The Spinster's Club

CASS: Four

Urs quickly regrouped as he made his way to the counter and glanced at his watch. Where had the time gone? One minute he'd been standing waiting his turn and the next it was quarter of an hour later and he was looking into a pair of startled brown eyes. What on earth had he done and why was she looking at him like that – as though he'd kicked a puppy or something? And why had she hurried off so quickly? Before he could even put two thoughts together? Man, she could move fast. It was as though the hounds of hell were after her. She had a great wiggle to her walk though, he noted through the window.
It was all too hard. His head hurt, he was so tired he could barely stand up straight and he was still desperate for that cup of coffee. He ordered a macchiato to go. Jools and Pete would be wondering where he was.
He hurried back across the street to the maternity wing, needing to focus on just one thing – after the coffee of course – and that was the health and well-being of his niece.
But the image of those dismayed brown eyes stayed with him.
Pete met him at Jool's room's doorway and beckoned him down the hallway a few steps. "She's asleep right now. Best if we don't disturb her."
Urs nodded and passed over his coffee to his brother in law. "Here, have some. You look like you could use it"
Pete took a grateful swig before handing it back. "I think last night was probably the longest night of my life."
"You and me both."
"Yeah, you were on the back of your bike and I was rubbing Jools' back all night."
"But you were in no danger of falling off if you fell asleep," said Urs passing his hand over his eyelids.
Pete delved into his jeans pocket handed over a house key. "Here, take this and get a few hour's sleep at our place. The spare bed is already made up. "
"But what if the doctors come around? Do you want me to be there with you?"
"We'll hear more later so you can get some shut eye. I'll sit with Jools and make sure she rests."
"If you're sure. She was looking very tired." Urs tried not to feel guilty for wanting to lie down.
"Yes, she needs to rest. I'm not even sure if she should see the physio today."
"Physio?"
"The midwife told me it's to make sure her lady parts get back into good working order. She said I'll be grateful later on." He rolled his eyes.
Urs put up a hand to stop him. "This is not a conversation I want to have with you about my sister. " He shook his head and thought of the strange woman at the coffee shop. "This has been a really bizarre day so far. I really must get some sleep." He extended his hand for the key.
As his fingers closed around the key, he recalled Pete's earlier unspoken concern . "Before I go, you were looking really worried in there before. Is there something I should know?"
Pete's eyes became serious. "No, apart from her prematurity, the doctors were pretty happy with her. But you didn't see how tiny she was, Urs. I could hardly believe it something that tiny could be a person." He held out his hands as though measuring a fish. "I've thrown back bigger ones fishing up at the lake!"
"But that's all? Everything's where it's supposed to be?" Urs couldn't keep the worry out of his voice.
"Apparently. I would never say this to Jools, but I thought she looked like a skun rabbit when she came out. All red and shrivelled. Jools thinks she's beautiful – of course."
Urs stifled a grin. His brother in law certainly wasn't one to gild the lily. "I'm sure her looks will improve very quickly."
"Of course they will. How could they not? Her parents are so darned attractive!" Pete was back to being the proud new father.
"Well on that note, I will go and grab some shuteye." And he headed back to the hospital car park.


Later that day – in the cafeteria.

Finally having changed out of her interview wear and back into her scrubs, Cass felt a little more like herself. She was on her lunch break and sharing some of Romy's special chocolates with Amy in the hospital cafeteria. Amy was proving to be a captive audience to Cass' tale of woe – only slightly exaggerated to garner maximum sympathy. Unfortunately Amy was laughing fit to bust.
"I'm glad my suffering amuses you," she snapped.
Amy sniggered. "I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing WITH you."
That only served to infuriate Cass. 'But that's the problem. I'm not laughing. I was humiliated."
"Don't exaggerate. He didn't know you thought he was checking you out. You said yourself that you heard him <snigger> snoring. Oh my God it's too funny. You were preening for a hot guy who was asleep." She reached for her phone. "Wait until I tell the girls. They will love it."
Cass glared at her. "Don't. You. Dare." She put her head in her hands and sighed. "You're right though. I stuck out my chest and I PREENED at him." She raised her hand. "I swear I will never again stick out my chest at a man."
Amy pursed her lips. "Well how are you gonna attract a guy if you don't put it out there," and she pushed out her own chest to demonstrate.
"Stop! You'll have someone's eye out. And it was more like this,' and she threw back her shoulders then hunched forward again, quickly looking around for fear of more embarrassment.
The only person who appeared to be paying them any attention was Dr Izambard. "Hey, isn't that your hot date from last night?"
Amy followed her gaze and her eyes shuttered. "He's not my ANYthing right now."
"Oh?' Cass watched the handsome doctor sipping his coffee with obvious pleasure, then take a seat on the other side of the room.
"Oh, was he.... you know?" Cass cocked her wrist.
It was Amy's turn to glare. "He insulted me. Terribly."
"What did he do? And by the way, how does he manage to get a decent coffee in this joint? I bet it's because he gets on so well with Rufus." Flamboyantly gay Rufus was the only staff member in the cafeteria who could work the temperamental coffee machine properly – and he seemed to have his favourite customers. Cass knew there was no point in having anything other than tea if Rufus wasn't behind the counter and in a good mood.
Amy shook her head in irritation. " I could care less about Sebastien's damn coffee."
"Sorry. I got distracted."
"Anyway, it was nothing like that." Amy's eyes became flinty. " He umm, well he err.... umm thinks I'm a Trannie."
Cass choked on her tea. "What?" she spluttered. "That you <cough> started out<cough, cough> life as a ...."
Amy had to finish the sentence. ... "yes, a male!"
Cass was still reeling. "What? With those puppies?" she pointed to Amy's breasts.
Amy sniffed. "Very good plastic surgery. Apparently."
"Uhhh......" Cass didn't know how to respond. "No? Seriously?"
Amy gave a tight nod.
Cass was utterly dumbfounded and shook her head. "I don't know what to say to that." Her lips trembled as she tried to hold back a snort of laughter. "You? A man? As if! No. it's too ridiculous!" and she broke down into helpless laughter.
Amy tried to maintain her dignity and arched an imperious eyebrow, but her lips quivered and moments later, she was laughing too.
Cass raised her mug of tea. "I know. Let's propose a toast. To stupid men, who don't know a good thing when it's under their noses!"
"I'll drink to that."
"And a decent cappuccino around here - with or without Rufus." Cass wrinkled her nose, glad she wasn't the only one whose love life was in the toilet.