Zoe sat at her desk, a take away cup of coffee paused mid way to her mouth as she typed one-handed with the other, quickly replying to as many emails as she could before she was due in theatre.
Her mobile vibrated on the desk and illuminated by her elbow. She glanced at it. Max's name appeared across the screen, the message scrolling up. She set the coffee down and clicked the message.
"Turn on hospital radio. M x"
She glanced back at the laptop, if she could get this email sent she would be done, she made to begin typing again but her phone made another rumble across the desk.
Max...
"Quickly."
She smiled. He knew her far too well.
She typed in the website address for the hospital radio into the laptop, ignoring the unsent email and clicked to begin listening.
She heard Noel's voice, she turned the volume up and leant back in the chair, taking up her cup of coffee again and sipping it, it was luke warm and tasted bitter.
"And now we have a unique request from an anonymous listener. This is a song for our very own Dr Hanna, and the message is..."
Noel's voice sounded muffled and there was the rustle of paper as his voice came across the ether.
"Number 11. Because I remember the important things."
Noel said, his voice stilted, she could imagine him frowning at the piece of paper.
"Dr Hanna I hope you're listening and I hope you know what that means...because we have no idea!"
Noel said, and Zoe smiled and a song began to play.
She recognised the music, what was it? She couldn't place it, and when the lyrics began she vaguely recognised the voice too, but she couldn't make out the words.
She turned the volume up again, and all of a sudden she realised what she was listening to, she remembered what he'd said that day when she'd struggled about on her heels as a porter.
I can sing 'Hey Jude' in Spanish...
She pressed her fingers to her lips, wanting to laugh, but not wanting to miss it. She smiled, her cheeks ached.
"I love you..."
She whispered as the song came to an end and there was a rhythmic tap on her door.
"Come in?"
She called, and the door opened slowly to reveal Robyn who stood in the door frame, her face flushed, and Lofty who stood next to her looking as though he would much rather be somewhere else.
"Everything alright?"
Zoe asked, standing, reaching out and lowering the volume of the radio as Noel's voice reappeared.
Robyn watched her, looked down at the laptop.
"I was just.."
"Are you sleeping with my brother?"
She asked all at once, cutting Zoe off and inhaling a gasp of breath.
"I thought we were going to be tactful...?"
Lofty murmured, his eyes widening as Zoe looked between the two of them.
"Excuse me?!"
She asked, and she caught sight of Max in the distance behind them, she stood up straight, hoping he would notice, willing him to look up...
"It's just we heard the radio show..."
Lofty began, and Robyn, regaining the power of speech, though her face was blotched with embarrassment, managed to continue.
"I've heard Max in the shower...he's the only person in the world who would bother to learn Hey Jude in Spanish."
She said quietly, clearly fit to burst, desperate to know...
She glanced again at Max who was nearing her office and as she did so he looked up. She widened her eyes at him and he pulled a face, noting the backs of his sister and Lofty.
He quickened his pace and before anyone had the chance to speak again he draped his arms over the shoulders of Robyn and Lofty and leant between them.
"Alright?"
He asked, and Robyn wafted a hand in his face.
"You stink of cigarettes."
She said, screwing up her nose and pushing him away.
He stood up straight and ushered them in, closing the door behind him.
"What did you do that for?"
Lofty asked, and Max glanced back at the door.
"I had a feeling that this might be one of those 'closed door' conversations."
He said after a moments thought.
"So you are sleeping with him."
Robyn said, looking at Zoe pointedly who opened her mouth to speak but found no words to say.
"Uh..well, sleeping with me would imply a short term thing...a fling or casual relationship..."
Max began, fumbling his way through the sentence as both Robyn and Lofty stared at him, eyes wide, waiting for whatever it was that he was trying to say.
"This is...I mean..."
"What I hope Max is trying to say is that we are in a relationship..."
Zoe continued for him, and he held out a hand, gesturing with relief.
"Yes! A mature...adult relationship."
He added when Robyn tossed him a look.
"But we'd appreciate it if this wasn't spread about the hospital just yet."
Zoe said, and Lofty nodded whilst Robyn still stared at her brother, amusement twitching her lips.
"Won't say a word."
Lofty said, and pressed a hand to Robyn's forearm.
"We'll just..."
Robyn gestured towards the door and Lofty opened it, holding it open for her.
"Sorry..."
He mumbled as they slipped through.
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
"She's going to tell everybody isn't she."
Zoe said, watching how quickly Robyn moved off across the ward through the glass in the door.
Max followed her gaze.
"Probably gone to find her mega phone."
He said.
More soon! xxx