Nurse at Large

By Christine Davies Curtis

In this sequel to ‘Nurses in Training’ which can be read as a ‘stand alone’ romance, we meet again Tina Anderson and Hine Weaver.
The two nurses are now State Registered and plan to travel out to New Zealand to try and find Hine’s little son. Sally, the third of the three friends, has married Peter Phillips, the surgeon and lives happily in the Midlands of England.
Hine and Tina decide to travel out by ship, and helped by Peter Phillips get employment on the ‘Fairsky’ to help pay their way. Hine starts out in the nursery and Tina is the ship’s nurse. At first Tina has trouble with the only doctor, Jim Wainright who is grieving for his wife who died in childbirth. He has taken to solving his problem with alcohol, but after a dramatic crisis when Hine has to step in to help in the surgery he discovers that his heart is not entirely broken.
Arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Jim and Hine go in search of her son Tane and travel to the South Island, meeting up with Tane’s father.
Tina, in the meantime takes a job for a short while as a Matron of a small Medical and Post Operative Hospital in Auckland. Here she looks after Ainsley Robb, and through her meets her son David; a red-headed strong-willed Scotsman. From the first the sparks fly, but could this be the man Tina has been waiting for?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine Davies Curtis
• Release date: May 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463969700

Christine Davies Curtis

Chris Davies Curtis now lives in the north of Auckland, in Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand to be near son Roy and family. Much of her very adventurous life has been spent as a community nurse, in London, the tiny feudal Island of Sark in the British Channel Isles, and New Zealand. She also ran a guest house and smallholding in Sark and toured New Zealand for two years in a Bedford van. She has travelled extensively, and now is writing about her experiences, self-illustrating her books.

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NURSES AT LARGE

by

Chris Davies Curtis

by

Published by Chris Curtis Books

Copyright 2020 belongs to Christine Davies Curtis

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Discover other books by Chris Davies Curtis

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CHAPTER 1

‘But Tina, you can’t go all the way to New Zealand!’ Beth Anderson’s usual calm deserted her. ‘What will I say to my friends?’

Tina had known her news would not be welcome but had hoped her parents would understand.

‘I thought you were going to marry Jerry and settle in Guernsey.’

‘Mother...I mean Beth...’ Tina just could not get used to calling her mother by her Christian name... ‘where did you get that idea, about Guernsey? Have you been talking to Jerry?’

Beth looked a little uncomfortable. ‘Well, he phoned when you were back at the hospital, before you left your last duty. We had a lovely chat.’

‘Oh, Mother! It’s none of your business. I’m going just as soon as we can book our tickets.’ Exasperated, Tina walked out of the French windows and into the immaculate garden. She sat for a while to calm herself, letting the breeze ruffle her wavy auburn hair, and removed her glasses. She closed her eyes and lifted her face towards the sunlight.

The August weather was cool after the two previous scorching months. Tina thought back to her friend Sally’s June wedding and was glad that the weather had been better. Tina, Hine and Sally had been close friends through their Nursing training; now there were just the two of them.

The return to St Mary’s Hospital for the last few months had been an anti-climax, but at least there was her friend Hine to chat with. There was a lot to talk about. After they both passed their exams as State Registered Nurses they felt they could now look to the future.

Tina had always wanted to travel and when Hine announced she was going back to her native New Zealand, she felt it was an opportunity not to be missed and also a chance to escape Jerry’s attentions.

‘I’m coming to New Zealand too, if you’ll have me.’

‘Of course I want you to come.’

‘Right, that’s settled.’

Now, as Tina returned to the tidy sitting room where her mother sat upright pretending to knit, she began to feel a little sorry for her outburst.

‘Anyway it may not be for some time. We haven’t booked yet.’

Somewhat mollified, Beth decided to drop the subject until her only daughter was due to return to the hospital.

‘Well, it is not as if you are going to emigrate, and my friend Maude, at the Women’s Institute said English-trained nurses are much sought-after. Maybe you can come along and give us a talk when you return.’

Tina cringed at the thought, but was wise enough to make no comment. She kissed her parents ‘goodbye’ as she headed back to St Mary’s for the final few weeks.

The old house she shared with Hine and two medical students was as welcoming as always. The golden August light gilded the worn patches on the Persian carpet and scuffed antique furniture left by the elderly owner when she went into a retirement home.

Tina drew a deep breath of rose-scented air as she passed an open window and knocked on Hine’s bedroom door.

‘Come in. That you, Tina?’

The Maori girl was sprawled on her bed with leaflets and pieces of paper scattered around her.

‘Have a good time? How did it go?’

Tina pulled a face. ‘What I expected. I know my father will miss me: we’ve always been close but he’ll be retiring soon and can concentrate on his writing. And you know my mother; she wants me to get married to someone wealthy or famous and produce grandchildren.’

Hine nodded but had not really been paying attention. ‘I’ve done a bit of research while you’ve been away.’ Hine picked up one of the brochures. ‘Look at this.’

‘Sitmar Line; Fairsky? Wow, it looks luxurious. It says there are five decks and a deep swimming pool, courts marked for deck tennis and quoits, also ping-pong tables.’ Tina flipped the page over and read aloud, ‘The ship features three dining rooms, a grand social hall, children's playroom, a writing room and library, Bavarian tavern and two further bars, also a cinema.’

It was then Tina noticed her friend’s expression.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Have you seen the fare? Even an inside cabin is beyond us.’

‘I got carried away. What are we going to do?’

Hine leapt up and grabbed the brochure. ‘Look, it says there’s a children’s playroom and also an equipped hospital with operating theatre and isolation ward.’

‘So?’

‘Well, they’ll need staff, won’t they?’

Tina sat stunned for a moment. ‘But how do you get the jobs? Just write to the company or what? I mean I expect they advertise.’

‘I know, I’ll ask my dad. He must know something about it.’

Hine’s father had been in the Merchant Navy for several years after his marriage to Hine’s mother ended. He had enjoyed his work in the South Island sheep station in New Zealand but after his wife left and Hine travelled to England to train as a nurse, he had decided to change his life too. He thought he would leave the sea when Hine had finished her training but found he loved the life so much, he decided to sign on for a few more years.

He was due for a short leave and as there were two beds in Tina’s room, Hine moved in with her friend and offered her room to her father.

‘Much better than an hotel, Dad. Anyway we need to ask you some questions.’

Stan Weaver looked at his beautiful daughter with pride. She had acquired a poise the hard work had given her. Her skin showed her Maori blood as a golden glow, while her dark hair and eyes shone. She had changed so much in the three years of her nursing training. It had been the best decision he had made, although he knew it had broken her heart to leave her baby son with his wife’s people in New Zealand. Stan had never really understood the Maori culture, but had agreed that a young girl of sixteen would have found it impossible to bring up an illegitimate child on her own.

He sadly thought of his only grandchild, now about six years old and wondered where he was. Since his wife’s leaving him and then dying a year ago he had no idea how they could find young Tane. Hine had told him about the letter she had received from the cousin who was looking after the little boy, which had taken all of a year to reach her. The family group had split up and the letter had asked Hine to come and collect her son. Hine had replied to the address, but the letter had been returned marked ‘not known here.’

Stan’s thoughts were interrupted by Hine. ‘So what do you think, Dad?’

‘Er, sorry. Was miles away!’

‘Yes we noticed.’ Hine sat by her father on the bed and waved some brochures under his nose.

‘Do you know about the ‘Fairsky?’ It’s a ship in the Sitmar line.’

‘Yes I know of it. She’s been around since 1941, first as a cargo ship and did a bit of service in the War, but then was converted to an ocean liner a few years ago . . . 1958 I think it was. Supposed to be pretty good, but of course it will be full of immigrants to Australia on the ‘Assisted Migration Scheme.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Not thinking of applying for that, are you? Only cost ten pounds. Not sure if you would be eligible. Anyway you have to do contract work in Australia for two years.’

Tina had been quietly listening. She did not know Hine’s father very well, as most of her leave had been spent with her parents or Jerry.

At the thought of the young man who had relentlessly pursued her for two years, Tina felt a little uncomfortable. There was nothing wrong with him but she did not love him enough. She just did not want to settle down and marry and live in Jerry’s aunt’s house in Guernsey. She smiled a little to herself as she remembered the guest house bursting with floral carpets, curtains and furnishings. True, she had loved the crisp sea air and attractive St Peter Port, more French than English, but that would not have been enough.’

‘We were wondering, Mr Weaver . . .’

‘Stan, please!’

‘Er, yes, Stan. Well, we wondered if it would be possible to get jobs as nurses or nursery nurses on board? How would we go about it?’

‘I seem to remember reading that it is owned by another company, but I think I can find out. I have a few contacts.’

‘That would be wonderful.’ Hine leant over to hug her father, who looked a little embarrassed.

‘Well now, girls, how about you join me in some fish and chips?’

The three went down the wide stairway and linked arms as they walked up the street.

‘We’ve taken the first steps; roll on New Zealand.’

CHAPTER 2

It was a week or more after her father returned to his ship, before Hine heard from him. There was a phone in the hall of their house, which was a luxury the tenants all enjoyed.

One of the medical students answered its persistent ring, as he was in the communal kitchen making a coffee.

His loud shout woke Hine, who had been dozing after a busy night duty. She had decided to stay on at St Mary’s Hospital as a general relief nurse until their plans were finalised.

‘Hine; phone!’ He was not known to be very communicative but at lease he had answered and Hine was grateful for that.

‘Good news.’ Her father sounded pleased with himself, ‘I have an address you can apply to regarding employment. You got a pen and paper handy?’

Hine dashed upstairs and grabbed a notebook and pencil, breathlessly picking up the dangling phone as she returned.

‘It’s in London I’m afraid and you will have to go for an interview. You and Tina can maybe have a nice outing. Use some of the money I gave you. You know I am hopeless at birthday and Christmas presents so I thought, you know, that would be nice for you to have a bit to spend.’

‘Oh Dad,’ Hine suddenly felt tearful. She had learned to love her only parent during the past three years. Before, when they lived on the sheep station in New Zealand he had often been away with shearing gangs and she had not really known the man at all. When she had become pregnant by her first love, the station owner’s teenage son, she and her mother had tried to hide it. It had not been difficult, as Hine was sent to live with her Maori mother’s ‘Whanau’ or family. The baby had been taken from Hine when he was only a few days old and given to a cousin to look after. It was only after the split-up of her parents the young woman had discovered that her father had known all along, but as he put it: ‘It’s women’s business.’

Now she thanked Stan and told him she would keep in touch.

Hine could hardly wait until Tina came off duty. She was also working at St Mary’s as a relief nurse. It was the practice of the hospital group to offer newly qualified students the position while they decided what their future plans were. Tina loved the challenge as she never knew from one day to the next if she would be on the men’s surgical, women’s medical, theatre or somewhere else. That day she had had fun guiding prospective trainees round all the wards and departments, trying to encourage them to apply. It was a great temptation to tell of all the gory details, but she decided it would not be fair.

As soon as Hine heard the front door close, she ran down the stairs and hugged her surprised friend.

‘How would you like a trip to London?’ She then went on to give details of her father’s phone call.

‘Well, we have to be invited for an interview first!’

‘Don’t be such a damp squib.’

‘Just being practical. Let’s get that letter off.’

In a surprisingly short time a letter arrived inviting the two nurses for an interview. It was not