Dreaming

‘I won’t say I told you so!’

He curtly said into the phone, ‘Hallows here.’ Then listened, brows pulling together. ‘How long has that been happening?’

Luisa stood watching him, her hands unconsciously playing with her short black velvet evening jacket. If David was being summoned back to the theatre she would not be going to the dance.

He put the phone down and turned to make a wry face at her. ‘I told you not to answer it!’

‘I thought you weren’t on call!’

‘I’m not, but one of my patients has been waiting for an op. for three days because his condition simply wasn’t stable enough for me to risk it. Tonight they think he has stabilised, but Colin Dawkins doesn’t like to risk doing an op. on his own opinion; he wants me to pop in and take a look at the guy and back him up before he gives the go-ahead.’

‘And he’d really rather you did the op. yourself!’ Luisa said drily.

David laughed. ‘I expect he would. He’s simply terrified of taking a risk, that fellow.’

‘Does this mean no dance?’

‘Certainly not! No, we’ll be going, but I suppose I’d better make a detour en route and drop by the hospital to see this patient and decide whether Colin ought to operate or not.’

‘It might be wiser to wait until tomorrow, anyway.’

David’s mouth indented. ‘Hmm. This is a dodgy one, though. Not sure he can afford to wait. But I’ll see.’

When they reached the hospital David asked, ‘Wait here for me?’ but she shook her head, smiling at him.

‘You may be gone for ages. No, I’ll come in and stop off at my ward to have a cup of coffee with Sister Jenkins.’

‘And show off your dress?’ he teased, and she laughed.

‘Well, why not?’

They split up in the hospital, and she rustled along the corridors, amused when she got a startled look from a nurse hurrying by.

Helen Jenkins was in the ward overseeing a nurse giving out the evening medication. Luisa walked towards them and Helen looked round, and stared, open-mouthed.

‘Can’t you keep away?’

Laughing, Luisa explained. ‘David had to see a patient. I hoped I’d get a cup of coffee from you while I wait.’

‘Put it on and I’ll be with you in a second,’ Helen cheerfully agreed.

‘What a gorgeous, dress, Sister,’ said the nurse, and Luisa smiled at her.

‘Thanks, it’s new. First time I’ve worn it.’

‘It suits you,’ said the girl, her eyes lifting to stare at Luisa’s ringlets.

Helen was staring at them, too. ‘I’ve never seen you wear your hair like that before!’

‘I never have; it’s an experiment, and I don’t think I’ll be doing it again, either,’ Luisa wryly said.

‘Oh, no, it looks great!’ the nurse said, and Helen nodded.

‘I like it, too. It certainly makes you look different.’

Rather pink, Luisa said, ‘Thank you,’ and then turned to walk back to the office. As she did so, a faint voice made her halt. She looked across the ward at Zachary West’s bed and saw him shift slightly. Luisa went over to him. His eyes were open.

‘Did you call out, Mr West?’

He stared in silence.

She tried again. ‘I thought I heard you call...’

He closed his eyes without answering.

‘I’m seeing things now!’ he muttered to himself, and she had to bend closer to hear the words. ‘Crazy!’ he was murmuring barely audibly, through his swollen lips. ‘I’m going crazy! God help me.’

His eyes opened again suddenly. He gave a start, finding her so near. Luisa gave him what she hoped was a soothing smile. ‘Is there anything I can get you, Mr West?’

All she got back was a ferocious look and a snarl. ‘Go away, for God’s sake! I can’t take any more! Go away!’

She was so taken aback that without another word she obeyed, her skirts rustling as she hurried towards the office.

To her horror, her blue eyes had filled with tears. What is the matter with me? she wondered and fumbled for a paper tissue to angrily wipe her wet eyes. He can’t help being bad-tempered; he’s very ill! He isn’t the first patient to turn on you, heaven knows! Why are you weeping over him?

She began to make the coffee, as Helen Jenkins had asked, but she never had a chance to drink it because just as Helen joined her the phone rang. It was David.

‘Ready?’

‘Yes, of course,’ she said, furious to realise that her voice was still husky. ‘How was your patient?’

‘Not yet up to an op. See you at the car in two minutes!’

She put down the phone and turned. ‘Sorry, Nell, David didn’t take as long as I’d expected. See you later tonight.’

‘Yes. Have a wonderful time, but don’t be late back!’ Helen said, grinning at her.

On her way out of the ward Luisa paused for one second to look down the ward towards Zachary West. He seemed to have gone back to sleep now. She sighed and hurried away to find David.

As they had both realised it would, their arrival together at the hospital dinner-dance in Whinbury’s best hotel made something of a stir. Everyone had known they were going out together, but for them to come to such a very important event together was seen as some sort of declaration of intent. They were now publicly an admitted pair.

‘When you come to choose your bridesmaids think of me!’ one of her friends said in the ladies’ cloakroom during the evening.

Luisa pulled an impatient face at her. ‘Give us a chance, Jane! We’ve only been going out for a few months. Marriage isn’t on our minds.’

‘Bet I know what is!’ Jane Dorset said, giggling. ‘Well, on his, anyway! I’ve seen the way he looks at you.’

Luisa blushed, which made everyone hoot with laughter. Not for the first time she furiously wished she didn’t colour up so easily. David might find it charmingly feminine, but it was a curse Luisa could do without.