Trust Me - Sheryl Browne Page 0,7
effects. I’m expecting you two to enjoy many happy retirement years together, Ed.’
‘Fingers crossed.’ Edward smiled back, but Emily noticed the worried look flitting across his ruddy features. Appearing to shake himself, he gave her a wink and nodded back to Jake. ‘He’s a good lad. I hope you’re looking after him.’
‘Too well,’ Jake indulged him, patting a non-existent paunch, also reminding Emily that she’d completely forgotten to get something out of the freezer for dinner in the mad rush this morning. Ah well, Ben and Millie could have pizza and she would book a table at the pub for her and Jake so they could discuss their worries about Millie in peace, assuming he did manage to get back early, rather than working until some ridiculous time on the mountain of paperwork that came with the handover of the partnership. He’d had to work late a lot over the last few months, as his father had relinquished his responsibilities. It couldn’t be healthy.
‘I was so busy talking about myself just now, I forgot to thank you for your help when Joyce took ill last month, Jake,’ Ed said, his voice emotional. ‘If it wasn’t for your quick action when she rang, she might never have seen her beloved roses bloom again.’
‘All part of the job, Ed.’ Jake shrugged selflessly. It hadn’t been, Emily knew. The second Jake had realised Joyce might be suffering with the symptoms of a giant cell arteritis – a known development of polymyalgia rheumatica that could have rendered her suddenly and permanently blind or resulted in a stroke – he’d raced out of the surgery to drive her to the hospital himself.
‘Above and beyond the call of duty, I’d say.’ Ed gave him a grateful smile. ‘There’s not many people who would go the extra mile.’
‘Time was of the essence. You only live two minutes away, so it wasn’t a problem,’ Jake assured him. ‘We’ll see you both on Saturday, yes?’
‘Will do.’ Ed waved as he turned for the door. ‘I hope you’ve been keeping fit for the duck race.’
‘Rigorously. Jogging, swimming, weights. The lot,’ Jake lied. He jogged, but only when he could find the time, which wasn’t as often as he would have liked.
‘Those little buggers can be fast when the will and the tide takes them,’ Ed warned.
‘I’ll be ready for them, Ed,’ Jake promised, casting a puzzled glance in Emily’s direction.
‘Jolly good.’ Ed chuckled as he left, with more jauntiness to his walk than when he’d come in. He certainly seemed in better spirits for talking to Jake, who always made time to listen. His appointments spilling over didn’t help his schedule, of course, leaving him running perpetually behind and Emily apologising to waiting patients, but she tried not to mind. She wouldn’t have him any other way.
He leaned towards her as the door closed behind Ed. ‘Er, they are plastic ducks, aren’t they?’ he asked worriedly.
Emily laughed at the thought of Jake imagining himself wading down the river in pursuit of the flapping feathered variety. ‘Yes,’ she confirmed, to his relief. ‘I imagine the RSPCA would have something to say if they weren’t.’
‘You’re racing plastic ducks?’ their receptionist asked, one eyebrow raised dubiously as Emily went back to the desk.
‘It’s called having fun, Nicky.’ Emily couldn’t help but smile at the unimpressed look on the girl’s face. Having moved to the small village of Earlslip from London with her family a little over a year ago, Nicky often seemed bored, and just the tiniest bit contemptuous of the community’s twee way of life. ‘You should come along, let your hair down and enjoy yourself.’
‘Er, right.’ Nicky looked doubtful. ‘I’m not sure wading about in wellies in freezing-cold water is my idea of fun, but thanks anyway.’
Walking back to his office, Jake exchanged amused glances with Emily as Nicky got to her feet, teetering around the desk in her preferred footwear to check the self-sign-in system. Her heels were at least five inches high and Emily couldn’t help but wonder how she walked in them. She’d worn her own fair share of stilettos in her errant younger days. Still did whenever Jake and she went anywhere special. But for negotiating the treacherously uneven cobbled high street to the surgery? Sooner Nicky than her.
Jake’s smile slipped as Tom emerged from his own office. He was also taking in Nicky’s shoes, Emily noticed, along with every inch of leg above them. Wincing inwardly, she shot Jake an empathetic glance, to which he shook