‘Mum loved Dad for who he was, and climbing was part of who he was,’ Oliver said simply. ‘Of the three of us, Tom was probably most like Dad. Bryony and I were happy to mess around on the fells here. Tom wanted the big stuff. He and Dad climbed together in the Alps and the Himalayas.’
‘Didn’t your mum worry?’
‘I’m sure she worried herself sick.’ Oliver gave a wry smile. ‘But she would never have stopped any of us doing what we wanted to do. It was always our decision. She probably worried more about Tom than me. I think she had a few pangs when he went to the Himalayas.’
Helen winced. ‘I’m sure she did.’
‘Mum was very good at letting us follow our own paths,’ Oliver said thoughtfully. ‘I think she realised that if she tried to stop Tom, he’d do it anyway and then there’d be a rift between them. So she just made sure that he had the very best equipment and that he climbed with people he could trust. At one point we all thought Tom would spend his life climbing. Then suddenly he announced he wanted to be a doctor and that was that. He put the same energy into that as he had into his climbing.’
‘He seems young to be a consultant,’ Helen observed, and Oliver grinned.
‘Don’t tell him that. He’s arrogant enough as it is. Much as it pains me to admit it, my brother is a bit of a hotshot.’
His pride in his brother was obvious and Helen thought again what a thoroughly nice man he was.
‘So, Miss Helen Forrester.’ Oliver stood up and lifted his plate and bowl from the table. ‘That’s my life history.’
‘Sit down. I’ll clear up.’ Helen tried to take the dirty plates from him but he hung onto them firmly.
‘You cooked it,’ he reminded her, and Helen bit her lip.
‘But you’ve been out all day, and—’
‘So?’ Oliver’s tone was questioning. ‘Why does that mean you should be the one to clear up?’
She flushed slightly. ‘You’ve had a hard day, and—’
A muscle flickered in his hard jaw. ‘Is that what he used to say to justify sitting on his backside while you ran ’round after him?’
The directness of his question caught her by surprise. ‘Yes. No. I mean, his job was much busier than mine and—’
‘Helen.’ Oliver interrupted her and this time there was no trace of amusement in his voice. ‘Don’t make excuses for him. And for your information, I don’t expect you to clear up after me. While we’re living together we share the load.’
Gently but firmly he removed the plates from her fingers and put them in the dishwasher. Then he turned and pushed her towards a chair.
‘Your turn to sit down while I make us both a coffee.’
She did as she was told. ‘Bryony always used to talk about the mountains,’ she said, suddenly eager to change the subject. She didn’t want to dwell on David. ‘She really missed them when she was in London.’
Oliver nodded. ‘Most people who are born here end up coming back. The mountains are in the blood.’
Helen took the coffee he handed her with a smile of thanks. ‘I certainly don’t feel as though London is in my blood,’ she confessed ruefully. ‘It’s been my home all my life, but I’m not missing it at all.’
But perhaps that was because of everything that had happened.
Oliver sat down opposite her and shot her a curious look. ‘Are you not? Well, perhaps we’ll convert you to our rural, heathen ways after all. And tomorrow you’ll find out what it’s like to work in a small GP practice. I hope you like it.’
Helen felt a frisson of anxiety. She was sure she’d like it. But what if she didn’t have the necessary skills? Oliver teased her about being a city girl, but what if she just didn’t fit into his practice?
She gave herself a sharp talking-to.
He’d been so kind to her and he needed help, she reminded herself firmly. And she’d help him or die in the attempt.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE practice was light and airy, set in a modern building with a huge glass atrium that allowed spectacular views of the mountains.
Helen stared in awe out of the window of the consulting room that she’d been allocated. ‘It’s so beautiful. How am I ever expected to get any work done?’