‘It’s a receptionist the Doc’s after, not a hostess in a cheap night club.’
Bella’s painted face darkened thunderously. Clenching her fists, she jumped up, preparing to launch herself at the other girl, but stopped when Aidy commented: ‘Do you really want to make yourself look a fool in front of all these respectable women?’
Bella stared murderously at Aidy for a moment, before hissing, ‘You bitch,’ and stomping across the room and out of the door, slamming it shut behind her.
Aidy hid a smile. One down, now for the rest, she thought.
‘You said the job’s gone,’ said a prim-looking woman facing her. ‘Are you saying that Doctor Strathmore isn’t after a receptionist after all then?’
Extremely conscious that time was ticking away, Aidy hurriedly answered her, ‘By “gone” I meant taken. By me. Now …’
‘By you?’ another voice cut in. ‘But you haven’t got what it takes to be a receptionist, Aidy Nelson. All you’ve ever done is factory work.’
Aidy looked across at the woman who’d spoken and recognised her as a local who lived in the next street and whose daughter she had been at school with. ‘Seems the Doc thinks I have, Mrs Hatter. And I’m more qualified than you are, washing milk bottles for a dairy. Now …’
‘Not more qualified than I am. None of you will be,’ a smart-looking, very attractive woman in her thirties spoke up. ‘I’m actually already a doctor’s receptionist and have basic nursing qualifications too. I demand to see Doctor Strathmore and …’
Oh, why couldn’t these women just accept the job was gone and leave? Aidy inwardly fumed. She blurted, ‘You can’t see Doc ’cos … well, he’s out on an emergency … delivering a baby … won’t be back for hours. Now, look, I arrived early and he decided to see me. When he saw I’d everything he was looking for, he didn’t see any point in wasting his time. He asked me to lock up behind you all.’ She strode across to the outer door, opening it wide and saying, ‘So if you don’t mind …’
All looking annoyed at having their time wasted and mouthing their displeasure, they trooped out. Heaving a huge sigh of relief as she shut the door after the last departee, Aidy hurriedly took a seat on the bench just as Ty appeared through the door opposite.
He looked totally confused to find only one person waiting to be interviewed. ‘Where have all the other candidates disappeared to?’ he asked.
She gave a shrug. ‘There’s only me.’
His puzzlement mounted. ‘But I heard voices.’
She gave a short laugh. ‘Well, I haven’t resorted to talking to myself yet so you couldn’t have.’ She stood up then and said eagerly, ‘Would you like me to come through for my interview then?’
He was thinking, I could have sworn I heard the sound of the surgery door opening and shutting on numerous occasions after I saw out the last patient. Surely I heard it slam only moments ago? I know I heard female voices coming from in here. I know I wasn’t hearing things. But all the evidence is telling me I was. Then he fixed his attention on Aidy and his heart sank. This was the last woman he would have wished his notice to attract. Judging from his previous dealings with her, they’d never be able to work together. Oh, she was dressed presentably enough, and he was gratified to note she wasn’t wearing any make-up which he deemed unsuitable for a job in a medical environment. Whether she was intelligent or possessed the capacity to do the job to his exacting standards remained to be seen.
‘Come through,’ he sighed.
As she took a seat in the chair by the desk that Ty had indicated, Aidy stole a proper look around his surgery. On the three occasions she had visited it recently she hadn’t had a chance to do so. It was very cramped in here. A fat patient, someone of Pat Nelson’s build, would have to turn sideways to squeeze themself between the examination couch and a table holding medical instruments in order to reach the seat beside the doctor’s desk.
Ty had by now sat down in his chair on the other side of the desk and Aidy realised he was talking to her. ‘Oh, sorry, were you saying something? Only I was just having a good look around to familiarise myself with your surgery. It’s a bit tight for space in here. Couldn’t swing a cat, could you, not without knocking the