The Outback Nurse. Carol Marinelli

her, he obviously didn’t want to talk about his loss. The difference was, she was too polite to push it. ‘Can I get you one?’

      Clem shook his head.

      ‘Another beer, then, or a cup of tea perhaps?’ she offered.

      ‘Olivia, sit down a moment. There’s something I must tell you,’ Clem said in a serious voice. She tentatively sat down. What on earth could it be?

      ‘You must promise not to tell any of the patients this. If it were to get out, so many people would be offended.’

      Olivia nodded nervously. Whatever was he going to say? She’d only known him five minutes.

      He leant over the table, taking her hand and drawing her nearer, looking around to make sure nobody could hear. Leaning forward, she listened intently.

      ‘I hate tea. Absolutely loathe the stuff, and every day I’m forced to drink gallons.’

      ‘What?’ Olivia looked up at him, startled. Was that it? Throwing his head back, he started to laugh, so loudly, in fact, that a few of their fellow diners turned around, smiling, to see what was so funny. Unperturbed, he carried on until finally she joined in. It had been so long since she’d truly laughed and, what’s more, she marvelled, it felt wonderful.