Christmas in the Outback Read online

  ‘The times are very difficult,’ Nikki agreed. ‘Liam and I see it all the time in our practice. But I’m sure you didn’t come in today to discuss the drought.’

  ‘Ah…no. Damien and I want to try for a baby.’ She stopped, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth. ‘But now with my wage cut, perhaps it isn’t the greatest time to be thinking about it.’

  ‘Well, that’s for you both to decide,’ Nikki said diplomatically. ‘Did you plan on having a check-up today? Ask some questions about getting pregnant and so on?’

  ‘Yes, I did. But would I be wasting your time if we didn’t go ahead?’

  ‘Of course not.’ Nikki smiled. ‘And as you’re here anyway…’

  ‘OK. Where should we start?’

  ‘Well, I’ll need some history.’ Nikki looked down at Jade’s card. ‘Except for renewing your script for the Pill, you don’t seem to have much here.’

  ‘We haven’t been in Wirilda that long. I think I’ve only been in for a couple of minor things. And I had a flu shot because of working around the kids. Sorry.’ She tossed Nikki an apologetic glance. ‘I’ll stop waffling and get to the point.’

  ‘Perhaps we could start by my giving you a general outline of the various steps necessary to begin preparing your body for pregnancy?’ Nikki suggested.

  ‘Oh, could you?’ Jade leaned forward eagerly. ‘That would be fantastic.’

  Nikki took up her pen. ‘So, how long have you been taking the Pill, Jade?’

  ‘All up, about five years. I have to confess I’m a bit concerned about any side-effects after I stop taking it. I mean, you hear all kinds of stories, don’t you?’

  ‘And many of them are embellished along the way.’ Nikki’s response held a note of caution. ‘But it is a fact the Pill can rob your body of certain vitamins and minerals,’ she agreed. ‘So, to begin with, we’ll test your iron levels, for the simple reason that blood volume increases with pregnancy and anaemia is fairly common.’

  ‘I understand. And someone told me I’d need a pap smear. I’m a real wimp about them,’ Jade confessed with wry honesty.

  Nikki husked a laugh. ‘As females, we all tend to avoid them, but they’re all we have at the moment to detect anything untoward. And if it’s two years since you’ve had one then, yes, we’d need to do that. We’d also need to take blood to check your immunity to rubella and chickenpox. Do you smoke, Jade?’

  ‘No, never have. That’s good, isn’t it?’

  ‘Brilliant. And if you’re serious about becoming pregnant, you should give alcohol and caffeine a miss or at least cut back.’

  Jade nodded. ‘And what about diet and stuff?’

  ‘Lots of fresh fruit and veg, of course,’ Nikki said. ‘And if you start taking a folic acid supplement three months or so before conception, it’s very beneficial.’

  ‘I’ve heard about that. What’s the idea of it exactly?’

  ‘It lessens the incidence of specific defects in the foetus. I can give you some literature that covers the relevant points.’

  ‘Then I guess I have to ask the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.’ Jade gave a shy little smile. ‘How soon could I expect to get pregnant after I stopped taking the Pill?’

  ‘There are some figures on this.’ Nikki tapped a few keys on her computer and read off the screen. ‘OK—ten per cent of couples conceive in the first month after stopping the Pill, sixty by six months and ninety by twelve months. That’s assuming both you and your partner are healthy.’

  Jade laughed a little breathlessly. ‘It makes the possibility sound so real. But there’s quite a lot to think about, isn’t there? And once you’re pregnant, there’s no going back and you have to hang in there for a whole nine months…’

  ‘But just think,’ Nikki told her with a grin. ‘At the end of your nine-month journey, you reap a wonderful reward.’

  ‘Yes, there’s that.’ Jade’s look was soft. ‘I guess I’d better talk all this over with Damien before we go any further.’ She glanced at her watch and then met Nikki’s gaze with a slight smile. ‘But I suppose I could have the dreaded pap smear now, if you’ve time?’

  ‘All the time in the world.’ Nikki got to her feet. ‘Just strip everything off from the waist down, please, Jade, and pop up on the couch. That’s lovely.’ Nikki unfurled a modesty sheet and pulled the screen around her patient. A few minutes later she placed the specimen on the slide. ‘There now. Wasn’t too bad, was it?’

  Her patient gave a cracked laugh. ‘I’ve had worse. But, no, you’re a pretty smooth operator.’

  ‘Then you won’t mind if I do a quick internal check while you’re here? Just to make sure everything is where it should be?’

  ‘It makes sense, I suppose.’ Jade bit down on the underside of her lip. ‘And if I’m going to try for a baby, I guess I’d better get used to being examined.’

  ‘That’s very positive.’ Nikki sent her an approving smile. ‘I’ll just label this for despatch and be right back.’

  As Jade was her last patient, Nikki walked out to Reception with her after the examination. ‘The result of your smear should be back within a week.’

  ‘Oh—OK.’ Jade touched a hand to the frilly neckline of her top. ‘May I call you during surgery hours to find out?’

  ‘That’s fine.’ Nikki pulled open the heavy plate-glass front door. ‘Good luck with everything.’

  Jade lifted a hand, curling a strand of auburn hair around her finger. ‘I have a feeling Damien will want to go ahead, despite my job being uncertain. Otherwise, well, you could wait for ever.’

  Nikki nodded. ‘I know what you mean. Isn’t there a proverb or something that suggests if we wait until the wind and the rain are just right, we won’t achieve anything?’

  Jade gave a snip of laughter. ‘Probably. Anyway, I’d best be on my way and let you go on yours. Thanks for everything, Dr Barrett.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ Nikki’s smile was warm. ‘And, please, call me, Nikki. We’ll probably be old friends before too long if I’m to see you through this baby business.’

  ‘I’ll be in touch, then, Nikki. Thanks again.’

  Now, there’s a lady who knows where she’s going, Nikki thought, her look faintly wistful as she watched her patient’s swift, purposeful stride across the street to her car.

  ‘Call from Sydney for you, Nikki.’ Grace held the receiver aloft, her hand over the mouthpiece. ‘A Simon Dennison. I said I’d see if you were available.’

  Nikki returned Jade’s fluttered wave as she drove off, turning from the door with a small sigh. ‘It’s fine, Grace, he’s an old friend. I’ll take it in my office, thanks.’

  ‘Hi, Simon.’ Nikki pushed enthusiasm into her voice and thought of their two different worlds. ‘How’s my favourite stockbroker these days?’

  ‘Haven’t been hung out to dry yet, Nikki. How’s the surgical-glove business? On seconds thoughts, don’t answer that.’ Simon Dennison’s relaxed chuckle came smoothly down the line. ‘I have a proposition for you.’

  ‘Now you’re talking!’

  ‘Cheeky monkey. I’m a married man.’

  Nikki’s mouth curled on a laugh. ‘Then you shouldn’t go around propositioning young women, should you? What’s up? You haven’t called to tell me I’ve gone bust, have you?’ Feeling entirely at ease with the friend from her high-school years, she settled in for a chat, wriggling her bottom into a more comfortable position in the chair.

  ‘Far from it. Your shares in Salvin Gold have taken a huge hike. I think you should sell.’

  ‘OK.’ Nikki didn’t even have to think about it. She’d always trusted Simon to steer her right when it came to her share portfolio.

  ‘And reinvest?’

  ‘Ah…’ Her gaze snapped up, as Liam knocked and poked his head in. She beckoned him in and resumed her phone conversation. ‘What kind of results are we talking about here, Simon?’

  ‘Ten big ones.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness.’ Nikki’s hand went to her
heart. ‘That’s amazing.’

  ‘Not bad.’ Simon was neutral. ‘Nikki, I have to move fast on this so should I reinvest?’

  She thought quickly. ‘Half only.’

  ‘And the rest in your bank?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Not a problem. I’m right on it. Ciao.’

  ‘Bye, Simon. Thanks.’ Nikki replaced the receiver carefully and brought her head up, looking directly at Liam.

  ‘Who’s Simon?’ His moody gaze raked her face.

  Nikki thought briefly of telling him to mind his own business but relented. It didn’t matter anyway. ‘My stockbroker.’

  He went very still, all his energies reined in. Then he looked at her mutely and shook his head.

  ‘What?’ Her dark brows flexed impatiently.

  He gave a hard-edged laugh. ‘You’re obviously still wheeling and dealing.’

  A flood of colour washed over her cheeks. He’d made it sound almost an insult. ‘I don’t make money my god the way my father did,’ she snapped.

  He made a soft sound. ‘I didn’t say you did, Nikki.’

  ‘Your look spoke a thousand words, Liam.’

  ‘Then I apologise.’

  ‘You still have me pegged as a chip off the old block, don’t you?’

  ‘Your words, Nikki.’

  Her hand tightened around the paperweight on her desk and she lowered her gaze, remembering how many fights they’d had over just that. But these days she put her money to use in ways her father wouldn’t have dreamed of, let alone actually done.

  She thought of several of her overseas projects for orphaned children and swallowed the ache in her throat. ‘Things change, Liam.’

  ‘And some things stay the same,’ he rejoined quietly.

  Nikki rode out his innuendo with a small lift of her shoulders, finding it hard to believe how swiftly things between them had broken down again. Since the meningococcal scare, they seemed to have gone on a series of emotional highs and lows. Right now they were on another low, their relationship on the road to nowhere. She brought her head up, her voice holding the faintest thread of bitterness as she asked, ‘Did you need me for something in particular or was this just an unfriendly visit?’

  He chose to ignore the barbed little rider. ‘I just wanted to let you know our flying pastor, Fergal Kennedy, is in town. He gets to Wirilda only occasionally so it’s a bit of a break in routine for everyone.’

  ‘I…see.’ She didn’t, but Liam was bound to offer more information if she waited long enough.

  ‘He’s here for a couple of days. Conducts a service at St Joseph’s, does the rounds at the school, attends to any baptisms, counselling, that kind of thing, before he’s off again.’

  ‘So he’s a kind of mission priest?’

  Liam looked up sharply with a frown. ‘Broadly speaking, yes. I suppose he is. Fergal’s a great guy,’ he added for good measure.

  ‘So where do I come in?’

  Liam’s jaw clenched and he noticed the way her gaze fluttered down, as if just conversing with him made her switch off. Sweet God! How did he fix things? Every time he made up his mind to tell her how he felt, his tongue suddenly grew lead weights. ‘I’ve offered him a bed for the two nights he’s in town. The pub’s pretty awful. Dion usually provides the hospitality but her kids have finished exams and are home early from boarding school so it’s a bit of a crowd at their place.’ A muscle in his jaw jerked as he drew to a stop.

  ‘So are you seeking my approval?’ she huffed through a jagged little laugh. ‘It’s your house, Liam. You can invite whomever you like to stay. Even an ex-wife…’

  Liam’s emotions began to show. ‘I was merely doing you the courtesy of advising you of my plans to invite Fergal.’

  ‘That’s fine with me.’ She stopped, too wearied with the effort of trying to keep her head straight around him.

  ‘It won’t be a problem, Nikki.’ Liam got awkwardly to his feet. ‘Fergal doesn’t stand on ceremony. In fact, he’ll probably offer to cook dinner. He’s a great guy.’

  ‘So you said.’

  For a moment, Liam hovered uncertainly. ‘I’ll see you at home, then.’ He turned abruptly, almost colliding with Grace as she burst in.

  ‘Oh, good! You’re both here. Urgent call from Lesley Manderson at the bakery.’

  ‘What’s up?’ Liam said tersely.

  Grace took a breath. ‘Terry’s grandad, Tom, is staying with them at the moment. He’s gone fiddling with machinery and cut himself rather badly. Lesley’s in a bit of a panic. She said there’s blood all over the place and Terry’s gone out somewhere.’

  ‘Right.’ Liam looked a question at Nikki. ‘Like to come? Lesley might need a calming influence.’

  ‘I’ll grab my bag.’ All antipathy forgotten, Nikki whirled to her feet. ‘Meet you out front. And bring oxygen!’ she called to Liam’s back as he sped out of her room with Grace following.

  Grace had almost to run to keep up with him. ‘Should I call an ambulance?’

  ‘Yes, please. Best to be on the safe side. I’d like back-up there in case we have to get him to the hospital.’

  ‘Will do. And Lesley said they’ve closed for the day so could you go round the back?’

  The bakery was barely half a block down the street so, rather than waste time getting in and out of Liam’s car, they covered the distance on foot.

  ‘Oh—thank you both for coming.’ Lesley Manderson was on the lookout for them.

  ‘Where is he?’ Liam swept past her into the shop.

  ‘Straight through to the little annexe.’ She was all but wringing her hands. ‘Tom was trying to fix the old bread-slicer. Those blades are lethal.’ She winced. ‘He’s cut between his thumb and forefinger. He’s not supposed to be in here at all!’ she added emotionally. ‘Terry’s told him often enough.’

  They found the old gentleman on the floor, his back braced against the wall, his hand wrapped tightly in a towel he was holding to his chest. He was very pale and obviously in shock. ‘Bit of a mess…’ he said weakly, as Liam hunkered down beside him.

  Nikki turned urgently to Lesley Manderson. ‘Is Tom on any medication?’

  ‘Yes.’ Lesley pressed her hand to her forehead. ‘He had a slight stroke a few years ago. War-something.’

  ‘Warfarin?’ Nikki snapped her gaze to Liam’s, and saw his mouth pull tight. That was all they needed. The drug was an anticlotting agent. She put her case down and snapped open the locks. They’d need a constriction bandage for the wound. And they’d better work fast.

  ‘It’s all right, Mr Manderson.’ Liam was reassuring. ‘I’m just going to pop this oxygen mask on you. It’ll make you more comfortable. Breathe away now. Good man. Now, let’s see what you’ve done to your hand, shall we?’

  As Liam released the pressure on the wound, the blood spurted but he managed to staunch the bleeding just long enough to assess its severity. He frowned. It was jagged and nasty and if he wasn’t mistaken, there was deep nerve and tissue damage. ‘Let’s get some pressure on this, please, Nikki.’

  ‘Will Tom be all right?’ Lesley hovered tearfully. ‘Can I help?’

  Nikki began applying the compression bandage to the wound. ‘We need to get Tom’s arm elevated, Lesley.’ She spoke kindly. ‘Think you could get something to make a sling?’

  ‘I could rip up an old sheet.’ The young woman looked glad to be doing something. ‘Won’t be a tick. We live over the shop.’

  ‘I’ll give him a jab of morphine.’ Liam selected the drug from Nikki’s bag. In seconds he’d drawn up the dose. ‘Poor old chap,’ he murmured, adding ten milligrams of anti-emetic to help settle their patient’s stomach.

  ‘We should get some fluids into him, Liam.’ Nikki was concerned about the tell-tale moistness of Tom Manderson’s skin.

  ‘Right. Get a line in if you can. I’ll get a BP reading.’

  Nikki worked quickly. It took precious time to tap a vein to the surface but finally she succeeded. ‘OK,
line’s in and holding,’ she breathed with relief, attaching it to the bag of saline. ‘What’s the BP?’

  Liam frowned. ‘Eighty-five on fifty-five. We need Haemaccel. Where the heck is the ambulance?’

  They both knew the elderly man’s position could become critical very quickly if he didn’t receive the benefit of a plasma-expander.

  ‘I did the best I could.’ Lesley hurtled through the door. ‘Will this do?’ She held up the torn piece of sheeting.

  ‘That’s fine.’ Expertly, Nikki folded the material to a manageable size to accommodate Tom’s arm. Securing the sling gently, she tied the ends around his shoulder.

  Wordlessly, Lesley shook her head. ‘He looks so…frail.’

  Liam took the young woman aside. ‘He’s very shocked, Lesley. We need to get him to hospital. Any chance you could get hold of Terry?’

  ‘He should be here any minute.’ Her gaze swung back to Tom. ‘Is he—? He’s not going to—?’ She broke off, too overcome to speak, and pressed her hand to her throat. ‘Oh!’ She spun round with relief. ‘Here’s Terry now. And the ambulance!’

  Terry Manderson was visibly shaken. ‘I didn’t believe it when the ambulance stopped here.’ He reached out a hand to his wife. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘It’s Tom!’ She grabbed her husband’s fingers and hung on. ‘He’s cut himself on the bread-slicer.’

  ‘Oh, hell! Silly old coot! Where is he?’

  ‘Calm down, Terry.’ Liam was firm. ‘Let Dr Barrett and the ambulance crew take care of your grandfather now. We need to get him to hospital.’

  Terry swallowed and heaved in a controlling breath. ‘Sorry. Yeah, OK. We’ll follow the ambulance.’

  Nikki had hooked up a line and begun running the blood product the ambulance had brought. So far, so good, she thought. But it was obvious Grandad Manderson was in for a long haul.

  ‘OK, matey, let’s go.’ The ambulance crew lifted the stretcher and began easing it through the narrow doorway. ‘You coming, Liam?’

  ‘Be with you in two minutes.’ Liam flicked a hand backwards.

  ‘He’s going to need microsurgery, isn’t he?’ Nikki began packing up her case.