Doctor's Delight(52)
Cherry stared after Annabelle for several seconds before glancing down at herself. Her uniform shirt was like every other nurses’ in the hospital, but it didn’t exactly drape down over her hips so neatly like Maxie’s, nor did it nip in at the waist like Susie’s. It was exactly what it was, a large uniform top made to fit a large nurse.
“What a mole,” Maxie said from behind her.
Turning, Cherry saw her friend glaring in the direction that Annabelle had taken. “She’s right. It does—”
“Bullshit!” Angrily, Maxie looked at Cherry. “You’re worth four of that cold-hearted bitch, and don’t you start doubting yourself, you hear me? You have more going for you than she does. Don’t let her grind you under her cloven hoof.”
Surprised by the vehemence in her friend’s voice, Cherry gaped.
“I wouldn’t pee on that walking skeleton if she was on fire,” Maxie, “But you I would…I mean…” She stopped and grinned sheepishly. “Well, you know what I mean.”
Unable to help it, Cherry started laughing and gave Maxie a hug. “I know what you mean, and I’d be grateful. I think.”
“Just you remember it.” Maxie’s pager bleeped demandingly and she stepped back. “Bugger. I better go and see what room twenty five wants.” She frowned warningly at Cherry. “You just remember what I said.”
“I wouldn’t be game to forget it,” she assured her. Watching her friend walk away, Cherry had to admit that she did feel a little better.
Doubts still assailed her but no more than normal. Except for Rick. Now she’d seen Annabelle again, she was full of doubts about Rick’s attraction to her. Did men like Rick really look past the surface like he was trying to assure her? How could she be sure she wasn’t just something new for Rick to occupy himself?
And why the hell was she letting Annabelle’s poisonous words upset her? Shaking her head, she went back to the patient’s room. Right now she had other things to concern herself with, she had time for self-doubts when she’d finished work.
The time went fast and it didn’t seem long before she was leaving the hospital, stepping out into the warm sunshine. Looking up at the sky she saw clouds scudding past and wondered hopefully if they were finally in for some rain.
“Hey!”
Cherry waited for Maxie to catch up with her.
Maxie looked up at the clouds. “Rain?”
“We live in eternal hope.”
“Curtis’s Coffee Café.”
“What?” Cherry raised her eyebrows.
“We’re meeting Susie there.”
“We are? Why?”
“Because we’re plotting Annabelle’s downfall.” Maxie laughed at Cherry’s expression. “No, dummy. We’re going to bitch about the bitch, and spend some time loving ourselves. I’ll meet you there.”
“What makes you think I have time to go there?”
“Got a date with Dr Luscious?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Frizz and Sugar have no food?”
“As if! No, they have biscuits out and water, but—”
“You don’t want to play with us anymore?”
Cherry rolled her eyes. “Curtis’s Coffee Café it is. Let’s go.”
When they arrived, Susie was already sipping on iced tea and looking very cool and beautiful in white shorts and a pale blue top.
Maxie slid into the booth and Cherry slid in beside her.
“So, how are the slaves released from the sweat shop?” Susie queried.
“Relieved.” Cherry studied the menu.
“I don’t know why you bother doing that,” Maxie said. “You always order the same drink and food.”
Cherry frowned at her over the top of the menu.
“Bet you don’t do that with Rick,” Susie drawled.
“I do,” Cherry replied.
“Really?”
“I don’t take crap from him.”
“Really?”
“Or anyone else, for that matter.”
“Only Annabelle Forbes,” Maxie muttered.
“Ah, Annabelle Forbes.” Susie pursed her lips. “Rude bitch extraordinaire.”
“That’d be the one.”
Cherry shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Of course we worry about it,” Susie said. “You worry, we worry.”
“I’m not worried.” Cherry glanced up at the waitress who approached and gave her usual order. “A small hot chips and a glass of Diet Coke.”
Maxie smirked at Cherry as she gave her own order. Cherry stuck her tongue out at her.
“Children,” Susie admonished. “Enough.”