Anna looked at the time and saw she had to rush, a quick kiss for the kids and James her husband, with a friendly slap on his rump,then she was out, skilfully avoiding his riposte.
"I'll get you tomorrow," he shouted as she left.
"Promises, always promises," she shot back.
In truth, they had a good marriage after 8 years and 2 children. They were both still in love and faithful, with a good sex life. They had met in a pub in London, near the hospital where she had just finished training as a Children's Nurse. The fact he could look her in her soulful brown eyes, rather than a foot below at her impressive 36D's, was a big first hurdle, most men failed to pass.
When they married, they had moved to the country and bought a lovely house with a mortgage to match. Anna had continued to work Full Time on the kids ward in the local NHS hospital, apart from breaks for the children, to help pay for said mortgage. Two weeks ago, she had finally given up trying to balance a day job, with a young family and a home to manage. A vacancy had arisen for a Senior Night Sister on the male and female trauma and orthopaedic wards. It involved three or four 12 hour shifts a week, leaving the rest of the time free. She was enjoying it, rather to her surprise, developing a good working relationship with the four experienced Nursing Auxiliaries who worked under her.
Anna arrived on the Male Ward and after a handover from the day staff, she started on the night time medicine round, whilst the other nurses helped settle the less able patients. She heard the appreciative murmurs and sensed the looks, as she moved round the Men's Ward. No false modesty, she new that she was worth the admiration. At 30, she still had the excellent, feminine figure of her pre children days, maintained by her daily runs. Her dark blond hair was tied in a bun for work, her round face and even features were pretty, rather than beautiful. Her preference for hold up stockings rather than pantyhose, was the talk of the ward. A number of patients had dropped books or magazines, to try and confirm it. She had no idea how they had found out. It had never been a problem on the kids ward, except with some of the fathers of course.
Anna drew a breath before entering the four bedded side room 7, where the young men recovering from surgery, were egging each other to become more rowdy and disrespectful each night. She entered to appreciative whistles and left with one of them openly masturbating under his sheet.
Finally there was young Tim's single room, a delightful, quiet and intelligent 18 year old, who was due surgery next day to stabilise a spinal injury from a rugby game. He had no spinal cord damage and the operation was to prevent that happening in future. He and his mother, Penny, looked tense as she entered.
"It's time to leave Pen, I need to tuck him up for the night."
She left with a tearful kiss for her son and a smile for Anna. She was waiting outside for Anna as she left the room.
"Can I have a quick word Anna, I know the surgeon is excellent, but he upset Tim saying there was a small chance of spinal damage and impotence from the Op tomorrow. It's silly, but it's the last risk that's spooked him. He is a good looking boy, but he studies so hard and has never had a girlfriend, he just worries he never will now."
"It isn't going to happen Pen, the Doctor is just doing his job, explaining all the risks."
Penny left to catch her bus, a little reassured.
When Anna had finished the round on the Female ward, she quietly went back to Tim's room, to check on him. He was sitting up with the light on, staring at the wall.
"Your Mum told me about your worries, the surgery is pretty straightforward, I am sure you will sail through it," Anna said.
"Yes but what if there are problems, the doctor wouldn't have said it, if it never happened."
"Anything is possible, but Mr Proctor the surgeon is the best there is."
Tim looked unconvinced, almost tearful, though he was hiding it.
"Look, you're all sweaty, I'll come back and give you Sister Anna's famous relaxing, cool bed bath, OK."
"Thanks Anna."
She was lost in thought whilst she prepared the bath trolley and told Joanna, one of the nurses, what she was doing.
