Free The Secret Doctor by Joanna Neil Page A

I saidanything he made me feel as though I was a swot and a spoilsport, and it ruined everything between us.’
    Her expression was sombre. ‘I didn’t want to pour cold water on his plans, but my career’s important to me, and I wasn’t happy to make do with second-class results. I don’t think Nick ever really understood that.’
    â€˜Is that what he finished up with…second-class results? I’m assuming he’s a doctor, like you?’ He leaned against the nearby worktop, watching her as she gathered up various bits and pieces and added them to the holdall on the kitchen table.
    She nodded. ‘He had to do retakes, and managed to scrape by, but it was such a waste when he had the ability to do so much better.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose that didn’t really matter, if he was happy with the way things were going. It was his choice, but I felt that he was sliding downhill, losing control, and I wanted to help him, but he wouldn’t listen. He said some harsh things to me and made me feel that I was the one who was in the wrong, the one who needed to change. I suppose it was a defensive reaction on his part.’
    â€˜So you split up?’
    â€˜Yes, eventually. I felt guilty, because I could see him going off the rails, and I wanted to do more to get him back on track, but it became obvious I was wasting my time. He didn’t want my help.’
    She added a towel to the bag. ‘I was going through my own problems, after losing my parents, and he wasn’t there for me when I needed him. There should have been more understanding between us, of how weeach felt as individuals, but when that was missing, we just began to realise that we were miles apart in our outlook on life. It was better to end it.’
    She closed the zip on the holdall as though she was closing off that part of her life for ever. It hadn’t felt that way at the time, but perhaps now that she could look back on it, she was relieved that it was over.
    He frowned. ‘Sometimes people have to discover for themselves that they’re losing control. Until they do that, all their friends and relatives can do is pick up the pieces.’
    â€˜I suppose so.’
    â€˜What happened to your parents? Do you mind talking about it?’
    She shook her head. ‘It was a car accident. The only consolation was that it was all over very quickly for them. I don’t think they knew what had hit them.’
    â€˜I’m sorry. That must have been hard…for you and for your sister.’
    â€˜Yes, it was.’ She pressed her lips together. It wasn’t a subject she wanted to dwell on. Besides, he must have gone through the same process of grief if both of his parents had passed on.
    He picked up the holdall from the table. ‘Is this what you’re taking with you? Is it all packed and ready to go?’
    â€˜Yes. I’ve hunted out all my old scuba equipment, mask, fins and jacket, but I’m assuming you have the compressed air tanks?’
    â€˜That’s right, I do. They’re stowed away on board the boat, along with a picnic hamper so that we can have lunch. All you need to bring is yourself.’
    Her mouth curved. ‘Sounds good to me. And a picnic, too…that was a great piece of thinking. I wondered whether to bring along anything to eat, but then I decided we’d probably be able to pick up something if we tied up alongside a waterfront eating place, or some such.’
    â€˜We can still do that. The picnic is just to tide us over in case we get ravenous along the way.’ His gaze wandered slowly over her shapely curves. ‘Of course, there’s hunger, and then there’s hunger…’
    Her brows lifted a fraction, her blue eyes sparking, so that he lifted his hands in submission and said quickly, ‘Okay, I promise, I’m on my best behaviour. I’m an absolute saint.’
    â€˜Well, that’s good to