Page 9 of A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘The worst part about it is that I already owned every single item of clothing you see before you.’ Joe shrugged.

‘I’m just glad he’s never worn them all together before, and has no intention of ever doing it in the future.’ Esther laughed again. ‘You did promise me that, didn’t you?’

‘Okay everybody, thanks for coming.’ Gwen’s announcement over the sound system cut off whatever response Joe had been about to give. ‘We’re almost ready to start the inaugural St Piran’s sports day and I just wanted to set out a few rules for the six teams competing.’

As well as the A&E department, there were staff representing The Sycamore Centre, where Joe was a consultant, The Thornberry Centre, where the hospital’s oncology department was based, and staff from King Arthur’s Table, the hospital restaurant. They all faced stiff competition from the team who worked in the maternity department, and the occupational and physiotherapy team from St Jude’s Unit, who’d been trash talking for weeks about how they were going to take everyone else down.

‘The rules are as follows: no cheating will be tolerated.’ Gwen was holding the microphone with a stern expression on her face, but then she laughed. ‘At least not if we catch you doing it! Either way, the judges’ decisions are final, and the overall losing team will be performing a forfeit. As will anyone I feel hasn’t made the effort to follow the dress code for today. When I was at school, if you forgot your sports kit, you were expected to take part wearing your knickers and vest. But believe me, what I’ve got in store will make doing the egg and spoon race in your pants seem like a dream come true. Let’s just say I’ll be gifting the outfitI’ve bought for the forfeit, for Sexual Health Awareness week in September, once the sports day is over.’

‘Bloody hell, I’m glad I went all in now.’ Aidan pulled out the side of his plus fours and did a little curtsey. ‘There’s no way Gwen can accuse me of not looking a total prat. Knowing her, she’ll make anyone she doesn’t think has made enough effort dress as a giant scrotum.’

‘I’m starting to worry that the bow tie and tartan trousers won’t be enough.’ Isla really didn’t like being in the spotlight, and the idea of being singled out by Gwen did not appeal in the slightest, especially not if Aidan’s prediction about the costume she’d have to wear was right.

‘Stick with me, kid.’ Aidan put an arm around her. ‘With the amount of clashing patterns we’re wearing between the two of us, Gwen won’t be able to focus for long enough to even work out who we are. In fact, no one from A&E is going to be getting the forfeit. We’re a team and we’re all in this together. It’s us against the rest of the world!’

Aidan might have been hamming it up as he raised his fist into the air, like he was reenacting a scene fromBraveheart, whilst the rest of their team cheered. But his words made Isla’s eyes prickle with tears all the same.It’s us against the rest of the worldwere the words her father had always said at the toughest of times, and she’d always believed their family of four could face anything as long as they were together. Only now her dad was gone, and the other half of that foursome lived thousands of miles away. But if she got the go-ahead from the fertility clinic, she’d be part of a team again, with Aidan and Jase. She just had to hope her family would want to cheer them all on, too. Otherwise running the three-legged race dressed as an intimate body part would be the least of her worries.

6

The hospital fundraisers always drew a crowd and the idea for a sports day had grown out of a tug of war event at a previous summer fair. It had got the spectators on their feet and cheering for their chosen team and, according to Danni and Esther, the midwives had made short work of the A&E team on that occasion. This year the crowd were even more partisan, and the trash talking was no longer confined to inter-departmental rivalry. There was even a chant about the hospital cafeteria that got louder and louder every time they seemed to be doing well in one of the races. ‘Two, four, six, eight! Who makes food taste out of date?’

Despite the rivalry, there was a brilliant atmosphere and it looked certain that the fundraiser would be a huge success. The teams and supporters had been charged entrance fees, and there were a few stalls selling refreshments, as well as a tombola. Gwen’s husband Barry was even running a sweepstake on picking the individual who got the most points for their team overall. There was no way it was going to be Isla. She’d finished second to last in her first race, and right in the middle of the field in her second race. Although the way her grandparents hadcheered when she’d crossed the line, anyone would think she’d just won an Olympic gold. As it currently stood, according to the results recorded on an old whiteboard propped up against a chair, Zahir from A&E, and Angela from The Sycamore Centre – who everyone called Chooky – were in the lead. As an Australian, who’d only moved to the UK and joined the mental health unit the month before, there’d been some good-natured ribbing about Chooky being a ringer, who’d been brought in just to guarantee The Sycamore Centre victory. There might have been a lot of joking, but Zahir still had his eyes on the prize. The two teams were also neck and neck.

‘Right, it’s the sack race next and I’m not in this one, but Danni and Esther are.’ He’d gathered them all around for a team talk. ‘From what I’ve seen, the first two lanes are on the part of the course with the least divots, which will give you the best chance of winning. So at least one of you needs to be in those lanes. No offence Esther, but Danni’s got far longer legs and so if comes down to it, you might have to give up your spot for her.’

‘No offence taken and I’d rather the pressure was on you than me.’ Esther grinned and nudged her friend. Danni was in the early stages of pregnancy, but most people still didn’t know about it, and if Isla hadn’t already been told there was no way she would have guessed by looking at her. Danni clearly wasn’t worried about the prospect of falling over either, but when you’d worked in A&E for any length of time you knew people had a lot of silly ideas about how risky things like that were so early on. The chances of any harm coming to the baby if she did end up tripping over her own feet during the sack race were almost non-existent. But as Esther pointed out, she might get some flak if she let down the team and Isla was very glad she wasn’t taking part in one of the crucial races. ‘The honour of A&E is resting on your shoulders.’

‘More like it’s resting on her ability not to fall on her arse.’ Aidan winked. ‘But remember the consequences if you’re caught cheating.’

Gwen’s threat had been enough to stop anyone breaking the rules too overtly, but there’d been some pretty sharp elbows during the space hopper race.

‘Just make sure you shake your sack out.’ Zahir looked deadly serious, but as Isla caught Aidan’s eye, she couldn’t help laughing. ‘I’m not joking, having a wrinkle-free sack could be the key to a smooth race.’

‘I’m sorry, but Gwen would never forgive me if I let a comment about a wrinkle-free sack go past.’ Aidan was laughing too, and Zahir rolled his eyes. Ignoring the interruption, he turned to Danni and Esther.

‘Focus on the finish line and don’t look down at your feet. If we can beat The Sycamore Centre by a good margin, we should take the whole thing, even if they come first in the relay.’

‘We’ll do our best, and if sibling rivalry doesn’t get me over that line first, nothing will.’ Danni shot a look over to where her brother was also getting ready for the race.

‘Let’s do it!’ Zahir high-fived them both, before Esther and Danni headed off to the start line.

‘You don’t still fancy him after that, do you?’ Aidan whispered conspiratorially in Isla’s ear, as Zahir walked off towards the midpoint of the track, where he’d positioned himself for every race he wasn’t in, so he could shout out advice to the other A&E team members.

‘I’d already decided that getting involved with someone at work wasn’t a good idea.’

‘Can you imagine how bad his competitive dad syndrome is going to be when he has kids?’

‘Awful! He’ll be the sort who tips over the Monopoly board if someone else gets to buy Park Lane or Mayfair.’ Isla smiled atthe thought, because it was all too easy to picture it. ‘What about you and Jase, are you going to be the sort of parents who scream at the opposing team, when you’re watching an under-sevens football match?’

‘No, I’m a lover not a fighter. Although there’s a chance Jase will challenge the parents from the other team to play Scrabble to the death, if one of them shouts at our kid. He’s the mildest mannered guy you could ever meet, but he’s a protector too.’ Aidan looked serious for a moment. ‘I know you’ve met him a couple of times, but the two of you should get to know one another better, if we’re going to do this.’

‘I’d like that, and I definitely want to do it, if you do?’

‘I really do, and we couldn’t be more grateful.’ Aidan reached out to take her hand, just as Gwen’s voice echoed over the sound system.

‘Right, we’re just about to start the penultimate race. So get ready folks, and get down to the track to shout for your team in the sack race. One minute to the off.’

As Aidan and Isla moved past the start line, all of the competitors seemed to have decided to give their sacks a vigorous shake before stepping into them, and a cloud of dust rose into the air, catching in Isla’s throat, making her cough, and she only just caught what Aidan said.

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