"Thank you Doctor Weatherill," he said, standing up. "I shall be in touch, hopefully by the beginning of next week."

"Thank you," she said, rising from her seat as well. "I do have one question though."

"Yes?"

"Well, the thing is, I didn't actually apply for this job. I just received a letter a couple of weeks ago offering me an interview..." she trailed off and looked at him expectantly.

"She didn't tell you then?" he said, doing nothing to clear Jill's confusion.

"Who?"

"Doctor Nevis. I hear you're a friend of hers. She suggested you as the replacement GP, and from the description of your skills and attributes, I felt I had to see for myself."

"Ahhh." She should have known really. It was just like Beryl to do this. She'd always said Jill was wasted at The Royal, despite Jill's vehement defence of the cottage hospital. Jill thought she'd managed to convince Beryl of the merits of The Royal and how much she loved it there, and her comments had just become a friendly joke. Although, seemingly, Beryl was still determined to drag her away from Elsinby. She said as much to Mr Racheed, and he laughed.

"Doctor Nevis is in today if you want to see her. I'm going that way so I'll take you."

She thanked him and they travelled down the corridors together. They chatted about Elsinby, The Royal and Leeds General. He seemed nice enough, and she imagined him to be a fair man to work for. They walked the way she'd come, until they came to within sight of reception, then turned off to the right. This corridor contained a row of doors on each side, each baring a brass name plaque upon which was carved the names of various doctors.

Mr Racheed stopped outside one and held out his hand to her, which she shook. "Nice to meet you Doctor Weatherill. As I said, I'll be in touch. Goodbye."

"Bye." She gazed after his retreating back before returning to the door- 'Dr B. Nevis'. She knocked, waited until she heard a reply then entered. She took a moment to take in the woman sitting at the desk before her. It had been about 10 years since she'd last laid eyes on her. They'd managed to keep in touch through letters and the occasional phone call. "Beryl."

Dr Nevis, turned her attention from her notes. Upon laying eyes on Jill, her face into surprise, before she shot up and flung her arms around Jill, squealing her name. "Sit down Jill! How are you? It's been far too long."

Jill laughed at her friend's exuberance. "I'm fine, same as always. Anyway, I thought you'd given up trying to get me leave The Royal."

"You know me Jill, I never give up. Anyway, you came for the interview, must've work."

She rolled her eyes at her friend. "I thought I'd take the opportunity, I can always turn it down."

"Why now though?"

Jill shifted her eyes away, uncomfortable. Despite them being friends, the state of her personal life wasn't something she wished to divulge. "I just seemed like the right time to make a change, you know..." She shrugged. "So, what's been happening with you?"

"Well I'm married, and as I'm sure you can see, pregnant as well. We're moving to London next month; I'm going to be a consultant."

"So you won't be working here if I get the job then."

"Nah, 'fraid not. You might be my replacement."

She nodded, disappointed to an extent. She and Beryl had been close friends at university, but physical distance of the location of their jobs and increased the invisible distance of their friendship. It would have been nice to work with her, get some of that back, but at the same time, it wouldn't have been enough, as, obviously, Beryl wasn't Gordon. Gordon was the closest friend she'd ever had, and Jill couldn't imagine ever having a friendship of that degree with anyone else. It was as simple as that.

"Earth to Jill." Jill raised her head at the sound of Beryl's voice, realising she'd been silent for some time. "Thank goodness, I thought I'd lost you there."

"Sorry." She smiled, forcing herself to push all thoughts of Gordon to the back of her mind.

"You free tonight? Dinner?"

Jill shook her head regretfully. "I've got to get back to Elsinby, I've only got today off. What about lunch though?"

Beryl glanced at the clock on her wall, and too shook her head. "Sorry, I've got a patient due about… now."

As if on cue, a knock came upon her door, and the receptionist poked her head round. "Your patients are waiting," she said, before promptly retreating without waiting for a response.

Beryl sighed an got to her feet. "Come on, I'll walk you to reception."

Jill followed suit and they walked to reception. "Bye Beryl."

"Bye Jill."

They hugged, and made vague promises to call and write more, much the same as they'd promised the last time they'd seen each other.

Beryl called her patient and left for her office. Jill glanced around the reception once more before leaving through the double doors outside.

Could she imagine herself entering and leaving through these very doors, everyday? Could she imagine herself travelling those corridors day after day? Could she imagine sitting in Beryl's office, treating patients?

But probably more pivotal; could she plausibly stay at The Royal?