set aside for the big fundraiser of the year. This year’s project is a state-of-the-art ultrasound. It will be mainly in use in Midwifery.’ Toni paused. If they’d had better scanning equipment for Amy … But that wasn’t the problem. As Amy’s Ob, Hannah Gordon, had assured the couple, the baby had just been too early, not viable. Toni blinked a bit. ‘Anyway, that’s about it. Tonight’s dinner-dance is about raising funds.’
‘I’ll give a donation,’ Rafe said flatly. And he’d make it a hefty one. Anonymously, of course.
‘Up to you.’ Toni got to her feet. There’d been a glimmer of hope she could have talked him round. She may as well have saved her breath. She placed her mug back on the side table. ‘I guess we’ll catch up sooner rather than later, then. Mondays are usually a bit full on.’
And then she turned and he caught the full force of her smile. It was so warm, so natural, as if she did it a lot. Smiled, that was. He stood courteously as she left, his breath jamming in his throat.
Antonia Morell was one sassy lady. He sank back into his chair feeling a bit dazed. He’d actually enjoyed sparring with her. And that incredible auburn hair … The way she wore it, wild and untamed, had to say so much about her personality. Out of nowhere, he imagined her on a speedboat on Sydney Harbour, cutting through the spray, her hair windblown, crazy curls all over the place streaming out behind her. Or snugly tamed inside a snow beanie with just some bright tendrils poking out. Or softly shiny spread on a pillow …
Hell. He yanked his X-rated thoughts to a halt. Get a grip Riccardi. You’re not on the prowl here, no matter how tempting the prize. You’re on a timeline. Three months to be exact. So, just keep your head down and do your job and at the end of your contract you can show those boffins on the medical board you’re fit and able to get back in the field.
Toni’s thoughts were mixed as she made her way back to the nurses’ station. Rafe Riccardi baffled her. Intrigued her. Self-contained. A bit of a loner. Could be nicer if he tried a bit harder. Oh, for heaven’s sake. She made a little sound of dismissal. She wasn’t giving him a school report.
One glance told her the department was already busy. Liz put down the phone and looked up, her well-shaped brows raised in query. ‘Is he still in one piece?’
‘Of course.’ Toni began slotting pens into her top pocket. ‘We got engaged.’
Liz smothered a squawk and then chuckled. ‘We’ve missed you.’
‘Yeah.’ Toni shook back her halo of auburn curls. ‘Now, who’s doing what?’
‘Justin’s suturing in the small treatment room. Beryl Reilly took a dive down the post-office steps this morning. Kneecap nearly split in two.’
Toni grimaced. ‘Poor old love.’ Beryl, in her seventies, was one of their regulars at A and E. ‘Why on earth was she out and about so early?’
‘Posting coupons for some cruise or other. Today was the last day to enter apparently.’
‘Oh, my lord,’ Toni sighed. ‘What would she do if she won? She’d never go on her own.’
Liz snickered. ‘She’d probably hook up with one of the old guys from their indoor bowls team and take him along.’
‘We shouldn’t laugh.’ Toni pressed a finger to her smiling lips. ‘It’s very sweet, really, the way they all look out for each other.’
‘And Beryl probably has about as much chance of winning as we do of getting a raise.’
‘OK, back to business,’ Toni said firmly. ‘Who’s assisting Justin?’
‘Harmony. Not that she wanted to,’ Liz added caustically. ‘She hates anything to do with blood.’
‘Well, she’s only newly graduated,’ Toni reasoned. ‘These days they’re not exposed to much on the wards in their training. It’s always a bit of shock when they strike the real thing. Where’s Ed?’
‘Doing an eye-wash. One of the council workers copped a load of sand and grit when they were unloading turf for the new sports oval.’
Toni nodded. ‘Amy OK?’
‘I’ve assigned her to tidy the drugs cabinet with Mel. The night shift left a tip.’
‘Well, they had two RTAs in quick succession, by the look of it.’ Toni scanned the report. ‘This one says Riccardi was the admitting MO.’
‘So?’
‘So that means he’s been here since four o’clock this morning.’ Toni made a small face. ‘No wonder he was grouchy. The man’s missing sleep.’
‘It’s his job.’ Liz was not so forgiving. ‘It’s what he signed on for.’
‘I wonder what he was doing before coming here?’ Toni mused.
‘Dunno. Don’t tell me you’re falling for him?’
‘As if,’ Toni responded with a little tsk. ‘Perhaps we should cut him a bit of slack, though. Forrestdale might be a huge lifestyle change for him.’
‘Well, there’s usually a trigger for those kinds of decisions,’ Liz pointed out pragmatically. ‘But I’m for making love, not war, so we’ll be nice to your reg.’
‘He’s not my reg,’ Toni said in exasperation. ‘Now, both Natalie and Samantha in?’ she asked, referring to the department’s assistants in nursing.
‘By the grace of God. And Dr Tennant is circulating if we need her.’
‘Excellent.’ Toni clipped on her badge and checked it was straight. ‘I’ll ask her to pop in on our eye patient. He may need an antibiotic and a medical certificate for work.’
‘Uh-oh,’ Liz sighed as their phone lit up. ‘Call from the ambulance base. Welcome to Monday!’
Toni took the details from Liz. ‘Mine, I think, and I’ll bleep the reg.’
They met at the ambulance bay and Toni relayed what details they had. ‘Unrestrained two-year-old thrown against the dashboard when his mum had to brake suddenly. He appears to have been knocked out for a second but conscious now.’
‘The child was in the front seat of the car?’ Rafe asked in disbelief.
‘Apparently.’ Toni twitched a shoulder. ‘We don’t know the circumstances. It may not be the mother’s fault.’
‘Well, we certainly can’t blame the child,’ Rafe said grimly. ‘Do we have names?’
‘Child is Michael. Mum is Lisa.’
He received the information with a curt nod. He’d have a few words to say to Lisa. Having a child unrestrained in a moving vehicle was totally irresponsible.
The ambulance arrived and reversed into the receiving bay. One glance told Toni the mother was distraught. ‘It’s all my fault!’ Lisa was all but wringing her hands. ‘The childminder is only two streets away and I was running late so I just popped him in the front
