Ideal Girl (Irish Girl, Hospital Romance 1)

by Jenny O'Brien

  Closing the door behind them Mitch, cat box under one arm, reached out and caught hold of Liddy’s hand.

  ‘Well done, Liddy. Miss Jenkins would be proud of you, just as I am. Without you God only knows what would have happened to this little chap.’

  Arriving at the car he settled her in the passenger seat before placing the meowing box on her lap. She sat waiting for him to turn the engine on only to find him staring at her again. She put her hand to her hair, which was now escaping from its plait, but he shook his head.

  ‘Your hair’s fine, I like it like that.’ He paused. ‘Er I was wondering… Would you like to come and help me to settle in the...’ He paused again, his gaze flickering to the box before landing on her face. ‘I can’t keep on calling him cat, what should we call him?’

  ‘What do you think about Lucky? You said yourself he’d used up nearly all of his nine lives.’

  ‘Lucky it is then, and?’ He was still looking at her, his eyebrows slightly raised.

  ‘And I’d love to see him settled, thank you.’

  ‘Come on Lucky; let me introduce you to your new home.’

  Chapter Ten

  It was already a quarter to four when they arrived outside the three storey red brick house halfway down Palmerton Road. The imposing tree lined avenue of impressive homes was within walking distance of Liddy’s flat, but that’s where any similarity ended.

  Mitch led the way but ignoring the steps that led to the front door, headed instead for the white door set into the side of the building. This opened onto a large rustic kitchen with pine cupboards and well-worn flagstones in earthen hues. He placed the box on the floor before shrugging off his jacket and flinging it untidily across the back of the nearest chair. Walking over to the square ceramic sink imbedded into the deep wooden worktop he turned on the tap and started filling the kettle.

  ‘Tea or coffee? You’ll find some biscuits in that tin over there,’ He pointed to a blue tin on the table as he reached for a pair of mismatched coffee mugs on the dresser by the window.

  ‘Coffee please.’ She replied, lifting off the lid to choose the plainest before pushing the tin in his direction.

  He pulled out a handful. ‘I missed lunch.’

  ‘That seems a bit of a habit.’

  ‘What?’ he looked up enquiringly.

  ‘You missing lunch!’

  He smiled to himself at her wifely concern, but only pushed the biscuit tin back in her direction.’ Help yourself.’

  ‘Er, no. One’s fine, thanks. I’m trying to avoid animal fats.’

  His hand, now hovering over the coffee jar stilled. Oh hell, he just knew she was too good to be true. ‘The Ideal Girl’ was bound to have some hang ups and he’d just found the one that he wasn’t prepared to compromise on. All the way home he’d been planning to ask her out: he’d even worked out his little speech word for word. His favourite restaurant, Brioche was only a stone’s throw away on the Ranelagh Road. There was nothing he’d been looking forward to more all day than a large T-bone with all the trimmings - especially in light of the bedroom aerobics he’d planned for later. They’d need all the stamina he could get! It was a pity about his built in wardrobes though! Now he was totally floored. He just wasn’t prepared to compromise on the vegetarian front at all. He’d eaten alfalfa sprouts once and that was once too many. He picked up his first biscuit absentmindedly as his brain scrolled through the restaurants in the surrounding area. It would have to be Italian and he was sick to death of bloody pizza – show him a bachelor that wasn’t.

  Almost absentmindedly he bent down and carefully released the cat from his imprisonment, his mind still triangulating the vegetarian issue. Lucky, with an indignant swish of his tail strolled over to the rocking chair under the window and jumping up, proceeded to knead the blue cushion into submission before turning his back on them and promptly falling asleep.

  Mitch roared with laughter, which made such a difference to his serious intent face.

  ‘Well that’s told me who the boss is.’

  ‘Are you sure you don’t mind? Taking on a pet is a huge responsibility.’

  ‘I’m actually quite looking forward to it. I was never allowed a cat when I was growing up.….’ He glanced away. ‘Well anyway, it gets quite lonely coming home to an empty house all the time - he’ll be good company.’ He reached for another biscuit. ‘I’ve arranged for you to go to the Rehab Centre by the way. They’ll be expecting you next Monday for a morning shift.’

  ‘That’s fantastic, thank you so much.’ She paused.’ What about Sister Slater…?’

  ‘No need to worry, Liddy. It’s all sorted and, as I need to pop in for a case conference I’ll give you a lift.’ He decided not to tell her about the huge argument he’d had getting the ward manager to agree. She’d even had the audacity to tell him student nurses were extra pairs of hands and, as such invaluable to the running of the ward. He’d ended up having to pull rank by threatening to go over her head to Matron. If Liddy ever found out he’d be cat meat, but he was prepared to risk it. He was prepared to risk everything for the opportunity of getting her alone, even if it was fully clothed in a car during rush hour.

  ‘That would be great, thanks - usual time, usual place?’ She offered him a quick smile before turning to stare at her coffee cup.

  He glanced across at her down bent head and finally plucked up the courage to say the few words he’d been working on ever since she’d agreed to come home with him. It wasn’t Shakespeare, but they were the only words he could fix upon so they’d have to do.

  ‘Did you want to grab a bite to eat later?’

  She returned his stare for a second before dropping her eyes to the remains of her coffee swirling in the bottom of her cup. Why the hell couldn’t she be more like Sorcha she wondered as she struggled with this new twist in the convoluted course of their burgeoning relationship. Sorcha grabbed life by the throat, taking what she wanted today, without a thought for the problems she might be causing for tomorrow.

  She’d been friends with her ever since that first day they’d arrived at the hospital and were made to share a dorm for the first six weeks. From day one Sorcha was always on her mobile planning her conquests around her shifts with no thought for tired legs after a twelve hour stint, or the inevitable early mornings that followed. Liddy, padding about in her well-worn fluffy slippers, just looked on in bewilderment at her comings and goings.

  What to do? While she wanted to stay and let the remainder of this day meander on its current course, she was too scared of unleashing the dragon that she would be unable to control - and she always had to be in control. She’d revealed a new side to her personality today around at Bridie’s – Liddy the tart! Could she trust herself not to leap on him? Today was lovely, but what if they ran out of things to say or what if he tried to leap on her? What if he wanted to come in for a coffee afterwards? Would he only want coffee, or would he want the after dinner mints as well? What if…. would she let him? Of course she would – there was no question, she thought wildly. Didn’t she fancy the pants off him? But what about….?

  She blushed again as she remembered what she’d forgotten. Unlike all her friends she wasn’t on the pill - what was the point with no man on the horizon, apart from Drippy Donal and if he thought he was getting that close he could forget it. But now there was Mitch. He probably had a supply of condoms handy, but were they as reliable as they were meant to be? She couldn’t afford to get pregnant now could she, but if she did it wouldn’t be such a bad thing anyway. She’d always wanted to be a mother, but her mum had put on all that weight when she’d had her and the morning sickness was….. She suddenly remembered where she was and she still had to come up with some sort of an answer.

  ‘I’m sorry; I’ve promised my friend I’ll go to the doctor’s party later. But I might see you there?’ She replied at last. ‘In fact I’d better be on my way; I’m meeting my friend around at her flat at five.’ She added, glancing at the clock above
the Aga.

  ‘Maybe later on in the week then.’ He replied. ‘Where does your friend live? I have to go back to the hospital to check on a patient - I can easily drop you off on the way.’

  He drew up silently outside Sorcha’s flat, situated down a narrow lane just off St Stephens Green. Assisting her out of the car an awkward silence eschewed with neither of them knowing how to end this strange interlude. It took Sorcha, rushing out to see who had pulled up in a Morgan to shatter the moment like breaking glass.

  ‘Hello, fancy meeting you again and so soon after last night,’ she said, her voice holding a question.

  ‘Yeah Prof…..er Mitch giving me a lift is becoming something of a habit.’ Liddy tilted her head in his direction. ‘Did you want to come in for a coffee before you go?’

  ‘I’m in a bit of a rush, I’m afraid.’ He smiled briefly at them both. ‘Some other time.’

  Walking the brief distance that separated them was like walking across a planet inhabited by tarantulas the size of dinner plates. Their look of curiosity made his face glow in embarrassment - similar to the embarrassment he’d feel if he turned up to an emergency in his onesie. Yes, he did indeed own a grown up babygro, but only because his ma had placed one in the bottom of last year’s Santa sack! Embarrassment aside the distance had to be crossed so, eyes fixed determinedly on his goal he just carried on walking. He had to let her know that she was more to him than ‘just a nurse’ helping him rescue a cat. He had to let her know he liked her a little. He bent his head before planting the briefest of kisses against her pink tinged cheek, hoping against hope he wasn’t letting her know just how much.

  Chapter Eleven

  Liddy, hand held to her cheek was ignorant of the searching glance Sorcha threw her way as she walked beside her into the warmth of her little studio flat.

  ‘Well, you are a dark horse! What was that all about?’ She asked with a little pout.

  ‘What? Oh Mitch.’ She answered absentmindedly, reliving as she was the feel of warm smooth and most importantly dry lips pressed onto her cheek. With a quick glance at Sorcha’s disbelieving look she pulled herself together enough to add. ’Do you remember Miss Jenkins? Well she died last night.’

  ‘What! Oh Liddy…..’

  ‘It’s alright.’ She said, even though it wasn’t. ‘I found out the bat she’d been going on about was in fact a cat and Mitch – Professor Merrien that is, well he helped me collect him today because the social workers were too busy.’

  ‘That’s fast work, even for you – and on top of yesterday’s date too! I am impressed.’

  ‘It’s not like that.’ She snapped, even though it was; she’d be lying to herself if it wasn’t exactly like that.

  ‘What, a Professor in Brain Surgery with a job as responsible and busy as his and he drops everything to rescue a cat: I don’t think so. You do realise that he fancies you rotten, don’t you? The way he was looking at you was positively caveman like, I thought he was about to fling you over his shoulders and throw you onto the nearest bed.’

  Liddy felt her cheeks grow warm, as she realised Sorcha had again hit it smack on the head. Although this time it wouldn’t be him doing the ravishing; not if she could get there first. Why was it that men should have all the fun anyway? But glancing at the worried frown marring Sorcha’s brow she decided to act normally; to act the way she would have acted, was it only two days ago?

  ’I know nothing of the kind, he was just being considerate. Why does sex have to come into everything with you?’

  ‘Okay, have it your own way but don’t say I didn’t warn you. In my experience men don’t start kissing girls unless they want something more from them.’

  ‘Sorcha please!’

  She lifted her hands in defeat. ‘Okay, I’ll let the fascinating topic of Dr MM rest for now.’ She shot a glance over her shoulder. ‘I’m only worried because I don’t want you to lose the bet – your need for chocolate is greater than mine!’ She turned to her wardrobe in the corner. ‘Right, let’s forget about men for five mins, there’s much more important things to discuss! I have a wardrobe full of clothes, so there must be something….. I know I’m taller, but with your curves we should be able to find you an outfit. Here’s what I bought yesterday.’ She said, holding up a dark red figure hugging bandage dress not much bigger than a hankie.

  Liddy’s eyes widened as she took in the miniscule strip of fabric. There was no way she was going to wear something that low cut, or high cut for that matter. She hoped fervently Sorcha had something a little less sexy in her overflowing wardrobe. She‘d worn her uniform of sweat tops and jeans for so long now she’d nearly forgotten there were other clothes out there. But now was not the time to start showing off her flesh. Donal needed less encouragement, not more and as for Mitch… well she didn’t know what to think, but he hadn’t seemed unhappy with her taste in clothes. In fact she wasn’t even sure if he’d noticed what she was wearing. It wasn’t what was on the outside that mattered anyway. She’d be lying to herself if she didn’t think he was good looking, but it wasn’t that. There was just something about him she couldn’t quantify into words. For her he had the X factor, as well as the wow factor. For her he was just different. If he wanted to go out with her he was going to have to feel the same way.

  ‘You’ll look lovely in that. Are you wearing it for anyone in particular?’

  ‘I was hoping to have a pot shot at your Professor Merrien.’ Her eyes twinkling.

  ‘He’s not my Professor anything!’

  ‘Okay, okay keep your hair on. There’s a really cute new A&E doctor that needs investigating. I thought I’d have a go at raising his temperature.’

  ‘In that dress you’ll be raising more than his temperature.’ Liddy fielded back quickly before glancing down at her rumpled clothes. ‘What with the cat and everything do you mind if I have a quick shower first, it will save me having to traipse back to my place?’

  ‘Please yourself and after I can help you with your hair, I’ve been longing to get my hands on it for ages now.’ She turned towards the tiny kitchen tucked away in an alcove in the corner. ‘I’m going to have a glass of wine while I get ready, can I persuade you just this once?’

  ‘No, I’m fine with tea thanks, you know it goes straight to my head and I’ll need my wits about me tonight if Donal’s there. He accosted me in the car park earlier.’ She felt herself start to blush. ‘I pretty much told him to go away, but not in so many words.’

  ‘Good for you, although you should have done it months ago. Mind you, you’ll have more to worry about than just Donal if this afternoon was anything to go by: I don’t know what’s gotten into you over the last couple of days, but you’re a changed woman.’

  Liddy leaned forward to give her friend a brief hug. ‘Nah, I’m the same old Liddy as before. The only thing different is that yesterday I was content to plod along, today I want it all.’

  It didn’t take long for both girls to be standing in front of the mirror trying on clothes. After much coercion Sorcha had persuaded Liddy to wear her hair loose around her shoulders, but finding something that she would agree to wear was proving more difficult.

  ‘I was thinking of this,’ said Sorcha, holding up a green dress in clingy material.’ I bought it last year in a sale, but it doesn’t do anything for my colouring.’ Liddy took it from her hands and slowly pulled it over her head. As it slid gently over her hips she realised that it clung to places that she didn’t even know that she had.

  ‘Wow, look at you!’ Said Sorcha, as she stared open mouthed at the transformation. Gone was the cute innocence of youth, only to be replaced by something more mature. Where seconds before there had stood a girl, now there stood a woman. ‘The men in your life are in for a shock! Where have you been hiding the last three years?’

  Liddy looked critically in the pine mirror hanging haphazardly from the back of the bathroom door. Her hair, normally subdued in either a plait or a bun framed her face in a wild tangle of curl
s whilst her figure was a revelation, and one she wasn’t completely unhappy with. Soft and voluptuous with a nipped in waist and rounded hips emphasised by the clingy fabric. But as she stared back at her reflection she realised that she didn’t know the girl that looked back at her and she sure as heck didn’t know how to act like her.

  If she already found it difficult to manage Donal dressed in jeans how the hell was she meant to manage him bursting out of Sorcha’s castoffs. She didn’t let her mind dwell for more than a second on Mitch, she was too scared of what she’d come up with. In truth she was too scared to find out if he’d think her sexy and desirable, or just awkward and annoying.

  ‘It’s a lovely dress, but I just don’t feel comfortable in it. I wouldn’t be able to live up to all the promises it invites.’ She said, not wanting to upset her friend.

  ‘Well you might as well have it anyway as it fits you like a glove. It’ll only end up in Oxfam if it stays here.’ She headed back to the wardrobe. ‘What about this then?’ Her voice muffled as she withdrew a plain pair of black leggings and matching long line tunic top from the very back.’ It’s a bit boring, but with a belt it’ll emphasise your shape without being too sexy.’

  Liddy reluctantly agreed, knowing all too well she wouldn’t be allowed to leave the flat without at least making an effort. But an effort for her usually meant dragging a brush through the ends of her hair and perhaps a clean sweatshirt. She’d always been a tomboy, probably because her dad had always wanted a boy, and no one up until now had made her want to be anything different.

  As an only child her upbringing had been a lonely one, which had gotten a whole lot lonelier a few years back when her dad had gone through the clichéd mid-life crisis thing of getting his secretary pregnant. They only lived a couple of miles away, but with a toddler and another one on the way the most she got was the odd phone call for baby-sitting duties and a cheque for Birthdays and Christmas. Mum had taken it badly at first and relied so heavily on Liddy for everything from shopping to cleaning the house that she didn’t have time to grieve her own loss. In a way it was a blessed relief when she met a French bachelor on a Saga holiday that her best friend Julie had treated her to for her fiftieth Birthday. Last year she’d bitten the bullet and moved in with Jean Pierre in his Longere in Brittany. Liddy got regular emails and the occasional FedEx, but mum sounded so happy she couldn’t feel cross with her for leaving – just disappointed.