The Family Practitioner Read online

  Grabbing a strip of paper towel, she dried her hands, looking up just as a male figure appeared in the doorway. ‘Oh…’ Her breath caught and fire flooded her cheeks. ‘Matt…’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘HELLO, Joanna.’

  Joanna swallowed thickly. ‘Is anything wrong?’

  Matt’s blue gaze scorched across her face. ‘I expected to hear from you today.’ Folding his arms, he leaned back against the bench of cupboards. ‘And might I ask what happened to you this afternoon, sunshine?’ He homed in pointedly on Jason, standing protectively at Joanna’s side. ‘You didn’t turn up for training.’

  ‘I didn’t feel like it,’ Jason said with elaborate disdain.

  ‘Not good enough.’ Matt gave a slightly grim smile. ‘Even with all your ability, erratic attendance won’t guarantee you a place in the team.’

  ‘Go to hell!’ the boy blazed. There was a deathly hush before Jason spun on his heel and went charging blindly from the room.

  Watching her son’s exit, Joanna’s blood ran cold, shock draining the colour from her cheeks. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said hoarsely, hugging her arms around her midriff, almost as if she were breaking in two. ‘That’s so out of character for Jason.’

  ‘Your son was going for shock value, Joanna.’ Matt’s voice was carefully controlled. ‘Believe me, I’ve been given much more explicit advice than that in my time. Don’t worry about it.’

  How could she not worry about it? Joanna wanted to scream, but her throat wouldn’t work, her legs moving automatically, stiffly, when Matt guided her into a chair and took the one beside her.

  ‘Take it easy, Joanna,’ he said quietly. ‘None of this is your fault.’

  She shook her head, shock holding her rigid. In her medical practice she’d dealt with the effects of teenagers who’d gone off the rails. Was her own son about to add to the statistics? She swallowed hard. ‘Matt, perhaps you should just go…’

  ‘In a minute.’ Leaning forward, he took her hands in his and began absently chafing her knuckles. ‘When Jason opened the door to me just now, I could’ve cut his antagonism with a knife. Mind telling me what’s going on?’

  Joanna bit the underside of her lip. ‘It’s complicated.’

  ‘So tell me.’

  She shook her head. ‘Not here. Not now.’

  ‘OK…’ Giving her hands a little squeeze, he let her go. He looked broodingly at her for a moment, before he asked, ‘Would you have an opportunity tomorrow when we could talk?’

  She brought her head up, drawing in a long shaky breath. ‘I could stretch to an hour between one and two o’clock.’

  ‘Suits me.’ He flicked up an eyebrow. ‘I’ll pick you up at the Strachan and bring lunch, OK? We’ll find a spot down by the river.’

  When Matt had gone, Joanna opened a bottle of wine, poured herself a glass and sat down at the kitchen table. What a mess! She sighed, feeling the crippling responsibility of being a sole parent gnawing relentlessly at her insides.

  She’d drunk barely half a glass of wine when she resolutely got to her feet and went and tapped on Jason’s bedroom door.

  The door opened just a crack.

  ‘I’d like you to give me a hand with dinner, please, Jason.’

  ‘Has he gone?’

  ‘If you mean Matt,’ she said stiffly, ‘yes. He left some time ago.’

  Jason opened the door and somewhat reluctantly followed his mother into the kitchen. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘I think it’s Matt you should be apologising to, don’t you?’ Joanna gave the steaks a quick pound and set them under the grill.

  The boy had the grace to blush and look uncomfortable. ‘He’s got no right to come the heavy,’ he defended.

  ‘Is that what Matt was doing?’ Joanna kept her cool with difficulty.

  ‘Seems like it to me. He’s not my father!’

  Joanna’s eyes widened in shock. Was this what it was all about? ‘Matt’s not trying to be your father, for heaven’s sake! Your father is dead,’ she said brutally.

  When she thought about it later, Joanna couldn’t remember how they’d got through the meal. Somehow, she’d finished cobbling together a salad to have with the steak and they’d sat in front of the television. Afterwards, Jason had washed up quietly and then excused himself to do his homework. Joanna had drunk another glass of wine and now she realised belatedly her head was splitting.

  ‘Oh, Jason,’ she sighed, and felt her eyes filling. She scrubbed them with a tissue and then went along the hallway to the bathroom. Neither of them would sleep tonight if they left things like this, she thought, swallowing a couple of paracetamol.

  And no matter what, she mustn’t lose touch with her son. In a desperate attempt at reconciliation, she took matters into her own hands.

  There was a strip of light showing under his bedroom door and she knocked and popped her head in. ‘I dug out those photos of your dad, Jase. We could go through them if you like. Perhaps there’s one or two you’d like to frame…’

  Matt thought it was shaping up to be the longest evening of his life.

  All he wanted to do was to sit down and work out how best to handle the situation he’d somehow inadvertently created between Joanna and her son.

  Instead, there was a backlog of paperwork from the clinic to sort out, another quit-smoking session to facilitate and just today it seemed as though the possibility of anorexia with one of the young female athletes was about to raise its ugly head. And now Matt had to try to find a way to broach the subject with her mother.

  He blew out a hard breath, tunnelling a hand through his hair in frustration. He needed a female medical practitioner on staff like yesterday.

  He needed Joanna.

  Next morning Joanna drove to work early, her manner purposeful, her mind full of resolve. She and Jason were almost back on track, but emotionally she felt they still had a way to go. And for some reason she felt she’d let him down. Quite how, she wasn’t sure, but she’d earn his trust back if it was the last thing she did, she vowed, pushing open the door to Reception.

  ‘Morning, Joanna.’ Steffi was all smiles.

  ‘You’ve had your hair cut!’ Joanna plonked her case down and surveyed the new style with a satisfied grin. ‘It looks gorgeous.’ Steffi’s longish curly mane was now cut to within an inch all over her head, delineating her elfin features and big green eyes.

  ‘Thanks.’ Steffi lifted a shoulder coyly. ‘I like it, too. Di arranged for a hairdresser to come to the house last night to give Mum a trim and she offered to do mine while she was there.’

  ‘Well, it’s fabulous. And speaking of your mum, I know someone who will sit with her on a regular basis so you can get out and about a bit more.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Me.’

  ‘You?’ Steffi looked at her with astonished eyes.

  ‘Hey, I’m quite capable, you know.’

  Steffi shook her head. ‘I didn’t mean it like that, but you don’t have the time—’

  ‘I will have when I get myself reorganised.’ Joanna held up her hand when Steffi would have protested. ‘Jason and I had quite a long talk last night. I discovered he’s missing involvement with his grandparents quite a bit. As you know, we moved here from Canberra.’

  Steffi nodded, moving closer to prop her elbows on the counter top.

  ‘Somehow, we found ourselves discussing how life is different for lots of people. For instance, Jason’s never been able to experience what it’s like to have a father around.’

  ‘That must have been awful for you.’

  ‘We managed,’ Joanna said evenly. ‘But only because we had a lot of help and support. Anyway, to cut a long story short, my son and I would like to extend our lives a bit, and if you think your mum would agree, we’d like to visit and hopefully offer one another some companionship.’

  ‘Oh, Joanna…’ Steffi’s eyes filled and then overflowed, taking streaks of mascara down her cheeks. ‘It’s all been so hard for Mum. S
-she was the local historian before her sight deteriorated. If Jason’s at all interested in history, she’d have lots to tell him.’ Steffi swallowed and dabbed at her eyes. ‘She used to have quite an active social life as well. But all that seems a lifetime ago now. People just dropped off coming to visit and—’

  ‘I know how it is, Stef.’ Joanna patted her hand. She picked up her case again. ‘Have a chat to your mum and let me know what suits, OK? And then go plan your social life,’ she added with a grin.

  Steffi made a face. ‘If I had one.’

  Joanna tossed her a meaningful little look. ‘What’s the expression? For everything there is a season? And I have a feeling yours is about to take off.’ She took a step away and then turned back. ‘Oh—I’m taking my full lunch-hour today. But you can get me on my mobile if there’s anything that can’t wait.’

  Joanna’s heart was trampolining as she left the building at one o’clock. And when she saw the grey Mercedes and Matt waiting, something seemed to melt her insides.

  Matt looked up, seeing her cross the car park towards him. The hard knot of uncertainty in his gut began to tighten. She looked lovely in her navy trousers and bright red jumper, the sun catching the shine in her dark hair as it swung gently around her shoulders.

  ‘Hello.’ She drew to a rather breathless stop in front of him.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ he said rather formally, holding the passenger door open for her and trying to keep his eyes off the smooth, pale skin that disappeared into creamy shadow under the V-neck of her jumper.

  ‘Surely you didn’t think I’d renege?’

  ‘I gave up taking anything for granted a long time ago.’

  Joanna glanced up as he settled the seat belt over her shoulder, but could glean nothing from his expression. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked lightly, and forced a smile.

  ‘Down by the river.’

  Well, she’d known that. Joanna gritted her teeth, wondering why she’d bothered to come at all when Matt seemed preoccupied and not all that pleased to see her. Because he asked you to, her romantic self offered smugly. And you’ve thought of nothing else but seeing him all morning.

  ‘How’re things with Jason?’ Matt asked, as they stopped at a set of traffic lights.

  ‘Better.’ She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. ‘We had a long talk.’

  ‘Good.’

  There was a beat of silence, and as if propelled by something outside themselves they turned to each other, their eyes locking, his like blue lasers burning through to the very heart of her. Then inch by inch his head lowered and his mouth touched hers.

  Soft. So soft and tender, fleeting. Then, slowly, he lifted his head and trapped her gaze again. And lingered. Until the indignant blare from the horn of the car directly behind startled them back to reality.

  Matt muttered an expletive and shot the Mercedes forward and into a gap beyond the intersection.

  ‘Looks like we have the place to ourselves.’ Joanna looked around. Although the winter frosts had been heavy, there was still a sheen of greenness along the river bank. ‘Just here?’ She looked up as Matt brought a picnic basket and travel rug from the boot of the car.

  Taking an end of the rug each, they spread it so that it was half in shade from the branches of the silver wattles that lined the river. Joanna dropped onto the rug with a sigh. ‘It’s a glorious spot, isn’t it?’

  They investigated the picnic basket together. There was chilled mineral water and luscious-looking chicken-and-salad sandwiches on thick wholemeal bread. And for afters, a smoky cheese and seaweed crackers, plus a couple of crisp red apples that were just waiting to be crunched.

  Joanna’s eyes widened in amazement. ‘This is fantastic, Matt. And not a sign of cornflakes,’ she quipped. ‘Did you do it yourself?’

  ‘Yeah, right.’ His mouth pleated into a wry grin. ‘Elle organised it with the local deli.’ He opened the mineral water and filled two paper cups. ‘I’m afraid I’m inclined to ask her to do quite a lot more than her job description outlines. Don’t know where I could get some pleasant, intelligent office help, do you?’

  Joanna shrugged. ‘Not offhand. Now, shall we make a start on this delicious food?’ She looked up into those blue, blue eyes. ‘Hungry?’

  Oh, yes, he was hungry all right. Hungry for the body of a woman. A woman to love and cherish. A woman who was special, caring. Lovely. And Joanna Winters seemed to fit the bill on all counts. He drew in a steadying breath, one that took in her delicate fragrance…

  ‘Joanna?’

  ‘Mmm?’ She looked up from placing food on the disposable picnic plates.

  ‘Nothing, really…’ Wimp. He swallowed the gravel in his throat. ‘Let’s eat.’

  They were both ravenous and the food disappeared at an alarming rate. When they were replete, Matt got to his feet and ambled back to the car. When he returned, he was brandishing a flask and two mugs.

  ‘Show-off!’ Joanna wrinkled her nose at him.

  He made himself comfortable again on the rug. ‘I take it you’re passing on the coffee, then, Dr Winters?’ He uncorked the flask and poured a mug of the steaming, aromatic brew and waved it under her nose.

  ‘Don’t be mean.’ She pouted prettily. ‘It smells divine and you’ve thought of everything. I can’t remember the last time I—’ She stopped and dipped her head defensively. ‘Well, anyway, it’s been lovely.’

  ‘For me, too,’ Matt rejoined quietly.

  Later, Joanna couldn’t have said how they’d ended up lying side by side on the rug. Perhaps it had been the crispness of a clear winter’s day, the drowsing sun or the insistent drumming of the cicadas lulling them into a dreamy forgetfulness.

  Matt had undone the top three buttons on his shirt and she had to suck in a lungful of air to steady herself, curling her fingers into fists to keep them from travelling over that smooth olive skin…

  ‘You don’t have to be back yet, do you?’ He turned his head slowly towards her and for an instant she fancied something burned like a naked flame in the depths of his eyes.

  She swallowed dryly. ‘I have a little while yet.’

  ‘Then let’s relax for a few minutes, shall we?’ His voice was soft, little more than a whisper, and in an almost seamless movement he folded her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers.

  At the touch of his lips, Joanna felt her body spasm, as if already he had secret access to her strings. Her nerve-ends curled and relaxed and curled again, her arms coming up to twine around his neck, holding him against her. Suddenly, as if their bodies were calling to each other, they were locked intimately together and she was clinging to him and letting him touch her at will, until she forgot to think, forgot to reason…

  After an age, they pulled back and looked at each other, their breathing hard.

  ‘Joanna…’ he whispered huskily.

  She lifted her hand to touch his face and found her fingers trembling. ‘Matthew,’ she said, and smiled tentatively.

  ‘I don’t want to let you out of my sight.’ He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. ‘Come and work at the sports clinic.’

  Her chest lifted in a little bubble of laughter. ‘Is this how you conduct all your job interviews, Dr McKellar?’

  He said nothing, just turned her into his arms and cradled her head against his shoulder. ‘Does Jason resent me seeing you?’ he asked after a while.

  ‘Seems to,’ she said slowly. ‘He thinks you’re trying to be his father.’

  ‘What?’ Matt thrust up his forearm to cover his eyes, as if to block out the impact of her words. ‘For heaven’s sake!’

  She let out a shaky sigh. ‘That was my reaction. We’re halfway to being friends again but if I come to work at the clinic—’

  ‘That’s blackmail,’ he growled. ‘Selfish young idiot.’

  His criticism of her son momentarily rankled. ‘You have to remember Jason and I have been a unit for the whole of his life. And now at the impressionable age he
is, it’s only natural he perceives himself as the man of the family.’

  Matt turned abruptly and snagged her chin, tipping her head so she had to look at him. ‘And when he’s grown and gone, Joanna, what then?’

  She’d be on her own, she supposed. And put like that, it sounded awful.

  ‘Would you like the job?’

  She chewed her lip, still torn. ‘I’m probably ready for a new challenge. I’m thirty-five. I can’t imagine I’ll want to be a GP for another twenty or so years.’

  ‘Then don’t be.’ Matt was firm. ‘Let me speak to Jason.’

  ‘No.’ Joanna shook her head. ‘He’ll come round. I don’t want to rock the boat just yet. How long have I got?’

  ‘A couple of days at most. The board’s getting restless. They’ll want to advertise by the end of the week.’

  As it turned out, her decision whether or not to accept Matt’s job offer was brought into sharp focus and hurried along when she arrived back at the surgery. Joanna could see Steffi was looking agitated. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Dr Strachan wants to see you.’

  Joanna glanced at her watch. Mitchell Strachan was the senior partner and founder of the practice, owning the actual building in which they all worked. And she was back five minutes late, but surely—

  ‘He’s seeing everyone.’ Steffi’s mouth flattened in a grimace. ‘Including little old me.’

  Joanna felt a slick of unease. ‘Am I to go in now?’

  Steffi grabbed the phone as it rang beside her. ‘As soon as you got back, he said.’

  ‘OK, I’ll, um, go along to his room now.’ For some reason Joanna felt her breathing become immediately tight.

  Twenty minutes later, she was punching out the number to Matt’s direct line. It was Elle who answered. Slightly thrown, Joanna stumbled, ‘Ah…it’s Joanna Winters. I must speak to Matt.’

  ‘He’s with a client,’ Elle said coolly. ‘May I take a message?’

  Frustratedly, Joanna scooped a hand through her hair, locking her fingers in the silky fall. ‘Just ask him to call me, please. As soon as he’s free,’ she added for good measure.