Reg Wright
CHAPTER ONE
A night out at Maxim's
Jennifer looked at the clock on the waiting-room wall. Nearly half-past eight. The light was still on in Doctor Gibson's room. I'm going to be late, she said to herself, why doesn't he hurry up? The evening surgery was always busy on Thursdays but tonight was worse than usual.
She quickly put the newspapers in a cupboard. Then she took off her white coat and locked it in the cupboard too. She was turning off the lights when someone rang the front doorbell. Oh no, not another patient, not at this hour. She ran to the door and opened it. Outside it was dark but she could see a man, his hands deep in his pockets. He moved his head and the light fell on his face.
'Richard!' she cried in surprise. 'What are you doing here?'
'Can I come in for a minute?'
He did not wait for an answer but pushed past her and went inside.
Jennifer turned to him. She was usually pleased when Richard called, but this was the wrong time. 'I'm sorry, but you can't stay. I must hurry. I'm meeting my friend Claire for dinner and...' She stopped. It was Richard's eyes - they looked tired and worried.
'What's the matter?' she asked.
Just then Dr Gibson called from his room. 'Did I hear the doorbell, Nurse? Was it another patient?'
'No, it's only my brother Richard,' she called back.
She turned back to Richard. 'Is something wrong?' she asked again.
He shook his head. 'I'm fine,' he said. 'It's just... well, I had some trouble at work.'
'Trouble?'
'It was nothing, really. I said something to my boss and he didn't like it. He got angry with me and... and in the end he told me to go. So I've lost my job.'
'Oh Richard, not again! Why do you do these things?' Jennifer was beginning to feel cross with him. 'And now you have no money, is that it?'
'Take it easy, Jenny. I don't need very much. Only twenty pounds. I'll pay you back next week - really I will.' He put his hand on her arm. 'You can do that for me, can't you? Just twenty pounds. It's for a present.'