by Lucy Clark
Marty started to climb off the ladder. ‘De-dusting,’ he muttered, bringing the tinsel down with him. ‘How on earth do you de-dust something?’
Natalie smiled sweetly at him before looking down at the case notes. ‘Check with Cassie.’
Marty looked around but there was no sign of the ward clerk. ‘Where is she?’
‘Early lunch?’ Natalie shrugged her shoulders, scribbled something in the notes and then closed them again. She took in his defeated posture before taking pity on him. ‘Come on.’
‘What?’
She took the tinsel from his hand and draped it around his shoulders. ‘Come with me. I know just how to cheer you up.’ She walked off towards the other end of the ward, knowing he would follow. When she got there, she paused for effect and indicated the room in front of her. Marty came and stood by her side, a slow smile crossing his lips.
The room was known as the playroom in the ward. There were toys for all ages, tables for drawing and craftwork and at the moment there were several children sitting at the tables with a few parents, making Christmas decorations.
‘Go and have fun,’ Natalie said softly. ‘The ward Christmas tree is due to go up tomorrow so go and get busy. I’ll see to the de-dusting.’
Marty gave her a quick hug and again she had to ignore the way his touch made her feel. ‘You’re a good friend, Nat. Thanks.’ In the next instant he’d disappeared into the room, several of the children calling out greetings to him.
It took Natalie a moment before she could move. First, she had to recover from the tingles, which were slowly beginning to fade, and then she had to contend with the picture before her…Marty smiling, crouching down in a small chair with two of the children instantly involving him in what they were doing. He’d been at the hospital almost one whole day yet the children adored him.
‘The Marty Williams charm strikes again,’ she muttered to herself as she headed back to the nurses’ station to see to the ‘de-dusting’.
‘Hi, there.’ Natalie opened the door to Marty. She was wearing a red shirt and denim skirt, her legs and feet bare. Marty was dressed in a white polo shirt and khaki shorts, old, tatty sandshoes on his feet.
They appraised each other for a brief moment. Marty reached out and sifted her long, loose hair between his fingers. ‘Such a beautiful colour,’ he murmured, before giving the ends a little tug and letting go.
Natalie tried her best to recover from his impromptu touch, and met his gaze. ‘You look exhausted.’
‘I can return that compliment and say you don’t look too good yourself, honey.’
Natalie smiled as she closed the door behind him. He held out a bottle of wine. ‘Thank you. That was sweet.’
‘Never come empty-handed.’
‘Then drop around any time,’ Natalie joked as she headed for the kitchen.
‘Hi, Marty,’ Beth called, looking up from the salad she was making. ‘How’s your day been?’
Marty perched himself on one of the stools at the kitchen bench and watched the two women working seamlessly around each other. Natalie finished marinating the meat for their barbecue and Beth started on the vegetable shazlicks. ‘Here, let me help,’ he offered, and came around to wash his hands.
Two in the kitchen was bad enough, but with Marty in there—six feet four and broad-shouldered—the small space suddenly became very crowded. ‘I could say I’ve had worse days, but at the moment I just can’t remember them.’
‘Was today really that bad?’ Natalie looked at him sympathetically. ‘Too much for the new kid on the block?’
‘Give me a drink, feed me and then perhaps I’ll regale you with the day’s events. Oh, and thanks for organising the de-dusting,’ he said to Natalie. ‘Sister Dorset has declared the decorations fit for display in the ward tomorrow.’
‘Glad to be of service,’ she replied.
The three of them continued to talk on various topics while they finished preparing the food, and Natalie marvelled at how easily Marty slid right into her life. Never would Richard be seen sitting at their kitchen bench, preparing food and chatting while sipping wine—even in the old days before he’d graduated.
‘Nat?’
‘Hmm?’ She looked up and met his gaze. ‘Sorry. I was elsewhere.’
‘Anything wrong?’
‘She’s feeling a little guilty,’ Beth said in a stage whisper. ‘Friday night’s her night to see Richard but tonight she’s effectively standing him up.’
‘I’m not standing him up,’ Natalie retorted. ‘That implies I’ve left him in the lurch.’
‘But you invited me over.’ Marty frowned.
‘Richard cancelled on her, she invited you and then Richard un-cancelled.’ Beth shrugged. ‘Simple.’
‘So now you’ve cancelled on Richard?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you tell him I was coming over?’
‘I said I’d invited the new registrar in our unit around.’
‘But you didn’t tell him I was male.’ Marty gave her a thoughtful look. ‘Now, I wonder why?’
‘What does it matter? You’re my colleague.’
‘And your friend.’
Beth laughed and Natalie glared at them both for a moment before throwing her arms in the air.
‘I give up. Can we, please, just forget Richard and have a nice, friendly dinner? Please?’
‘By all means,’ Marty said as he carried a platter outside to the terraced garden, ‘Let’s forget Richard.’
In true male fashion, Marty insisted on taking the helm at the barbecue and did the cooking. Natalie lit a few citronella candles to keep the bugs and mosquitoes away while Beth set the table before disappearing back inside. ‘Spray?’ Natalie held out the insect repellent to Marty.
‘Thanks. I’ve missed balmy December nights swatting mozzies.’
‘Where have you come from?’
He gave her a thoughtful look as he turned the meat. ‘I do believe it was one evening such as this that my parents felt rather loving towards each other and—’
Natalie gave his arm a playful push. ‘Stop it. You know what I mean.’
‘Where was I working last?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ve come here from gay Paris.’
‘Ah.’ She held the wine bottle out to him. ‘Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?’
As she spoke, Marty was taking a sip of his wine and almost choked. He coughed a few times.
‘Are you all right?’
‘Sure. I just hadn’t expected that.’
‘What?’
He looked at her and grinned. ‘You just asked me to go to bed with you.’
‘What? I thought that meant, “Do you want to have another drink with me?”’
‘Who taught you French?’
‘My brother.’ She groaned.
‘Little Davey?’
‘Little Davey is not so little any more. He was only two years behind us in school and is now about your height and a pilot.’
He nodded, impressed. ‘Well, little or not, he was having a laugh at his sister’s expense. How many people have you said that to?’
‘Oh, no!’ She was still mortified. ‘None. I think. Oh, look, can we forget it, please?’ Natalie was trying not to dwell on what would have happened if Marty had said yes. ‘Would you like a top-up?’ Again, she held out the wine bottle to him.
‘Yes, please.’ He checked the food while she refilled his glass. ‘At least this tastes better than that moonshine we drank in Fiji.’
‘You drank. I think I ended up having one or two mouthfuls.’
‘That was potent stuff but I needed it.’ He took another sip of his wine. ‘Mmm. Definitely better.’
‘All done?’ Beth asked as she came out with the salad.
‘All ready to go.’
They sat down and savoured the meat while it was hot, the citronella candles doing their job and keeping the insects at bay.
‘So do tell.’ Beth leaned forward on th
e table. ‘What happened at work today?’
‘Has Nat told you about our bet?’
Natalie smiled. ‘Haven’t had time.’
‘Well…’ Marty finished his last mouthful of food, took a sip of his wine and settled back in his chair. ‘I’ve made a bet with my darling Nat that I can call Sister Dorset Aggie and get away with it.’
‘By Christmas,’ Natalie added.
Beth’s jaw dropped open. ‘Are you insane?’ she asked Marty. In the next instant she turned to Natalie. ‘How can I get in on this bet? You’ll win it for sure.’
‘I think she will, too,’ Marty added. ‘I’m starting to think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew and I’m not talking about the excellent meal we’ve just shared.’ He put his elbows on the table and rubbed his fingers in little circles at his temple.
‘What happened?’ Natalie was almost on the edge of her seat with anticipation.
‘This afternoon I was in the ward, innocently writing up some notes, when in bustles Sister Dorset, declaring it’s time for afternoon ward round and she’d appreciate it if I would pay attention to the ward schedule and get on with the job. All of this, of course, was said in her no-nonsense brisk manner without a “please” or “thank you” anywhere.
‘I’m happy to overlook this as I’m desperate to make a good impression. Naturally, I stop in mid-sentence and do her bidding.’ He leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of exhaustion, disbelief and humour.
‘The first few patients go fine until we get to a new patient, little Troy. He’s only two, admitted with gastroenteritis. Anyway, his mother had gone to the cafeteria to eat while Troy was settled and sleeping. Not so by the time we arrive for ward round. He’s wide awake, a little bit upset that his mother’s not around, sitting up in his cot with a foul-smelling nappy.’
‘Oh, no.’ Natalie smiled, guessing what was coming.
‘Oh, yes. “Right,” says Sister Dorset.’ Natalie and Beth laughed at the high-pitched tone Marty used to imitate Sister Dorset’s voice. “‘Off you go, Doctor.” Well, I look blankly at her, wondering why she’s dismissing me when she dragged me away from my work to do the round in the first place. She waggles her finger at me and then at Troy and I realise with horror that she expects me to change the child’s nappy.’
Natalie and Beth started laughing.
‘I quickly glance towards the door, wishing as hard as I can that Troy’s mother is about to walk in. No such luck. Sister glares at me. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Doctor. Don’t tell me you can’t change a small child’s nappy.” She tut-tuts some more and by this time little Troy—who has thankfully quietened down because he’s so enthralled by Sister tearing me to shreds—is not only sitting happily in his cot but is bouncing up and down on his bottom.’
Natalie and Beth continued to laugh.
‘Did I mention the poor child was admitted with gastroenteritis? The stuff was everywhere now. I glance at the door again, hoping desperately for the mother to come in or for someone to page me or call me away. Nothing. Sister Dorset, still tut-tutting, slowly pulls the curtains around Troy’s cot and I start to feel as though I’m caught in a Venus fly-trap. Still, I’ve not only made a bet with Nat that I can make Sister like me, but I am also a doctor who has vowed to care for his patients. I start rolling up my sleeves.’ Marty mimed the action as he spoke.
‘Sister, thankfully, has pulled out the tools I’ll need—’
At the word ‘tools’, Natalie lost it and threw back her head and laughed harder than she could remember having laughed before. ‘You’re not fixing a bookshelf, Marty,’ she choked out between chuckles.
‘I have my tools and have not only pulled on a pair of gloves but a gown to cover my clothes—just in case.’
‘I’m surprised you stopped there. Why not a mask?’ Beth asked as she wiped the tears from her face.
‘As I was saying…’ He glared at them both. ‘I begin my appointed task, telling myself I’ve been in far worse predicaments before, and begin changing the nappy with Sister looking over my shoulder the entire time, directing me as though I were performing the most intricate of surgical procedures. I must add here my most sincere thanks to little Troy who seemed to be so stunned by a strange doctor changing his nappy that he actually stayed still the entire time. Finally, everything is clean—the patient, the cot. Dirty sheets have been dealt with and I’m at the sink, having taken off my protective gear, frantically scrubbing at my hands. Sister pulls back the curtain and everything is as it should be when Troy’s mother comes back in and thanks Sister for changing Troy’s nappy.
‘I think surely Sister will tell her I did it—after all, it was quite an ordeal for a young, single doctor such as myself, but no. Sister calmly accepts all the thanks and moves on to the next patient, leaving me standing mouth wide open, gaping at her back and desperate to tell Troy’s mother that it was I and I alone who cleaned up the disgusting mess and restored her son to rights.’
‘Oh, stop. Stop!’ Natalie gasped, holding her sides.
‘But is that all for the dashing doctor? No. We continue with the round and when we get to Elizabeth, Sister glares at me again and I start panicking in case I need to change Elizabeth’s nappy. I quickly remember that Elizabeth is nine and doesn’t wear nappies, but what’s this? Her notes are missing. It’s then I remember it was Elizabeth’s notes I was writing on when Sister first dragged me away to do the ward round. I tell her I’ll fix everything and quickly head to the nurses’ station, when Cassie tells me there’s a call for me. Why the call didn’t come fifteen minutes earlier to get me out of changing Troy’s nappy, I don’t know. I deal expeditiously with the call, write the last few words in Elizabeth’s notes and quickly return to the child’s bedside. “They’re not signed, Doctor.” That’s all I get from Sister. I sign the notes and we continue, thankfully without further hiccup, with the rest of the round.’
Marty sat grinning at the two of them as they continued to laugh and wipe tears from their eyes. ‘Although my first instinct was to run and hide once she’d released me from my obligation, I also remembered that animals…and sisters who have been nursing since the Dark Ages…can smell fear. So I stay in the ward, finish up my work and don’t leave until Sister herself has left for the day. Then I collapse in a heap, with Cassie and the rest of the staff teasing and laughing at me.’
‘I wish I’d been there. I was stuck in a meeting with Andrew.’ Natalie slowly stood.
‘Would you have rescued me, Nat?’
‘Hardly. I plan on winning this bet.’ She laughed then groaned. ‘I need to go. If not, I’m going to wet my pants. Oh, Marty.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘You’re still as funny as ever.’ When she came back, Beth and Marty had cleared the table and were stacking the dishes in the dishwasher.
‘Well, you’re certainly handy to have around,’ she murmured as she joined them.
‘It’s the least I can do to thank you for a wonderful evening.’
‘You’re not about to rush off, are you?’ Beth asked urgently, and Natalie frowned. Was her housemate really interested in Marty? ‘We have strawberries and ice cream for dessert.’
Marty rubbed his stomach. ‘I think it may have to wait a while.’ He straightened from putting the last plate in the dishwasher.
‘Coffee?’ Natalie asked, reaching around him to grab the kettle, making sure she didn’t touch him.
‘Perfect.’
They sat and chatted a while, sipping coffee and reminiscing, a Christmassy CD playing quietly in the background.
‘Do you remember the last day of school?’ Marty asked, his eyes half-closed in relaxation.
‘The last day I saw you? Of course I remember.’
‘We didn’t have to do schoolwork and were able to play games all day.’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Twister,’ they said in unison, and Beth laughed.
‘What happened?’ she asked.
Natalie and Marty shared a smile.
‘I won.’ Again the words were said in unison and this time all three of them laughed.
‘Well, which was it?’ Beth asked, looking from one to the other.
‘I won,’ Marty said.
‘You did not! You cheated on the last spin and fell, but because Ms Schofield didn’t see you, you stayed in the game.’ She turned to Beth. ‘He blatantly lied, telling her he hadn’t fallen, and she took one look at that innocent face he can pull and believed him. I was so cross with him and all he could do was poke his cheeky tongue out at me the instant her back was turned.’
‘So who won?’ Beth asked again.
‘Nat did,’ Marty acknowledged. ‘What’s the statute of limitations on apologies?’
Natalie smiled. ‘Offering one?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Accepted.’
‘Good.’
‘How about a rematch?’ Beth asked, and stood up.
‘Rematch?’ Natalie frowned at her but her friend didn’t answer. Instead, she disappeared into her room and came out a moment later, carrying a box.
‘Anyone up for it?’ She held out the game and Natalie gaped.
‘Where did you get that from?’
‘I bought it for Tristan’s kids for Christmas but I think I’ll keep this one and buy them another one. Tristan’s a colleague of mine,’ she quickly explained to Marty. ‘Come on. Up, up, up, girl.’ Beth tapped Natalie on the legs. ‘You, too, Marty. Let’s go. I’ll be the spinner.’
‘All right!’ Marty was up and doing arm and leg flexes before Natalie had moved.
‘I’m not crawling around on the floor, contorting myself into all sorts of ridiculous positions.’
‘Then I will declare Marty the champion of all time—by default.’
‘Hey. Why the champion of all time? Besides, if you really want to play, I’ll be the spinner.’
‘Stop rabbiting on, Nat, and get up,’ Marty teased. ‘Or haven’t you got the guts?’ His gaze met hers and the challenge there was real…very real.
‘All right. Let me put on a pair of shorts and I’ll be ready to whip your butt.’
He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’ His smile was slow and sexy and Natalie quickly raced from the room, trying to control her breathing. When she returned, she’d not only changed but tied her hair back in a ponytail.
