As she opened her mouth to correct him he started the engine. Oh, what was the point? She might just as well get used to it.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. In each home they were made welcome. Despite Clem’s sometimes brutal honesty and arrogant assumptions, it was obvious the patients all adored him. Everywhere they went the patients insisted on making a cup of tea. As if he hadn’t had a drink all day, Clem gratefully accepted and listened as they chatted. Finally, armed with a bag of lemons and some lamingtons, they had finished the rounds.
‘For a day’s work well done, I’ll buy you dinner. It’s time for you to visit the local hotel.’
‘But we can’t. I’m in my work clothes,’ Olivia wailed. The thought of having to talk to him socially terrified her.
‘I’m not intending to get you drunk, I can assure you, but it’s nearly seven already and I’m sure you’re about as keen to cook dinner as I am.’
Driving into the main street, he parked and escorted her straight into a bistro. Gorgeous smells wafted from the kitchen and Olivia realised how hungry she really was. Again Clem was greeted like a long-lost friend.
‘G’day there. The usual, Clem? And what about the young lady?’
‘An orange juice, please.’
Clem remembered his manners and introduced her. ‘This is Olivia Morrell, the new sister at the practice.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Livvy,’ the landlord greeted her cheerfully. Casually holding her elbow, Clem led her over to a table by the window and went back to the bar to fetch their drinks. Olivia gazed out of the window at the miles of land stretched out before her. The road continued far into the horizon. It was magnificent. She wished she were here with Jeremy. It had been so long since they’d been away together or even out for a meal, just the two of them. There had always been work, or a function to attend. Perhaps if she’d insisted, or just gone ahead and booked a weekend away, maybe they could somehow have prevented the mess they were in.
‘Daydreaming?’
Olivia jumped as Clem placed their drinks on the table. ‘I was just admiring the view.’
‘Yes it’s pretty spectacular,’ he agreed. ‘As are the pies here. I took the liberty of ordering for you. They do the best steak pie I’ve ever tasted.’
‘Sounds marvellous.’
Conversation was surprisingly easy. He was very good company, with a wicked, cynical sense of humour. Olivia felt herself start to relax as he told her tales of the locals. The pie, as promised, was spectacular, the sauce rich and spicy. Mopping her plate with a second bread roll, she felt Clem staring at her.
‘What?’ she said, hastily putting down her roll.
‘Nothing. I’m just glad you’re enjoying the food,’ he remarked.
‘And why shouldn’t I be? It’s delicious.’
Clem surprised himself at how much pleasure he took in watching her unwind. For the first time since they’d met she was actually looking at him for more than ten seconds when he spoke. The constant fiddling with her earrings or hair had stopped. He decided to broach a question he had been wondering about. ‘You said last night your “ex-fiancé”. Was the break-up very recent?’ Those stunning green eyes frantically looked over to the bar as if in a silent plea for help, her hand immediately shooting up to her earrings.
‘Yes.’ Olivia replied reluctantly.
‘Were you engaged for long?’
‘We were together five years, engaged for two.’
Clem let out a low whistle. ‘Ouch,’ he said simply, and took a drink of his beer. For a second she thought the conversation was over but he wasn’t letting her off so easily.
‘He’s not exactly a fast mover. Why weren’t you married?’ he probed.
Olivia sighed, wishing he would just drop it. ‘We were happy the way we were, there wasn’t any need to rush,’ she stated, bringing out the old platitudes she had used on her friends and parents so many times in the past.
‘Rubbish,’ Clem said rudely. ‘I have a theory about couples in long engagements and so far I’ve always been right.’ He paused. ‘Do you want to hear it?’
‘Not particularly, but I’ve a feeling I’m going to.’
Clem grinned and continued. ‘One is desperate for the commitment, the other is holding out, but both pretend a long engagement is what they want. It’s the same with couples who live together—there’s always one holding back. Am I right?’
He was, of course, damn him, but she certainly wasn’t going to let him know as much.
‘Actually, no, you’re not. Jeremy’s been under a lot of pressure recently. We were waiting till he made consultant. There wasn’t time to concentrate on a wedding as well.’
‘Well, I’d have made time,’ Clem insisted. ‘I’d have snapped you up years ago.’
It was an innocent statement, made entirely in the context of the conversation, but for some reason Olivia felt herself start to blush. Clem didn’t seem to notice.
‘So what does he think about you being out here?’
‘He doesn’t know.’
‘You’re not some fugitive on the missing persons list, are you?’ The tone of his voice made her look up and she was relieved to see he was smiling.
‘He’s a bit too busy with his new girlfriend, I would think, to be looking for me.’
Clem took a long drink of his beer. ‘So one call from Jeremy and I could lose the only decent nurse this town has seen in months.’
‘I’m more responsible than that,’ Olivia retorted quickly. ‘I’m not just some puppy dog that can be summoned. I’ve accepted the job and I’m aware of my obligations.’
‘Whoa.’ He raised his hands.
‘Anyway,’ she continued, ‘as I’ve only been here a day, aren’t you judging me rather hastily?’
‘On the contrary. I believe in first impressions, though I must admit I was wrong about your eating habits.’
Olivia gave him a questioning look but he didn’t elaborate.
‘Kathy always said I knew at a glance...’ He took a hasty sip of his drink and then in a soft voice he continued, ‘Kathy was my wife. She died,’ he said simply. Now it was his turn to avoid her gaze.
‘I heard. I’m so sorry. How long ago?’
‘It will be two years in a few months, but the way it feels it might just as well have been yesterday.’ He drained his glass. ‘Hold onto your heart, Livvy, because you only get hurt in the end. I sometimes wonder if the pleasure of being in love is worth the pain.’ He gave her a rueful smile. ‘Listen to us two lonely hearts getting maudlin.’ The carefree shift in his tone did nothing to disguise the sadness hanging in the air. ‘Can I get you another drink?’
Olivia reached for her purse. ‘No, it’s my turn. I’m going to have a coffee.’ Like her, he obviously didn’t want to talk about his loss. The difference was, she was too polite to push it. ‘Can I get you one?’
Clem shook his head.
‘Another beer, then, or a cup of tea perhaps?’ she offered.
‘Olivia, sit down a moment. There’s something I must tell you,’ Clem said in a serious voice. She tentatively sat down. What on earth could it be?
‘You must promise not to tell any of the patients this. If it were to get out, so many people would be offended.’
Olivia nodded nervously.