The Perfect Nurse by Daniel Hurst

Author:Daniel Hurst [Hurst, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

‘Why do you think you’re here?’ Adrian asks me as he fully enters the study I’ve been caught in, closing the door behind himself.

I am currently sitting behind his desk, and while I shouldn’t be, I’m comforted by the fact that there is something between us, just in case things get dangerous for me in a moment’s time.

‘Why am I here?’ I repeat, and he nods. ‘To help you look after your wife.’

Adrian doesn’t blink as he keeps staring at me.

‘And how do you think that is going?’

I’m not sure what is going on. Is he mad at me for being in here? If so, he’s not shouted at me yet. He seems to be wanting me to evaluate my performance as his wife’s nurse, though I’m not sure if this is the time for it.

‘It’s going okay, I guess,’ I reply, hedging my bets and offering a safe answer, just to see what he does next.

‘Is it, or are you simply trying to be polite?’

‘Erm.’

‘Tell me what you really think.’

‘About Scarlett?’

‘About everything. Her. Me. This house. Our life. What is your opinion on it?’

‘My opinion? Erm, I’m not sure what you want me to say.’

‘I want you to say the truth,’ Adrian replies calmly.

All I’m thinking is how I should have listened to Scarlett and stayed in my bedroom, but it’s too late for that. Adrian seems to be wanting me to open up to him, though I don’t know what I’m going to say. He says he wants the truth. But will he like it?

‘I can leave,’ I suggest, getting up from the chair, but Adrian raises his hand to tell me to stay where I am. So I do.

‘No, it’s okay. You don’t have to go anywhere. You’re not in any trouble, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

‘I’m not?’

Adrian shakes his head.

‘I honestly just want to know what you’re thinking,’ he says as he takes a couple of steps nearer to the desk. ‘Tell me, Darcy. You can literally say anything here and I’ll accept it.’

Anything? Like how I think he and his wife are fakers and this is all some strange game?

Okay, here goes nothing…

‘I’m not sure Scarlett is really ill,’ I reply nervously.

‘You’re not?’

‘No, I think she’s faking her symptoms. I think you both are.’

‘Why do you think that?’

This is the tricky part – surely I can’t be too honest and say that I was spying on them.

‘Call it my professional opinion,’ I say, which sounds vague, but also something a nurse could probably get away with saying.

‘Okay, so what has led you to form this opinion?’

‘Just my observations,’ I reply, which is technically true. He doesn’t need to know that one of those observations was through his lounge window when he didn’t know I was out there.

‘Give me details,’ Adrian asks.

‘Details? Okay, erm. I think your wife is capable of much more than it seems. I know she looks all pale and tired when she’s in bed, but she’s not bedridden. She can get up and move around.

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