Life Support: Escape to the Country

by Nicki Edwards

  “Yeah, love, you could be right. How long will the doctor be?”

  “Shouldn’t be long. We’ll get an x-ray done first while we’re waiting.”

  Twenty minutes later the doctor arrived. He was younger than Emma expected. With a flourish, he passed the x-ray films to her. “Have you ever done a shoulder reduction?” he asked without introducing himself.

  “No. But I’ve assisted.”

  Emma held the x-rays to the light. The rounded ball of the joint had escaped from its hollowed socket, like an egg yanked out of the nest. It was an obvious dislocation.

  “Let’s take him into resus and give him some nitrous then shall we?” Before she could reply, the doctor kicked off the bed brakes and dragged the bed out from the cubicle, pulling it toward the resuscitation bay. Emma had to jog to keep up with him. His leather-soled shoes tip-tapped on the worn linoleum floors. What was the rush?

  “Does he mean happy gas?” the man asked, looking up at Emma.

  The doctor nodded. “It will make you feel lightheaded, but it will dull your pain. I’ll pull on your arm and it will be over before you know it.” He positioned the bed in the center of the resus bay.

  “What’s his name?” Ned whispered to Emma with a nod in the young man’s direction.

  Emma shrugged and bent closer. “I’ve got no idea.”

  Ned raised one hairy eyebrow. “Eh?”

  “I only started working here today. I haven’t met him before.”

  “He’s too young to be a doctor,” Ned said with a scowl.

  Emma stifled a giggle. She had to admit he didn’t look like he’d started shaving yet. “I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.” She resisted the urge to cross her fingers.

  “Right then. Let’s get started,” Dr. Gung-ho announced, rolling the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. Even the way he pulled on the rubber gloves was full of dramatic flair and fanfare.

  “Ready?”

  “Um, give me a minute. I need to get a baseline set of obs first.” She clipped the oxygen saturation probe to Ned’s finger.

  The doctor tucked his tie into his shirt then templed his gloved fingers while he waited. She was surprised he wasn’t tapping his foot. Impatience oozed from every pore but she refused to be rushed. She dialed up seventy percent nitrous gas and thirty percent oxygen and checked the scavenger was on before helping Ned position himself as comfortably as possible on the bed. Handing him the mask, she instructed him to breathe in and out normally. Soon his eyes glazed over and his face relaxed.

  The doctor grabbed Ned’s wrist and began manipulating it. After thirty seconds he frowned. “They’re not usually that difficult to get back in. What’s your name?” He didn’t look up at her.

  “Emma. And you are?”

  “Adam. Now, grab his wrist for me, would you, while I put pressure on his shoulder. When I tell you, slowly rotate his arm.”

  An internal alarm pinged. This could go horribly wrong. Shouldn’t he get another doctor to assist him?

  “How are you doing Ned?” Emma asked. He’d dropped the mask into his lap and closed his eyes. She angled the monitor screen toward her so she could see it better. Emma frowned. “Sats are down to eighty-eight.”

  “He’ll be fine. If we hurry and get his shoulder in, we won’t need to worry about his sats.”

  “Eighty percent now.” She gently let go of Ned’s arm, reached over, dialed the oxygen to one hundred percent and switched off the nitrous gas.

  Adam frowned. “Dial up more oxygen then.”

  “Done.” She gently shook Ned’s good shoulder. “Ned?” His oxygen levels were dropping further. She grabbed a non-rebreather mask from the cupboard and fitted it over Ned’s flushed face. He was still unresponsive.

  Adam swore loudly. His face was ashen. “Hand me the AirViva,” he snapped. The mood in the room shifted.

  Emma handed him the bag valve mask and watched as he awkwardly attempted to fit it over Ned’s mouth and nose. He had it on upside down and she reached over without a word and turned the mask the correct way up. She pulled the bed from the wall and moved behind Ned’s head. Adam was still fiddling with the mask. He’d lost his cool confident persona.

  “I can’t get a seal because of his bloody beard. Have you got any clippers?”

  “We don’t need clippers. Press harder.” She resisted the urge to show him a better way to hold the mask onto Ned’s face.

  “What are his sats now?”

  “Seventy percent.”

  “I can’t get any air in. I’m going to have to intubate.” Adam’s voice had risen an octave. He continued to squeeze the orange bag, his eyes flicking from Ned to the screen and back.

  Ned’s lips were blue behind the mask and Emma had had enough of waiting. She smacked the emergency button and suddenly the room was crowded with people. Mackenzie’s was the first face Emma recognized, filling her with relief. Mackenzie glanced at the patient then glared at the doctor. She cursed softly. “What are you trying to do, Adam? Kill Santa?”

  Adam returned Mackenzie’s look with a deep scowl. “Emma, take over bagging him while I set up to intubate.” He dropped the mask and yanked open the top drawer of the large trolley, frantically searching the contents. Mackenzie calmly pressed a plastic guedel airway in Emma’s hand. Emma inserted it gently into Ned’s mouth before standing behind his head and thrusting his jaw forward. Instant success. His breathing improved.

  Another doctor stepped in, and with one swift downward pull, she relocated Ned’s shoulder. Emma heard it move into place with a satisfying click.

  “I can’t find a size eight tube,” Adam growled, still fumbling around in the drawer. He hadn’t taken any notice of what was going on around him.

  “Don’t bother,” Emma said. “His airway is secure and he’s pinking back up. Sats are up to ninety now.”

  Ned eventually opened his eyes and looked around at the gathered crowd. He grinned at them. “Did I pass out? That’s what happened after the last time I had happy gas.”

  Adam scowled at him. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  Ned winked at Emma, then spun to face Adam. With a straight face he said, “You never asked me.”

  “Crisis averted. Again,” Mackenzie muttered after Adam stormed from the room and strode up the hallway without a backward glance.

  Thankfully doctors like Adam were rare. And thankfully with an attitude like his, he wouldn’t last long in emergency.

  *

  “G’day sis.”

  Emma spun to see Liam approaching from the other direction in front of a trolley.

  “How’s your first day? Having fun yet?”

  Emma chuckled. “It’s been a crazy shift. One of the doctors almost knocked off Father Christmas.”

  Liam laughed. “Was that the bloke with his arm in the sling? I did a double take when I saw him outside.”

  “Yeah. He was such a funny character.”

  “Well this little poppet right here is another funny character,” Liam said with a smile. He pointed to the young girl strapped flat to the spinal board behind him, her neck encased in a plastic collar. She wriggled her feet encased in leather riding boots and gave a small wave. “She hasn’t stopped talking the whole way here.”

  Emma chuckled.

  “This is Ruby Henderson,” Liam said softly.

  Fear dropped into Emma’s gut. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. Just fell off her horse.”

  “At Lexton Downs?”

  “Yep. That’s where we picked her up.”

  “And Tom?”

  “Parking the car. He followed us in.”

  Emma hadn’t seen him since she’d arrived home two weeks earlier and was suddenly filled with panic. What if he mentioned the kiss?

  “What about Christine? Ruby’s mum?” Emma asked.

  “Tom called her. She’s on her way in too.”

  Emma leaned toward Ruby’s face and gently touched her arm. The eyes staring up at her were
the same electric blue as Tom’s. “Hey sweetie, do you remember me? I’m Emma. We met the other day out at Lexton Downs. I’m a friend of your dad’s.”

  Ruby nodded vigorously, as much as she was able to with the neck brace in place. She grinned and Emma spotted a missing front tooth. “I fell off Buckley.”

  “Where does it hurt?” Emma’s mind raced through worst-case scenarios.

  “It doesn’t hurt now but Liam made me wear this stupid bwace.” She scowled and tried to loosen the plastic collar around her chin.

  “She might have been knocked out for a little bit,” Liam said. “She’s got a few gaps in the memory about what happened, but then again she’s only five. Kids that age aren’t the best historians.”

  “Knocked out a little bit? What’s that supposed to mean? She was either knocked out or she wasn’t.”

  Liam shrugged. “Hard to know. Tom didn’t see it happen.”

  Emma’s mind raced. Possible spinal injuries and definitely concussion. Not a good combination. “Any other injuries?” she asked.

  Without an x-ray or CT scan, it would be difficult to tell. Ruby could have internal bleeding.

  Liam saw her worried expression. “Relax Em. She got up and walked across the paddock to catch her horse before Tom could get to her.”

  “Why have you collared her?”

  “They haven’t changed the protocols. I guarantee as soon as one of the doctors checks her out they’ll clear her c-spine and she’ll be able to sit up. Trust me, she’s more worried her mum won’t let her ride again.”

  “Emma. I had no idea you were a nurse.” Tom skidded to a stop beside her.

  Emma inhaled the scent of horses and outdoors and tried to ignore how good he looked and how her body reacted instantly to his nearness.

  “How was the ambulance ride possum?”

  Ruby crossed her arms across her chest and pouted. “Bor-wing,” she drawled.

  “Really? Why?”

  “Liam wouldn’t put the siren on.”

  Liam chuckled. “There was no need to put the siren on, young lady. Besides, no one would have heard it over your constant chatter.”

  Ruby scowled again and Emma laughed. “Sounds like you’re a brave girl.”

  “Mummy’s going to be soooo mad.”

  Tom squeezed Ruby’s shoulder. “Leave your mum to me. We’ll only tell her what she needs to know.”

  “I heard that.” Christine strode into the room. She kissed Tom lightly on the cheek before giving Ruby a kiss on the tip of her nose. “What happened to you, little missy?”

  Ruby rolled her eyes. “I fell off.”

  “I gathered that. But how?”

  “Buckley pigwooted.”

  “Again?” Christine turned to Tom. “Are you sure this is the right pony for her? Did you ever wonder how he got his name?”

  Tom took of his hat and dragged his fingers through his hair.

  “It’s my fault. I tightened the girth and didn’t walk him around first. Next time I’ll lunge him before Ruby gets on.”

  “That’s if there is a next time.”

  “Mummy please,” Ruby whined.

  Tom rolled his shoulders backward and switched his hat from one hand to the other. “Your mum might be right Rubes. Buckley’s only on trial. Maybe he isn’t the right pony for you. If he keeps pigrooting, he’s not safe for you to ride.”

  Christine smiled at Emma, finally noticing her. “How are we going to convince Tom that horse riding isn’t the safest activity for a five-year-old?”

  Emma bit her lip.

  “She could have as easily fallen off her bike,” Tom retorted.

  “I think we will have to agree to disagree on that one,” Christine replied evenly.

  Half an hour later, the doctor cleared Ruby’s spine and allowed her to sit up and eat. They wanted to keep her under observation for a few more hours, to be sure, but then she could go home. Other than a bruised ego, she was perfectly fine.

  Emma, on the other hand, was not fine.

  The moment Tom entered the department, she knew it was going to be impossible watching him and his wife play the happy families game, but the reality was a hundred times worse than she had anticipated. If she couldn’t get over her infatuation, there was no way she could have anything to do with him or Lexton Downs. If she was left alone with Tom again, she wasn’t sure she could trust herself.

  Chapter 14

  At the end of her shift, Emma snuck past Ruby’s cubicle. Even though it was only three in the afternoon, the lights were dimmed and Ruby was sound asleep. Christine sat on one side of the bed, holding Ruby’s hand. There was no sign of Tom, for which Emma was grateful. She wasn’t in a hurry to see him again. Not wanting to intrude, Emma waved as she walked past. As Christine smiled her thanks, Emma was once again filled with a deep regret that she’d kissed this woman’s husband.

  Outside, an icy horizontal rain and a strong wind threatened to push her sideways. The temperature had plummeted and the dark sky brought a reminder that summer was still a long way off. Typical. The one day she hadn’t brought a coat or an umbrella. What a miserable way to end what had otherwise been a fabulous first day.

  She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and was about to step out from the cover of the hospital building and begin walking home when something plowed into her chest with the force of a category five storm. Not something. Someone.

  Tom. The one person she was trying to avoid.

  She absorbed the force of the impact with a small grunt.

  “God Emma, I’m sorry. I was running for the car and wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you okay?” He grabbed her arm. His other hand clasped the handle of an oversized dark green golf umbrella, which he held above their heads in an unsuccessful attempt to keep them dry.

  As her brain registered how warm his fingers felt against her damp skin, his scent filled her head and she almost came undone. Twisting free from his grip, she pirouetted faster than a Russian ballerina and stepped away from him.

  His brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

  “I’m fine,” she stammered. She wasn’t, but there was no way she was admitting that. She blew out a sigh when he arched one eyebrow at her. “I’m fine. Honestly. It’s been a long day, and now this.” She indicated the weather. “At least Ruby is okay.”

  “Can I drive you home?”

  “No. It’s not far, I can walk.”

  “Don’t be stupid. You’ll be soaked and freezing by the time you get there. Come on, my car is around the corner.” He drew her closer, one arm firm around her waist, the other holding the umbrella aloft. She promptly forgot she’d promised she was going to keep a safe distance between them and nestled closer.

  “Thanks,” she said when she’d closed the door behind her and fallen back in her seat. She shook her head like a puppy and water droplets sprayed everywhere. “I can’t believe how wet it is. Was this weather forecast?”

  “Yes. Don’t you watch the news? They’ve forecast snow up in the mountains. You’ve been away from home too long if you’ve forgotten about the weather patterns around here.”

  “You might be right.”

  “Sounds like hail,” Tom said as he adjusted the car’s heating.

  They sat listening to the ice bouncing off the roof while they waited for the fogged up windows to clear. When he finally pulled out of the parking lot, he drove slowly in silence, the sound of the storm making it impossible to talk. Minutes later – too soon – they arrived at her parents’ home.

  “If you pull into the driveway, I can make a run for it,” she shouted over the sound of the hail still pounding the roof.

  “No. Don’t be silly.” He was already out of the car, umbrella up, coming around to her side of the car and opening her door before she could protest at his gallantry.

  She automatically grasped the umbrella, but instead her hand wrapped around his. She pulled away as if burned, and they sprinted through the downpour together. They stood
under the wide front porch laughing at how wet they were before Emma realized how awkward it was. Awkward, and not right. He is married, she reminded herself for the hundredth time.

  “Thank you for the ride home,” she said, her hand resting on the doorknob.

  “No worries. It was the least I could do. Thank you for everything you did today for Ruby. We appreciate how well you cared for her. You have no idea how relieved I was when I saw you at the hospital. I didn’t even know you were a nurse.”

  “I’m glad I was able to help. Today was actually my first day.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No.”

  “Well I’m so glad you were there. Can I take you out for dinner tonight to thank you properly?”

  She stared at him, eyes wide, thoughts tangled like Christmas tree lights. “Dinner?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, you know. Dinner. The meal that’s eaten after lunch. Nothing fancy, but I thought it would be nice to go out and celebrate your first shift. If you’re not up for going out, perhaps you can come back to Lexton Downs and I’ll make us something. What do you think?”

  Emma tucked her damp hair behind her ears and tried to formulate words. She barely noticed the rain still bucketing down, pinging on the tin roof above their heads. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

  “Forget about what I think. What would your wife think?”

  Tom’s face paled and he took a step back, brushing a hand across his face. “Jeez, I’m so sorry. I never explained.” He locked eyes with her and she felt the hairs on her arms stand on end. “Christine’s my ex-wife.”

  Emma’s heart almost stopped. “What?” The question came out as a high-pitched squeal.

  “Christine and I are not married anymore.”

  “You’re not married,” she repeated stupidly.

  “No.”

  Emma gathered her thoughts. “But Ruby is your daughter?”

  “You’d have to be blind not to notice the resemblance.”

  Emma nodded. “She certainly has your hair and skin coloring. But what about the baby?”

  Tom frowned. “Baby? Ah, Christine’s baby. It’s her second with Rick, Ruby’s stepdad. They also have Noah. He’s about eighteen months old.”