“Think of it as a test. If you survive this, the town will be a piece of cake.”
Inside the small, one-ward hospital, she found the front desk unmanned. A sign informed her that the receptionist was on lunch and all inquiries were to be directed to the nurses’ desk. One hurdle down.
Ellie headed along the familiar corridor. She’d been here many a time in her teens when Flynn had broken limbs or dislocated things on the football field. Nothing had changed. She kind of hoped there’d be another sign on the nurses’ desk directing her back to reception—then she’d simply hunt Mat down on her own.
She had no such luck. Behind the desk stood a glamorous nurse in a short medical ensemble that looked more appropriate for a fancy dress party than the requirements of the job.
The nurse looked up as Ellie padded toward her. She flicked a long, blond ponytail over one shoulder and her perfect green irises glistened as if she were a pirate laying eyes on a monumental treasure.
“Well. Well. Well.” She looked slowly up and down as if assessing Ellie’s less-than-fashionable attire. “If it isn’t Elenora. The runaway bride returns.”
Pain speared Ellie’s chest. At the nurse’s reference to one of the most regrettable moments of her life, she summoned all she’d learned in front of the camera and tried for an air of polite indifference.
“Lauren.” Ellie smiled tightly, quaking inside. At the same time, she clocked the nurse’s ring finger, her heart relaxing at the absence of any marital bling. Lauren Simpson had always had her sights on Flynn. “I’m here to collect Matilda. Can you tell me her room number, please?”
Lauren scoffed. “This isn’t the big smoke, princess. We don’t have hundreds of rooms to choose from. She’s the second door on the left. I’ll get her discharge papers ready.”
“Thank you.” As Ellie turned, she screwed up her face in disbelief. Some things never changed. On the other hand, never would she have imagined Lauren becoming a nurse. But all thoughts of her archenemy left as she came to Matilda’s door, which was slightly ajar. The room was quiet and dimly lit, the antithesis of its occupant. She peered in, noting two foot-shaped lumps at the end of the bed.
“Mat?” she called, knocking at the same time.
There was slight movement under the covers and then a loud shriek. “Is that you, girl? Jeez, Els, you don’t have to knock. Get yourself in here quick smart.”
Grinning, Ellie pushed the door but almost stumbled as she caught sight of her godmother. She tried to hide the shock on her face. Mat looked ghastly. Usually a towering, well-built woman, she now seemed frail and tiny in this hospital bed. Her face was sallow, and gray bags drooped under her big brown eyes despite the enforced rest.
“What are you gawping at, sweet?” came Matilda’s disapproving voice. “Never seen a sick old woman before? Get over here and give us a cuddle.”
Relaxing, Ellie rushed to the bed and climbed up alongside her old friend. “The only thing sick about you is your sense of humor.” She laughed into Mat’s hair as they wrapped their arms around each other and clung tightly. “Golly, it’s good to see you again.”
They stayed like that for an aeon before Matilda, her voice slightly choked, pulled back, tugged off Ellie’s cap and tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ears. “Don’t go getting all sentimental on me. Hysterics won’t get me out of this prison. Which better be why you’re here.”
“Why else?” Ellie shrugged and recognition flashed between them.
Matilda opened her mouth as if about to speak but Lauren swanned into the room.
“Afternoon, Ms. T,” she said with a warmth Ellie had never witnessed in her before. Ever. “Looks like today’s your lucky day.” She turned to Ellie. “Sheila, the other nurse on duty, will be in to help Ms. Thompson get ready. If you can come with me, I’ll run you through her pain relief medication and hire you out a wheelchair.”
No, was what Ellie wanted to say. I’ll just stay right here, while you fetch the chair and tablets. But perhaps she was overreacting, her imagination getting away with her. Although Lauren’s red fingernails were inappropriately long for a nurse, how much damage could she really do?
“Okay,” Ellie said. She leaned over and kissed Matilda on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
They were barely out of Mat’s earshot before Lauren started. “You’ve got some nerve coming back here.”
“Still predictable, I see,” Ellie replied, before she thought better of it. Probably not a good idea to bait the wildcat.
Lauren froze. Her eyes narrowed and her hands moved to her hips. “What’s that’s supposed to mean?”
For a split second Ellie felt as if she were back in high school. “I thought you might have come up with something more original, but no, you said what I’m expecting everyone will say.”
Ellie saw her opponent’s fists bunch. “Whatever. You think you’re so fabulous, don’t you? Well, not in Hope you’re not. Apart from Matilda, no one wants you here. Especially not Flynn.”
Ellie’s rib cage tightened. She didn’t want to talk about Flynn, especially not with Lauren. With false calm, she tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. “I’m only here for Mat.” Damn, even she could hear the crack in her voice. “So if you don’t mind telling me what I need to know about her painkillers and recovery, I’d like to take her home, please.”
“Always about you,” muttered Lauren. She turned and headed back toward the nurses’ station.
Fifteen minutes later and not nearly quickly enough, Ellie and Sheila had Matilda settled as best they could in the front seat of the golden Premier.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” Ellie asked as she reversed the beast out of the parking spot.
Matilda shuffled slightly in her seat. “Don’t worry about me. Did she leave claw marks?”
Ellie summoned a chuckle. Typical Matilda, worrying about everyone else when she needed all her energies for herself.
“You mean Lauren? She didn’t bother me. I just can’t believe she’s a nurse.”
“Stranger things have happened at sea,” Mat surmised, quoting one of her favorite phrases. “Besides, everyone knows she only did it for the cute, wealthy doctors.”
Ellie couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Has she had any luck?”
“None whatsoever!” Matilda roared. “Oh, we’ve had plenty of eligible doctors pass through. All are more than happy to pamper her desires while in town. But much to her dismay, none of them ask her to go with them when they move on.” Matilda paused, then added with a wicked tone, “Perhaps she should have become an actress instead.”
Ellie’s laugh was drier this time. “Trust me, there’s no surefire success there, either.”
On-screen and off, the best love she’d ever had was during her time in Hope Junction. Misfortune had played a hand in the demise of that relationship, and she’d been unlucky in love ever since.
“Here we are,” she announced.
A fact about small-town life: it didn’t take any time at all to get from one place to another, which wasn’t always a good thing. Travel time had its perks— opportunities to ponder, talk, read or just rest. But Matilda’s whole face lit up as she stared delightedly at her cottage.
“Now we just have to work out how to unfold the wheelchair and get you inside.”
An “ugh” escaped Matilda’s lips and the joy on her face softened. She gestured to her plastered limb. “If this is God’s idea of a joke, I’m crossing to the dark side.”
Ellie smiled. She wasn’t sure she believed