Chapter Two

Joseph sat in his car, waiting, the clock seemed to tick slowly – a rush of emotions flooded through him; sadness, worry and anger, he thought of Jac, his Jac feeling so helpless, it broke his heart. Suddenly, he noticed the time. Taking a deep breath, he headed for the doors. He was greeted by a nice middle aged nurse.

'Lord Byrne?'

'Yes.'

'Nurse Glen, how do you do?'

'Please to meet you.'

'Come through.' He followed her. 'I feel I know you through Jac.'

He paused. 'Jac talks about me?'

'Yes! All the time!'

He followed her to a room, she knocked on the door. 'Jac? Jac, it's your man you talk about…he's here!'

Joseph approached her cautiously. 'Jac? It's me.' She turned and he felt like crying then and there, he didn't recognise the beautiful, vivacious woman he once knew – she was very pale slowly, she reached out a hand, he took it, she pulled him towards her and hugged him tightly. 'Hey! Hey! What's all this? Eh?' He kissed her head tenderly and sat down next to her.

'I…I just haven't been feeling very well. Lately.'

'What brought this on?'

She shook her head. 'I-I was in a relationship with Madarni'

'Yeah…that surgeon you were telling me about…'

She started to cry. 'It just didn't work out…Not you…I want YOU.'

'Oh Jac!' He hugged her tightly. 'We talked about this didn't we?'

'I know…I know…'

He looked at her tear-stained face and hugged her tightly – kissing her forehead. 'It's alright…I'm here.'

She clung to him tightly.

…

Joseph sat in Darwin staffroom with a mug of coffee – staring into space, Sacha came in. 'Hey! How did it go?'

'I had no idea things had got so bad.'

'Well, it was a very tough time for her – she lost everything, I mean she's always loved you Joe – you know that and then you don't come back, you re-marry and then you reunite with your ex – cutting her completely out of the picture – how do you think that makes her feel?'

Joseph sighed. 'I didn't- I was thinking of both of us – we're not good together!'

'Says who?'

'Sacha, whenever we get together – something always happens and we end up hurting each other – that's toxic!'

'But you have a picture perfect life with Faye?'

'Well…That's a double edged sword really.'

'Meaning?'

Joseph turned to look at him. 'You can't really be hurt by someone you barely love.' Suddenly, right on cue his phone rang, seeing it was Faye, he ignored it and groaned.

'Faye?'

'Yeah.'

'Where does she think you are?'

'Doing some locum work.'

'Then that's what you'll do.'

'What?'

Sacha smiled. 'Locum work, here as a consultant.'

'No Sacha I-'

'Look, just until Jac is feeling better than you can go from there.'

Joseph stared at him. '…I must be out of my mind!'

Sacha grinned. 'I'll take that as a yes!'