The Pregnant Registrar. Carol Marinelli

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       CHAPTER THREE

      ‘SO THIS is where you’ve been hiding?’

      Jumping slightly as Corey plonked himself on the seat beside her, Lydia suddenly took great interest in the hospital canteen’s chocolate chip muffin.

      ‘I’m hardly in a position to hide.’ Lydia smiled. ‘I just caught sight of myself in the full-length windows so I’m cheering myself up with a bit of cake, which probably makes no sense at all…’ She was waffling now, badly. Corey Hughes had that effect on her for some strange reason.

      Maybe strange wasn’t the right word, Lydia mused, pulling her muffin apart and searching for the rather scarce chocolate chips. In fact, the effect Corey had on her was probably considered entirely normal. After all, men and women definitely weren’t created equal and the major physiological reaction Corey triggered in her was a natural biological response—a phenomenon as old as time itself! Since their near-argument, since they’d glimpsed each other’s lives, opened up a touch, Lydia was blushing like a teenager at every turn, glancing at the nursing roster with way more than a passing interest and trying to fathom how a newly divorced, rather pregnant, born-again virgin could even be contemplating falling in lust all over again!

      ‘How come you’re not in the senior doctors’ lounge?’ Corey grinned. ‘I hear they serve muffins on a plate there, as opposed to wrapped in cling film.’

      ‘They do,’ Lydia quipped. ‘And I have to admit that entering the hallowed ground of the senior doctors’ lounge for the first time was pretty exciting—at least, for the first five minutes.’

      ‘Not the most scintillating company, then?’

      ‘Not for someone like me.’ When Corey gave a small, quizzical frown, Lydia elaborated. ‘I’m a confirmed people-watcher, and what better place to do it than at a hospital?’

      ‘I’m not with you.’

      ‘Well, one has such a head start here,’ Lydia explained. ‘After all, they’re either a member of staff, a patient or a visitor—it only takes a moment or two to work out which.’ When Corey’s expression remained perplexed, she explained further. ‘I like working people out. Look…’ She pointed to an elderly couple wandering along the corridor. ‘Dressed in their Sunday best, so they could be visitors, but see how she’s holding an envelope. Well, from that I’d guess that they’ve got an outpatients appointment.’

      ‘Who’s the patient?’ Corey asked, smiling as he played along.

      ‘He is,’ Lydia said firmly. ‘Don’t you just love how old people dress up to go to see the doctor? I think it’s just so adorable. See how she’s walking ahead, sort of hurrying him along, and she’s got a really brave strong expression on her face, whereas he looks as if at any moment he’ll turn tail and run. I expect he doesn’t want to hear the news if it’s bad.’

      ‘What news?’

      ‘About his prostate. They’ve just turned down to Four West and that’s where the urology outpatients clinic is being held.’

      ‘How do you know all this?’ Corey asked, bemused.

      ‘I read the signs.’

      ‘Do you, now?’

      Whoops!

      If ever Lydia had wished she could erase a comment, it was now. Unless she’d got things seriously wrong, unless she was very much mistaken, from the blush working its way up her cheeks, from the rapid pulse flickering in her neck and the sudden intimate smile Corey was imparting, written in neon and pulsing above them was a rather large sign, with cupid’s arrows and rather tasteless pink hearts to boot!

      ‘That muffin looks good.’ His voice seemed to be coming at her through a fog. ‘I might even go and get one for myself.’

      ‘You should.’ Lydia smiled, while trying to remember how her mouth worked. ‘But I’m afraid you’re going to have to take over the “watch”, I have to get going.’

      ‘I think I’ll give it a miss, thanks.’ His eyes held hers for the longest time. ‘I prefer to get the facts first, get to know people a bit and then make up my mind.’

      It was totally in line with the conversation, every last word was appropriate, so why did Lydia feel her blush coming back for an encore? Why in the crowded hospital coffee-shop did it suddenly feel as if there were only the two of them?

      ‘I really ought to go.’ Her voice was a mere croak. ‘I’m supposed to be meeting Dr Reece in a few minutes.’

      ‘About Patrick?’

      The invisible neon sign above them vanished in an invisible puff of smoke as they reverted to the far safer topic of work.

      ‘They didn’t seem too happy with his latest results; they want to go over a few things.’

      ‘You’ll let me know how things go?’ Corey checked as Lydia stood up, automatically checking her pager was on as she did so.

      ‘Of course.’ Lydia smiled. ‘Page me if you need me.’

      ‘This is Dr Verhagh.’ Pushing forward an anxious-looking woman in a wheelchair, Jo smiled warmly as she handed Lydia a thick pile of notes. ‘Dr Verhagh will probably be at the delivery, but if not, you can expect to see her when your baby comes to the special care unit.’

      ‘Lydia,’ Lydia introduced herself, shaking the nervous woman’s hand warmly. The meeting with Dr Reece, the cardiac surgeon, had been rather grim and she’d been hoping to discuss things with Corey, but clearly it would have to wait. ‘Dr Hamilton, your obstetrician, rang me this morning and said you’d be coming in for a look around. It’s Meredith Clarke, isn’t it?’

      Lydia had been there five weeks now and was used to seeing parents being given the guided tour. It was the same as at her old job. What was different, however, was that as a registrar it was now Lydia talking to the parents, making decisions with the obstetricians, and she revelled in it, enjoying the responsibility her new role brought while never taking it lightly.