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“Watson, Mrs Watson.” Tilly unconsciously rubs the multiple carat engagement ring she wears above her platinum wedding band.
“Mrs Watson, Anna, if you could please excuse us.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Have you got everything, Anna?”
Anna nods. She looks at me.
“I’m okay, pet, honestly. Nurse Jones is just going to check everything, then I’ll be ready to rock and roll. You’d better get home. Santa’s going to be setting off soon. You don’t want to be out when he comes.”
Anna leaps across the cubicle, sending her plastic chair skittering across the linoleum floor. She gives a muted yelp, but continues on her mission, throwing her arms tightly round my neck.
“Love you, Uncle Ali.”
I wrap her in a bear hug and plant a kiss on her forehead.
“Love you, poppet. See you at Gran and Papa’s house on Boxing Day. Hope Santa’s good to you.”
“You too, Uncle Ali. Thank you for today. It was epic.”
I laugh. “You are welcome, sweetheart.”
Tilly throws her arms round us both. She kisses the top of my head. “See you later, little brother.”
“Bye, Sis.”
* * *
“Your observations are fine.You are good to go. We are drawing up your discharge paperwork now,” declares Nurse Jones, tapping her pen against her clipboard.
“That’s great, thanks very much.” I swing my legs from the bed. “I won’t keep you.”
“Sit down, Mr Whyte. You aren’t quite off the hook yet.”
I look at her. Was that a pun? Her head is bent over her notes so I can’t see her facial expression, but her cheeks look suspiciously pink.
“Are you teasing me, Nurse Jones?”
She lifts her eyes. She is smiling.
“So, you do know who I am,” I observe wryly.
“No,” she says, but the lie melts into a smile.
“Yes, you do. And you said you weren’t a rugby fan.”
“I’m not.” Her dark eyes are sparkling.
“But you know who I am.”
“Yes,” she concedes. “I’ve heard of you. Occasionally. Just when you did something interesting. In your career. Like that championship-winning pass in the 2000/2001 season.”
“Hmm. Interesting. Not bad knowledge for a non-rugby fan.”
“It was all over the papers. Hard to avoid.”
I can’t help but puff out my chest a bit.
She rolls her eyes.
