Nurse Bride, Bayside Wedding

by Gill Sanderson

  ‘I had to see the captain, sort out a few things. And I wondered about you. I wanted to see if one of my staff was all right.’

  It was important to emphasise that he was concerned because she was a member of his staff. Safer that way.

  ‘I would have liked to have been more involved last night,’ he went on. ‘I should have been told.’

  Kate was as practical as ever. ‘I left you a note explaining things and details of who would handle my work today. There was no need for you to go without sleep.’

  ‘Perhaps not.’

  Unlike Ed and Maddy, Kate had not bothered to undress when she’d lain down on the bunk. Now she sat up, waved at Nick. ‘Wait outside for me. I need a couple of minutes to freshen up. I take it you’ve come to look at Marina and Sarah Flynn?’

  ‘Just a quick check.’ Then he remembered that Kate was always particular about the relative functions of a doctor and midwife, so he added, ‘If that’s all right with you.’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘The storm seems to be dying down a bit. This afternoon we’ve got a navy boat coming along side, bringing nurses and another doctor. They’ve offered to ship you, the baby and her mother back to Penhally Bay. What do you think?’

  ‘They’re both doing fine. I’d certainly like to get them off this ship.’

  ‘Your decision.’

  She seemed short with him, and he now realised why. He had seen her asleep, almost defenceless. And Kate always had her defences in place. ‘I’ll organise you a drink,’ he said. And then, wanting to say something pleasant, something that might bring them a little closer together, he added, ‘You’ve done brilliantly, Kate.’

  ‘I know,’ she said.

  He was a doctor. He was a scientist who believed in empirical proofs, who disdained what he called the mumbo-jumbo of astrology, of sixth senses, of the super-natural. But for a moment he wondered if what he had been remembering had somehow communicated itself to Kate. He would really like to know.

  A quick inspection and it was obvious that mother and baby were doing fine. In fact, they were thriving. So what was now most important was to get them away from the ship. Kate agreed that they should move out with the navy boat. ‘Now you can go and help Ed,’ she told Nick. ‘I can cope here very well.’ He thought that Kate could always cope. On her own.

  Ed, glad of Nick’s help, handed him a list. ‘I’ve given you these fifteen people to check over,’ he said. ‘It’s just a case of making sure that the right drugs are given, the right IVs set up. The stewards are pretty good now but it’s as well to keep an eye on them. You know where everything is?’

  ‘I’ll manage,’ said Nick.

  It felt just a little unusual, taking orders from his son, but he knew that in a case like this there could only be one leader. And he had to admit that Ed was good at it. He looked as tough as ever—but his eyes were getting blood shot. Maddy, too, was showing signs of fatigue. But Nick could tell that there was no way she would ask for respite. Not while Ed was still working.

  The disease on ship was peaking. There were now forty-eight people on board infected with it. That was forty-eight people falling ill, being ill or recovering from illness. They needed constant care and attention. But they should all survive.

  Then the news came down from the captain. The pinnace was on its way. And the storm had nearly blown itself out. Ed said, ‘Dad, why don’t you go and scrub up and then get ready to help Kate move the Flynns?’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Nick. ‘When will I see you on shore again?’

  A short answer. ‘When I think my job’s done.’

  A good answer, too, Nick thought.

  They all look clean, energetic and above all awake, Maddy thought. Whereas she felt weary, crumpled and apathetic. She had watched as the new medical team had come aboard, each carrying a small bag. She had watched as one of them had helped Kate and Nick transfer the Flynn family to the pinnace. She was glad the family had gone.

  Now they were sitting, crammed into the medical centre, listening to Ed. Three nurses in uniforms. They were all about her own age but for some reason she felt older than them. And there was the young doctor, Dr Ellen Wyatt. Slim, pretty, vivacious. Maddy suspected she was just out of medical school. She was also suspicious of the way the young doctor looked approvingly at Ed. It was more than just professional curiosity. She had moved her seat deliberately to sit next to him.

  And Maddy had to admit that Ed still looked good. So long without sleep didn’t appear to have affected him too much. There were lines round his eyes—now blood shot eyes. And his mouth was more grim than before. But he looked better than she felt.

  She was sitting at the side of the room while Ed briefed the nurses and the doctor. He had arranged things with the captain and herself, organised cabins to sleep in, meals, treatments, the nurses’ roster. She had been consulted but it was obvious that this was something that Ed was expert at. Even the captain had listened. Ed was a superb organiser. And he made it clear that he was in charge.

  ‘If there are any nursing problems, first buzz Maddy. I’ll not give her any cases, she will be on call here for the next few hours. If you need a doctor, buzz Dr Wyatt first. If necessary, she’ll liaise with me. Now, there are times when you’ll have to work fast. But, remember, you don’t cut corners. And records are all-important! Don’t let them slip.’

  Then he smiled, and Maddy could feel the stirring of interest. ‘Last thing, everyone. Thank you for coming at such short notice. Now! We have work to do!’

  Maddy realised that in a weird way Ed was enjoying himself. He was forcing himself to the limit, losing himself in work. She now knew why. He was causing himself so much present pain to try to push past pain out of his mind.

  Just for a moment she wondered what life would be like when this was all over. Would they ever see each other again—even casually? Would he move out of her life, forget her? As he had told his father he would do?

  Or would she forget him? She had to be honest and admit it. She didn’t think she would forget him. In fact, a life in which she didn’t see something of Ed—it would be hard.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  INEVITABLY there were problems but most of them were quickly sorted out. The new team didn’t yet know where to find things, what the protocols were, what the right relationship with the stewards was. But they learned, and Maddy had to admit that they were conscientious, hard-working. She worked for a few hours. And then at midnight Ed came into the medical centre and said, ‘Things are running smoothly now so you go to bed.’

  Bed! She could think of few places she’d rather be. Taking the strain off her eyes, her legs, her back. Blissful just to lie there. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Aren’t you going to sleep too?’

  ‘I am. I’ve arranged with Dr Wyatt for her to take the next six-hour shift. If it’s desperate she will wake me, but I doubt it will be necessary. I’ve got twenty minutes’ more work to do then I’ll sleep for those six hours, just as you are going to.’

  ‘Right. And you’re in the other nurse’s cabin, which is next to mine?’ For some reason, the question seemed very important to her.

  ‘That’s right. I’ll sleep well there.’

  ‘I’m tired but I won’t sleep at once,’ she told him. ‘You know the stage when you’ve gone beyond being weary?’

  He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face.

  ‘Well, that’s where I am. So instead of going straight to bed, I’m going to shower, wash my hair and then have a mug of tea with a shot of whisky in it. I feel like pushing the boat out a bit.’

  She paused, afraid of the enormity of what she was going to say next. Staring at the floor, she said, ‘If you want, you can come into my cabin and…have some tea and whisky, too.’

  She felt his hand on her chin. With the most delicate of touches he lifted her head so they were looking at each other. He eyed her meaningfully, and unspoken messages passed between them. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked eventually.

>   ‘I’m sure. I’m certain. It’s more than that, I want you to come for a drink with me.’

  ‘Then I’d like to join you. Just for a while, of course.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll go now.’ As she walked down the corridor she knew she had made a decision. Exactly what she had decided she didn’t know.

  She showered, shampooed her hair, and it was as wonderful as she had anticipated. She put on a clean nightie. Then she climbed into bed.

  He knocked then came into her room twenty minutes later. ‘Everything OK?’ she asked.

  ‘Everything is fine. They’re a good team and I don’t expect to be disturbed. You look…refreshed.’

  ‘I am. Why don’t you have a shower, too? There are spare towels in my bathroom.’

  This was a lunatic conversation, she thought as he disappeared to shower. We’re sidling round what we know we both want and neither of us dare say anything about it. Then she blinked, rethought things. Was this what she truly wanted? Or was she just blinded by fatigue? It wasn’t too late to change her mind now.

  Then she decided it was too late. Anyway, she knew what she wanted.

  He came out of her bathroom, wearing only a towel wrapped round his waist. She winced as she saw scars on his naked chest. ‘What are they?’ she asked. ‘You must have been terribly hurt.’

  ‘Not too terribly. They’re just flesh wounds. It’s a danger that comes with being near a battlefield. Even if the war is unofficial.’

  ‘I’d like you to tell me about it some time. But not now. I want to be calm and happy now.’

  ‘Calm and happy. Sounds a good plan.’

  She felt happy, but detached from herself. As if she could look down on what she was doing and judge it as an independent. She knew this was partly the result of fatigue. She also knew she’d want this even if she had slept all night and recovered.

  They drank the tea she had made. He sat on the edge of her bed. ‘You can sit there till you finish your drink,’ she told him, ‘but then you’re to get in bed with me.’

  He hesitated. ‘Maddy, I do want to get in bed with you, desperately. But I don’t want you to be hurt if…’

  ‘I’ll be hurt if you don’t get in bed with me. Now, finish your drink.’

  Was this her talking? she wondered. This just wasn’t like her. She didn’t do things like this, talk like this. She was throwing herself at a man—when she had promised herself that never again would she let a man take advantage of her. Well, it was done now. She’d made up her mind.

  They sipped their drink in silence, finished almost together. She leaned over, switched off the overhead light so there was only the dim glow of the bedside lamp.

  Now he was only a half-seen figure. He stood up and the towel round him dropped away. Another moment’s hesitation, then he lifted the cover and slid into bed beside her.

  She was really tired but in spite of this all her senses seemed extra-alert. She could hear and feel the hum of the ship board machinery. She could smell the faint scent of whisky on his breath—or was it on hers? When he got closer to her she smelt the scent of her own soap. But it seemed different on him. Why would that be?

  It was a bed rather than a bunk, but it was designed for one person. There was only just room for the two of them side by side. He didn’t move or try to touch her, this seemed to be something that they had to do step by step. Perhaps it was her turn to do something. She wriggled upwards a little, crossed her arms and pulled her nightie over her head. Then she leaned across him to toss it carelessly onto the floor. As she did so she felt her breasts trailing over his naked chest. She smiled as she heard his sudden intake of breath.

  When she was lying by his side again she let her fingers trail across him, gently touch the scar. ‘Tell me more about this,’ she said. ‘There’s a lot I don’t know about you. And I want to know.’

  She felt him shrug. ‘It was an explosion. A mortar bomb lobbed into the camp hospital. A bit of white-hot metal gouged lumps out of me. It could have been a lot worse.’

  ‘Which war was that?’

  ‘No war had been declared. It was just people killing each other for no good reason.’

  She could hear his bitterness, and decided it was better to move on to something else. ‘Forget all that, I shouldn’t have asked. But you’re here with me now.’

  His voice was urgent. ‘Maddy, I am here with you now and it’s wonderful but I don’t know if we’re doing the right—’

  ‘You’re trying to make sure that I know what I’m doing?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, I do. Now, don’t you really want to stay here with me?’

  ‘Of course I do! But…’

  ‘You’ve kissed me twice and it was wonderful. Both times we agreed that this was a thing apart, nothing serious, almost a ship board romance. If you want, we’ll carry on like that. For the moment that suits me.’

  He said nothing. After a moment he slipped his arm around her shoulders and eased her back onto the pillow. ‘Maddy, I—’

  She laid a finger on his lips. ‘We’ve gone beyond words. There are to be no promises, no confessions, no protestations. Let’s face it, we’re both damaged. We’ve both got pasts that hang over us. For now we’ll forget the past and the concern that this could have no future. There’s just the present, just you and me. And we can make each other happy. That would be so wonderful.’

  Then she thought of something, something she should have thought of before. For a moment she was anxious. ‘Last words—do you have precautions?’

  He laughed. ‘I stole something from your pharmacy. You have everything needed there.’

  He leaned away from her, she heard the crackle of paper. For a moment she lay there, eyes closed, listening to the sound of his breathing. A last fugitive thought—was she making a mistake? But then he leaned over her, his face came down on hers and she closed her eyes.

  She wasn’t a virgin, of course, but neither was she vastly experienced. She was apprehensive now, her mind made up but not knowing what to expect. And Ed… She knew something of his character, how determined he was. What kind of lover would he be? Considerate, thoughtful, loving? He rolled onto his side, bent his head over hers and kissed her. A delicate kiss, his lips just touching hers. She had been kissed by him twice already. And the same magic worked as before. What started as something simple became suddenly something serious and exciting. It was still only his lips, her lips, meeting. Nothing more.

  She was content for now—but where was he taking her? She was aware of his body, so close to hers and yet not touching. It was exciting. Tantalising. Now he leaned over her, his body above hers but still not touching. She could feel the warmth of him and knew that she had to do something. Reaching up, she slid her arms around him and eased him down so their bodies were now together, fully together. There seemed to be a lot of him. He seemed to cover her entire body, arms, legs, breasts all pressed against him. She felt that her body was owning his, he was paying the same tribute to her as she was paying to him.

  They were still kissing. But the kiss was more passion ate. And after a moment of bliss he took his lips from hers and kissed the rest of her face, her ears, the corners of her eyes, even the tip of her nose. Then he returned to her mouth again and she felt the strength of his desire as she met his probing tongue with hers.

  He stopped, she whimpered, it had been so wonderful. Then he threw off the sheet that covered them. And his lips strayed down wards, touching the throb of the pulse in her neck, the edge of her arm and shoulder, the valley between her breasts. Then, after moments of almost unendurable expectation, he kissed her breasts. She moaned with ecstasy as he took each thrusting peak into his mouth. Her back arched, urging him onwards. It was the most exciting of caresses. She could feel it through out her entire body, felt that dampness below that told her how ready, how quickened she was.

  Now…he wasn’t going to… He was… She sensed his head travel down her body, felt the touch of his tongue in that mos
t secret of places. It made her cry out loud as he moved her towards a rapture she had never experienced before, never even dreamed of. Not long now.

  Something told her that his need was as great as hers. Her hands slid down, grasped him and pulled him up to kiss her lips again. And her hips surged against his in silent longing and invitation.

  It was so obvious, so perfect, like coming home. He was in her, part of her, they were joined body and spirit. A movement that both of them felt, a joint knowledge of something burgeoning, growing. It was something that could only be done when the two of them were together and then that moment of exaltation as they both cried out their pleasure.

  Afterwards there was calm and contentment. She felt she could speak now. ‘You are so good to me,’ she murmured.

  ‘And you are good to me, too,’ he replied softly.

  She slept through the night, the deep sleep of the completely exhausted. Then she half woke; she didn’t know who she was, where she was, whose arm was round her. She only knew that she was warm, happy and safe, and that all the world was good to her. The man next to her would see to that. Perhaps she could sleep a little more and— A buzzer sounded and she was fully awake. Now she knew who, where and what she was. And who she was in bed with. But she was still happy.

  Ed took his arm from under her, leaned out of bed and picked up the phone. ‘Dr Wyatt? Of course not, I told you to… Yes, I’ll be there in five minutes. Don’t do anything until then.’

  He rolled out of bed, she looked up at him and he bent over to kiss her. ‘Maddy, I’ve got to work but…’

  She held up her hand to stop him. ‘It’s OK, we don’t need to talk about it. That way I’m certain there’ll still be some…magic.’

  He thought for a moment then nodded. ‘Perhaps that is best. Carry on as if nothing had happened. But, Maddy, I think that—’

  ‘Off you go! Back to your own cabin.’ She glanced at the clock. They had had just over five hours’ sleep. ‘I’ll be up soon and will come and help.’

  He looked at her a moment, then turned to go.