‘Yes, it did. That’s why you’ll be with her for all the procedures that we’re going to do at the clinic. So that she’s always got a familiar face to reassure her.’
She smiled. Mercy was going to love that smile.
‘I’ll do my best for her.’
Charlotte snapped into work mode as soon as they entered the doors of the hospital, following quietly behind him, listening carefully to everything that was said. Edward stopped at the nurses’ station and caught the attention of a trainee nurse who seemed to have nothing to do.
‘Will you get me Mercy’s notes, please?’
The nurse jumped to attention, handing him the file. ‘She had a good night last night. Woke up a few times, but she wasn’t crying the way she did before.’
‘Good. This is Charlotte King. She’s going to be looking after Mercy when she comes to the Hunter Clinic.’ He squinted at the nurse’s name badge, because he couldn’t for the life of him remember her name. ‘Charlotte, this is Kendra.’
Charlotte ignored Kendra’s dismissive look and stepped forward. ‘Hi, Kendra. It’s good to hear that Mercy’s been so well looked after here.’
Kendra sniffed, obviously feeling that her role as a very junior nurse at one of the best children’s hospitals in the country made her in some way superior to Charlotte. She had a lot to learn.
‘You’re a qualified nurse?’
‘Yes, I’m an RN. Working towards being a Nurse Practitioner,’ Charlotte replied quietly. She didn’t seem to mind Kendra’s attitude, however much it rankled with Edward.
‘Charlotte!’ A voice behind them made her turn. ‘How good to see you—how are you?’
The senior nurse who greeted Charlotte obviously knew her well. Kendra realised her mistake and disappeared out of range as quickly as she could, followed by a small smirk of satisfaction from Edward.
‘So how’s Isaac?’ Sandra Morton gave Edward a brief nod and then turned back to Charlotte.
‘Oh, growing up. He’s going to school now.’
‘Really? Yes, I suppose he must be. He was such a cute baby. And how’s Peter?’
A small pause.
Edward wasn’t sure whether he should intervene or not, and decided that Charlotte was perfectly capable of handling the situation herself. Much better than he could, probably. He started to leaf through Mercy’s notes.
‘Actually, I haven’t seen him for a while. He left.’
‘No! But he was such a nice guy—’ Sandra stopped herself. ‘Obviously not.’
‘It just didn’t work out. But everything’s good now.’
‘Great. I hear you’re working at the Hunter Clinic?’
‘That’s right. I’m here with Mr North to see one of your patients.’
‘Ah, Mercy. Well, I’m glad to see that you’ll be looking after her. The kid’s had a bad time, and she deserves the best.’
Charlotte grinned. ‘She’ll get it. Just as she has here.’
Sandra nodded. There was clearly a great deal of mutual esteem between the two women and it warmed Edward to see Charlotte being treated with the respect she deserved.
‘Well, I’d better get going. Call me some time—or I’ll call you. Maybe we can go out one evening?’
&nb
sp; ‘Yes. It’s good to see you, Sandra.’
Charlotte turned back to Edward, and he flipped a page in the notes in front of him.