Free Never Another You by Leeann Whitaker Page B

pain. No matter what position she lay, it was impossible for her to be comfortable.
    When she did finally venture downstairs, she feared he would be waiting for her with some limp apology that she would have to accept. Accepting his ways, was much easier than making him angry again. Even when he did show regret, he had this way of making her feel responsible for pushing him too far. But today, Lieutenant Alistair Jenkins was out of the house before 7am, which was a huge blessing. So Nell took two aspirin with her cup of tea, then set off on her way to work.
                                                  ***
    Nell arrived on the ward as the men were eating breakfast. The smell of the steaming porridge pot and burnt toast in the middle of the room, made her belly bubble.
    She made her way to the cloakroom, trying not to let the discomfort of her sore rib affect the way she walked. But it was difficult. The dull twinge boomed like a drum and throbbed with every little movement.
    As she entered the cool bare brick cloakroom, her eyes flashed wide with surprise. Tied to her coat hook with a piece of string, was a single white rose. Not in anger, but great confusion, she pulled the string in annoyance and placed the rose on the bench below. Things had gotten far too complicated. Her past and present whizzing her around like a speeding carousel she couldn’t get off. Her heart was being tugged in all directions. Jack’s unrelenting need to reconnect with something he wasn’t supposed to remember, was driving her crazy. Why was he doing it? He had seen her wedding ring, and he knew she was taken. Flustered, she picked up the rose and tucked it beneath her spare nurse’s cap. Out of sight; out of mind. She made sure her white cardigan covered the bruising on her arms, and made her way out onto the ward.
    Her first task of the day was to change the dressing on the big toe (well the lack thereof) on a new patient that came in during the night. All her care and concentration was firmly set on Corporal Norris. Who wasn’t shot in the foot by the enemy, or lost his toe in the heat of battle. This was an unfortunate incident, and the manner in which he explained what happened, made Nell laugh freely. It was a bet that went disastrously wrong. A bet he paid dearly for. He set a challenge to a cocky Private, that he wouldn’t even be able to start up his beloved tank, Bella. But he did, and he took poor Corporal Norris’s toe with him. He had cheered Nell up to no end. Even the pain she felt from her rib when she let out a great roaring laugh didn’t bother her.
    As she cleared away the old dirty mattered dressing, and said goodbye to the Corporal, she noticed Jack shuffling around his bed with his pyjama top wide open, plucking at his blankets. He was moving so much better. He still had a limp and no memory of her. But apart from that, he seemed to be doing fine. She didn’t want to go over there. She was still in a tizzy about that rose, so she turned a blind eye. That was until Sister Mary barged by her, tutting.
    “Jack Montgomery, get back into that bed now,” she yapped.
    “I’m going to find a bathroom, so I can have a wash and shave,” he said firmly.
    “Eleanor,” Sister Mary called.
    Nell hadn’t moved quickly enough. And now, she was facing the supply room door with her eyes closed tight.
    “Eleanor,” she barked again.
    Nell plonked the kidney dish onto the nearest trolley, and made her way across to Sister Mary.
    “Bloody hell, all I want is a shave… I blooming reek to high heavens I do.” He rubbed his stubble. “Or do I have to be subjected to a bed bath?” His eyes absorbed Nell. She flushed, and promptly shifted her view away from him.
    “Eleanor, you will give Jack a shave,” Sister Mary ordered.
    Nell’s face drained of all blood, apart from her cheeks that glowed like fire. She began to pant and mumble in panic as Sister Mary scowled, puzzled by her odd