The Surgeon's Gift. Carol Marinelli

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      ‘SORRY it took so long, Hailey, it’s just been a bit busy.’ Despite her internal anger, Rachael managed an easy smile and chatted away to her patient. ‘If I could just have your wrist, I can check your ID band.’

      Everyone knew the patient was Hailey but policy decreed that two staff members check the ID band against the drug chart. Happy that everything was in order, Rachael expected Hugh to leave them to it, and was somewhat taken back when he hovered.

      ‘I still have to check her wound,’ he said by way of explanation as Rachael removed the cap on the IV bung.

      ‘These have to be given over five minutes,’ Rachael said, expecting Hugh, like most doctors, to take the opportunity to make a quick phone call or grab a coffee. But Hugh, Rachael was quickly learning, was absolutely unlike anyone she’d ever come across.

      ‘I’m happy to wait,’ he said easily. Which was pretty amazing in itself, but when he sat on the bed and started to idly flick through the newspaper and make small talk with Hailey, Rachael thought she had seen everything. Most consultants would have positively baulked at the idea of having to make five minutes of small talk with a patient. Hugh, though, seemed delighted at the opportunity and it was a credit to them both that Hailey couldn’t even have imagined the rather curt exchange that had taken place only moments before.

      ‘I was telling Rachael earlier that I remember her from the last time I was in here.’

      ‘Was that when you had your appendix out?’

      ‘Yep, Rachael here was just about to go off on maternity leave.’

      She felt Hugh’s eyes turn to her and she fiddled with the IV bung, trying to ignore the conversation that was unfolding.

      ‘So what did you call her?’ Hailey asked.

      ‘That’s the first.’ Rachael didn’t look up as she swapped over syringes. ‘I’m just going to give you your second antibiotic now.’

      ‘Your daughter,’ Hailey insisted, pursuing the conversation despite Rachael’s obvious reluctance. ‘What did you call her?’

      Glancing up briefly, Rachael saw them both look at her expectantly and knew there was no getting out of it. ‘Amy,’ Rachael said simply, turning her attention back to the IV, painfully aware that both Hugh and Hailey were waiting for her to elaborate.

      ‘What a gorgeous name.’ Hailey rested back on the pillows as the pethidine started to take effect. ‘And I’ll bet she’s beautiful.’

      ‘Very,’ Rachael said softly.

      ‘How long have you been back?’

      She must have counted every tiny hair on the back of Hailey’s hand but still Rachael’s eyes didn’t move. ‘It’s my first day.’

      Hailey let out a small laugh. ‘And here’s us running you ragged. Your mind must be a million miles away, worrying about crèches and babysitters and the like. We’ll have to treat you gently. So how old is Amy now? Must be coming up for a year.’

      Slipping the cap back on the IV, Rachael patted her patient’s hand. ‘All finished now. The painkillers should start to kick in soon. If you need anything, just press the buzzer.’

      Walking smartly to the treatment room, she tipped the empty ampoules and syringes into the sharps box. The footsteps she heard behind her were heavy and already familiar, and she could feel the animosity from Hugh as he banged about, laying up a dressing trolley.

      ‘I can do her dressing for you.’

      ‘It’s fine. I just want to reinforce it.’ He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. ‘You should add a postscript to your little platitude about pressing the buzzer, Sister.’

      ‘Meaning?’ Although Rachael knew where the conversation was leading, she was stalling for time, trying to avoid the inevitable.

      ‘Meaning you should add ‘‘unless I’m tied up with one of my real patients’’ or ‘‘so long as you don’t want a bit of friendly conversation’’.’

      ‘I don’t like talking about my personal life.’

      ‘She was just being nice, for goodness’ sake.’

      ‘Look, Doctor, you might be happy to sit on the beds and tell the patients what you had for breakfast this morning. I don’t work like that. I prefer to keep a professional distance.’

      ‘So I’ve noticed.’ He raked a hand through his hair and turned to go, but just as Rachael thought the lecture was over, Hugh had second thoughts.

      ‘You’re like a breath of fresh air, Rachael, you know that? You’re a real charmer to work with.’

      ‘I don’t have to wear my heart on my sleeve to be a good nurse.’ Rachael retorted.

      ‘Maybe not,’ Hugh said crisply, turning on his heel. ‘But observing a few social pleasantries wouldn’t go amiss either.’

      As first days back went, it wasn’t a exactly a howling success, but neither was it a total disaster, Rachael reflected as she sat at the nurses’ station towards the end of her shift, writing up her patients’ notes. It actually was good to be back. OK, the United Nations might need to draw up a peace treaty to keep her and Hugh from killing each other, but for the most part, the day had been all right.

      Sheila had been reviewed by Cardiology and though her bloods and ECG had been reported unchanged, the event meant her operation had been set back further. Hailey, once the pethidine had kicked in, had slept for most of the afternoon, happily receiving visitors during the evening. And her other two patients had pretty much taken care of themselves, apart from needing some drugs and dressing changes. Everything Rachael had done during her shift had to be diligently recorded and as she sat there, chewing the end of her pen, she realised it was nice to be actually using her brain again, to be dwelling on other people’s problems for once. OK, so there had been a few hiccoughs, but Rachael was determined not to dwell on them.

      She had survived her first day back.

      ‘They’re ready for you.’ Helen gave an encouraging smile as she came out of the office. Stepping in, Rachael felt a million miles away from the nervous wreck that had started the shift only hours earlier.

      ‘Be gentle with me, guys.’ She smiled before she started her handover. ‘I haven’t done it in ages.’

      A few cat-calls showed that one thing that definitely hadn’t changed was the below-the-belt humour of nurses, and with the help of an encouraging wink or two from a couple of old colleagues Rachael handed over her patients to the care of the night staff.

      ‘They didn’t eat you alive, then?’ Helen asked as Rachael pulled out her hair tie and slipped on her jacket.

      ‘They were fine. Everyone’s been great.’

      ‘So we’ll see you back here tomorrow?’

      Rachael nodded. ‘Thanks, Helen.’ As she went to go, her colleague called her back.

      ‘Drop these into the doctors’ office on the way past, СКАЧАТЬ