A Sister's Courage by Molly Green

Author:Molly Green
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-10-18T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Ammonia and the smell of floor polish bit into Raine’s nostrils as she walked up to the reception desk of Welwyn Garden City General Hospital two days after her successful delivery of the Hind. Although it was one of her precious days off, Raine had decided to stick to her ATA uniform, replacing trousers with a skirt. She wouldn’t then be put through answering questions from the nursing staff, and in the end not being a close enough relative or friend to be allowed in.

‘Just along the corridor, miss, and you’ll see Women’s General. Ask for Staff Nurse Quentin.’ The hospital porter smiled briefly before he resumed mopping the floor.

‘She’s in the far bed by the window,’ the staff nurse said.

If it hadn’t been for Stephanie’s blonde hair spread out on the pillow, Raine didn’t think she would have recognised her. The girl’s face had no more colour than the white sheet tucked around her neck and there were dark shadows under her closed eyelids. She and Stephanie weren’t particularly bosom pals, but it was awful seeing one of her fellow pilots looking so ill.

‘Stephanie, it’s Lorraine,’ Raine said softly. Stephanie’s large blue eyes flickered open. ‘I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well.’

‘It’s nice of you to come.’ Stephanie’s voice had lost its usual brightness. ‘There’s a chair by the bed. Can you prop me up a bit?’ She struggled to sit up.

Raine piled the pillows behind her and when Stephanie was comfortable, she said, ‘Are you feeling any better?’

Stephanie shook her head. ‘No, I’m still feeling absolutely rotten.’ She put her hand across her forehead. ‘I’ve got a blinding headache that simply won’t go away and I feel sick all the time.’

Raine chewed her lip. It sounded serious.

‘What has the doctor said?’

‘He thought at first it might be a very bad migraine, but I told him I’ve never had headaches unless I’ve had a few too many at the bar.’ She tried to smile, but Raine could tell it was an effort.

‘Tell me what happened.’

Stephanie sighed. ‘I’d felt so happy through the flight as for once it was a fine day – lovely blue cloudless sky … you know that marvellous feeling that you’re all alone and free from any troubles. Then as I was about to prepare for landing I started to feel ill … sort of woozy and nauseous, and my vision was blurred. I actually felt scared, which isn’t like me, but I tried to keep calm, as we’ve been trained.

‘Anyway, I managed to land the damned thing, but when I tried to get out of the cockpit I collapsed. Thank goodness one of the ground crew got me out.’ She pulled the sheet free from her neck as though it was choking her. ‘They just thought I’d had a rough flight and a cup of tea would pull me round. Next thing I knew I woke up in hospital.’ She looked at Raine. ‘I’ve been thinking and thinking, lying here. Goodness knows, I’ve had plenty of time.

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