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

She indicated the waiting room, but Miles intercepted me before I got there.

‘Rose, it’s good to see you.’

‘You too, Miles.’

‘How’s it going?’

‘It’s going well. I’m here to meet my obstetrician, Dr Mark Stephens.’

‘Excellent,’ he replied, although his voice was flat. An awkward silence sank into the space between us. He took my elbow and led me to a door with his name on. ‘You can wait in my office. I think you’re a little early. Would you like a drink? Water, juice, tea?’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’

‘Please, take a seat.’

‘It’s a buzzing hospital. Bigger than I thought,’ I said, maybe for something to say.

He nodded, and suddenly an exquisite discomfort spread through me. ‘Will the morning-after pill have any effect on the foetus, Miles?’ I asked. ‘From what I know, I think I’m fine, but a qualified doctor’s reassurance would be good.’

‘It’s not my area of expertise but I do keep up to date with research, as a number of my patients are from obs and gynae. All the data suggests not.’ He paused and crossed one leg over the other. ‘I’m sorry it wasn’t effective.’

The on-the-nose comment unsettled me. ‘Don’t be. I’ve got my head around it… and I’m happy about having a baby.’

‘What about your course? Your career?’

‘I can carry on, or defer a year.’

He took a long breath. ‘You know… you don’t have to stay with Daniel just because you’re pregnant, Rose.’

I looked at him, his kind eyes, his uncomfortable posture. ‘I love him, Miles. And I already love my baby.’ I coughed, my throat suddenly dry.

Miles opened his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of water. ‘Here you go.’ He handed it to me.

‘Thanks.’ I unscrewed the lid and took a huge swig. It was so stuffy in the room.

‘Rose…’

‘Yes?’

‘Nothing. It’s fine, not important.’ He uncrossed his legs, allowed his knees to splay apart. Suddenly he looked relaxed, as if he’d made a decision. ‘Let’s get you to Mark’s office.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘He’ll be ready for you now. I think today is more a chat and introduction. Get your blood pressure checked, an examination, a full medical history. You’ll be out within an hour. Is Daniel picking you up?’

‘No, he’s gone to Herefordshire to see his sister. I have lectures this afternoon.’

‘Ah… okay.’ He got up and opened the door, but avoided eye contact.

Not for the first time since being with Daniel, I felt some guilt that I’d turned Miles down. He was a lovely bloke and I really hoped he’d find someone who deserved him.

Dr Mark Stephens was a small man, around five foot six, and I towered above him. His movements were small and jerky, his features much the same. His manner was optimistic and a little over the top, but he was professional, and although I didn’t warm to him massively, by the end of our session I trusted him. I’d told Daniel that morning that I was more than happy to go the NHS route, and of course I would if any complications arose with my pregnancy – because you never knew. But for now, we’d decided that going private was the best thing. Now that I’d made the decision to keep the baby, I wanted everything to go as smoothly as possible, so that hopefully my studies would go as smoothly as possible too.

When we’d finished, Mark sat back in his chair. ‘I have you booked in on the twenty-fourth for your twelve-week ultrasound scan. I know Daniel is keen to be here for it.’

‘That’s great. Thank you, Dr Stephens.’

‘Please, call me Mark.’

Four days later, I was back at the hospital with Daniel, lying supine on the bed, my T-shirt pulled up to my bra.

Mark Stephens placed the ultrasound head on my stomach and I nearly shot through the ceiling. I glanced at him, smiling. ‘I think maybe warming up the gel would be a good idea, Mark.’

He grinned tightly. ‘Sorry, the midwife usually does that for me.’ He checked his watch, and as he did so, there was a light knock on the door. ‘That’ll be Cam, your midwife.’

The woman who entered had shoulder-length red hair, a face full of freckles, and an energetic demeanour. I put her in her mid thirties.

‘Miss Trahern,’ she said, bustling towards me. ‘The big day!’

I smiled. ‘It is, isn’t it?’

She picked up the fat tube of gel. ‘Mark didn’t put it on the radiator to warm. Sorry, Miss Trahern—’

‘Call me Rose, please.’

‘I’m Cam Bradley, and I’ll be looking after you.’ We shook hands lightly. She turned to Daniel. ‘Exciting, eh, Daniel?’

Daniel’s face lit up. I was sure he was more excited than me about today, and a warm beat of contentment vibrated through my body.

Mark flicked on the ultrasound machine and glanced at Daniel and Cam. ‘Okay. Off we go.’

I couldn’t see the screen, but all I hoped for was a healthy baby, and not looking would put off the moment when Mark might tell me there was something wrong. Daniel and Cam’s eyes, though, were glued. Mark pressed a button to capture a static image of my baby, and it was then that I asked, ‘Can I look?’ Cam took my hand and squeezed it lightly.

Mark moved the monitor nearer, and I saw a black and white image of a live human being. I couldn’t stop the tears then. I’d had no idea I’d react like that. I was already changing. Had already changed.

Daniel stepped away from the monitor, rested his palm on my stomach and grinned, handing me a tissue with his free hand. I wiped my eyes. Mark coughed, then walked to his desk and began scribbling on my notes.

30

Theo

15 April 2016

After talking about her first ultrasound scan, Rose stops and probes Theo’s reaction by examining his face. She holds his gaze, and it’s he who breaks eye contact, noticing that many of the other visitors have already left. He didn’t hear the bell signalling that time was nearly up.

He turns back to look at her.