They arrived at The Royal only five minutes late. Nevertheless, as they entered reception, the faces of the entire assembled staff turned to them, making them both redden considerably.
"Doctors Ormerod and Weatherill. Nice of you to join us." Mr Harper glared at them from the other side of them room.
As they edged behind everyone, Jill caught Matron's gaze, expecting to see a similar disapproving expression, but she smiled softly, tipping her an almost imperceptible nod.
Surprisingly two chairs were free side by side at the back, and they sat, relieved when everyone's attention returned to Mr Middleditch. Jill glanced at Gordon, catching his eye, their embarrassment obvious to the other.
She turned her attention back to Mr Middleditch, trying to listen to the numerous announcements he was listing, but her mind was elsewhere, worry was setting in. Soon either Gordon or herself would have to stand up tell all their colleagues everything. She would have to relive it once again.
All too soon Mr Middleditch came to the end of the announcements. "Thank you for listening everyone. Now I believe Doctors Ormerod and Weatherill have something quite serious to tell us."
For the second time that morning, all eyes were on the two doctors. Gordon was just about to stand when Jill surprised him by rising. "Yes Mr Middleditch." She replied quite calmly and recited all that had happened, with only as much detail as the staff needed to know. He gazed up at her composed form as she spoke, once again enormously proud of how she was handling it all.
She finished, nodding at Mr Middleditch as she lowered herself to her seat, immediately reaching out and sliding her hand into Gordon's. The rest of the staff were still staring at them, their expressions mixed; some appeared shocked, others upset or filled with sympathy, and some looked angry. The room was filled with murmurs and whispers as they discussed what they had just heard, until Mr Middleditch gathered their attention.
Gordon squeezed Jill's hand, making her turn to him as Mr Middleditch drew the meeting to a close. "Well done love." He whispered, leaning in and quickly kissing her cheek whilst no one was looking.
"Doctors!"
Jill and Gordon both jumped as Lizzie dashed past them, round into the staff area. They had been so absorbed in the other they hadn't noticed the rest of the congregation were dispersing to their respective tasks. For the third time that morning Jill felt her cheeks redden. She quickly stood, moving her chair, allowing people to pass more easily. Gordon followed suit and together they moved to the reception desk, bemusedly watching Lizzie muttering to herself and lifting various sheets of paper haphazardly stacked into vague looking piles.
"Here they are!" She finally declared, brandishing two pieces of paper, handing one to each of the doctors. "Your patient lists. And... Hang on a mo!"
Jill glanced at Gordon, biting her lip to stop herself laughing. This scene was one they were regularly greeted with, and whilst Jill, Gordon and most of the other staff found it endearing, Mr Harper found it highly irritating, illustrated at that particular movement as he bustled in, an expression of self-importance on his face. Gordon caught Jill's eye. They both knew what was coming.
"Lizzie! Look at this mess! How on Earth are you meant to find anything? I'm putting some paperwork here. I want them filed. And make sure you can file them so you can find them again!" With that he bustled back out, barking an order at a loitering nurse on the way.
Lizzie turned back to the doctors, a scowl pressed firmly on her features. "That man!" She huffed, returning to her previous search. "And here's your post!" She finally cried, surprisingly brightly considering the expression on her face.
"Thank you Lizzie." Gordon replied, taking a small stack of letters from her. Jill did the same.
She turned, flicking through her pile, consisting of two medical journals, various letters of correspondence, and three handwritten envelopes, the rigidity of which told her they contained cards.
Gordon, having seen these, placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her into her office and closing the door behind them. He gently extracted the cards from her hands and placed them in her desk drawer, shutting it firmly. "We'll go through these together at lunch, like we did this morning."
She nodded. "Let's go out after, give us something to look forward to."
"Good plan." He replied, leaning to place a kiss on her cheek. He made his way to her door, opening it, pausing just before he stepped out into the corridor. "Love you." He closed the door behind him, leaving Jill with a smile on her face. Whatever was thrown at her, Gordon always managed to make it a little better. She just hoped he'd always be around to do that.
