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

opened the car window and waved. He was smiling. A rare thing, I’d discovered. I looked closer. A woman was standing in the doorway, leaning against a thick beam and framed by the sun that poured in from the west. Abigail, I surmised. She was tall, same height as me, her hair, a light honey blonde, settled around her shoulders in corkscrew curls, and as I peered closer, I saw something of the carving in Daniel’s bedroom, and something of me. She was smiling too, and her expression was inquisitive.

Ed had got out the car and was making his way towards her. I’d never seen him so animated. He did like someone other than Daniel. Daniel’s sister.

‘Abigail promised me she’d come over to make sure everything was ready.’ Daniel said this not looking at me, but staring at his sister.

‘I thought she’d be staying here?’

‘No, she’s staying in an apartment in Nerja town.’

‘Ah.’

I opened the car door and the smell of lavender hit me. Ed was embracing Abigail. A thought crossed my mind then, that maybe something was going on between the two of them. The thought of Ed actually having a relationship with anyone made me cringe inside. They exchanged words I couldn’t hear, and then Ed disappeared into the villa.

Daniel took my arm and we walked towards Abigail. She wore a white beach dress, and a white bandanna was wrapped stylishly around her head. I estimated her to be anything between early and mid thirties, but I knew she was older than Daniel, so she must be late thirties. She looked good for her age. Sheer freckled skin, no make-up. A slim smile hovered around her mouth and her line of vision moved towards Daniel’s hand as it rested on my forearm.

‘Rose.’ She made her way down the two steps. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’ She glanced at her brother. ‘He’s so taken.’

Daniel hugged her, then looked back at me. ‘Taken with you, Rose, she means.’ Abigail’s tawny eyes settled on me, appraising; it was probably what sisters did. I felt the pressure of Daniel’s fingers on my skin as well as the warmth of the Spanish late-afternoon sun. ‘How are you, Abigail?’ he asked her.

‘Coping, little bro.’ She turned her gaze on me. ‘I’ve heard your wonderful news. Congratulations.’

‘Thank you. A little unexpected, but—’

‘But it’s great.’ Her eyes settled on my stomach.

‘I won’t show for a while yet,’ I said.

A faint tinge of pink appeared on the apex of her cheekbones, and this sign of embarrassment surprised me. Abigail was very much like her brother, I’d decided immediately, self-assured and confident, but as I well knew, looks could be deceiving.

‘No, I’m sure you won’t.’ She took a few steps nearer. ‘What does it feel like?’

Before I could reply, Daniel had taken hold of my elbow. ‘Let’s go inside. Time you got out of the sun, Rose.’

I dug into his arm with a knuckle. ‘You sound like a mother!’

‘He sounds like an expectant father, Rose,’ Abigail said quietly. ‘He’s looking after the mother of his child.’ Her expression, though, was filled with amusement.

There was definitely a little bit of family conflict between brother and sister; subtle, but it was there. I wanted to let them talk but didn’t want to go inside alone in case I ended up with Ed. Instead, I took in this microcosm of Spain. It was a lovely place and I had the greatest desire to jump in the pool and submerge myself in its cool water.

‘I’ll see you all later,’ Ed said, emerging from the villa. ‘I’m off to Abigail’s flat. A leak in the bathroom. The landlord’ll take forever to fix it, so I’ll see what I can do.’ He addressed all of this to Daniel and Abigail, ignoring me. ‘There’s a nice supper in the kitchen. Señora López has been busy.’

A woman appeared. Señora López, I assumed. She was very handsome and didn’t look old enough to be married. Stupid thought, Rose. You’re old enough to be having a baby. She walked towards Daniel.

‘Good to see you, Señor Daniel.’

‘You too. Always good to see you.’ He winked, and Señora López blushed, then he turned back to Ed. ‘It’s okay if you stay at Abigail’s. I know you prefer it nearer to the sea.’

Ed nodded. ‘I may well do.’

And off he went. Thank God.

‘Why don’t you freshen up and go for a dip, Rose?’ Abigail said to me.

‘Thanks, I’d love that.’

She gave me a brilliant smile. ‘I’ll show you to your room.’

‘You do that, Abigail. I need to make a few phone calls,’ Daniel said, disappearing around the back of the villa.

I followed Abigail towards the main door. We walked through the open-plan entrance and into the building’s cool interior. It was completely different to the house in Nottingham – hints of Spanish culture, but modern and slick in its cream and dark-wood decor.

‘Has the family had this place very long?’ I asked.

‘Daniel bought it ten years ago.’ She paused. ‘I think. Terrible memory.’

I’d thought he’d told my mum the villa was their dad’s. Maybe he was embarrassed that he owned another home, I reasoned. I decided not to question Abigail further, saying instead, ‘If he were my brother, I think I’d be here all the time.’

‘Yes, I do come pretty regularly.’

‘You didn’t have to stay somewhere else, you know.’ By then we were in the kitchen, which seemed to be the only part of the villa that was traditionally decked out. All wood and pretty quaint fabrics.

‘I know, but the truth is, I like it in town.’ Abigail swept her arm towards the table laden with food. ‘I hope you’re hungry,’ she carried on, her tone almost conspiratorial. ‘Señora López does like to look after Daniel.’

‘It looks amazing,’ I replied, checking out the table.

‘Daniel thinks Señora L is amazing.’ She folded her arms.

Ignoring what I felt was her loaded comment about Señora López, I said, ‘I appreciate it. Food often isn’t the top of the agenda on our course.’

‘I’m sure.’