The Midwife's New Year Wish

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘Just give me a shout if you need me,’ Nick told her, carrying the cup of coffee over to the desk and sitting down.

  ‘I doubt we’ll have another emergency tonight. Why don’t you get off home once you’ve drunk that coffee? It seems pointless, you staying here when you could be tucked up in bed.’

  ‘I’d rather stay in case anything happens.’ He shrugged when she frowned. ‘I’d just feel better about it so long as you don’t mind. In any case, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get into the staff accommodation block at this hour of the morning. I should have collected the key to my room from the admin office when I arrived but I forgot all about it.’

  ‘You’re staying in the staff quarters?’ Katie exclaimed.

  ‘Uh-huh.’ He took a sip of the drink then shrugged. ‘I’m only going to be here for a few months so it didn’t seem worth all the hassle of finding myself a place to live. Niall offered to get me a staff room so that will do me very nicely.’

  ‘You’ll find it very cramped,’ she warned, knowing it wasn’t just the shock of learning that a senior registrar had settled for the dubious delights of staff accommodation that disturbed her so much. The fact that she lived there as well was what she found really unsettling, for some reason.

  ‘Is that where you live?’ he asked curiously.

  ‘Yes.’ Katie summoned a smile because she didn’t want him to suspect how uneasy she felt about the idea of them living under the same roof. It was completely ridiculous and she hurried on. ‘It was only supposed to be a temporary measure to tide me over after I moved out of the flat I’d been sharing with my boyfriend, but six months later I’m still there.’

  ‘Are you hoping for a reconciliation?’ he asked, watching her over the rim of the mug.

  ‘With David? No way! We weren’t suited and I’m only surprised I didn’t realise it sooner.’ She cleared her throat because her relationship with David really wasn’t the issue here. ‘I just haven’t had a chance to go flat hunting so it’s been easier to stay put. However, living in staff accommodation wouldn’t be my first choice. I prefer a bit more room to manoeuvre!’

  ‘I don’t imagine it will bother me all that much.’ He grinned when he saw the scepticism on her face. ‘You’re talking to a guy who’s just spent six months living in a tent so, believe me, it will feel like a palace compared to that.’

  ‘A tent?’ Katie repeated, forgetting her own concerns at this fresh revelation. ‘What were you doing living in a tent for all that time?’

  ‘I was working for one of the overseas aid agencies. You may have heard of it…Worlds Together?’ He carried on when she nodded. ‘We were setting up a new maternity unit in an area of India which has a particularly poor record of infant mortality and ended up living in tents because there wasn’t any other accommodation available. What few resources the people have there are needed for themselves.’

  ‘Sounds pretty grim,’ she observed, watching him closely so that she saw the shadow which crossed his face.

  ‘It certainly wasn’t a picnic.’

  He didn’t say anything else. However, Katie was left with the distinct impression that the experience had been a lot worse than he’d admitted. As she left the office, she found herself wondering if she’d been a bit hasty in her assessment of him. Was Nick really the trickster who’d set out to have fun at her expense, or was he a caring and dedicated doctor? Only time would tell but it was worrying to suddenly have these doubts about him.

  The rest of the night flew past after that. Both mums had their babies and had been moved to the wards by the time the day staff came on duty. Katie handed over to Rosie Meadows, the young staff nurse who was in charge that day, and left her to it, yawning as she went to the staffroom for her bag. It was just gone six when she left the building and still dark, so she didn’t linger as she walked the short distance from the main part of the hospital to the staff accommodation wing. She keyed the entry code into the security lock then glanced round when she heard footsteps and saw Nick hurrying up the path. He grinned as she held the door open for him.

  ‘Thanks. You just saved me a journey. I forgot to ask the porter for the entry code,’ he explained as he followed her into the foyer.

  ‘Three-nine-seven-nine,’ Katie told him helpfully.

  ‘I’d better jot that down before I forget it.’ He took a ballpoint pen out of his pocket and quickly wrote the numbers on the back of his hand. ‘I’ll need to unload my car later and it would help if I didn’t have to go waking people up by ringing the doorbell.’

  ‘You wouldn’t be very popular if you did,’ she agreed lightly, heading for the stairs. ‘Most of the folk staying here at the moment are on nights and they’ll be keen to get some sleep. Anyone who’s off duty will have gone home to their families for Christmas.’

  ‘Probably best not to get a reputation for being a pesky neighbour so early in the day,’ he conceded as they reached the first landing.

  Katie stopped when he hesitated. ‘Which room are you in?’

  ‘Number twenty-nine. Fortunately, the porters had a spare set of keys otherwise I’d have ended up sleeping in the residents’ lounge. The admin office doesn’t reopen until after Boxing Day, apparently.’

  ‘Lucky for you,’ she agreed, pointing towards the next flight of stairs. ‘You’re on the next floor, halfway along on the right. The doors are all numbered so you shouldn’t have a problem finding your room.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He turned towards the stairs then suddenly stopped and looked back. ‘Do you know if the staff canteen is open today? I meant to stock up on a few essentials after I’d got here but I never had the chance with one thing and another.’

  ‘That’s my fault,’ Katie said guiltily. ‘If I hadn’t pressganged you into playing Santa you could have done your shopping.’

  ‘It was just one of those things so don’t worry about it. So long as I can get my daily fix of caffeine I’ll survive, and I’m sure someone will lend me a teabag or a spoonful of coffee if I ask them nicely.’

  ‘You’ll need something a bit more substantial than coffee to keep you going!’

  ‘Yes, Sister,’ he replied with a grin that brought a rush of colour to her cheeks.

  ‘Sorry. I must try to curb my bossy tendencies,’ she murmured.

  ‘Don’t do so on my account, Katie. I like a woman who knows her own mind.’

  Katie wasn’t sure what to make of that and turned away, making a great production of finding her keys so he couldn’t see how confused she felt. Nick had sounded as though he’d meant it as a compliment yet she was afraid to take it as such because she still didn’t quite trust him. In the end she decided it would be best to ignore it and answer the question he’d asked her instead.

  ‘The canteen is open today so there shouldn’t be a problem about getting something to eat. They’re serving a full Christmas dinner at one o’clock and a lot of the staff will be there. It might be a good way to introduce yourself to everyone.’

  ‘Good idea. If I’m awake I’ll go and join them.’ He grimaced. ‘Mind you, I could murder a cup of tea at the moment. I don’t suppose I could beg a teabag and a drop of milk off you, could I? I don’t think I can last out until lunchtime.’

  ‘Of course you can! Better still, I’ve got a spare box of teabags and a jar of coffee in my room so they’ll tide you over until you can get to the shops.’

  ‘Oh, no, really, I can’t take all your stuff,’ he began, but Katie shook her head.

  ‘Don’t be silly. They’re just sitting there so you may as well make use of them.’ She briskly led the way to her room and unlocked the door. Nick followed her inside, glancing round as she switched on the lamp.

  ‘Mmm, this is very cosy. And I mean cosy as in warm and snug rather than as estate-agent talk for small and cramped.’

  ‘Sounds as though you may have come a cropper when you’ve been flat hunting,’ she observed, opening the cupboard and taking out the teabags and the jar of coffee.


  ‘More times than I care to admit.’ Nick propped himself against the doorjamb and grinned at her. ‘I lived in London for a while and finding a place to live there was a nightmare. I’ve seen shoe boxes bigger than some of the “apartments” I viewed!’

  ‘Is that why you decided to move north?’ she asked curiously, handing him the tea and coffee.

  ‘Not really. I was more interested in the fact that Dalverston has such a marvellous reputation. It’s one of the top ten obstetric units in the country.’

  ‘I suppose it’s good to be able to put it on your CV,’ she suggested, but Nick shrugged.

  ‘That’s less important than the experience I’ll gain here.’ He glanced at the items she’d given him, giving her no chance to question him further. ‘Can I be really cheeky and ask if you can spare some sugar as well? I can drink my tea and coffee black but I can’t bear to drink it without any sugar.’

  ‘I don’t take sugar but there should be some in the kitchen,’ Katie told him.

  She led the way from the room, wishing that she’d had the time to find out what he’d meant by that remark. In her experience, most registrars were more concerned about the prestige to be gained from working at Dalverston, and the positive effect it could have on their careers. However, Nick seemed less concerned with that aspect of the job than the experience it would afford him. She would have loved to delve deeper but there was no way she could think of to switch the conversation back so she found the sugar and poured some into a cup then took the spare carton of milk she’d bought out of the fridge and gave that to him as well.

  ‘Is there anything else you need? Biscuits? Some bread? Maybe some eggs?’

  ‘No, this is great. I’ll be able to eat in the canteen so I’ve got everything I need right here, thanks. Obviously, I’ll pay you back as soon as the shops are open again.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ she assured him. ‘A few tea-bags aren’t going to break the bank.’

  ‘Maybe not, but I don’t want you thinking I’m freeloading off you.’

  ‘I don’t. Really!’

  ‘Good.’ He grinned at her and Katie felt her heart give that odd little spasm again that it had done before and quickly turned away.

  ‘I’d better get to bed,’ she said, leading the way into the corridor. Maybe Nick did have an odd effect on her but it would be foolish to read too much into it when she was so tired.

  Nick glanced at his watch as he followed her out of the kitchen and groaned. ‘Is that really the time? You must be cursing me for keeping you chatting when you want to get to sleep. Thanks again, Katie. You’re a real life-saver.’

  With that he disappeared towards the stairs and Katie heard him walking along the upper landing as she made her way back to her room. She undressed and took a quick shower in the tiny en suite bathroom. Ten minutes later she was in bed but even though she was tired after the busy night she’d had, sleep was a long time coming. And when she did finally drift off she dreamt that Santa was kissing her…a Santa who looked remarkably like Nick Lawson, in fact.

  The staff canteen was packed when Nick arrived shortly after one o’clock that afternoon. He joined the queue at the serving counter and opted for a full Christmas lunch when his turn came. He was ravenously hungry and the crisp roast potatoes, turkey and vegetables looked absolutely delicious.

  He paid for his meal then looked for somewhere to sit, half hoping that he’d spot Katie and half hoping that he wouldn’t. He knew it would be unfair to make a play for her but it didn’t stop him enjoying being with her so it was rather a mixed blessing when he couldn’t see any sign of her in the canteen. He finally opted for an empty seat at a table near the door and introduced himself to the rest of the people at the table as he sat down. One of the nurses worked on the children’s ward and remembered him from the carol concert so that broke the ice. Nick soon found himself drawn into the conversation and was even starting to enjoy himself when the same nurse suddenly spotted a friend coming into the canteen and waved to her.

  Nick obligingly moved up to make room for the newcomer but it was only when he saw Katie carrying her tray across the room that he realised she was going to join them. His heart gave a little leap of excitement as she squeezed into the gap beside him but he quickly battened it down. Katie wasn’t the type of woman who fitted his usual requirements for a girlfriend, he reminded himself sternly, and he mustn’t take the chance of hurting her…He almost choked on a sprout when he realised how arrogant that sounded when there was no reason to imagine that Katie was the least bit interested in him!

  ‘I see you made it up in time for lunch,’ she said lightly once she’d greeted the others. However, Nick was very aware that she had avoided meeting his eyes.

  ‘Just. It’s always hard to drag yourself out of bed when you’re on nights, isn’t it?’ he replied, trying not to dwell on the thought of why Katie might feel uncomfortable around him because it would only create problems…

  Did Katie feel uneasy because she was aware of him, too? the part of his mind that refused to co-operate demanded, and a second sprout shot down the wrong way. Nick turned beetroot-red as he spluttered inelegantly into his paper napkin and he saw Katie look at him in concern.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Fine, apart from trying to choke myself on the veg,’ he gurgled, feeling like a total idiot. He managed to clear the obstruction and smiled wanly at the rest of the group, who were all staring at him now. ‘I’ll make sure I chew everything twenty times from now on like my mother taught me to do.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about it. We’re all trained in the art of CPR, aren’t we, girls?’ The nurse from the children’s ward, who’d told him her name was Mel, winked at him. ‘If you need the kiss of life then I’m sure one of us would be more than happy to oblige!’

  Nick summoned a smile as everyone laughed but he felt a little embarrassed about Katie overhearing the comment. He shot her a rueful glance when the conversation moved on to a different topic. ‘Sorry about that. My fault for choking on the wretched sprout in the first place.’

  ‘There’s no need to worry on my account,’ she replied airily, cutting a sliver of turkey and popping it into her mouth.

  It was obvious that she didn’t want to discuss the matter so Nick turned his attention back to his meal but his appetite seemed to have disappeared all of a sudden. Didn’t Katie care if the other woman found him attractive? he wondered dejectedly then had to swallow his groan of dismay when he realised how stupid it was to think like that. He’d come to Dalverston to do a job and that was all he should be concerned about, not whether or not Katie liked him enough to feel jealous because another woman had paid him attention. He stood up abruptly, because he knew it was time he nipped these feelings in the bud.

  ‘Thanks for letting me sit with you. No doubt I’ll see you all around the hospital at some point in the future.’

  ‘You can count on it,’ Mel replied, grinning at him.

  Nick just smiled because it seemed safer than actually saying anything. He made a hasty exit, stacking his tray in the rack before leaving the canteen. He paused in the corridor, wondering what he should do next. It was just gone two and the afternoon stretched before him. He needed to fill in the time somehow so he decided to unload his car then go to the maternity unit. He needed a pager in case anyone wanted to get in touch with him so he’d see if they had one to spare.

  That should fill in a couple of hours and stop him thinking about things he had no right to think about. He mustn’t make the mistake of thinking that he and Katie could be more than colleagues because it wouldn’t work. He didn’t do commitment because he didn’t have the time. Work took up the best part of his life and what little free time he had after that wasn’t enough to build a proper relationship.

  That was why he’d only ever had affairs in the past and that would never be enough for Katie. OK, so maybe he was jumping the gun, especially after what she’d said about her last boyfriend, but Nick kne
w in his heart that Katie was every bit as aware of him as he was of her. Even though it didn’t prove she wanted to get to know him better it was best to be safe. He had to be strong from now on, possibly for Katie’s sake, and definitely for his own.

  Katie finished her lunch but the turkey tasted like sawdust all of a sudden. She wasn’t sure what had happened but she sensed that Nick’s abrupt departure had had something to do with her. It was worrying to wonder what she’d done to upset him so she was glad when the party broke up. Mel caught up with her as she was leaving the canteen, linking her arm through Katie’s as they made their way along the corridor.

  ‘Right, I want to know everything about your new registrar, so when did he start?’

  ‘Yesterday,’ Katie replied shortly because she really didn’t feel like discussing Nick at that moment.

  ‘Really? How come?’ Mel demanded. ‘I mean, who’s ever heard of a registrar starting work on Christmas Eve?’

  ‘It was Nick’s decision. He wasn’t actually due to start work until after Christmas but we had an emergency and he offered his services.’

  ‘Wow! Handsome and dedicated.’ Mel placed her hand on her chest. ‘Oh, be still, my beating heart!’

  ‘I don’t suppose he felt that he had much choice,’ Katie pointed out. She loved Mel dearly but there was no denying that she felt uneasy, talking about Nick.

  ‘Maybe not but he still stepped in to help. I can think of a lot of people who wouldn’t have bothered, emergency or not.’

  Mel sounded so grim all of a sudden that Katie stared at her in surprise. ‘Anyone in particular you’re referring to?’

  ‘That creep Gary Hutchins.’

  ‘Isn’t he the new junior registrar who started on Paeds last month?’

  ‘That’s the one.’ Mel shuddered. ‘There ought to be a law against employing men like him. Not only is he a waste of space when it comes to work, but he’s such a lech! D’you know he trapped me in the sluice room the other day and if Sister hadn’t come along heaven knows what would have happened. I tell you, Katie, he really scared me.’