in every way. Except for the fact that it should never have happened.
Goodness only knew what Campbell was thinking about it all. Would he assume there was more to come? Would he expect that? She could hardly blame him if he did. What if he thought they were now a couple?
Claire took a sip of her lukewarm tea. Had she really been staring into space that long? She put her cup down and firmly pushed her thoughts aside. She had a lot to do to organise Shirley’s and Davy’s discharge.
She made a note in her diary for Monday to organise with the community midwifery service a home visit to Shirley. Next, she paged the paediatric registrar covering for the weekend. He answered promptly and agreed to come straight away. Claire collected the paperwork together, writing her own notes and filling in the discharge form.
‘Hi, Claire.’
She’d been so preoccupied with her work she hadn’t heard the swing doors open. ‘Hi, William. I was so pleased when it was you who answered the page.’
Dr William Casey and Claire had known each other for many years. They had a good relationship, which had flourished, despite her rejection of his advances when they’d first met. He was very easygoing and had taken it in his stride.
‘Only one more year of this awful shift work and then private practice here I come.’
Claire laughed. William had wanted to be a paediatrician for ever and had been steadily working towards that goal.
‘You’re not selling out, are you?’ she mocked.
‘Claire, Claire, Claire,’ he tsked. ‘You really have problems with the establishment, don’t you?’
‘Nah. Getting too old for that now.’ She laughed.
William stood up straighter in the doorway, his eyes narrowing, speculation causing them to gleam.
‘Something’s not right,’ he mused. ‘You look … different.’
‘Different?’ she enquired, trying not to blush. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Yes, you look like you’ve just been … Oh, my God! He did it, didn’t he? He won. He wore you down. Campbell, the old dog! Well, well, well.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, William,’ Claire blustered, trying to look affronted.
‘Oh, I see. Not going to kiss and tell, huh? Don’t worry, Claire, your secret is safe with me.’
‘William,’ Claire sighed. ‘You’re the biggest gossip this hospital has ever known.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. Guess that’s bad luck for you.’ He laughed at her unimpressed face. ‘Got a baby for me?’
Claire was grateful for the change of subject and led him in to Shirley before she succumbed to the urge to throttle him.
A gossip he might be, but a more thorough doctor was hard to find. ‘Sorry to disturb you, little mate,’ he whispered to the baby as he picked him up out of his cot and unwrapped him.
Davy opened sleep-bleary eyes but didn’t look too cranky at the intrusion. Even when William flashed a torch in his eyes, checking for the red reflex of the cornea, he didn’t object. William assessed all five reflexes that newborns should have, and then flipped him on his tummy. He visually inspected, as well as physically checked, by running his finger down, Davy’s spine to make sure it was complete.
Davy did object when William performed the test for clicky hips. He howled and went a very impressive shade of red as William applied pressure through his little bent knees down into the hip joint.
‘Sorry, little mate,’ he soothed, rubbing the newborn’s tummy as he checked that both testicles were descended.
‘Good time for a feed,’ said Shirley. ‘If you’ve finished?’ she asked.
‘Sure,’ William agreed. ‘Nothing like a full stomach after such a harrowing experience, hey, little man?’ William crooned as he handed Davy to his mother.
‘Has he passed urine yet?’
‘Several times,’ Shirley confirmed.
‘Any meconium yet?’
‘Oh, yes!’ Shirley laughed. ‘I’ve saved it for you if you want to check.’ She laughed again. Having done this for the fourth time, Shirley knew that black, tarry bowel motions were best left alone.
Mercifully William didn’t stay on after he passed little Davy for discharge. He left straight away but did manage a lewd wink at Claire before he shut the door.
She escaped to her office, once again cursing under her breath. Great, it was going to be around the hospital in five minutes flat. Of that Claire had no doubt. By the time Campbell got to work on Monday it’d be so blown out of proportion they’d be practically married. So much for one night of passion. No one was going to believe that was the extent of it.
Oh, well, Claire decided, rearranging the stuff on her desk, she’d weathered years of St Jude’s gossip before. She could do it again. Once people realised that she and Campbell weren’t an item, the talk would die down and be completely snuffed out once a juicier titbit came along.
Claire heard Shirley’s family arrive and went out to greet them. Graham had brought the other three kids and they were all very excited, jostling to be the first to hold their new baby brother.
While Graham supervised the children, Claire finalised things with Shirley.
‘Now, page me if there are any problems. That’s what I’m here for—all right?’
‘Sure thing,’ Shirley agreed, as she signed the discharge papers.
‘Here’s your appointment for your six-week check,’ said Claire, handing the card to her. ‘Expect a phone call on Monday about the heel prick. I’ll see you in six weeks, but remember—’
‘I know, any problems and you’ll be the first to know. I promise.’
‘Good.’ Claire grinned as she accepted Shirley’s hug of gratitude.
She saw them out the door. It was quite a noisy goodbye and Claire was still smiling when she shut the door and started on the clean-up in Shirley’s room.
Claire was making the bed, her last chore, when she heard the swing doors open.
‘Hello. Anyone here?’
Campbell’s voice reached out and touched her, even from the other side of the wall. She groaned inwardly. She wasn’t ready to face him just yet. She hadn’t had enough time to work out what to say to him.
She knew what had to be said but hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be to face him so soon after having seen him naked. After he’d seen her naked. How could you tell someone that one night of mind-blowing sex was it and expect them to believe you? Because that was what she had to say. There could be no more.
Claire contemplated hiding somewhere, quickly scanning
