When he switched it on, there were two missed calls, and a text. Off duty in ten. Be there in half an hour. Nick looked at his watch. Sam would be arriving in fifteen minutes and, with any luck, by that time Nick would be dressed and ready to go.
‘It’ll be a lot easier with this. And you’re supposed to keep that switched off.’
Nick’s gaze jerked upwards from the small screen on his phone and found Abby’s half-amused grimace. ‘What will?’
‘Your escape.’ She shrugged, walking to his bedside and propping the pair of elbow crutches she carried against the chair. ‘Swing your leg back onto the bed while I sort this knee brace out.’
She fiddled for a while with the ugly-looking contraption, rolling her eyes and grinning when the Velcro straps tangled themselves together and stuck fast. Nick added kindness to the list of her virtues. Even though he’d treated her badly, there was no trace of reproach in her attitude towards him.
‘Just relax and let me move your leg. I’ll try not to hurt you too much.’ She gently took hold of his leg and Nick braced himself for the pain, letting out an involuntary breath when it wasn’t half as bad as when he’d tried to move it himself.
‘There.’ She carefully fastened the brace and stood back, reviewing her handiwork. ‘How does that feel?’
‘Better. Thanks, it feels much better with the support.’ Nick had been concentrating on the gentle warmth of her fingers, the way her corn-coloured plait of hair threatened to slip forward over her shoulder when she bent forward. Her scent, which seemed to be more than just the astringent, soapy smell of the other doctors and nurses here. They were far more potent than the drugs he’d refused.
‘Good. I’ve set it at an angle to keep your knee bent, and you should leave it like that until you see my colleague. Don’t put any weight on the leg for the time being, and it’ll help if you use cushions to support it when you’re sitting or lying down.’ She paused, seemingly deep in thought. ‘Let’s see if we can’t get you back onto your feet.’
At last! Nick sat up and she helped him swing his leg over the side of the trolley. ‘Lean on my shoulder if you need to.’
He couldn’t think of anything more comforting at that moment than to take advantage of her offer. ‘Thanks, but I’m okay.’ Levering himself upwards with his arms, he put one foot to the floor and stood up slowly.
‘Good. That’s good.’ She reached for the crutches, extending one to almost its full height, and gave it to him. ‘Yes, that looks about right.’ She adjusted the other and suddenly Nick was free. Able to move around again.
‘Walk up and down a bit.’ She watched carefully as he took a few tentative steps, leaning on the crutches, and nodded in approval. ‘That looks fine. Is it comfortable?’
‘Yes. The brace is a little tight.’
‘It needs to be. As the swelling goes down, you should tighten it a little so it feels snug. Without cutting off the circulation to your foot, that is.’ A sudden grin, which was quashed almost immediately, made Nick’s head swim slightly. His own body was producing powerful endorphins in response to that lopsided, shining smile of hers, and he could do nothing to stop it.
‘Thanks. Can I get dressed now?’
The words had an almost instant effect on her. She backed away. ‘Do you need someone to help you? I can send someone in.’
‘I’m fine.’ Nick grinned to himself as she disappeared out of the cubicle. Maybe he should have thought of that one sooner.
The A and E nurse had cut the leg of his trousers to get them off and it was easy enough to slip them back on again. Discarding the flimsy hospital gown and pulling on his shirt, Nick struggled with getting his sock onto his injured leg and decided to carry his boot. A quick phone call elicited the information that Sam was outside, trying to find a parking space.
‘Right.’ The curtain had twitched slightly, indicating that she’d checked first to make sure he was dressed, before she breezed back into his cubicle. ‘I’ve got a leaflet here, to give you some guidelines on how to manage the leg.’ She proffered a printed sheet and Nick took it. Next to one of the items she had drawn a star and written a few notes. Even her handwriting was bewitching. Nick wondered briefly whether it was possible to be seduced by someone’s handwriting, before folding the sheet and putting it into his jacket pocket.
‘Thanks. I appreciate all you’ve done, Abby.’ It was time for him to leave. Before she got around to the prescription she held in her hand. Before he got too used to the light that seemed to shine from her and gravitated towards it, like a moth whose wings had already been burned by the flame.
‘Oh, no, you don’t.’ She was quicker than he was at the moment, and blocked his path. ‘Sit down for a moment. I’ve had a colleague write you a prescription for something to control your pain.’
She was keeping him well and truly at arm’s length. Somehow the fact that she’d got someone else to write the prescription rankled more than anything. As if she was trying to wipe him from every corner of her life. Nick wondered if she’d been hurt as badly as he had by what had happened between them.
‘I don’t need it.’ The words sounded harsh and ungrateful. ‘Thanks, Abby, but I don’t want it. Sam’ll be here to pick me up any minute.’
‘Sam!’ She jumped like a startled fawn, flushing slightly. She did remember, then. The leisurely Sunday morning breakfasts after training when Sam and the half-dozen others at the table had faded into blurred insignificance, and there had only been Nick and Abby. The reckless slide into dinner and the cinema. He’d fallen for her hard and fast, before sanity had taken hold and convinced him to draw back.
She pulled herself together with impressive speed. ‘He’ll have to wait, then, we’re not finished yet. You should have something to control the pain and bring the inflammation down. I really can’t recommend that you be discharged without it…’
‘Then I’ll discharge myself.’
The conversation had finally degenerated into a game of chicken. Whose nerve was going to break first. In the end, no one broke. Sam’s light touch on Abby’s shoulder made her jump again and she whirled round to face him.
‘Abby. Where have you been? Long time no see…’ Nick directed his most ferocious glare in Sam’s direction and Sam got the message. ‘So how’s he doing, then?’
She pursed her lips as if she was considering the question and Nick broke in. ‘We’re done here.’
‘Really?’ Sam gave Abby a quizzical look and she frowned.
‘No. Not really. Nick…’
In between him and Sam, she suddenly looked small. Vulnerable. Staring up at them with what looked like frightened defiance in her eyes. The urge to protect her leaked into Nick’s aching bones, almost before he realised that the only thing Abby needed protecting from was him.
He slid past her, brushing against her as he went. ‘I’m sorry.’ He was sorry for everything. The way he’d left her without a word of explanation six months ago. How he was leaving things between them now. But if she knew his reasons she’d be the first to want him gone. ‘Thanks for all
