A Ward Door Opens: A touching 1950s hospital romance (The Anniversary Collection Book 7) by Lucilla Andrews

Author:Lucilla Andrews [Andrews, Lucilla]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: nursing, medical romance, nurse romance, doctors and nurses, hospital romance, nursing stories, nurse fiction
Publisher: Wyndham Books (Medical Romance)
Published: 2021-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The Wing seemed to be a new department when I came on duty. It had been moderately busy; suddenly, it seemed to explode, as hospital wards do from time to time. It became and remained breathlessly hectic. That first night of the rush we admitted three emergency cases before midnight; they were all operated on before morning. The next few nights were even worse.

Standing’s temper improved as the pressure of work increased. The more there was to do, the nicer she became. Soon she was calling me constantly by my surname, she smiled frequently, and on several occasions allowed me other glimpses of her dry sense of humour.

Fiona was now getting up in the daytime. One night, when Standing was off-duty, she limped into the kitchen. ‘Nurse Illingworth said I could come and help. What can I do?’

‘Do you really feel strong enough to help? Could you dry for me?’

‘I’ll wash and dry. Then you can get on with something else.’

‘Bless you, thanks.’ I dried my hands and set the breakfast trays as she washed up carefully. ‘This is fine, having a spare pair of hands!’

‘I’ve got news for you. I’m being discharged on Tuesday,’ she announced.

‘Are you, now? The day after tomorrow. I am going to miss you, although I’m so pleased Mr. Old thinks you’re fit enough to go,’ I said, wondering if she remembered the suggestion she had once made about my driving down with her. Tuesday was the first of my next two nights off.

She had remembered. ‘I’ve been pulling strings. I know you’ll be free, and as Tuesday evening is meant to be Uncle Jock’s free evening, I asked Mr. Old if Tuesday would be all right. He said, fine, so I got busy. I wrote to your mother, talked to Sister Wing, and told Uncle Jock it would be convenient for everyone if I went on Tuesday. He has masses of time-off owing to him, so I’ve got him to promise that if he can get away, he’ll drive us both down some time that afternoon. Does that suit you?’

‘It’s perfect. I’d love to go home with you ‒ but are you sure your uncle won’t mind my coming along for the ride?’

‘Why should he? He said he thought it a very sound scheme. We don’t want to rattle down in an empty car, leaving the daughter-of-the-house behind.’

She spoke so naturally that I was instantly reassured. Someone rang a bell just then and I sailed off to answer it, feeling as if I were walking on air.

I couldn’t understand why Standing was having an odd night off. They were generally highly unpopular with the whole night staff, and never given unasked to a senior staff nurse whose privilege it was to have four nights off in a row, every two weeks. But she had just said that one night off now would suit her better.

Illingworth looked harassed and weary long before midnight.

She was late with her report for Night Sister and we were both so late for our meals that we nearly missed them altogether.

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