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

‘I’m taking a bit of time off. Lots of holiday owing to me. And it’s fine, Mrs Finsbury, always lovely to see you. This is Rose, my girlfriend. She’s staying for a few days.’ He looked at me. ‘This is Mrs Finsbury, my wonderful cleaner. A woman I cannot do without.’

Mrs Finsbury’s face crumpled further. ‘It’s Rob. He’s been arrested again.’

‘Tea’s in order. Sit down.’

She nodded. ‘He broke into a house on the estate. I can’t believe it.’

I glanced at Daniel, who was busy making tea in a teapot. No mug brew for Mrs Finsbury.

‘Dirtying his own doorstep?’ He placed a china cup in front of her and then rubbed her shoulder. ‘Your son’s not the brightest button in the box, if you don’t mind me saying. How long’s he been out of prison this time?’

‘Less than a year. With this stunt, though, he’ll get a longer sentence.’ A shard of a smile touched her features. ‘No, he’s not the brightest, Daniel. Gets that from his father. But he’s all I’ve got.’

‘Have you a good solicitor?’

‘That’s the thing. I can’t afford one. He’ll have to accept the duty solicitor assigned to him.’

‘Give me the details and I’ll sort out a decent one. And don’t worry about the money.’

She began properly crying now. ‘I don’t know how I can thank you.’

‘Just by carrying on cleaning my house beautifully.’

She smiled at him through her tears. ‘How’s Ed?’

‘He’s gone to see his mum.’

‘Aw, that’s lovely. Tell him I have a new recipe for him to try out when he gets back. He’s so good at cooking. I thought he could have a go at it first and then tell me how to improvise a bit.’

Mrs Finsbury seemed so nice, even if her son was a burglar.

‘I will, Mrs Finsbury,’ Daniel replied. ‘Rob needs to change his ways. He needs a job, too. Keep him out of trouble. With a good solicitor he should only get a few months.’

‘You’re wonderful. When I see him later I’m going to give him a clip around the ear, I tell ya.’ She swigged back the tea, into which Daniel had heaped three sugars – clearly he knew exactly how she took it – then got up. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds.’ She looked at me. ‘You’re a lucky girl, Rose. There’s no one like Daniel. No one.’ And with that, she left, finding her own way back to the front door.

‘Wow,’ I said.

‘Wow indeed. Bloody Rob. If he will insist on burglary as a career, I wish he’d get better at it.’

I laughed. ‘Poor Mrs Finsbury.’ But then my expression became serious. ‘She likes you.’

‘I like her.’

‘It’s nice that you’re helping her.’

‘It’s not nice. Known her for years. Rob is a bit of an albatross around her neck, but he’s her son. Family.’ He jumped up. ‘Make yourself at home. I’ve got a few calls to make.’

And off he went to the small sitting room, I was guessing to sort out Mrs Finsbury’s errant son.

I went back upstairs, padded along the landing and into his bedroom, making my way to the shower. I let the water encase me for a long time, and then wrapped myself in a thick grey towel. The M&S knickers sat on the floor in the corner. I pulled a pair out. They looked as if they’d fit. Daniel’s sister was obviously the same size as me. I opened the large cabinet above the sink and searched for deodorant. Three cans sat in perfect alignment on the top shelf. I reached up and took one out, then noticed the one on the right was a different brand. Without aluminium. The sort I preferred. Better for women, doesn’t mess with your breast tissue. I rolled it on, and then returned both to the cabinet.

Daniel had said he was going to drop me home to pick up an overnight bag, and I was fine with that. I wanted to stay a bit longer.

I returned to the bedroom and picked up the textbook we’d been going through the night before, plonking myself down on the sofa. Sunlight spilled into the room. I leaned back and tried to read, but accepted that my concentration just wasn’t there and tossed the book on the floor. I immediately relented, but as I fumbled to retrieve it from underneath the sofa, my hand touched paper. I abandoned the textbook and slid the paper towards me with my heel, then picked it up.

Speak with Miles

A’s b’day DO NOT FORGET

I put the note on my lap. Looked at it for a minute and thought about the pink envelope sitting on the seat of the MG. Daniel really hadn’t wanted to forget Ed’s mum’s birthday. What a thoughtful man. Then I pushed it back where I’d found it. The last thing I wanted was Daniel thinking I was a snoop.

Retrieving my clothes from the back of the chair, I decided to hang them up for a while to get the creases out (was I as anal as Daniel? I asked myself). I looked towards the two wardrobes and went to open the one nearest the bed, hoping to find a spare hanger. Locked. I glanced around for a key, none to be seen.

The other wardrobe was open. I was confronted with a neat row of shirts, in colour order, starting with white on the left and moving towards black on the right, with many shades in between, all in a similar style. I grabbed a hanger and then glanced at my watch, wondering how long Daniel would be, because it did look like a glorious day. A walk was just what I needed.

‘You find everything you need?’

His voice startled me. ‘I did, thanks.’

I was still standing in front of the wardrobe, and I held out my arm towards the line of shirts. ‘I think you’re a tiny bit compulsive.’

He moved closer and took me in his arms, the thrum in my groin pulsing