Chapters (67)
- Cover
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
He sighed. Cat had never once in their marriage been troubled by the way he behaved with her three children. Kieron had always deferred to her, always been cheerful, accepting, ready to listen and help out if asked, equally ready to stand back. Felix loved him, Hannah did not know him well, simply because she was away, either at her theatre school or in various musical productions, but they had a relaxed, rather bantering relationship. Only Sam had sometimes been touchy but he too was now away more than he was home, and when he had leave he was usually with Rosie.
She tried ringing him a couple of times before giving up and setting off for home.
‘I’m on call from lunchtime tomorrow, for two nights and two days solid, so tonight I’m having a large gin and two glasses of wine and sod my own health advice.’
‘You’re wondering what next, aren’t you? Poor Cat.’
‘One damn thing after another, but that happens, I should deal with it.’
‘I haven’t helped.’
‘You didn’t hurt your knee on purpose.’
‘Sam will be fine. Either he’s got a dodgy phone or he’s messing you about.’
‘He isn’t like that . . . or he never used to be.’
‘True. But then, Wookie has never run away before.’
‘Oh God.’
‘You can’t worry about everything at once, love.’
‘I just want to know . . . if he’s been killed on the road or . . . I want a body not a black hole.’
‘Talking of . . . have you ever attended an exhumation?’
‘Have I what?’
‘Careful . . .’ Cat was on the bypass and overtaking fast.
‘Well, if you toss out that sort of remark . . . but since you ask, no, I haven’t. I doubt if many GPs have. Why?’
‘Just wondered.’
‘You’ve got one coming up? Sorry, I shouldn’t ask.’
‘It’s OK. The honest answer is that I don’t know for certain yet. Shall I get that?’
‘Please.’
‘Dr Deerbon’s phone . . . You can’t, I’m afraid. I can take a message . . . No, I don’t think she will tonight, she’s not on call . . . Yes, I’ll tell her.’
‘Now what?’
‘Sister Odewe on Fleming Ward about Mr Lionel Brown – she says he keeps asking to see you.’
‘That poor man. I’m surprised he’s still alive, and he’s got nobody. I’ll settle you in at home and then –’
‘No, you’re not going back there, you’re exhausted and you need a night off.’
‘Sure, but –’
‘But nothing. Come on, love, you can’t look after the world.’