Heatherdale's Shy Nurse

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If it had been fear that was behind his ex-wife’s determination never to have children he could have understood it, but it was the thought of losing her fantastic figure, and what she saw as the ghastly performance of breastfeeding, which he’d pointed out was optional, plus the loss of sleep when it was teething time.

* * *

When Easter came and Heatherdale was full of sightseers over the holiday weekend, the magic of the moors and the dales would be pulling him outdoors and Callum had put himself down as on call for emergencies and was hoping he wouldn’t be needed.

He’d noted that Leonie’s name was top of the staff list for Good Friday. Her social life didn’t seem very hectic. He wondered what she did in her spare time.

Reminding himself that he had been shown quite clearly that she was a very private person away from the hospital, he put the concern out of his mind and switched his thoughts to something just as basic but more pleasant—remembering to get Rhianna and Martha the Easter eggs that he always bought at this time.

* * *

There was a brass band playing in one of the parks as Leonie cycled home after work at the end of Good Friday, and propping the bike against a nearby hedge she stopped to listen. There were lots of folk about. The café not far away was doing a brisk trade and she realised she was tired and hungry.

Eating there would save having to cook when she got home. She almost walked straight out again, though, when the first thing that registered was Callum and the Ferguson family seated at a table nearby.

Before she could depart they’d seen her. Melissa called for her to join them and there was no way she could refuse. There was an empty seat next to Callum, which she had no choice but to take.

He started the conversation.

‘What sort of a day have you had?’

‘Busy as usual,’ she replied.

‘But no emergencies or I would have heard from you,’ he commented. ‘I had my phone with me all the time.’

Leonie smiled. What was he expecting her to say to that? He didn’t have to explain himself. No one worked harder than he did.

A waitress was hovering and when she’d ordered her meal Melissa asked, ‘So what have you planned for tonight, Leonie?’

‘They’re having a disco at the community centre and I said I’d go along to help,’ she explained, aware of Callum’s nearness.

She wasn’t expecting any comment from him. He’d got the message that her life away from the hospital was a private thing, if life was the right description of lonely evenings, brightened only by an occasional visit from Julie either going or returning from the centre.

She wondered sometimes why she’d opted to continue her nursing career with children after what had happened to her own baby, but there was comfort in being able to do something for the children of others, as there had been no opportunity to help her baby. It had been too late from the start.

When they’d all finished eating they went outside to listen to the band again. Callum hadn’t left her side.

‘I know you don’t like me behaving as if we have any relationship apart from the hospital, but you need have no concerns about that. My life is mapped out how I want it to be and I presume that yours is the same, so do we have an understanding?’ he said in a low voice.

She nodded bleakly, thinking that his lifestyle might be from choice, but hers had been thrust upon her, and for evermore she would be wary of giving herself to another man, whoever they might be.

‘So how about I come along to that disco too tonight? I can give you a lift there and back to save your legs,’ he suggested. ‘I’ve nothing planned for tonight and I’d like to help.’

‘Yes, all right,’ she agreed weakly, with the thought that he might have cleared the air, as he described it, but she hadn’t, and wasn’t likely to in the near future because it would hurt too much to talk about her past.

Still, Callum had made a kind gesture and she didn’t want to make a fuss and draw even more attention to her unhappiness. She bid her farewells to the group and headed back to get ready for the evening ahead.

* * *

When Callum pulled up outside the yurt at seven o’clock Leonie was ready and waiting, dressed in jeans and a smart sweater and looking revitalised after a shower.