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

Greg emailed the finer details after their phone conversation. They want well-written, but reading in between the lines, they also want copious amounts of tasteful salaciousness.

He can’t do it.

She’s watching him walk towards her. Those eyes, dark and brindled. Eyes that take you in and keep you there, locking you inside so you can’t get out. Although no man would want to leave. Theo certainly doesn’t.

‘You look pleased with yourself, Theo,’ she says.

‘Thanks for turning up.’

‘Of course I turned up. Why wouldn’t I?’ She peers at him from underneath thick lashes, but today, despite her light mood, he’s more aware of the lines crossing her forehead, the spidery crawl around her eyes, the greyness that fills in the fragile skin beneath. Underneath her facade, she looks unwell. ‘As it happens,’ she carries on, ‘I didn’t have much on today.’ She wriggles in the chair. ‘You already done your class?’

‘I have.’

‘Cathy loves them.’

‘She does, I think. You two friends?’

‘I like Cathy, she doesn’t judge.’

‘Do you judge her?’

‘It’s not my place to judge anyone in here. That’s already been done.’

‘True.’

‘Her angst about having kids she didn’t want is just as strong as mine about not having the kids I did want.’

He’s sitting now, facing her, leaning forward. She has perfume on. He likes to think it’s for him. Perhaps Miles brought it in for her. Guilt surges through him.

‘How did Miles feel about you not being able to have children?’ he asks.

‘Sad.’

He takes an extended breath, as if finding more oxygen will help him say the right thing. ‘Miles was at the hospital the day of Abe’s death, on duty in the unit where Abe was recovering.’

‘So was I. Abe’s mother was there too.’

‘Did it matter to you that you were put in here, Rose?’

She moves her head, and a curl drops in front of her left eye. ‘Of course it did.’

‘Did it?’

‘Let me carry on with my story. That’s why you’re here, not to question whether I’m guilty or not. I am. I was found guilty at the hearing.’

‘Because you admitted to doing it.’

‘Because I did do it.’

‘But now. Would you want to leave this place now?’

She avoids his gaze. ‘Sometimes, Theo. Sometimes.’

‘Okay, let’s carry on.’ He pulls out his notes. ‘You’ve been to your mum’s, and you’re about to go to Spain.’

‘Have you heard from my mother?’ she asks him.

He can’t lie, although he knows he should. ‘She said she’s been busy.’ He spills about Sam, and the house in Majorca, the proposed holiday that isn’t happening now. He doesn’t mention Scandal, or the conclusions he drew from his meeting with Marion there. He won’t mention Bella and Hugo yet either.

Rose pulls her hair into a bun and deftly ties it with a bobble from her wrist. ‘Anything strike you about my mum, Theo?’

‘I’ve found out some stuff from her that’s made things clearer.’

‘Like what?’ she asks, suddenly alert, and suddenly too finding the quick of her nails.

‘I think she was definitely aware of Abe’s existence, a long time before your arrest. I believe she knew that Daniel Deane had a child – a son – after your split from him.’

Rose inclines her head, and then bends forward, holding her arms across her chest. ‘I have no idea where her money is coming from.’

‘You do, though, don’t you?’ he asks gently.

‘You’ll find out everything you can, won’t you?’

‘I will.’ Splinters of icy pain shoot through Theo’s veins. He shivers.

‘Cold in here today, isn’t it?’ Rose rubs her hands together. It’s surprisingly warm in the visits hall. ‘Come on,’ she says. ‘Let me carry on. It’s the finale.’

‘Take your time.’ Her arm is resting on the table and he reaches over and touches her.

‘I will,’ she replies. ‘Off to Spain.’ She pulls back her hair again. ‘This is the longest part of my tale. Buckle up, Theo.’

37

Rose

3 July 1991

In the end, I persuaded myself that being in Spain with my placement revision notes and Daniel was much more appealing than sitting reading them in my damp-infested room. I was burying my head regarding the placement; something I rarely did, but doing so because orthopaedics was the area of medicine I was least interested in and therefore less good at. My placement hadn’t started that well either, with the late submission of my pre-placement study. Mr Warner was one of the leading orthopaedic surgeons in the world. I’d met him once and disliked him, and I was soon going to be spending six weeks in his company. I hadn’t told any of the faculty that I was pregnant. Daniel had suggested I shouldn’t, and I knew he was right. Leave it as long as possible, he’d said. I certainly didn’t want Mr Warner knowing. I’d be dead meat before I even started.

I’d packed a small suitcase, and a holdall stuffed with all my revision stuff. I didn’t have a bikini, and couldn’t remember the last time I’d got to wear one. Casey had lent me hers but she was tiny, and I convinced myself my boobs were already filling out; it would never fit. I’d packed it anyway. It lay at the bottom of my suitcase.

Our flight was at three. I checked the clock. Nearly midday already. I assumed we were flying from East Midlands. I’d forgotten to ask Daniel the night before on the phone; he’d just wanted to check I had my passport, but I was sure we should be there two hours before the flight.

The bell echoed through the dingy hall. I pulled on a jacket and opened the door. Daniel was standing there all calm and relaxed and looking as if he were on holiday already.

‘All set? Got your revision stuff?’

‘I have.’ I picked up the holdall, which weighed a ton, and gave it to him. ‘I bet you haven’t as much luggage as me.’

He stuck his hands in both pockets and pulled out a pair of underpants from one, socks from the other. ‘Nope.’ He grinned.

‘You do make me laugh.’

‘I keep clothes at the villa.’

I checked