by Sue MacKay
‘It wasn’t a challenge,’ he muttered, thinking how Archie had said she always took those on.
‘No, it’s about saving Archie’s face. And heart,’ she added quietly as they set their load on the trailer. ‘He’s got arrhythmia.’
‘Which explains the heavy breathing.’ He’d wanted to ask Archie about that but had got the evil eye when he’d opened his mouth. ‘Tough old guy, isn’t he?’
‘Yes, which is better than sitting in his rocking chair all day.’
‘Can’t do that any more,’ Archie butted in. ‘No newspapers these days.’
‘What’s wrong with the internet?’ Max asked cheekily.
‘You have to ask? I remember when we had party lines on our phones. Phones that were stuck to the wall and you couldn’t wander around the place yabbering your head off in front of everyone.’
‘You’ve got me on that one.’ Max shook his head. ‘There’s something to be said for modern technology and getting medical test results when they’re done, not the next day in the mail. Not to mention keeping in touch with friends when you can’t see them.’
Like in hospital in the middle of the night when fear of the future was tracking around your head and there was no way to stop it without talking to someone who knew you.
George had joined them. ‘You can keep track of your woman all the time.’
If he had one he’d be in touch, and available, not keeping tabs on her. ‘Never. I still believe in privacy.’ His gaze went to the tidy shoulders of the woman in front of him. She was a private person. Once he’d mistakenly believed it was snobbery because she didn’t blab about herself as some other women did. Watching her work the room during the party the other night, he’d realised he’d got that wrong.
‘Ten minutes and we’re finished here.’ Lily reached for a smaller chunk of pine.
Max picked up a piece. ‘I can smell the bacon already.’
‘George, Archie, you going to join us?’ Lily asked hopefully. ‘Cal?’
‘Thanks, but I’d better get home and see why Enid hasn’t been over with a cuppa like she promised. Probably engrossed in some book and forgotten all about us.’ Archie added his load to the trailer. ‘There’s a fair whack of fire wood here.’
‘I’ll cut it up over the next few days and bring it across.’ Lily nodded.
‘You’ll split the large rounds?’ Max asked. Lily might be tough but she wasn’t built like one of those axemen in the wood-chopping contests.
‘If there’s no one else to do it, I’ll cheat and use the chainsaw. It does make a mess but I’m not into body building.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Her figure couldn’t be faulted. She certainly didn’t need muscles on top of muscles filling the sleeves of her shirts. ‘You might lose a toe or two.’
‘Careful,’ Cal growled. ‘That’s a challenge to Lily.’
He laughed. ‘Lily, ignore me.’
‘I am.’ Her smile was wide and full of fun.
And hit him where he didn’t want to be hit. In his heart. He gasped, looked away. Not his heart. More likely in that roped-down centre that kept him on the straight and narrow leading into the future, fuelled by a need to concentrate on those he could help through medicine and not ask for anything back. But he didn’t want to be ignored by Lily. Not by anybody. But especially not Lily. Even in jest.
* * *
‘Park your car in the driveway, out of the way,’ Lily told Max, before climbing onto the tractor and flicking on the engine, drowning out his reply. He’d surprised her by leaping in to help when he’d realised what they were doing. Her family had taught her that—jump in and help, no questions asked. Her back complained when she looked over her shoulder while backing her load around. Tomorrow all her body would ache from the exertion of cutting those trees. The chainsaw was made for heavy work, not weekenders wanting to tidy their yard, and her arms would know about it for days to come, but right now she felt alive and buzzing.
Being physical always hyped her up. Max hypes you up. There was no denying that. Strange how any time he was around her blood hummed and hope started rearing its head. But they weren’t going to get closer. They couldn’t. A sigh trickled over her lips. She wasn’t going there. There were only so many knocks a girl could take.
The men strode up the drive, tugging gloves off their hands and pausing to wait for Max to park and step out of his car.
Lily watched him straighten, roll those broad shoulders and look around until he found her and smiled. Sent the blood racing through her veins. Focusing on the job on hand and not Max, she positioned the trailer under the trees for some shelter from any precipitation in the coming days. The forecast was for scattered showers, but around here everyone knew to be prepared for rain any time.
Then, breathing deeply, she feigned nonchalance and strolled to the back door, calling out, ‘I’m putting the kettle on. Archie, try to convince Enid to join us.’
‘I’ll sling her over my shoulder and bring her across.’ Archie headed for the stile over the fence between their properties.
As he unlaced his shoes on the back step, Max asked, ‘Can I give you a hand with breakfast?’
Used to getting on with things by herself, Lily hesitated. Max sounded genuine in his offer. This relaxed feeling between them felt right. ‘Absolutely. Come on in, guys, and make yourselves comfortable. Bathroom’s along there.’ She pointed to the hallway on the right for Max’s benefit. ‘Or there’s a hand basin in the laundry.’
Tossing her jacket on a peg inside the back door, she headed to the kitchen. Strong coffee was what she needed more than anything. And for Max to change his mind and get on the road to the camp so she could breathe again. The moment she’d seen him standing by his car her heartbeat had gone haywire and still wasn’t settling.
He’d taken the long way round to the camp and had ended up pretty much at her front door. At the family beach-house door, if she was nit-picking. Had he deliberately set out to find her? If so, she wasn’t sure how that made her feel.
The restlessness that had gripped her since Leo had left, taking her dream of a family with him, hadn’t gone away completely. A need to settle in her own home and have a great job had bought her apartment and got the job of a lifetime, but there was still a hole in her life. Love. A man and a family. After her relationship failures she struggled with getting out there to find a man who might be the love of her life, but having a baby was still as clear as ever.
She’d researched surrogacy, had had an initial consultation at the fertility clinic in Remuera. The next step was as high as a mountain.
Having a baby would be amazing, life-altering in the best way imaginable. Her heart was full of love to give. It was choosing a father that gave her concern. Using a sperm bank was too impersonal for something so special and close. Babies should come not only into love but from love. She’d prefer a man she knew and admired to volunteer, not a number from the fertility bank. It might be a long wait to sort this out, but there was no rush. She wanted to settle into her job first anyway.
A long, sad sigh filled the kitchen. Hers. Startled, she glanced around, relieved to find herself alone. It was time to focus on feeding the men then getting on with the day, including catching up with Josie.
‘Where can I start?’ Max stepped into the light and airy kitchen dining space and instantly the room felt smaller.
And warmer. Lily hugged herself before turning around. ‘Knowing these men, a hot drink will be essential first. You’ll find mugs in that cupboard, tea, etcetera over on that shelf.’ Clicking the gas on to heat the elements, she removed pans from a drawer under the bench and went to the fridge for eggs and bacon.
‘I’ll set the table.’ George was already opening the cutlery drawer.
Lily loved these men. They’d been a part of her summer holidays most of her life; their children friends to catch up with
in summer when everyone had come for Christmas and New Year and to recharge their batteries. ‘Cal, this is Max Bryant, a GP and sports doctor at the medical centre I’m starting at next week.’
Max shook the man’s hand. ‘I’ve come out to attend the camp and help any poor kid that can’t find someone better.’
‘Guess you’ll have time to split that wood, then.’ Cal chuckled.
‘Probably.’ Max grinned. Then got serious. ‘From what I hear, the kids are already resilient and determined to have a lot of fun doing all the activities. I’ve been told there’ll be a few pulled muscles and aches from overdoing some of the challenges, but otherwise nothing major.’
‘Don’t speak too soon,’ Lily warned, ducking around Max in the small space, focused on not bumping into that hot body. ‘We’ve already had a broken leg this year at an earlier camp. An eight-year-old girl with one leg climbed a tree. All good, and to be encouraged to a point, but in this case the branch she was on broke.’
‘Along with said leg.’ Max shook his head. ‘Kids, eh?’
‘Exactly. We take a lot of precautions, but we also want them to have fun doing the things their counterparts do, like climb trees and leap over fences and fall in the duck pond. It’s normal, and that’s what they need more than anything. To be normal.’ Lily stopped. ‘Sorry, that sounds like I’m lecturing, and I didn’t mean to.’
Max nodded. ‘It’s fine. I get it. It’s how you’d have grown up on the farm and how I was in town, always at some park or beach, running riot.’ As he added boiling water to the coffee plunger, he said, ‘You keep saying “we” when referring to the camp. What’s your role in the place?’
That’s what happened when she relaxed—she gave too much away. ‘Being on the board of directors, I tend to keep an eye on everything.’
‘Even when you were living overseas?’
Why had George and Cal chosen this moment to stop talking to each other? She couldn’t divert Max to whatever they’d been discussing, though knowing those two it would be about their backaches or stiff knees so wouldn’t have been much help. ‘I oversaw the set-up and haven’t stepped aside since.’ The site had been chosen for the rundown motel that stood in the middle of a large area of flat land leading to the beach. An extensive makeover, along with building further accommodation buildings, adding a communal kitchen, dining room and an activities hall had completed the camp. She’d paid for it all.
‘Anything to do with Josie?’
He didn’t miss a thing.
‘Some. She’s been luckier than most kids in her situation. Growing up on the farm with my brother for her dad meant she wasn’t held back, instead encouraged to get out and do the chores and ride the pony, dig a posthole. I saw what other kids could gain from sampling something similar.’
‘It wouldn’t only be her dad egging her on. Her aunt’s never been one to sit back and feel sorry for herself.’
You don’t know a thing, Max. Or nothing that matters. ‘I’ve been known to nudge her along at times.’
Cal roared with laughter. ‘Like making Josie fill the trailer with sand for the pétanque court around the side of the house.’
‘And did she do a great job?’ Lily grinned. She hadn’t bullied Josie at all, instead she’d been told she was mean for not letting Josie do the job in the first place.
‘She did, and is still proud of herself.’
‘Lily, will you come and see Enid?’ Archie burst into the kitchen, looking rattled.
‘What’s up?’ Lily moved up to him.
‘She’s speaking funny and can’t move her leg and arm on one side.’
Enid never had a sick day, and adored getting out and about in the garden when she wasn’t reading the stack of books by her bedside. ‘I’ll grab my bag.’
Max flicked off the gas and put aside the pans that had been heating. ‘Archie, lead the way while Lily gets her gear.’
‘I can’t make head or tail of what she’s saying.’
Lily bit her lip. Sounds like a stroke.
Max’s eyes met Lily’s over Archie’s head, acknowledgement coming her way. They were on the same page.
She dashed to her bedroom for the medical kit and her cellphone.
‘We’ll get out of the way,’ George said.
One look at Enid a few minutes later and Lily was tapping her phone. The left side of her face was contorted and while her lips were moving her speech was gibberish. ‘I’m calling the rescue helicopter.’
Max was kneeling by the bed, talking quietly. ‘Enid, I’m Max, a doctor and a friend of Lily’s. Archie says you were reading when he went out to help with the fallen trees this morning.’
Enid’s right eye widened briefly.
‘That’s a yes?’
Another slight movement in the eyelid.
‘How long do you think you’ve been lying here like this? One hour?’
No movement.
‘More?’
No movement.
‘That might be good,’ Lily muttered. Enid might be in the golden hour. Or she could’ve been like this for a lot longer. They’d been working on those trees for at least three hours.
‘Emergency service. Do you require the ambulance, police or fire service?’
‘Ambulance,’ Lily answered briskly.
Max asked, ‘Archie, what time did you head outside to help Lily and the men?’
‘I think it was about six but I can’t be sure. What’s wrong with Enid? She can hear you. Sort of answers you.’
‘It was near six,’ Lily said.
‘Ambulance service. Please tell me the nature of your call.’
‘I’m Lily Scott, a GP. We’re on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and I have a woman who appears to have had a stroke. There’s a possibility we’re in the golden hour so I suggest sending the rescue helicopter.’
‘I need some details, Dr Scott. Bear with me for a moment.’
‘There’re two doctors here.’ It was irritating to go through this when she was a doctor, but she understood the reasons behind the system. Answering the questions quickly and getting information from Max, Lily waited while the woman at the other end put her on hold.
‘Archie.’ Max looked up at the man. ‘We think Enid’s had a stroke. Can you tell me if she’s got any medical conditions and if she takes any medications?’
‘What? A stroke? No, not that. Enid, look at me, tell me you’re all right.’ He was shaking and gasping for air.
Lily stepped around the bed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. ‘Archie, deep breath in. Let it out. That’s it. We’re getting Enid urgent help now. Max is checking everything. She’s in good hands. I want you to sit down by the bed and hold Enid’s other hand. Concentrate on breathing properly. You’re no help to her if you get wound up.’ She pulled the chair from the dressing table across and gently pushed Bill onto it just as the emergency dispatcher came back on the line.
‘Dr Scott, the rescue helicopter is on the way. Is there somewhere safe to land close by?’
‘There’s an expansive grassed area in front of the houses in this bay. I’ll arrange for neighbours to be out there to wave when the helicopter gets here, and to keep the area clear of vehicles and people. There’re some wind gusts after last night’s storm from the south east.’
‘I’ll pass on the information. Since Enid has doctors in attendance I won’t keep you on the line, but call back if there’re any concerns.’
‘Just get that rescue team here fast.’ She hung up, knowing she hadn’t needed to say that, but had been unable to stop herself. This was personal. She and Max were doing all they could but Enid needed to be in hospital. ‘Helicopter’s on the way, Archie. Max, I need to get George and Cal to head to the reserve and keep it clear.’
‘Of course. It’s a long shot but you haven’t got breathing equipment in the h
ouse, by any chance?’ Max asked.
She shook her head. ‘Sorry.’
That bad, eh? Her heart stuttered for Archie and Enid. Hang in there, Enid. Help’s on its way.
‘I’ll be back as quickly as possible.’ Max had it covered, but heading outside when this was going on went against all she’d trained for, even though organising people to make it easier for the chopper to land was helping just as much.
‘I could do that if you want to stay here,’ Max offered.
He understood her need to be there for her neighbours. ‘Thank you, but I know where I’m going and I’ll be back fast.’ She headed outside, leaping the fence and dashing through a back yard to get to George’s house. ‘George, where are you? We need help.’
As soon as George grasped what she was saying, he insisted on organising everything and sent her back to Enid. She left immediately, needing to be on the spot, not away from Enid and Archie. And Max. ‘Really?’ she gasped, as she raced through the back yard. Yes, really. This Max was stronger in a kind, caring way.
‘How’s Enid?’ Lily asked the moment she stepped into the bedroom, and immediately wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She knew there’d be no change, definitely not for the better and probably not at all.
‘I shouldn’t have gone out to shift those trees.’ Archie was stricken.
Lily went to hug him. There was nothing she could say. It was natural to blame himself, even when he couldn’t have known Enid was in trouble.
Max gave her a tight smile as he continued monitoring Enid’s heart and breathing, noting everything down. An eternity seemed to pass before the thumping of helicopter rotors came from directly above the house.
As the machine moved towards the reserve and hovered, Lily was holding her breath, begging them in her mind to hurry while understanding the need for caution. The paramedics would be here as soon as they could. Which was never fast enough. She hugged Archie again, her eyes fixed on Enid, wondering how much she understood.