The Nurse Novel

by Alice Brennan

  She relaxed and leaned against him. “I’ll try, David. I promise you, I’ll try my very best!”

  “Good girl.” He patted her shoulder comfortingly, his compassion putting him momentarily off guard as her arms went impulsively about his neck.

  “Oh, David,” she choked, clinging to him. “I don’t know how I…”

  A harsh sound brought their startled attention to the door.

  Miss Andrews was standing there, malicious disapproval gleaming in her eyes, making her mouth a tense straight line. She cleared her throat roughly, and he realized that was the harsh sound that had caught his attention.

  “If you weren’t so busy,” she said tartly, “you might have heard yourself being paged on the P.A. Dr. Matthews wants you in surgery immediately. There’s an emergency and he wants you to scrub.”

  It would have to be that old biddy who busted in on them, David reflected furiously on his way to surgery. And he might as well talk to a stone wall as try to explain that he was merely offering sympathy to his friend’s worried wife. He hoped Andrews wasn’t the kind to start a lot of backstairs gossip. But he wished he’d been more cautious when Coralee rolled those big tearful eyes at him! If there was anything he didn’t want cluttering his new career, it was petty gossip.

  Well, here’s hoping that Andrews would keep her mouth shut about the cozy scene she’d walked in on. He’d see that Coralee didn’t get another chance to put him in a compromising position—no matter how sorry he felt for her. She probably didn’t rate much sympathy anyway. She’d hurt a number of people to achieve this marriage she now found unsuitable, so it was up to her to make the best of it.

  Chapter 12

  Janet glanced at the clock on her dresser and put her book away. Time to go on duty for her four-to-twelve shift.

  Already in uniform, she pinned her cap on her coppery curls and touched her lips with lipstick. She’d be glad when she was on duty somewhere beside Second Annex, so her feet wouldn’t drag reluctantly when it was time to go to work.

  Then she remembered. According to David’s conversation with Dr. Burns yesterday, old “Dizzy” Andrews would be leaving Second Annex in another week. She had almost forgotten that in all the excitement later.

  She still didn’t know what had made Coralee Burns so furious. But she had a pretty fair idea it had something to do with the way the woman was trying to follow David’s ball. It had become obvious enough to irritate her husband. David was probably fed up with it and had told her so.

  Had something in that situation been the cause of Dr. Burns’ heart attack? Coralee must be in love with David, and her husband had just found out.

  Well, who wouldn’t fall in love with David? Janet thought as she gave her room one last inspection before leaving. She had already admitted to herself that her own heart didn’t behave in exactly a normal manner when he was around. That’s why it had been so devastating when Andrews humiliated her in front of him. After they became acquainted, the feeling grew—though at first it was just a little extra fillip in their friendship.

  Then he’d been so appealing and sort of shy when he asked her to help him give a housewarming. And it had been such fun planning it together that she couldn’t stop herself from dreaming of how it would be if it were her house too. She was careful not to let him sense that, however, and she was still waiting for the first sign that his feeling for her was anything beyond a simple, casual friendship.

  One of the things she liked and admired about him was that, since he had no serious intentions, he kept the association on a friendly basis. None of this necking just for the fun of it, or pretending emotions he didn’t feel. When he told a girl he loved her, she could be sure that he meant it.

  She was still thinking of him when she came face to face with Miss Andrews in the treatment room.

  “Well, Miss Raleigh, you certainly make it a point never to come on duty a few seconds early!” the woman said caustically, and to Janet’s surprise she closed the treatment room door, shutting them in alone.

  “There are a few things I must say to you, young lady, so you’ll understand why I can’t give you full recommendation when I turn this ward over to the new supervisor.”

  “You can’t give me a recommendation?” Those words stood out.

  “Certainly not! It’s my opinion that you haven’t the qualities of a good nurse.”

  “Why not? What have I done now? If you think I had anything to do with your being transferred—”

  “What did you think would happen, the way you ran bellyaching to Mrs. Burns every time your toes got stepped on? But that isn’t what I’m talking about. It’s such habits as this—barely showing up in time for duty. An interested nurse will arrive early enough to discuss the condition of the ward with the nurse going off duty. She’ll perform a lot of little extra tasks that never seem to occur to you. And on top of your negligence and lack of interest, you’re inclined to be impudent, and your rebellion against criticism and discipline could very well render you completely undependable in emergencies.”

  “But Miss Andrews—”

  “Don’t interrupt! That’s another of your faults! I’m doing the talking, and you should profit by listening. A girl with your background of wealth and position…”

  “So that’s it!” Janet cried. “You believe that because I had it easy as a child, and don’t have to work for a living, I can’t learn how to work! That kind of jealousy is just snobbery in reverse!”

  “That’s enough!” Miss Andrews shouted, her face thrust so close that Janet backed away, realizing it was futile to lash back, no matter what the woman said.

  “I told you I’d do the talking, Miss Raleigh, but it’s plain that you don’t intend to profit by what I say. Why don’t you admit that you have no real yen to be a nurse? What you want is to be some bright young doctor’s wife, and now that you’ve looked the field over, you’ve settled on this new doctor you’ve been running around with. Well, you’d better get busy and snag him then, before he makes a mess of everything by playing around with Dr. Burns’ wife. Wrecking his own career and bringing on the heart attack that the poor man had yesterday. The way it looks from here, he’s just using you as a cover-up for his affair with her!”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Janet choked, the blood pounding to her throat.

  “Oh, don’t I!” Miss Andrews sneered. “Then what was he doing cuddling her in his arms in a solarium last night? They were so absorbed they couldn’t hear the P.A. blasting his name up and down the halls. I had to burst in and tell him he was wanted in surgery.”

  Janet whirled about and headed blindly for the door, but Miss Andrews stopped her before she could open it.

  “I’m not through with you yet—and I don’t want you deserting your post as you did once before.”

  “I’m not deserting,” Janet cried, her forehead pressed against the door, her hand clenching the doorknob. “I thought you wanted me to go to work.”

  “I do. Report to Carruthers. She’ll remain on duty until after you’ve gone down to dinner. Step back, please.”

  Janet stepped back to allow Miss Andrews to precede her through the door. With relief she watched the supervisor stalk down the hall to the elevator. Janet made her own way to the nurses’ station, her knees still shaking.

  Miss Carruthers looked up unhappily from the chart desk.

  “I heard her yelling. Every time she chews you out I’m afraid I’m to blame. I started it all when I reported what that Crane kid said about you.”

  “Forget it,” Janet said brusquely. “You didn’t start anything. She took a dislike to me the first day I came on duty here. But I’m not going to let her make me quit. Let’s get to work. Andrews says you’ll tell me about all the patients.”

  She tried to put David Sterling out of her mind as she worked. There was probably some explanation for h
is having Coralee in his arms. It probably wasn’t as bad as old Dizzy tried to make it sound. David wasn’t the type to indulge in a clandestine affair with his friend’s wife.

  Or was he? What did she know about him actually? She’d thought they were becoming good friends, but did he really care about her? Or was Andrews right, and he was just using her?

  Andrews was a malicious old gossip, she told herself firmly, and once again put the whole thing out of her mind to concentrate on her work.

  * * * *

  She was on her way to the dining room, detouring through the lobby to answer a call from the main desk, when a young man stepped in front of her.

  “Good evening, Miss Raleigh,” he said cordially. “Don’t you remember me?”

  She stared at him, puzzled. He was tall and slim, impeccably dressed in brown slacks and beige sports jacket, his hemp brown hair neatly combed, his dark eyes alert and friendly under long sweeping lashes.

  “Arnold Crane!” she exclaimed, hardly able to believe this nice-looking boy was the whining patient who’d given her a bad time about six weeks ago. Good health can make a huge difference in a person, she reflected, marveling.

  “I’d almost as soon you didn’t remember me,” he said with a wry grin. “I’ve been told I was a real creep while I was sick. You nurses were all so nice—but I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again.”

  Janet smiled. “You weren’t that bad. Anyway, a man can hardly be blamed for being ornery when he’s as sick as you were.”

  She turned to leave, but he touched her arm and begged, “Please don’t go yet. Give me a chance to erase a bad impression. I’d hate for you to think I always acted like that.”

  “I’m sure you don’t, but I…” She was about to move on to the desk, then she saw David coming down the hall.

  She felt frozen to the spot. She knew, dimly, that Arnold Crane was talking urgently, saying something about going out to dinner, but all she could think of was David Sterling standing in a solarium with Coralee Burns in his arms.

  I mustn’t let it throw me, she told herself sternly. What he does is his own business. He has no obligation to me. He’s never indicated that I mean anything to him seriously. Maybe I never will…

  He was standing in front of her then, recognizing Arnold Crane, and they were all talking about the boy’s splendid recovery. To her surprise she could join in the conversation, her voice steady and sounding quite normal in spite of the way she felt inside.

  “I’ve been trying to wangle a date with my favorite nurse,” Arnold said, his eyes on her though he was speaking to David. “I want to prove I’m not the crumb-bum she must have thought me while I was sick. I think she ought to give me a chance to make a better impression, don’t you?”

  David smiled down at her, amusement twinkling in his brown eyes, giving them golden highlights. “I’d say that’s entirely up to her,” he said, sounding quite indifferent.

  He doesn’t care, she thought starkly. It wouldn’t meant a thing to him if I fell in love with this goof! Or was he taking it lightly because he didn’t believe for a minute she’d accept the date? Was he taking it for granted that their association would preclude her dating anyone else?

  He had no right to take her for granted, while he felt free to hold Coralee in his arms! Besides, she had to know just how much she did mean to him.

  She managed a bright smile for Arnold while she kept a wary eye on David, to gauge his reaction as she said impulsively, “Okay, I’ll give you a chance to make amends, Arnold.”

  She immediately regretted the impulse, for there was no reaction from David. He continued to look amused.

  If he had frowned, protested, or even looked disappointed, she would have promptly retracted her acceptance. But he merely smiled and said, very casually, “Well, have fun, you two,” and walked away.

  At first Janet was scarcely aware of Arnold’s babbling there beside her suggesting time and place. Her heart was pounding with a sickening thud as she watched David walk down the hall to disappear around a corner.

  She’d taken a stupid way to try to gauge his feelings. All she had accomplished was to appear shallow and flighty before him. If she’d ever had a chance to win his serious interest, she’d probably thrown it away now. She’d never done such a foolish, impulsive thing before. But of course, she realized bleakly, she’d never been in love before.

  “I’m sorry, Arnold,” she said, breaking into something he was saying about a dance band. “I forgot—I’ll be on duty. I can’t go out with you after all.”

  “Oh, please!” he cried in alarm. “Don’t back out now! You’re not on duty every night! I know you’re off Friday because,” he smiled sheepishly, “I got that out of the girl at the desk before I had her phone up for you. I wanted this date with you so much! You can’t turn me down!”

  “I’ve got to, Arnold,” she began—but he looked so crestfallen that she relented. After all, what difference would it make now? The harm had already been done. If it would make this poor kid happy to spend an evening with her, why refuse? She’d had no business accepting the date, but it would be worse to renege.

  “Okay, I’ll go,” she said. “Call at the Nurses’ Home for me Friday night.”

  Chapter 13

  David stepped into the elevator feeling vaguely perturbed. Why would Janet make a date with a punk like that? Not that it’s any of my business, of course…

  Or maybe it is, he corrected himself. Just how emotionally involved was he getting, anyway? The girl must have got under his skin more than he realized, or he wouldn’t be baffled by this strange possessive feeling the first time she showed an interest in another man. Or rather, in this twerp who was about her own age.

  He realized he’d been thinking of Janet as a kid, much too young for him. She was even younger than Diane. Since Diane’s death he’d found himself unable to consider any girl seriously, or work up much enthusiasm for marriage. But now that he thought of it, he recognized the emotions Janet stirred as the same sort of affectionate, protective concern he’d had for Diane before his love superseded all other emotions.

  Would he ever feel like that about Janet? If he did, the ten years or so difference in their ages wouldn’t matter. But did he want to feel like that about her? Until now he’d been quite complacently happy to go it alone. His association with Janet had started mostly as a means of protecting himself against the fascination Coralee had for him. It had continued and progressed because they found each other companionable. He had no idea how deep her feeling for him might be. The alacrity with which she accepted a date with the Crane boy might be an indication—or it might not. Somehow he felt that he’d better be absolutely sure of his own feelings before he made any overtures she could take seriously. For she wasn’t like Coralee who could become passionately involved with any man who took her fancy. If Janet gave him her heart, he was sure he could depend on it being his forever.

  He’d reached no conclusions when he arrived at Graham’s hospital room. Planting a professional smile on his face, he opened the door and looked in.

  Graham was propped up in bed, appearing quite normal. His color was good, and his smile, though a little uncertain, was, on the whole, friendly.

  “Come in, David,” he said. “I’ve been hoping you’d stop by. I’m sorry I gave you all such a scare yesterday. I feel fine today. In fact, I see no point in staying in bed, letting my work pile up.”

  “Don’t worry about the work,” David said. He listened through his stethoscope, finding less irregularity in the heartbeat which was good and strong now.

  “I suppose Claibourne gave you a report on his findings?” David asked.

  “Yes, for what they’re worth. The symptoms don’t seem to follow a standard pattern.”

  “Have you had any previous symptoms?”

  “Yes, but nothing so spectacular. Just
occasional shortness of breath on exertion, with a feeling of constriction around the heart. The old pump’s wearing out, I guess.”

  “It shouldn’t—not at your age. Graham, I’ve studied the X-rays and I believe there’s a tumor of the left ventricle wall. The shadow isn’t conclusive, but might show up better if the blood is dyed with a radiopaque substance. So how about some further studies with diodrast?”

  “Sure, be my guest. But I don’t have to stay in bed, do I? If I’d had a coronary I wouldn’t object—but dammit, nothing makes me so weak as unnecessary bedrest!”

  “That’s up to Claibourne. He’s letting me do the diodrast studies, but otherwise he’s in charge.”

  “Okay.” Graham lay back on the pillow, his eyes clouding. “David—About yesterday. What happened between you and Coralee?”

  “Didn’t she tell you?” David felt his mouth growing tight.

  “She said she’d been teasing you by following your ball, and kidded you about being too strait-laced to make a pass. She said you took her seriously and called her a two-timer. She isn’t, really, you know. She can’t help being a coquette, it’s just her way, but…” He paused and swallowed hard, setting his jaw as he asked desperately, “There’s no—no emotional involvement between you two, is there?”

  “Absolutely not!” David did his best to sound convincing. Then, relieved that he had his cue, “I’m sorry I didn’t realize she was kidding. I wouldn’t cause any trouble between you for anything in the world.”

  Graham smiled. “I know that, David. And I don’t want to lose your friendship. Coralee may be mad for a while, but she’ll get over it. She doesn’t hold a grudge.”

  David remained to chat for a few more minutes, then wished he hadn’t. There was a light knock on the door, and Coralee walked in. She gave David one hostile glance, then disregarded him to sit on Graham’s bed and bestow an ardent, wifely kiss.

  David started to leave, but Graham called him back.