The Nurse by J. Corrigan (list of ebook readers txt) 📕
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- Author: J. Corrigan
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He carries on. ‘Today we’re going to talk about tension in a story, and how to achieve it.’ Taking off his coat, he places it on the back of his chair.
Cathy turns to him. ‘Lots of tension in Rose Marlowe’s story, don’t you think, Theo?’
‘Do you have a lot to do with Rose?’
‘I like her.’ She scrutinises him, her eyes alerting him to the fault that lies at her centre. ‘She couldn’t have done it, you know.’
‘She told you that?’
The table descends into silence. Everyone listening.
‘I never wanted kids,’ Cathy says randomly.
More silence heaps into the space of the canteen. He waits for Cathy to expand.
‘Rose did, though,’ she continues. ‘It’s been everything to her. Not being able to have them. She wouldn’t kill someone else’s.’ She takes off her trainer and begins picking at the heel of her left foot.
‘Any idea who did, if it wasn’t Rose?’ he asks.
Cathy looks at the floor and doesn’t answer.
Theo looks round the table. All the women, bar a few, are grinning at him with amusement. He will leave this for now.
‘Okay,’ he says. ‘Today I’d like you to write a one-thousand-word story. Just spew it all out. The theme is finding out you are unable to have children. Does it make you happy, sad, angry?’ He pauses. ‘What potential conflict could this lead to? I want you to show me feelings, and then we’ll go through a couple of individual pieces.’
He gives some direction on what he wants them to do and then sits back while they scribble, mulling over Cathy’s words. He asked at reception earlier if Don Whiting was in the prison today. He is. He’ll try to get to talk to him before he sees Rose.
When the time is up, he chooses three pieces of work, including Cathy’s and Emma’s. Within Cathy’s story it isn’t the female protagonist who is distraught at being unable to have children, but the protagonist’s husband. It is the best piece, by far.
‘Next week then, ladies? Either here or in the meeting room. For homework, I’d like you to write a poem.’ A collective groan. ‘Poetry allows the writer to explore and understand how every word counts. It’s good practice.’
‘Theme?’ Cathy asks. ‘You have to give us a theme, Theo.’
‘Concealment.’
‘Huh?’ Emma says.
‘A poem about the result of hiding something,’ he explains. ‘It can be hiding an emotion, a fact, keeping a secret. Go for it, ladies!’
The kitchen worker is now making a lot of noise; it’s time to leave. All the women troop out, apart from Cathy. Theo turns in his chair to look at her. She peers at him, directing her gaze just above his head. ‘Does Rose talk to you about what happened, what she did?’ he asks.
‘She’s not a killer,’ Cathy says.
‘Look at me, Cathy.’ Finally she finds his eyes, if only briefly. ‘You think it was her husband?’
She shrugs. ‘If he was the way Rose has talked about, then I could see him doing it, yeah.’
‘What way does Rose talk about him?’
‘He was into pharmaceuticals. He was a doctor, you know. Easy to get hold of.’
‘I see.’
‘Don’t listen to me, though. I’m not quite right, am I?’
‘You are unique, Cathy.’
He thinks he sees a smile loiter on her lips. She grabs her jumper and leaves the canteen.
Drugs. Miles. Theo sees a potential connection with his blackmail theory.
Picking up his own stuff, he makes his way to the communal meeting area with the coffee machine, in the hope he might bump into Don. He doesn’t spot him and plonks himself on a chair; it’s a while yet to visiting time. He closes his eyes, weariness filling him, and drifts off into a semi-nap.
‘Theo.’
His eyes spring open.
‘The writing class take it out of you?’ Don is smiling broadly.
‘Not enough sleep recently.’ Theo stands and offers his hand. ‘Good to see you again.’ They exchange a quick handshake.
‘I’m having a session with Rose after visiting time.’ He sits back down but Don remains standing. ‘Is Rose friendly with Cathy Ross, do you know?’
‘Cathy?’ Don says. ‘Yes, I think they do talk. Cathy had a problem with chronic tiredness a few months back. The prison GP was at a loss to know what the problem was. It was Rose who suggested she was checked for pernicious anaemia. A shot of vitamin B12 did the trick.’ Don looks at Theo. ‘Why?’
‘I just wonder if she has opened up to Cathy.’
Don sits in the chair next to him. ‘Emotionally, you mean? I wouldn’t be surprised. Because of Cathy’s…’ he coughs, ‘matter-of-factness, shall we say, Rose may well feel she can open up to her. No danger of being engulfed by empathy.’
‘Not all that she seems, though, Cathy,’ Theo says. Don is telling him too much again, and although he appreciates this flaw in the man’s professionalism, he’s decided he really doesn’t like the way Don operates. Although thinking of the restaurant and Marion, he isn’t one to pass judgement.
‘I can’t discuss Cathy.’
‘No, of course.’
‘How are you getting on with Rose?’ Don says.
‘Good. She’s still got a fair amount of her story to go, though.’
‘Perhaps when she gets to the end, that will be when you hit the seam.’
‘Maybe.’ Theo shrugs.
‘There’s something I’m not getting, and if she shares something with you, I’d like to know. To help her.’
Don can’t help Rose. But Theo can. He remembers Cathy’s words. He needs to see Miles again.
He looks at his watch and pushes himself out of the chair. ‘Right, visiting time.’
‘It surely is, Theo.’
Walking into the visits hall, Theo glances around quickly. Today Rose is inclined back in her chair and looking much more relaxed. Her hair is down, and even from the doorway he can see she’s wearing some make-up. A sliver of lipstick, maybe even some blusher. He nods to the custody officer and makes his way over, the hovering expectancy inside his stomach increasing as he approaches. The whole situation with Rose has taken him unawares, and he thinks about the book advance.
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