Page 47 of Prognosis Temporary

Callie stood. ‘I am not pregnant, Geraldine Russell. So get that thought right out of your head.’

Rodney walked in, oblivious to the conversation. He placed his lunch on the table and lifted the plastic lid on his regular curry from the Indian take-away, also across the road. The aroma of coriander and all-spice wafted upwards and he inhaled appreciatively.

‘I don’t know what we’re going to do if The Raj Palace ever closes down,’ he mused. ‘I might have to actually make my own lunch.’

The nausea returned with a vengeance but this time it didn’t settle. Instead, it became all-consuming and Callie knew there was definitely going to be follow-through.

‘Excuse me,’ she gasped, praying that she’d make it to the staff toilet in time.

Rodney blinked as he watched Callie gallop off. He looked down at Geri, concern in his eyes, only to find her grinning like an idiot. ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked.

‘Life is, Rodney.’ Geraldine laughed. ‘Life.’

Callie felt so rough she popped into Sebastian’s office to let him know she was taking the afternoon off and cancelling their movie plans.

‘Of course,’ he said, rising from his chair. ‘I’ll drop by after work and check on you.’ He reached her side and pulled her into an embrace.

‘No, it’s okay.’ Callie dropped her head against the pillow of his chest. She was so weary suddenly she felt like she could sleep for a week. ‘I’m having a shower and going straight to bed.’

‘Okay.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘You do feel a bit warm,’ he murmured. ‘I think you should see your doctor. This food poisoning thing has been dragging on a bit too long.’

Callie nodded, pushing Geraldine’s theory firmly from her head. ‘Tomorrow.’

‘Come on. I’ll drive you home.’

‘No.’ Callie roused herself. ‘You have your private session with Frank Jessop in five minutes. I’ll be fine.’

Callie left soon after, the drive seeming to take an eternity. Long enough for her thoughts to turn back to Geri’s preposterous intimation.

Preposterous!

Geri, better than anyone, knew Callie’s stance on children and how she’d spent her entire fertile life trying to avoid pregnancy. Why on earth would she even put forward such a ridiculous idea?

But that night in the shower replayed in her mind. Her insistence that they have no barriers between them.

Surely not...?

Of course it was possible. She was a nurse, for crying out loud, she knew that one time was all that it required.

But...surely she couldn’t be that unlucky?

No. No, she’d had a period. Just last week. A little late but her cycle was getting longer as she moved towards her forties. And, okay, it had been quite light but it had happened in the middle of the whole food poisoning incident and she’d figured that her body was giving her a break.

She refused to give Geri’s Damon anecdote any thought as she swung into her drive and switched off the engine, wishing she could switch the thoughts off as easily. The prospect of going into an empty house with only Geri’s insinuations for company was daunting.

But her shower and her bed beckoned and within twenty minutes, despite the ridiculous thought of pregnancy hanging over her head, Callie was sound asleep.

She awoke the next morning feeling much better. Rested and ready to face a new day. It was odd, though, to wake up without Sebastian next to her and she slid her hand over the cold sheets beside her. It felt discombobulating to wake alone.

Her stomach still felt a little delicate and the coffee she’d started to make was soon abandoned, but a piece of toast and a cup of tea seemed to settle things down and she left the house with a spring in her step.

‘Morning,’ Geraldine greeted her. ‘And how are we feeling today?’

Callie ignored the probing gaze, breezing past her boss. ‘Fantastic. Slept like a baby. Ready and raring to go.’ She entered the staffroom and stashed her bag in her locker.

Geraldine followed. ‘Now, some would say that was a Freudian slip.’

Callie frowned. What on earth was Geri on at the moment? ‘What?’

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