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CHAPTER TWO
THE NEXT HOUR was manic, the pressure on Casualty building up with the usual emergency cases as well as those involved in the collapsed wall. It was ten o’clock before the situation eased and Frankie and Corey met in the staffroom.
‘That’s three fractures, an overdose, a scalding and a drunk who nearly suffocated on his own vomit, topped off with Sister Kenney telling me to help that dozy porter, Tim, move six oxygen cylinders from the passage. I’ve had enough!’ Corey flopped dramatically back on the sofa. ‘Next time we’re asked to do overtime, they can get someone else!’
Frankie smiled. ‘Go on—you know you love it really. Now, get that coffee down you.’
She handed Corey a mug. Corey took a sip and sighed. ‘Even this instant sludge tastes good at the moment. By the way, have you bumped into knockout Jack Herrick yet, our new registrar? I could hardly concentrate on what I was doing…’
‘It turns out that he was the man I used to work with at St Mary’s,’ said Frankie. ‘It was a surprise, seeing him again.’ She looked ruefully at Corey. ‘He also happens to be Damian’s brother-in-law.’
‘Ouch! How bizarre is that!’ said Corey in surprise. ‘So does he know what that rat has done to you?’
‘I haven’t got round to it yet. I suppose I’ll have to tell him later. It was through Jack that I met Damian originally.’
‘Well, I hope Jack will be suitably horrified.’ Corey looked speculatively at Frankie. ‘I guess you’ll know a bit about this gorgeous Jack, won’t you? I suppose he’s married with about four kids.’
‘He’s a widower with one little girl. His wife, Damian’s sister, was killed in a car accident two years ago, but—’
‘I knew there’d be a “but,”’ said Corey with a grimace.
‘I did hear he was engaged and I don’t know why he’s come back to this area.’
‘Just my luck. Ah, well, my own lovely warm bed beckons.’ Corey hauled herself out of the sofa. ‘See you Monday, Frankie. Sleep well.’
She went out as Sister Kenney bustled in, her blue uniform straining over her plump bosom and the usual harassed expression on her face. ‘Is there any coffee in that pot? I must have something before I start filing my admissions register in the office. I hope we’re on top of things now.’
Frankie looked at her sympathetically. People tended to make fun of Sister Kenney and her fussy manner, but she was a well-organised woman who tried to do her best for the staff and the patients. Frankie handed her a mug.
‘Do you need me any more?’ she asked.
‘No. You get off now—and thanks for coming in. Even with our new registrar, we couldn’t have coped without you. Have you met him, by the way? He’s called Jack Herrick and I must say I’m favourably impressed so far.’
‘I used to work with him at my last job. And yes, he’ll be good to have on the team.’
Sister raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? That’s excellent news. You’ll know each other’s methods, then.’
As if on cue, the door was pushed open and Jack walked in. Sister Kenney gave him a wide smile.
‘I believe you know each other already…I didn’t realise that you and Frankie used to be colleagues.’ She shot a look at her watch. ‘I’m sure she can fill you in on any queries you have—but I’ll have to get on now and tell the nurses we borrowed from Medical that they can finish now.’
She marched out and left Frankie and Jack alone. Jack lifted the coffee-pot.
‘Want a cup?’ he asked.
‘No, thanks, I’m going home now and I don’t want any caffeine to keep me awake.’
He looked at her levelly, then said slowly, ‘It’s good to see you Frankie—a lovely surprise.’
Frankie nodded without smiling. She wasn’t going to go overboard at seeing him again just yet. Jack was another man who hadn’t behaved all that well towards her, albeit in a much milder way than Damian had.
‘Yes, I thought I’d never see you again when you vanished into thin air,’ she said pointedly. ‘You left before I could ask you anything. I…I wondered what had happened to make you leave so abruptly.’
He grimaced. ‘I’m sorry about that, Frankie. I should have spoken to you before I left and I know I owe you an explanation.’
‘You don’t have to tell me why you went,’ said Frankie frostily. ‘It was just a little impersonal, leaving a note pinned to my locker to tell me you were leaving. I…I thought we were good friends. I think I deserved more than that.’ She paused and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. ‘On the other hand, was it something I did? Perhaps I upset you in some way.’
He winced slightly, then he said vehemently, ‘Of course it wasn’t your fault. For heaven’s sake, you were my…well, my best friend. I feel ashamed that I hurt you, but…’ He paused for a moment, as if thinking of how to phrase his next sentence. ‘Well, the thing is, something happened—something that made me realise I had to leave immediately. Believe me, the last thing I wanted to do in the world was offend you, of all people—someone who’s going to be related to me as well.’
Frankie bit her lip, that cold feeling of rejection sweeping over her again. She could see a short-term future of repeating the same information over and over again to those who’d known she’d been engaged to Damian, but there was no point in beating about the bush. The truth had to come out some time, so why not now?
‘Actually, there’s something you might as well know…’
He looked at her enquiringly, one eyebrow raised.
‘Damian and I aren’t engaged any more, Jack.’ She said it baldly, almost defiantly, not willing to show how devastated she felt.
An astounded expression crossed his face, and he put his mug of coffee down on the worktop so forcefully that the liquid slopped over the rim. ‘What? You…you’ve broken up? When did this happen? I thought you were going to organise the wedding with him when he came over just before I left for London.’
Frankie’s voice hardened. ‘As a matter of fact, I received the letter earlier today, if you must know. He doesn’t want to get married now. And don’t ask me why—I’ve no idea.’
‘It’s unbelievable,’ Jack said slowly. ‘You and he…well, you seemed like the perfect couple, so well matched. I thought you two would go on for ever…’
‘So did I, Jack, so did I.’ Frankie couldn’t help the sadness reflected in her expression, but after a short silence she said brusquely, ‘But it’s over now—no possibility of getting back together. He’s let me down. I could never trust him again, whatever the reason is that he wanted to be free of me.’
It was odd how numb she felt, as if the full shock of her broken engagement had yet to hit her properly. She looked at Jack challengingly. ‘Would you have said he was untrustworthy? You’ve
