‘It was her decision.’ Toni placed the large envelope on the desk in front of him. ‘In fact, she said she hoped we wouldn’t think we had to keep walking on eggshells around her.’

‘Well, that sounds positive.’ Spinning off his chair, Rafe selected the first plate and slapped it on to the viewing screen. ‘I’ll need a word with Lisa,’ he murmured almost absently. ‘Ask her to pop in and see me when you have a minute.’

‘Uh …’ Toni hesitated. ‘She’s actually not in the hospital just now.’

‘She’s gone?’ Rafe’s dark head swooped back in question. ‘She’s left her boy here and just gone off somewhere? Where are the woman’s priorities?’ He put the next plate up and studied it. ‘The whole trauma for this child is down to his mother’s failure to carry out the basic safety rules for young children in cars.’

‘You’re putting the wrong spin on it,’ Toni said heatedly and went on to explain, ‘Lisa had a phone call. Apparently, she managed to reschedule her job interview. She’s a sole parent, Rafe. She needs a full-time job not just the bits and pieces she presently has. You saw how upset she was about Michael’s accident. She doesn’t need you jumping all over her as well.’

‘You’re breaking my heart, Antonia,’ he growled, clearly unimpressed with Toni’s defence of the young mother.

‘And which heart would that be, exactly?’ she inquired tartly.

The corners of his mouth pulled down almost comically. ‘I’ve really rained on your parade today, haven’t I?’

Toni rolled her eyes heavenwards. Really, the man was impossible.

‘This all looks good.’ He drew her attention to the last of the X-rays. ‘Michael has been fortunate.’

‘He’s sporting quite a lump on his forehead, though.’ Toni positioned herself beside Rafe and looked at the screen.

‘I’ll write up some pain relief for him. That whack has possibly left the little guy with a headache. And let’s keep the neuro obs going, please? I’m not letting him go until I’m quite sure he’s stable.’

‘All noted.’ Toni swept out.

She made her way back to the nurses’ station, the busyness of the morning enveloping her. But an hour later, she was on her way upstairs to the children’s ward. Amy needed a break.

She popped her head in, turning to speak to Jennifer on the desk. ‘Michael Yates, Jen?’

The senior nurse flapped a hand. ‘Right down the end in the cot. The reg arrived a while ago to check him over. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?’

‘Michael?’

Jennifer rolled her eyes. ‘Riccardi.’

Toni wasn’t about to go there. She still hadn’t made up her mind about anything to do with Rafe Riccardi. ‘He probably is,’ she flannelled instead. ‘If you go for tall, dark, bloody-minded men.’

‘Oh, my stars, Toni Morell!’ A teasing smile curved Jen’s mouth. ‘You fancy him!’

Toni clicked her tongue exasperatedly and skipped away, drawing to an abrupt stop when she saw Rafe and Amy, their heads together in obvious earnest conversation. She watched as Amy’s dark little head came back and she laughed at something Rafe said. And then he touched the nurse briefly on the shoulder before exiting from the door at the far end of the ward.

‘Well, ten out of ten,’ Toni murmured, feeling a tiny flicker of satisfaction. Rafe had obviously taken their talk to heart and made the effort to smooth things over with Amy. He’d kept his word. And that, as far as Toni was concerned, had earned him a large tick of approval.

Oh, heck! Impatiently, she swept her hair up from the nape of her neck and let it fall back. Surely she wasn’t actually beginning to like the man?

She walked briskly along the ward to Michael’s cot. ‘Everything OK?’ she asked softly.

‘Still a bit out of it, I think.’ Amy was sitting by the cot, stroking the toddler’s chubby little arm.

‘That’s understandable.’ Toni ran her eye over the chart. Pain relief had been administered and the child was being kept hydrated. There was little more they could do now than to monitor Michael’s neuro responses. If nothing untoward presented, Rafe would probably allow Lisa to take her son home. ‘He’ll probably drop off to sleep soon.’ Toni bent and touched a finger to the baby-soft cheek. ‘But, Amy, if for any reason you have to take him out of the cot, be sure to carry him, won’t you? We don’t want him falling.’

‘I have nursed in Kids before, Toni,’ Amy said with a wry little smile. ‘I’ll take great care of Michael.’

‘Of course you will.’ Toni made a face. ‘Sorry. I’m a bit distracted this morning.’

Amy chuckled. ‘The new reg would distract anyone.’

Toni held back a cryptic comment. Not Amy too. ‘Mel is coming up to relieve you shortly. It’s time for your break. Make sure you take it, please.’

There was a flurry around the station when Toni returned to Casualty. ‘What’s going on?’

‘These amazing roses just arrived!’ Harmony’s blonde ponytail jiggled as her head tipped from side to side in excitement.

Toni’s heart almost juddered to a stop. Surely he hadn’t …? She looked helplessly at the blooms in the florist’s basket, with the chirpy little red hearts dancing from the wicker handle. Oh, lord … There had to be dozens of roses, all colours, and the perfume was divine.

‘They’re old-fashioned garden roses,’ Liz said knowledgeably. ‘My granddad grows beauties like these. They must have cost a fortune.’

‘Who are they for?’ Toni hoped no one but her could hear the little catch in her voice.

‘Apparently, they’re for the whole staff of the A and E.’ Liz held out the card. ‘See?’

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Toni stifled a groan. It seemed as though Riccardi was tearing around like a head stockman, mending fences all over the place.

‘Someone must think we’re pretty, damned hot,’ Ed joked. ‘The dream team!’ He did a high five with Harmony.

‘Could be from the Mayor,’ Justin said. ‘Remember, Joe operated on that infected ingrown toenail just before he left on leave?’

Liz snorted. ‘Bit of an extravagant thank you for an ingrown toenail! Toni.’ She turned to her friend. ‘Any ideas?’

Plenty, Toni thought, her heart returning slowly to its rightful place. But none she could voice here. ‘Perhaps, we’ll never know.’ She sidestepped the question deftly. ‘But we should get them in water for a start.’ She turned to one of their AINs. ‘Job for you, Sam?’

‘But there are heaps!’ The youngster looked dismayed. ‘What shall I do with them all?’

‘We could send some up to Midwifery,’ Toni suggested.

‘No,’ Liz dismissed. ‘They always have plenty.’

‘I’m about to take my break,’ Ed said cheerfully. ‘Why don’t I bike some over to the aged-care home? Give the oldies a buzz?’

‘Seniors, Ed,’ Toni reminded him, and then gave one of her megawatt smiles. ‘But I think that’s a wonderful idea. Are we all agreed?’

There was a chorus of approval.

‘The roses were from him, weren’t they?’ Liz demanded, when she and Toni had a minute on their own.

‘Probably.’ Toni had given up the fight to try to remain neutral.

‘The atmosphere in the place has lightened a hundred per cent since the flowers arrived,’ Liz said. ‘What on earth did you say to him?’

‘Probably far too much.’ But he’d given back as much as he’d got. In fact, they’d matched strikes like a couple of jousting combatants. Toni smothered a reminiscent smile. She’d enjoyed it, jousting with Rafe Riccardi. She wondered if he’d felt the same …

‘But it was such a nice gesture!’ Liz shook her head in quiet amazement. ‘You must have worked a small miracle on His Grumpiness.’ She chuckled.

‘I’m sure Rafe will be more sociable when he’s caught up on sleep,’ Toni responded, and wondered why she was going to bat for him. ‘Are you coming to the dinner do?’ She changed conversation lanes deftly.

‘You bet. It’s the first night out we’ve had in weeks. Mum is babysitting Lulu and William, and Matt’s promised to leave the studios early. Or I’ll kill him,’ Liz added calmly.

Toni smiled. Liz’s husband worked as a producer at the local radio station. ‘You’re so lucky, Lizzie. Two sweet kids and a husband who comes home to you at night.’

Liz rolled her eyes. ‘What about you? Are you bringing someone?’

‘No.’ Toni was definite. ‘I aim to stay for the dinner and then take off.’

‘Not staying for the slow dancing?’ Liz waggled her brows suggestively.

‘That’s all right for young lovers and you old married folk,’ Toni dismissed. ‘If I want to get up close and personal with a bloke, I’d rather challenge him to a game of tennis.’

Liz flipped some files into an out-tray. ‘You’re such a romantic!’

Toni showed Liz the tip of her tongue. ‘You’d be surprised what you can learn about someone’s character in a sporting context—especially if they’re losing. I believe the tickets have sold really well. Half the town seems to be going along.’

‘Well, the raffle prizes are exceptional,’ Liz said chattily. ‘A couple of the motor dealers have combined and donated a new car. And the winery’s putting up six cases of their finest. The council’s come good as well and contributed a luxury weekend for two at the Gold Coast.’

‘Then let’s hope folk are feeling generous and buy zillions of tickets,’ Toni endorsed. ‘That way we might just make enough to get our scanner.’

‘It’s quiet at the moment.’ Liz checked the department with a practised eye. ‘Mind if I take the early lunch? I want to get a shampoo and blow-wave.’

‘Go.’ Toni flapped a hand. ‘And thanks for jinxing us. I bet every man and his dog will come trailing in now.’

‘Well, you’ll cope with the men.’ Liz chuckled. ‘Just send the dogs along to the vet. See you.’ She grabbed her bag and took off.

Toni leaned on the counter, allowing herself a few moments of respite. Through the big plate-glass doors at the entrance she could see the gardens the groundsman, Kenny, had such pride in. In Australia, February was the hottest month on the calendar, yet he managed to nurture the plants along and now there were riotous splashes of colour everywhere.

Toni thought on. She was glad she lived in a country town in so many ways. But what was Rafe doing here? she wondered. And would they ever get close enough for him to confide in her?

Beside Toni, the emergency phone rang, bringing her back to reality with a snap. Replacing the receiver a few seconds later, she took off at speed towards Rafe’s office. She hoped he was there.

He was, looking up in query as she popped her head in.

‘Possible arrest coming into Resus. ETA six minutes.’

He was on his feet immediately and they were moving swiftly to the resus area. ‘Do we have a name?’ he asked.

‘It’s Carol McKay. She manages the dress shop in town. Cardiac history. The paramedics have given anginine with nil effect.’

‘We’ll have to wing it, then.’ Rafe’s voice was clipped. ‘And hope we come up with the right answers. What about family? Anyone to be notified?’

‘She’s a widow. Son works at the school. I’ll chase it up.’

‘Delegate to someone else,’ Rafe was firm. ‘I want you scrubbed and ready to catheterise. If our patient is overloaded, we don’t have time to mess about. Harmony?’ He rounded on the young RN. ‘I want you involved here, please.’

Harmony’s eyes went wide. ‘Yes, Doctor.’

‘And as soon as our patient hits the deck, I need the monitor leads on pronto.’

‘If the patient arrests, you’re number three, Harmony.’ Toni was scrubbing furiously.

‘Three?’ Harmony looked agitatedly from one to the other.

‘You’ll write what drugs are being given on the whiteboard,’ Toni said calmly. ‘And help with the IV fluids where necessary. You’ll be fine.’ She sent out a brief encouraging smile to the nurse.

‘Right.’ Harmony seemed spurred on by Toni’s confidence and began to get the intubation tray ready.

And then it was time for action.

The ambulance reversed into the bay, its doors already opening.

‘Be good, team.’ Rafe’s words snapped out and Carol McKay was wheeled rapidly into Resus.

The paramedic relayed what treatment they’d given, adding, ‘She’s not looking great, Doc.’

Rafe wasted no time in supposition. They had a life to save here. His hands moved like lightning, securing a tourniquet and IV in seconds. ‘Give me sixty of Lasix,’ he barked. ‘IDC in now, please, Toni. Let’s make a dent in that fluid.’

Toni’s hands were deft and sure. In seconds the indwelling catheter was in situ.

‘Good work,’ Rafe murmured, as the crippling fluid began draining away. ‘OK, let’s clamp at eight hundred mil. Sixty of Lasix, please.’

Harmony passed the dose. ‘That’s one-twenty so far, Doctor.’

‘Adjust the oxygen to full now, please. Carol?’ Rafe leaned closer to his patient. ‘Can you hear me? You’re in hospital. Did you forget to take your medication today?’

Carol’s eyes fluttered open. ‘Mmm,’ she murmured. ‘Sorry …’

‘That’s OK,’ Rafe spoke gently. ‘So long as we know, we can treat you. Try to relax now and breathe into the mask. How’s the BP doing, Antonia?’

‘One-sixty over a hundred. Pulse a hundred and ten, resps thirty.’

Rafe acknowledged her call with a swift nod. So far so good but his gut feeling was telling him they weren’t out of the woods yet.

Toni began to sponge Carol’s forehead. She still looked very unwell, very clammy … Alarm ripped through Toni and automatically she felt for a pulse. Nothing. She hit the arrest button. There was a flurry outside and Justin appeared.

‘Will you intubate, please, Justin?’ Rafe was professional and calm. ‘And I need adrenaline ten here.’

Harmony slapped the prepared dose into his hand.

‘And another ten. Any pulse?’

‘No.’ Toni felt her nerves pull tightly.

‘Let’s defib, then, please.’

‘Charging.’ Toni’s teeth clenched on her lower lip.

‘All clear.’ Rafe discharged the paddles.

All gazes swung to the monitor.

‘Damn all …’ Rafe spat the words from between clenched teeth. ‘Let’s go again. Clear.’

This time the trace bleeped, faded and then staggered into a rhythm. ‘Yes …’ Rafe’s relief was controlled. ‘We’ve got her. Thanks, everyone.’

‘You did really well today, Harmony.’ Toni was fulsome in her praise for the younger woman.

‘Oh—thanks, Toni.’ Harmony gave a pleased smile.

They were putting the resus room back to rights, Carol McKay having been transferred to the hospital’s small IC unit. ‘I’ve had a few doubts about working in A and E,’ she confessed, stuffing the used linen into a laundry bin.

‘Well, it’s not for everyone,’ Toni agreed. ‘Is there an area you’d prefer?’

Harmony bit her lip. ‘It’s difficult to know when I’ve only just begun my nursing. We were sheltered from quite a bit in our training. It’s different when you’re actually part of the team.’

‘Well, never be afraid to ask,’ Toni counselled. ‘You’re newly graduated. You’re not expected to know everything. I think we’re about finished in here.’ She did a quick inventory. ‘Anything you want to debrief about before we go?’

Harmony hesitated. ‘Will we be transferring Carol on?’

‘Not at this stage. Rafe is presently calling her cardiologist in Sydney. We’ll know a bit more later.’

‘I … guess she won’t be able to open her shop for a while?’

‘Not sure,’ Toni said. ‘She may have someone who could stand in for her. Carol has great stock. Have you bought anything there?’

‘I actually bought a dress for the Valentine dance.’ Harmony made a small face. ‘Carol was having it altered it for me. I was supposed to pick it up after work today.’

Toni was sympathetic to the younger woman’s obvious disappointment. ‘Have you something else you could wear?’

‘Nothing new.’ Harmony shrugged dispiritedly. ‘I so wanted this dress, Toni.’ Her cheeks went pink. ‘Justin’s asked me to go with him.’

Dating a doctor. Toni gave an inward wry smile. She’d done a bit of that in her time. And it had been fun—until she’d met Dr Alex Nicol. He’d come as a relieving MO to St Vincent’s in Sydney, where she’d been working in A and E. And she’d fallen for him, beguiled by his Geordie accent, his craggy looks, his sense of humour. He’d told her he was separated and getting divorced and she’d believed him. But then it turned out, he hadn’t been truthful …

Toni stifled the unproductive trip into past. It was water under the Harbour bridge. Gone. Like Alex had gone back to England. To his wife.

‘Hey, guys.’ Amy popped her head in. ‘Need a hand to clear up?’

‘We’re about done, thanks, Amy.’ Toni jerked back to the present, refolding the blanket she’d been holding.

‘What’s up?’ Amy had caught her air of introspection. ‘Carol will be all right, won’t she?’

‘Should be,’ Toni said. ‘But with Carol away from her shop, Harmony has a bit of a dilemma about her dress for tonight.’

Amy was all attention. ‘What’s happened, Harms?’

Harmony explained her difficulty.

‘I could lend you something.’ Amy gave the junior a quick assessing look. ‘We’re about the same size. And I got some amazing clothes recently when Leo and I were over in Singapore. Why don’t we hook up after work and go back to mine? If you like something, it’s yours. OK?’

‘Are you kidding me?’ Harmony’s blue eyes widened in happy disbelief. ‘That would so be totally awesome. I love your style, Amy!’

‘Oh, thanks.’ Harmony dimpled a smile. ‘Deal, then?’

‘Deal.’

Laughing, the two walked off together, heads turned towards each other, eagerly discussing the celebrations for the night ahead.

Toni smiled after them. It was good to see Amy so upbeat. Plus, professionally, she would be an excellent role model for Harmony.

Nice outcome. Somewhat thoughtfully, Toni made her way back to the station. There were good vibes all over the place. Had it all happened because of an armful of roses?

She wondered whether Rafe realised just what effect his gesture had achieved—if indeed the roses had been from him. But of course they had to have been …

And it was a bit daunting to think he’d been spurred into action because of something she’d said.

She wasn’t about to ask him.

But he had to know that she knew.

So where did they go from here?

Toni puffed out a little breath to stem her consternation. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She hadn’t expected this complication on her first day back. Correction. She hadn’t expected it at all.

The afternoon ticked by. A few mild casualties trickled in that were handled competently by Justin and the nursing staff.

Liz had arrived back from the hairdresser, her hair sleek and shiny with little tendrils curling prettily from a loose knot.

‘Hair looks great,’ Toni said approvingly.

Liz sighed. ‘Wish I’d had time for a spray tan.’

‘Matt likes you just the way you are.’ Toni tipped her head enquiringly. ‘And the spark’s still there, isn’t it?’

Liz smiled mistily. ‘Oh, yeah …’

‘Well, then.’ Toni glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost the end of their working day. ‘Lizzie, will you hand over, please? I need to see Rafe about a few things before end of shift.’

‘Sure. See you tonight?’

‘If you’re there first, keep me a seat.’

Liz grinned wickedly. ‘I’ll keep two. You never know!’

Ten minutes later, Toni tapped on Rafe’s door and waited. Her eyes went heavenwards at his growled response, ‘It’s open.’ Suddenly her heart felt as though it was beating in all the wrong places in her chest. Had this been a crazy idea? Well, it was too late now.

Angling herself through the door, she moved across to his desk. ‘I pushed the boat out and got us an energy hit from the canteen.’ She passed the disposable cup across to him. ‘Hot chocolate for you, coffee for me.’

He eyed her a bit warily, seeming surprised and even a bit taken aback, and Toni wondered how long it had been since anyone had done a simple act of kindness for him. ‘Thanks. How did you know I needed this?’

‘Put it down to my powers of observation.’ Toni slid into the same chair she’d occupied that morning. Cradling her coffee between her hands, she asked, ‘What’s happening with Carol McKay?’

Rafe tilted his cup and took a mouthful of his hot chocolate. Seeming to enjoy it, he took another. ‘I had a video hook-up with her cardiologist. He’s of the opinion if there’s no further deterioration in her condition, she can be safely managed here.’

‘That should be less stressful for her anyway,’ Toni replied. ‘She can keep up with things at her business. Carol has quite a large customer base, most of whom have become her friends. They’ll be concerned for her welfare.’

‘Her son’s with her now in ICU. I imagine he’ll help her work out some kind of plan for the future.’

‘I expect so. She won’t want to lose trade if it’s at all possible.’

‘That’s not likely, is it?’

‘Probably not.’ Toni sipped her coffee. ‘It’s the only decent dress shop in town so where else are the ladies going to go?’

‘I have no idea, Antonia.’ A tiny flicker of amusement appeared behind Rafe’s eyes. ‘Online perhaps?’

‘Don’t think so,’ Toni drawled, a hint of laughter edging her voice. ‘Online shopping hasn’t hit Forrestdale to any great degree. As for the girls, they’re more inclined to want to touch before they buy, rather than just visualise it on a screen.’

‘Interesting.’ He gave a guarded kind of smile that rapidly spun out to lighten his whole face. He had no idea what they were talking about but Toni smiled right back and their smiles dallied for a moment, then caught and held. And suddenly his office was full of something neither of them understood.

Toni drew back in her chair. Her body felt tingly with electricity. Odd. And Rafe’s laughing eyes were warming her from head to toe. Oh, boy, oh, boy … This could get complicated. And she needed that like a tax bill.

In a split second Rafe decided he didn’t need whatever it was that was happening here. Were they flirting? Hell, this was a minefield. Silence permeated the atmosphere and in order to break it he swivelled his chair slightly so that he was looking through the window at the patchwork of distant gum trees, blue summer sky and high cloud. He took a deep breath to steady himself and then glanced pointedly at his watch. ‘You’d better take off, hadn’t you—if you’re going out tonight?’

Toni looked startled. Was he dismissing her? It sure seemed like it. She swallowed the last mouthful of her coffee and rose to her feet. ‘Why don’t you take an early mark as well?’ she said lightly. ‘You look bushed.’

‘Do I?’ he replied blandly.

‘Yes.’ She’d already noticed the charcoal shadows beneath his eyes and the way he’d rolled back his shoulders out on the ward as if trying to stave off a bone-crunching weariness. ‘Go home, Rafe.’

‘Hey!’ Rafe planted his feet and uncurled to his full height ‘Who’s the boss here?’

‘You, Dr Riccardi,’ Toni returned sweetly. ‘But surely you know how to delegate? There’s a competent late shift already on duty and I’m sure they’ll call you in if anything unmanageable occurs.’

Rafe stifled a hoot of raw laughter. The only thing unmanageable was Antonia Morell. But she was right. He was whacked. ‘OK, you win.’ He gave in, dragging his hands through his hair and locking them at the back of his neck.

‘I’ll take off.’

‘Have a good night, then. Although …’ Toni paused with her hand on the doorknob and shot him one of her smiles ‘… if you feel like it later, you could pop over to the dance and draw one of the raffle prizes for us.’

Rafe let out a breath of pure relief as he watched her neat little backside disappear out the door. But she’d left in her wake a whole chain of emotions that gnawed at his insides. He’d wanted this post in Forrestdale to be as straightforward as possible. No bumps in the road. No emotional involvement to leave behind. And now all that seemed turned on its head.

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