“I see.” There was now no mistaking the immediate note of concern in Raynal’s voice. “Why on earth didn’t you tell me, there was no need for you to wait until now. Go along, phone straight away, why waste any further time?”
“I have to go to the call box over in the nurses’ home—private calls aren’t allowed from the wards,” Kay explained briefly.
“Then say it’s for me,” Raynal told her complacently, as he firmly but gently removed her hand from the door handle and closed the door. “Go on, phone immediately.”
“I can’t... Kay demurred and yet the idea of ringing from her own office was tempting. The public box in the home was usually engaged, then there was always the question of the exact change ... local calls weren’t so bad ... now she came to think of it she’d have to go up to her room for money too, she never carried her bag on the wards. “I don’t see how I can say it’s for you...” She still protested but with less certainty and she found herself looking at her companion for further assurance.
“It might turn out to be on my behalf ... after all, it may concern Chris.”
Good gracious! She had been so overcome with her own affairs she hadn’t even thought of that possibility. Without further remonstrance, she crossed to her desk and lifted the receiver. “Staunford 119 ... yes, it’s all right, the call is for Mr. Raynal.” As she waited, receiver to her ear, she was aware that Raynal had seated himself at her elbow and, like herself, was waiting expectantly.
“Is that Staunford 119? ... Penny, oh, is that you? ... I couldn’t ring you before ... yes, I know ... they couldn’t find me, tell me what is it?”
Raynal, watching her expression as she listened, was aware of deep concern and her voice, when she next spoke, was tense and strained. “But, Penny ... I don’t understand ... when did it start? ... Did you say last night?...” There was another silence as she awaited Penny’s reply, then Kay spoke again. “Hold on a moment, Mr. Raynal is here ... yes, he is here in my room with me, I’ll ask him what he thinks.” Letting her hand, holding the receiver, rest on her lap, she turned to Raynal. “It’s mother ...” She paused as if to gain control of her emotions. “Penny says she was taken ill in the night with acute abdominal pain. Dr. Adams came out to see her ... he is our local man ... he seems very concerned and wants to get her into Staunford Hospital immediately for investigation. Penny is awfully worried ... she doesn’t know a thing about illness and wanted my help ...” Kay floundered over her next words. “I ought to go down ... I’ve only just got back from my leave... I don’t know what Matron will say ... and we are desperately short-handed ... I told Penny I’d ask you what you thought.”
Raynal rose from his chair and laid his hand consolingly on Kay’s shoulder. “The first thing is not to worry unduly. I am sure that if your local man advises further investigation, then we must accept that opinion.” He paused, then added: “The question of your getting leave is outside my province.” He smiled wryly. “Even my regard for you wouldn’t encourage me to tackle Matron.” His tone became more serious. “I suggest we arrange for your mother to come up by ambulance and take her in here.”
“Could you do that? ... Would you?” Kay’s tone was filled with joy and without awaiting a reply, she had once again lifted the receiver to her ear, and her voice was filled with confidence. “Don’t worry, Penny, Mr. Raynal is fixing things, we are going to get her in here ... A bed? ... Oh ...” she gave a short laugh. “You needn’t worry about that, if Mr. Raynal wants a bed, then it’s always available! ... Yes, I’ll arrange about an ambulance this evening ... Come down myself? ... yes, I’m off duty at six tonight, I’ll certainly come down with the ambulance so you needn’t worry about anything ... Goodbye, dear, see you later.” Kay replaced the receiver on the telephone and turned in her chair to face Raynal. “I’m deeply grateful ... more than I can say.”
“Nonsense.” Raynal dismissed her thanks with an airy wave of the hand, as he returned to his chair. “Arrange about an ambulance ... get it there about seven-thirty, we should be there by then.”
“We?” Kay’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
“Of course I’ll run you down, I must see my patient before applying for admission.” His manner became thoughtful. “Anyway there is Chris, I’ll have to bring her back.”
“Chris! I’d forgotten!” Kay’s tone was filled with remorse. “There won’t be anyone to look after her ... Penny wouldn’t be a bit of good, anyway she is out all day ... what shall we do?”
Unconsciously Kay had used the plural and if Raynal had noticed, he made no comment. “My man and his wife are in residence at Wimpole Street, I’ll have to take her there until I have time to make other plans, she’ll be all right with them for the time being, particularly as she is no longer an invalid. The wife is a kind, motherly soul and although hardly a suitable companion for a child, will certainly take charge of her for a few days.”
“You’ll bring her back tonight?”
“Yes ... perhaps you’d prefer to return in the ambulance with your mother, but that we can decide later ... anyhow I suggest we are ready to leave as soon as you go off duty ... soon after six?”
“Yes, I’ll be ready ... and now perhaps, sir, you’d like some tea?”
“I should.” Raynal made himself more comfortable in the chair and lighted another cigarette. “And by the way, Sister,” his eyebrows lifted provocatively, “I hope it won’t be inconvenient, but I shall require a cubicle in ‘Surgical Two.’ Short notice, I’m afraid, but I need it tonight!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kay closed the door of her mother’s cubicle, and entering her office glanced at the clock on her desk. She saw that it was only a few minutes past twelve and sighed with relief at the knowledge that she was free now until Monday morning. She was thankful that her mother had pulled through the operation so well, her normal placid temperament having done much to speed her convalescence. She had proved an excellent patient and all the nurses liked her. Kay frowned slightly, she wished that she herself were more popular; the ever-present friction she encountered with her staff was a source of irritation and seemed to become increasingly difficult to combat. How careless it had been of Nurse Janes to spill that bottle of iodoform, the sickly odor permeated everywhere, even into her office. She walked across to the window and flung it open wider but the air outside seemed laden with petrol fumes, which was almost worse. It was a nuisance that she could not go over to her own room now that she was off-duty, but she had various instructions to give Janet first. The distant hum of traffic turned her thoughts to Christine. How bad it was that the child should have to live in London, it would no doubt set back her progress, she ought to have been running wild in the country where she had been so obviously well and happy. Her heart ached with pity for the lonely little girl whom she had grown to love so dearly. It was only now that she was separated from her, that she realized to the full how much Christine’s welfare meant to her and how deeply she had come to value her childish affection.
Janet’s entrance brought Kay’s meditations to an abrupt end. “Heavens, what a stink! It’s worse than a lab in here!” Janet exclaimed inelegantly. “Can’t we do anything about it? I shall be sick if I stay here.” She picked up a piece of paper from the desk as she spoke, and began to fan the surrounding air.
Kay turned from the window and seated herself at the desk, then made a grab at the paper in Janet’s hand.
“You can’t fan yourself with a report, however bad the smell is!” she protested with a laugh. “Here, try a piece of blotting paper.” She scrutinized her friend. “You do look a pit pale, don’t say that you’re going to faint on me, that would be the last straw.”
“Don’t be alarmed, I don’t feel in the least like fainting, I’m in the pink of condition, and if I do look pale it’s probably because I forgot my rouge ... I got up in a hurry, but you must admit that this ... shall we say ‘smell’? ... is slightly nauseating.” She picked up the blotting paper, then replaced it “No
, I’d better not take that, it’s got some phone numbers on it.” She looked up mischievously and said with mock severity: “A shocking habit, Sister!”
Kay smiled. “I agree with you, but I’m in no mood for fooling.” She moved a newspaper from the window sill. “Here, Janet, sit there, you’re thin enough to balance on that edge and there is a spot of fresh air.”
Janet seated herself on the sill. “Not so bad,” she murmured, “and there is, as you say, a slight suggestion of air, it would be better still if you left the door ajar.”
Kay opened the door and a faint breeze fluttered the papers on the desk. “How’s that?” she queried. “I’d like you to be comfortable, I’ve an awful lot to say to you.”
“Fire away then, I’m all ears, but tell me first about your mother, have you managed to fix up anything for her after she leaves here? She’s doing very well, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she’s making better progress than I had believed possible. I wish though, that I could spend more time with her, I certainly give her every moment I can spare but it doesn’t seem much and it seems so awful that I should be on the premises and yet only able to snatch a few moments here and there.” Kay’s smooth brow puckered into a frown. “I shan’t be able to get in to her again today, I’ve a completely full afternoon, but tomorrow...”
“Don’t worry, dear, I’ll have a chance to chat with her for a while later on,” Janet offered. “But where are you off to this afternoon, you can’t be doing much shopping on a Saturday?”
“I’m going after a new post. At least, I’ve some interviews. I hope to goodness I shall get fixed up. The idea of being out of a job is simply frightful, I haven’t even anywhere to live, at least not in London and one must be on the spot, I couldn’t start looking for work from the wilds of ‘Hilltop.’ Anyway, I couldn’t go back there now,” she ended decisively.
“Tell me about the posts you’ve got in view,” Janet exclaimed eagerly. “I’m every bit as anxious as you are that you should be fixed up, although I hate the notion of losing you again. If that Sister Evans takes over ...” Janet grimaced at the prospect, “I shall ask for a transfer,” she added with determination.
“I thought everyone liked her so much,” Kay expostulated, then pulling a packet of letters from her pocket, she handed them across to Janet. “Here, have a look at these, that’ll give you some idea of the possible posts. One or two are in nursing homes, one’s to look after an old lady, apparently mentally deficient, and the other is for a nurse-companion to a bed-ridden man. Read them for yourself, you’ll get a better picture.”
Janet unfolded the first letter. “Doesn’t sound much of a picture to me, sounds perfectly frightful, and if you go to look after one sick person, you’ll forget all your nursing.”
Janet spoke practically. “I personally don’t think that you’d like a nursing home much either...”
“I shall never really like any form of nursing,” Kay interrupted. “We’ve had all this out before Janet, you know that I’m not qualified for anything else, and I’ve got to earn my living.”
A faint tap sounded on the door and a probationer timidly put her head round. “Sister, do you think that I could possibly...”
Kay broke in on the hesitant query. “If you are going to ask if you can change your lunch hour, the answer is ‘no,’ although it’s nothing to do with me at the moment, because I’m not officially ‘on-duty.’ ”
The probationer withdrew hastily, shutting the door with a bang, then opened it again, asking if she should leave the door open or shut.
“Open, please!” Janet replied peremptorily, then addressed Kay. “You know you’ll get absolutely no peace if you stay here in the office.”
“I don’t suppose anyone else is likely to come along with foolish questions, but that girl invariably wants to change her meal and off-duty times, I’m surprised that she’s got the nerve to bother me again. I told her pretty plainly where she stood the very first day I was back.”
“Fools rush in ...” Janet chortled. “But she’ll learn,” she added meaningly. “Now,” she glanced again at the letters she was still holding. “What about these posts?”
“Well, I’ve told you. I’m going to see about them today. I’ve simply got to get myself fixed up ... and quickly too,” she amended, with a hint of desperation in her voice.
“You’re bound to get something, with your experience and qualifications.” Janet spoke consolingly, then handing back the letters, she queried: “Does your mother know, I mean does she know that you’re leaving here, I don’t want to put my foot in it when I go to see her.”
“For goodness sake, Janet, don’t say a word to Mother, she’d be terribly worried if she thought that I was leaving. Naturally, when I’ve actually got another post, I shall have to tell her, but that will be different, I shouldn’t like her to have any anxiety on my account just as she’s making such splendid progress. Besides, she thinks that I enjoy nursing, especially with Peter Raynal.” She smiled wryly. “It would be a fearful blow to her if she knew the horrid truth.”
Janet leaned forward in a confidential manner. “Confess, Kay, things have been better between you two lately, between you and Raynal, I mean, haven’t they? ‘The soft answer’ has really worked, hasn’t it?”
Kay paused before replying and when she spoke, her tone was meditative. “Yes, I must admit things have been easier, I don’t know if it’s sheer imagination, but he has been more considerate, less demanding in his requests, and then I suppose ...” she hesitated before continuing. “I suppose it may be due to having had more to do with him outside hospital.”
Janet smiled enigmatically. “You can reason it out whichever way you like, but the fact remains that the general atmosphere has been quite peaceful. You’ve no idea how much less exciting but more pleasant it makes work all round!”
“Well, I’m glad it has done some good,” Kay smiled too and her expression softened. “He was wonderful about mother, I shall always be indebted to him for that, I can’t imagine what I should have done without him or how I could possibly have managed. I should have been worried sick, if she’d been operated on anywhere but here. He has certainly shown a side to his nature that I didn’t believe existed and he’s still being most awfully helpful and has practically demanded a room for her at the hospital’s convalescent branch by the sea; I should never have managed to get her in there off my own bat.”
“I’m very glad for your sake.” Then in a lighter vein Janet added: “I’m beginning to think that you’ll soon be one of the Great Man’s hero-worshippers yourself!”
“Never!” Kay retorted indignantly. “I’m grateful to him, that’s all.”
“All right, have it your own way,” Janet replied soothingly. “I don’t mind why you keep him in a good temper, as long as you succeed in doing so. By the way, isn’t that his voice? I wonder what he’s doing round the ward at this queer time of day?”
Kay jumped to her feet and putting up her hand to make sure that her cap was in place, she walked to the door.
“Here, come back and sit down again,” Janet remarked with emphasis. “You’re not on duty, let someone else look after him. He’ll still survive even if you’re not there. I’m not going out either, it’s not an official round, he’s talking to old slowcoach, the new houseman, probably explaining all over again what he told him yesterday,” Janet said disparagingly.
Kay reluctantly resumed her seat. “I certainly don’t want to get involved with him,” she agreed, but before she could add more, there was another knock on her door and Nurse Long appeared.
“I know that you’re not on duty, Sister, but there’s a visitor to see Miss Brown, her ‘boy friend,’ I imagine, seems terribly anxious to be allowed in, says he’s come down especially from Birmingham. What shall I tell him?”
Janet was off the window-seat in a flash. “I’ll deal with him. I have a particular technique with ‘boy friends’ who arrive out of visiting hours!” She laughed and fo
llowed Nurse Long from the office, calling back over her shoulder: “Shan’t be two ticks, Kay.”
She was as good as her word and within a few minutes Janet had returned to her friend to find Kay sitting dejectedly with her head in her hands. “What on earth is the matter, Kay, you were all right a moment ago?”
Kay raised her head at Janet’s words. “I’m all right now,” she said with a wan smile. “But talking about visitors made me think of Penelope. She came to see mother the other day ... that was quite natural, of course, but afterwards ...” She broke off, sought for words, and then continued: “We had an awkward talk together and there’s no doubt that it’s not just an infatuation, she’s head over heels in love with Robin and she made me feel that our engagement was the only thing standing in the way of their mutual happiness.” She looked up at Janet appealingly. “Tell me I’ve done the right thing, Janet, I wrote to Penny that same evening and told her that I was going to break my engagement, that I would set Robin free.” Sine paused, as Janet slipped her arm comfortingly round Kay’s shoulder. “I wrote to Robin too ... it wasn’t easy ... if I wasn’t deeply in love with him, I was in love with the idea of a home of my own, of escape from hospital, I wanted that more than anything in the world.” Her voice was low, so low that Janet had to stoop to catch her meaning and the words jerked out as though the utterance of each syllable hurt.
Janet held her friend more closely. “It’ll be for the best, darling, you wouldn’t have been happy that way ... and there’ll be other men, other opportunities. You couldn’t only think of yourself in this case. Why, if you’d gone on with your plans, you’d have wrecked your sister’s and Robin’s chance of happiness as well as your own.”
“I know, that’s my sole consolation.” Kay’s tone had resumed its normal dear note and then she added wistfully: “I wish I thought you were right, I wish I could think that there would be ‘other opportunities’ as you suggest. I’m desperate now ... to have been so near marriage and then to have all hopes of happiness tom from me.” She clenched her hands in her lap and spoke with a bitter intensity. “You don’t know how much I want to give up nursing, I’ve fought down the strength of my feeling, but lately there’s been no need to fight and all my pent-up dislike of my work now has the upper hand. I’ve never spoken to you like this before because it would have done no good, but now I can’t control myself any longer.” Her voice rose despairingly. “I’m utterly miserable in my work, nursing just isn’t my career, I can’t bear to think that I shall have to carry on like this for the rest of my days ... until I’m superannuated,” she amended cynically. “I’ve lost Robin. I wanted a home and manage ... and now, I shall have neither ... I’d marry anyone, anyone, do you hear, in order to escape.”
Peter Raynal, Surgeon Page 18