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AS SOON AS HER LAST patient left that day, Tess sought out Jonathan to tell him of her concerns about Mrs Le Page and her husband. As he listened his expression grew more serious.
‘You won’t know this, but the husband is a well-known, successful businessman who also happens to be a States Deputy with friends in high places. Anyone would have to tread carefully with accusations of abuse.’
Her heart sank.
‘I see. No wonder she isn’t letting on. Poor woman! She must wonder if anyone would believe her if she admitted what’s happening. Do you know him, Jonathan?’
‘Not as such, I’ve met him at a couple of social dos, and he came across as quite charming. To be honest, I’ve not heard a whisper against him. I remember the wife, too, and that she hardly said a word, letting him do all the talking. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but if what you say is true, then it would fit with him being a controlling person, which abusers generally are. It’s a power thing.’
‘I went through her notes and any injuries have been on the body and nothing on the face. So he’s calculated enough to ensure when he hurts her, no-one can see the result.’ Tess had to force herself to push down rising anger towards the man. ‘Is there anything I can do? Surely I can’t simply ignore it?’
‘Flag it up in her notes in case another doctor treats her in the future, but apart from that just be vigilant when she or her baby need treatment. If you’re seriously concerned for her safety then we’ll consider the next step. There’s a local organisation for sufferers of domestic abuse, called Options, and you could suggest she contacts them. Unfortunately, I think it’s unlikely she’d do that because of who her husband is.’ He patted her shoulder. ‘It’s frustrating, I know, but we can’t force her to take action. And at least you’re now on the alert, so well done for that.’
‘What about the police?’
‘They can only act if she presses charges, which seems doubtful, I’m afraid.’
Tess reluctantly agreed to take his advice and left the office, not exactly in the right mood for her date with Jack. In the past she’d learnt to leave work behind when she finished for the day, and it was time to do that now. Taking a deep, calming breath, she drove home. By the time she had showered and changed she had managed to let go her frustration and was looking forward to the evening. Jack had offered to cook dinner and she was driving to his cottage on the understanding she would spend the night with him. Although they had spoken on the phone most days, she had missed seeing him.
After gathering a few toiletries and change of clothes into a holdall, she popped in to see the family gathered in the kitchen with James in his high chair. Charlotte gave her a hug, scrutinising her face.
‘You look as if you’ve had a rough day. Fancy a small glass of vino before you leave?’
‘Yes, please. It was a bit stressful. What about you two?’ She looked at Andy who was sitting by James watching him eat while nursing a glass of wine.
‘My day was good, thanks. Finally got the planning permission for a job that’s taken forever and now have one happy client. I take it you’re off to Jack’s this evening?’ he said, eyeing her bag.
She nodded as Charlotte handed her a glass of wine.
‘Yes, he’s cooking so will be a quiet night in. But we’re out tomorrow, I think. What did you get up to today, Charlotte?’
‘Not a lot, but I did manage to get back to the diaries and it’s getting interesting. I’m up to 1863 and Hugo’s daughter Adèle is causing problems, I’ve made some notes and we can chat about it when you, um, have time.’ She winked.
‘Great, thanks, I look forward to it. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon?’ For Tess, the desire to know more about what did or didn’t happen between Hugo and Eugénie was still important but had been overtaken by her new job, boyfriend and the incredible finds at the house. Charlotte helping with the diaries would be a godsend. After chatting for a few minutes Tess left, saying she would be back late morning.
Jack opened the front door as she drove into his less than generous drive. She was about to get out of the car when he opened the door, pulling her to her feet and into a close embrace.
‘Missed me, have you?’ she murmured, surrendering to his touch.
‘You bet. Here, let me take your bag,’ he said, reaching into the car, ‘and I thought we might eat outside as it’s still warm.’ Flinging one arm around her shoulder he steered her inside the cottage. A wonderful aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air and Tess’s mouth watered as she followed him into the kitchen.
‘Something smells delicious but I’m not sure what it is.’ She looked around but whatever was giving off the inviting scent wasn’t visible.
‘Ah, that’s because it’s my own special recipe and it’s keeping warm in the oven while we have a drink first. Wine or gin?’ He waved his hand towards a selection of bottles on the side.
‘Gin and tonic, please.’
‘Right, you go through and I’ll bring the drinks and some nibbles out in a moment.’ Jack gave her a quick kiss and pushed her gently towards the door opening onto the garden. She found the table set for dinner and sat on one of the cushioned chairs, breathing in the heady scent of stock and jasmine, competing with the smell of whatever was hidden in the oven. The restful air of the garden was a balm to her spirits after the first week at work. And being pampered by a gorgeous man was an added bonus.
Jack brought out a tray with the drinks and a bowl of olives and, after depositing them on the table, sat next to her. They touched glasses in a toast before taking a sip.
‘What’s the verdict on the job? Are you going to be happy there?’ He put his arm around her and she moved closer, enjoying his warmth.
‘Yes, it’s been good, thanks. Feel a bit like the new girl at school, but it’s early days.’
‘Good, so you’ll stay in Guernsey?’ He squeezed her arm.
‘Oh, for sure. No worries there! I have my soon to be gorgeous house to keep me here for a start,’ she said, a hint of teasing in her voice.
‘Well, there is that, of course. And I hope not to keep you waiting much longer. Anything else keeping you here?’ She felt his grip tighten and twisted her head to see his face. There was a look in his eyes...
‘My friends, of course, both old and new. And now Dad’s planning to move here–’ she was stopped by his mouth pressing on hers and the kiss seemed to go on forever.
‘And?’ he said, pulling back, his head tilted to the side.
‘There’s someone I’m seeing who I quite like–’ another kiss interrupted her and, after a moment enjoying it, she pulled back, laughing. ‘Okay, you win. Though I don’t know what your intentions are, Jack. Could you be serious about us?’ She searched his face and his eyes gave the game away.
‘Oh, yes, I could be serious, if that’s what you want. Is it?’
‘Yes, I...I think so.’
The next morning Jack suggested they visit her house and then do any shopping in Town before returning to the cottage. Tess was dying to see what work had been done and they set off soon after nine. What struck her as soon as they entered the hall were the walls lined with plasterboard with wires poking through in strategic places.
‘What progress! It looks so much more...more normal,’ she said, no longer faced with bare brick walls.
‘The guys have done well this week. Come on, I’ll show you.’ He took her hand and they explored the rooms, one by one, some still needing a lot more work, but definitely a big improvement on the previous week. Tess’s thoughts kept turning to Eugénie, and when they were in the front room, imagined her sitting at the desk near the window. Why, oh why, did she hide the desk away? Hopefully, the answer would be in the diaries.
‘You okay? You look miles away.’
‘Sorry, just...thinking.’
‘Right. We’re on schedule to finish in about four to six weeks, so you should be able to move in by mid-August. Have you got any furniture to bring over?’
Tess shook her head.
‘None. I’ll need to buy a suite for the sitting room for starters and a mattress for the bed and...’
‘Hey! I think you’d better make a list and I can point you in the direction of appropriate shops. Now let’s go grab some coffee.’
By the time Tess arrived back at Charlotte’s her head was buzzing with thoughts about what she needed for her house. And the fact that Jack saw them as having a future as a couple. She had been afraid to acknowledge the depth of her feelings for him until now, but since last night could admit she was falling in love with him. It was a strange sensation as she had deliberately kept her heart to herself since uni, not wanting to risk anything getting in the way of qualifying as a doctor. Oh, she’d been happy to have casual flings, some even lasting several weeks, but nothing serious. Now, it was different. Now, she was a grown-up thirtysomething, a practising GP and the owner of what would soon be a beautiful family home. It only needed the family. Not immediately, of course, the biological clock had a few years to go before Doomsday beckoned. Charlotte was a great example of a woman becoming a mother at forty and Tess had met others over the years. Not that she would deliberately wait quite so long. And if it did work out with Jack...
The family were out when she reached the house and Tess made some lunch before sitting down with Eugénie’s diaries. She picked up where Charlotte had left off and was soon lost in the Victorian world of the Hugo family and her ancestor. After more than a year of working for Victor, Eugénie’s life seemed to revolve around him and Juliette. Tess could see she was obsessed with him, taking the place of both her father and husband. Not healthy, but understandable in such times. There was no hint of Hugo having similar feelings toward Eugénie, although he continued to express his fondness for her with little gifts and joint outings with Juliette. Never just the two of them. Tess wondered how she would have behaved if she had been in Eugénie’s shoes. Would she have fallen for such an iconic figure? Hmm, not sure. With a sigh, she packed up the diaries and placed them in the desk, their rightful home. She was about to close it when a powerful image of the woman she had seen before flashed in front of her eyes, like a hologram. Again, she was sitting at the desk and writing, her head bent in concentration as the pen flew over the page. A page of her diary. She looked about twenty, slim and dark, wearing a plain grey dress. Tess stood rigid with shock. The image faded and she collapsed onto the sofa. The woman was so real. She could have touched her. Staring at the desk, Tess wondered if she was going to be forever haunted by Eugénie. For she knew without any doubt, it was her.
That evening Jack collected her to have dinner at The Rockmount at Cobo, from where the views of the sunset were the best on the island. Tess appreciated the laid-back pub atmosphere and they settled for battered fish and chips with a glass of lager each.
‘Another of your favourites, Jack?’ she asked, after they had ordered.
‘It’s got everything; fantastic view of the bay, good food and local beers. What more could a man ask for?’ he grinned, taking her hand in his.
‘Depends on his priorities, I guess. When I came with my parents, it was for a bottle of Coke and a packet of crisps, sitting on a bench outside.’ She nodded towards the window, where the wooden tables outside were all occupied. ‘It was considered a treat to come here and stay until sunset. Ah, memories, eh?’ Their eyes locked and a flick of desire swept through her. She saw the answering desire in his eyes and dropped her gaze as she imagined the night ahead. Weekends hadn’t been such fun since forever.
The following week seemed to speed by for Tess. Her workload increased with more patients transferring from Geoffrey as he approached retirement. This suited her as the variety of problems presented kept her on her toes. There was no sign of Mrs Le Page and Tess began to hope that any abuse had been a one-off. Work on the house progressed well and she called in on Saturday morning to see the work for herself. She had a sneaking suspicion that since they had become lovers, Jack had pressured his team to work even harder as a way of impressing her. Not that she minded, being keen to have her own place as soon as possible. It would mean she could invite Jack to hers, for a change. Essential furniture and furnishings had been ordered and the kitchen would be arriving soon. Whenever she had some free time, Tess read more of the diaries, and between her and Charlotte they had covered 1863 and were now reading the entries for 1864. Eugénie wrote about Juliette being bought a new house by Hugo, only three doors from her own and Tess smiled as she knew the house, Le Faerie, bearing a plaque mentioning Juliette’s residence. And Hugo published a new work called William Shakespeare.
Charlotte organised a barbecue for friends on the Sunday, and Jack had been invited. This would be their first group social event as a couple and Tess was keen for her friends to meet him.
Sunday dawned with a cloudless blue sky and the promise of high temperatures for the afternoon. Tess had spent the night at Jack’s, squirreling in a few toiletries and spare clothes now it was becoming routine. He had cooked supper and this again was part of the pattern, alternating going to restaurants with home cooking. This Sunday, she had woken first and tiptoed downstairs to make their tea before returning with a tray to the bedroom. He was lying on his stomach, arms spread out and looking so peaceful she hesitated to wake him. She carefully placed the tray on the bedside table and took up her mug, moving to the seat by the window.
‘I am awake, you know. Just waiting to see if I’m offered the tea before it goes cold.’
She laughed, turning to see Jack’s eyes open and a huge grin on his face. Handing him a mug, she perched on the bed as they shared a brief kiss.
‘I’ll make breakfast after my shower, and then I must be off as I promised Charlotte I’d help prepare for the barbecue this afternoon. Will you be able to amuse yourself in my absence?’ She gave him a teasing kiss on the cheek.
‘I’m sure I’ll think of something. Now be off with you, woman, and make my breakfast!’ Jack’s attempt at fierceness had them both giggling like youngsters and it was a while before Tess managed to head for the shower.
Charlotte was in the kitchen when she arrived back, a huge amount of food spread across the worktops waiting to be transformed into delicious salads, dips, finger foods and puddings.
‘You haven’t invited the entire population of Guernsey, have you?’ Tess asked, laughing.
Her friend, busy checking a list, grinned.
‘I was brought up with the maxim that it’s better to have too much food for a party than not enough. Andy and I will be living off any leftovers for as long as it takes.’ She gave Tess a searching look. ‘Are you ready to give me a hand or do you need a strong coffee to wake up properly?’
‘I’m ready; just tell me what to do.’
An hour later the prepared food was stored in containers in the enormous American fridge and the women took a chance to have a coffee before the guests arrived. Andy wandered in and out with bits of the barbecue kit for a final clean in the utility room.
‘Well, I think we’re ready and if we’ve forgotten anything it’s too bad. It’s time to have some fun,’ Charlotte said, waving her arm in the air.
The first of the guests to arrive were a married couple Tess hadn’t met, Louisa and Paul. Louisa was a slim woman with freckles and a wide smile and Paul was tall, blond haired and with the most amazing blue eyes Tess had ever seen. Charlotte introduced them.
‘Louisa’s a physio at La Folie health centre where we met and Paul’s the manager. I also met Andy there so it’s a special place for all of us, isn’t Louisa?’
Louisa, shaking Tess’s hand, nodded.
‘Sure is, not to mention it’s where Paul and I met and it happens to be owned by my father who I met for the first time there!’ She laughed and Tess smiled, noting how Louisa positively glowed.
‘Wow, this place, La Folie, certainly has a story to tell. I must visit it sometime. I’m always interested in places offering different forms of healing.’
The conversation between the three of them became lively and Charlotte moved off to welcome Jeanne and Nick. Tess soon realised she and Louisa had enough in common to become good friends and admired Paul’s zen-like calmness. Perhaps she should take up yoga, something he taught to all their guests, apparently. Their chat was interrupted by Jack’s arrival, apologising for being late and giving Tess a kiss before being introduced to Louisa and Paul. Then they all went over to say hi to Jeanne and her family and Tess introduced Jack. The last ones to arrive were Colette and Jonathan, bearing a sleeping Rosie in a baby carrier.
‘Colette and Jonathan, this is Jack. I’ve told him all about you both,’ Tess said.
‘Hope it was all good,’ Colette replied, accepting a kiss on the cheek from Jack.
‘Oh, yes. It’s great to finally meet you, and you, too, Jonathan. Tess has told me she loves working at the surgery.’
‘We’re glad to have her.’ The men shook hands. ‘Now I’d better find somewhere quiet to leave this little one as from experience I know things are going to get rather noisy,’ Jonathan said, pushing his glasses up with a smile. Charlotte went inside with him and Rosie and Andy came round offering drinks to everyone. Freya and Harry, watched by Nick, began running around the garden and James staggered after them, squealing in delight. Jonathan and Charlotte emerged and grabbed some drinks before joining the others near the barbecue where Andy was keeping an eye on the food.
‘Well, it’s lovely to see you all here; it seems like forever since we’ve all been together like this. And our little gang is growing, with the addition of Tess and Jack, and I hope we’ll see a lot more of them. Cheers all!’ Charlotte cried, lifting her glass.
‘Cheers!’ rang out from the others and Tess noticed Louisa and Paul share a hug before Paul pulled away, calling out, ‘Attention, please!’ Everyone turned to face him and a now blushing Louisa.
‘Charlotte mentioned our gang growing bigger, well it’s going to get bigger still as Louisa and I are expecting a baby!’
Whoops and cheers went up from everyone and Louisa and Paul were engulfed in hugs and kisses. Charlotte whispered to Tess, ‘They’ve been trying for ages, so it’s wonderful news.’ Tess nodded, happy for her new friends and noticing that Louisa was holding a glass of orange juice. That and the glow should have been a giveaway.
Andy had just started handing out the hot food when a heartrending cry split the air. Tess instinctively ran towards the sound, further down the garden, closely followed by Jeanne. They found a sobbing Freya on her knees, her face and hands covered in earth and leaves. A sullen faced Harry stood nearby.
‘It was an accident! Didn’t mean to knock her over,’ he said to his mother, who had picked up Freya. She and Tess carefully wiped away the dirt and found only a scratch on one small hand.
‘Harry...push me, Mummy. Fell...in the flowers.’ Freya, still sniffing, pointed to the nearest bed, where flowers had been squashed flat.
Tess, satisfied no real harm had been done, left Jeanne to give Harry a telling off, joined now by a cross-faced Nick. Back at the barbecue she explained what had happened, telling Charlotte her flower bed had suffered the most.
‘Oh, thank goodness it’s only flowers. Young Harry will have to learn to be more gentle with his sister, won’t he, James?’ But her son had already trotted off to see Freya and everyone stood grinning as they watched him give her a cuddle. Drama over, the party carried on.
The afternoon, as Jonathan predicted, was full of noise; laughter, music, lots of talking and the excited shouts of the children. Tess felt particularly blessed to be part of such a group of friends and Jack had soon mingled with everyone, chatting easily with people who had been strangers only a few hours before. She took a deep breath, drawing in the soft smells of summer – roses mingled with the sea air wafting up from Cobo. It wouldn’t be long before she would be able to stand in her own garden and breathe similar air and the thought made her smile. Then the image of Eugénie flashed into her mind and she wondered if she’d found happiness after losing her first husband and child. Frowning, she realised it was important for her to know and decided to find more time to read the diaries.