Chapter 14

"So you categorically deny that you have said anything to my son that could be construed as disparaging?" George asked Ms. Pettersen. She was reeling from the way this father had taken complete control over this early morning meeting. Parents weren't supposed to do that! They were supposed to listen to what the teachers were telling them.

And it wasn't like he was aggressive or making allegations. He was quietly asking about his son's complaints. Like the claims of a 12 year old boy could be trusted! Luckily Maud Pettersen believed she knew just how to handle this. "Absolutely Mr. Hamsun. Of course not. But it is a sad fact that neglected children frequently make up completely groundless allegations. It must be seen in context - as a desperate cry for attention." She delivered that line well, she thought. It was straight out of her thesis. Her supervisor had commended her for it.

The principal assumed a benevolent facial expression to indicate he thought so too. He was on the lookout for a skirt now that the third Mrs. Engelhart had made herself scarce and little Ms. Pettersen would do charmingly. She had rejected his advances so far, but he wasn't giving up. "Of course not Mr. Hamsun," he said. "Maud would do no such thing. She has my fullest confidence and I am sure her analysis comes close to the core of the problem..."

Before he could go any further, which he would happily have done seeing the rapt attention and surprised gratitude in the young teacher's eyes, George cut him off. "Then you would perhaps be kind enough to explain this?" and he activated his notebook's media player.

The recording shocked these listeners in much the same way as the playback in London the other day had done. Maud Pettersen was trying to swallow her hand. "That recording is illegal!" she faltered, George just looked at her with something bordering on pity.

The principal looked like he had suffered a stroke. "Who has heard this recording?" he managed to ask.

"So far only my daughters and me," George said pleasantly. "But of course all of Colin's class mates heard it being said. My lawyers will find a copy in their in-tray when they get to work shortly." Suddenly the pleasantness was gone. "And so will the editors of Verdens Gang in an hour or so unless you can give me compelling reasons not to. The paper would love this story, you know. Motherless boy, hard working father, devoted older sisters. Good looking devoted sisters, I should add." His sudden harsh tone of voice and his pointed look at Ms. Pettersen's plain features made her shrink.

The mere mention of the name of the notorious tabloid newspaper - who likes to call themselves Norway's answer to The Sun - drained all colour from the principal's face. "You will appreciate this comes as a complete shock to me. I will need some time to assimilate the implications, but I can assure you Colin will not be exposed to anything like that ever again. It will not be possible."

This was as close as he could come to saying - without involving the union rep - that Maud Pettersen would be removed from her class-teacher duties so George let him off the hook. "Excellent principal Engelhart." he said. "I'll hold you to that." He got up and left without so much as a nod to either of them.

When the door had closed behind George the principal turned to his hapless teacher. She opened her mouth to speak, but he lifted a hand to stop her. "Do you want to keep your job?" he asked brutally. She nodded in fear. "This year's Christmas Party is next Friday," he said. "It should be interesting to find out how good you are at sucking dick."

The next few weeks leading up to Christmas was busy for everyone. The Texans had several objections to the draft proposal so Keith, George and a host of company lawyers were hard at work getting the wrinkles ironed out. Unable to make a final decision, George refrained from discussing the matter with Hannah, but he called her frequently and he had resumed sending his funny little e-mails to her. She felt happier than she had been for a long time. Not just from George's attention but Dave and Joanna had invited her for Christmas, and Professor Rutherford had hinted that a promotion was on the cards.

There had been a joint meeting of the senior staff of both wards. "The statistics are just in," the professor said. "The survival and success rates of 'Left Ward' are on par with the best in the country, despite our hospital getting the most complicated cases. Well done indeed!"

"Thank you professor," Dr. Hamilton-Smythe smirked - as if the success rate was his personal accomplishment.

"Now, 'Right Ward' is doing even better," the professor said. "Especially during the last few months."

"That must be a statistical fluke!" Dr. Hamilton-Smythe exclaimed with a forced laugh.

"I don't think so," the professor said. "The difference is small but significant and it coincides with a particular new member of staff joining us."

"Spare us!" Dr. Hamilton-Smyth said derisively. "Don't attribute a random change in the numbers to the Ice Maiden joining."

Eleanor who deputised for the chief matron cut him down to size. "Oh knock it off Greg. Just because the girl is sensible enough to be unimpressed with your macho bravura doesn't mean she doesn't like real men. I know she does. The man she has set her mind on is gem - I've met him. But that's beside the point. She's the best neo-natal nurse we've ever had and she's inspiring all her colleagues to do better all the time."

"I agree," Professor Rutherford said. "I will recommend that Nurse Westlock is promoted."

Christmas with Joanna and Dave was wonderful. George knew that Hannah would be there and had sent a present to their address. He had managed to track down the English version of the book about the princess from the National Gallery - 'In the Courts of Power' it was called - and found a beautiful first edition of it. Catherine asked what it was, so Hannah told her about the visit to the Gallery and about the princess. "Jeez," Catherine said. "She was married at 11 - and Mum won't even let Thomas sleep over!"

"Well, you know what can happen if a boy sleeps over in your bed - just look at your Mum," Hannah whispered with a sly grin. Joanna actually wasn't visibly pregnant yet - she was less than 3 months along and the younger children still didn't know, but Joanna and Dave had told Hannah on arrival. Partly to explain why Joanna wouldn't be drinking any alcohol, and partly because they were so happy and were bursting to share the news.

Hannah shared her friends' joy - but at the same time she was more than a little envious. She was feeling a strong urge to be pregnant herself. She knew enough not to say so to Catherine - Joanna had also whispered her concern about Catherine's unrealistic romantic ideas.