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has a genuine problem at last,' Josh observed.
    'I'm not sure I want to know about it,' Sophie murmured. She gave herself a mental shake and smiled brightly. 'How was your weekend?'
    'Fantastic.' Josh stretched his back as he straightened. 'And yours?'
    'It was OK. Pretty quiet,' she added nonchalantly.
    'I expect you're missing Greg.'
    Sophie's hand shook at the unexpected sympathy in Josh's tone, and the instant coffee spilled onto the bench. She grabbed the dishcloth. For a wild moment Sophie considered confiding in Josh Cooper. Instinct persuaded her otherwise. Josh had a close friendship with his professional partner. His own off-duty lifestyle appeared to be dedicated to squeezing the maximum possible enjoyment out of life—and women. Fun times only. Anything serious had to be fobbed off, usually via the long-suffering co-operation of Toni Marsh. Josh had been horrified by Sophie's lack of experience in relationships and would probably cheer Oliver on in offering to provide a comparison. Perhaps they got on so well because they were two of a kind.
    Oliver entered the staffroom just as Sophie finished wiping down the bench and had managed a slightly embarrassed smile in response to Josh's concern. But Josh didn't see the smile. He was looking at his partner.
    'Our Sophie's not too happy this morning,' he informed Oliver.
    'Really?' Oliver's concern was quite genuine. He hadn't meant to frighten Sophie by kissing her. He could have kicked himself for giving in to that overwhelming compulsion, but he'd done his best to back off and lighten things up. That sniping comment about his marriage had helped quite a lot at the time but it was becoming difficult again. Damned difficult. He couldn't look at her for more than an instant or two, and when they were alone he tried to imagine Greg standing protectively beside her. That wasn't easy as he had no idea what the man looked like. Probably seven feet tall with a red cape and knickers on the outside of his trousers. Surely Sophie wouldn't settle for anyone less compelling?
    Sophie could feel the laser-like beam of Oliver's full attention coming at her. She refused to respond and concentrated carefully on spooning coffee into her mug.
    'She's missing Greg,' Josh explained kindly.
    'Are you, Sophie?' Oliver's quiet words had all the effect of mortar shells. Sophie had to move. She had to try and decrease the sense of awareness his proximity raised in her body. Sophie tried to summon some of the anger left over from the weekend's emotional turmoil before she made eye contact.
    'Yes,' she admitted calmly. 'I am missing Greg.' She picked up her mug. 'I'll take this with me,' she announced. 'It's time I started earning my keep.'
    It hadn't been a dishonest statement. Sophie left her mug on her desk and headed for the waiting room. She was missing Greg. She was missing the comfortable security of their relationship, the knowledge that she had a declared ally, no matter what life might throw at her in the future. A good friend. A really good friend. Was she really so sure it wasn't enough of a base for a good marriage?
    'Mrs Murdock? Would you like to come through now?'
    Ruby Murdock was looking very pleased with herself. 'I've kept up my diary every day and I've taken my puffer every morning. I get Felicity to check up on me when she comes.'
    'How often have you needed to use your Ventolin inhaler?'
    'Oh, a few times. But things are a lot better.'
    'You haven't made a note of when you've needed the Ventolin in your diary.'
    'Didn't I? Oh, I'm sorry, dear.' Ruby looked apologetic. 'It must have slipped my mind.'
    'You've done very well, keeping up your peak-flow chart,' Sophie said encouragingly. 'We can work out an asthma action plan for you now and give you some guidelines on what treatment you might need and when. It'll mean you'll be able to manage your own asthma much more effectively.'
    Ruby looked doubtful. Then her gaze shifted to Sophie's coffee-mug and she licked her lips.