Phoebe forced her trembling legs to keep moving as she ran towards the voices calling for help.
As she struggled to contain her emotions, her mind went to Archie. She cared for him so much, but who knew how long the war would continue? She felt trapped in the surreal world that was happening all around her. How different things were today from two and a half years ago, before the war began.
Phoebe slipped on a lump of mud on the wooden planks and reached out to grab something to stop herself falling over. As her hand came in contact with a rough piece of wood on the corner of a window, the pain tore through her palm and, just as she expected to hit the ground, two strong hands caught her under her arms.
‘Steady on,’ a deep voice she recognised bellowed as he slowly lifted her to her feet. ‘That was close.’
Phoebe turned to face her saviour. ‘Doctor Sutherland.’
‘You remembered.’
She wasn’t sure why he would think she might forget it after the two of them had spent time alone together in his tent. He had been so kind then and she wasn’t surprised that he was the one who had stopped her falling now.
‘You saved me from making a spectacle of myself.’ She tried to picture how she must have looked, almost falling, and frowned. ‘Well, maybe not, but you did stop me from landing in an unladylike heap in the mud, so thank you.’
He gave her a dazzling smile. ‘I can’t imagine you being anything other than a lady, Nurse Robertson.’
She was surprised how pleased she was to hear his compliment. ‘Thank you. Again.’
His eyes moved from hers and she felt him take her by the wrist. ‘You’re hurt.’ His expression hardened. ‘How did that happen? Did someone…?’
‘Oh, no. No one has done anything at all,’ she hastily corrected him. ‘I must have cut myself when I reached out to save myself from slipping over.’
‘Then you must come with me and I’ll clean it.’
Embarrassed to be such a nuisance, she shook her head and attempted to pull her wrist from his hold. ‘No. Please. I’m sure you have other people who need your help more than I do right now.’
He shook his head. ‘Thankfully, there don’t seem to be many casualties and the other surgeons are already setting up in the theatres.’
‘Thank heavens for small mercies,’ she said quietly. Then seeing his questioning look, added, ‘I’m quite fine and perfectly capable of dressing it myself.’
He cocked his head to one side. ‘And are you able to stitch the wound yourself too?’
‘You think I need stitches?’ She grimaced and looked at her bloodied hand. ‘I’ve never had stitches before.’
‘There’s no reason to fear them now,’ he said, soothing her with his tone. ‘I promise.’ He smiled. ‘Anyway, I only said you might need them. You might not, of course, but I will only be able to tell if I clean this wound up first and have a look. Now, enough chatter, you’re coming with me.’
Phoebe did as he ordered and accompanied him to a surgical tent.
‘I’m afraid you can’t use that one,’ a sister said, stopping them from going inside. ‘Doctor Marshall is performing an operation and I doubt he’ll be finished for a time yet.’ She indicated a row of smaller tents. ‘You might find one of those free, though.’ She studied Phoebe’s face and then looked down to her wrist, still being held by the doctor.
‘Possible stitches required,’ he explained.
Satisfied, the sister nodded. ‘Will you need me to send a nurse to assist?’
‘No, thank you. I’m sure Nurse Robertson can assist me, if necessary. Isn’t that so, Nurse?’
Phoebe liked the idea of passing instruments to him as he worked on patients but wasn’t looking forward to doing so as he repaired her own injury. ‘Yes, of course, Doctor Sutherland.’
‘Right then, let’s go and get this hand of yours sorted.’
Once inside one of the tents, Phoebe watched as Doctor Sutherland gently cleaned the cut, trying her best not to flinch whenever it stung.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I know it hurts but we need to be certain it’s completely clean.’
‘I know, Doctor,’ she said, smiling as his gaze reached hers.
‘Of course you do. I forgot you’re a nurse.’
‘I’m only a VAD,’ she corrected him. ‘But I hope to train as a Registered Nurse one day. I admire all that they do and want so much to learn all that I can about nursing.’
‘Ah yes. I seem to recall that your sister is a nurse, isn’t she?’ He smiled.
She winced at the thought of Celia and wished she knew how her sister was doing.
‘Did I hurt you?’
‘Sorry?’
‘You flinched.’
She shook her head. ‘No. No, I’m fine.’
He worked silently before speaking again. ‘Something is wrong though, isn’t it?’
She caught his eye and seeing that he appeared genuinely concerned, Phoebe knew she needed to give him some sort of answer.
‘I’m worried about my sister, that’s all. After the bombing here I can’t help wondering how she’s getting along in Jersey. She’s the only family I have left now,’ she said, aware that her voice was tightening at the increase in emotion.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said. ‘You’re close then, I take it?’
‘We’re very close, ordinarily.’
He gave her a comforting smile. ‘These are not ordinary times though, are they?’
‘I suppose not.’ If only he knew quite how strange these times were for her.
‘I’m sure you’ll be together again at some point,’ he said, holding up her hand to inspect her palm more thoroughly. ‘Try not to let it worry you too much. It’s exhausting enough just dealing with all that we face day in and day out.’
He wrapped her hand in a bandage. ‘This doesn’t need stitches, but you will need to take things easy for a couple of weeks. Maybe you could be sent home for a break.’ He studied her face. ‘It might do you good to get away from here for a while. Completely away.’
If only she had a home to return to.
‘Is something the matter?’ he asked, frowning. ‘I thought you might be happy for a chance to return home to your family for Christmas?’
Phoebe shook her head. ‘My home was bombed earlier this year. Unfortunately my mother, father and brother were sleeping there at the time. This will be the first Christmas I don’t celebrate with any of my family,’ she said, misery washing over her.
He pinned the final piece of the bandage into place. ‘There,’ he said, looking thoughtful. ‘All done.’
Phoebe went to stand.
‘No, please wait. I’ve had an idea.’
About what?
‘I have a sister. She lives in Cornwall and I’m sure she would be happy for you to stay with her for a few days.’
Why would he offer for her to stay with his family?
He smiled. ‘I can see that you’re confused by my offer. Don’t be. My sister was widowed last year and I worry that without me living nearby, she’s lonely.’
‘Wouldn’t your sister think it odd for you to send someone you barely know to stay with her?’
He shrugged. ‘She won’t be surprised at all.’ He laughed. ‘She’s always telling me off for inviting waifs and strays home.’
‘I’m a waif then?’ she asked, amused but also a bit taken aback.
His face fell. ‘Heavens, no. Not at all.’
‘A stray then?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Of course you’re not. I didn’t mean that at all. I was merely…’
Phoebe could see he was horrified to think she had taken his offer the wrong way, and wanting to reassure him, rested her good hand on his arm and smiled. ‘I’m teasing you.’
‘You are?’
‘Yes. It was wrong of me and I’m sorry.’
He frowned but she could see amusement return to his hazel eyes. ‘That was very mean of you, Nurse Robertson.’
‘Phoebe, please. I think that if we’re close enough friends for you to invite me to stay with your sister, then you can surely address me less formally.’ He nodded his agreement. ‘Now, why don’t you tell me exactly where it is that your sister lives so that I might know more about this place you’re intent on sending me to?’
‘It’s a small village on the Lizard Peninsula called Pennwalloe. There are a few shops and pubs and the locals are peaceful and friendly. I’m sure you’d enjoy it there.’
‘Is it where you come from then?’
‘It is. I love it there and always feel rested when I’ve spent time in Pennwalloe. Do you think you might take me up on the offer?’
Why not? What harm could it do to go and stay with a widowed woman for a couple of weeks? It wasn’t as if she had anywhere else to go while she was unable to work.
‘Yes,’ she said, agreeing before her nerves got the better of her and she changed her mind. ‘Why not?’
‘Thank you. I shall write to my sister today and ask if she minds.’
‘That’s very kind of you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.’ She thought of her work and her mood dipped. ‘But what about my work here?’
‘I’ll inform Matron and she can make the necessary arrangements to find you passage home.’
* * *
What about Archie, though? she thought as she left the tent to return to her dormitory. She hated the thought of not seeing him for a couple of weeks. And what about the show? How could she simply leave now, just a couple days before it was due to go ahead, after all her hard work? She reached the dorm and had only just sat on her bed when Verity popped her head in the door and called out to her.
‘Phoebe, Matron is asking for you.’
‘She is?’ Surely it was too soon for the doctor to have spoken to her?
‘Yes. She’s been looking for you and wants you to go to her office immediately.’
Groaning as she stood, Phoebe winced as her hand ached. She felt exhausted and was glad she hadn’t had a chance to take off her cloak. It would have been much more of an effort to make her way to Matron’s office if she had begun to relax.
* * *
‘I am reliably informed that you will be incapable of carrying out your duties for a few weeks, and therefore I would like you to be one of the nurses accompanying a group of patients who are to be sent back to England.’
Phoebe realised that Doctor Sutherland had wasted no time speaking to Matron about her.
‘Of course, Matron.’
‘Here is a list of the patients’ names. I want you to go to Ward 3. As you will no longer be able to do much physically, you are to accompany the other nurses and assist where you can.’ She screwed the lid onto her fountain pen before looking up at Phoebe. ‘Any questions?’
‘Yes. I was wondering when we leave the hospital?’
‘First thing in the morning. There’s no time to waste, as their beds are desperately needed. I’ll expect you back here in ten days.’ She took a sheet of paper and looked down at it. ‘That will be all.’
‘Matron?’ Phoebe said, aware that she had to try and make some sort of arrangement for the show. ‘If I leave now, then who will continue making the final preparations for the show?’
‘I’m sure that your small team will be fine without you, Nurse Robertson. Surely you’ve already finalised most of what was needed by now?’
Phoebe thought through what was still left to do. ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
‘Then leave it with me and I’ll speak to them about it.’
Relieved, Phoebe nodded. ‘Thank you, Matron.’
Phoebe left the office and stopped a few paces away to read the list of names in her hand. She was barely able to contain her delight at seeing Archie’s name on it. She would be travelling back to England with him! The thought made her smile as she walked towards the ward to tell the sister in charge who would be leaving the following day. Then it occurred to her that once they had reached England, she would be moving on to Cornwall to stay with Doctor Sutherland’s sister while Archie was to be sent to an auxiliary hospital.
It was unfortunate but at least they would have a couple of days travelling together.
She handed the list to the sister in Ward 3 and as she waited for her to work through it and make notes, Archie caught her eye. When Sister finished and called over another couple of nurses, Phoebe made the most of the opportunity and went over to his bedside.
‘You’ve hurt your hand,’ he said, looking concerned.
‘It’s only a flesh wound. I slipped on some mud and went to grab hold of something to steady myself, cutting my hand in the process. Clumsy of me.’
‘I’m glad you’re all right.’
She smiled at him, desperate to tell him their news. ‘I am.’ She checked Sister wasn’t looking and pretended to straighten his bedclothes so she could lean a little lower. ‘I have news that affects us both,’ she said. ‘We’ll be travelling together back to England tomorrow. Isn’t that wonderful?’
‘And then what?’
‘I’m going to stay with a friend in Cornwall,’ she explained. ‘Then I’ll be returning here once my hand has healed. I’ve been given ten days’ leave.’
‘But we’ll be going our separate ways when we arrive in England and I’ll be stuck in another hospital somewhere.’ Archie gave her a pleading look. ‘I can’t bear to think that you’ll be so far away from me.’
‘Neither can I,’ she admitted. ‘But at least we will have some time together on the journey. It could be worse,’ she added when he still looked sad. ‘I could be leaving and you might have been sent away while I was gone. Then we wouldn’t even have had the chance to say goodbye.’
She heard Sister’s voice in the background. ‘I must go now, but I’ll see you in the morning. Try to get a good night’s sleep. This weather has been stormy for the past few days and I can’t imagine our crossing to England is going to be at all smooth.’
‘I will,’ he said. ‘And Phoebe?’
‘Yes?’
‘Thanks for telling me. I’m grateful that we’ll have this time together.’
‘So am I.’