‘They give a new perspective to the meaning of rock cakes.’
Maxi chuckled. ‘I guess she’s just trying to be kind.’
‘Oh, she is,’ Jake agreed, sliding bread into the toaster. ‘She thinks I need looking after.’
Well, I’m your woman, then. Maxi bit her lips together on the words before they could tumble out. ‘So, if you don’t eat the scones, what do you do with them? I can’t imagine you’d want to hurt Ayleen’s feelings and chuck them in the bin?’
‘Lord, no.’ He pretended to shudder. ‘I’d never talk my way out of that. I smuggle them out and bring them home for Chalky.’
‘Is that good for him?’ Maxi seemed shocked by the very idea.
Jake shrugged. ‘Chalky loves them. They’re so hard, I think he cleans his teeth on them.’
Listening to his crazy banter, Maxi felt a strange sense of lightness. This was more like the man she’d known and—loved. Her mind stumbled over the word. To distract herself, she quickly got plates off the shelf and watched as Jake buttered the toast. ‘Please, tell me Ayleen doesn’t bring scones in every day.’
‘Only on a Friday.’
‘But that’s today!’
He gave a crooked grin. ‘Better brace yourself, then.’
Maxi felt a swirl of pleasure, watching Jake obviously enjoy the simple meal they’d more or less prepared together. She poured the tea and handed his mug across. ‘So, am I going to be seeing some patients today or are you intending to keep them all to yourself?’
Very deliberately, Jake took a mouthful of his tea. ‘I’ll sort out a few for you to see.’
‘Good.’ She smiled, activating the tiny dimple in her cheek. ‘I’d like a nice mix, then, please. Don’t feel you have to give me all the females.’
Jake put down his mug and wrapped his hands around it. ‘Be aware, Maxi, some folk will present with physical ailments that are purely manifestations of stress.’
‘So an unexplained pain somewhere but in reality they need to talk?’
‘Exactly.’ He gave her a brief nod of approval, seemingly pleased with her grasp of things. ‘There’s also been an upswing in drug and alcohol use. So use your own judgement but if you’re in doubt at all, check with me before you prescribe anything.’
‘I think I can manage that.’
It was just on ten o’clock when Maxi arrived at Jake’s surgery. Ayleen was, of course, in attendance, beckoning Maxi to the end of the counter out of earshot of the waiting patients. ‘Jake thought you might like to settle in a bit, Doctor, and then see a couple of patients after lunch.’
Maxi nodded. ‘That sounds fine. And, please, don’t let’s be formal. Call me Maxi.’
They exchanged a smile. ‘And I’m Ayleen. So now that’s settled, I’ll show you where to go and you can start getting your bearings.’
‘Brilliant.’
‘This’ll be you.’ Ayleen opened the door on a reasonably sized consulting room.
‘Oh, wow.’ Maxi blinked a bit, seeing a well-equipped, although impersonal domain. It set her thinking and she turned to the receptionist, a query in her eyes. ‘So, was this always a two-doctor practice?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Ayleen was only too happy to supply the information. ‘Jake joined Tom Wilde a couple of years ago but then Tom and his family had to leave for various reasons and Jake’s been soldiering on alone ever since. Such a relief you can stay for a while.’
Yes, but for how long? Maxi’s gaze clouded slightly. ‘The locum’s not turned up, then?’
Ayleen shook her ash-blonde head and gave a little sniff of disgust. ‘Changed his mind, according to the agency.’
‘There’s no chance he’ll change it back?’
‘Not when he’s accepted a job on the Gold Coast instead! Some people have no sense of personal responsibility these days,’ Ayleen proclaimed. ‘It all boils down to lack of respect, of course. In my younger days, you wouldn’t dare not turn up if you’d been offered a job.’ She flapped a hand around the consulting room. ‘This’ll be better once you get your own bits and pieces around. But plenty of time for that,’ she added cheerfully. ‘Now, come through and I’ll give you the rest of the tour.’
Her thoughts very mixed, Maxi followed.
‘Treatment room through here,’ Ayleen said, pulling back a screen.
‘Looks a good work area.’ Maxi was impressed with the array of equipment and would have liked to linger but Ayleen was on the move again.
‘Staff kitchen and other facilities along here. And talking of kitchens,’ Ayleen said with a smile, ‘what about some tea and scones? I brought my usual batch in this morning.’
Oh, dear, the dreaded scones. Maxi thought quickly. ‘Uh, thanks, Ayleen, but I already had a cuppa with Loretta over at the hospital.’
‘Next Friday, then.’ The receptionist-cum-practice manager beamed. ‘Now, I’d best get back and leave you to settle in. I usually make us a sandwich for lunch. Can I count you in?’
Maxi nodded around a smile. ‘Wonderful, thanks, Ayleen.’
‘So, how was your morning?’ Maxi asked. She and Jake were in the staffroom and Ayleen had just cleared their lunch things away and returned to her desk to get ready for the afternoon surgery.
Jake lifted his gaze, his eyes narrowing. ‘Much as usual. How was yours?’
‘Oh, pretty good, I think.’ Her teeth caught on her lower lip as she smiled. ‘I got a good hearing and a promising outcome from Liz Maynard,’ she added, leaning forward and warming to her subject. ‘Apparently the welfare of women and children is the main priority of the association so doing something for Karryn and the new baby comes well within their guidelines.’
Jake raised a dark eyebrow. ‘So, materially, what can they do?’
‘Liz is going to ask some of their members to cook and freeze some meals so Karryn won’t have to worry about getting everyone fed the moment she gets home, and Liz said they’ll get together and make up a basket of goodies, baby stuff and so on, as a gift for Karryn. Hopefully throw in some toys for the older children as well.’
‘That’s brilliant. I’m impressed.’ Jake’s mouth pulled down. ‘Why couldn’t I see all that was possible?’
Maxi made a throw-away movement with her hand. ‘Don’t beat yourself up. It’s hard to be objective when you’re the one having to deal with everyone’s stress day after day. And sometimes…’ she sent him a trapped smile ‘…it needs a woman-to-woman approach. Anyway, that’s not all my good news. Liz’s two teenage sons are home from boarding school early. Apparently the college needs the dorm for a group of overseas students on a study trip. Liz said the lads are bored already so she’s going to suggest to Karryn and Dean that the guys go out to the farm and do the hay drop for the next couple of weeks.’
Jake frowned a bit. ‘I doubt the Goodes will be able to pay the lads much.’
‘They won’t have to. Liz said once she’s explained things to the boys, they’ll be happy to volunteer. And the elder, Heath, has his driver’s licence so they can drive out and back each day—’ Seeing his expression, she broke off and bit her lip. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’ Jake’s lips twitched thoughtfully. In just a few short hours this woman had begun to weave small miracles. And it felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. There was no denying her input would make a huge difference to the practice,