heart melted at the sight of the little lad lying quietly under the blue blanket, his eyes wide and questioning.
His mouth tightened. There were extenuating circumstances and he didn’t have the stomach for a confrontation anyway. Not today. And especially not with Antonia watching his every reaction with those soulful brown eyes. He regrouped his thoughts.
‘We’ll take a look at Michael,’ he said gruffly. ‘Try not to worry. Children are remarkably resilient.’
‘Can I stay with him?’
Toni jumped in, ‘Of course you can.’
‘Oh—thank you.’ Lisa held tightly to her child’s hand as he was whisked through into a cubicle.
‘Lisa, if you could just stand back, please?’ Toni eased the mother away from the side of the bed. ‘Dr Riccardi will need room to examine Michael.’
Still visibly shaken, Lisa complied, wrapping her arms around her body almost as if she could hold herself together in some way. ‘I’m here, baby,’ she said brokenly. ‘Mummy’s just here …’
The child looked clean and well cared for, Toni noted, peeling the blanket back gently. ‘Doctor?’ She looked pointedly at Rafe.
‘Thanks.’ Rafe began his examination. ‘Let’s see how you’re doing, little mate,’ he said, his hands gentle, swift and sure as he tested the child’s neurological responses. ‘Looking good,’ he murmured, as Michael’s pupils appeared equal and responsive. Placing his pencil torch aside, he checked the little boy’s limbs for any obvious deficits and then began a careful palpation of the child’s tummy. Any hardening would indicate internal bleeding. But all seemed well. He replaced the blanket and turned to the mother.
‘Was he sick at all, Lisa?’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘He just seemed out of it for a second or two and then cried a bit …’
Rafe nodded. ‘I’d like to run a scan to be on the safe side. And we’ll need to keep your son for several hours, just to make sure there are no residual effects from the accident.’
‘It really was an accident.’ Lisa stood her ground bravely. ‘This guy just shot out of his driveway without warning and I had to slam on my brakes. I realise I should have had Michael in the back in his safety seat.’
‘But you didn’t.’ Rafe continued writing on the child’s chart.
‘I was going after a new job,’ Lisa explained dispiritedly. ‘But I’ve lost my interview time now.’
‘There’ll be other jobs.’ Absorbed in Michael’s chart, Rafe curled his lips into a silent no-further-comment moue. He handed the request form for the X-ray department to Toni. ‘After Michael’s scan could you see whether Kids could take him, please? He’ll be more comfortable there. And ask Justin to check Lisa over and perhaps we could run to a coffee for her?’
Toni gave him a taut little smile. ‘I’m sure we could.’
Rafe pulled back the curtain to make his exit and then wheeled back, the light from the window illuminating the hard line of his jaw with its rapidly darkening growth. ‘I’d like to see the X-rays when they’re back, please, Antonia?’
‘Certainly, Doctor.’ Toni’s response was crisply calm but a niggle of uncertainty caught her unawares. She’d told Riccardi she was usually called Toni. Why couldn’t he just do it? Perhaps it was as simple as his not liking shortened names. She frowned a bit. Whatever his reasons, it was already setting her apart and causing the oddest trickle of awareness along her spine.
CHAPTER TWO
BACK in his office, Rafe threw aside the medical journal he’d been reading.
It may as well have been written in a foreign language for all he’d taken in.
Antonia Morell. The cameo-like picture was still there in his head. Her complexion magnolia fair against the dazzling auburn hair; the quick, intelligent air about her. And the amazing smile that outlined the sweet curve of her mouth. Her mouth …
Disconcerted, he rubbed a hand across his cheekbones. The wild feelings of want were annoying him, disturbing him. He didn’t need them. He just needed to get through the next few months, recoup his energy, regain his enthusiasm …
‘Rafe …?’ Toni popped her head around the door. He looked up and she saw at once she’d interrupted a very focused train of thought. ‘Sorry … the door was open …’
‘Come in, Antonia.’ He voice was slightly rough. ‘What’s up?’
‘You said you wanted to see Michael’s CT scan …’Toni moved towards his desk, feeling as though she was walking in sand, ankle deep. ‘He’s up in Kids now. Amy asked to special him.’
Rafe’s dark brows rose interrogatively. ‘Is that wise?’
Toni bristled at his implied criticism. ‘Are you saying I should be keeping her away from babies and toddlers?’
‘No.’ He glinted an impatient green glance at her. ‘You mentioned she’s a bit fragile at the moment, that’s all.’
‘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.’
