Critical Condition

by Nicki Edwards

*

  Liam pulled out of the motel carpark and banged his fists into the steering wheel, silently cursing the timing of the text. If the message hadn’t come through when it had, he’d be kissing Poppy again instead of driving off to a job. Thinking about their kisses made him want a repeat performance.

  He’d been honest with Poppy – there was no way he would have slept with her on the first date, but he was no different from the next hot-blooded Aussie bloke. He was physically attracted to her and it had taken all his willpower to force his body into submission when he was lying beside her on the bed.

  There was no question about it. Poppy McDonald was hot and she turned him on. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, he couldn’t get her out of his head. Even in his sleep the night before he’d been haunted by images of her – and of him – together. After convincing himself for so long that there was no such thing as the perfect woman, he’d already decided Poppy was the one.

  Apart from being one of the most beautiful women he’d ever laid eyes on, she had a depth of emotion he’d never found in another woman. Life with her would never be dull, that was for sure.

  He tried telling himself not to take things too fast with her, and he kept repeating “just be friends”, but the moment he’d kissed her, he sensed something shift between them and he’d thought why not? Why shouldn’t he enjoy herself? Forget about Lily, forget about Maddi’s death and forget about his search for the perfect woman. Why not have a good time and see what came of it?

  He fixed his eyes on the road ahead and forced himself to concentrate on the job he was about to attend, but it was pointless. He couldn’t think of anything other than how he needed to convince her to stay.

  Or that he had less than twenty-four hours to come up with a plan of how he was going to make that happen.

  Chapter 16

  As promised, Liam arrived at eleven on the dot the next day to take her to pick up the hire car. After he’d left the night before, Poppy had sat on the bed, pulled out the bundle of letters and stared at them for a long time. In the end she couldn’t bring herself to open them. The timing didn’t seem right. Consequently she’d slept poorly, her mind racing between Adam, the funeral, the letters and Liam. When she woke, the memory of her vivid technicolor dreams hadn’t yet faded.

  She was standing at the window of the motel room waiting for him, and before he had a chance to knock, she flung open the door. He stood there, holding two takeout coffees, his warm breath coming out like little puffs of fog before disappearing into the icy chill.

  “Morning. How did you sleep?” he asked.

  “Not bad,” she lied, opening the door wide so he could come in. “You?”

  “Like a newborn baby.”

  “That’s such a silly expression. Babies are up and down all night.”

  “Like I said. I slept like a baby.”

  She softly closed the door then glanced longingly at the cups in his hand. “Are you going to drink both of those or is one of them for me?”

  “I bought you one.”

  She held out her hand to take the cup. “Thank you. Now you’re speaking my language.”

  “I’ll remember that.” He held the cup out of her reach. “It comes at a cost though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A morning kiss.”

  She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, hard, before standing on tiptoes and stealing the cup from his hand.

  His eyes popped wide in surprise. “Wow. If you’re going to kiss me like that every time I bring you coffee, I’m going to keep bringing you coffee. I tell you, you’ll be bouncing off the walls on a caffeine-induced high.”

  “I’m a nurse. I have a high tolerance for coffee. I’m sure I’ll manage.” She grabbed her bag and flung it across her shoulder. “Ready?”

  “Depends. Ready for what?”

  She nudged him towards the door with her elbow. “To go and pick up the hire car.”

  “Oh yes. I’d forgotten. My mind was elsewhere.” He winked.

  Poppy groaned and led the way to his car so he couldn’t see her flushed face, then waited patiently while he opened the passenger door for her. He held her coffee while she clicked her seatbelt in place. As he drove slowly down the hill into town, he filled her in on the previous night’s job.

  They’d been called to a house to attend to a young asthmatic girl in severe respiratory distress. A category one emergency. She’d had previous ICU admissions with her asthma and before Liam left the hospital to head home, she’d been intubated in ED then taken up to the intensive care unit where staff prepared for her to be airlifted to a specialized children’s hospital in Sydney.

  Liam pulled up in front of the rental car office as she finished the last sip of her coffee.

  “Thanks again, Liam. I could have walked, but I really appreciate you driving. Also, it was good to see you again before I leave.”

  Liam licked his lips. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight.”

  “I’d love to.” The words made it to her lips and out her mouth before she’d put her brain into gear.

  “Perfect. I want to take you to Crowded House, my favorite restaurant. It’s a bit dressier than the pub, but I think you’ll like it.”

  “What time?”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  Poppy climbed from Liam’s car and gave him a wave. Had she made a mistake agreeing to see him again? No. One dinner wouldn’t hurt.

  *

  At twelve-thirty Poppy rang Jenni’s doorbell. She’d driven around town for over an hour, then up and down the tree-lined street three times before finally working up the courage to park the car.

  She pushed open the gate and walked through the manicured gardens to the front door with her mouth hanging open. The property was amazing. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but it wasn’t this. The enormous two-story brick house sat back from the road on what appeared to be a double block of land. It looked like someone had picked up the entire house and garden and transported them straight from England. It didn’t even seem to matter that it was the middle of winter and everyone else’s gardens were barren. This one was full of color and life. Bill or Jenni was evidently a keen gardener. Poppy tried not to feel overawed but the house was like nothing she’d ever lived in.

  Jenni was clearly waiting for her because seconds after the doorbell chimed, dogs barked and the door opened. Three greyhounds and a smiling, casually dressed Jenni greeted her. Understandably, she looked pale and tired, but her eyes were clear and her smile and hug welcoming.

  “Thanks for coming, Poppy. Come in.” She shooed the dogs aside. “I hope you don’t mind dogs.”

  “I like dogs although I’ve never had much to do with them. We never had a dog when I was growing up.” She rubbed the tan-colored dog’s silky ears. “Do you race these?”

  Jenni smiled. “No, they’re retired greyhounds. We rescue them. Come through.”

  Poppy followed Jenni through a wide entry into a huge living room dominated by floor-to-ceiling north-facing windows. The dogs trotted behind them, their nails clipping on the floorboards. A bookcase filled with books lined one entire wall and artwork hung in every available space. Ornaments and knickknacks were dotted around everywhere on antique furniture. Poppy tried hard not to stare. A large black and white photo of her father stood propped up on the mantelpiece above an open fireplace. Other photos, mostly of Hamish and Isaac, dotted the room. Poppy gravitated toward the fire burning behind the grate.

  “Can I get you a drink?” Jenni asked.

  “Something cold would be lovely, thanks,” Poppy said.

  “Wine? Or something soft? I have sparkling mineral water.”

  “What are you having?”

  “If you’re going to have a wine, I’ll join you,” Jenni said.

  “Sure. That’d be great.”

  Poppy half expected Jenni to ring a bell and a servant to appear but she disappeared through a door and re
appeared almost immediately with a chilled bottle of white wine. She went to a side board and extracted two wine glasses. After she’d poured half a glass she handed it to Poppy.

  “Normally I’d say ‘here’s cheers’, but that doesn’t really seem appropriate under the circumstances, does it?”

  Poppy swallowed nervously. “No, not really.”

  “Sit down, please. Make yourself comfortable. I hope you don’t mind but we’re having a simple quiche and salad for lunch. I’m not really in the mood for cooking again yet so I picked something up from the deli in town this morning.”

  “You didn’t have to go to any trouble for me.”

  “It’s no trouble.”

  “This is a beautiful room,” Poppy said, looking around again. She spied a piano against a wall and a violin case sitting on top of it. She wondered who played. She’d always wanted to learn an instrument but her mother could never afford it.

  “Thank you. We all love it too.” She pointed to the dogs who lay sprawled on their beds under the windows. “Even the old girls.”

  They chatted about the dogs for a few minutes until a door slammed and someone shouted out, “Mum.”

  “In here, Hame. Come and say hello to Poppy.” Jenni turned to Poppy. “Hamish is planning to head over to a friend’s house and Isaac isn’t well and is in bed so it will be just the two of us for lunch. We can talk without interruption.”

  Poppy nodded.

  Hamish appeared from the kitchen and stopped nervously near his mother.

  “Poppy, this is Hamish, your half-brother. He’s fourteen.”

  “Hi, buddy.”

  “Hi,” he replied shyly.

  “I’m really sorry about your dad,” Poppy said.

  “He was your dad too.” His answer was straightforward and honest and Poppy didn’t detect any bitterness or sarcasm.

  She inhaled deeply and searched for something appropriate to say. “Yeah, but we weren’t in contact.”

  “I know. Mum told me.”

  An awkward silence filled the room.

  “Can I go to Nick’s house now?” Hamish asked.

  “Yes, of course. But be home for dinner please, sweetheart.”

  “I will.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you too, Mum.”

  After he’d left the room, Jenni smiled apologetically. “He’ll get used to the idea of having a sister. I’m sure he didn’t really know what to say to you.”

  “Did he and Isaac know about me before Dad died?”

  “Yes, absolutely. Your dad didn’t talk about you a lot, but they’ve always known about you.”

  Poppy took a sip of wine to hide her swirling emotions. Had she made a big mistake ignoring her father for so many years?

  “I kept all his letters,” she said quietly.

  Jenni’s eyebrows shot up in surprise before her face broke into a genuine smile. She leaned over and touched Poppy briefly on the hand. “I’m glad.”

  “But I’ve never read them.”

  This time Jenni frowned.

  “Why not?”

  Poppy sighed. “I never forgave him for leaving. I figured if I read his letters it would have made it harder. I was going to read them last night when I got home from the funeral, but it just wasn’t the right time.”

  “Do you know the reason he left?”

  “He couldn’t cope living with my mother. I don’t blame him. But why did he leave me with her?”

  Jenni smiled sadly. “I’m sure he had his reasons. Maybe his letters will explain those reasons. He told me your mother was sick for years – even before you were born. He said his only regret in life was leaving you behind, but at the time he didn’t think he could be a single parent and raise a teenage daughter. It wasn’t the politically correct thing to do back then. He thought he was doing the right thing and as he watched you from a distance finish school then go to university and begin your nursing career and then move to America, he figured you were doing fine without him.”

  “If he only knew.”

  “I’m sorry, Poppy, I tried to get him to call you, but he was a stubborn man at times. He hated what he’d done and he worried he’d only hurt you further if he came back into your life.” A beeping sound came from the kitchen. Jenni stood. “That’ll be lunch ready.”

  “Can I help with anything?”

  “No, it’s all good. I’ll go and check on Isaac first then serve lunch.”

  When Jenni left the room the dogs halfheartedly raised their heads before settling back down on their beds. No wonder people described greyhounds as couch potatoes. These dogs were the laziest animals Poppy had ever come across.

  While she waited for Jenni, she debated opening a photo album she spied on the coffee table. She resisted the urge to pry knowing if she asked, Jenni would probably willingly show her.

  She thought about the bundle of letters back in her motel room and decided as soon as lunch was over, she’d go back and read them all. She owed it to her father. And to herself. As painful as it would be, perhaps, like Jenni said, it would bring some healing and closure too.

  A few minutes later Jenni came back into the lounge room wearing a worried expression.

  “Is everything okay?” Poppy asked.

  “You must hate this, but I know you’re a nurse. Would you mind coming and checking on Ise for me? He seems to be burning up with a fever.”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  Poppy stood and followed Jenni down a wide hallway to the back of the house. She spotted bedrooms and a bathroom on one side of the hallway and an office on the other. Jenni pushed open the last door and entered.

  “Isaac, sweetie, Poppy’s here. She’s a nurse and I’ve asked her to have a look at you. Is that okay?”

  Under a mound of covers, a body moved and groaned.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Poppy asked.

  “He’s been unwell on and off for the last few days complaining of a stomach ache. I put it down to the stress, but in the last three days he’s scarcely eaten and this morning he said he’s vomited twice but brought nothing up. Now he’s saying his stomach hurts down low.” Jenni touched Isaac’s forehead with the back of her hand. “And he feels hot to me.”

  “Hi Isaac. Can I ask you a few questions?”

  Isaac moaned and pushed the covers back from his face. He looked pale and his freckles stood out on his face, but it was difficult to tell whether that was his normal skin color.

  Poppy reached for his wrist and felt for his pulse. It was fast, but not too fast. And from the way his skin burned to her touch he evidently had a fever. She didn’t need a thermometer to tell her that.

  “Where’s the pain, buddy?”

  He reached down and touched the right side of his belly.

  “Has he had his appendix removed?” Poppy asked, looking up at Jenni who stood nervously over her.

  Jenni shook her head and frowned. “Is that what you think it is?”

  “Impossible to tell without an x-ray, but his signs and symptoms add up. If I was you, I’d get him checked out.”

  “Take him to the doctor you mean?”

  “I’d take him straight to ED. How far away is the hospital from here?”

  “You think it’s that serious?”

  “I don’t know, but if it’s appendicitis, you don’t want to muck around. If it bursts it can lead to all sorts of complications.”

  Isaac moaned again. “Don’t want hospital.”

  “Darling, Poppy says it might be serious.”

  “Noooo.”

  “The last time he saw his dad was in hospital,” Jenni whispered.

  “Can I call someone for you?” Poppy asked. “Maybe I could call Sean. Or Liam. Isaac knows him. He might trust him.”

  Jenni nodded vigorously. “Can you please call him?

  Chapter 17

  When Liam saw Poppy’s name come up on his phone his heart soared then quickly slammed to the ground. Was she calling to say she’d ch
anged her mind about dinner? He desperately hoped not. The moment he heard her voice though, he knew something was seriously wrong and it had nothing to do with their dinner plans.

  Less than five minutes later, he pulled up outside the McDonald house and let himself inside. He patted the dogs and followed the sound of voices down the hallway to Isaac’s bedroom.

  Jenni and Poppy were in the hallway talking in hushed tones.

  “Hi Jen,” he greeted her, kissing her on the cheek and giving her a hug. Growing up, Jenni had been like a second mother.

  “Thanks for coming so quickly, Liam.”

  “I’m glad Poppy called me.”

  He turned to Poppy and forced his brain into gear. He’d been about to pull her into an embrace and kiss her when he saw her face. He refrained, partly because he didn’t want Jenni asking questions and partly because he sensed Poppy would probably deck him.

  “What do you think?” he asked, pointing to Isaac’s room.

  “Appendicitis. I’m worried it may have already ruptured. He’s in excruciating pain and I didn’t think we could move him and get him into the car to hospital. That’s why I called you. If you think he needs an ambulance, can you arrange that? Or should we take him in your car?”

  “Let’s check him out first.”

  Liam went into the room and began a quick assessment. “I agree with you, Poppy,” he said. “He’s tender on that right side. Let’s get him into my car.”

  Five minutes later Isaac was lying as comfortably as possible across the back seat.

  “Do you want to come with me, Jen?” he asked.

  She hesitated. “I probably should take my car or I won’t be able to get home.”

  “You go with Liam. I’ll meet you at the hospital and I can take you home later if you like,” Poppy said.

  “Thanks, Poppy, that’s very kind of you.”

  “What about Hamish?” Liam asked. “Where is he?”

  “Oh no, he’s at a friend’s house. He’ll be so worried if he comes home and I’m not here.”

  “Can Poppy go and pick him up and bring him into the hospital?” Liam suggested.

  Jenni turned to Poppy. “Would you mind?”