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

woman well into middle age, a woman in prison, a woman who appears to have given up on life, yet despite all these factors, he sees the essence of her; it’s still there, even now. She was a woman who seized her sexuality, revelled in it; she was not ashamed of it, nor ashamed of what she felt for Daniel.

He accepts he’s connected with Rose on an intellectual level, but there is absolutely no doubt that his feelings for her are physical too. No denying it.

In an indefinable frustration, he moves out of the bathroom and takes the two short steps towards the bedroom. He pulls on a pair of underpants, puts on a clean pair of jeans and the shirt he ironed last night. He takes a grey linen jacket from the clothes rail (he still hasn’t got around to buying a wardrobe, mainly because he can’t afford one) and makes his way to the front door. His old university mate assured him they’ll get a quiet table. Customers are always thin on the ground midweek, he said.

Theo puts his phone and his wallet in his inside pocket and leaves the flat.

Three hours later, he pulls up outside Marion’s house. She must have been loitering by the impressive front bay, as within a few minutes the door opens and she emerges. Her hair looks as if she hasn’t combed it; tight grey ringlets fall across her temple. She’s wearing a camel coat. A red skirt pokes out from underneath, flopping around her ankles. She’s make-up-free, her face creased in anxiety. A totally different Marion to the last time he saw her. Maybe she’s had some bad news, he thinks, perhaps about Rose, and a ripple of anxiety shoots through him.

She opens the car door and gets in. Today there’s no waft of perfume; in fact as she closes the door, Theo smells something much less fetching.

He looks across at her. ‘Hi, Marion. You okay?’

‘Fine. Bit of a morning.’

‘Nothing connected with Rose?’

Putting on her seat belt, she replies, ‘Rose? No, nothing to do with Rose. What makes you think that?’

‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’ He rearranges himself in his seat. ‘We can cancel and do this another time if you’d prefer.’ He really doesn’t want to do this another time.

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she says.

He smiles at her. ‘Good.’ Flicking on the ignition, he pulls away from the kerb, giving her time to recover herself.

It isn’t until he’s parking up in the restaurant car park that he speaks. ‘Anything you want to talk about?’

‘Just some news this morning.’

‘Bad news?’

‘Yes.’ She places her middle fingers on her temples. ‘I’ll be fine.’ She pulls down the sun shield for the mirror and peers into it. ‘I look terrible.’

‘No you don’t.’

‘Have you been to see Rose again?’ she asks, still examining herself.

‘I’m seeing her again next week.’

‘That’s good.’ A pause. ‘How are you getting on with your research?’

‘Good. I met with Abe Duncan’s widow.’

‘Oh, I didn’t know…’

‘She’s filling me in on Abe’s story. I did tell you, didn’t I? That it’s his story too, the book? About his childhood. That’s what Natasha Duncan is helping me with.’

‘No, I don’t remember you telling me that.’

She seems even more despondent at his admission; he didn’t tell her and he feels bad.

Opening the car door, he makes an attempt to cheer her up. ‘You need that holiday. Some time in the sun will be good for you.’

‘The sale of the villa’s fallen through. We’re not going on holiday now.’

‘I’m so sorry. Difficult buying abroad, I’d imagine.’ He doesn’t know what else to say. Things appeared to have crashed for Marion.

She nods and gets out.

He moves around the car and takes her arm. ‘Come on, let’s go eat and drink some wine. You’ll feel better.’ She stumbles. ‘You okay?’

‘Just distracted.’

Theo questions whether her distraction is a reaction to seeing Rose in prison, and after so many years of estrangement. Perhaps it sent her hurtling towards a mental health crisis. Or is there another reason?

Once they’re seated in the restaurant, at the promised table, the chef makes a quick appearance to say hello, then disappears back into the kitchen. Marion is oblivious, though, and has already knocked back the complimentary cocktail that was waiting for her. Theo pre-ordered the non-alcoholic one for himself. He needs to stay on the ball, and he’s driving. He motions to the waitress to bring another for Marion.

‘I don’t normally drink in the day,’ she says, fingering her empty glass.

‘This is my treat. Go for it. Booze is good sometimes when you’re wound up.’

The waitress places the martini glass in front of her. Marion pushes it to one side. ‘I can’t drink more than one.’ Inside Theo’s head is a screenshot of the prices. Eight quid a pop for the cocktails, even the non-alcoholic.

‘No problem. I’ll have a sip.’ He takes a small one and then slides the glass to the edge of the table.

He begins by attempting to engage Marion in conversation about the mysterious Majorcan villa purchase, although he suspects he’s still only getting half the story, if that. Sam has had problems with the finance, apparently; some agreement he had with his wife’s father has fallen through, and the father’s now decided against helping them buy the place. This information at least sorts out Theo’s problem in understanding how Sam could afford it.

‘The old man might change his mind,’ he suggests.

She nods absent-mindedly, not buying into his optimism.

‘Is something else bothering you? Is it Rose?’ he presses.

‘Rose always bothers me.’

The waitress comes over to take their order, and Theo waits for her to leave before saying, ‘Why did you agree to help me with my research about Rose?’

‘I’ve nothing to hide, you know.’

‘I don’t think for a moment that you do.’

‘Rose isn’t who you’d like to think she is. She was devastated after what happened to her… back then.’

‘What happened “back then”? What am I missing?’

‘It’s not for me to tell you. I’ll leave that to her.’

He nods and