“No,” Alex replied. “Although this thing around my neck is digging in.” His hands reached up in an attempt to remove the collar.
Once more, she placed her hand on his shoulder. “We have to leave it on until we clear your neck and spine.”
“Oh, okay, no worries.” His hands flopped back to his side. “So, what happened?”
Mackenzie took a deep breath. It was the fourth time he’d asked in less than ten minutes. She gave him the same answers while she continued her assessment.
“And who are you?”
“I’m Mackenzie, your nurse.”
“You’re very pretty. Are you single?”
Liam walked back into the cubicle and handed Mackenzie some paperwork, overhearing Alex’s question.
“Oi, watch out, mate, she’s already taken. Trust me, you do not want Nathan Kennedy to find out you’re muscling in on his girl. And whatever you do, don’t try to kiss her!”
Mackenzie glanced at Liam, glad to see a teasing look in his eyes. She laughed. “Yeah, sorry Alex, I’m not available.”
“My loss.” He pointed to his stomach again. “It hurts here.”
“I know,” Mackenzie said. “We’ll get you into x-ray soon and make sure nothing’s broken. Do you want some pain relief?”
“No. I’m okay.”
Stepping out of the cubicle, Mackenzie turned to Liam who was finalizing his paperwork. “It’s good to see you, Liam.”
“Yeah, you too, Mackenzie. If I don’t see you before Christmas, I’ll see you then. Joel said you’ll be there for lunch with the family.”
Mackenzie nodded.
“Oh, and, um, by the way, I never apologized to you for being such an idiot at Joel and Kate’s wedding. I shouldn’t have hit on you like that. I’m really sorry.”
Mackenzie touched him lightly on the arm. “It’s fine, Liam. Forgiven and forgotten a long time ago.”
“Yeah, well I don’t want you to think I’m always an idiot. You never know, one day I might want to be introduced to one of your friends, and I’d hate you to have to tell her what a jerk I was.”
Mackenzie followed his gaze and saw he was watching Lily in the next cubicle. “I promise she’ll never know.”
“Thanks. And good luck to you and Nathan. You deserve a lifetime of happiness. He’s lucky to have found someone like you.”
“Thank you, Liam, I appreciate that.”
They said good-bye with a brief hug and Mackenzie went back to Alex. She was actually very concerned about his memory loss. As comical as it was hearing him ask the same question over and over and over, it was troubling her.
A man’s face appeared around the curtain. “Is this Alex Thompson?”
“Yes,” Mackenzie said. “And you are?”
“His friend. Scott. We were out riding together. I went home to get changed first.”
“Oh fantastic. Perfect timing. You might be able to fill me in on some of the story.”
“I was following behind him – about fifty meters away. His front tire blew as he was going around a corner and he went straight over the handlebars.”
“Did he lose consciousness?”
“I don’t think so. He was sitting up talking to me when I pulled up seconds later. Made a mess of his bike and his helmet though.”
“Come in and see if he knows who you are,” Mackenzie said. “He’s got mild amnesia.” She tried to keep her tone light but she saw the way Scott frowned in concern. “He should be okay, but every couple of minutes he keeps asking what happened. He also forgets who I am. If he asks, just tell him I’m the nurse he keeps asking to marry.”
Scott’s eyes widened.
“I’m joking,” Mackenzie said with a laugh.
“G’day mate,” Scott said, leaning over Alex. “You don’t muck around do you? And nothing wrong with your eyesight either, you’ve picked the cutest nurse here.”
Mackenzie blushed. “Alex, do you know who this is?”
“Yeah, that’s Scott. What happened?” he repeated.
Scott glanced at Mackenzie. “When do you think he’ll get his memory back?”
She shrugged. “It’s hard to tell. He’ll be going for an x-ray soon and then we should know more.”
While she drew blood and inserted a cannula into Alex’s arm, she listened to the continued cyclic conversation between the two men. Mackenzie looked around. Where was the doctor? She rechecked Alex’s blood pressure. It had slightly decreased but she wasn’t alarmed. He was hypertensive when he came in, which was a combination of shock and pain. If it dropped much lower he might need some fluids, but for now he was doing okay.
“Scott, do you have any idea about Alex’s medical history? Allergies? Anything like that?” Mackenzie asked.
“Sorry, I don’t know anything. We haven’t known each other all that long. He has a brother in Cootamundra though. His number should be in Alex’s phone.”
Another man appeared and pulled the curtain closed around the bed.
“Hello Mr. Thompson. My name is Connor. I’m one of the doctors here. I just want to ask you some questions and then examine you, is that okay?”
Alex began his round of questions again and Mackenzie and Scott gave him the same answers.
Connor frowned. “Alex, do you know what day it is?”
Confusion creased Alex’s brow. “Mm. Is it Tuesday?”
“Not quite. What about the year?”
“Two thousand and ten.”
Not even close.
Mackenzie’s gut told her she needed to let the nurse in charge know what was happening. In her opinion, they needed to call the trauma team and get Alex into the resus bay. It took her a few minutes to find Ben and she quickly filled him in, pleased when he took her concerns seriously.
“Just let the consultant know,” he said.
Mackenzie found Karen, the ED consultant, and told her the same story she’d told Ben. Karen didn’t appear concerned.
“This is not his first accident,” Mackenzie heard Scott telling Connor a few minutes later. “Two years ago he was riding and was hit by a car. Came off and fractured just about everything. Skull, jaw, ribs, collarbone. Broke his leg in two places. Internal damage to his liver and spleen. He was hospitalized for months.”
“It hurts here,” Alex said, touching his lower left side.
“I’ll write him up for something,” Connor said. “Do you know if he’s allergic to anything?” he asked.
“No idea,” Scott and Mackenzie said in unison.
Connor shrugged. “He can have some Endone and then we’ll just have to wait for the scans and see what’s going on.”
“Have they been ordered?” Mackenzie asked.
Connor screwed up his face and raked his fingers through his hair. “Oh, do I have to organize that?”
Mackenzie took a deep breath before she answered. “Yes, you need to book them.”
Connor left and Mackenzie rechecked Alex’s blood pressure. It was now one hundred on forty-five. She wasn’t alarmed, but if Connor didn’t hurry up and order some fluids, Mackenzie was going to go over his head once more and speak to the consultant again.
“He’s really sweaty,” Scott said a few minutes later.
Mackenzie touched Alex’s skin. Scott was right. It was cool and clammy. Not a good sign.
“How are you feeling, Alex?” she asked.
“It hurts here,” he said, pointing to his left hip.
“He keeps saying that,” Scott said with a frown. “Do you think it’s just the amnesia?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure,” Mackenzie said. “It could be, but the fact is, he’s not saying his head or neck hurts, just his abdomen.”
Alex needed a scan and he needed it now. Where the hell was Connor? She inhaled and exhaled sharply before she rechecked Alex’s pupils and felt his pulse. Other than his slightly lowered blood pressure and clammy skin, the only other sign something wasn’t quite right was his color. His face was flushed when he arrived, but
now it was waxy pale. Mackenzie didn’t want to be an alarmist but her nurse’s instinct told her something wasn’t right.
“Karen, I’m still worried about my cyclist guy,” Mackenzie said a few minutes later when she finally managed to track the consultant down at the other end of the department. She quickly explained why.
“Have you sent bloods?” Karen asked.
“Yes.”
“Has he got a line in?”
“Yes.”
“ECG?”
“Done. Normal sinus rhythm at the time. Now slightly tachy.” Mackenzie handed the ECG to Karen who gave it a cursory glance.
“So what’s the problem?”
“I’m not sure,” Mackenzie hedged. “It’s just that Connor—”
“You’re worried because he’s only an intern.” It was more a question than a statement.
Mackenzie nodded.
“Has he ordered an x-ray yet?” Karen asked.
“He has now.”
“Then let me know when it’s been done and I’ll check it out when it comes up on the computer.” She turned her back and Mackenzie drew in a deep breath before she headed back to Alex. There was nothing more to do.
Connor was still questioning Alex – asking all manner of inane questions as far as Mackenzie was concerned. And he still hadn’t had an x-ray.
“What’s the hold up with the x-ray?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you tell them it was urgent?”
“Er, no. Should I have done that?”
Mackenzie swore under her breath. Yes!
“He’s still saying he’s got lots of pain,” Scott said.
Mackenzie looked at Alex’s closed eyes and at his face bathed in a fine sheen of sweat. Had Connor not noticed? Mackenzie hit the button on the monitor and waited for the blood pressure cuff to inflate and deflate. Eighty systolic. This guy was going to crash if she didn’t do something. Without a word Mackenzie left Connor and Scott standing either side of the bed and marched up to Karen again. The consultant was in the middle of a phone conversation but the look on Mackenzie’s face was enough for her to interrupt the caller and hang up.
“What’s up?”
“I’m worried about him. He’s gray, clammy, BP’s dropping.”
“Is Connor still with him?”
“Yes. I just want you to come and eyeball him, please. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Fine,” the consultant said, striding toward the curtained-off cubicle. It was obvious she was anything but fine about it.
Karen took one look at Alex and began issuing instructions.
“Get a CT scan organized now. Mackenzie, start some fluids. Pump them through as fast as you can. Someone get me the scanner. I’ll do a fast scan at the bedside. Has he had pain relief? What are his obs now?”
Lily arrived, pushing Connor and Scott aside. Fluids were hung, the scan was done and three minutes later Alex was wheeled to CT followed by the consultant and a nervous-looking Connor. Mackenzie was left to clean up the mess and calm Scott down. She showed him into the visitors’ lounge and made him a cup of tea before heading back to her other patients. There was nothing else they could do except wait.
Half an hour later there was still no sign of Alex and Mackenzie eventually found Karen standing in the tea room grabbing a quick cup of coffee.
The consultant spoke first. “Well done, Mackenzie. You just saved that man’s life.”
Mackenzie raised her eyebrows, but kept her mouth closed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner. Connor was more concerned with the man’s head and the amnesia. He was ignoring that the patient was going on about the pain in his abdomen. CT scan showed a hairline fracture of his pelvis and it’s caused his inferior epigastric artery to rupture.”
“Oh wow.” Mackenzie was staggered.
“Yeah, it was actively bleeding on CT. He’s gone straight to theater and then on to ICU. Good pick up, Mackenzie. Thanks for getting me off my backside!” Karen headed out the door and then spun back around. “Welcome to Birrangulla Base, Mackenzie. You’re going to be a great addition to our team.”
Chapter 30
“Merry Christmas,” Kate called out cheerfully when Mackenzie wandered into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
“I thought only kids woke up this early on Christmas day. Did I just hear Nathan pull up?” Mackenzie asked.
Kate laughed. “Yep. He arrived about ten minutes ago. He’s in the lounge room waiting for us.”
Mackenzie groaned. “Is it even morning yet?”
“It is if you think six o’clock is an acceptable time to be woken up when you’re not working.”
“You’re kidding me?” Mackenzie yawned and straightened, stretching her arms in a lazy arc above her head. “Why so early?”
Kate shrugged. “He’s always done it. Once when we were kids he tried to wake me at four in the morning. Mum and Dad had a rule we weren’t allowed into the lounge room until six and he eventually fell asleep in the hallway and didn’t wake up until after eight. He learned his lesson and set his alarm for six o’clock every year after that.”
“And is that Christmas music I can hear?”
“Yep. Nathan goes the whole hog every Christmas. It’s a big deal for him.”
“Well it’s not bad for someone who says he’s not a morning person,” Mackenzie said with a laugh.
There was the sound of a carefully cleared throat from the other room. “I have ears you know.”
Kate winked and Mackenzie stifled a giggle.
“I’m a morning person on Christmas Day,” Nathan called out from the lounge room. He sounded far too cheerful. “Come in here, Kenz, Santa’s been.”
Mackenzie grumbled jokingly as she walked down the hallway toward the lounge. Kate followed. There was no sign of Joel and their bedroom door remained shut. Smart man.
“Is he always like this?” she asked Kate.
“Yep. Christmas and birthdays. He’s like a little kid.”
Nathan was sitting cross-legged beneath the Christmas tree, looking every bit like an impatient toddler, his eyes dancing.
“Good morning, Kenz. Kate.”
The corners of his mouth turned upwards. It looked like he was having difficulty repressing a grin. She squinted. Was he wearing his pajamas?
“Good morning,” Mackenzie replied.
“Santa’s been. See?”
Kate rolled her eyes.
Mackenzie groaned again. “Santa can wait. Can I at least have a shower while you make me some coffee? My veins need caffeine if you’re going to be this chirpy.”
Nathan chuckled. “Aw, don’t be like that, Kenzie. It’s Christmas Day. Come and give me a kiss first then you can go take a shower.” His eyes narrowed, but not before she caught sight of the flashing gold flecks. He lowered his voice slightly. “That is unless you’d like me to have a shower with you.”
Kate put her fingers in her ears. “La, la, la. How about you two wait until you have this place to yourselves!” She turned on her heel. “I’m going back to bed.”
Mackenzie felt her face flush. Glancing at Nathan, she was amused to find he didn’t look at all embarrassed.
“Well it might be Christmas morning, but I’ve had less than six hours’ sleep. Can you at least give me a chance to wake up first?” The night before they had attended the traditional midnight carols service at the local church. “Shower, then coffee, then a kiss. In that order. And before you ask again, the answer is no to you having a shower with me.”
Nathan pouted and Mackenzie couldn’t help herself. She leaned down and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
He responded by threading his fingers through her hair. “Mackenzie Grace Jones, how many times have I told you I love you?”
“A few.”
Nathan’s eyes twinkled with traces of his characteristic humor. “Only a few? That’s not good enough. I’ll have to rectify that.”
Mackenzie giggl
ed. “After coffee!”
“I’ll put the kettle on.”
“While you’re at it, how about you get dressed too!”
When she returned, Kate had disappeared, leaving Nathan and Mackenzie alone. Lights sparkled on the tree and Christmas carols played softly from the iPod docking station. Even better, the smell of freshly brewed coffee invaded her senses. She leaned down to kiss Nathan again and giggled when he tugged at her arms, pulling her into his lap.
“While it’s just the two of us, why don’t we exchange presents now.”
“You’re assuming I’ve bought you a present,” she teased.
Nathan looked smug. “I know you have.”
“How?”
“Haven’t you ever played ‘feel the present’? I found the one you bought me hidden at the back of the tree. I’ve felt it and already worked out what it is.”
Mackenzie’s eyes widened in surprise. “But that’s against the rules!”
“Not in the Kennedy family it’s not,” he argued, with a childlike grin.
She punched him lightly in the arm. “You’re unbelievable.” She tried to stand but he pulled her down again.
“Seriously though, Kenz, Merry Christmas.” He kissed her on the lips and placed a small, exquisitely wrapped box in her hand.
Stalling, she turned the package over in her hands before raising it to her ear and shaking it gently. Nothing. She undid the bow and pulled off the wrapping. Her breath faltered when she found a small, familiar turquoise-colored jewelry box. Inside was a solid silver heart on a beaded bracelet. The man had perfect taste when it came to choosing jewelry.
“I love it!”
*
The house smelled amazing. Roast lamb, turkey and ham. Mackenzie could also smell something else, cinnamon or vanilla, she wasn’t sure which, but she inhaled and her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten any breakfast and now she was starving.
After exchanging gifts – she’d given Nathan a new leather wallet – they helped Kate and Joel prepare the food. Ten of them would be crammed around the table for a traditional Christmas lunch at the farm: Nathan and Mackenzie, Kate and Joel, both sets of parents and Liam and Emma. Even though Nathan assured her repeatedly that she was more than welcome, Mackenzie still felt like she was butting in on their Christmas Day celebrations with family.
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