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No one had had the nerve to outright ask her. Candy was quite plump and they were clearly trying to work out if she’d been hitting the doughnuts or if indeed she was pregnant.
Imagine them knowing she was pregnant by Gerry.
‘You’re very quiet this morning,’ Macey said as Candy turned off the taps and helped her to get dried and dressed.
‘I’m sorry, Macey, I was miles away.’
‘Dreaming of Hawaii, no doubt,’ Macey said. ‘Are you looking forward to your holiday?’
‘I am,’ Candy said. ‘I fly on Friday night.’
‘It’s Wednesday today.’ Macey smiled. ‘I think for the first time in years I actually know what day it is.’
‘You’re so much better,’ Candy commented, as Macey dressed herself with just a little help. When they got back to the bed, Candy would remove Macey’s dressing for Steele to have a look at her leg ulcer, which was doing much better. After lunch, Macey would lie on the bed for a couple of hours’ sleep, but apart from that she sat in the chair or walked to the day room. It was wonderful to see the improvement in her.
‘Steele says I should be able to go home next week.’
‘How do you feel about that?’ Candy asked as she walked with Macey back to her bed.
‘I’m looking forward to it very much,’ Macey said. ‘I’m having some modifications done to the bathroom and kitchen, which my niece Linda is sorting out for me. Things will be a lot easier now.’
‘Your nieces seem very nice.’
‘Oh, they’re wonderful women.’ Macey nodded, taking a seat by the bed and putting her leg up on a footstool. She watched as Candy made up the bed. ‘You’ve earned your holiday,’ Macey said. ‘I wish I could be here to see the postcard.’
‘I’ll send you one, Macey.’ Candy smiled, despite her earlier declaration about not sending any. ‘If you’re okay with that?’
‘Oh, yes, please! It would make my day! Is it just you going?’
Candy nodded.
‘Hawaii would be a beautiful place to go with the right man...’
‘It would,’ Candy agreed, her heart twisting as she thought how close she had come to sharing a part of her holiday with Steele.
‘You don’t have a boyfriend, though,’ Macey continued. ‘If I remember rightly.’
‘No.’
‘And you’re carrying?’ Macey said gently, and Candy’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded.
‘I’m having twins.’
‘Congratulations, my dear.’
Macey was the first person to offer congratulations and she said it so nicely that Candy started to cry.
‘Pull the curtains,’ Macey said.
‘No, no.’ Candy sniffed. ‘I’ll go to the staffroom.’
‘You’ll pull the curtains and sit with me for a while.’ Macey’s orders were clear and Candy did as she was told.
‘Have you told...?’ Macey hesitated. She had been about to ask if Candy had told Steele, if that was what the argument the other day had been about, but her sharp mind was returning. Macey sat quietly for a moment, remembering when she had been admitted and had snapped at Steele for being a locum. It had only been his second day here, Macey recalled.
Certainly there had been a romance between Candy and Steele. She had seen it unfold in front of her own eyes.
‘Have you told the baby’s father?’ she asked instead.
‘Macey...’
She saw Candy swallow and reached out to take the hands of the younger woman to encourage her to speak on.
‘I made a mistake a few months ago, so please don’t feel sad for me when I say this—I’m not a grieving widow. The baby’s father died a week ago.’
‘Gerry?’ Macey said, and watched Candy’s eyes widen in surprise. ‘I hear all the gossip.’
‘Yes.’ Candy gave a watery smile. ‘It was him.’
‘That’s very sad.’
‘It is,’ Candy said. ‘I don’t know how he’d have felt about it,’ she went on. ‘We wouldn’t have got back together but I’m sure we’d have sorted something out.’
‘What about Steele?’ Macey asked, and she watched the tears spill down Candy’s cheeks, though she neither confirmed nor denied there was anything going on.
