by Lucy Clark
Her mind instantly jumped to three thousand different conclusions and all of them included Jason breaking her heart. Well, why not? Cameron had done it. Cameron had smiled sweetly at other women, had taken their hands, and when Summer had confronted him, had asked him to explain, he’d flatly denied any rumours about affairs and made her feel as small as lint for even daring to question him.
Surely she hadn’t made another mistake? She didn’t think she could handle it right now. No. Jason wasn’t Cameron. Jason wasn’t Cameron. She needed to say the words over and over to try to get her mind to at least settle down.
Sally put her hand on Summer’s face and forced her head around. ‘The playroom’s over there, Dr Summer.’
‘Of course it is.’ Why did her legs feel so unstable? Why were Jason and the woman he was now openly holding hands with walking towards them?
‘Summer. Come and meet my sister,’ Jason called.
‘Sister!’ The word was out before she knew it and as she’d reached the playroom, she put Sally down. ‘You get the paper and the scissors out again. I’ll be there in a moment.’ Sally ran off to do that.
‘Hi. I’m Cassandra. Jason’s little sister. You must be the new doctor from Sydney.’
‘Summer. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
Jason let go of Cassandra’s hand so she could shake Summer’s but looked at his new colleague with a quizzical expression. He hadn’t missed the look that had crossed her face when she’d seen him walking with Cass. What had it meant? Because from his experience in reading people, he’d seen that sort of expression before and in the past it had often been jealousy.
Summer? Jealous?
No. He had to have been wrong because if Summer was jealous then that would mean she had real feelings for him. Stronger than he or even she had realised. He shook his head and realised that both women had entered the playroom and were now chatting quite comfortably. Summer crossed to an internal phone on the wall and dialled a number, no doubt trying to convince Tommy and Bradley to come to the ward and join them for some craftwork.
‘She’s gorgeous,’ Cassandra murmured quietly, taking in Jason’s expression, the way he’d watched Summer move. ‘She’s the reason you’ve been so distracted lately.’ It was a statement and as Jason turned sharply to look at his sister, she laughed. ‘You are so transparent. I could read you like a book. She’s nice, Jase.’
‘You’ve just met her.’
‘Then give me some time with her. Is she…someone I should get to know better?’
Jason’s eyes were back to watching Summer. ‘I don’t know. Perhaps. Maybe.’ When his sister gasped, he decided he needed a little room to breathe. ‘I’ll go get some of the other children who wanted to make decorations,’ he said, and quickly left.
He headed to a few of the other wards to see if there were any children visiting who might want to join in. After all, there were a lot of Christmas decorations to be made by the budding artists of Ballarat. The more, the merrier. When he returned, it was to find the playroom crowded, every chair taken, and even a few of the smaller children sitting on grown-ups’knees. Both Tommy and Bradley had indeed come up and he knew it was no doubt due to some fancy footwork and motherly manipulation from Summer.
Summer herself had Sally leaning on her from one side and another little boy of about five on her other side. The boy had his arm about her neck and was intent on whispering a secret in her ear. By the smile, big and bright, on Summer’s lips, he could tell she was enjoying every moment.
Paper chains had been cut, looped and then stuck together. Stars had been cut out. Candy canes, Christmas puddings, reindeer. The floor seemed to be covered with paper scraps and bits of glitter that had come unstuck from paper. Everything looked great but Summer looked amazing simply sitting there in the middle of the throng, listening intently to whatever great words of wisdom were being whispered in her ear.
‘Dr JD. Dr JD.’ He’d been spotted and headed over to help out where he was needed. He could feel Summer’s eyes on him and he glanced over in her direction to find her smiling brightly at him.
‘There you are. I was wondering if you’d been waylaid by an emergency.’
‘No.’ He knelt down on the floor, no doubt having now covered his legs with glitter, and started to fold a piece of paper. He kept folding until it was the right size and then picked up a pair of scissors, snipping expertly here and there. When he’d finished, he carefully unfolded it and received a round of applause when he held up a string of paper Santas.
‘You have to teach me how to do that,’ Tommy declared, coming to sit beside Jason. ‘That’s totally buzzin’. Right, Brad?’
‘Totally,’ Brad agreed, and both boys started folding paper and asking Jason for instructions.
Everything was perfect, Summer thought as she looked around. Cassandra was busy teaching some of the older girls how to layer paper at different angles to make different effects.
After talking a few minutes with Cassandra, she’d discovered she was a dressmaker in Melbourne but often came home for weekends, especially around Christmas. For a woman she’d just met, Cassandra had been very open and honest about her life and Summer idly wondered whether Jason had already told his sister about the latest developments in his life—namely his attraction to her. Either way, it was nice to be instantly accepted by someone who Jason obviously held in such high esteem and again Summer felt as though things were really starting to come together, starting to take shape—her shape.
She looked at Jason, who was teaching Tommy how to cut out paper Santas, and her heart swelled with love. Her son was so happy, so relaxed and she knew a lot of it was to do with the easy acceptance given by Jason. Jason, who had not only accepted Tommy but had accepted herself as well.
Easy acceptance. Brother and sister seemed to be cut from the same cloth. The people here, those she worked with, liked her for who she was—not for her family name. She was simply Summer and it had been far too long since she’d felt that way.
Jason had figured it out, though. He knew of the Hoyts family, knew of their influence, and yet it hadn’t fazed him one bit. He was caring and sincere. Helpful and honest. It was no wonder she was falling in love with him. It also helped that he was drop-dead sexy. She smiled to herself, acknowledging the extent of her feelings for him. For some reason, it didn’t bother her. She was falling in love and although it was terrifying, it was addictively exhilarating at the same time. And it made her feel…truly alive.
CHAPTER EIGHT
FOR the next week, it was all systems go as far as Christmas fever went. Wards were strung with tinsel. Fake mistletoe was hung over doorways. Where some of the staff had previously been wearing Santa hats, they now seemed to be part of the uniform, and Summer loved every moment of it.
She’d learned how to make paper chains, how to cut out and make three-dimensional stars. Jason had given her and Tommy a lesson in how to not only cut out paper Santas but also baubles and bells, strings of them lining the wards. The fact that the children had made the decorations that were strung up everywhere in the paediatric unit only served to make the atmosphere more personally brilliant and festive.
Tommy’s class at school were starting to wind down, getting ready for the approaching Christmas holidays, which would see him enjoying seven weeks off. Again, she found it difficult to believe they’d only been in Ballarat for such a short time as it had been the happiest time they’d ever had.
Jason had been as attentive as ever and was now making plans to come over and decorate her house that evening.
‘We both finish around five o’clock so I vote that we collect Tommy and then head to the shops to get you some decorations.’
‘Brave the shops? At Christmas time? After work?’
Jason chuckled. ‘This isn’t Sydney, Summer,’ he reminded her. ‘Don’t tell me, you used to do most of your shopping on line?’
‘Well…yes. It was just easier.’
‘Undoubtedly.’
Jason winked at her as he twirled a pen in his hand. They were sitting in the ward, having just finished their afternoon ward round a little early as they didn’t have that many patients in at the moment.
‘It was,’ she added, feeling compelled to defend herself. ‘I had a full schedule in Sydney between work and charity events and it was difficult to get to the stores. Then there was Tommy and the house to keep organised, meals to be discussed with the cook, dress fittings to attend and—’
Jason held up his hands in a ‘T’. ‘Whoa, lady. Time out. I was just teasing.’ He took her hand in his as they were presently alone at the nurses’ station. As soon as he touched her, Summer’s mind emptied of all coherent thought as the warmth from his hand ignited a mass of tingles that travelled up her arms and exploded throughout her body.
It was getting worse. Her reaction to him was so immediate, so intense and so incredible…and she knew why. Ever since they’d met, she’d found herself dreaming about him, fantasising about him, and ever since he’d brushed those tantalising kisses across her lips, she’d found herself falling… falling head over heels in love with him.
As per her initial request, Jason had showed incredible restraint and hadn’t kissed her again, although she could easily tell he wanted to just by looking at him. The fact that he’d abstained had shown her he had the willpower to do so. Add to that the fact that he still wanted to be with her and it had only caused her to fall for him even faster than she’d imagined.
Here was a man who listened to her. Here was a man who enjoyed being with her, spending time with her. Here was a man who clearly had a lot of time for her son, who was willing to read books with him, play games with him and, most importantly, listen to him. To say that Tommy thought the world of Jason was an understatement and ever since the day Jason had taken them out on house calls, Tommy had opened his locked-away heart and allowed someone else in.
Now she was having to tell her son off for normal boisterous behaviour, getting him to clean up his room.
‘Summer? Earth to Summer?’ Jason had a teasing smile on his lips as he waved his other hand in front of her eyes. When she looked at him, his smile increased. ‘Where did you go?’ He leaned closer. ‘And can I come, too? You had such a dreamy expression on your face. Tell me you were thinking about me.’
Summer smiled shyly but didn’t look away. This was Jason, not Cameron. This was the man who was really interested in her, cared about her. ‘I was…thinking about you.’ She sighed slowly. ‘I seem to spend a lot of my time thinking about you,’ she confessed. ‘And when you touch me…’ She looked down at their hands, her voice dropping to an intimate whisper. ‘Even a simple touch like this…’ Her eyes met his again and he was amazed at how intense her blue depths were.
‘Summer. Don’t say things like that.’ He didn’t move away. Instead, he brought his chair closer, his fingers entwining with hers in a promise.
‘But it’s how I feel. I can’t help it, Jason. It’s how you make me feel and I’ve never—ever—felt this way about anyone before. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know what the protocols are. You’re my closest friend here and I can’t help but tell you how I feel.’
‘Summer, I meant don’t say things like that when you’ve asked me not to kiss you. The way you’re looking at me right now is fuelling a blaze deep down inside me—one that is threatening to rage for a long time once it’s let out. My self-control is so taut that it’s becoming a real test of my willpower just to work alongside you every day. The fact that I can touch you like this…’ He squeezed her hand again. ‘That I can be near you so your perfume drives me wild to the point of distraction does help, but at the same time it’s adding more heat to the furnace.’
‘Oh, Jason.’ Summer swallowed at his explanation, her throat having gone dry due to her increased heart rate. How could words, words such as the ones he’d just spoken, create such havoc within her? ‘I want you to kiss me,’ she whispered, but still kept her distance. ‘I really do and I think about it all the time.’ Her eyes dropped to his parted lips as she spoke and she watched as his Adam’s apple moved up and down his strong throat as he swallowed. ‘But at the same time I need space.’
‘I know. I didn’t say that I didn’t understand. I said it’s getting more and more difficult.’
‘You’ll come over tonight? Hang the decorations?’ Her words were still asked with a breathlessness she was desperately fighting to control.
‘Yes.’
‘And then we’ll…talk again? Figure out what happens next?’
‘Yes.’
‘Together?’
Unable to resist her any longer, Jason lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a long kiss to it. He lifted his eyes to meet hers, her hand still warm from his breath which fanned over it. ‘Together,’ he confirmed. ‘Whatever is happening between us, Summer, is definitely happening to both of us. That’s the important part to remember. Neither of us is in this alone and so long as we’re determined to take this ride side by side, we should be fine.’ At least, that was what he sincerely hoped for.
‘Not get hurt?’ She desperately needed reassurance. Jason could see that. Sometimes when he looked into her eyes he was almost positive he saw love for him shining brightly and at other times he saw only fear. That was something else he needed to know. Just how had her husband hurt her? Had it been a matter of neglect or something more? Either way, he was beginning to realise that the pain and anguish he’d experienced with the break-up of his own marriage was completely different to what Summer had been through.
‘Yes. Not get hurt,’ he confirmed, and kissed her hand again before reluctantly letting it go. The phone on the desk rang and he snatched it up quickly, needing a diversion for his thoughts. To say the woman beside him was special was becoming an understatement. ‘Jason,’ he said into the phone.
‘Jason, it’s Mags.’ the triage sister said. ‘We may have a problem here in A and E. Can you or Summer come down?’
Jason looked at Summer and mouthed, ‘A and E,’ so she knew who was on the phone. ‘How about both of us?’
Mags chuckled. ‘Can’t bear to be parted, eh?’ Jason held the phone closer to his ear, trying to ensure Summer hadn’t heard. He knew she didn’t want their attraction to be common knowledge around the hospital—not just yet at any rate—but she also hadn’t realised that most of the staff were already aware that something was going on between the two paediatricians.
‘We’ll be there soon.’
The two of them headed to A and E. ‘Did she say what was wrong?’ Summer asked, glad to be doing something so she wasn’t just sitting there staring into Jason’s eyes.
‘No.’ He held open the door which led to the stairwell and together they descended towards the A and E department. When they arrived at the triage station, Mags was on the phone again and Jason leaned over her shoulder to see what she was writing down. ‘Food poisoning?’ He looked at Summer, who grimaced.
Mags finished her call, then turned to face them. ‘All right. Here’s the scoop. We’re expecting quite a few students in from Eureka Heights High School with suspected food poisoning.’
‘Symptoms?’ Jason took the notes Mags had written down and scanned the details.
‘Nausea, colicky abdominal pain. Two students have vomited.’
‘Do we know what they’ve eaten?’
‘Not as yet. All we know is that all the children who are sick ate from the school cafeteria at lunchtime.’
‘Any other schools affected?’ Summer asked.
‘Not that I’ve heard. Ambulances are on their way with the worst cases. A few students have already been sent home.’
‘I want to see everyone,’ Jason stated. ‘Those children who were sent home, find out who they are and get them in here for observation. If we can isolate the cause, it will go a long way.’ He turned to Summer. ‘When they get here, we need to monitor them for any other symptoms to make sure we’re not dealing with anything more th
an general gastrointestinal tract contamination by a microorganism.’
‘Botulism?’
Jason nodded. ‘Watch for headaches, dizziness and especially lack of muscular co-ordination. You know the drill.’
‘I do. We had a case of Clostridium botulinum in Sydney two years ago and three people died.’
Jason winked briefly at her. ‘Then you’re our experienced gal. Mags, if any of the staff have questions about patients or are overly concerned, Summer’s the first point of contact.’
‘Noted.’
The ambulance sirens could be heard as other nursing and medical staff went out to greet them. ‘Let’s get this sorted,’ Jason stated, and they went to work.
They saw several students and after Summer had examined two, she was thankful no major symptoms of botulism had been reported.
‘We still need to try to isolate the cause,’ Jason remarked when they met up at the nurses’ station, both of them writing up notes.
‘I’ve just sent the contents of my patient’s stomach to the lab for immediate analysis,’ Summer told him.
‘Ah…you are brilliant, Dr Hoyts.’ He patted her hand and thankfully, for both of them, he didn’t linger.
‘Thank you.’
‘Just got another call,’ Mags put down the phone and turned to face them. ‘Another school has reported students with similar symptoms.’
Jason looked to Summer. ‘Perhaps it’s not food related?’
She thought for a moment. ‘This isn’t necessarily bad information. Well, it’s bad that more students are sick but it might help us to narrow down whatever is causing it. What do the two schools have in common? Are they close in location? Do they use the same water supply? Do they have a supplier of food in common? Do the students know each other in some way? Were they all at the local swimming pool last night?’
‘You’re right. We need to think bigger and differently. OK, Mags, can you get all staff gathered for a quick briefing, please?’ Jason asked, and when everyone who was free managed to come together, Jason handed over to Summer. He was proud of the way she dealt with the situation, her tone commanding, her leadership strong. She wasn’t overpowering or domineering, assuring everyone that she was available to review patients if they had any queries.