Satisfied that she had done all she could, Meagan advised some painkillers to help him sleep. ‘Come and see me at the surgery tomorrow,’ she said, then ended the call.
When Meagan returned to the sitting room Cameron was standing, hands deep in his pockets, looking distant.
‘Who was it?’ he asked, his voice cool.
‘Someone complaining of a sore foot. I’ve arranged to see him at the surgery tomorrow. A Mr McLean.’ Meagan was puzzled by the change in Cameron.
‘Robert McLean?’ Cameron asked sharply. ‘From Howbeg?’
‘Yes,’ Meagan replied. ‘Do you know him?’
Cameron looked thoughtful. ‘Robert MacLean. The patient we didn’t make it to today. He has a long history of unstable diabetes. He rarely calls the doctor out but when he does it usually means that it’s something quite serious.’ He frowned. ‘Really, Meagan, you should have taken a more detailed history over the phone or at the very least passed the call to me.’
Meagan was dismayed and hurt by his attitude. OK, she probably should have taken a more detailed history, but the patient had seemed reluctant for her to visit and had seemed satisfied to see her the next morning. Cameron’s annoyance seemed out of proportion to the situation.
‘If I had known he had a history of diabetes, of course I would have gone to see him. In fact,’ she said ‘I’ll go and see him now.’
‘No, I’ll go. I think its better—don’t you? And in future please take the time to read the notes of patients before making a decision whether or not to visit.’
Meagan could hardly believe that the man in front of her was the same man who only a short time ago had been making love to her. What on earth had got into her? Hadn’t she only hours before promised herself that she would keep him at a distance? And, as far as she knew, there was still something between him and Rachel. She had let this man tramp all over her feelings once before, and it seemed as if he was quite prepared to do so again—if she let him.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said stiffly. ‘It won’t happen again.’ She knew that he knew she wasn’t just referring to the patient.
‘And, Meagan—’ he turned towards her as he made to leave ‘—I think it would be better if we both forgot about what just happened here. Please, forgive me—I had no right.’
Meagan felt herself grow warm with humiliation. Clearly he regretted his lapse in self-control as well as continuing to harbour reservations about her medical abilities.
Well, more fool her for believing that he was different. She wouldn’t make that mistake again in a hurry. She would never let him, or any man, catch her off guard again, she vowed silently.
She held the door open. ‘At least we agree on something. It most certainly was a mistake—I can’t imagine what either of us was thinking.’ She laughed but it was a mirthless sound. ‘Don’t worry, I have no intention of repeating tonight so you can relax.’
Cameron hesitated. He could see the hurt reflected in her green eyes. Damn the woman. He wondered if she knew how little she was able to disguise her emotions. He resisted the impulse to reach out and pull her back into his arms. It was better this way. Although he felt more attracted to Meagan than he would have thought possible, she was still vulnerable, and the last thing he wanted to do was take advantage of her susceptibility. If she were any other woman he’d consider having an affair, but she wasn’t just any other woman. She had been hurt and he wouldn’t be responsible for hurting her again. And he would hurt her. He knew that for certain. Rachel had made it very clear that she wouldn’t tolerate him marrying again. She had made it perfectly clear that she would seek custody of Ian if there was even a hint he was interested in another woman. She knew him well enough to know he would never risk losing his son. No, it was far better that Meagan thought him weak and selfish and that they kept their relationship strictly professional.
‘Goodnight, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ As Meagan closed the door behind him, he cursed under his breath. How could he have made such a mess of his life?
CHAPTER FOUR
THE next few days were so busy that Meagan had little time to think. If she had ever believed that being a general practitioner on a small island would be an easy option, she had been mistaken. Her surgeries were busy, although Meagan suspected that some of her patients were there just to have a look at the new doctor. But there were plenty of genuine cases to keep her constantly challenged. She didn’t see much of Cameron, and when she did he was friendly but distant, and that suited her perfectly.
She was having a quick cup of coffee between patients when the practice nurse came in to see her, her brow puckered with worry.
‘Meagan, do you have a moment?’ she asked.
‘Sure, Sophie. What is it?’
‘Could you see someone for me? I’ve been doing the baby clinic and I noticed that one of the mothers isn’t well. She’s breathless—more than I’d expect—and I don’t know…she just doesn’t look right. She says she’s been like this for a week or two, and its just flu or something. Dr MacDonald gave her antibiotics when he saw her before he left, but she’s no better. She’s insisting that she doesn’t need to see a doctor but would you mind having a quick look at her for me? I would have asked Cameron, but he’s at the hospital. I’m worried if I let her leave without seeing a doctor, she won’t come back.’
‘Of course, Sophie. Show her in.’
A moment or two later, the nurse ushered in a young exhausted-looking woman in with her baby. Sophie handed Meagan the woman’s notes. A quick glance told Meagan that the patient had three children. Her youngest was five months old.
‘I’m sorry, Doctor. I don’t mean to be a bother. I told Sophie that it was nothing. I’m just a bit rundown. Nothing a whole night’s sleep wouldn’t put right.’ The young woman looked tired, as well she might with three children under five, but she also looked as if she had lost weight recently. Her trousers and blouse looked at least one size too big for her.
But it was as she spoke that alarm bells began to ring in Meagan’s head. The woman was having to stop to catch her breath every few words.
‘Have a seat, Mrs Munro. Since you’re here I may as well take a quick look.’
‘It’s Rhona,’ she replied, giving Meagan a tired smile, reluctantly taking a seat and settling the baby on her lap. ‘It’s just that I have another two kids at home. A neighbour is looking after them for me, but I need to get back. They can be a bit of a handful.’ Rhona smiled ruefully. ‘Its no wonder I’m exhausted.’
Meagan lifted the child from Rhona’s lap. The little girl protested, reaching chubby arms towards her mother.
‘Well, this little one is fine at any rate. Do you mind if Sophie holds her while I have a quick listen to your chest?’
As Meagan listened to Rhona’s lungs, her anxiety deepened. There was something wrong.
‘Any history of asthma? TB?’ she asked.
Rhona shook her head. ‘Dr MacDonald thought I might have a chest infection when I came to see him a couple of weeks ago. He put me on antibiotics.’
‘And have they helped?’ Meagan asked. She looked at the notes Colin had made in his neat hand. He hadn’t been totally convinced that Rhona had had a chest infection, but had prescribed a course of antibiotics and asked her to come back and see him in a week. There was no suggestion that Rhona had been back to see him.
‘Did you finish the course of antibiotics?’ Meagan asked.
Her patient nodded. ‘Dr MacDonald was