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For the briefest of seconds Rhuaridh looked a bit taken aback. But it seemed he was every bit as defensive as she was. ‘Death is private. Death is something that shouldn’t be shown in a TV show.’ He stepped forward. ‘If the same thing had happened to Magda’s baby, would you show that too?’
His words almost took her breath away. It was the first time she’d stuttered since she’d been around him. ‘W-what? N-no.’ She shook her head fiercely. ‘No. Of course not. What kind of people do you think we are?’
‘The kind of people who intrude in others’ lives, constantly looking for a story.’
An uncomfortable shiver shot down her spine. It was almost like Rhuaridh had been in the room with Louie when he’d been telling her to find a story, make a story, stir up a story to keep their part of the show the most popular. Now she was just cross.
‘Why did you agree to do this anyway? You obviously don’t want to be filmed. You couldn’t make it any more apparent that you don’t want us here. Haven’t you ever watched any of the reality TV shows based in hospitals before? What did you actually expect to happen?’
He put his hand to his chest. ‘I didn’t agree to this. Magda did. I had less than ten minutes’ notice that you were coming. And I couldn’t exactly say no, because my pregnant colleague had already signed the contract and negotiated a new X-ray machine for our department. So don’t make the mistake that any of this was my idea. And what makes you think for a second I’ve watched any reality TV shows?’ He almost spat those last words out.
The words burned her—as if what she was doing was ridiculous and worthless. Everything about this guy just seemed to rile her up in a way she’d never felt before. ‘Do you think it’s fun being around a guy all day who treats you like something on the bottom of their shoe?’
The A and E charge nurse, June, walked into the room. ‘What on earth is going on in here? I could hear you guys at the bottom of the corridor. This is a hospital, not some kind of school playground.’
It was clear that June wasn’t one to mince her words. Heat rushed into Kristie’s cheeks. How humiliating. She opened her mouth to apologise but June had automatically turned on Rhuaridh.
‘This isn’t like you. Why on earth are you treating Kristie like this? She’s only here doing a job and she spent most of yesterday on the ward talking to all the patients. They loved her. They want her to come back.’
Rhuaridh had the good grace to look embarrassed. He hung his head. It was almost odd seeing him like that, his hands on his hips and his gaze downward. He gave a low-voiced response. ‘Sorry, June. We’re having a bit of a difference of opinion.’
‘I’ll say you are. This is my A and E department and if you can’t play nicely together I’ll just separate you. Kristie? I hope you like kids. We’ve got a few in the room down the corridor who all need some kind of treatment—I’ve checked with the parents and you can film. Rhuaridh, I’ve got a potential case of appendicitis I need you to review and a couple of X-rays for you to look at.’ She looked at them both. ‘Now, hop to it. I’ve got a department to run.’ June turned on her heel and strode back out the door.
For a few seconds there was silence—as if both of them were getting over their outbursts. Rhuaridh spoke first. ‘You wouldn’t guess she was the mother of twins, would you?’
It was so not what she’d expected to hear, and unexpected laughter bubbled at the back of her throat.
It broke the tension in the room between them.
‘I’m sorry,’ he continued. ‘I haven’t been so hospitable and I know that. I guess I felt backed into a corner. This show isn’t something I would have agreed to—certainly never have volunteered for. But I can’t say no. The hospital needs the new X-ray machine. You can tell that alone just by the waiting room today.’ He gave a slow shake of his head as the corners of his lips actually turned upwards. ‘And you seem to have really bad timing.’
She let out a laugh. ‘What?’
He kept shaking his head. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if you’re a jinx. First the thing with John Henderson, then the thing with Magda. You always seem to be around when there’s a crisis.’
