Risking Her Heart on the Trauma Doc
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Louisa Heaton
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CHAPTER ONE
JESS KNEW SHE’D made the right decision to come back. Standing at the front of the ferry as it chugged its way towards Thorney Island, she felt the cool breeze blowing through her hair, heard the noisy gulls circling overhead.
Thorney Island looked exactly as she remembered. Only smaller. She’d been brought here as a child by her father. Their annual holiday—one week away in a caravan, year after year, without fail. Until she’d got old enough to want something more.
The bustling harbour was filled with boats of all shapes and sizes: trawlers, dredgers, fishing boats and the occasional pleasure cruiser. It was as if she had only left yesterday, and the aroma in the air of brine and fish was just so familiar, so filled with happy memories, that it almost took her breath away.
She’d missed this, and it was something she’d never expected to feel—this longing. This grief. But of course it would remind her of the happy times she’d had here with her father. She should have expected it. Because remembering that happiness simply served to remind her of what she had lost.
The ferry slowed as it came into port, drifting in on the tide. She heard the harbour master and the others calling to one another in their thick Scottish accents and she smiled before she hurried back to get into her car, ready to drive off when they finally docked.
The waterfront looked the same—as if the island had been trapped in time from the second she’d left to this moment she was in now. She thought briefly about stopping to pop into the Harbour Café, to grab a coffee and a bite to eat, but she knew it would be busy, as it always was, and she was keen to get to the estate agents to pick up the key for her temporary rental property.
She’d have the rest of the day to settle in, and then tomorrow she would start work under her new boss, Dr Jack Campbell, who seemed to be a really nice man.
He’d interviewed her on the telephone and in a video call online, as she’d been unable to make it over to the island. He reminded her of her own father. They’d have been the same generation as each other and, with his silver hair and his twinkling blue eyes and his nice smile, Jack had made her feel very comfortable indeed.
She imagined that working for him at the island’s cottage hospital would be interesting and educational, considering how broad the work requirements were. And he’d really liked it that she was already familiar with the island as apparently he’d had trouble trying to fill the post—candidates had been turning it down as there wasn’t much opportunity to specialise, and most doctors were looking for their next step up the long ladder of success, rather than a small hospital.
The estate agency she was looking for was a little bit inland from the harbourfront, and she drove away from the waterside and found a small parking area behind the first street of shops. She parked, and pushed open the door of Wainwright’s Estate Agency, hearing a bell ringing merrily above her head as she walked in.
There were three desks all in a line, and behind each one sat an agent dressed in a grey suit. Over the left breast pocket of their jackets, they each wore a name tag. Two of the agents were on the phone, so she walked over to the female agent who seemed free and glanced at her badge: Moira.
‘Good morning, can I help you?’ Moira smiled, all white teeth and thick-lashed eyes.
‘Hello. I’m Dr Jessica Young and I’ve rented a flat on Haven Road. I was told I could collect the key here.’
‘Okay. Do you know who you were dealing with?’
‘Adrian.’
‘Ah. He’s not here today, but I can certainly help you. Have you brought your documents and ID?’
Jess delved into her bag to bring out all that was needed, and after a few moments of checking, she was passed a key with a label hanging from it.
‘There’s a map in the documentation, but Haven Road isn’t far. I can direct you, if you’d like?’
‘That’s okay. I think I know where it is. It’s that long road that runs towards the hospital, isn’t it?’
Moira nodded. ‘Aye, it is. Well, I hope you’re happy there. Any problems, you’ll need to contact your landlord. His details are in the pack.’
‘Thanks.’
Jess headed back outside and took a brief moment to suck in the briny sea air just one more time before heading inland.
Fresh air and a fresh start was everything her own doctor had prescribed.
‘You must be Dr Young—Jessica, isn’t it?’ asked the bespectacled, perfectly coiffed lady.
‘Call me Jess.’ She reached out her hand for the older woman to shake.
‘Call me Judy. I’m Jack’s wife. Also his receptionist and assistant extraordinaire.’ She smiled. ‘Did you have a calm crossing on the ferry?’
‘Very calm, thank you.’
Jess liked Judy. She had the look of a stern librarian, with her glasses attached to a colourful chain around her neck.
‘I’m afraid Jack has had to go out on a call, so he’s not here to meet you as he planned.’ Judy came out from behind her desk and indicated that Jess should follow her. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’
‘Oh, I’m fine, thank you.’
Judy escorted her towards a door that bore a plaque stating Dr Jack W Campbell, Clinical Lead.
‘He’s left a few things you’ll need today, so let’s get those.’
Jess waited as Judy searched Jack’s desk, opening drawers and rummaging, and let her eyes scan the room. It was stylishly decorated, and had some added touches that Jess assumed had been made by Dr Campbell’s wife. Some beautiful pot plants that she couldn’t name. A sofa to one side of the room, beautifully arranged with some modern cushions, a piece of cross-stitch on the wall, of a busy harbourside filled with boats, and a windowsill filled to the brim with family photos in elegant silver frames.
They all seemed to be of the same person. A little boy growing into the man he appeared to be now. Handsome, too. One photo showed him stood in his university gown holding a scroll, a beaming smile upon his face. And to the side was a picture of the same young man kneeling down with a group of kids, all smiling towards the camera as a hot sun beamed down upon them.
Where was that? Egypt? Somewhere in Africa?
Another showed the man standing in the midst of a jungle, his face turned up to the heavens as it rained, his hands stretched out as if he was grateful for the rain.
‘Settled in all right?’ asked Judy.
‘Yes, I have. I must thank your husband for the recommendation. The flat’s a good size.’
‘In good condition, too. Our son lives in the same building, so he did us all a favour by giving us his landlord’s contact details.’
Their son lived in her building? She smiled, suddenly nervous.
‘Ah! Found it!’ Judy brandished a file full of paperwork and a temporary ID card on a lanyard with her name on it. ‘You can use this until we get your photo taken. It’s great to meet you at last. Jack had no doubt about you at all during the interview, but it’s always better to meet someone in person, don’t you think?’
Jess nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
‘Okay! So, we’ll go through a few housekeeping bits and pieces and then we’ll get you started. Adam’s all ready to get you up and running.’
She frowned. ‘Adam?’
‘The other Dr Campbell.’ She pointed at the framed photos with pride. ‘He’s been working abroad, but he’s been back with us for just over a year now.’
‘I thought I’d be working with Jack,’ said Jess, her gaze lingering on the most prominent photo.
Adam was exactly the type of good-looking man that she’d be attracted to.
And she didn’t need that sort of complication.
