When You Walked Back Into My Life Read Online Free PDF

had come round and persuaded Flora to let her in. She had taken one look at her and called the doctor. Flora remembered none of this, but apparently she had been taken into hospital for tests – her GP thinking too that she was the victim of a mysterious virus.
    By this time Prue was in charge and had immediately arranged for her to come and stay at Cornwall Crescent. It wasn’t until weeks later that depression was finally diagnosed, then more time before the SSRI antidepressants kicked in and Prue felt she was safe to be left alone during the day. But even in her bleakest moments of despair and nihilism, Flora had never considered suicide. Just the task of getting herself dressed or preparing a simple meal hadseemed insurmountable; any decision – big or small – impossible.
    *
    Flora was hardly back from the shops when the bell rang.
    ‘Simon Kent,’ said the voice over the intercom, and she let the doctor in.
    ‘Hi, Flora.’
    ‘Hi.’
    ‘I’ve just popped in to tell you I’ve booked an x-ray for her stomach. The appointment should come through in the next week, I said it was urgent. I think we need to check out the pain she keeps complaining about.’
    ‘So you don’t think it’s just wind?’
    ‘It might be, but it seems too localised. And you say she’s not constipated.’ He paused, dropping his black case on the floor by the wall. He was dressed in a dark-grey suit and tie today, although often he wore chinos and a casual jacket. ‘Nothing else to report?’
    Flora shook her head. ‘She seems better than usual, less tired. We’ve been up to the park a lot, which always perks her up.’
    She and the doctor had taken a while to become friends, both wary of the professional nature of their situation. But when their patient had been very ill with a bladder infection a few weeks back, he had developed the habit of droppingin to check on her – his surgery was just around the corner – on his way to or from another visit. Flora liked Simon Kent. He made her laugh, and they had gradually developed a sort of soundbite friendship based on the few minutes together as he came and went. But they never met outside the workplace, and she knew virtually nothing about his private life.
    ‘Not being funny,’ he said, looking at her questioningly, his head on one side and a slight frown on his brow. ‘But you look a tad gloomy today.’
    ‘That obvious is it?’ She gave him a rueful smile.
    ‘Not that it’s any of my business.’
    His gaze didn’t waver and Flora found herself blushing. Dr Kent sometimes had a very direct way of looking at her with his dark, intense eyes that she found disconcerting. He was handsome – not with Fin’s assured confidence – but quietly good looking: thick dark hair, strong cheekbones, very long dark lashes around his brown eyes, a slim, fit physique. He was one of those men who, although always friendly, was often in a hurry, but would then suddenly stop and just be there. And in those moments, she had a sense that she could confide in him, tell him anything, although she never had thus far. But today she felt fragile and lacked her usual self-control.
    ‘If you really want to know,’ she said, ‘I bumped into anold boyfriend – well more than a boyfriend really – in the supermarket a few days ago, and I can’t get him out of my head.’
    He gave a small frown. ‘Well, you know what they say. Getting back with an ex is like eating a Mars Bar again and expecting it to have morphed into a Twix.’
    She smiled. ‘Do they say that?’
    ‘All the time.’
    ‘And do you think “they” are right?’
    ‘My experience is limited to one. But if she’s anything to go by, I’d say spot on.’
    ‘OK …’ She waited for him to explain, but he didn’t. Instead, he said, ‘Perhaps you need diversion.’
    ‘Like what?’
    ‘Well, I was thinking a bit of ballroom dancing?’
    Flora laughed. ‘Yeah, sure. That’d do it.’
    ‘Friday night any