Daintree

by Annie Seaton

  ‘A top effort.’ Jeremy’s voice was quiet.

  Emma shook herself out of her dreamy state. She had to get over this before she went on stage to make her thank-you speech. If the smile on Jeremy’s face was anything to go by, he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  ‘How about a night out to celebrate? Drinks at the Federal?’ Jeff looked from Emma to Jeremy.

  ‘A pass for me, but thanks, Jeff. I’ve got some things I have to do.’

  Emma would have loved to go to the pub but she knew it would put her in Jeremy’s company for the night. She was helping him move tomorrow so a bit of distance was needed. Time to pull back a bit. Her reaction to his kiss had been a timely warning.

  ‘Come on, you guys. All the helpers up on stage in fifteen minutes so we can wind this up.’ Emma’s voice was brisk.

  Chapter 25

  Saturday afternoon

  Dalrymple Park—Rainbow Day

  Things to do? Emma was obviously trying her best to avoid him. Jeremy was disappointed, but still looking forward to having her to himself tomorrow. That would be better than sharing her with the crowd at the pub.

  ‘I’ll just come for a quick drink, Jeff. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.’ He glanced at Emma as he spoke. ‘Moving house, remember? You said you’d help.’

  ‘I almost forgot. Do you still need me?’ Her voice was tinged with reluctance.

  ‘Oh, yes. I sure do.’ Jeremy looked around and rubbed his hands together. ‘So how can I help with this clean up?’

  ‘You could put a shirt on first. That way we might get some more work out of the other helpers,’ Cissy said drily. ‘But come on over to the stage first. You’ve been a part of the team today too.’

  He looked down with a grin. In all the excitement of winning and kissing Emma, he’d forgotten he’d shed his shirt for the tug-of-war. He picked up his sunglasses and headed for the change room. Troy was in there getting dressed.

  ‘Great day.’ Jeremy pulled his T-shirt over his head.

  ‘Yeah, can’t beat these country towns, can you, mate? A huge amount of money raised in such a small place.’ Troy picked up and his bag and looked at Jeremy curiously. ‘You and the doc got something going on?’

  Jeremy pulled his T-shirt down. ‘Why do you ask? You interested?’

  Troy smiled coolly. ‘Could be. You seem to be pretty good friends.’

  ‘Yep, we go way back.’ Jeremy kept his tone noncommittal. Troy could interpret that however he liked. ‘Shout you a drink after the official bit?’ He injected friendliness into his tone.

  ‘Sure, why not.’

  They strolled out together and he looked around for Emma but she’d disappeared. Cissy was walking across the grass towards the car park carrying a bag of rubbish.

  ‘I’ll take that over for you.’ Troy reached out for the garbage bag.

  ‘Thanks,’ Cissy said.

  ‘Where’s Emma gone?’ Jeremy asked.

  ‘She was worried about Wilma Randall. She noticed she was a bit pale when she was packing up and went to check on her.’

  ‘I saw Jock Newby giving her a hard time when I arrived.’

  ‘He’s a pain in the arse.’ Cissy grimaced.

  ‘What’s his prob—’

  ‘Help me! Get the paramedics!’ The shout came from the car park.

  Emma. Jeremy’s blood ran cold.

  He took off towards the car park, calling back to Troy over his shoulder. ‘Quickly, call the paramedics over here.’ Cissy ran beside him.

  By the time Cissy and Jeremy reached Emma, the siren was wailing.

  Emma was leaning into an old Land Rover and Wilma was inside. Emma was supporting her head against the seat with one hand as she searched for a pulse with the other.

  ‘Wilma! Can you hear me?’

  No response.

  ‘The paramedics are here.’ Jeremy leaned in beside Emma. ‘Here. I’ll support her shoulders and you and Cissy take her legs while we get her out of the car.’

  They managed to get Wilma on the grass by the time the ambulance pulled up. Emma started the chest compressions and Jeremy tipped Wilma’s head back as Tony, one of the paramedics, put the defibrillator on the grass beside them.

  ‘Clear please, doctors. We’ve got her now.’

  Emma leaned back against Jeremy as the paramedics worked on Wilma.

  ‘No breathing. No pulse.’

  Jeremy held her shoulders steady as they watched Tony attach the electrode pads to Wilma’s chest while the other paramedic continued the CPR.

  ‘Rightio. Clear.’ Tony’s voice was steady as he issued the command and then pressed the shock button. ‘We’ve got a pulse,’ he called over his shoulder.

  ‘Quick, we need to get her across to emergency. At least it’s not far,’ Emma’s voice shook.

  Jeremy’s hands tensed on her shoulders. Emergency.

  ‘We’ll meet you there, Doctors. There’s a skeleton staff over there. You’ll be needed. We’ll take her over now.’

  Jeremy glanced into Wilma’s car. The keys were in the ignition. ‘Jump in, I’ll drive. We’ll get there quicker if we take her car over.’

  The highway traffic pulled aside as the ambulance’s wail screamed across the two blocks to the hospital. By the time it had pulled up in the emergency bay, Jeremy had parked the car, and Emma and Cissy ran with him to the emergency door. The familiar cold feeling crawled into his throat and he swallowed it down.

  Shit. How could a room have such an effect on him? He tried desperately to keep it together.

  *

  Five minutes later they’d all changed into hospital scrubs and cleaned up. Jeremy stood behind Emma as she pulled open the curtain of the cubicle. His legs were trembling and his throat was dry, and his heart thudded hard. Chris Shannon was on duty and he glanced up at them briefly as he inserted an IV line into Wilma’s arm. ‘We’re going okay. She’s resumed spontaneous circulation but is still unconscious.’

  Chris handed over to the nurse once the line was in. ‘Emma, she’s your patient, isn’t she? Fill me in on her background.’

  ‘Long history of circulation problems. Angina and a partially blocked valve awaiting a stent insertion. She’s on Corlanor but has a history of not taking it regularly.’ Her voice shook. ‘I was at her place last night and I was hard on her. She’s started taking it again in the last twelve hours.’

  ‘That probably saved her.’

  Jeremy stepped outside the cubicle and left Emma with Chris as they planned a treatment regime until Wilma could be safely moved to the coronary unit in Cairns.

  ‘Dalrymple?’ The radio crackled and Cissy walked over and picked up the handset.

  ‘Dalrymple Emergency. Go ahead.’

  Dread closed Jeremy’s throat as the paramedic spoke. ‘Drug overdose on the way in. Patient unresponsive, difficulty with breathing. We’re ten minutes out.’

  He had to get out of here before he made an absolute fool of himself. The room closed in on him as Emma stepped from the cubicle. ‘I’ll stay, Cissy. Wilma’s stable.’

  Jeremy moved quickly to the door. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  Emma’s eyes opened wide and she frowned at him. ‘You’re leaving?’

  ‘Yes. You don’t need me. Not my role here. Under control.’ His voice cracked and he barely got the words out. ‘Hope Wilma’s okay.’

  Emma put her hand on to his arm. ‘Are you all right?’

  As she spoke, a drop of perspiration ran down his cheek. He shook her hand off and dug for his handkerchief to wipe his brow.

  ‘Jeremy? You’re very pale.’

  ‘I’m fine. Just do your job.’ Jeremy looked away from Emma’s shocked expression and backed away from the cubicle. Bright lights hovered at the edge of his vision. He gagged, and lifted his hand to his mouth as he fled from the emergency room. Pulling the scrubs off, he flung them into the basket at the door and pushed open the outside door. He stepped into the driveway where the ambulance was parked and lifted his arm
s up against the wall. Resting his head on the backs of his hands, he took deep breaths. It took a long time for his heart rate to return to normal and the nausea to pass.

  Slowly, he became aware of the sounds around him. Traffic hummed along the highway, and a car started up in the car park. He looked around. There was no one else around and he shoved himself away from the wall and walked over to the bench seat on the edge of the lawn overlooking the aged care facility.

  The high-pitched wail of the ambulance siren reached him as he stared at the brick building, now bathed in the afternoon sunlight. The air was thick and syrupy and the cloying smell of sugar cane filled his nose as the ambulance came to a halt in the bay outside the emergency room.

  He was kidding himself to think he could stay in a medical career. If this was going to happen to him every time he was in an emergency ward, it would be life-threatening. He already had one death on his conscience and he wouldn’t risk it again.

  The blue sky was bright and he let the soft afternoon breeze dry the remnants of perspiration on his face. The gurney’s wheels scraped on the concrete path as the paramedics pushed it to the door, but Jeremy wouldn’t look at it.

  Instead he leaned forward, dropping his hands loosely between his knees and stared at the grass. He had to get away.

  Away from the hospital. Away from emergencies. Away from critical care. He could cope with the Outreach position and doing clinic work, but he needed an office somewhere else. He had finally realised it was only the emergency ward where he came undone. He’d coped fine with George’s emergency and Wilma’s heart attack but as soon as he was in the ward everything went to shit.

  If he was expected to be in the hospital and be available for emergency work, he’d move on. Somewhere else, away from anything to do with medicine. He had his MBA to fall back on. He pushed himself to his feet and walked slowly back to the hotel. He remembered Jeff’s invitation to drinks, but he was in no mood for company tonight.

  He blocked the thought of Emma and the doctors working together in the emergency room. Trying to save another life.

  They’d be better off without him.

  Chapter 26

  Saturday evening

  Dalrymple Hospital

  The paramedics had the patient with suspected psycho-stimulant toxicity stabilised by the time they reached the hospital. The young man was conscious when they examined him and it was clear he was in no immediate danger. Another local victim of the ice epidemic in the Daintree.

  Emma returned to the cubicle where Wilma lay staring at the ceiling. She was drowsy, but aware enough to be argumentative and Emma wouldn’t leave until she was sure that her patient was stable and responding to the drugs Chris Shannon had administered.

  ‘I’ll come back first thing in the morning before they take you down to Cairns.’

  ‘I don’t want to go to another hospital.’ The elderly woman’s face was lined and her eyes were bloodshot.

  ‘We won’t send you down there until we see how you are in the morning. We’ll discuss it then.’ She lifted the old woman’s hand in hers. ‘That was a very close call. If you’d been at your place . . .’

  ‘If I’d been at home it would have been my time. I’m ready for it, Emma.’ Wilma squeezed Emma’s hand and set her lips in a straight line.

  Emma frowned. ‘You’re not going to die anytime soon.’

  ‘Please don’t worry about me,’ she said quietly.

  She nodded reluctantly as Wilma tried to sit up and she pushed her back gently. ‘Okay. Now settle down and I’ll come see you in the morning.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Wilma’s thin hand reached out for her. ‘Emma. I’m sorry.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘For not listening to you.’

  Emma leaned over and let her lips brush against Wilma’s forehead. Maybe it was unprofessional, but she considered the old woman a friend as much as a patient. ‘It’s okay. I’m sorry for being so hard on you too. You know I care about you.’

  She pushed opened the door and took a deep breath. Darkness had fallen while she was inside and the night was quiet and still. A shadow moved outside the door and she put her hand to her chest.

  ‘I guess you want a lift home, Doctor Em?’

  ‘Oh George. You startled me. But yes, thanks. You’re a champ to wait for me.’

  ‘Is Wilma going to be okay?’

  ‘I hope so. We’ll have to run some more tests.’ She followed him to the old ute and climbed up into the passenger seat. ‘Do you mind stopping by the pub on the way home?’

  ‘Hard day, hey?’

  ‘Yes.’

  The huge amount of money they’d raised at the Rainbow Day and the community spirit there had filled her with pride. The response from locals and tourists had been great. Looking at Jeremy with his shirt off—that had been another high point. Her lips tilted in a smile. But the rest of the day had sucked, and Jeremy’s behaviour at the hospital had worried her.

  George changed gears noisily and turned the corner, parking outside the back door of the pub.

  ‘I won’t be long. I just want to talk to Doctor Langford for a minute.’

  ‘Take your time. I like the new doc too.’ This time he threw a smile her way and she rolled her eyes at George. She was disappointed in Jeremy. If he wanted to be a rural doctor, he was going to have to shed some of that arrogance. It was time he realised that everyone pulled together up here in the small hospital.

  She opened the door to the bar and waved to Rod before turning to the steps that led up to the guest rooms. She was halfway up when she realised she didn’t know which room was Jeremy’s.

  ‘Rod, which room is Jer . . . uh, Doctor Langford’s?’

  ‘Number three, but he’s not up there.’ Rod pointed to the door. ‘He headed off in his running gear about an hour ago.’

  ‘Oh, okay. Thanks.’ Emma ignored the disappointment that tugged at her, but at least if he’d gone for a run, he was okay. She’d talk to him tomorrow. ‘Can you tell him I called in and I’ll see him in the morning?’

  ‘Sure will,’ Rod said with a wink. ‘Nice guy that doc.’

  Seemed like everyone liked the new doc. And that there was a bit of gossip around after that public kiss. But he’d upset her when he’d left emergency tonight, even if he hadn’t been feeling well.

  George dropped her off at the boat ramp and waited till she was safely across to the other side in her punt.

  Poor little Bowser flung himself at her when she opened the gate at the top of the two back steps. She’d left him secure on the back porch all day, still wary of letting him out near the river when she wasn’t home. He took off with a yap and lifted his leg on every fence post along the side of the house, before trotting back to her as she filled his bowl with kibble.

  ‘Sorry, little man.’ She ruffled his soft fur and yawned. ‘If I’d known I was going to be so late, I would have taken you to town too.’

  The house was dark, but there was a cool breeze blowing down the hall. The hair on Emma’s arms lifted. She’d never felt uneasy living alone before and she was angry that she was jumpy tonight. She reached over for the light switch and flicked it on, bathing the front half of the house in bright light.

  No movement, no sound greeted her. Cautiously, she walked slowly down the hall, pausing outside each door and looking into the two bedrooms and the bathroom. They were all empty and everything seemed to be in its place. As it should be.

  She jumped as a gust of wind slammed the door back against the hallway wall. She reached for it and gripped the edge as she peered around the front. The small front yard was deserted and there were no vehicles in sight. Bowser stood quietly beside her.

  She pushed the door closed, and turned the key firmly to lock it, her hands shaking. Leaning against the door, she listened to her heart thudding. Knowing that someone had tampered with her car scared her. For the first time, she didn’t feel safe in Crooked Cottage.

  Chapter 27

  Sat
urday night

  Federal Hotel, Dalrymple

  The run hadn’t helped Jeremy’s peace of mind. Normally if he pushed himself, he could make himself forget the memories. But being in emergency tonight had brought the past slamming back with a vengeance. He pushed open the door of the hotel and crossed the empty room to the bar. Rod was just closing up.

  ‘Soda water?’ Rod reached for a glass but Jeremy shook his head and pointed to the doorway that led to the bottle shop at the side of the pub.

  ‘Bottle shop still serving?’

  ‘Sure is. What can I get you?’

  ‘A bottle of Glenfiddich. Put it on my bill, please.’

  ‘Celebrating your last night at the pub, Doc?’

  Jeremy forced a smile onto his face. ‘Yeah, something like that.’ It was his business, and his alone, if he intended drinking himself into a dreamless state tonight. Rod disappeared into the other room and came back with the requested bottle, but he was on for a chat.

  ‘Nice place you’ve got yourself out there on the Gorge Road.’ He leaned his elbows on the counter and nodded. ‘Looks like you’ve settled into Dalrymple real well.’

  ‘Yes.’ Jeremy picked up the bottle. Everything in this town was everybody’s business, it seemed. What was attractive to him only this morning now felt like a breach of his privacy. He said nothing more.

  Rod took the hint that he wasn’t in the mood for conversation. ‘Well, I won’t keep you.’ He picked up his cleaning cloth. ‘Oh, I almost forgot. Emma came in. She said to tell you she’d see you tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He picked up the bottle and headed for the stairs.

  At midnight, Jeremy was sitting on the verandah, enjoying the feel of the warm, tropical air on his skin. The cloying smell of the sugar cane surrounded him as the night deepened. He’d pulled the pin when the bottle was half empty. No need to poison himself. His father’s proposition was uppermost in his mind tonight. He’d called twice more this week and Jeremy had given him short shrift.