOMAIN, a ten-acre paddock near the lake, bordered by trees that were at least a hundred years old, with its clubrooms, children’s playground, tennis courts and a barbecue picnic area was as familiar to Matilda Dawson as the gardens surrounding the home she’d grown up in. Arriving there straight after the visit to Maggie made it feel as if her entire childhood was beginning to fold itself around her like a cloak.
One that felt too heavy. Too hot on this summer’s day. Too...suffocating?
She could hear the peal of a child’s laughter in the distance, the barking of a dog and the whinny of an overexcited pony. She could see colour everywhere, as both children and their ponies were getting ready for the grand parade and the judging of the fancy-dress costumes. As she and Harry got closer to the picnic area she could even smell the last sausage being taken from the grill to get wrapped in soft bread with a generous splodge of tomato sauce on top.
Good grief...she could almost taste how delicious it was going to be to that hungry child who’d come looking for more food.
The area around the clubrooms was a hive of activity. There were parents tidying up equipment that had been used for games, older riders stacking jumping poles onto a trailer and rolling barrels into the storage space behind the building and other adults who were gathered near one of the big wooden tables that held an urn of hot water, a huge enamel teapot and plates of homemade biscuits and slices.
A chorus of greetings began as soon as they were within earshot.
‘Tilly... Merry Christmas! It’s so good you could come...’
‘How’s your dad? We’ve all heard the news...’
Judging by the looks Harry was receiving, everybody had also heard the news that she’d brought a man home for the first time, which meant that everybody was talking about her. That weighty cloak Tilly had been aware of carrying on her shoulders got a little bit heavier.
‘What terrible timing to break his leg right before Christmas...’
