The Nurse's Reunion Wish

Even her brothers chimed in with less-than-sage advice.

‘Don’t be letting him know you like him, Rachel.’

‘You have to play hard to get, Rachel.’

‘He’s using you, Rachel. Just stay well back.’

But nothing—not warnings, nor dire predictions, no force on this earth—could stop them.

There was secret hand-holding under desks, and stolen kisses despite the open bedroom door her dad insisted on.

And there were forbidden touches in the times when they found themselves alone...

They always made sure, though, that when Rachel’s dad or brothers dropped home unannounced to check on them they would find two nerdy teenagers really studying that science.

One day Dominic decreed that Rachel had to get ninety per cent on a practice test if she wanted a reward. Since she only managed eighty-eight per cent, even with his generous marking, he refused to allow her any prize.

‘Sorry, Rachel...’ He gave her a sad smile. ‘You failed. Back to work!’

And back to the textbook she went—until the rattle of the removals lorry rumbling up the hilly narrow street where Rachel lived announced the arrival of her family.

‘We’re about to be checked on...’ Dominic sighed.

‘Good.’ Rachel smiled in utter relief—because the sooner they were checked on, the sooner they’d be left alone again.

The front door crashed open and Phil ran up the stairs.

‘Dad forgot his...’ Phil stopped at the top of the stairs and saw the two of them deep in their books. ‘Oh, hi, there, Dominic. Didn’t know you were coming over...’

‘I told Dad he would be,’ Rachel said indignantly.

‘Hello.’ Dominic gave his usual awkward smile. ‘How are you, Phil?’

‘Grand. So, what are the two of you doing?’

‘Revising.’ Rachel rolled her eyes.

‘Oh.’

They actually were. There were books, pencils, tea and biscuits, and not a single untoward thing had taken place.

‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’

The removals lorry rattled its noisy way down the steep road as Dominic totted up Rachel’s latest score.

Ninety-two per cent!

He’d slammed the book closed and she’d lain on her bed with her skirt up and closed her eyes in the bliss he gave.

‘There...’ she would moan needlessly. ‘There!’

And there he would flick with his tongue, over and over.

And there he would ignore a moment later, as he buried his face deep into her.

And she would press her mouth to the inside of her elbow and try not to scream his name.

‘Dominic, Dominic, Dominic!’

And then, deliciously, he had to have the same. And each kiss, each intimate touch, each climax they gave to each other, led them to want more, more, more.

They had both been virgins. The first time they’d tried her dad and brothers had been on a removal the other side of town—a big job that would see them there every day for a week. So, on that cold but sunny November morning, they had finally, properly, been alone.

It had been an unmitigated disaster.

Rachel had bled and felt sick because it had hurt so much, and Dominic had finished before they’d barely started.

Yes, a serious disaster.

Embarrassing and awkward didn’t even begin to describe it.

Never again, they’d both fervently agreed.

Never, ever again.

Absolutely not.

Dominic had arrived for their usual study session the next day. It had been pouring with rain. He’d shaken off his dad’s golf umbrella in the little porch, and with a lot of residual blushing and awkwardness, they’d resumed their studies...

Despite the umbrella, his damp hair had dripped on the page as the rain beat on the window, and when they’d kissed, they’d matched again. The pressure of their attempt the day before had fallen away as easily as their clothing.

She’d felt as if she were drowning in his kisses, and at his touch, as if she were floating across the sky...

Their second time had been sublime.

That had been their first winter. And as spring had inched towards summer, and they’d lain on her little single bed, naked and sated, Rachel had made an admission.

‘I’m going to miss our study sessions when we’re at university.’

Dominic was hoping to study physics at St Andrews in Scotland, or at Imperial College in London, whereas Rachel wanted to do midwifery in Sheffield.

‘What are you talking about?’ Dominic asked. ‘If we both get in, then we’ve got years of studying ahead of us.’

‘Yes, but you’ll be in Scotland or London...’

‘There are trains, Rachel.’

And now, all these years later, sitting on a changing room bench with her head in her hands, Rachel could still recall with absolute precision the glowing feeling those words had delivered.

Who was that woman? Rachel thought as she recalled the ecstasy and unbridled passion that had once been the norm between them.

Who was that woman who had shed her clothes with ease, who had physically ached to be with another person?

Where had she gone?

‘There you are,’ May said as she peered into the changing room and saw Rachel sitting there, with her head still in her hands.

‘Sorry,’ Rachel said. ‘I was just...’ Just what? ‘Getting my cardigan.’

‘It’s fine.’ May smiled. ‘I’m just about to go for my break—why don’t you do the same?’

‘Sounds great.’

They walked to the staff room together. ‘Now, take a seat and I’ll get us both a cuppa,’ May said.

But there was to be no solace in the staff room for Rachel, because Dominic was sitting there—and not by chance.

Richard had made it very clear that he wanted this dealt with quickly, and so Dominic had sat waiting.

Wondering.

Wondering about Rachel Walker, who, for the shortest of whiles, had once been Rachel Hadley.

‘Tea?’ he heard May say as they came in to the staff room.

‘I’ll have coffee,’ Rachel said, and then hurriedly added, ‘But I’ll get it.’

She did a quick about-turn when she saw Dominic, and May, who he knew liked to make a fuss of her staff when she could, halted her.

‘Don’t be daft,’ May said. ‘How do you have it?’

White with one sugar, Dominic was tempted to answer.

‘White, no sugar,’ Rachel said.

So she had given up that pleasure.

May turned to Dominic. ‘How’s young Thomas doing?’

‘Stable,’ Dominic said. ‘Which is a hell of a lot better than he was a couple of hours ago.’

‘Indeed,’ May agreed. ‘Would you like some tea?’

‘Aye,’ he answered in a thick northern accent. ‘But none of that namby-pamby herbal stuff...’

May gave a slightly bemused smile, because of course she didn’t get the private joke that had once existed between them: Rachel had been in a camomile tea phase, and Dominic, who had been strictly a coffee drinker, had unwittingly made camomile tea for her dad when he’d dropped by their flat.

‘What the bloody hell is this?’ Dave Walker had said as he’d spat it out.

Yes, he’d thought Dominic a pansy who drank namby-pamby herbal tea.

Dominic looked over at Rachel, to see if they might share a private smile, but she was staring hard at the television on the wall and continued to stare at it even as May headed to the kitchen and they were left alone.

‘Aren’t you going to say hello, Rachel?’ Dominic asked.

‘Hello.’

Rachel turned and looked at him, but couldn’t help her eyes drifting from his dark eyes to his jaw, to his mouth.

His mouth had always enthralled her.

The mouth that had kissed every inch of her skin.

‘How have you been?’ she asked.

But it was clear Dominic wasn’t going to answer that here.

‘Do you want to meet for a drink? Clear the air and catch up?’

‘No, thanks.’ She shook her head, but then, worrying that she’d appear petty, and knowing they had to have this conversation at some point if they were going to be able to work in the same hospital, she changed her mind. ‘Actually, a quick catch-up might be good.’

‘There’s a pub across the road from the hospital,’ Dominic suggested. ‘I should finish around six—’

‘My lunch is at one,’ Rachel interrupted. ‘If you want to speak we can meet then.’

‘I am not doing this in the canteen.’

And neither would she be going to a pub with him.

Those days were long since gone.

‘It’s not as if we’re going to be holding hands across the table, Dominic,’ Rachel said, but then she questioned her own wisdom. After all, she wanted this kept well away from work.

But Dominic was already nodding.

‘I’ll do my best to be there,’ he replied, rather tartly.

They fell into silence as May came in with a tray of drinks and a huge coffee-and-walnut cake which she had brought from home. Dominic fell upon it immediately, and devoured his slice in a few bites.

He’d always been hungry, Rachel recalled.

‘Will you have a piece, Rachel?’ May offered.

‘Not for me, thanks.’ She was struggling to hold her mug of coffee, let alone negotiate eating cake.

‘Oh, while I’ve got you, Dominic...’ May chatted on as she cut the cake. ‘The Emergency Department are having a night out for all those who worked at Christmas and couldn’t make the do.’

‘That would be me,’ Dominic said.

‘So, shall I put you down?’ May asked as she handed him a second generous slice. ‘We haven’t finalised where just yet.’

‘I’m not sure...’ Dominic said, and then glanced over to Rachel, who was back to staring at the television screen. ‘I’ll check my roster and let you know.’

‘You’ve already put your name down, haven’t you, Rachel?’ May said, taking out a list from her pocket and reading through it. ‘That’s right—Rachel, plus one.’ May smiled. ‘It will be lovely to meet your fiancé. What’s his name again?’

The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room. ‘Gordon,’ Rachel said rather flatly.

‘That’s right—Gordon.’ May nodded, but then frowned as Dominic abruptly stood up. ‘Where are you going in such a hurry? Don’t you want that second piece of cake?’

‘I’ve got to see that COPD patient.’ He clipped out the words as he stalked off.

Rachel fought not to turn her head at his rapid departure and continued to stare at the television screen.

Oh, dear...oh, dear...oh, dear...

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