The Midwife's New Year Wish. Jennifer Taylor

in the country.’

      ‘I suppose it’s good to be able to put it on your CV,’ she suggested, but Nick shrugged.

      ‘That’s less important than the experience I’ll gain here.’ He glanced at the items she’d given him, giving her no chance to question him further. ‘Can I be really cheeky and ask if you can spare some sugar as well? I can drink my tea and coffee black but I can’t bear to drink it without any sugar.’

      ‘I don’t take sugar but there should be some in the kitchen,’ Katie told him.

      She led the way from the room, wishing that she’d had the time to find out what he’d meant by that remark. In her experience, most registrars were more concerned about the prestige to be gained from working at Dalverston, and the positive effect it could have on their careers. However, Nick seemed less concerned with that aspect of the job than the experience it would afford him. She would have loved to delve deeper but there was no way she could think of to switch the conversation back so she found the sugar and poured some into a cup then took the spare carton of milk she’d bought out of the fridge and gave that to him as well.

      ‘Is there anything else you need? Biscuits? Some bread? Maybe some eggs?’

      ‘No, this is great. I’ll be able to eat in the canteen so I’ve got everything I need right here, thanks. Obviously, I’ll pay you back as soon as the shops are open again.’

      ‘Don’t worry about it,’ she assured him. ‘A few tea-bags aren’t going to break the bank.’

      ‘Maybe not, but I don’t want you thinking I’m freeloading off you.’

      ‘I don’t. Really!’

      ‘Good.’ He grinned at her and Katie felt her heart give that odd little spasm again that it had done before and quickly turned away.

      ‘I’d better get to bed,’ she said, leading the way into the corridor. Maybe Nick did have an odd effect on her but it would be foolish to read too much into it when she was so tired.

      Nick glanced at his watch as he followed her out of the kitchen and groaned. ‘Is that really the time? You must be cursing me for keeping you chatting when you want to get to sleep. Thanks again, Katie. You’re a real life-saver.’

      With that he disappeared towards the stairs and Katie heard him walking along the upper landing as she made her way back to her room. She undressed and took a quick shower in the tiny en suite bathroom. Ten minutes later she was in bed but even though she was tired after the busy night she’d had, sleep was a long time coming. And when she did finally drift off she dreamt that Santa was kissing her…a Santa who looked remarkably like Nick Lawson, in fact.

      The staff canteen was packed when Nick arrived shortly after one o’clock that afternoon. He joined the queue at the serving counter and opted for a full Christmas lunch when his turn came. He was ravenously hungry and the crisp roast potatoes, turkey and vegetables looked absolutely delicious.

      He paid for his meal then looked for somewhere to sit, half hoping that he’d spot Katie and half hoping that he wouldn’t. He knew it would be unfair to make a play for her but it didn’t stop him enjoying being with her so it was rather a mixed blessing when he couldn’t see any sign of her in the canteen. He finally opted for an empty seat at a table near the door and introduced himself to the rest of the people at the table as he sat down. One of the nurses worked on the children’s ward and remembered him from the carol concert so that broke the ice. Nick soon found himself drawn into the conversation and was even starting to enjoy himself when the same nurse suddenly spotted a friend coming into the canteen and waved to her.

      Nick obligingly moved up to make room for the newcomer but it was only when he saw Katie carrying her tray across the room that he realised she was going to join them. His heart gave a little leap of excitement as she squeezed into the gap beside him but he quickly battened it down. Katie wasn’t the type of woman who fitted his usual requirements for a girlfriend, he reminded himself sternly, and he mustn’t take the chance of hurting her…He almost choked on a sprout when he realised how arrogant that sounded when there was no reason to imagine that Katie was the least bit interested in him!

      ‘I see you made it up in time for lunch,’ she said lightly once she’d greeted the others. However, Nick was very aware that she had avoided meeting his eyes.

      ‘Just. It’s always hard to drag yourself out of bed when you’re on nights, isn’t it?’ he replied, trying not to dwell on the thought of why Katie might feel uncomfortable around him because it would only create problems…

      Did Katie feel uneasy because she was aware of him, too? the part of his mind that refused to co-operate demanded, and a second sprout shot down the wrong way. Nick turned beetroot-red as he spluttered inelegantly into his paper napkin and he saw Katie look at him in concern.

      ‘Are you all right?’

      ‘Fine, apart from trying to choke myself on the veg,’ he gurgled, feeling like a total idiot. He managed to clear the obstruction and smiled wanly at the rest of the group, who were all staring at him now. ‘I’ll make sure I chew everything twenty times from now on like my mother taught me to do.’

      ‘Don’t you worry about it. We’re all trained in the art of CPR, aren’t we, girls?’ The nurse from the children’s ward, who’d told him her name was Mel, winked at him. ‘If you need the kiss of life then I’m sure one of us would be more than happy to oblige!’