Next weekend she would return without David to stay the night. Her brother and sister would be there to meet her. And there would be more talking, more explaining to be done.
‘She was so afraid that I wouldn't want to know her,’ Jane told David as the car sped through the night.
‘When I heard what she went through, pregnant after just one time, no real idea of what to do, in love with my father but not able to get in touch with him, I cried myself. There was an awful lot of pressure on her to have an abortion. It could have been arranged even then. She turned it down. The aunt who brought her up was old and just couldn't cope with the situation. She must have been so lonely and so afraid.’
David said nothing, but stretched out a hand and stroked her arm.
‘She kept asking me if I forgave her. I said of course I did. I don't know what I would have done in that situation.’
‘You're a very forgiving person,’ David said. ‘I know that myself.’
‘David Kershaw! You said that without even smiling!’
‘It was meant most sincerely. But I must admit that I have a personal interest in your capacity for forgiveness.’
She waited a moment then sighed. ‘All right, I forgive you. Consider yourself forgiven.’
He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. ‘You're good to me, Jane.’
‘Belt up,’ she snapped. ‘That's what you're always shouting at me.’
‘True.’ He refastened his seat belt. ‘So, now we carry on going out with each other?’
‘If that's what you want. But just like we decided… in a casual way.’
In the darkness of the car she sensed that he turned to look at her. But he said nothing. He was still being cautious with her. She was pleased about that.
She asked him to drop her off at home, and did he mind if she didn't invite him in? He understood. She said hello to Sue and Megan and went straight to bed. She was tired. It had been an emotionally exhausting day. But she was happy. It was good to find a new family. And it was also good to be with David again. Perhaps she'd been a bit hard on him. Just as she was going to sleep she remembered one other thing. He'd said that he loved her. That she would have to think about. But not now. Now she was going to sleep.
She slept soundly, and woke early and happy. All was well with the world. She would have phoned David, but he'd told her that he would be busy at the hospital all day, supervising the installation of new anaesthetic equipment, so she would have an idle, comfortable day. There had been enough emotion in her life recently to last for quite a while.
The day was fine so she decided to walk down to the corner newsagent to buy the Sunday newspapers for everyone.
‘See your hospital is in trouble again,’ said the newsagent, as she paid for the usual three papers. ‘And there's a picture of your friend in one of them.’
She frowned at him. ‘How are we in trouble?’ He flicked over the pages of a copy in front of her and pointed.
Jane never bought this particular paper – ever. But a lot of people did. It made its name by buying big name exposures, or sending a team of grubby 'investigative reporters' to pry into people's lives. Then it published its findings 'in the public interest'. Jane despised the paper.
But there in front of her was the headline CONSULTANT GETS TWO SALARIES — BUT ONLY DOES ONE JOB. Underneath was a picture of Megan captioned, 'Junior doctor tells all.' Horrified, Jane grabbed the paper, paid, and ran home.
Both Megan and Sue were asleep upstairs. Jane paused, then made two mugs of tea and went up to talk to Sue. Her friend was starting on nights later, and would normally have been left to sleep as long as she could but this was an emergency.
‘Wassermarra?’ Sue mumbled. ‘House on fire or something?’
‘Something just as bad. Drink this tea and then look at this article.’ Jane sat down on the bed as Sue reached for the tea.
The story was about Charles Grant-Liffley, one of the consultants at Emmy's. Megan worked with him, and the two girls knew that she thought she was learning from him. But there had been rumours throughout the hospital. Consultants were allowed to undertake private work as well as their National Health work, but the two had to be kept carefully apart. Perhaps Charles Grant-Liffley hadn't been careful enough. Certainly he'd left and been replaced with considerable speed.
The story was clever. There were hints, suggestions, very few real facts. But the result was to suggest that Emmy's was more interested in getting money for a few unscrupulous senior doctors than it was in treating people. ‘Who knows how many women have not had the treatment they need and deserve?’ the paper asked.
‘What do we do?’ Jane asked. ‘I haven't told Megan yet,’
‘Show her this, tell her to get up, pack a bag, and go to the hospital. She can stay in one of the residency rooms for a while. We're going to be under siege here very shortly.’
‘Under siege? What are you talking about?’
Sue seemed very sure of her facts. ‘I've met these reporters before. If one of them gets something the others don't have, the others rush round to see what they can pick up. There might even be a local TV crew. We can't let Megan suffer that – she's not as tough as us.’
‘She's not as tough as me,’ Jane said. ‘You put earplugs in and go back to sleep. I'll get Megan off and deal with anyone who calls.’
Megan was understandably horrified by the article. ‘I know who's done it,’ she sobbed. ‘Look, there's his by-line. It's Jeremy Parks. I thought he was a friend of mine. And this picture, it's mine! He must have taken it out of my handbag.’
Suddenly, what Sue had prophesied seemed all too real. ‘Get up and get dressed,’ Jane said. ‘Then you've got five minutes to pack a bag and drive out of here. Stay at the hospital for the next couple of nights. We'll bring you in anything you need.’
‘But I've got to phone my consultant!’
‘Phone him when you're in your car. Now move!’
They were only just in time. Megan had just left for the hospital when looking through the curtains, Jane saw a car draw up and park so as to carefully block their drive. A fat, unpleasant-looking man got out and walked confidently down their drive. He rang the doorbell and knocked at the same time. Jane went to open the front door.
‘Good morning, I'm Roy Fuller. I'd like to speak to-’
‘Move your car,’ Jane interrupted. ‘It's blocking our drive.’
‘Well, I don't think we'll be too long, if I could just-’
‘I said move your car.’ Jane made to close the door, and the man put his hand up and held it open.
‘Put your hand down or I'll phone the police, saying you're trying to force an entry.’ Jane smiled at him. ‘And please, don't think I don't mean it. Now move that car!’
The man tried to be conciliatory. ‘Of course I'll move it if you want,’ he said. ‘Then d'you think we can talk? Are you Megan Taylor?’
‘She's not here and won't be for the foreseeable future,’ Jane said. ‘And I have nothing to say to you.’ She closed the door.
She heard the man walk down the drive, and then watched him as he moved his car. He came back and rang the bell again.
‘Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot,’ he said. ‘All I want is —’
‘Look, I've told you once, no one here's going to talk to you,’ Jane said. ‘And you can tell that to any of your repulsive friends who come round. Now if you ring this bell one more time, I will phone the police.’ The man put his hand out towards the door. Jane slammed it and he just managed to move his hand in time. From behind the curtains she saw him get back into his car. But he didn't drive away.
She spent the rest of the day fending off other callers. Some were polite and left telephone numbers or offered money. Others were less polite. But Jane knew she could cope. And it was better that she should do it than Megan. She was tougher than Megan.
She had unplugged the telephone, but at midday a call came through for her on her mobile
. It was the hospital's Chief Executive Officer. ‘I am honoured,’ she said cheerfully.
‘How are you coping, Miss Cabot? Have there been nuisance calls?’
‘Nothing I can't deal with. A lot of reporters and people offering me money.’
‘I see. Would it help if I sent down someone from Security?’
‘That's the last thing we want. It'll only suggest you have something to hide. No, we can manage here. How's Megan … Dr Taylor?’
‘Naturally, she's upset, but we think we can sort things out. We've called a press conference for later in the day. That should take some of the pressure off you. And thank you for what you're doing.’
‘No problem,’ said Jane.
Shortly afterwards, the reporters disappeared and didn't come back. Sue came down in her dressing-gown and the two sat at the kitchen table. ‘I hope Megan is all right,’ Sue said.
‘She'll manage. I thought I had problems — but hers are bigger.’ Jane's mobile rang again.
This time it was David's voice, and the very sound of it made her smile. But he was anxious. ‘I've just heard what's happening,’ he said. ‘I'm coming round at once.’
That was the last thing she wanted. ‘No, David. They've gone now but they might be back, and if you're here it'll only cause trouble. You'll be a new face, someone else to chase. Better you stay away.’ She sensed he wasn't convinced, and added, ‘It'll be easier for me if you do.’
For a moment he was silent, and then he said reluctantly, ‘Well, all right. But ring me on my mobile if you need me. I'm only half an hour away.’
‘That's nice to hear. It really is.’
There was a further silence and Jane wondered if they'd been cut off. But then he said, ‘Love you, Jane.’ And then they were cut off. She was holding her own mobile but it wasn't connected so no one could hear her.
‘Love you, David,’ she said into the unheeding piece of plastic.
Monday morning felt good. There was no one outside the house, and Jane drove in without incident. For a while, after the two sets of exciting events over the weekend, it was difficult to remember that hospital life had to go on. But they had a full list. And she was working with David.
They were working, but they didn't have much time together. There was the special smile, the apparently accidental touch on the arm when they passed. And when they were alone in the anteroom together he stole a quick kiss.
They managed lunch together in the canteen and she told him something about the day before. He was angry. She could tell even though there was no outward sign. ‘I just didn't want you round,’ she insisted. ‘Yes, it would have been lovely to see you, but you could only have made things worse — for all of us, as well as the hospital. You would have lost your temper. And don't try to tell me that you don't have a temper. You just shout quietly.’
‘Don't you try to tell me that you're all calm, sweet, and reasonable. I suspect one or two of those reporters don't know the fate they just missed.’
‘Thank you,’ she said demurely. ‘I think that's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me.’
There was no trouble that evening, and she went to choir practice. But the next day was different. When she met David she could tell that something had happened. He was elated, beaming at everyone.
‘Why so happy?’ she asked him. ‘Of course, it's nice to see you happy, but is there a reason?’
‘There's a reason indeed, but I want to tell you in private. Can we have a drink after work? Anywhere, any place. Just so I can ask you something.’
She looked at him suspiciously. ‘If you need half an hour to ask me, then you think I'm going to need persuading. But I'm intrigued, I have to admit. Will you give me a hint?’
‘No. I'll just say it's something nice. Well, I think it is. And I think that you'll think that it is. But I do need half an hour to talk to you about it.’ When she still looked disbelieving he went on, ‘Well, it's about going away. And that is all I'm going to say.’
‘I'm going to my parents' next weekend, you know that.’
He gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Since you don't know what I'm going to ask, you can't really refuse, can you? Can we meet in the Waggoners' Arms at about half past five tonight?’
‘Waggoners' Arms it is.’ She'd been there with other friends and had found it a pleasant, suburban pub. ‘But I'm busy later on.’
‘Aren't you always? Incidentally, how come you can miss two hockey games in a row?’
‘The university has got a star player from America who plays in my position. She's played in their Olympic team and is over here for a few weeks. I'm good, but she's tremendous. So I'm stepping down for a while.’
‘Interesting,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘Well, I'll see you later.’
‘Can you ski?’ he asked her as they sat in the snug in the Waggoners'.
‘Well, I went on a Scottish youth hostel trip once,’ she said. ‘I loved it. But I can't say I'm an expert. Are you?’
‘Not expert. But I love it, too. I've done a few black slopes. Now …’ He looked at her assessingly. ‘You told me you've paid for Peter for the last few years. I know what nurses get, so you've never had a really good holiday, have you?’
‘I haven't had a holiday away at all this year,’ she said. ‘I went on a counselling course with the Samaritans. But you don't need to spend money to have a good time. I've always enjoyed my holidays. Why d'you ask?’
He spread a newspaper open before her. She saw the headline, TEN FANTASTIC HOLIDAYS TO BE WON. ‘Blame my mother,’ he said. ‘Twenty years ago she entered a competition like this and won a car. Since then she's made us all enter competitions, but no one has ever won anything big until now. I've won a skiing holiday for two.’
‘I suppose you're one of those lucky people,’ Jane said enviously. ‘You win raffles and things like that.’
David looked sheepish. ‘As a scientist, I have to say the idea of luck is foolish. On the other hand, I have to admit I've done rather well here and there. Jane, would you like to come on a skiing holiday with me?’
‘A skiing holiday? With you?’ She was dumbfounded. For some reason she hadn't realised that he was going to ask her.
‘Why not? We fly from Manchester, take a coach up to a high village. It's earlier than most holidays, in a new, much higher resort. We stay in a five-star hotel, tuition provided, and a lift pass. We could have a great time.’
‘As a couple?’ she asked.
‘I've got no other friend I could go with. And there's no one I would rather go with than you. And … no conditions, Jane. If you want single beds, that's what we shall have. The only trouble is, it's quite soon. The weekend after next, in fact. We'd have to get our leave applications in quite fast to the hospital.’
‘I need time,’ she said. ‘This is all a bit sudden. May I tell you tomorrow morning?’
‘Tomorrow morning will be fine.’
That night she lay in bed trying to make up her mind. Her first reaction was that she wouldn't go. Certainly she would really like a skiing holiday, and she'd like to be with David. But that would mean that she had to … She knew that he'd meant what he'd said, that they could have single beds if she wanted. And so far she had nearly slept with him … was it three times?
She liked David. No. She sighed. She loved him. Had she joined a long line of women who had done the same, only to be told that they'd agreed that the relationship was only ever going to be a temporary one?
He meant so much to her. He meant more than John Gilmore ever had. And he said he loved her, claimed to have said that to only one other woman in his life. Well, perhaps. She was still wary.
She was twenty-nine. Up till this moment she hadn't realised it, but she was dissatisfied with her life. She liked her job, enjoyed singing in the choir, working for the Samaritans, playing hockey. She was acquiring a new family. But all that wasn't enough. She wanted David. But she was afraid that he might leave her.
She would go skiing with him.
What had she to lose? Her heart was lost already.
Chapter Eight
Jane booked the necessary ten days off next morning, and then told the surgeon, ‘I hope you manage to get a good substitute, Edmund.’
‘Hmm,’ he grunted. ‘I suppose I'll have to. But it's going to be rough. Young David's just told me he's going skiing at the same time. Where are you going?’
She didn't like lying, so she temporised. ‘I've just come across some relations in Yorkshire. I'm going to spend some time with them.’ Well, it was true.
Just then David entered the anteroom, already gowned. ‘Everyone's deserting me,’ Edmund said. ‘Our scrub nurse here is going away at the same time as you. I should have booked a holiday myself.’
She saw David looking at her, his expression neutral. She gave him a tiny nod. ‘I'm sure you'll cope,’ David said to Edmund. ‘And it's good to let others have a chance to work with you. We all need a change from time to time. I'm ready for the op when you are.’
Jane didn't have a chance to speak to David in private until that afternoon, when she was helping him with the pre-op inspections. ‘I'm so glad you're coming,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I take it you are coming with me?’
‘If you still want me. But it's got to remain an absolute secret. No one but we two is to know about it. You can give me a list of what I'll need to take and I'll meet you at the airport. I'll take my car there.’
‘I was going to go by taxi,’ he said. ‘Are you sure you don't want to share it? It would be easier on you.’
‘I'm certain, thank you. We'll meet there.’
He looked up from the notes he was making. ‘You seem defensive,’ he said. ‘Are you sure I've not talked you into something you're not certain about? I really wouldn't want that, you know. And as I said, you can guess what I want, but the options are entirely up to you. I do mean that.’
She looked at him. She still wasn't sure whether he was a genuinely nice person or just trying to salve his own conscience. ‘Remember Ann Deeds?’ she asked. ‘She always said you were fair with her.’
The Time is Now Page 12
