tension in the taut muscles and delicate bones beneath the white cotton tee shirt.
'But I love nursing. Nursing's what I was born to do! I love it. I'll never give it up, never do anything else. Except of course when I have the - ' Just in time she stopped herself from saying, when I have the children. 'I'll get the coffee. You choose a dvd. Won't be long.'
* * *
It had been clear to Kate when preparing Tom Galvan's unconscious body for emergency surgery that the man she had seen in the car park was strongly-muscled, fit and healthy, with an olive-skinned physique any athlete would be proud of. If he pulled through … for a moment Kate held her breath in silent prayer. If he pulled through, then recovery should be swift: a strong body coupled with a strong will, determined to throw off physical incapacity.
Draping his nakedness with sterile towels, she had hesitated, biting her lip beneath the mask that concealed all but her wide brown eyes, pupils darkly dilated. Not if, but when. When Tom Galvan came safely through surgery his positive attitude to recovery would make him the perfect patient.
'What news of Mr Galvan?' she asked Sister Hall on her first night back. James was on a two-day course in Southampton and she hadn't heard a recent bulletin other than that Tom continued to hold his own. Sister Hall's hesitation was therefore a bit odd. And there was a wary look in the senior nurse's eyes. As if Sister wanted to warn her about something, but knew she must not…
'Mr Galvan? Well, Staff, I understand everything's —er—satisfactory. And of course he's such a big strong chap, isn't he, and that's always a plus. And he's getting VIP treatment, as you'd expect. It's only natural that - '
'Ah, Sister! Good, you're still here.'
Simon Brownley hurried in to the office filling its cramped space with the vigorous odour of Hibiscrub, and whatever it was Sister had been about to divulge got lost in an urgent discussion that didn't concern Kate.
She, having plenty to get on with, beat a hasty retreat. And it was only in the cafeteria at one in the morning that the latest rumour reached her horrified ears.
'Brain damage? '
'That's what I said— brain damage!' repeated Sharon Collis, a good-looking blonde staff nurse from Obs.and Gynae who had once been taken to a doctors' party by Tom Galvan—a brief fling that never got off the ground for reasons lost upon the self-centred Collis.
'Sort of ironical, isn't it. And him a neuro-surgeon . Surely you've heard? Oh no, of course, you've been off. Didn't your James tell you?' she added curiously.
Kate's manner sometimes disconcerted colleagues. Some nurses thought her a bit stand-offish, a bit aloof. It was only normal to be interested in what everyone else was up to, wasn't it. And of course she was quite old, wasn't she. Twenty-six or something.
Collis would have loved to get hold of some delicious titbit to spread around St Crispin's. Something which would take Wisdom down a peg or two. Second best was this intriguing chance to ruffle Wisdom's smooth feathers, watch with spiteful satisfaction that high clear brow furrow in alarm, two spots of colour appearing like splodges in a magic painting book on Wisdom's pale cheeks.
She's just like the rest of them—mad about Tom Galvan! crowed Collis to herself. Not that I think Tom's anything special. Because I've had more chance to find out what he's really like. A snob, that's what. Ordinary nurses aren't good enough for him now he's with Dr Diamond!
'Oh yes,' she said aloud in drawling tones that attracted the attention of the group of nurses seated at the long refectory table, 'it's true, isn't it, girls? They've decided Tom Galvan must have bashed his head in that car smash, speeding down the motorway for another h-o-t session with Diana Diamond.'
'That's not possible,' retorted Kate sharply, pushing away her plate of rapidly congealing beef stew, her small appetite now completely gone. 'James told me the