The Surgeon's Family Wish. Abigail Gordon

      ‘So do I take it that you’ll soon be going back to school?’ she said as eyes blue as the sky looked up into hers.

      ‘Yes,’ Lucy said. ‘On Monday. I’ve been away a long time. I’ll be behind in my work and all my friends will have forgotten me.’

      ‘I’ve told Lucy that the teacher knows she had a nasty accident and won’t expect her to catch up straight away,’ Aaron said gravely as his eyes met hers above Lucy’s blonde head.

      ‘Yes, of course,’ Annabel agreed, ‘and I’m sure that your friends won’t have forgotten you. I imagine that they all think you very brave having such a serious operation and coming back to school looking just the same as before.’

      ‘Can I tell them that the doctor who mended my head is my friend?’

      ‘Er...yes, by all means,’ Annabel said, aware of the amusement in Aaron’s dark eyes. She watched it change to surprise as she suggested, ‘Maybe we could take Lucy’s class on a tour of the hospital. It would increase her standing and they would know what to expect if ever any of them have to be admitted.’

      ‘Good thinking!’ he exclaimed. ‘I’m sure that she would love to show them where you ‘‘mended’’ her head. But getting back to your house-hunting. Have you seen anything that appeals to you?’

      ‘Not yet. I’d like something small and classy with open views.’

      ‘There’s a small coach house for sale next door to my place,’ he said. ‘It isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly classy.’

      He could have gone on to say, It belongs to a friend of mine who spends a lot of time abroad. When he’s away I show prospective buyers round. But he was already wishing he hadn’t spoken.

      For one thing his mother would be sure to read something into the suggestion, even though it had been totally spontaneous, and Annabel also might think it came from what had been said the previous evening. So instead he followed it up with, ‘Though on second thoughts I think it would be too big for you.’

      ‘No harm in having a look though, is there?’ she said with her newfound enthusiasm carrying her along.

      ‘No. I suppose not,’ he agreed reluctantly. ‘You could ring the agent and ask for a viewing.’

      ‘Supposing I like it,’ she said slowly, aware that he was having second thoughts, ‘how would you feel having me living next door? Seeing me all day at the hospital and having me almost on your doorstep for the rest of the time.’

      ‘It wouldn’t bother me,’ he replied unconvincingly. ‘There’s a high hedge between the two properties and we don’t see much of the present owner.’

      ‘That’s because Uncle Richard is always away,’ Lucy chipped in. ‘Why can’t you show Annabel round his house, Daddy? Like you do with all the other people?’

      Annabel had to hand it to him. Aaron had been caught out but he didn’t bat an eyelid. He merely said, ‘If Annabel wants to view Uncle Richard’s house, Lucy, she is better seeing it with someone she doesn’t know. I wouldn’t want to influence her.’

      ‘I think you already have,’ she told him coolly. ‘Maybe I’ll give it a miss after all.’

      She bent and kissed Lucy’s soft cheek.

      ‘I’ll be thinking of you on Monday,’ she told her. ‘I hope you have a good day and I won’t forget what I said about your class being shown round the hospital.’

      For her father Annabel had a curt nod.

      ‘I’ll be seeing you, Aaron,’ she said, and he knew from the tone of her voice that it was more of a threat than a promise.

      You certainly handled that well, he told himself as he walked Lucy back to the car. It was your suggestion that Annabel look at Richard’s house, but the words were barely out of your mouth before you were backing off. Go on at this rate and she’ll be thinking she’s got something catching. If you wanted to put her off you made a first-class job of it. For someone who always knows exactly where he’s heading, you’re acting like an indecisive ditherer.

      * * *

      It was Sunday afternoon and a boisterous wind was lifting the dead leaves in the garden of the house next door as Aaron stared thoughtfully through his study window.

      Richard Clements, who lived there, was a television producer and often away. He would appear out of the blue, then a couple of days later be off on his travels again.

      He was unmarried, which Aaron often thought was just as well. For any woman he took up with would be left alone for long periods while he was working. Yet he always seemed to have some female company around when he came home for one of his brief stays.

      The winter dusk was falling and as Aaron was about to turn away the lights came on suddenly next door. His eyes widened when he saw Richard framed in the window opposite and with him, of all people, was Annabel.

      So he hadn’t put her off, he thought incredulously. She was doing the opposite to what he’d expected, viewing Richard’s house. If the russet-haired charmer who was his friend and neighbour was on his usual form, she would be eating out of his hand.