The Nurse by J. Corrigan (list of ebook readers txt) 📕

carried on in a different tone. ‘Leave the washing-up, love.’ She put her hand firmly on my arm, which was busy scrubbing away at a dirty plate.

I pulled off the Marigolds. ‘You taking your meds, Mum?’

‘Course I am.’ Her expression creased. She was only forty but often looked a decade older. It was the worry of everything and I really tried to understand. She wasn’t taking her meds; the house and her demeanour screamed this fact. She picked up a glass that I’d just washed and filled it with water. Sipped, and then suddenly scrutinised me properly, flipping in an instant. ‘You look different.’

‘Do I?’ I replied.

‘You do.’

‘I’ve met someone.’

She smiled, but it was lopsided and didn’t connect with the rest of her face. My mother wasn’t quite right today, and for the hundredth time I wondered if I should move back in. Coldness enveloped me just thinking about it. I couldn’t do it.

‘Thank God for that,’ she said. ‘Tom’s a nice boy, but he wasn’t for you.’

I pushed past her, accidentally clipping her shoulder. Why was she like that about Tom?

‘Temper,’ she said quietly, following me into the sitting room. I sat down on the old, worn settee and she plonked herself next to me. ‘What’s his name?’

My flare of anger had already subsided. That was the way she was and I told myself she only wanted the best for me.

‘Is he a student?’ she carried on.

I sighed. ‘No, he’s not.’

‘That’s a plus. Does he have a name?’

‘Daniel.’

‘Nice.’ She grinned at me. ‘Dare I ask what he does if he’s not a student?’

‘Does it matter?’

‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘I’m pleased about your new job, Mum.’

‘Me too. Cuppa?’

‘No, I can’t stay.’ I shoved my hand in my jeans pocket. ‘This is for you.’

She looked at the wad of notes. I’d had a good few weeks at Mussels.

‘Take it.’ No more hesitation; she took it and I saw her mentally counting. ‘Eighty quid,’ I stated quietly. ‘Just make sure you’re not tempted… to take stuff. It’s a bad example to Sam.’

‘Give me some credit.’

‘I try to, Mum. I really do.’

She got up and began dusting the ornaments on the mantelpiece with the sleeve of her dressing gown.

I spoke to her back. ‘Say hi to Sam for me.’

She didn’t turn and didn’t answer.

I left the house with the usual concave feeling. And although I’d told Daniel not to contact me for a while, I really was desperate to see him.

I caught the bus back to my digs in deep despondency. My mum wasn’t right, she was unwell inside her head, and I wondered if she’d made up the new job to appease me. My brother was about to bomb out of his exams. And me? My up-and-coming exam prospects weren’t looking too good either. I got off the bus and trudged up the street, then stopped dead when I saw Daniel’s car. Gathering myself, I jogged the last few metres to the front door and let myself in, to be greeted by his smile. He was sitting on the bottom step of the stairs.

‘What are you doing here?’ I cast my eyes around. ‘Who let you in?’

‘Casey. She said she had to pop out for milk.’ An anxious frown replaced his smile. ‘Do you mind?’

‘Mind what? Casey getting milk?’ I was so glad he’d come.

‘No, that I’m here.’

‘Of course I don’t mind.’ I sat next to him. ‘Are you on the naughty step?’

‘I hope not. Just waiting for you.’ He turned to face me. ‘I’ve missed you.’

‘You hardly know me.’

‘I feel as if I’ve known you forever.’

I pretended to shove a finger down my throat, but he didn’t laugh.

‘I do, though,’ he said, pulling me towards him.

It was me who moved away. I took his hand and led him upstairs, not believing I was being so forward.

‘So, this is your den?’ he asked, standing on the threshold to my tiny bedroom.

‘It is.’ I closed the door.

‘I’m liking Albert on the wall.’ He was standing in front of the poster attempting to admire the image, which was difficult as the room was so small.

I pulled a pile of clothes off my desk chair. ‘Sit here.’ I sat on my single bed, only a foot away from him. ‘Why’re you here, Daniel?’

‘To ask you to… I’m not sure how to say this.’

‘Just say it.’

‘I want to be with you.’

‘You’re asking me to be your girlfriend?’

‘I suppose I am.’ He got up and sat next to me, gathered me to him, kissed me, the kiss feeling as it had done in Newstead Abbey car park. His hand moved beneath my T-shirt, unfastening my bra; his lips travelled to my neck, my chest, and all thoughts of my visit home disappeared as he pulled off my top. An overwhelming desire to forget everything – my mum, my course, my impending exams – flooded through me. And for many moments I did forget everything.

His face was nestled into the crook of my neck, his hot breath caressing my skin. His hand was gently taking off my knickers. I wriggled free and pushed my hips into his, and a rolling heat consumed me.

‘I didn’t want it to be like this, Rose.’

I looked into his soft brown eyes. ‘With Albert looking on, you mean?’

A smile crossed his face as his rhythm increased. My quiet moan, and then his.

Many minutes later, he was lying at my side, his back squashed up against the damp wall, the palm of his hand cupping my cheek. ‘What have you done to me, Rose Trahern?’

‘I could ask you the same question.’

‘I wanted it to be special.’

‘It is special.’ I traced a finger from his eyes to his lips and then rested my head on his chest, but despite the glorious feeling still filling me, the dawning realization of the mistake we’d made rose to the surface.

‘Daniel, I’m not on the pill.’

He moved away from me a little, lifted my head, concern etched deep into his features. ‘I meant what I said. I want to be