Page 12 of Lost in Love
“Why? Nothing will have changed,” Anna said, closing the door behind her.
* * *
To Anna’s surprise, there was a queue at the tearoom. She waited outside in the fresh air until it cleared. She knew the appointment would be a waste of time, but she’d at least managed to check in on her dad, who was sat in front of the television as usual.
“Anna, my darling,” Gloria shouted to her when she finally stepped inside. “Usual?”
“You bet,” Anna replied. Bollocks to Katherine’s advice. A coffee would at least keep her awake for her last tour of the day.
Gloria fired up the coffee machine and proceeded to make a double espresso.
“What are you doing out at this time? A bit late for lunch, isn’t it?” Gloria asked, placing the small paper cup in front of her and squeezing a lid on. “You have had lunch?”
Anna shook her head and placed some coins on the counter.
“I had a doctor’s appointment.” Anna touched her pocket with the small packet of pills in it. They would have to wait until later; she needed coffee now. A quick Google search whilst she waited for her prescription told her to have one tablet before bed. She never had coffee at bedtime anyway, so she would take one then and see if it had any effect. If it didn’t, then she may have to consider taking them in the morning and cutting back on the caffeine.
“I hope you’re looking after yourself. How’s your dad?” Gloria asked, taking the last sausage roll from the display counter, and placing it in a brown paper bag.
“He’s okay, thanks. They’ve put him on medication now.”
“Here, have my last sausage roll. Your mum wouldn’t have wanted me to let you go hungry.”
“Thanks,” Anna said, sweeping it up. She was starving.
Gloria’s assistant handed a green vitamin shake to the customer standing next to Anna.
Anna frowned at it. “Gloria, why are you serving snot to customers?”
Gloria laughed. “That’s a vitamin shake and very popular with our new doctor.”
Anna rolled her eyes; it sounded about right.
“It’s so nice to have a female doctor at last, and such a good one I hear. She’s one of your lot, did you know?”
Anna stared blankly at her.
“You know” — Gloria nodded — “prefers the lady folk.”
Anna nearly choked on a sip of espresso. It couldn’t be true, surely, but Gloria was rarely wrong. Anna tried to act casual even though her heart was pounding.
“How do you know that?” Anna asked, holding her breath that Gloria’s answer would hold some actual weight.
“She told me herself,” Gloria said proudly.
Anna breathed out; that was the answer she was looking for. It was probably the only bit of gossip she’d ever had straight from the horse’s mouth. So the doctor was a lesbian. Who would have thought it? There would be a lot of disappointed men in Nunswick.
She tried to look disinterested, but she could feel her lips starting to betray her. She took a sip of her espresso to hide them.
“Well, must get back to work, I have a tour soon. Thanks for the food, Gloria.”
“Any time, darling. Don’t want you wasting away.”
Anna tried to process the information she’d acquired as she walked back to the abbey. She still couldn’t believe it. Not that it affected her either way; the doctor must be at least ten years older than she was, and would no doubt prefer women her own age that had their shit together as she did. No one wanted baggage, and Anna could fill a jumbo jet with hers.
She tried to push all thoughts of Dr Atkinson from her mind as she arrived at the abbey but was unable to stop herself from having a peek towards her beautiful house as she passed.
