you say so.’ Julia West was tall, willowy, dressed in the plain blue sister’s uniform and clearly unamused at being passed over for the top job.
Savannah gave her a sunny smile. ‘We’ll certainly work on it.’ She slid her bag into the spare cupboard under the desk and slipped the key into her pocket. At least she’d had some orientation and knew where most things were and went. It didn’t look like sweet Julia was going to be particularly helpful today. But as long as it didn’t affect the quality of care for their patients, she was entitled to it.
The sound of the first ambulance of the day drew her attention and both women walked to the emergency entrance to greet it.
Theo drained his coffee-cup, threw his stethoscope around his neck and stood up to stretch. With less than two hours of the sixteen-hour night shift to work, he was feeling remarkably awake.
In fact, he was feeling more awake than he’d felt for the last two years since he’d moved back here. Of course, he’d just had a month’s break from work, and despite the frustration and disappointment with Sam’s cancelled visit, there was novelty in change.
He grunted. Change was usually a stimulant—it had nothing to do with his new neighbour who was poured so deliciously into her floral administration uniform.
His thoughts had persistently wandered to Savannah over the weekend but he’d resisted the urge to check on her.
He’d even convinced himself she’d probably have a few disasters, although hopefully all the animals would survive. Then she’d give up and shift back to the city she’d come from. And he could ignore the shock of attraction he’d tried to forget when he’d seen her for the first time in fifteen years.
She’d come for holidays when she’d been younger, like a black-haired Madonna with her serious face. Those dark violet eyes of hers had seemed to see right through him.
Her hair had been long then, but he liked the way it curled around her face and bounced out now, like those Patty Duke movies his mother had loved to watch.
She’d certainly grown up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just her luscious little body that grabbed his attention. There were memories, too.
Theo remembered the direct look she’d given him the first time he’d kissed her all those years ago. As if to say, So that’s what it’s all about.
When he’d found out the name of the new charge sister for the emergency department, he’d flinched and realised there were two places he had to avoid Savannah now. He’d completely forgotten that Andy had spoken of his niece being a nurse.
Of all the bad luck.
CHAPTER TWO
THEO needed to stay focused on his own agenda. Savannah Laine could not be allowed to affect his life.
Julia was on her way back to the office and he raised his eyebrows.
‘Ready for me yet?’
‘Yes.’ She slid open the filing-cabinet drawer and withdrew some patient notes. ‘You remember Mrs Reddy?’
‘Elsie with emphysema.’ He held his hand out for the old medical records.
‘That’s right. She was too breathless to stay home. Savannah...’ she rolled her eyes ‘...is settling her in.’
‘I’ll be there in a minute. I’ll have a quick look at her usual medications first.’
‘My, you’re eager for work this morning. How strange,’ she said over her shoulder as she walked away. ‘I’ll go and put the coffee-jug on as no one needs me.’
What was wrong with Julia? She wasn’t usually this moody. Theo frowned at her back and flicked through the patient’s notes.
Elsie Reddy. Last admission a month ago, also for breathlessness.
She’d been given home oxygen, a Ventolin nebuliser, fluid tablets, potassium supplement to replace what the fluid tablet took out, digoxin for heart rhythm, quinine for leg cramps—all the usuals.
He particularly remembered that she had bad veins for getting blood. But it was time for a look. He walked onto the ward.
‘Good morning, Mrs Reddy. I’m Dr McWilliam.’
‘I know.’ Elsie Reddy’s face was pale except for two spots of unhealthy colour in her cheeks, but the soft wheezing voice still held a smile. ‘Big virile man like an out-of-work stuntman.’ She took a breath. ‘Got yourself a woman yet?’ She laboured to catch her breath again.
Theo looked at Savannah who was standing by the old lady’s bed, and glared at the suppressed amusement he saw in her face. He looked back at the older woman. ‘How about you try to not talk and I’ll have a listen to your chest?’
‘When I’m not talking I’ll be dead,’ she said, but sank wearily back against the high pillows and closed her eyes.
Savannah smiled at the old lady’s dry comment. ‘Mrs Reddy’s temperature isn’t elevated but it’s pretty cold outside this morning. Her respirations are thirty-two and blood pressure’s up.’
‘You think she’s got an infection?’ He raised his head and looked at Savannah. When she nodded her hair bounced. He frowned and concentrated. ‘I’ll put a line in, get some blood gas analysis from Pathology and we’ll start some Ventolin via nebuliser and maybe antibiotics later.’
They both heard the sound of another ambulance pulling up outside.
Savannah tilted her head. ‘Leave me a quick written order and I’ll put the cannula in and get a Ventolin nebuliser going while you see to that one.’
Theo raised his eyebrows. ‘You’ll put the cannula in? The winds of change are obviously blowing.’ He shrugged. ‘But that’ll certainly make my job easier.’ He scribbled on the notes, patted Mrs Reddy’s arm and left.
Savannah smiled at the old lady. ‘Did you catch all that?’
‘Most of it.’
‘I’ll pop a drip in this arm, take some blood, then we’ll put something into the bag of fluid to help your lungs work better.’
‘My veins are bad.’ The memories of past jabs shone in wary eyes.
Savannah lifted the frail arm and ran her fingers lightly over the papery skin. ‘Yours look better than the veins they’ve been showing me in the city lately.’
Five minutes later, Theo poked his head around the curtain. Savannah was cleaning up after completing the tasks quickly and competently.
He nodded. ‘I’m impressed. Can I borrow you?’
She barely glanced at him. ‘Sure, but check these ampoules first, please, and I’ll start this infusion.’
‘Bossy little thing, aren’t you?’ She certainly hadn’t been bossy fifteen years ago and Theo wasn’t quite sure he appreciated her lack of deference now!
She
