When paramedic Paige was called out to a bust-up at a chicken shop, it led to a Peri Peri happy ending...
Climbing into the driver’s seat of the ambulance, I shut the door, clicked my seat belt into place and turned to my crew mate Maria.
‘Phew, what a night,’ I sighed, switching on the engine.
‘I know, it’s been so busy,’ Maria agreed.
I was a paramedic and Maria was an ambulance technician.
We’d been crew mates for a few months and got on really well. It made such a difference working long shifts with someone I could have a laugh and a gossip with.
That evening, we were on the night shift. We’d already had a couple of call outs and were now on our way back to base.
Just then, a message popped up on our screen.
‘There’s been an incident at a chicken shop,’ Maria said.
‘Whereabouts?’ I asked.
‘Marylebone.’
‘Let’s go,’ I said, flicking the siren into action.
A short time later, Maria and I arrived at the scene. The shop had been closed off and the smell of chicken and chips wafted in the air.
The police were already at the scene.
‘What’s happened?’ I asked an officer.
‘A couple have had a bust-up,’ he explained. ‘We’re dealing with the male. Can you attend to the female?’
'Maybe I'll see you around some time'
‘Of course,’ I said, making my way over to her.
As I bent down to attend to the victim, I caught the eye of another officer. He was tall and very good-looking.
Wow, he’s cute, I thought, my cheeks turning as hot as a flame-grilled chicken wing.
Turning my attention back to my patient, I patched her up and then went to attend to the male victim.
But his feathers had been ruffled after being questioned by the police officers and he refused our help.
The couple left in a flap, so Maria and I started to pack away our equipment.
Just then, the handsome police officer made his way over to me.
‘Have you got a cloth I can use?’ he asked, holding up blood-stained hands.
‘Here you go,’ I said, passing him one.
As I did, I clocked his name badge: PC Rob Wilkins.
‘Your shift going OK?’ Rob asked.
‘Not too bad,’ I replied.
‘What do you think of my shirt?’ Rob continued as he wiped the blood off it. ‘Do you think it’s made of boyfriend material?’
Then he gave me a wink.
I chuckled. I always loved a cheeky chappy and Rob was certainly that.
But before I could reply, we were interrupted.
‘Rob, we’ve got another call,’ his partner called over.
‘Sorry, gotta go,’ Rob said. ‘Thanks for lending me the cloth. Maybe I’ll see you around some time.’
‘Bye,’ I waved after him.
‘Rob was cute, wasn’t he?’ said Maria, a knowing look on her face.
‘He was all right,’ I said, blushing.
The next day, Rob plucked up the courage to call me.
‘I had to track you down,’ he told me. ‘Do you fancy meeting up for a drink?’
‘Yes, as long as it’s not at a chicken shop!’ I joked.
I wasn’t looking for love, I’d been flying solo for six years.
But something about Rob made me want to take a chance on him.
Over drinks, Rob and I got to know each other.
He listened intently as I told him all about my life as a paramedic. When I’d finished, he turned to me with a serious look on his face.
‘In all honesty, I could never do what you do,’ Rob told me. ‘I don’t have the patients!’
'We've been through so much'
It was such a terrible joke but I couldn’t help laughing.
The rest of our date continued in the same way, Rob telling more awful jokes and giving me cheesy pick-up lines. I’d never laughed so much.
Back at work, our colleagues thought it was hilarious that we’d met at a chicken shop.
‘That’s so weird!’ one said to me. ‘Was it love at first bite?’
Even though they all took the mick, I didn’t mind one bit.
Rob sent my pulse racing. Just like salt and vinegar, we were a perfect match.
In time, we moved in together.
We didn’t talk much about work, but it was nice to have someone who knew what it was like working for the emergency services to confide in after a stressful day.
And when the pandemic hit last year and the NHS was stretched to breaking point, Rob would cheer me up with a cuppa and a hot meal at the end of my shift.
A few months later, we went to Devon for a week.
We’d booked a pretty house with amazing views of the beach.
‘I’ve got something for you,’ Rob said to me one evening as we stood looking at the view.
‘But I’ve already had my birthday,’ I said, puzzled.
‘Just open it,’ he said, passing me a letter.
Paige, we’ve been through so much together, the letter began.
I glanced up at Rob, unsure of what was happening.
I can’t wait to start the next chapter of our lives together, I read.
‘Close your eyes,’ Rob said to me.
I shut them tight.
‘Now open them,’ he instructed.
When I did, Rob was down on bended knee, holding out an engagement ring.
I burst into tears.
‘Will you marry
me?’ he asked, a bundle of nerves.
‘Of course!’ I squealed, completely overjoyed.
Now we’re planning our wedding.
We even won a wedding competition for key workers, so our entire day will be paid for by Regent’s Conferences and Events. They wanted to reward key workers for all the amazing work they did during the pandemic.
I can’t wait to swap my bargain bucket for a bridal bouquet and walk down the aisle at Regent’s Park in front of our family and friends, shaking our tail feathers on the dance floor afterwards.
I never thought I’d meet the man of my dreams at a chicken shop. It’ll definitely be a story to tell the grandkids one day.
Although one thing’s for sure. At our reception, there won’t be a chicken wing in sight!
Paige Stride, 27, Wembley, London