Fic- Moment We Share Together - Chapter 12

Chapter 12
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Alice's heart was pounding in her eyes as she made her way back to her office. "Alice!" The object of her thoughts appeared around the first corner, his hands digging into her shoulders as his glance went down the passage to Jennifer Stone's ward. "What were you doing in Jennifer's ward?" "Why don't you ask her?" she replied fiercely, trying to twist herself free, but failing. "I'm asking you, Alice," Shane stated firmly, then, glaring into the empty office across the passage, he pushed her inside and closed the door. "Now, tell me." She caught her lip between her teeth until it hurt. "Mrs Stone seemed to think I had some sort of hold over you, and offered me money to stay out of your way." Shane started at her for a moment in surprise then threw back his head and laughed loudly. "What did you say to that?" he asked when he was able to control himself. "I very nearly told her to go to the devil!" she retorted angrily, then calming herself, she said: "Shane, that woman means trouble, and I have a terrible feeling that her venom is aimed at me personally." "You're imagining things, Alice…" he told her seriously. "If I were you, I would ignore what's just happened. There's nothing Jennifer could possible do to harm you. "I hope you're right, that's all I can say, "she sighed.
"Sister Tan, Mrs Stone wishes to see you," Sister Dawson informed her on the telephone. I'm afraid I can't make it today. "Alice said. "We have had a tight schedule this morning, and this afternoon---" "Tell Mrs Stone I'm sorry, but it's out of the question." "She won't like it, "Sister Dawson warned irritably. Later the afternoon, a young ward nurse handed Alice a small white envelope. She slid the point of her scissors beneath the flap and ripped it open. "Sister Tan, "it began, "if you don't want the entire world to know that you spent the weekend with Shane. I suggest you pay me a visit during the course of the afternoon. Jennifer Stone." Then she ripped the short note into tiny pieces and dropped them into the bin beside her desk. Alice was not surprised to find Jennifer Stone in bed instead of walking about. "Ah, I see you decided to be sensible about it after all, "she greeted Alice. "You left me very little choice, Mrs Stone," Alice replied. "My dear girl, all I wanted to do was apologize for my behaviour yesterday." Jennifer smiled again at Alice's look if surprise. "Do you find it so strange that I should wish to do so in person?" "No, I don't really." "I said some dreadful things to you, and I do apologize." "That's all right, Mrs Stone, she murmured, suspicious of the sudden change of attitude. "Well, now I have that off my chest…"she fidgeted against the pillows and glanced helplessly at Alice. "I don't suppose that, while you're here, you could do something about these pillows of mine?" They're terrible uncomfortable!. "Yes, of course," Alice said politely, as she shifted the pillows into a more comfortable position and straightened the sheets. "Is that better?" "Much better, thank you," that hard mouth curved into a smile. "Now, I wonder----she glanced at the bedside cupboard and broke off sharply, her eyes wide and anxious. "My ring! My diamond ring ! It's gone! Alice nerves at the sound of Jennifer raised voice. "Calm yourself Mrs Stone. It must be here somewhere. "It was here on the cupboard before you came." "Perhaps it fell on the floor, "Alice suggested going down on her heels. "Don't be an idiot, I would have heard it. It's a very valuable ring. It must be found. Do you understand? It must be found!" Alice glanced at her in alarm. "Mrs Stone---" "Call the Matron, Call Shane. I want them here, and at once, do you hear. "What on earth is going on here?" Sister Dawson demanded as she marched into the ward and found Alice practically on her hands and knees while she searched the floor in vain, then rising her feet, Alice faced the dark- hair ward sister. "Would you ask Matron to come here at once and try to contact Mr Filan as well." "Ms Stone has lost her diamond ring." Sister Dawson closed her eyes but she left the ward immediately to do as Alice has asked. "What the devil is all this fuss about?" Shane demanded when he finally strode into the ward with Matron.
"Shane!" Jennifer cried. "My diamond ring ! It's gone, I tell you !" "For goodness sake, Jennifer, "Shane scowled. "Are you certain you haven't put it away somewhere and forgotten about it?" "No, no, no!" she insisted. "I took it off and put it down on this cupboard. "I used some hand lotion and then---and then Sister Tan arrived. I asked her to fix my pillows after a while, and then, when I looked for it, it was gone, Matron swung around to face Alice, her glance stern. "Have you searched the room, Sister Tan?" "Yes, Matron, "Alice replied. "Mrs Stone, "Matron continued, turning her attention to the other woman, did you say that your ring was on the bedside cupboard just before Sister Tan arrived?" "Yes, that is so," Jennifer said, her glance sweeping on Alice figure. "Did anyone else enter this room? Matron persisted. "No…..only, she glance resting on Alice. Then she pointing her long finger at Alice. "Matron! Search her!" She's the only one--" "Are you out of your mind, Jen? Shane interrupted. "Shane," Jen continued, I'm telling you that Sister Tan was the only one to enter. "Well, really! Matron muttered uncomfortably. I have never had the unpleasant task of searching anyone before. "Sister Tan, would you…er…" "Would you Matron turned toward Alice who stood pale and silent beside her. "Would you turn out your pockets, please. "Don't ask her to do it," Jennifer demanded. "You do it !" "Really, Mrs Stone! Matron objected. Alice spent a few degrading seconds while Matron slid her hands over her body and finally searched her pockets. The room was all at once filled with a deathly silence, and by the look on Matron's face, Alice knew, even before she spoke, that she had found the missing ring. "Is this your ring, Mrs Stone?" "Yes! Oh yes! "Jennifer exclaimed excitedly. How could you, Sister Tan ! I never thought of you as a common little thief." Jennifer accused, but Alice was past caring as she saw those hands clutch at Shane's arm to claim his attention. "Shane, I insist that you have her dismissed instantly!' There is a brief pause before Shane said with forced calmless, "I think Jen, you should put on something decent, and accompany us to Matron office where we can thrash this out quickly and calmly …and in private." "But I'm ill," Jennifer protested. "I can't---" "Get up, and do as you're told! Shane instructed. "Oh, very well, she agreed. Then four of them enter Matron office. "Jen, I want you to think very carefully about this, "said Shane once Matron had seated herself behind her desk. "Was there any way your ring could have fallen into Sister Tan's pocket without either of you realising this? "There was no way at all," Jen confirmed, glancing from Shane to Alice. "For heaven's sake, darling, why should you try to cover up for her? She's a thief, and that's all there is to it," Shane's expression hardened. "Jen, I must make this clear. Alice is not a thief, and I can vouch for that." Mr. Filan," Matron interrupted politely, "May I ask Sister Tan a few questions?" "Certainly, Matron," he inclined his head slightly glancing at Alice. "Sister Tan, have you any idea how that ring came to be in your pocket?" "No idea at all, Matron". "Did you notice it on the bedside cupboard when you entered Mrs Stone room?" "No, I didn't," she replied. "She's lying!" Jen spat out the words. "She saw it, that's why she took it." "Control yourself, Jen!" Shane warned sharply. "Sister Tan, is there anything you could say in your defence?" Matron asked. She shook her head helplessly. "I can only swear that I never touched Mrs Stone's ring and I had no idea it was in my pockets. Jen said impatiently. "Matron, it's an obvious as the rose on my face that she stole my ring, and I insist that you dismiss her at once. Mr Filan, you see very certain of Sister Tan innocence," Matron frowned up at him. "May I ask why?" "There are two reasons why, Matron," Shane remarked, a smile touching his lips. "Firstly, I've known Alice for some years now, and her integrity is something I've always admired. Secondly-----"Shane…please!" Alice begged as she guessed Shane intention. "Secondly," he continued, ignoring her urgent plea." Alice is my wife." "You're lying to save her skin! Jen voice sparked. "On the contrary, Jen," Shane smiled. I've found the truth a wonderful weapon at times. "Then you're a fool!" she snapped. I could have offered you so much more. I've never been interested in what you had to offer, Jen and I never shall be" he replied "For once in your life tell the truth. Clear my wif'e's name, then you'll at least regain my respect." "You win, Shane, "she replied. "Yes, I planted my diamond ring in her pockets while she was straightening my sheets and fixing my pillows." "But, why, Mrs Stone?" "Why?" Jen laughed. I wanted to discredit her in Mr Filan eyes. I didn't know, of course, that they
already married. "No, one here at Willowmead knew that Alice is my wife, Jen," Shane told her quickly. "Well, well, well, " she smiled. "I presume I have the authority to discharge myself from this infernal place ?" Shane nodded. "You may do so with my compliments. Goodbye everyone, and she lefted.

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In the privacy of her flat, Alice flung her bag across her bed and lying face down across the pillows as she felt the tension snap within her. There was plenty to do, she decided, but first she had to write out her resignation letter. Taking her writing case from the shelf in her wardrobe, Alice sat down in the lounge. She glance fell on the letter written by Serena Filan shortly before her death, and the contents. Then, thrusting aside her thoughts, she rose and went through to the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Somehow she managed to get through the hours until darkness fall. Then, with nothing more to do, making her teeth chatter until she finally soaked herself in a hot bath. She emerged from the bathroom moment later, her steps faltering as Shane's figure emerged from the arm chair in the lounge. He had obviously made himself at home, his glance flickered strangely as it slid down the length of her, making her aware of the fact that she had nothing on beneath the robe. He smiled as if something in her appearance satisfied him. "I knocked, but you obviously didn't hear, so I tried the door, and found it unlocked." "What do you want?" she demanded as her hands tighten her robe. "There are a few things I want to discuss with you." "We have nothing to discuss with each other." "Oh yes, we have, he corrected. "Firstly of all, you'll be happy to know that Jennifer has left the clinic." "It doesn't matter any more, "she replied. "It matters to me," Shane insisted. "I've never found it very comfortable having her hanging about my neck. " "I suppose I should say "thank you" for the way you stood by me this afternoon." "You don't have to if you're rather not." Her head shot up with anger. "There was no need for you to mention the fact that we were married." "There was very need, he insisted, his fingers closing about her arms. "You're hurting my arm!" "I'm sorry." He released her, slipping his hand into the pocket of his pants and producing a letter she would have given the world to him not to have seen. "Why did you never show me this letter?" "Where did you find it? She wanted to know. "There on the sofa, he indicated her writing case. "I couldn't help recognizing my nana handwriting, " he continued. "How long have you had this letter?" Sister Johnson gave it to me after the funeral. "And you never thought to show it to me? he accused, dropping the letter on the sofa. She walked across to the window and pushed aside the curtain to stare down into the darkness street. "I wanted to---once, "she admitted. "But you never gave me much opportunity to explain how it came about." "Alice…. I must know," he said directly behind her. "Did nana suppose you….cared for me? Or did you actually tell her so?" "I must go and get dressed," she evaded his questioning, but his hands merely tightened on her shoulders as he swung her round to face him. "I must know," he replied, his glance searching her face. "Does it matter?" "Very much." "I told her." "And you meant it?" he asked softly. "Yes," she admitted as she eventually twisted away from him. "Well?" Why aren't you laughing? It's the joke of the century that I should have been fool enough to fall in love with you. "His hands reached out for her, drawing her up against him. "How can I laugh, my darling, when I've loved you almost from the first time I saw you?" "Don't…please," she begged unable to believe him. "Haven't I shamed myself enough?" "Alice, look at me," he instructed with gently firmness. "I can't, she whispered. "I refuse to talk to the top of your head, pretty as it is, "he laughed, placing his hands on either side of her face and forcing her to meet his eyes. "Honey, from the moment I looked into your eyes I knew I intented to marry you someday. I had no intention to rushing you, to satisfy my nana. "Alice…," his lips brushed across her eyelashes before lingering tenderly on her quivering mouth. "Our marriage was at the wrong time, and for all the wrong reasons, but I do love you." She stared up at him for a moment, afraid to believe him. She was looking at Shane, she had never seen before and Shane who did not seem to care that this feelings showed so plainly in his eyes. "Oh, Shane," she whispered, burying her face against him, and slipping her arms about his waist in order to press closer to him. Her action seemed to act as a release before he gathered her against him fiercely while at the same time his lips found hers with a hungry yearning as he kissed her again and again. "Darling heart," he whispered against her throat. "Say the words I've been waiting so long to hear." "I love you, Shane, she whispered, her arms locked about his neck. "I loved you when I agreed to marry you. "Don't remind me," he laughed softly, his eyes as he raised his head slightly to look at her, and the soft lips so unconsciously inviting his kisses. "Honey, you have nothing on beneath this silky thing, I'm sure, "he murmured, his hands sliding down the length of her. "Not a thing," she admitted, his lips smiling. "Shameless," he said, his lips brushing against hers. "Oh, honey," her lips parted beneath his as his warm hands explored her body. "When will you be moving into that great big house up on the hill with me?" "What about our divorce?" she asked. "What divorce?" he grinned that her foolish request. "What do I do with this flat, and the furniture? She tried again. "Sell the furniture, and give up the lease of your flat. "By rights I should give a month's notice." "No more quibbling," he warmed. "I want my wife where she belongs." "And where is that, may I ask ? she asked, glancing at him, but her pulse quickened at his hands closed firmly about her waist and drew her closer. "My wife's place is in my house, in my arms and in my bed." "Shane…Shane,' she sighed after a succession of kisses that left her weak and trembling in his arms. "I love you so much." "The way you smiled, the sound of your voice, and most of all the way you felt in my arms. So soft and warm, and so very desirable. "His lips found the frantic little pulse at the base of her throat. "Hush, my darling," she whispered running her fingers through his hair and loving the feel of its soft springiness. "You never answered my question," he reminded her. "When are you going in with me?" "Tomorrow, if you want me to." "His hands moved urgently against her back. "And tonight?" "I could always make up a bed for you on the sofa. "I can think of something far more comfortable than that, my love," he said, placing an arm behind her knees and lifting her. "From now on, Mrs Alice Filan, your place is with your husband. Do I make myself clear? "Very clear, Mr Filan." She smiled, her arms tightening about his neck as she offered him her lips. Honey, he said, capturing her lips with his own as he carried her into her room where their soft laughter turned to urgent whispers, until to hears beat as one, with the promise of the future at last within their reach.


THE END.

well..that the end.. what u think of this story???