By My Side

by Wendy Lou Jones

  “Did it work?” Kate asked.

  “I guess so, yes.”

  Kate shook her head. “That girl’s incorrigible. Who was it, do you know?”

  “No. It might be one of your lot, though. Medium height, brown hair, got a mole by his right eye.”

  “Oh, Carl. Dr Penn. Really? Well, it takes all sorts, I suppose.”

  “Was Jolly there?” she asked.

  “Jolly? At a party? Are you mad? No he was probably at home devising new tortures for A&E nurses. Or maybe he was at a gay bar?”

  “I never said he was gay!” Kate snapped. “That was Kirsty.”

  Sophie looked at her. “Okay.”

  There was a pause in the conversation as Kate wondered why she had reacted so sharply. “I was just angry at him that day,” she said.

  “Really?”

  Kate shot her friend a look. “I wish I’d never told you all,” she said sagging. “I was just as bad as him, wasn’t I?”

  “Ooh. I bet that hurt to say, didn’t it?” Sophie said. “You mean you may actually have been in a bit of a bad mood that day, having just buried your granddad and all, and it’s possible you might have shot your mouth off at him because he caught you slagging him off behind his back?”

  Kate winced. “You didn’t have to put it quite like that. You’re meant to be on my side.”

  Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Don’t worry. Consultants never listen to gossip and what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him… or you for that matter. Have you managed to swap a few hours next Saturday night so we can go to the ball?”

  “Yes. Gloria said she’d cover for me. She reckons she’s too old to be out partying till all hours anyway.”

  ~~~

  “She is,” Lena added and a small smile crept into the corner of her mouth and settled there.

  ~~~

  “Good,” Sophie said. “Then you can make it up to him there with an apologetic snog.”

  “Is he going?” Kate asked.

  “What is this I detect? Is the ice maiden beginning to crack?”

  “Like he’d ever look at me that way? No.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about him being after you.”

  “Oh, shut up! Is Peter going to be there?” Kate asked.

  “The delectable Dr Florin? I honestly don’t know.” Sophie got up and walked out to the kitchen singing, “Adam and Katy sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

  Kate threw a cushion at her, but smiled. ‘Adam?’ she thought. ‘Adam Elliott’.

  On Saturday night, Kate rushed in around six and jumped into the shower. Sophie was walking round in her dressing gown and slippers, busy ironing her dress and straightening her hair.

  “I wish Rich could come with us,” Sophie said as she arrived in Kate’s bedroom doorway, pulling a long-handled black comb through her hair.

  “He could have. If you’d wanted,” Kate said.

  “Would you? If you weren’t medical?” Sophie asked.

  “No. Probably not. But he’s still going to give us a lift, isn’t he?”

  Sophie smiled. “Yes, of course.”

  “You’ve got him wrapped around your little finger, haven’t you?”

  “Absolutely, and quite right too,” she said.

  At a quarter to eight Rich rang the bell and Sophie hurried down to the front door to let him in. She kissed him and stood back to show him her dress. “How do I look?” she asked, twirling from side to side and bobbing a little curtsey.

  “Stunning,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

  Sophie beamed. “I’ll do then?” and Rich kissed her emphatically.

  “More than ‘do’,” he growled. “I’m beginning to regret not coming with you now. You’re going to need someone to fight off all those young doctors.”

  Kate appeared on the stairs wearing a long flowing dress in deep turquoise-blue, embroidered with pale gold. It had tiny thin straps and stopped just above her ankles. Her strawberry blonde hair hung loosely down her back with only a single clip to stop it falling across her face. She smiled. “You do realise half those doctors are actually women? Hello, Rich. Doesn’t she look amazing?”

  Rich turned back to look at Sophie. “Beautiful,” he said. “You both do. But we’d better get a move on if Cinderella here doesn’t want to be late for the ball.”

  Rich helped them both into the back of his car shutting the door behind them and then he produced a cap from the passenger seat and put it on. “Where to, milady?”

  The girls collapsed with laughter in the back seat of the car. “The Ambassador, please, Tibbs,” Sophie said, through a splutter of giggles.

  Rich winked at her in the rear view mirror. “Right away, milady.”

  They arrived at the hotel and Rich opened the car door. He bowed as they stepped out and Sophie beamed at him. “Thank you,” she said.

  “Just you mind you don’t go swanning off with any of your dashing young doctors. Male or female,” he added. “You’re mine now and don’t you forget it.”

  Sophie saluted obediently and Rich turned to Kate. “I’m relying on you to keep her on the straight and narrow, Kate.”

  “No problem,” she said dragging Sophie away from him to get inside before they missed the start of the meal.

  Inside, the hotel was filled with light. Huge arrangements of flowers adorned magnificent pillars and chandeliers sent sparks dancing around the marble walls.

  The doorman directed the girls to where they could deposit their coats and from there the cloakroom attendant pointed them in the direction of the drawing room. On their arrival, they accepted a glass of wine from a waiter and then wandered into the room.

  Kate looked round and spotted a seating plan on an easel. They looked for their names and found them on table ten. Searching further they found Mr Elliott on table thirteen, Carl, on table ten with them, but there was no sign of Peter Florin for Flis. Kate sipped at her wine and watched the waiters, busy setting the tables in the dining room.

  From where they were standing, Kate found she was in the perfect position to keep an eye out for new arrivals. Thus far there had been no sign of Mr Elliott, but by the time they took their places to eat, there he was. There were a couple of tables between them, but with his table being diagonally across from her own, Kate could see him quite clearly.

  “You’ve gone very pale all of a sudden,” Sophie whispered as she placed her napkin in her lap. “What is it?”

  “He’s here,” Kate whispered back. “I’m looking straight at him.”

  “Who? Peter?”

  “No, Elliott.”

  Sophie stifled a smirk. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  Kate looked sideways, horrified that Sophie seemed to have such insight into her predicament. It was becoming horribly plain to Kate that she was attracted to the man, despite her reluctance to accept it. Sophie smiled an all knowing smile, which Kate found fell hopelessly short of reassuring. “Why? Do you think there’s any point?” Where had that come from? What on earth was she thinking?

  “Of course,” Sophie said.

  “But…”

  “Look, he’s a good-looking, successful, single guy and you’re a gorgeous, caring – despite recent events which may make him think to the contrary – intelligent woman. What could be wrong about that?”

  Kate fiddled nervously with her hair as she racked her brain trying to work out what it was she really wanted.

  “You look lovely. Don’t fuss,” Sophie said. “And I don’t want to find you hiding in a corner, polishing the silver if he tries to ask you to dance later on. It’s fine.”

  Kate took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I wouldn’t need to polish this silver anyway,” she said. “Have you seen it? It’s positively gleaming.”

  As the starter was being served Kate glanced over and saw Mr Elliott talking with his colleagues. One of the senior nurses from Ascot Ward was sitting on the far side of him and Kate found herself for the moment feeling glad that he wasn’t talking t
o her.

  The conversation began to liven up on Kate’s table as the group settled in and started to eat. It was a welcome distraction for Kate, enjoying the conversation until the waiters began to clear the plates and she felt something pulling her eyes to look across again, and this time she caught Elliott’s gaze. Immediately she looked down and then, after a second or two, back up. He was busy with his table, his own plate being cleared. But he looked back over and caught her still looking at him and they were fixed there, a moment captured in time, as her pulse raced and her breath held. The heat rose in her cheeks making her dip her face and turn back to her friend for refuge. She swallowed and took another sip of water. She had to find something to focus on.

  Kate reached for the dinner menu and looked in the direction of the words, but nothing was going in. She tried again. Was she so nervous? Not a word of encouragement had passed his lips. In fact he had probably said more words to her in anger than anything else, but still she found she was captivated. She knew she had a history of failed relationships, but then again, who didn’t?

  “What are we having next?” someone asked from across the table.

  Kate was confused. “Oh… Er… Chicken in tarragon with white wine sauce and seasonal vegetables,” she managed to croak out, realising she was still holding the menu. She took a deep breath and placed it back on the table.

  “Brain shorting out a little?” Sophie whispered and Kate rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh of exasperation. Sophie smiled and tucked into the food in front of her, but Kate found she could barely stomach a thing.

  “No wonder you stay so lovely and slim, Kate,” one of the women on the table called across to her. “You eat like a sparrow. I wish I ate less, but I just love my food.”

  “Oh, don’t you believe it,” Sophie told them. “She eats like a horse when we’re at home.”

  “Don’t you like the food?” Carl Penn asked.

  “No, it’s fine. I’m just not very hungry,” Kate said. “I might pop to the bar and get another drink, though. Anyone else want one?”

  Kate had to take the chance to catch her breath. She walked back to the bar in the drawing room, breathing deeply. The stuffiness in the dining hall had become quite suffocating. She ordered some drinks and returned to the table carrying a tray only to find Jenny now sitting in her seat.

  She handed out the drinks and stood beside the table. Sophie looked up. “We thought Jenny could sit in your seat while we’re having pudding and you could go and natter to Flis. You’ve ordered the same thing. You don’t mind do you, Kate?”

  Kate thought it a little odd, until she remembered Jenny’s penchant for Dr Penn and then she agreed happily. “Where’s Flis, then?” she asked looking around.

  Jenny stood up and pointed to the near side of table six, where a place was now sitting empty. Kate could see the back of Flis sitting next to it but suddenly realised sitting there would put her directly behind Mr Elliott. Only inches away in fact. She looked back at her friend in panic. But Sophie just turned to her with that all knowing smile of hers and nodded. “Go on, then,” she said. “See you after.”

  “But…”

  Sophie turned back to talk to Jenny and Kate was left to walk through the dining hall to her new position, right behind Mr Elliott.

  She took a deep breath and tidied her hair and then picking up her drink, she walked over and sat down at table six.

  Sitting so close to Adam Elliott, Kate found it difficult enough to breathe, let alone hold down a decent conversation. His presence flowed around her, enveloping her in a haze of sexual tension. Flis was gushing on about the beautiful decorations and gorgeous dresses and Kate had to just sit there and let it all wash over her. Breathe in; breathe out, she thought, her pulse surging faster and faster. Kate’s ears strained for any words at the next table Adam Elliott might utter, but he was distinctly quiet throughout and she could do little else but play with the edges of her dessert.

  When all the crockery was cleared away and the coffee was served, the guest speaker, an American lawyer, stood up and began a very amusing tale about medico-legal claims in the USA. Everyone turned their chairs to face the front, leaving Kate almost side by side with Mr Elliott. She was convinced she could feel the heat from his body warming her own. Her palms were sweating as her eyes found their focus on his right knee. It was a firm-looking knee, not too bony and not too big. His dinner jacket was black and his shoes were smart. God, how she wanted to touch that knee.

  The noise of laughter around her became distant and muffled, allowing only the pressing thud of her heart in her ears.

  At last the speech came to an end and the audience clapped and cheered enthusiastically, except in the small space between table six and table thirteen, where only the sound of a poor heart beating wildly could be heard.

  Music struck up on the dance floor and people started to talk again, sipping their coffee and laughing at each other’s jokes.

  Kate excused herself and walked away through the cool corridors to the sanctuary of the ladies’ room. Only one girl was in there when she arrived and she left soon after. Kate looked in the mirror and spoke to herself. “You’re a mess. He’s just a man and he has no interest in you anyway. Hell, you don’t even like him; it’s just a stupid obsession. For heaven’s sake, get a grip.”

  A group of nurses walked in and she quickly clawed back control and checked her make-up in the mirror. It was fine. She dabbed her cheeks with a little cold water and then walked back outside to find Sophie. Sophie would know how to handle her stupidity. She would understand how to put Kate at ease. Her mother hen abilities were the stuff of legend.

  Walking back down the corridor, Kate suddenly saw Mr Elliott walking towards her. One of his hands lay casually in his pocket and the other swung loosely by his side. His cummerbund and bow tie were both midnight blue and his shirt was crisp and white. Dark, blue-grey eyes pierced her as he moved slowly closer. Kate couldn’t think. Where should she look? What should she do? Mr Cobham walked out of the drawing room as Mr Elliott passed by. They exchanged a look and Mr Cobham disappeared again and Mr Elliott’s eyes moved back to her.

  Kate felt sure her face must have been scarlet under such scrutiny, or else deathly white from fear. She tried to smile as he approached, though it took all her courage to do so. And then he stopped.

  “Kate. You look… stunning. I’m only used to seeing you in your uniform. Your hair, it’s so long. It’s beautiful.”

  Kate suddenly lost the power of speech, her higher functions having long since left her. She stuttered. “Y-You’re looking very handsome too, sir.”

  “Adam. Please, Kate; call me Adam. We’re not in work now.”

  “Adam.” A world of expectation hung between them, raising the tension to breaking point, and then Kate snapped. “Look I’m really sorry about that day on Aintree. I was completely out of order. I’d just had a very bad day and I-”

  He stepped closer and placed a warm finger on her lips. “No need,” he said. “You were right. I had lost my composure. It got out of hand. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” His finger moved slowly away from her lips and brushed a stray lock of hair from the side of her face. He stepped a fraction closer. Their gazes mingling. Kate’s breath quivered, as she realised the moment she had been subconsciously hoping for was rapidly approaching.

  “Kate, there you are,” Jenny called out from the doorway of the drawing room. I’ve been looking for you.”

  Jolted, Kate turned abruptly, like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar, and when she turned back, Mr Elliott was walking away, back down the corridor and into the hall.

  “That was close,” Jenny said. “I’m not going to let him have a go at you tonight. We’re here to party. Come on. We were all starting to wonder where you’d got to.”

  With her pulse still pounding through her body, Kate followed Jenny back into the drawing room and soon found her friends again.

  “You found her, then. Where were
you?” Flis asked.

  “I just went to the toilet,” Kate said.

  “I caught her in the nick of time,” Jenny announced. “Elliott was about to get his claws into her again. Close one that, wasn’t it, Kate?”

  Kate pulled a strained face, making a non-committal grunt that in no way fooled Sophie, who looked at her, seeming to assess the situation. A few of the A&E nurses pushed past her, grabbing her arm. “Come on, Kate. It’s time to dance.”

  Kate looked at her friends as she was dragged up onto the dance floor, none of whom seemed keen to follow her. “You dance,” said Sophie. “We’ll see you in a bit.”

  Kate moved through the crowd onto the dance floor and started to dance, but it wasn’t long before she spotted Adam Elliott with some of the surgeons just to the right of the room. He was looking at her, making her feel… naked. She looked back a moment or two later and he was still there, looking at her intensely. Bravely she managed a small smile and felt sure his eyes gleamed a little brighter than before. What could she do? She could hardly walk up to him and ask him to dance. Well, she could, but she wasn’t nearly brave enough or drunk enough to do that yet. That was the answer, she thought, she needed more to drink.

  Kate excused herself and headed to the bar in the drawing room and bought herself a long drink. She was just about to leave again when Kirsty came in. “I heard you nearly had another run in with Elliott tonight,” she said.

  Kate’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “What?”

  “Elliott. It’s a shame he wasn’t on call tonight instead of Barker. I don’t care if he is straight, he’s about as interesting as a dry stone. ‘Cold-hearted, pompous prick who wouldn’t know what it was for’ I heard you said? Yeah, well, I pity the poor girl who ends up with him. We’d have to hold a wake for her. Ooh, there’s Bianca. See ya.”

  Kate was mortified. Kirsty had always been a bit of a tornado, but she hadn’t even given Kate a chance to reply. She looked back across to the dining room and her world began to cave in, as there, standing just inside the doorway, looking at her, was Mr Elliott. His eyes dulled as his gaze fell away and he turned around and left.