CHAPTER ONE
DR ROSS SUMMERBY stood at the window of his office, staring out. The Lake District afforded many beautiful views, but this was one that he never tired of, the lake stretching off into the distance to meet mountains shrouded in morning mist. He frowned at the one blot on the landscape, a tiny figure in a small rowing boat, cutting through the still waters.
A knock sounded behind him and as he turned the door opened. Sam Kovak was clearly far too frustrated to wait for him to invite her in.
‘Have you seen her?’
Ross nodded. ‘Yep. Sit down, Sam.’
Sitting down didn’t improve Sam’s mood. It didn’t much improve Ross’s either, but as head of the Lakeside Sports Injury Clinic, he reckoned that part of his job was to listen to what everyone had to say, and provide a few calming answers if necessary. Sam looked in need of calming answers, and he didn’t blame her.
‘I told her specifically. No rowing. I’ve given her exercises to do that will maintain her fitness, without putting too much stress on her hip. What’s not to understand about that? She’s a doctor, for goodness’ sake.’
‘Doctors generally make the worst patients.’ Ross grinned at Sam. ‘Unlike physiotherapists, of course.’
‘That goes without saying.’ Sam puffed out a breath. ‘So, as a doctor, what would you prescribe for another doctor who won’t listen to her physiotherapist?’
‘It’s not you, Sam. She just doesn’t listen, full stop. That’s why I put her in your care, because if your unremitting good humour can’t wear her down then I doubt anything else can.’
The remark mollified Sam a little. ‘So what am I going to do? I’ve tried sympathetic understanding...’
Ross chuckled. ‘And how did that work?’
‘It didn’t. She just rolled her eyes at me. So I tried reminding her—because I shouldn’t need to explain—that bursitis of the hip will only get worse over time if you don’t make long-term efforts to bring down the inflammation and restore muscle balance. Not only will she end her sporting career, but the hip will gradually deteriorate...’ Sam puffed out a frustrated breath.
‘What did she say to that?’
‘Nothing! She nodded, and I thought perhaps I’d got through to her. Then I arrive here this morning and what do I see?’ Sam gestured towards the window. ‘It’s almost as if she’s determined to self-destruct.’
‘Yeah. That thought occurred to me too. Leave it with me, Sam.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to give up on her.’
Sam frowned. ‘I thought we never gave up on anyone. That’s one of the things I like about working here, so don’t tell me you’re changing your policy all of a sudden.’
‘Nothing’s changed, I’m just making an exception. Maybe she’s never had anyone give up on her before, and it’s what she needs to make her face reality, eh?’
* * *
Ross had fetched them both a cup of tea, which was a way of calming his own mood as well as Sam’s because Laurie Sullivan was beginning to get to him as well. A patient who had every chance of recovery but who seemed bent on destroying it seemed to mock all the people who’d fought against the odds here at the Lakeside Clinic.
As he walked out of the clinic, across the grass to the shore of the lake, he reminded himself that people came in all shapes and sizes. That no one should be dismissed because thei
r actions seemed rash or not understandable. But Dr Sullivan was stubborn, and he was going to have to show her that he too could be inflexible when he wanted to.
He sat down on one of the wooden benches that were placed here for the purpose of enjoying the view. Laurie’s rowing style was immaculate, as could be expected from a member of the England team, and Ross had noticed that there was a touch of grace about everything she did. It must have taken a great deal of work and determination to combine her impressive sporting achievements with a doctor’s training, but somehow Laurie had managed it.
And now she seemed intent on throwing it all away. The one question in his mind was why? She was either too arrogant for words or there was something going on here that he had yet to fathom. This next conversation would settle that conundrum, at least.
It seemed that Laurie had exhibited enough defiance for one day, and she was pulling towards the small dock where the pleasure boats for those patients who were allowed on the water were moored. He’d wondered where she’d got the sleeker, sporting boat that she was using, and saw the flash of a boat rental company’s logo at its prow. That must have taken a bit of planning as the boatyard was on the other side of the lake, a twenty-mile drive by road.
As she climbed out of the boat, Ross saw she was favouring her left leg. The stiffness in the right side of her hip hadn’t been apparent when she’d been rowing, but that was no surprise. In his experience many sportspeople learned to work through pain to achieve excellence. Laurie caught sight of him and pulled off the blue woollen cap she was wearing to reveal her shock of red hair, cut short so that it wouldn’t blow in her face when she was on the water.
She had the audacity to smile. There was a trace of mischief there, and somehow she managed to convey the idea that she expected him to understand that she may have bent the rules a little, but she’d done nothing wrong. As she walked towards him, she was clearly making an effort to hide the stiffness in her right leg.
She was perfect. Charming. And all this was about to stop.
‘Lovely morning.’ She stopped in front of him and Ross battled with the impulse to agree with her and allow her to go back to the clinic and get on with her day without any challenge.