Australia Outback Fantasies

by Margaret Way

  ‘I’m guessing you won’t either.’ Maxi got to her feet to see him out. ‘You can update me when you come in next week.’

  ‘Yep.’ Brandon shouldered his way out. ‘See you, Doc.’

  ‘Yes. See you, Brandon.’

  Maxi had just finished her call to Brandon’s mother when

  Jake rapped and strode in. ‘I just saw young Brand McCall leaving,’ he said without preamble, throwing himself into the chair beside her desk and locking his arms across his chest. ‘What’s the deal?’

  ‘Deal?’ Maxi frowned in query.

  ‘He should have been on my list.’

  Maxi felt the waves of his disapproval crashing over her. Was he suggesting she’d had no business treating his patient? Well, she’d soon sort him out about that. ‘Brandon arrived without an appointment. He seemed ill at ease and Ayleen felt he wouldn’t hang about and asked me to see him first. Which I have done,’ she finished coolly.

  ‘I know Brand’s history. I would’ve seen him.’

  ‘You’d told Ayleen you were on a long consult and didn’t want to be disturbed for anything,’ Maxi pointed out with calm logic. ‘Ayleen used her discretion.’

  ‘She should have known I’d want to see him.’

  ‘What point are you making, Jacob? For heaven’s sake! If you’re going to be so protective of all your patients, then I have to wonder why you agreed to have me here at all.’

  Jake’s jaw tightened. He was beginning to wonder about his sanity regarding that as well. ‘Brand’s family background is pretty complex,’ he gave out stiffly. ‘You wouldn’t have known about it. That’s the only point I’m making.’

  ‘I read his history as far as it went,’ Maxi said defensively. ‘Today he seemed to need a friendly ear so I provided that, and in the process found out he wasn’t sleeping. I gave him some mild sedatives just to—’

  ‘How many?’ Jake cut in sharply.

  ‘Seven—one for each night until I see him again in a week.’

  ‘You did impress that on him one each night?’

  ‘Of course!’ Maxi hissed. ‘Just what is going on here, Jacob?’

  He went very still. ‘Brand’s father, Harley, was the recent suicide I told you about.’

  Oh, lord … Maxi dragged in a breath. And immediately it all came back to her—her young patient’s sudden glance when she’d mentioned motorbikes and his expression as he’d looked at the pills, declaring he wasn’t about to do anything stupid. She rallied. ‘I didn’t detect anything flaky about Brandon’s behaviour. In fact, for a youngster, he seemed to be handling things pretty well. He even showed me his scars.’ She tried for lightness but found none in return. OK, if that’s how he wanted to play it she’d keep it wholly professional. ‘However, in my opinion, he still has some residual trauma from his accident.’

  ‘PTSD?’

  She nodded. ‘I’m surprised he received no counselling at the hospital.’

  Jake’s dark brows kicked together in an unforgiving frown. Was she finding fault with Australian hospitals now? ‘I know for a fact he did.’

  ‘There was nothing on the file.’

  ‘Then you should have checked with me before you went assuming things. And it just proves my point—I should have been the one to see Brandon.’

  Maxi’s heartbeat surged to a sickening rhythm. Spots of colour glazed her cheeks and she felt ill. Arrogant pig. What the hell was he playing at? Grandstanding like some petty bureaucrat—as though she’d broken some cardinal rule for daring to see his patient. In one fluid movement she threw her pen sideways so it landed on the floor next to his feet and swung out of her chair, glaring across the desk at him. ‘Then, perhaps, Dr Haslem, you should have indicated mind-reading was a requirement to work here!’

  Jake’s jaw dropped and he hauled it back up. Then with a savage yank he retrieved her pen off the floor, replacing it on the desk next to her prescription pad.

  Watching him, Maxi shook her head. She wanted to yell and throw the entire contents of her desktop at him. Instead, she spun round and marched across to the window, looking out, her breath coming hard and fast. All her efforts to come here to find him seemed worthless now. If they couldn’t even work in harmony, what was the point of any of it?

  Jake sat frozenly. His gut resembled a receptacle for heavy metal. He’d acted like a smart ass from a cheap movie. Damn and double damn. Was the matter with him? Maxi would walk if he didn’t get his act together.

  He swallowed the sudden ache in his throat. He blamed his foul mood—in fact, everything—on their present untenable situation. Sharing a home with Maxi, yet sharing nothing at all. Having her so close but wanting her closer was like a never-ending nightmare. From early morning she breathed life into his day, smelled like the sweetest wild flowers as she flitted about the place, loving life itself.

  If only she loved him. But she wasn’t giving anything away on that score.

  His mouth pulled tight. Each night while he lay sleepless, he’d vow he would talk with her. Really talk. Try to unravel the mess they’d made of things.

  Like, why it had taken her so long to come to him?

  For that matter, why hadn’t he pocketed his pride and gone back to England to her? He could have done. He’d had the money. Hell, he’d always had the money to do whatever he’d wanted. But money with all its uses couldn’t buy happiness.

  Some hard lessons had taught him that.

  He scrubbed a hand roughly across his cheekbones. Brooding over the past wasn’t going to solve anything. Shooting his chair back, he went to stand beside her at the window. ‘Uh, about Brand …’ he said, his voice coming out scratchy and not quite even. ‘I overreacted. You obviously handled things. Thanks.’

  Could he spare it? Maxi held back a snort of disgust—just. ‘Don’t do this again, Jacob.’ She hoped she sounded cooler and calmer than she felt. ‘I won’t be taken to task about something that is not my fault. Is that clear?’

  ‘Quite clear.’

  It wasn’t until the door closed behind him that Maxi realised she’d been digging her nails into her palms. The outline of four purplish indents mocked her from each hand. And they felt sore. But not as sore as her heart.

  It felt like a football that had been battered and kicked through the longest, meanest grudge match.

  She fell back into her chair and closed her eyes. Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to relax. She had a long list to get through.

  Maxi’s next patient was a little three-year-old, Harrison Pender. ‘What seems to be the trouble?’ She dug deep and drummed up a smile for the anxious-looking mother.

  ‘He’s been complaining of pain in his ears,’ Christy Pender said, swooping a kiss across the top of her son’s fair head and holding him closely to her.

  ‘Off his food?’ Maxi asked.

  ‘Yes, and blowing bubbles in his milk when usually he slurps it down. I looked for a rash but there wasn’t any. What could it be, Doctor?’

  ‘Let’s examine Harrison and we’ll have a better idea,’ Maxi said gently.

  ‘Do you want him on the bed?’

  ‘No, he’s fine on your lap,’ Maxi said, beginning her examination, deftly requesting further information about the child’s symptoms along the way. Fever, sore throat and obviously not feeling well, poor little guy. ‘Has Harrison had a problem with his ears before, Mrs Pender?’

  ‘Christy—and he did last year. I was staying with my parents at the coast. The doctor at the hospital gave him some antibiotics. It cleared up. Shh, now, Harry,’ she hushed, as her son began to grizzle.

  ‘OK, sweetheart, that’s all for now.’ Maxi put her laryngoscope aside and went to wash her hands at the basin, collecting a picture book from the pile before she took her chair again. ‘Do you like animals, Harrison?’ She proffered the book and the little lad reached out a chubby hand and tentatively accepted the picture book, looking at the bright, shiny cover. ‘Tiger,’ he said clearly, before turning away and burrowing into his
mother’s breast.

  ‘Mmm, that’s a tiger all right.’ Maxi chuckled, watching in gentle amusement. Sweet little boy. Her look was soft and she felt the faintest glitch in her heartbeat. Children were precious. And it would be so special to have a family with the man you loved. As long as he loved you in return.

  ‘So, Doctor, what do you think?’

  Christy’s soft, anxious query jolted Maxi back to her role as a family practitioner. ‘Harrison appears to have a middle ear infection.’

  ‘That’s the same thing he had before.’ Christy worried her lower lip. ‘Will he get them all the time now?’

  ‘He may do,’ Maxi said, ‘but fortunately his eardrums appear intact so that’s a plus.’

  Christy brought her head up, asking fearfully, ‘You mean they could burst?’

  ‘In severe cases they can rupture, yes. But I think we’ve caught Harrison in time. I’ll prescribe an antibiotic and I’d like to check him again in forty-eight hours.’

  ‘And if it’s not clearing up?’

  ‘We’ll monitor him carefully but we may need to refer him on.’

  ‘To a specialist?’ Christy raised worried eyes. ‘And what would be the worst-case scenario—I mean, what if the eardrum ruptured?’

  ‘Christy, we’re a long way from that.’ Maxi leaned forward earnestly. ‘If this kind of infection becomes chronic, a specialist would insert little tubes called grommets into the eardrum to allow draining of the middle ear.’

  Christy swallowed. ‘And would mese … grommets have to be there for the rest of his life?’

  ‘Goodness, no. More often than not they drop out after about six weeks or so when the ear is healthy again.’ Maxi pulled her prescription pad towards her. ‘It’s a very common procedure amongst children.’

  ‘Thanks for explaining things, Dr Somers.’ Christy took the slip of paper, hitching Harrison on to her hip as she stood. ‘We’ll see you in a couple of days.’

  Maxi was halfway through her list when Ayleen arrived with morning tea. ‘Time for a break,’ she declared, slipping the little tray onto the desk. ‘And your muffins are delicious. I had two,’ she confessed guiltily.

  ‘Take some home,’ Maxi insisted. ‘I made heaps. They’ll freeze well.’

  ‘Oh, what a good idea.’ Ayleen was all smiles. ‘I’ll take some along to my tennis club. I know the girls would appreciate a change from my scones. I’m not much of a cook,’ she confessed ruefully. ‘My husband, Gavin, reckons I’m heavy handed with everything except corned beef and potatoes.’

  ‘Ayleen, I’m sure that’s not true.’ Maxi had to chew down on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. ‘You’re a brilliant practice manager anyway.’

  ‘Oh …’ Ayleen pinked a bit. ‘I do try to look after everyone’s needs.’ She made a small face. ‘I guess Jake would soon have something to say if I didn’t.’

  And she’d have something to say if he did, Maxi decided in an inner voice that echoed her own resentment and displeasure with the man. Her shoulders lifted in a dispirited sigh. A short time ago she’d felt so hopeful about things. About her decision to come here to Tangaratta, about her relationship with Jake. About life in general. Now …

  ‘There’s me chatting on.’ Ayleen sensed Maxi’s change of mood and began to take her leave. ‘I’ll let you get back to things.’

  Maxi managed a small smile. ‘Thanks for cheering me up, Ayleen.’

  ‘Oh, rubbish,’ the practice manager replied lightly. ‘Don’t let your tea get cold now.’

  Jake closed the door behind his last patient. Lord, what a morning. Except it was already afternoon. Raising his arms, he stretched, working his shoulders and neck muscles. What he wouldn’t give for a decent massage. At the thought, he took in a jerky breath, a shiver prickling his skin.

  Maxi gave the best massage.

  If only.

  He closed his eyes, almost feeling his muscles beginning to loosen and unknot under her skilful kneading and smoothing …

  Who was he kidding? Right now she hated his guts. She wouldn’t want to be within a mile of him.

  A gravelly sigh dragged itself up from the depth of his lungs. With no chance of a massage in the offing, he’d better settle for smashing some balls around the squash court instead.

  Moodily he contemplated the rift between himself and Maxi—mostly his own fault, he reminded himself grimly. He’d better eat crow before things got any worse. Hell, it was all he seemed to do lately.

  He felt the tightening in his throat again. So tight he could barely swallow. He swore under his breath, scrubbing the heels of his hands across his eyes. He couldn’t remember when he’d felt so grim and it was all such a mess. But, by heaven, it didn’t have to stay that way.

  Emotionally, whatever it took, he had to stop living a life of indecision.

  Buoyed by his resolution, he pushed his way through the swing doors into the staff kitchen.

  Ayleen was doing a last flick around the benchtops. ‘At last! I’d just about given up on you.’

  ‘Where’s Maxi?’ Jake’s dark brows flexed impatiently.

  ‘Liz Maynard invited her to a working lunch with some of the CWA committee. It seems we have a batch of “new poor” in the district. Liz is after ways to help so I guess she’s hoping Maxi might be able to contribute.’

  Jake snorted. ‘Maxi’s got more than enough to do here.’

  Ayleen’s mouth pursed and she shook her head. With quick, deft movements she set Jake’s lunch in front of him and switched on the kettle. She was quite certain these two had had a falling out. And she’d had such hopes for them, too. Jake needed someone like Maxi, sweet, natural, a lovely young woman. ‘You’re both working too hard, Jake, and you especially are jaded. Cut yourself a bit of slack, for heaven’s sake!’

  ‘If only.’ Jake dug into his corned beef and salad hungrily.

  ‘Perhaps the surgery hours could do with a bit of streamlining,’ Ayleen said carefully.

  Jake looked up, brows raised in query. ‘How do we manage that?’

  ‘Shouldn’t be too difficult.’ Ayleen’s enthusiasm revved. She wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by. Pulling out a chair, she sat facing Jake across the table. ‘Some days we run right over and it’s not because there’s an overload of patients. It’s because some folk think its OK to wander in twenty minutes late for their appointment.’

  Jake looked less than convinced. ‘As doctors, Maxi and I can’t not see patients, Ayleen.’

  ‘But you don’t have to put up with stragglers, or with patients turning up without appointments and expecting to be seen,’ Ayleen countered earnestly. ‘A case in point was Brandon McCall this morning.’

  Not that again. Jake shrugged dismissively, his broad shoulders shifting under his shirt. ‘Maxi saw him, didn’t she?’

  ‘And I’m well aware he should have gone to you.’

  ‘Who’s been talking?’ Jake raised the question quietly and lethally. He wouldn’t have thought Maxi would want to air their personal grievances. But then again …

  ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake! Do you think I’m blind? I saw the way you stormed into Maxi’s room after Brand had left. And your face when you came out,’ she tacked on for good measure. ‘Maxi only did what was asked of her. My instincts were telling me Brand was about to do a runner if he wasn’t seen quickly. And we wouldn’t have wanted that, would we?’

  ‘No.’ Jake’s mouth twisted ruefully. ‘I should have known you’d have had the situation in hand, Ayleen.’

  ‘Of course you should,’ Ayleen declared, not ready quite yet to let her boss off the hook. ‘You and Maxi make a great team. Be sure you’re not the one to wreck it.’

  ‘Women power, is it?’ From somewhere deep inside him Jake found a jaundiced grin. He’d had that coming, he supposed. ‘I’ll make amends,’ he promised Ayleen.

  ‘Good.’ The receptionist got to her feet. ‘And if Catherine McCall had had the gumption to phone for an appointment for he
r son, none of this would have happened.’

  ‘The family have had more than their share of grief lately,’ Jake said quietly.

  ‘And that’s precisely the reason I didn’t want to add to it and made sure Brand was seen promptly.’

  ‘OK, point taken.’ Jake raised a hand in surrender. ‘Just sort out a time when you, Maxi and I can get together and nut out this streamlining, would you, please?’

  ‘My pleasure, Doctor.’ Ayleen left, quietly triumphant.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘MAXI’, Liz said, as the women took their places around the table in the workroom at the rear of her shop. ‘These are my co-committee members, Dawn, Alison and Jennifer. Girls.’ She smiled. ‘This is our wonderful new addition to Tangaratta, Dr Maxi Somers.’

  Dawn, mid-fiftyish and with the suntanned complexion of her outdoor lifestyle, looked at Maxi over the rim of her tea mug, her clear blue gaze registering slight disbelief. ‘And you’ve come all the way from England to work here?’

  ‘Must be nuts,’ Jennifer, blonde, cute freckles, the youngest of the group laughed. ‘But good on you.’

  ‘That goes for me, too,’ Alison, the shy one said quietly. ‘And thank you. It’s an answer to prayer to have a woman doctor right out here. Not that Jake isn’t caring—he is—but you know how it is …’ She broke off and went a little pink.

  Maxi nodded. She did know how it was, when you’d rather confide your problems to another woman, doctor or not. But acknowledging the welcome from this group of bush women, she felt almost like a fraud. After her run-in with Jake earlier, she’d seriously considered abandoning the place and just packing up and going home.

  Except, when she’d thought about it, the idea hadn’t filled her with the joy it should have. And she’d realised with something like amazement that this quaint little outback town was already beginning to feel remarkably like home. At least it would do, if Jake would only learn to trust her again …

  ‘What do you think, Maxi?’ Liz was asking. ‘Any ideas where we could go with this?’

  ‘Uh …’ Maxi snapped back to reality, surveying the expectant faces of the women around her. She knew the gist of what Liz was aiming to achieve but she’d had no time to think of anything specific—unless … ‘Perhaps we could begin with the schoolchildren?’ she said off the top of her head, linking the assembled group with a questioning look. ‘Would there be a possibility of forming a breakfast club, feed any child who’s hungry for one reason or another?’