Page 58 of Doc Hollywood

“I am so confused. How does not knowing how to do a very niche and specialised job have any reflection on his intelligence.” She flicked her indicators on, waiting for the road ahead to be clear.

“I have absolutely no idea. I do know it then devolved into swearing on both sides.”

Clara turned onto the road that the pub was on and began scanning for a parking space; spotting one not too far from the door, she indicated and pulled in.

“And then what happened?” She switched the engine off.

“The fake doctor stomped off, smashing a couple of windows in the hospital on his way out.”

“Wow.” Clara grabbed her bag from the seat and picked up her phone, balancing it on her shoulder again.

“Have you parked?”

“Yeah,” she said as she began to walk along the street to the pub.

“Alright, stay on the phone with me until you get there safe,” he requested.

“Sure, it’s only a couple of hundred meters.” She strolled along the street, suddenly not in a hurry to get there, as it would mean hanging up the phone. “What else did you do today?”

“Rehearsals, some hair and makeup tests. It was a pretty low-key day.”

“Oh, that sounds more interesting than my day. We did two lap appendix, two bum abscesses, a gall bag, and a c-section,” Clara described her day in the emergency theatre.

“A gall bag?” Taylor sputtered.

“Sorry, gallbladder removal surgery. I forget sometimes that you’re not a medical student.” Clara chuckled.

Arriving at the door of the pub she didn’t go in, instead lingering on the phone at the entrance.

“I would make a terrible medical student,” Taylor confessed.

“Why?” She glanced in the door, hoping that none of her team would spot her and interrupt their conversation.

“I felt sick at least five times while I was with you,” he mumbled.

“What!” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say anything.”

“I was too embarrassed to say anything as it wasn’t affecting you at all,” he said quietly.

“Yeah, but it’s literally my job. When I was a medical student, I nearly passed out a few times. In fact, it’s why I never took up surgery; I couldn’t stand for a whole operation without getting faint. Which is why I do a job where I get to sit down while the surgeons stand up.”

“That’s different. That’s not because you’re too much of a wimp to look at a bit of blood,” Taylor muttered, his embarrassment obvious even over the phone.

“I beg to differ. I once tried to faint when a patient was post big abdominal surgery, and every time she laughed, a bit more of her wound popped open. I had to leave the room and only made it two meters down the corridor before I needed to lie on the floor or risk passing out. It’s a little embarrassing to be wearing your medical student white coat while you lie on a corridor floor debating if you’re going to vomit.”

“You did not! You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” The laugh was back in his voice.

“I absolutely did, and that’s only one of many times I tried to faint. Do you feel better now?”

“I actually do. Are you at the pub?”

Clara debated lying when the door swung open, and Sadie stuck her head out; she had obviously noticed her lurking outside.

“Hurry up, Clara. We’re about to start,” Sadie called. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realise you were on the phone. Are you on call?”

“No. I’ll be there now,” Clara mouthed and held a finger up to indicate she would only be a minute, but her friend only stood there, looking at her with interest.

“Is that Sadie?” Taylor asked.

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