The Nurse by J. A. Corrigan

Author:J. A. Corrigan [Corrigan, J. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2021-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

34

23 April 2016

On his drive to Bliss Interior Designs, Theo goes through in his mind what he’s found out about Ed Madden. Born in Doncaster in 1945; his father was a miner, his mother worked as an administration clerk at the local railway station. Ed has one younger sister, but Theo hasn’t been able to find out anything about her after she dropped off the radar in the mid seventies. Maybe she emigrated. Madden was a door-to-door hoover salesman. Before that, and after completing a City & Guilds course in Sheffield, he was a sous chef for a while. Odd career change.

It’s more than clear that Rose never liked him; her hatred when talking about him is visceral.

Theo is keen to meet him. And Bella.

Bliss Interior Designs turns out to be easy to find. It’s on the main shopping drag, although he counts only six shops. He circles the tiny town a couple of times, looking for somewhere to park, and whilst doing so spots the bistro where Ed and Hugo will be having lunch. At last he finds a car park.

He looks at his watch. Nearly one. He takes a walking detour to the bistro. Small and busy. He opens the door and noses inside, wondering if he’ll spot the pair. He counts twelve tables. Four families with kids; five with groups of women, shopping bags littering the floor next to them; two tables of different-sex couples, and then, at the back, he sees two men. Bliss is easily recognisable, as he’s at least thirty years younger than his companion. Dressed to perfection, and Theo finds himself wondering where he got that shirt. Loud pink and electric blue, the sort he’d love to wear himself. Gelled spiky jet-black hair and a face made for the front of GQ magazine, and although he’s sitting down, Theo sees he’s in good shape. He obviously takes care of himself, and Theo reasons that he’ll be as fastidious with the quality of his work as he is with his appearance. His gaze moves to Ed Madden. What does Hugo Bliss see in him? Madden is ancient compared to the young, good-looking boyfriend. Several empty Desperados bottles litter their table.

A tall waiter is moving towards him, and quickly Theo turns to leave.

‘Should have a table in about ten minutes,’ the waiter says.

From the corner of his eye, Theo catches Ed Madden peering in his direction, shoving back his chair a little, his face puckered in inquisitiveness. Hugo Bliss, oblivious, is trying to gain the attention of the waiter; he does the writing thing with his index finger in mid-air, which never works for Theo.

‘It’s fine, but thanks,’ Theo says, exiting quickly but feeling Ed Madden’s eyes still boring into him.

That wasn’t smart. He begins making his way to the shop, hoping it’ll take a while for the pair to get their bill.

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