Page 36 of Welcome to the Cornish Country Hospital

‘Tea would be great, thanks.’ On the table in front of Danni was another of Charlie’s sketches. It was a of a basset hound, rolling on its back, with its paws in the air, and it was unmistakeably Brenda.

‘That picture is amazing; you’re so talented.’ As she spoke, Maggie made the biggest huffing sound and Charlie laughed.

‘You’re upsetting Maggie, paying me too much attention and not giving enough to her. She’s feeling it lately, especially now she knows Brenda is my new muse. That dog is so funny.’

‘Oh sorry, Mags.’ Danni leant down and stroked the dog’s velvety-soft head. Brenda lazily opened one eye, and then thought better of making the effort to move, closing it again. ‘You’re a beautiful girl and I know you’re still Charlie’s favourite.’

‘One of them.’ He gave Danni a slow smile as he set the plate of biscuits down on the table, making her want to reach and touch him all the more. She really liked having Charlie as a friend, though, and she couldn’t risk ruining that, especially while they both needed to be there for Connie. ‘Tea’s coming right up.’

‘Great.’ She picked up another sketchbook from the arm of the sofa. ‘Are you working on a new book?’

‘I’m just playing around with ideas at the moment, but I really think Brenda could have her own series.’ When Charlie had gone down to Danni’s place, to meet them for their walk, Brenda had come galloping down the hallway with a pair of Danni’s pants hanging off her head. Of course they couldn’t be the lacy kind, or even the particularly good kind – they had to be the most voluminous pair she owned.

‘I think she’s got a bag for life stuck on her head.’ Charlie had raised his eyebrows quizzically, giving Danni the perfect opportunity to play along. Instead, for some reason she’d never understand, she’d told him they were her pants. He’d laughed then, and because it was Charlie, she’d found herself laughing too. He never made her feel on edge, or as though she needed to be something she wasn’t. That was something she’d never had before, not even with Lucas.

‘If you write a book about Brenda, just promise me you won’t put in the bit about my knickers.’

‘I’m not sure I can make that promise. Kids love stories about things like that, or any reference to bums and bogeys. It’s why I love writing for them so much.’ Charlie grinned again as he brought the pot of tea over to the table.

‘I’ve ordered some of your books.’ It was an admission she hadn’t been planning to make, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from being honest when she was around Charlie.

‘I could have given you some, if you’d asked.’ He sat down next to Danni and her fingers started to tingle again. Stopping herself from making the first move was becoming more and more tricky.

‘Nice girls don’t like to ask.’

‘You see, that’s the problem, because nice guys always think they should wait until they’re asked. So that leaves us with a bit of a dilemma.’ Charlie fixed her with a look that finally allowed her to reach out to him.

‘I don’t think it does.’ At that point, Danni couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d tried. Leaning forward, she didn’t take her eyes off his until their lips finally met. He didn’t move a fraction and there was no attempt by him to duck away. And when they kissed, it was obvious he’d been waiting for this moment every bit as long as she had. She’d told herself not to expect it to live up to what she’d been imagining, and that first kisses were always awkward, but it was like they’d been practising for months to get it right, and she desperately didn’t want it to end there. When she started to unbutton his shirt, he pulled back to look at her.

‘You don’t have to, I mean, I…’ He shook his head, taking her hands in his. ‘I want to, I really, really want to, but I don’t want you to feel like it’s what I’m expecting. I promise that’s not why I was up at six making you biscuits, just to try and lure you here. We don’t have to rush into anything.’

‘I’m not rushing and I’m not expecting anything. I know you won’t be around for much longer, but it’s been years since I did anything like this. I really like you, Charlie, and I don’t want you to feel pressured either. But if this is what you want, I promise you I want it too.’ Danni laughed. ‘Just not in front of the dogs.’

‘Thank God, because I was about to say the same thing.’ Charlie kissed her again and all the things that had held her back from intimacy for so long went out of her head. She just wanted to be with Charlie and, whatever happened between them, she knew she’d never regret finally making the first move. It was time to start living a life of her own again, and she’d always be grateful to him for showing her the way.

* * *

‘Where have these wet towels come from?’ Danni picked two of them up as she headed towards the lounge area of the cottage. The teapot they’d abandoned almost an hour earlier was still there, but the dogs had clearly made short work of the biscuits when they’d been left to their own devices. Thankfully Brenda had the constitution of an ox and she had a feeling Maggie did too, because Charlie had told her just how many times his beloved Labrador had stolen food she wasn’t supposed to eat.

‘That’ll be Maggie. I left the door to the washing machine open and she likes to take the towels out if she gets the chance. With a bit of training she’d probably make a good helping dog, but as it is she’s more of a hindrance.’ Charlie rubbed the Labrador’s head. ‘It’s a good job I love her as much as I do.’

‘Who wouldn’t? Do you think the tea’s still drinkable?’ Danni picked up the pot to see if the sides were warm. She’d expected to feel awkward or nervous around Charlie, after what they’d just done. With everyone else, she’d always second-guessed what they were thinking after they slept together, wondering if they’d been disappointed, but never even hinting at her own disappointment in how things had gone. Maybe that was why it was different with Charlie, because disappointment was the furthest thing from her mind. Whatever it was that had been broken in Danni by loving Lucas and getting nothing in return, Charlie had done more to help fix it than the mountain of self-help books she’d waded her way through.

‘I can make us a fresh pot. How about a sandwich? Are you hungry?’

‘Starving.’ Her stomach gurgled in agreement and she kissed Charlie again, this time without any expectation. ‘Thank you.’

‘What for?’

‘For making me a sandwich, for all of it, for just being you.’

‘Being me is what I do best.’ Charlie had summed up everything she liked so much about him in a single sentence. He was alwaysjust him. ‘Give me five minutes and I’ll make you the best sandwich you’ve ever tasted. Well, today at least.’

‘Sounds perfect.’ Danni curled her legs underneath her on the sofa and Maggie positioned her head on the armrest, staring up with her bright, soulful eyes.

‘It’s all right, girl.’ Danni whispered the words. ‘I’m not trying to take your place, I promise. But I really do like him.’

‘Did you say something?’ Charlie called out.

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