Weekend with the Best Man

by Leah Martyn

  ‘Right.’ Dan said, ‘Anything else happening?’

  ‘No.’ Vanessa shook her head. ‘We’ve been quiet.’

  ‘OK.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s nothing Michelle and Andrew can’t handle between them. I have a meeting with the board. Lindsey, will you deal?’

  ‘Go.’ Lindsey shooed him off. ‘Do we have names, Van?’

  Vanessa checked her notes. ‘Rebecca Brannon and Graeme Ley. Did you have a nice lunch?’ she sidetracked deftly.

  ‘Yes, thanks.’ Lindsey busied herself at the computer. ‘Can’t remember the last time I was at Leo’s. OK.’ She whirled off her chair. ‘Van, would you grab Jess and make sure the resus room is ready, please? And check the radiographer’s on hand. At some stage there’ll need to be an ultrasound done on the pregnant woman.’

  ‘Got all that.’ Vanessa took off.

  The ambulance siren could be heard outside as Lindsey briefed the junior doctors. She addressed Andrew. ‘Which patient do you want?’

  ‘I’ll take the ribs,’ he said emphatically. ‘I’ve a bit to learn yet about pregnant women.’

  ‘Better smarten up, then, if you’re aiming to be a family practitioner,’ Lindsey suggested, her tone dry. ‘Jess will assist you. Michelle, I’ll be with you.’

  ‘Perhaps we should get the ob down?’ Michelle looked a question at Lindsey as they made their way to Resus.

  ‘You’re the doctor,’ Lindsey said. ‘It’s your call.’

  ‘On the other hand, he’ll be grumpy if we call him down for nothing untoward. We’ll play it by ear and see how we go, I think.’

  Lindsey shot her a discerning look. ‘You’re OK about treating this patient?’

  ‘Mmm. Yes, of course.’ Michelle gave an awkward little laugh. ‘I know I’ve not been the easiest to work with but I’m finally getting the hang of working in Casualty. It’s like running a marathon every day.’

  ‘Maybe. But you’ll learn a lot here.’ Lindsey pulled back the curtain and they went into the resus cubicle. ‘Hi, Rebecca, I’m Lindsey. This is Michelle. She’ll be your treating doctor. How are you feeling?’

  ‘A bit scared...’ Rebecca was shivering, her eyes wide in trepidation.

  ‘Have you felt any bleeding?’ Michelle asked.

  ‘No. Don’t think so.’

  ‘Well, we’ll make sure anyway. Lindsey, would you check Rebecca, please?’

  A few moments later Lindsey was able to report, ‘So far, so good. But we’ll pop a pad on you, Rebecca, so we’ll be able to monitor any change.’

  Rebecca took a shaky breath. ‘I don’t want to lose this baby.’

  ‘We’ll do everything we can to stop that happening,’ Michelle interposed gently. ‘Now, I want to check your tummy for any injury from your seat belt.’

  Michelle’s hands worked their way methodically across her patient’s abdomen, palpating, checking and rechecking. Finally, she lifted her head and smiled. ‘You seemed to have escaped any spleen damage. Now, let’s see what the rest of you is doing.’ She turned to Lindsey, her brows raised in silent query.

  ‘BP and pulse within normal range.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Michelle shone a torch into Rebecca’s eyes to check her pupils were normal and reacting. ‘OK, that’s fine,’ she said. ‘Now, I want you to squeeze my hand as hard as you can and then I’ll check your legs and feet. Excellent.’ She smiled. ‘You’re doing great.’

  ‘Are you ready for the Doppler now?’ Lindsey asked from behind Michelle’s shoulder.

  ‘We certainly are.’ Michelle ran the special obstetric stethoscope over Rebecca’s slight bump. For several seconds she concentrated, listening. Shifting the stethoscope slightly, she listened again.

  ‘Is s-something wrong?’ Rebecca’s eyes flew wide in concern.

  ‘Nothing at all.’ Michelle gave a reassuring pat to her patient’s arm. ‘Your little one’s heartbeat is ticking away very nicely.’

  ‘Oh, thank God.’ Tears spilled from Rebecca’s eyes and down her cheeks.

  ‘Thank you so much, Doctor.’

  ‘I don’t think you’ve anything to worry about,’ Michelle said. ‘But to make absolutely sure, we’ll do an ultrasound as well.’

  ‘Are you booked here to have your baby?’ Lindsey spread a blanket over the young woman.

  ‘No...’ Rebecca bit her lip. ‘I’m from Sydney, here visiting my nanna. It was her car I was driving. It’s a bit different from mine. I had trouble adjusting the seat belt and then I think I may have put on too much speed as I reversed. Is the driver of the ute all right?’

  ‘We’ll find out for you,’ Lindsey said. ‘In the meantime, could we contact someone for you—your husband perhaps?’

  Rebecca shook her head. ‘Dean’s away on business. I’ll call him later.’

  ‘What about your nanna?’ Michelle plonked herself on the corner of the bed.

  ‘She’s not been too well. I was actually on my way to get a scrip filled for her.’ The young woman gave a funny little grimace. ‘She’s probably thinking I’ve gone shopping or something. I...suppose I should let her know...’

  ‘That might be a good idea. I’ll speak to her as well, if you like,’ Michelle offered. ‘Just to reassure her.’

  ‘Thanks...both of you.’ Rebecca’s eyes flicked between the doctor and nurse. ‘For being so kind to me and everything...’

  ‘That’s what we do.’ Michelle scribbled quickly on her patient’s chart. ‘Now, if you give me the name of your doctor in Sydney, I’ll make sure he or she gets your notes. And I’d like to keep you here for a couple of hours, just to make sure you and your bub are fine. We’ll pop you on a saline drip and a little later we’ll take some blood. That’ll tell us whether your haemoglobin levels are where they should be.’

  ‘OK...’ Rebecca pulled herself higher on the pillow. ‘Could I have my bag, please? I’ll dig out my phone and call Nanna.’

  ‘How’s the side ward looking?’ Michelle turned to Lindsey. ‘Perhaps Rebecca would be more comfortable out there.’

  ‘Should be fine,’ Lindsey said. ‘Most of our youngsters have been discharged.’ She smiled at their patient. ‘Now, what about a cup of tea?’

  Rebecca gave a little tearful nod of appreciation. ‘That sounds like heaven.’

  Sunday at Lark Hill...

  Hands resting across the railing, Dan and Lindsey were on the back deck, looking down at the patch of newly mown lawn. ‘Thanks for doing this, Dan.’

  ‘It’s fine.’ He sent her a wry smile. ‘Anything else you’d like me to do?’

  ‘Well...if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like the wood brought in for the fireplace. Even though we’re eventually heading into summer, the nights can still get quite cool. Jeff would have seen to all these jobs but he’s a bit off-colour at the moment.’

  Dan hooked a questioning brow. ‘Should I look in on him?’

  ‘Do you have your bag with you?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll get it.’

  ‘Dan—stop!’ Lindsey smothered an embarrassed laugh. ‘I’m kidding. Fiona will have everything in hand.’

  ‘Ah. I see.’

  He lifted a hand, stroking the back of his index finger gently over the curve of her cheek and across her chin. ‘You’re playing the joker again. Is this something you do only at Lark Hill, Ms Stewart?’

  ‘Must be...’ She tried to laugh again but the laughter caught in her throat. His body was very close, his mouth closer still. ‘Got you in, though.’

  ‘Payback, then,’ he murmured as his mouth came down and closed over her tiny sigh.

  * * *

  While Dan brought in the wood, Lindsey prepared lunch. ‘I’ve made burgers,’ she said, when he came through to the kitchen. ‘But not your usual kind.’ She gave him a quick, hopeful look. ‘T
hey’re sweet potato and quinoa. And don’t look like that.’ She flicked him playfully with the tea towel. ‘I promise they won’t be bland. I’ve made a chilli yoghurt dressing to go with them.’

  Dan washed his hands at the sink. ‘So we’re on a vegetarian kick today, are we?’

  Lindsey put her health professional’s hat on. ‘It’s good to have a change from an all-meat diet.’

  ‘Hey.’ He held up his hands in mock surrender. ‘Did I say anything to the contrary?’

  ‘No, you didn’t.’ The dimple in Lindsey’s cheek came into sharp relief as she smiled. She loved him like this. Light-hearted. Fun to be with. And the look in those glinting blue eyes sent her insides melting.

  They assembled the lunch tray together. ‘There’s some feta to crumble over the burgers,’ Lindsey said. ‘Interested?’

  Dan’s mouth pursed as he considered. ‘Think I’ll pass. But I’ll have some of those black olives, please.’

  ‘And there’s rocket from our own veg patch.’ Lindsey separated the delicate green leaves from their stems.

  ‘Mmm. Fantastic.’ Dan hefted the tray. ‘Are we eating on the deck as usual?’

  ‘Why not?’ She gathered glasses and a jug of water. ‘It’s kind of our special place.’

  ‘And I love being here.’

  And I love you, he could have added, and wondered why he couldn’t voice it.

  Because saying it would cause repercussions as wide and deep as the ocean. Was he ready to leave the safety of the shore, take Lindsey with him and set sail to an unfamiliar destination? He deliberately steadied his breathing, tightening his fingers on the edges of the tray and pulling himself back to sanity.

  As they neared the end of their informal meal he asked, ‘Would you mind if I ran a work-related matter past you?’

  ‘Fire away.’ Lindsey refilled their glasses and waited.

  ‘Michelle’s evaluation is due. She’s about to move on to her next rotation.’ He paused. ‘Professionally, I wondered how you’ve found her.’

  Lindsey considered her answer. ‘Is that a reasonable request, Dan? Michelle’s evaluation is surely down to you and Martin.’

  ‘I know all that. But the fact of the matter is the nurses work day in and day out with the junior doctors. And I trust your judgement entirely.’

  ‘Well, in that case...’ Lindsey met his gaze, seeing the crease in his cheek as he smiled, the action activating the persuasive gleam in his eyes. ‘Michelle’s attitude towards the junior nurses has been off-putting for them. They need to gain confidence just as much as the junior doctors do. But things have improved markedly.’

  Dan’s lips twitched. ‘Since you had a quiet word.’

  Lindsey gave a shrug. ‘She seems to have finally got the message that she’s in Casualty as a member of a team. And, believe me, from the nurses’ point of view, that’s a whole heap of progress.’

  ‘Clinically, she appears very sound. Would you agree?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve made it my business to work with her a bit more lately. She seems confident in her diagnoses and treatment. And I should charge you for this consult, Dr Rossi,’ she added drily.

  ‘Oh, I’ll see to it you’re well compensated.’ His voice was low, deeper than deep, whispering over her skin and right into her heart.

  She looked at him mistily. Making love in the afternoon had a lot going for it.

  ‘So, what are you thinking?’ Dan’s eyes were tender.

  ‘That we have such a lot going for us.’

  ‘We do. I think you’re wonderful. And beautiful. And perfect. And damn,’ he deadpanned, ‘there’s my mobile...’

  Lindsey sent him an eye-roll, packed up their lunch tray and left him to his call. A few minutes later Dan joined her in the kitchen. He looked serious. ‘Everything OK?’

  ‘Hope so. That was the SES.’

  Lindsey stopped what she doing and waited for him to explain.

  ‘There’s an emergency situation at Mt Rowan. It’s near here, I believe.’

  ‘A few Ks up the road. What’s happened?’

  ‘Apparently, it’s an abseiling group from one of the churches—seven young lads, one leader and one parent.’

  ‘And?’ Instinctively, Lindsey moved closer.

  ‘The last of the boys to descend pushed out too far. He came back in at an angle instead of front-on to the cliff and appears to have slammed against some kind of projecting rock. And knocked himself out. Fortunately, his locking device has activated and that’s saved him from further injury.’

  ‘Oh, poor kid.’ Lindsey looked uncertain. ‘But why are the SES calling you?’

  ‘Because I’ve made myself available this weekend. With my training in search and rescue, volunteering for the SES seems a natural fit. And as I’m relatively close to the accident scene, I said I’d attend. It might be some while before the base can muster a team.’

  ‘Then I’ll come with you,’ Lindsey said. ‘Just give me a minute to change.’

  Dan clocked her quick response. ‘You’re not thinking of abseiling?’

  ‘Of course.’ She made a motion of brushing him aside. ‘I’ve done heaps. What about you?’

  ‘As you say. I’ve done heaps.’

  ‘We’re a team, then?’

  ‘We seem to be.’ Dan shrugged his acceptance, meeting her hand in a high-five salute. ‘Now, get a wriggle on.’ He tapped her backside. ‘I’ll close up the house.’

  ‘Do you have your own ropes and things?’ Lindsey asked.

  ‘Yep. Luckily, as I’ve this training day tomorrow I put together what I thought I’d need for any emergency. See you outside.’

  * * *

  Toby Marshall, the team leader, was waiting for them at the cliff-top. ‘Boy, am I glad to see you, Doc,’ he said grimly as Dan shook hands and skimmed over the introductions.

  ‘So, do we have a name and how far down is the lad?’ Dan asked, already beginning some warm-up arm and shoulder exercises for the physical task ahead.

  ‘Riley Dukes, aged sixteen. By my estimation, he’s about twenty metres down.’ Toby looked keenly at Dan. ‘Obviously he’s going to need medical attention, so it’s you for the drop, is it, Doc?’

  ‘We’ll both go,’ Lindsey said firmly. ‘I’m a nurse. I’m Dan’s back-up.’

  ‘And you’ve abseiled before?’ Toby queried.

  ‘Lots of times.’

  ‘OK, then. The sooner we get this under way, the better for young Riley. And, Doc, I realise you have your own gear, but I’ll need to check what you’re wearing. We don’t need any more mishaps.’

  ‘Sure.’ Dan was compliant. ‘No worries.’

  ‘And I’ll be your anchor at the top,’ Toby said.

  Dan showed Toby the special sit-in retrieval harness he’d be wearing, pointing out the sturdy shoulder straps and leg loops.

  ‘You realise you’re going to have to attach Riley’s harness to yours to get him down?’

  ‘These are the clip gates I’ll use for that.’ Dan’s hands closed around the metal locking devices. ‘This type is the best and easiest to operate in case I have only one hand free. And I have a sheathed knife to cut Riley’s line away once I have him secured to my harness.’

  ‘Right, you seem well equipped,’ Toby said approvingly. ‘Don’t forget you’ll have Riley’s extra weight on your line so be aware of the sudden impact when you cut the line away. But I’ll have you firmly anchored and it should be fairly smooth sailing down to the base. And hopefully by then the SES team and ambulance will be there. Meanwhile, take this radio. It’ll connect you with me. Any problems, yell.’

  Meanwhile, Lindsey had climbed into her own harness, tightening the waist belt above her hips.

  ‘You set?’ Dan touched her shoulder.

 
‘Yes.’ She swallowed the dryness in her throat, checking the trauma kit’s bulk, which she’d anchored at the rear just below her bottom. ‘Let’s do it.’ Her eyes met Dan’s and clung. She hadn’t done this for quite a while, but she wasn’t about to tell Dan that. What they had to do would be tricky, to say the least. He would, of necessity, have to keep focused. She didn’t want him distracted and worrying about her safety.

  * * *

  Bouncing down the granite face of the cliff, Dan felt the familiar adrenaline kick in. The hard slog of his training in Florida had been well worth this feeling of achievement. Cautiously, he cast a look downwards, just able to glimpse their quarry in his bright yellow sweatshirt. ‘We’re nearly there,’ he called to Lindsey, who was slightly above him and to his left. ‘Slacken off.’

  ‘I hear you.’ Little by little, Lindsey began paying out her rope, moving on down the rock face until she was alongside him.

  ‘Right—this’ll do us.’ Dan signalled and together they swung in as closely as they could to the boy. ‘And Eureka...’ His voice held relief as they landed on a ledge of rock and he began testing its viability. Finally, he managed to position his feet so that he was more or less evenly balanced. ‘This should hold both of us, Lindsey. Close up now.’

  ‘I’m with you...’ She edged in beside him.

  Dan’s gaze swung to her. She looked a bit pale. A surge of protectiveness shot into his gut. ‘You OK?’

  ‘Piece of cake.’ Her brittle laugh jagged eerily into the stillness.

  Riley was hanging in space, quite still. But the top part of his inert body had drooped so far forward he was almost bent double into a U-shape.

  Dan swore under his breath. Another couple of centimetres and the kid would have turned upside down. They had no time to lose. ‘OK, Lindsey, let’s reel him in.’

  Lindsey looked doubtful. ‘Can you reach him from there?’

  ‘Just about, I think. I’ll give it a good shot.’

  She felt her stomach knot, fearing for Dan’s safety as he edged perilously along the ledge, making the most of his long reach to grip the boy’s waist harness and guide him in close to the cliff face. Riley’s colour was glassily blue. Her nerves pulled even tighter. Were they already too late?