‘You keep your back to the window,’ Oliver advised, flinging open some cupboards to show her where everything was kept. ‘We’ve got everything you’re likely to need. If you can’t find something, press two on your telephone and that puts you straight through to Pam on Reception. Hit this button on your computer…’ he tapped with a long finger
‘…and you can access your list for the day and the patient records.’
Helen was surprised. ‘It’s all very high tech.’
‘We may be rural but we’re not backward.’ Oliver’s gaze slid down over her figure and a faint frown touched his dark brows. ‘That uniform is loose on you,’ he said softly, his eyes lifting to hers. ‘Ellie is pretty small so I think that means you’ve lost weight.’
Helen straightened the uniform self-consciously, knowing that he was right. The uniform was loose.
‘Maybe I could advertise it as a new diet,’ she joked feebly. ‘The Break-Up Diet. Lose half a stone in two weeks.’
He didn’t laugh. ‘I’m going to tell Pam to make sure you eat lunch. I’d force-feed you myself but I have a meeting that I can’t get out of. But I’ll see you tonight at dinner. And I’m cooking.’
With that he left the room, returning moments later with his two partners who both greeted her warmly and thanked her for helping out.
‘Maggie does an asthma clinic on a Monday morning,’ Ally Nicholson told her. ‘Are you OK with that?’
‘Definitely.’ Helen nodded immediately. ‘Asthma was a real problem in the inner-city practice where I worked. I’ve done the training course and I’m used to running clinics. If I have any worries, I’ll call one of you.’
Obviously satisfied that she was going to be able to cope, the other two GPs hurried off to start their morning surgeries and Oliver gave a satisfied nod.
‘You’re going to be fine,’ he said softly. ‘Just don’t forget to eat.’
Halfway through her asthma clinic Oliver stuck his head around her door. ‘I’ve got a patient I need some help with. I need a different perspective.’
‘Go on.’
Having established that she didn’t have anyone with her, he walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
‘She’s another one of my big worries.’
‘Oliver, you worry about all your patients,’ Helen pointed out calmly, and he grinned.
‘I know. But I really worry about this one. She’s seventeen and she has asthma but refuses to acknowledge it. The registrar at the hospital just called me. Apparently she was admitted on Friday after a nasty attack but even that wasn’t enough to motivate her to do something about her disease. They sounded pretty infuriated with her.’
‘That’s not very helpful.’ Helen looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Teenagers have very special needs. Does she have a management plan?’
‘In theory. I suspect in practice her management plan involves ignoring her asthma until it’s time to call the ambulance.’
Helen sighed. ‘I’ll talk to her. Is she outside now?’
Oliver nodded. ‘With her mother, who is wringing her hands and clearly hasn’t slept for two days.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Helen looked at the list on her computer. ‘Well, my next patient hasn’t arrived so I could see her now. But can we leave the mother in the waiting room? If we’re having a proper conversation about things that matter to teenagers, I suspect it won’t be helpful to have her mother in the room.’
‘I’ll deal with it. Thanks.’
Oliver vanished and then reappeared moments later. Behind him loitered a slim girl with an extremely sulky expression on her pretty face.
‘Anna, this is Helen.’ Oliver nudged the girl gently into the consulting room. ‘She’s from London.’
‘London?’ The girl looked at Helen with an envious expression on her face. ‘You lucky thing. I’d do anything to go and live in London. Actually, I’d do anything to live anywhere but here.’
Oliver looked at Helen helplessly and she smiled. ‘I expect you have patients to see, Dr Hunter.’
‘I do.’ He gave her a grateful smile and left the room.
‘That man is seriously cool. He could give me the kiss of life any day.’ Anna stared after Oliver with a wistful expression on her face and then turned back to Helen. ‘I suppose you’re going to lecture me, so you might as well make a start.’