Ned wobbled his head in ironic amusement, causing us both to grin.
‘Believe me. He doesn’t really need too much practice at that particular skill. I think he spent the four years before I came along building on that.’
‘Just as well! Right nightmare she turned out to be,’ Ned huffed as he opened the oven to release the most mouth-watering, sweet smell of home-made treacle tart. I moved to take a closer look at the golden, bubbling deliciousness.
‘Luckily, I’m very forgiving.’
‘Actually, she’s not. But she does love food.’ Ned gave me a raised brow as he handed me the plate he’d now transferred the tart to. ‘Although you wouldn’t know it by her diet.’
I gave him a look. ‘I have a very busy schedule!’
‘You have a very unhealthy schedule that results in you barely eating, and when you do it’s rubbish and you’re suffering panic attacks.’ His expression had lost the joviality now. ‘The only time you ever ate properly was when Gigi came up to visit you or you came here.’
‘Oh, pfft,’ I said, trying to laugh it all off and not be mortified that my brother was bringing all of this up right now in front of someone who was, to me at least, pretty much a total stranger.
That someone was now looking at me with what I could immediately see what his ‘concerned doctor’s face’.
‘Panic attacks?’
‘They’re not panic attacks,’ I said, airily, as I put the dish down on the table, and handed the cake slice to Carrie, pleading with my eyes for her to help me out of this conversation. ‘Ned’s exaggerating again. You clearly know what he’s like. It’s nothing.’
‘Well, we were worried when you mentioned this last one. It must have been bad for you to take this sabbatical,’ Carrie added.
Please, ground, open up now.
‘Tell me about them.’ It didn’t sound like a request but there was still no way that was happening.
‘Tart?’ I said, putting a slice in front of Gabe, desperate to change the subject.
A smirk tempted the sides of his mouth. ‘I date but I think that particular label’s a little harsh.’
Ned snorted as he put down the jug of crème Anglaise. ‘And you say I’m tactless.’
I shook my head. ‘You two are as bad as one another,’ I said, drowning my slice of pudding in sauce and forking up a large piece.
Carrie pushed the small jug of cream towards me. I added some to my coffee – a little more than I usually did feeling, with more relief than I’d expected, that I didn’t have to get up at five o’clock tomorrow morning. Years ago, I’d loved my coffee milky, but as I’d worked harder and longer and climbed the financial services corporate ladder, I’d gradually taken my coffee darker and stronger, relying more and more on the kick it gave to help me last through the day. I was only on my first full day in Wishington Bay and I realised I was already two coffees down. Considering how many I’d get through in a day, that wasn’t a great reduction but it also said quite a lot.
I passed the cream to Gabe. ‘So, how long have you been at St Andrew’s Hospital?’
He closed his eyes for a moment, savouring the smell of the freshly roasted coffee before taking a taste. ‘A little over three years now.’
‘Did you come from somewhere else in the country, or straight over from Australia?’
‘Straight from Sydney.’
‘Gosh. That’s quite a leap, isn’t it? I mean from living in a busy city in Australia to a quiet little English seaside village?’
He grinned and I tried not to notice. At least not in all the places my body was trying to get me to notice.
‘It was kind of a culture shock, that’s for sure. I stayed with a mate for a few weeks when I got here and had been looking at places in the city when I heard from one of the guys I’d been surfing with that there was a place for rent right on the beach. I wasn’t sure if that might be a bit quiet for me, but the thought of waking up and hearing the sea each morning did kind of have an appeal. Anyway, I decided I could take a look and then at least I’d know.’
‘And now, here you are!’ Carrie smiled.
‘Here I am. Gigi was one hell of a real estate agent.’
‘Are you pleased you took a look, even though it wasn’t where you’d considered living?’
‘Definitely. And with Gigi next door … well, to be honest, I’d been wondering if I’d done the right thing coming over here. I’d left my family and friends behind, and although I knew a couple of people over here and was gradually getting to know people through work, honestly? I was pretty damn homesick. Meeting Gigi that day … it was kind of … well, it just took all that away. Suddenly I felt right at home.’
‘She always did have a great talent for making people feel welcome.’ Carrie smiled, covering Ned’s hand with her own.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak for a moment or two, instead pouring myself another coffee that, surprisingly, I didn’t really want, just to have something to do with my hands.
‘So, you said you were in paediatrics?’
Gabe smiled. ‘I did.’
‘And we’re all still waiting to hear what you thought about that,’ Ned kindly reminded everyone. ‘You stopped mid sentence.’
I shook my head. ‘I’m still convinced they brought the wrong baby home from the hospital when they got him.’
Ned grinned at me. I might have been more convinced of this if we didn’t look quite so alike. Same ebony hair, same deep blue eyes that showed gold flecks when the sun shone and same wide smile that on Ned looked like a film star, but on me, I’d always considered a little too … well, for want of a better word – gobby. Either way, I was pretty sure he really was my brother and despite his habitual lack of tact, I wouldn’t swap him for anything. Not that I’d tell him that, of course. Though, somehow, I think he was already clued in. He’d got a lot smarter since meeting Carrie.
‘OK,’ I said looking at Gabe, feeling slightly braver now, which may have had something to do with that second glass of wine.
‘I was going to say that paediatrics must be very rewarding – but I can also imagine how … challenging it might be at times.’
‘You’re right,’ Gabe agreed, thankfully taking the spotlight off me. ‘I love what I do. I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was little. I think, initially, I was attracted by the toys. My grandad was a doctor in a small town and he’d always have his kit on him. Obviously most of it was out of bounds for me, but it fascinated me that there was this bag full of magic things to help people feel better.’ His gaze flicked up to my face. ‘Stupid, huh?’
‘Totally,’ Ned answered.
I gave him a glare and Gabe chuckled.
‘Not at all. I think it’s a lovely story,’ I said, looking pointedly at my brother. ‘Go on.’
‘Well, he did let me play with his stethoscope. I’d just go around trying to listen to everyone’s heartbeat and every time I heard one, it kind of blew my mind. I think the seed for training as a doctor was planted the first time I ever used that. And then, of course, I found out about the Royal Flying Doctor Service and that sounded like the perfect combination of adventure and helping people.’
‘That’s such a lovely story.’
‘Thanks.’ He smiled.
Ned made a retching