‘The sawmill, which is too far away for him to have walked to, then the building centre.’ Fraser did a U-turn. ‘Might as well check it out. Nothing else to go on.’
‘What about sport? Did he go to Lansdowne Park to watch rugby? The racecourse? Which was his favourite pub? Did he go fishing?’
More than an hour later they’d drawn a blank at every site Fraser could think of. ‘Call Jay, find out where they’re searching and where we should go next.’ Despair filled Fraser’s voice. ‘Because I’m right out of ideas.’
‘We’re doing a house-by-house, street-bystreet search out from Ken and Molly’s property,’ Jay informed her. ‘You two could try town, see if he’s in a café or wandering around the shops. The police are combing the river banks.’
A chill lifted bumps on Nikki’s arms. Please, not the river. ‘Keep us posted.’
They drove up and down every street in the centre of town, peering at people and in shop doors. Nikki jumped out and looked into every café with the same result. Ken McCall had vanished.
Fraser pulled over, the engine idling. His fingers tapped the steering-wheel, his head tilted back against the headrest. ‘Gawd, Nik, what if I don’t find him? What if—?’ He choked off the next words.
‘Don’t even think that,’ she chided gently. ‘He’s out there somewhere and half the town’s searching for him. It’s only a matter of time.’ If only she believed herself. A vision of the police on the river banks flashed up in her head, and she bit down on the cry threatening to break from her throat. That wouldn’t help Fraser at all.
‘Let’s be realistic, Nik. Anything could’ve happened to him.’
His sharp tone pierced her but she continued anyway. ‘At least it’s a warm, late-spring day, not like that time you found him on the steps in his PJs.’
‘The day he mistook me for Henry Broad.’
Nikki spun around to stare at him.
Fraser’s head snapped forward.
‘That’s it,’ they cried in unison.
‘It has to be, please,’ Nikki whispered.
Fraser snatched his phone and punched redial. ‘Mum? Where was that dance hall you used to meet Dad at?’
A week later, after they’d found his dad dressed in his suit and tie, standing on the old site where the hall used to be, Fraser backed the ambulance into the garage and turned off the engine. The door rattled down and he winced. ‘That should wake Chloe and Ryan.’
‘Serve them right for having a perfect shift so far. And since it’s just gone four they’re very unlikely to get a call now.’ Nikki yawned. ‘There are advantages to being on truck two during the night.’
‘Feel like a hot drink? Or do you want to get some shut-eye?’ He could do with her company, even so early in the morning. He was unable to explain it, but ever since his dad’s disappearing act he’d felt like this, wanting to spend as much time as possible with Nikki.
Nik turned those tired but beautiful eyes on him. ‘Tea would be great. There might even be a slice of coffee cake in the pantry to go with it.’
‘At this hour?’ He jumped out and went to plug the power supply into the ambulance.
‘I’ll run it off before lunch.’ At the supply room she tapped in the security code and opened the door. ‘I’ll replace the drugs and equipment if you’re boiling the jug.’
Handing Nik a steaming mug ten minutes later, Fraser sank into one of the armchairs and stretched out, crossed his feet. ‘What’ve you got planned for your days off?’
She dropped into the chair beside him. ‘Not a lot. Probably go out to the farm one of the days. What about you?’
‘Driving Mum and Dad to Nelson tomorrow. They’re staying at a hospital unit while Dad’s assessed for placement in rest-home care.’
Nikki sighed. ‘That must be really hard for you and Molly.’ She sipped her tea and studied him over the rim. ‘But no surprise, huh?’
‘Not after the other day’s event. Even Mum admits it’s time, but she’s not liking it one bit. I can’t blame her. It will be hard, a bit like separating yet not really.’
Her brow furrowed. ‘Does this mean Ken’s going to be living in Nelson?’
‘No way. But all the assessments are done there at the moment. Mum’s found a place here for him that’ll be available before Christmas.’
‘Christmas. That’s not too far away. Surely you can have Ken at home for that?’
‘That’ll be up to Mum.’ Fraser swallowed some tea. ‘She just wants to get this assessment out of the way before making too many plans.’ It wasn’t going to be easy, even though he knew this was the right thing to do for his father.
‘Want me to come with you tomorrow?’ Nik’s soft voice covered him like a blanket, soothing out the tension in his shoulders, warming the cold place in his heart.
‘I’d love you to.’ It would be so much easier having someone to share the day with, to make that trip back from Nelson with. He was done with trying to do things alone. Especially if Nik was offering to be there for him. ‘Thanks.’
‘If I’ve ever earned a beer, it’s this one.’ Fraser groaned. ‘What is it with women and shopping? There can’t be an outfit left in town.’
‘Get over yourself.’ Nikki smiled happily.
Fraser had finally relaxed. After an hour with doctors and nursing staff they’d left his parents at the medical unit that dealt with dementia patients, his mother tearfully shooing them away. ‘Go. I’ll be all right. It’s only for three nights. And think of the sleep I’ll get with the nurses watching over your father.’
After promising Fraser a beer if she could take a peek in the shops, Nikki had dragged him around town and loaded his arms with parcels.
Finally, he’d growled, ‘That’s it. Time for that drink you promised. How many new clothes can you wear at one time anyway?’
She laughed. ‘That’s a man comment. There’s no such thing as too many pairs of boots. Or too many clothes. Come on, drink time.’ Despite the reason for being in Nelson she was enjoying herself. Fraser was always good company and hopefully she’d managed to cheer him up for a while.
‘So there are some perks to being a pack horse.’
‘A few small ones.’ She tucked her hand around his elbow and stretched her stride to equal his long one.
Just like old times.
She gasped. Yes, it was, wasn’t it? Being together, ribbing each other, going for a drink. She’d missed all that as much as the love-making, the planning for their future, the big issues every couple faced. It had been a long time without someone close, someone of her own. If only this day could last for ever.
Really? Really.
At the top of Trafalgar Street they turned into a pub where tourists and locals leaned against the bar or sat around tables.
‘What are you having?’ she asked. ‘Beer? And a late lunch?’
‘Yes and yes.’ He chose a local beer from the list on the blackboard. Then added, ‘Seafood chowder for me.’
Seated in a corner, Nikki rested her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. ‘This is the life. I feel so removed from work, it’s wonderful.’
Her gaze travelled over the patrons, finally pausing on a couple in their thirties. The woman nursed a wee baby wrapped in a blue blanket and sipped an orange juice while her husband enjoyed a lager. Nikki watched with a sense of longing that had recently begun expanding within her. What would it be like to hold your own child? To be a mum?
‘You’ve gone all dreamy.’ Fraser nudged her.
Oops. She shook away those thoughts. ‘People watching.’
‘The couple with the baby?’ His eyes narrowed.
She tried for nonchalance. ‘Well, he is cute.’ She sipped her beer and didn’t look at Fraser. ‘At home everyone’s excited about Beau and Yvonne’s baby, even though it’s not due until Christmas.’
‘I bet they are.’
‘Yvonne let me touch her tummy when the baby kicked. It was amazing. Made me realise that’s a real
person inside there.’ When Fraser’s eyebrows rose she grinned. ‘Yeah, I know a baby’s a real person, but feeling his kicks really brought it home to me how wonderful the whole process of having a baby really is.’
Fraser’s jaw had dropped. She blushed and reached for her glass, taking a mouthful of beer to stop herself from saying anything else. But she’d been ecstatic after that moment, had even started wondering if she’d ever know the joy of motherhood.
‘Their lives are going to change for ever.’
‘Change in a good way, surely?’ She blinked. Didn’t Fraser want children? He must. He’d put sperm on ice, hadn’t he?
‘Sorry. Did I sound glum? It’s this thing with Dad. You’re so right, life goes round in circles.’
Absolutely. The past couple of days had brought it home to her in a way she’d never considered before. Her parents and brothers had always been there for her, supporting her, looking out for her, as she had for them in her own way. And now there’d be a new generation in her family. ‘It’s exciting.’ Someone for her to take care of.
She’d driven back to the flat last night thinking about her future. Until now she’d truly believed that her work could satisfy her completely and that not getting married and having babies didn’t matter. She’d been playing safe. Fraser’s return had started her questioning everything in her life and feeling that tiny kick against the palm of her hand made her want more. A man to love, a baby in her arms and a house she could call home. The stuff that life was really about.
‘Time to hit the road.’ Fraser was watching her, looking as handsome as ever, as familiar and lovable as he always had. The man of her dreams?
As long as it wasn’t the impossible dream.
Fraser smiled across at Nikki as her eyelids drooped. He spoke quietly so as not to wake her. ‘Hey, sleepyhead, you’re supposed to be chattering to me, keeping me alert as I drive.’
‘Hmm.’ Jerking her head up, she stared out the windscreen before shuffling her shoulders against the seat to get more comfortable. Her chin fell forward and her eyes closed again.
Warmth stole through him as he took quick glances at her. Nikki. Nik. She’d been there for him today. Not interfering or taking over with his dad, just there with a smile or a touch. As she had when his dad had gone missing last week. He liked it that she didn’t made a song and dance about anything. He liked it that she felt she could stand by him. Maybe she was beginning to accept him again, to want to be with him in the rest of his life outside work.
He slowed for the first of many tight corners on the road going over the Whangamoa hills as they headed away from Nelson. And recalled the misty look in Nikki’s eyes as she’d talked about Yvonne’s baby. She wanted children of her own. That had been apparent as she’d kept glancing across at the tiny baby in blue. Would she be prepared to have them his way? In vitro.
He braked. ‘Hell, man, look out.’ The car in front weaved across the middle line, and Fraser drove even slower, keeping his distance.
Nikki stirred, lifted her head, peered around. ‘What’s going on?’
‘The guy in front’s driving very erratically. A moment ago he was half across the median.’ Fraser gaped in astonishment. ‘And now he’s overcompensated and his wheels are in the loose gravel on the outside of the road.’
They both flinched as stones flicked back at them. Fraser held the horn down for a long moment. ‘Come on, man. You shouldn’t be on the road.’
‘Hope he keeps to his side of the road when there’s traffic coming the other way. Especially any freight trucks. That would be messy.’ Nikki watched the saloon in front. ‘Is he drunk?’
‘Quite possibly.’
‘Nothing we can do if he won’t pull over,’ Nik muttered. ‘No cellphone coverage in these hills.’
Rounding a sharp bend, Fraser braked hard. Nikki jerked forward, gasping loudly. Ahead, the saloon scraped along the rocky bank and stopped abruptly.
‘Are you all right?’ Fraser asked Nikki as he flicked on the hazard lights.
‘I’m fine. Got a fright, that’s all.’ She was already half out of the car. ‘Let’s check this guy out.’
When Fraser pulled the driver’s door open, ready to give the man a blasting for his appalling driving, Nikki automatically bent to catch the man as he slid half out of his seat.
‘Hey, careful, I’ve got you.’ She spoke quietly, confidently.
Fraser took the man’s weight and helped Nikki ease him back inside before turning the ignition off.
Then Nik opened the back door and clambered inside, squeezed between the seats to the front. ‘Sir, are you all right?’ Automatically, she reached for his wrist, feeling for a pulse. ‘Sir, my name is Nikki and this is Fraser. We’re both ambulance paramedics. Do you mind if we check you over?’
‘My chest hurts.’ The words were drawn out and slurred. His free hand tapped his chest in the vicinity of his heart. ‘Here. And here.’ His hand slid carelessly down his left arm.
His face was grey and sweaty. His pulse was too slow and he was struggling to breathe. She glanced at Fraser and shook her head. ‘We need help,’ she told him very quietly.
‘Onto it. I’ll stop the next car heading into Nelson and get them to call 111 the moment they get phone coverage.’
‘There are houses at the bottom of the hill and a store another couple of kilometres along.’ Then Nikki returned her attention to the man, her lips moving as she started counting his respiration rate.
Fraser turned as another car pulled up, followed by a large truck and trailer unit. ‘Yes, trucks have radios.’ He crossed to the truck and asked, ‘Can you call the emergency services?’
‘Sure can, mate. What do you need?’
‘Ambulance and traffic. One patient.’ Fraser gave the bare details he had. ‘That car’s going to need towing too.’ Then he returned to Nikki, who’d need his help if the driver was really ill. From the sound of loud voices someone had started to sort out the traffic snarl already developing.
Poking his head inside the car, he told Nikki, ‘A truckie’s calling up on his radio so that should speed things up a bit. What have we got here?’
Nikki glanced up. ‘This is Roy Constable, and he’s been feeling unwell for a while.’ Looking back at her patient, she added, ‘Resp rate is down.’
As Fraser watched he saw Roy gasping as though he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. If only they had a tank with them.
Roy spoke slowly between gasps. ‘I felt crook. Before I left my daughter’s in Nelson. Thought it was indigestion.’
Fraser squeezed Roy’s shoulder. ‘Have you ever had anything like this before?’ Indigestion and heart attacks were often mixed up, the pain initially similar.
‘Not really.’ He winced. ‘Ahh. It’s getting worse.’ His lips quivered as he tried to suck in a lungful of air. ‘I wanted to get home.’
Silly man. Why hadn’t he pulled over? He was extremely lucky not to have had an accident involving another vehicle. But it wasn’t his place to point that out. ‘Where’s home?’
‘Rai Valley.’
Great. A few houses, one café, a petrol station and a farming supplies store. No doctor. No ambulance. No help. ‘Okay, Roy, I want you to stay still and try to relax. We’re getting an ambulance to come out for you.’ But that was going to take forty-five minutes at least, he calculated. Hopefully Roy wouldn’t work it out. That would definitely increase his anxiety level. Fingers crossed, Roy didn’t have a full-blown cardiac arrest before the arrival of a fully equipped truck. But if he did then he and Nikki would be able to start CPR immediately.
Nikki sat back. There was nothing for her to do but keep an eye on Roy and wait for help to arrive. ‘What were the odds of us being right behind the guy when he crashed?’
Fraser grimaced. ‘What were the odds he’d slide into the bank and not go over the edge on the other side?’
Roy’s eyes were closed, and his respiration rate had slowed further.
A screech of tyre
s made Nikki jump. ‘Idiot,’ she muttered. ‘We need a traffic cop here before we’re dealing with more patients.’
Roy groaned long and loud, his hands grasping at air. Nikki took his wrist and began counting his pulse again.
At least he still had one, Fraser thought as he straightened up. ‘I wonder what’s in the back of his car that we could lay him on if we have to.’ He reached in and popped the boot before disappearing round the back to take a look. ‘Nothing.’
He returned to hunker down by the car and talked quietly as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. ‘Days like these I’m glad I’m medically trained.’
The whoo-whoo of a siren screeched through the air. ‘That was quick.’ Nikki glanced along the road to the corner but Fraser saw her hope fade as the familiar white car with yellow and blue strips pulled up. ‘Not the ambulance, then.’
The traffic cop who got out of the car shoved his hat on his head and strode across to them. ‘The ambulance is about five minutes behind me. What happened?’
Fraser quickly filled him in on details of the accident. Within moments the cop was directing the traffic one way at a time on the narrow road.
When the ambulance pulled up Nikki made the handover while Fraser helped extricate Roy from his car onto the stretcher.
‘Let’s try for home again.’ Fraser draped an arm over Nikki’s shoulders and turned her towards their vehicle. ‘Blenheim, here we come. I hope.’
Under his arm Nik twisted to look at him. ‘We make a great team.’ She raised one hand, high-fived him. ‘We both knew what to do without having to spell it out. Awesome.’
Awesome. So are you, my girl. Who’d have believed the excellent chef he’d once known would turn out to be such a good paramedic? Especially when the sight of blood used to turn her white and giddy. She never ceased to surprise him.
He held the passenger door open for her. As she ducked around him he smelt peonies and smiled. That scent had been made for her. Evocative, sensual, very feminine. Nik.
Medical Duo - Dr Chandler's Sleeping Beauty & Christmas with Dr Delicious Page 28