by Leah Martyn
And no answers.
But of course the kiss had to end. Good things, unexpected pleasurable things, always did. This time at Emma’s instigation. Slowly, she pulled back, untwining his arms from where he’d looped them around her shoulders and took a decisive step away from him.
Declan’s shoulders lifted in a huge sigh. ‘I guess I should go,’ he murmured and hesitated. Then, as if still compelled to touch her, he reached for her, running his hands down her arms, lacing his fingers with hers. ‘Before we get into any more trouble,’ he added wryly, placing the softest kiss at the side of her mouth. ‘See you tomorrow.’ He let her go abruptly, turning away and making a swift exit across the verandah and down the steps to the path.
He didn’t look back.
At work on Monday morning, Emma was still dazed by what had happened, her whole body still sensitized by Declan’s kisses, her thoughts far from clear. She’d been woefully unprepared for the avalanche of emotions she’d felt—and never experienced before. Not even with Marcus, whom she’d almost married.
She went along to her consulting room, lifting a hand to touch the corner of her mouth where Declan had imprinted that last lingering kiss. He’d be arriving at the surgery very soon. Suddenly she felt fluttery, the expectation of seeing him intense, sizzling and her former safe world was spinning out of control.
Declan left the log cabin hardly noticing the chilly winter morning, still trying to untangle the strands of emotions inside him. He’d kissed Emma. God, how had he let that happen? He should have been concentrating on cementing their professional partnership, not reacting to his hormones like a randy adolescent.
But they’d only kissed, for crying out loud. People did that all the time. It didn’t mean they were about to move in together! Emma would see it for what it was. Opportunity, time and place, the uniqueness of their circumstances and no doubt capped off by a build-up of emotional overload. He heaved in a controlling breath and concentrated on the road.
But, by the time he reached the surgery, the rationalisation he’d concocted was rapidly being drowned out by the clang of warning bells. He was kidding himself. It was nothing to do with hormones. It was about feelings. It was about Emma Armitage.
OK, play it by ear, Declan self-counselled as he made his way along the corridor to his consulting room. He stowed his medical case and straightened his shoulders. Moira had informed him Emma was already in. Closing the door to his surgery, he moved along to her room. Her door was slightly open. Nevertheless, he rapped before he went in. ‘Morning.’
‘Good morning.’ Emma lifted her gaze from her computer, snapping a smile into place. ‘You’re in early.’
Declan held out the cake tin he’d brought in. ‘Thought we could share this for morning tea for the next hundred years or so,’ he said deadpan.
Emma frowned a bit. ‘What is it?’
‘Fruit cake—old family recipe. Katie sent it via Erinn.’
‘That was nice of her.’ Emma looked at the rather battered cake tin with its old-fashioned English hunting scene on the lid. ‘My Nanna had one of these,’ she said with a laugh and got to her feet. ‘May I look?’
‘Help yourself.’
‘Mmm…I love that smell,’ Emma inhaled the classic lusciousness of rich dried fruit laced with brandy. ‘Pity, though.’
He raised a dark brow.
‘I think it’ll be long gone before a hundred years are up. I’ll leave it in Moira’s safekeeping,’ she added, replacing the lid carefully. ‘Thank Katie when next you speak to her, won’t you?’
He nodded absently. There was a beat of silence. Then, softly, as if the words were being pushed up through his diaphragm, ‘Are you OK about yesterday, Emma?’
Emma didn’t try to misunderstand him. Looking up, she saw the uncertainty clouding his gaze. Lord, she didn’t want to have this conversation. She gave a little twist of her shoulder and asked a question of her own, ‘How OK are you about it?’
Declan felt his heart walk a few flights of stairs. His mouth worked a bit before he answered, ‘I’m not.’
‘Did you enjoy kissing me, Declan?’
He looked startled at her frankness. Then, throatily, ‘I’d have to be dead from the feet up not to have enjoyed kissing you, Emma. You’re lovely…’
‘Oh!’ Suddenly, there was an ache in her stomach that was half pleasure, half pain. And a new awareness was beating its wings all around them.
‘We shouldn’t let it happen again, though.’ Declan sounded as though he was trying to convince himself. His hand reached out towards her cheek, then drew back sharply before it could connect with her skin. ‘We’re supposed to be operating a professional partnership here, aren’t we?’
Her mouth dried. Was he saying they couldn’t have both? Yet she ached for him. For the physical closeness they’d found yesterday. For more and more of his long, slow kisses. She was still searching for an acceptable reply when the harsh jangle of the phone in reception split the air.
‘Monday morning,’ Emma said resignedly.
Within seconds Moira’s head popped around the door. ‘We have an emergency at the primary school, folks. Neal Drummond needs a doctor there.’
Declan looked a question at Emma. ‘Neal’s the head teacher,’ she said. ‘What’s happened, Moira?’
‘Adam Jones has fallen out of a tree and impaled himself on the fence. It’s his upper arm. The child is Carolyn Jones’s grandson,’ she added for Declan’s benefit. ‘He’s only seven.’
‘Then I think we should both go,’ Declan said firmly. ‘It all sounds a bit iffy.’
‘Tsk…’ Moira shook her head at the unfairness of it all. ‘As if that family needs more trouble.’
‘Let’s not get bogged down in sentiment, Moira,’ Declan growled. ‘We can sort all that out later. Let’s move it!’ He flung the words at Emma from the doorway. ‘I’ll gather up some gear. Meet you in reception.’
‘That’s a bit unfeeling.’ Moira’s feathers were clearly ruffled. ‘This could well be the last straw for Carolyn.’
‘Declan’s still finding his way in rural medicine to some extent,’ Emma said diplomatically. ‘I imagine the school will have contacted Carolyn but the last thing we need is for her to go into orbit at the accident scene. Whatever else, Adam will have to be kept calm.’
‘I’ll get her on her mobile then.’ Moira as always was one step ahead. ‘I’ll tell her to go to the school office and wait there. She’ll listen to me.’
‘Thanks, Moira.’ Emma nodded gratefully. ‘And prepare her for the fact that Adam will probably have to be sent on to Toowoomba Base. Carolyn will want to go with him.’
‘So she’d better pack a bag then.’
‘Yes.’ Emma picked up her medical case and hurried through to reception.
Declan was already there, taking delivery of the emergency supplies Libby had hastily assembled.
‘Paeds drug box, IV kit and emergency oxygen—is that all you need?’
‘That’s brilliant, Libby, thanks.’ Declan slung the emergency pack over his shoulder. He sent a quick grin at the nurse. ‘In at the deep end on your first day.’
Libby returned a pert look. ‘That’s what I’m here for.’
‘Not sure how long we’ll be,’ Emma warned.
‘Go!’ The RN shooed them towards the outer door. ‘Moira and I will juggle the lists around somehow.’
‘We’ll take my wheels,’ Declan said as they sped across the car park. In seconds they were seated and belted up. ‘What kind of fence are we talking about here?’ He ignited the motor and shot the car towards the street.
‘Probably the ten-foot wrought iron fence at the rear of the school grounds,’ Emma said. ‘There are several huge Moreton Bay figs close to the fence line. I’d guess Adam’s scrambled up one of those and fallen.’
‘For crying out loud!’ Declan muttered, anger and dread in equal portions catching him by surprise. ‘Those old spiked fences have no place anywhere near a school
!’
‘It’s precisely because they are old,’ Emma pointed out patiently. ‘They’re heritage-listed.’
It was barely half a kilometre to the school but time enough for Emma’s uncertainty to intensify at the thought of the possible scenario they were facing.
Neal Drummond was waiting for them. ‘Thanks, both of you, for coming,’ he said after Emma had made swift introductions.
‘What action have you taken so far?’ Declan asked quickly.
‘Our year one teacher has gone up to Adam. She’s physically supporting him as best she can. We’ve also positioned a couple of ladders so that you’ll have access of sorts to the injured child.’ Neal escorted them swiftly along to the accident scene.
‘So, do you have any idea why Adam went climbing?’ Emma asked carefully.
‘Don’t know yet.’ Neal’s mouth tightened. ‘His grandmother’s on her way in. We’ll perhaps get a clearer picture then.’
Emma explained what initiative she’d taken to keep Carolyn at arm’s length from the accident scene.
‘Thanks for that, Emma.’ Neal nodded his relief.
‘Ambulance, fire and rescue services been alerted?’ Declan queried.
‘Both ambulances are out on other calls. The base will get one to us asap. Fire and rescue will be here when they can muster a team.’ The head teacher ran a hand distractedly over his crew cut. ‘We do have a staff member who does regular climbing. He could be of some help in the interim. He’s just nipped off home to get his ropes. Right, here we are.’
‘Hell’s bells!’ Declan’s face was grim. One look at the accident scene told both doctors it was going to need a painstaking and skilled team effort to achieve a successful outcome for Adam.
Just then, the boy’s plaintive little cry, high-pitched and heart-rending, brought the doctors into swift consultation.
‘He’ll be bordering on shock with the pain.’ Emma shaded her eyes, frowning up to where the dense foliage of the tree overhung the fence where the child was impaled. ‘That set-up with the ladders isn’t going to be effective, Declan. There’s no way we can work on Adam like that.’
‘Well, not for long,’ Declan agreed. ‘But if you could manage to get up there and begin the drugs regime…’
‘What will you do?’ Emma looked worried.
‘Wait until the abseiling ropes arrive. Hopefully, I’ll be able to secure myself to one of those big branches.’ Declan raised his gaze to where the giant fig spread upwards towards the heavens. ‘From there I can lower myself almost to the exact spot where Adam is impaled and support him on my lap. That’ll allow me the freedom to use both hands to work on him.’
They’d need to intubate. Emma asked hesitantly, ‘Sure you’re OK with that?’ She’d noticed the sudden tautness in Declan’s stance. The thinly veiled tension. He was wound tight. Oh, sweet heaven. The uncertainties of his physical fitness must be eating him up. She dived in feet first. ‘Do you want to swap roles here?’ she asked in a swift aside. ‘It’s no big deal, if you’d rather…’
‘I’m not a cripple, Emma,’ Declan shot back with dark impatience. ‘Yet!’
‘I know—I didn’t mean—’ Emma swallowed the constriction in her throat, steeling herself as Adam’s agonized sobbing almost jettisoned her composure entirely. ‘Do what you have to do, then. Just, for heaven’s sake, let’s get this child some pain relief. Oh—’ She turned, catching sight of the male figure sprinting across the quadrangle. ‘Here’s the bearer of the promised ropes, by the look of it.’
‘Mike Foreman,’ the young teacher introduced himself. ‘What do you want me to do, Doc?’
‘We’ll need to set up a pulley system.’ Declan’s response was clipped. The two men went into a huddle.
Emma left them to get on with it. Quashing her fears, she slung the emergency pack over her shoulder and began moving purposefully up the ladder. Her stomach swirled. She breathed deeply and then collected herself. ‘Hi.’ She looked up shakily to where the young teacher was perched. ‘I’m Emma.’
‘Chrissy. Are you the doctor?’
‘Yes. And you’re doing wonderfully, Chrissy.’
‘It’s been awful, just trying to hold him like this. Poor little boy…’
‘I know. Just keep on doing what you’re doing. That’ll be a great help.’ Emma was aware of curtailing her movements, doing everything in slow motion. Adam’s broken little sobs spurred her on.
‘Hush now, baby,’ Emma soothed gently, popping the oxygen mask over the little boy’s face. She began assessing her small patient. His skin was cold and clammy, indicating shock. But his pulse and BP were better than she’d feared, raised but stable. Good. She could safely administer the painkiller and anti-nausea drugs. She’d follow up with midazolam. Its light anaesthetic properties would help to combat post-traumatic shock and ease the youngster through the ordeal ahead.
She selected the wide-bore cannula. She was taking no chances with this little one. If Adam began bleeding or, heaven forbid, going into sudden shock, they’d need to run through high-volume fluids to resuscitate him.
But, as long as the foreign object stayed where it was in Adam’s arm, until it could be surgically removed, then the child was reasonably safe from haemorrhaging.
Although they still had a way to go.
With the drugs safely administered, Emma leaned more of her weight into the ladder, using both hands to secure a light absorbent pad around the child’s injured arm, and then carefully and gently tucking the youngster into a space blanket. She sent the ghost of a smile to her counterpart.
Chrissy looked on in awe. ‘I wouldn’t have your job for anything. But, whatever you’ve given Adam, it’s starting to work. I can feel him relaxing.’
‘The drugs are doing their job, then. And that sounds like our backup arriving.’
Leaves swirled above them and then Declan’s command rang out, ‘One more hitch should do it, Mike. Right, I’m here—thanks.’ Sitting suspended in his harness, he eased the weight of the child across on to his lap. ‘Well done, team.’
Emma felt her heart lift. ‘And you,’ she rejoined quietly.
‘Hmm.’ He looked at her narrowly for a moment. ‘How’s our patient doing?’
‘Drifting off.’
‘Enough for me to get an airway in?’
‘I should think so.’
Declan nodded. ‘OK, I’ll have a go.’
‘I think this is where I leave you, guys.’ Chrissy began backing down the ladder.
‘The fire and rescue crew are ten minutes away,’ Neal Drummond relayed from the foot of the tree.
‘Have you got the airway in?’ Emma’s concern was more immediate.
‘Almost there…Right, it’s done. With a bit of luck—and heaven knows we’ve earned it—Adam will be in la-la land by the time the rescue guys get here.’
At last Adam was cut free. At the fireman’s signal that the mission had been successful, a subdued cheer went up and, from his anchor in the tree, Mike paid out the guide rope, lowering Declan and his precious cargo to the ground.
‘Nice work, folks.’ The paramedics had arrived to witness the rescue. ‘We’ll take over now.’ Gently, Adam was stretchered to the waiting vehicle, one officer supporting the little injured arm with the foreign object still in situ. ‘Heading to Toowoomba Base, right, Emma?’
‘Yes, please.’ Emma bent over Adam for a final check of the IV line that was running in fluids.
‘Just hang on a tick, guys.’ Quickly, Declan scribbled some notes to go with their young patient.
‘Declan?’ Emma said in an urgent undertone. ‘I can manage the patient lists if you’d like to go with Adam to the hospital.’
‘And what possible use would I be there?’ he growled, adding his signature and handing the notes across to the waiting ambulance officer. ‘Thanks, mate. We’ll be in touch with the surgeon later.’
‘No worries, Doc.’
‘Adam’s grandmother is going with you,’ a subdu
ed Emma reminded them.
Jim Yardley, the chief paramedic, raised a hand in acknowledgement. ‘All covered, Emma. Thanks.’
There was a strange lull for a few moments after the ambulance had pulled away. A kind of eerie hiatus. Emma heard the soft rustle of leaves above them and looked up. ‘I hate this feeling,’ she said.
Declan eyed her sharply. ‘Adam will be all right, Emma. His arm will be a bit iffy for a while but kids spring back remarkably quickly.’
A furrow etched between her eyes. He just didn’t get it. ‘I know all that. I just meant the feeling of uncertainty. Wondering why this child did what he did this morning. Was there an upset at home? Should we be taking better care of Carolyn and her needs—the whole family?’
‘For crying out loud!’ Declan began gathering up their paraphernalia, impatience in every beat of his movements.
Emma felt her spine stiffen. What kind of response was that? Declan O’Malley had a lot to learn about family medicine, that was for sure. Her teeth bit into the full softness of her lower lip. She didn’t need this aggravation. And she didn’t need a practice partner who was on a completely different wavelength. After checking they’d left nothing behind, she followed him across to his car.
‘Look—’ Declan stood awkwardly beside the open lid of the car boot after loading everything inside ‘—just give me a bit of space here, all right?’
Emma felt a needle of guilt prick her conscience. He sounded on edge and the eyes that lifted to hers were guarded and shadowed. She swallowed. ‘Are you OK?’
The corners of his mouth tightened. ‘I’m fine.’
Of course he wasn’t fine. Her heart bounced sickeningly. She should have realized. He’d spent most of the morning on an emotional roller coaster, no doubt agonizing whether he was going to be able to cut it in a rural practice where physical stamina counted just as much as his medical skills. But he’d done so well. So well. Her gaze faltered. ‘Declan—I realize this morning has been difficult so if you feel we need a debrief, you only have to say.’