style="font-size:15px;"> ‘Ouch,’ Alice winced. ‘I thought there was a bit of an undercurrent between them.’
But Josh shook his head. ‘Not where Jeremy’s concerned. As soon as a relationship’s over, he forgets the woman ever existed and moves happily on to the next one. It’s the women who are left simmering—any undercurrents come from them. Jeremy’s exes probably radiate enough energy to act as the hospital’s back-up generator.’
Alice’s laughter was interrupted by Josh’s pager. ‘Now what does Linda want?’ he muttered, but his face paled as he read the message.
‘It’s Dianne ringing,’ he said, referring to his wife. Grabbing the nearest phone, he picked it up and, shaking, attempted to dial home, but kept misdialling.
‘Josh, give it here.’ Alice laughed. ‘She probably just wants you to pick up a pizza tonight. Now, what’s the number?’
But Dianne didn’t want a pizza. She wanted Josh home now or she was going to dial for an ambulance herself.
‘How far apart are the contractions?’ Alice asked as Josh replaced the telephone, his face white.
‘Two to three minutes apart, and from the noises she’s making they’re pretty full on.’ He scratched his head. ‘She was fine this morning, not a peep. I thought first labours went on for ever.’
‘In the text books maybe, but this is real life. You’d better go now, Josh.’
‘What about—?’
‘Go,’ Alice insisted. ‘I’ll tell Jeremy and Linda. Give me your pager. And ring me with the news,’ she ordered, as he handed her his pager and notes. Josh was in such a state that he handed her his wallet. ‘You don’t have to pay me.’ Alice laughed again.
‘Wish me luck,’ Josh grinned. ‘Next time you see me I’ll be a responsible father of two.’
Alice shook her head. ‘A father, yes—responsible, no. Good luck,’ she called to his rapidly departing back. And as he left Alice was suddenly filled with a hollow sadness. Josh was so excited, so ready for all that was ahead. She imagined him holding his wife’s hands, working with her, guiding her through her labour. And afterwards, when their babies were born, sharing in each other’s joy, united as a family. Her hand moved down to the solid swell beneath her theatre greens. Her baby was missing out on so much. And that hurt Alice, not for herself but for her unborn baby.
Maybe lots of women had babies without a partner these days, some even by choice, but it had never been her intention. She had always assumed that when—if—the time came to have children, it would be with the man she loved at her side. She knew the pain she felt now would only magnify with time. It had been hard enough at the antenatal classes, listening as the midwife had explained the role of the partner during labour. Alice had felt the weight of the pitying smiles then as she had sat alone, pretending to take notes.
What would it be like when she was actually in labour? When the pain got too much and there was no one she knew there to comfort her, to guide her and cheer her on? And then... Alice closed her eyes as they started to fill. How would it feel when the baby was born and there was no one to share it with, no one to gloat with and gaze in wonder at the miracle of birth?
‘He’s waking up.’
Alice snapped back to attention at Carrie’s words, and made her way over to the gurney.
‘What are his obs doing?’
‘Stable. His blood pressure’s good, still febrile and his temp’s thirty-eight.’
‘We’ll just have to wait for the antibiotics to kick in. Lachlan, it’s Dr Masters. I saw you briefly in the accident department. Lie still now, Lachlan, you’re just coming to after an operation.’ Alice kept her voice low and steady, trying to orientate and at the same time reassure the young man.
The anaesthetist had entered and was setting up a pethidine infusion for Lachlan. For the immediate post-op period a high dose of analgesic would be administered automatically, to control his pain, but as his consciousness and condition improved he would be using a patient controlled analgesia machine which would enable him to administer a safe dose of analgesic to himself as required.
‘How’s he doing?’ Jeremy asked. Looking refreshed from his shower and, as usual, immaculately presented, he accepted the chart from Carrie. His question was directed more at the anaesthetist than Alice.
‘Happy from this end. Where are you sending him?’
‘There’s a HDU bed on Surgical 1.’
‘Josh’s wife rang,’ Alice informed him. ‘Apparently—’
‘I know already,’ Jeremy answered, without looking up. ‘I collided with him on my way here.’
And that was that. No small talk, no casual remarks about wishing him well, or the usual groan about twins. Jeremy obviously wasn’t remotely interested.
‘He said he’s left his pager with you.’ The blue eyes turned to her and Alice nodded.
‘Well, if it gets too much, let Linda know. She’ll have to pitch in.’
Which was about as helpful as suggesting she ring Josh if there were any problems. There was as much chance of Linda resiting an IV as Josh leaving his wife’s side.
‘How were Lachlan’s family?’ Carrie asked.
‘Upset, relieved—the usual. I said they could pop in for two minutes before we transfer him.’
But Carrie wasn’t having any of it. ‘You know the rules. They’ll have to wait until he’s transferred to the ward, like every other family has to. Just because his father’s a consultant here—’
‘His father’s not the only consultant here,’ Jeremy reminded her. ‘If you’re so against staff having the occasional perk, like seeing their critically ill son in the recovery room, maybe it’s just as well you work in the operating room, Carrie. Your personality wouldn’t go down too well with a conscious patient.’
Alice watched as Carrie’s shoulders stiffened, two spots of colour burning on her angry, taut cheeks. And though Alice knew Carrie had been out of line, the way she had addressed Jeremy, she actually felt sorry for her. Jeremy might have been a consultant, but he had by all accounts been more to her than that, and from her reaction towards him it wasn’t all over where Carrie was concerned.
‘Any news on Josh?’
Alice shook her head as she made her way over to Fi, who was coming out from handover. ‘Not yet. I suppose he’s got a million relatives and friends to ring before he gets around to letting us know.’
Fi shrugged. ‘Dianne’s probably still in labour. Looks like it’s going to be a long hard night for womankind tonight. I suppose you’re covering for Josh as well as your own work?’
‘Linda’s going to help out,’ Alice said without much enthusiasm.
‘Like I said, it’s going to be a long hard night.’
Alice wasn’t
