Page 110 of The Girlfriend

She approached the double doors with the large elevated sign:CARDIOLOGY. A young black nurse was sitting behind the desk as she walked in, apprehensive now that she’d actually made it.

“Can I help you?” asked the nurse.

“I’m here to see Dr. Cavendish.”

“He’s in surgery.”

“Oh, right. When . . . when might it be over?”

The nurse glanced at the clock. “Hard to say. Another two hours, at least.”

Her face fell.

“Anything I can do?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll come back then.”

Laura made a swift exit before the woman asked any more questions. She had a dread of hospitals since Daniel’s accident, but she resigned herself to the wait. The minutes ticked by excruciatingly slowly, and she stretched out a coffee for forty-five minutes, then suddenly thought:What if Cherry meets him after his shifts? What if she comes here?Her stomach constricted and she jumped up and nervously wandered around the charity shop full of knitted garments by well-meaning patrons, then the gift shop full of cuddly toys and metallic balloons on sticks, and then finally the minimarket. At about half past three, she went back up to the ward.

“Is Dr. Cavendish free yet?” she asked the same nurse, who looked up and nodded down the corridor.

He was deep in conversation with someone and didn’t see her at first, so she got a chance to look at him unchecked. It was the first time she’d seen him in his uniform and her heart swelled with pride. Then he looked up.

She didn’t know if he was pleased to see her or not. At first, she thought she caught a glimpse of relief, gladness, but it turned into a frown before she could be sure. He walked over.

“Mum, what are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“I’m at work.”

“Yes, I know, but I can’t come to the flat, can I?” Laura tried to stem her anxiety. “I . . . I left you a message yesterday. I’ve left lots.”

She saw a flash of guilt. He pulled her away from the nurses’ station, conscious of gossip and alert eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s just . . . there’s been a lot going on.” He paused. “Wendy got in touch.”

Laura looked at him, shocked. “What did she say?”

A nurse called his name. Daniel turned. “Coming. . . I can’t talk here.”

“I can wait until your break.”

“That’s five hours away and I don’t always get one.”

Seeing her crestfallen face, he relented. “I’ll come to the house.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. . . .”

“After your shift?”

“It’s going to be late.”

“I don’t care. But phone first,” she said quickly, knowing it would be dark when he came knocking on the door.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“Promise?”