Page 44 of Welcome to the Cornish Country Hospital

‘That you promise me you won’t go back to Yorkshire before I leave Port Kara.’ He fixed her with a look of such intensity she found herself nodding.

‘I won’t.’ Even as she thought about all the reasons why she couldn’t really agree to Charlie’s request, she knew she wouldn’t break the promise she’d just made to him. If Richard wanted to punish himself for what had happened, that was his prerogative. But, for now at least, Charlie wanted Connie in his life and she wasn’t going to give up that opportunity for a second time. Not without a fight.

* * *

‘Connie coped better than I thought she might with the news that Richard is pushing everyone away.’ Danni had admired the older woman’s resolve from the moment she’d met her. But it was clear that as much as she might once have loved Richard, her feelings for Charlie were on a different level. She’d heard friends who were parents talk about their willingness to die for their children and Connie’s reaction to what Richard had said was a version of that. She was willing to come in last place in everyone’s list of priorities and be sidelined, or even forgotten, if it meant Charlie had the opportunity to get close to his father.

‘She’s quite the woman, my mother.’ Charlie turned the last two words over in his mouth, like someone grappling with a particularly tricky pronunciation. ‘And although I really want to help Richard with the things he’s struggling with, and get to know him too, I’m not doing that at the expense of being able to spend time with Connie.’

Charlie paused as the waitress brought over their food, querying whether she could bring them any Parmesan or black pepper.

‘Not for me, thanks.’ Charlie looked across the table. ‘Danni?’

‘No, not for me either, thank you.’ She just wanted the waitress to disappear and leave them to it. Charlie’s announcement that he was staying on for longer had taken her by surprise, and she needed to know if there was anything more to it than getting to know his biological parents. She wanted there to be more to it than that, but like Gwen had said about Connie and Richard, they’d both known where they stood from the start.

‘When did you decide—’ She hadn’t even got to the end of the sentence when Esther suddenly came hurtling towards her. For a moment she went cold, terrified that her friend might be about to launch into a tirade of abuse and tell Danni she knew everything. But then Esther stopped in her tracks and beamed.

‘It’s okay, Dan, I’m not going to interrupt. I was supposed to be meeting Lucas here for dinner, but he’s having to work late, so I’m just picking up a couple of pizzas for later.’ Esther looked at Charlie. ‘I couldn’t not come and say hello, though, and meet the person who’s finally tempted Danni to start going on dates again.’

‘You’re really embarrassing, do you know that?’ Danni was like a teenager addressing an overbearing parent, but she couldn’t help smiling. Esther had been almost like a surrogate mum when they’d lived together, making sure there was something to eat when Danni had come off a particularly long shift, and checking that she’d got to work safely when there’d been report of an accident on their route to the hospital. So maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that Esther could fulfil the role of embarrassing parent too.

‘She’s not embarrassing; I like the idea that I might be able to tempt you to do something you don’t usually do.’ He stuck out his hand. ‘I’m Charlie by the way.’

‘I’m Esther, Danni’s best friend. I’ve heard a bit about you, but not nearly as much as I should have done by the looks of things.’

‘I know a lot about what can be used to kill a person, you know.’ Danni was still grinning, despite the blush that seemed to rise up her neck far more often these days. ‘And I know how to make it look like an accident.’

‘Enough said!’ Esther laughed and held up her hands. ‘I’ll go now. I’ve got a long evening ahead, writing out place cards for the wedding breakfast, which will keep me from eating these pizzas until Lucas gets home. But just know that I’m going to be ringing you tomorrow.’

‘Oh I don’t doubt it.’

‘And, Charlie.’ Esther turned towards him again. ‘It’s been lovely to meet you. I really hope it won’t be the last time.’

‘Me too and maybe you can put in a good word for me when you make that call?’

‘You can count on it!’ Esther gave a little wave, winked at Danni and then disappeared almost as quickly as she’d arrived.

‘I’m sorry about that. She just wants me to be happy.’ Danni took a sip of the ice-cold water the waitress had brought earlier and hoped it might make her flushed cheeks lose some of their colour.

‘I’m not sorry.’ Charlie gave her a look that did nothing to help her attempts to appear calm and collected. ‘Esther seems really lovely, but I take it her other half is the same Lucas we’ve been talking about?’

‘There’s only one Lucas, thank goodness.’ As she said the words, it hit her all over again how much she meant them. Lucas wasn’t someone she wanted any more, but she didn’t want him in Esther’s life either. Not unless he could commit to her completely and prove he was worthy of the amazing fiancée he’d had so many doubts about.

‘In that case I hope he meant what he said, because no one should get married unless they’re certain it’s the right thing to do and Esther clearly has no idea.’

‘I know.’ Danni looked down at the bowl of pasta in front of her, but she’d suddenly lost her appetite. Relying on Lucas to do the right thing was too much of a risk when Esther’s happiness was at stake. The trouble was, she still had no idea how to deal with it, without taking an even bigger risk with their friendship.

24

Danni had been speaking to herself almost non-stop since she got up. Well, not speaking to herself exactly, but running through every possible way she could tell an invisible, imaginary version of Esther that Lucas might not be the person she thought he was. The trouble was, none of the imaginary ways of breaking the news had felt right, because it was Lucas who should be telling his fiancée that he’d had a bit of a wobble, but everything was back on track now. At least that’s what Danni hoped he’d be telling her. Then at least Esther would have all the information she needed to make a decision. But that depended on Lucas being totally honest, which was why the imaginary conversation with Esther was still going around and around in Danni’s head even when she reached St Piran’s for her shift.

‘Half an hour early.’ Danni said the words under her breath as she looked at her watch. It was enough time for her to pop up and see Connie and ask her for some advice. Connie had been through a lot and it was obvious she wished she’d handled some things differently, so maybe it was time to draw upon that experience and hope like hell that they could hit upon the right way of approaching things with Esther as a result. If that didn’t work, she might have to enlist Gwen’s help, because she was someone who didn’t seem to have any trouble just coming out with what needed to be said.

Just inside the double doors of the corridor that led into Tewyn Ward was a small relatives’ room, where visitors could wait if patients were having tests or treatment, or where doctors could update family members about a patient’s prognosis or treatment plan. There was a glass panel in the top half of the door and, as Danni walked past it, something made her turn and look in. The reaction to what she saw was instant, as if a fist had just been punched into her stomach, making it impossible to catch her breath. She couldn’t move either. All she could do was watch as Lucas put two hands on either side of where Thalia was standing, with her back pressed against the wall. They were both smiling, their faces just inches apart, and as Thalia arched her body away from the wall, the gap between them became nothing. She recognised the look of pure longing on the young nurse’s face, because she’d seen it in her own reflection every time things with Lucas had almost crossed the line. But Thalia didn’t have the loyalty to Esther that had always prevented Danni from acting on her feelings. So there was only one person who could stop this.

‘No!’ Flinging open the door, she heard the shout before she even realised it was coming from her. Danni was still staring at Lucas and Thalia as they sprang away from one another.

‘This is not what it—’

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