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She was going by her gut instinct here. That was all she had. But it had never let her down. If Simone had indeed contracted the deadly virus, then vital minutes, even seconds may be all Kate had to save her life. She ran back to her patient.
‘I feel c-cold …’ Simone’s head had dipped forward like a rag doll’s.
‘Hang in there, honey.’ Kate quickly swabbed and plunged the lifesaving drug directly into the vein, knowing full well, they didn’t have a proper diagnosis yet. All she could do was buy Simone time. She prayed there was no sign of a rash. But she had to check.
Helping Simone out of her simple shirt-dress uniform, Kate’s examination was meticulous. She knew what she was looking for: a minute scratch mark, a blister, a purple pinprick, any or all of them indicating that bacteria was already present, multiplying by the second in the blood vessels under Simone’s skin. If they were there, then Simone’s entire body organs were in danger of collapsing.
With relief, Kate saw there was no evidence of a rash. Yet. But she wasn’t waiting for the possibility.
Instinctively, she began following protocol, snatching up the phone and pressing the key that would connect her with Reception. ‘Vicki, would you call an ambulance, please? Tell them we have an emergency hospital admission. And stress the patient is critical.’
‘Expect them within a few minutes,’ Vicki said. ‘I’ll run out and open the back doors so they can reverse in.’
‘Thanks. Is Natalie about? I could do with some help.’
‘She had to leave early,’ Vicki sounded dismayed. ‘Could I—?’
‘No, Vicki. It’s fine.’ Kate felt put on her mettle. But she’d cope. She needed a space blanket. Diving across the corridor to the treatment room, she searched blindly for a second until she located them. She pulled one from the stockpile and turned to retrace her steps.
‘Kate!’
Distracted momentarily from her mission, Kate’s head spun towards the voice and saw Aiden striding along the corridor towards her. She slipped back to her consulting room with Aiden on her heels.
‘What’s up?’ He demanded shortly.
‘Suspected meningococcal.’
Aiden swore under his breath. ‘Ambulance called?’
‘On its way.’ Kate began tucking the space blanket around her patient.
‘What can I do to help?’
‘I’ve done all I can for the moment. But I’ll need to scribble some notes for the admitting MO. Just keep an eye on Simone, if you would.’
‘I think she’d be more comfortable if we get her up onto the treatment couch.’ So saying, Aiden lifted the young girl as though she weighed no more than an armful of feathers and laid her down gently on her side. She moaned softly.
‘Would you recheck for any sign of a rash, please, Aiden?’ Kate was scribbling furiously.
‘Nothing.’ He replaced the space blanket. ‘She’ll need bloods taken on arrival.’
‘All requested.’ Kate slashed her signature at the bottom of the notes.
‘Ambulance is here, guys.’ Vicki appeared at the door.
‘Coming through.’ A male’s deep voice and the squeak of rubber-soled boots echoed along the corridor. Within a very few seconds Simone was loaded onto the trolley.
Kate briefed the paramedic and handed over her notes. ‘Thanks for responding so quickly.’
‘No worries, Doc. We’ll cane it to the hospital now. See you.’ The paramedic acknowledged both doctors briefly before heading off.
Kate looked lost for a second. She took a step towards her desk and faltered.
Aiden’s hand shot out to her shoulder, heavy and warm. ‘Not what you needed on your first day.’
‘I’m fine,’ Kate said, too quickly. She went to move away but his hand was still on her shoulder and her breath felt fluttery. ‘Really.’ She firmed her voice. ‘I’m fine.’
‘Sure?’
‘Yes.’ She moved from under the weight of his hand. Did he not think of her capable of handling an emergency? ‘I’ll need to chase up Simone’s recent contacts,’ she said, thinking aloud. ‘Her workplace, home and so on, and check their immunity.’ She saw the end of her working day slide further and further away.
‘I’ll do that.’
‘Are you saying I can’t do my job?’
Aiden frowned. Why was she so prickly? She looked pressured and he just wanted to help. ‘I’m merely suggesting you delegate. I have no patients booked for the rest of the day. Whereas, you’re needed elsewhere. You have children to collect from school, don’t you?’
Kate dipped her head. She couldn’t believe he’d remembered that small detail. And somehow, in ways she couldn’t explain, it made her feel vulnerable around him. ‘Take some jabs with you in case people’s immunity is in question,’ she reminded him.
‘Kate, I’ll handle it.’
Of course he would. She turned away, waiting for her computer to close down. ‘I just want Simone safely in isolation and under minute-by-minute observation.’
‘And thanks to your quick action, she’ll have that.’
‘It could still be too late …’
‘Don’t think like that.’ Aiden was firm. But they both knew the effects of the deadly virus. Circulation could fail in the body’s extremities—the fingers, toes even whole limbs. Amputations followed. And sometimes death. ‘And we don’t know for sure it is meningo.’
Kate knew. She’d seen enough cases in her time to be ninety-nine per cent certain. And now she just wanted to collect her kids and hug them to bits. Life was so precious.
Her eyes clouded. It had been an exacting first day and if she being honest she did feel drained, both physically and mentally, but that would pass as things both at work and home began settling into a rhythm …
What the hell was she still hanging around for? Aiden’s mouth compressed briefly. She seemed lost in thought, miles away. ‘Kate, there’s no more you can do here,’ he said. ‘Your children must be waiting for you.’
Kate pushed up from her desk. ‘They’re being well taken care of.’
Watching her face, Aiden saw her bottom lip pull into a tight little moue. What now? Did she think he was criticising her parenting? A muscle worked in his jaw. She’d wrong-footed him again. And he didn’t like the feeling one little bit.
Kate blinked uncertainly. Why was O’Connor staring at her like that—as if she’d grown an extra nose or something? She’d handed over to him and he should be gone. ‘Vicki will have Simone’s details.’
‘I’m on it. And I’ll brief Angelo and Brady. Want me to give you a call later and report my findings?’
‘If you wouldn’t mind.’ The doctors exchanged mobile numbers as a matter of course.
‘Why would I mind?’ He shrugged, the movement of his shoulders drawing attention to the interplay of muscles under his close-fitting shirt.
Kate looked down quickly, searching the bottom of her handbag for her keys. Locating them, she hitched up her medical case. ‘Thanks for your help.’
‘Yep.’ Their eyes met and he could see the wariness, the uncertain flicker in her gaze. He moved to the door with her. ‘Drive carefully.’
She gave him a taut smile. ‘Kids in the car. Always do’
Watching her departure, Aiden felt as though an invisible punch had landed in his solar plexus, robbing him not just of oxygen but of plain common sense as well. His gaze stayed riveted on the sassy swing of her hips, her slender waist, the toss of her dark head as she pulled open the outer door to the car park.
Yanking his eyes off her neat little backside, he pushed back the zing in his bloodstream. Have you entirely lost your marbles, O’Connor? he asked himself. He shook his head as if to clear it. He had far more urgent things to do than to stand ogling Kate Preston.
CHAPTER TWO
KATE stabbed the key into the ignition. The ebb and flow of her first day swirled around her. For a second she leaned her head back against the seat and took stock. She thought she’d fitted in successfully with the practice partners—except for Aiden. Why did she seem to be having these little run-ins with him? She prided herself on the fact she wasn’t difficult to work with. But with him she felt continuously put on her mettle. Off balance.
Well, she had no time to analyse it now. In a defiant little twist, she started the engine and eased out of her parking space. She couldn’t wait to see her kids.
The school provided care for the students both before and after school. And nowadays, with most families juggling work and family commitments, the facility had become a necessity.
Kate had been well pleased with the set-up and the supervising staff had seemed both pleasant and clued in to the needs of the children. Luke and Mia would be safe and well looked after and that was all she could hope for.
‘Mummy! Mummy!’ Mia ran across the room and threw herself against her mother’s legs.
Kate bent to her small daughter’s level and hugged her tightly. Then she leaned back and cupped Mia’s chin. ‘Did you have a good day at school, baby?’
Mia’s little shrug went almost to her ears. ‘‘S OK. I looked and looked for you after school.’
Kate felt a lump in her throat and a pang of sadness that circumstances wouldn’t allow her to be a full-time mother. It would have been wonderful, at least until Mia was a little older. ‘I had to stay later at work. Didn’t your teacher explain?’
The little one nodded slowly. ‘But I still looked and looked.’
Of course she had. Young things always looked for their mothers. Kate uncurled upright, keeping Mia closely at her side. ‘Shall we find Lukie now? Then we’ll all be able to go home.’
Home was a pleasant cottage Kate was leasing. On the whole, it was serving their needs, at least for the present. After high-rise apartment living in Sydney, she’d yearned for a sense of peace, that had alluded her since she’d become a widow and returned from the United States. Peace, light and the outdoors, she affirmed now as she eased her car into the garage at the side of the house.
Ten minutes later, Kate had shucked off the trappings of her professional life, showered and pulled on baggy shorts and T-shirt. Gathering up the children, she went next door to her neighbours’, Patrick and Eileen Kelly.
The Kellys were friends of her parents and it was they who had let Kate know of the cottage’s availability.
‘Do we have to?’ Luke moaned, as they made their way along the path at the side of the Kelly’s house towards the back garden.
‘Yes, we do,’ Kate said calmly, ignoring her son’s stubborn, determined look. ‘You have to say sorry to Mr Kelly for almost maiming one of his chickens with your soccer ball.’
‘Those bantams are stupid,’ Luke maintained with childish candour.
‘Not to Mr Kelly.’ Kate realised she could have let the incident pass. Patrick and Eileen were grandparents themselves. They knew about little boys and footballs. But even at eight Luke was capable of learning about being responsible for his actions.
Kate stifled the recurring thoughts of the long road ahead as a sole parent. Everything, every decision was going to be down to her. She’d have to be disciplinarian, counsellor, role model but mostly, and more importantly, she needed always to be a loving mum.
Patrick and Eileen were sitting on their outdoor chairs under a shady tree. ‘Hello, you three.’ Eileen smiled at Kate and the children, raising a plump hand in greeting. ‘All done for the day?’
‘Here, sit down, love.’ Patrick got to his feet and beckoned Kate across the lawn. ‘I’m about to feed the bantams. You kids like to help?’ He looked keenly at Luke and Mia.
There was a bit of psychology going on here, Kate thought, and thanked heaven for Patrick’s insight. ‘Go on,’ she urged with a smile when Luke looked hesitant. ‘It’s good to learn new things.’
‘Is the bantam I hit with my ball OK?’
Kate heard Luke’s version of an apology as the trio made their way to the far end of the yard and the hen coop. ‘Thanks, Eileen,’ Kate said on a breathy sigh of relief.
The older woman looked perplexed. ‘For what, dear?’
Kate lifted a shoulder. ‘For being so understanding about the football. It was careless of Luke. It could so easily have been a window.’
‘Or someone’s head,’ Eileen cackled. ‘Kids will be kids, Kate. And there was no real harm done. Patrick and I were just saying what a grand job you’re doing, raising your two.’
A little half-smile flickered on Kate’s mouth. She didn’t want to admit to Eileen that sometimes the job felt almost crippling. But she had to look forward with hope. Nothing else would do. She regrouped quickly and got to her feet. ‘You know, I think I’ll go and join Patrick and the kids.’ She forced herself to sound bright and chirpy. ‘It’s years since I fed the chickens.’
Kate quickly caught up with the little group.
‘Luke says bantams are stupid.’
Kate cringed inside at her daughter’s bald statement. Kids had no idea of diplomacy.
Patrick seemed unconcerned. He turned his weathered face and sent Kate a wry half-smile before turning his attention back to Luke. ‘You know, young fella, a lot of folk think that about bantams. Reckon they’re silly and noisy. But my girls are just happy to scratch around and lay beautiful little eggs.’
‘So, they’re like real chickens?’ Luke showed a modicum of interest in the small black feathery birds.
‘Oh, yes.’ Patrick nodded wisely. ‘And now they’re about ready to turn in for the night.’ He moved towards the feed bin, allocating the children a small container each. With a flick of his hand, he showed them how to scatter the grain.
The bantams gobbled up the food and then one by one, in strict pecking order, began to wander off to their roost.
‘They have such tiny feet,’ Mia said in wonderment. ‘And they go to bed very early.’
Patrick smiled down at the beguiling little girl. ‘They get up very early as well. In the summertime, as early as four o’clock in the morning.’ Still smiling, he ushered the children from the chicken coop and closed the gate.
‘And we’d better get home too.’ Kate walked between the children, her hands resting on their small shoulders. ‘Thanks, Patrick,’ she added softly.
Several minutes later they were back at their front gate, the children each carefully carrying a perfect little brown egg for their tea.
Friday afternoon.
In an end-of-working-day gesture, Kate raised her arms and stretched. It had been a busy week and she was tired, yet at the same time exhilarated. She was holding her own. That thought gave her immense satisfaction.
In weekend mode, she got to her feet, collected her things and made her along the corridor to the doctors’ weekly staff meeting.
She was the last to arrive. Only four chairs had been placed at the table for the meeting. And the only one vacant was next to Aiden. A dozen disturbing thoughts collided in Kate’s head. Oh, for heaven’s sake. He was just a man, wasn’t he? And if there was chemistry, so what? So nothing. She took her place beside Aiden, vividly conscious of his body warmth, the faint drift of apple laundry softener on his shirt.
Aiden turned his head and smiled at her ‘Water?’
‘Sounds good.’ Kate smiled back at him and then wished she hadn’t. There was such an easiness about him, an almost arrogant sexiness that was a threat to her sensibilities.
‘Thanks.’ She took a sip from the glass and then placed it in front of her.
