personal with a bloke, I’d rather challenge him to a game of tennis.’
Liz flipped some files into an out-tray. ‘You’re such a romantic!’
Toni showed Liz the tip of her tongue. ‘You’d be surprised what you can learn about someone’s character in a sporting context—especially if they’re losing. I believe the tickets have sold really well. Half the town seems to be going along.’
‘Well, the raffle prizes are exceptional,’ Liz said chattily. ‘A couple of the motor dealers have combined and donated a new car. And the winery’s putting up six cases of their finest. The council’s come good as well and contributed a luxury weekend for two at the Gold Coast.’
‘Then let’s hope folk are feeling generous and buy zillions of tickets,’ Toni endorsed. ‘That way we might just make enough to get our scanner.’
‘It’s quiet at the moment.’ Liz checked the department with a practised eye. ‘Mind if I take the early lunch? I want to get a shampoo and blow-wave.’
‘Go.’ Toni flapped a hand. ‘And thanks for jinxing us. I bet every man and his dog will come trailing in now.’
‘Well, you’ll cope with the men.’ Liz chuckled. ‘Just send the dogs along to the vet. See you.’ She grabbed her bag and took off.
Toni leaned on the counter, allowing herself a few moments of respite. Through the big plate-glass doors at the entrance she could see the gardens the groundsman, Kenny, had such pride in. In Australia, February was the hottest month on the calendar, yet he managed to nurture the plants along and now there were riotous splashes of colour everywhere.
Toni thought on. She was glad she lived in a country town in so many ways. But what was Rafe doing here? she wondered. And would they ever get close enough for him to confide in her?
Beside Toni, the emergency phone rang, bringing her back to reality with a snap. Replacing the receiver a few seconds later, she took off at speed towards Rafe’s office. She hoped he was there.
He was, looking up in query as she popped her head in.
‘Possible arrest coming into Resus. ETA six minutes.’
He was on his feet immediately and they were moving swiftly to the resus area. ‘Do we have a name?’ he asked.
‘It’s Carol McKay. She manages the dress shop in town. Cardiac history. The paramedics have given anginine with nil effect.’
‘We’ll have to wing it, then.’ Rafe’s voice was clipped. ‘And hope we come up with the right answers. What about family? Anyone to be notified?’
‘She’s a widow. Son works at the school. I’ll chase it up.’
‘Delegate to someone else,’ Rafe was firm. ‘I want you scrubbed and ready to catheterise. If our patient is overloaded, we don’t have time to mess about. Harmony?’ He rounded on the young RN. ‘I want you involved here, please.’
Harmony’s eyes went wide. ‘Yes, Doctor.’
‘And as soon as our patient hits the deck, I need the monitor leads on pronto.’
‘If the patient arrests, you’re number three, Harmony.’ Toni was scrubbing furiously.
‘Three?’ Harmony looked agitatedly from one to the other.
‘You’ll write what drugs are being given on the whiteboard,’ Toni said calmly. ‘And help with the IV fluids where necessary. You’ll be fine.’ She sent out a brief encouraging smile to the nurse.
‘Right.’ Harmony seemed spurred on by Toni’s confidence and began to get the intubation tray ready.
And then it was time for action.
The ambulance reversed into the bay, its doors already opening.
‘Be good, team.’ Rafe’s words snapped out and Carol McKay was wheeled rapidly into Resus.
The paramedic relayed what treatment they’d given, adding, ‘She’s not looking great, Doc.’
Rafe wasted no time in supposition. They had a life to save here. His hands moved like lightning, securing a tourniquet and IV in seconds. ‘Give me sixty of Lasix,’ he barked. ‘IDC in now, please, Toni. Let’s make a dent in that fluid.’
Toni’s hands were deft and sure. In seconds the indwelling catheter was in situ.
‘Good work,’ Rafe murmured, as the crippling fluid began draining away. ‘OK, let’s clamp at eight hundred mil. Sixty of Lasix, please.’
Harmony passed the dose. ‘That’s one-twenty so far, Doctor.’
‘Adjust the oxygen to full now, please. Carol?’ Rafe leaned closer to his patient. ‘Can you hear me? You’re in hospital. Did you forget to take your medication today?’
Carol’s eyes fluttered open. ‘Mmm,’ she murmured. ‘Sorry …’
‘That’s OK,’ Rafe spoke gently. ‘So long as we know, we can treat you. Try to relax now and breathe into the mask. How’s the BP doing, Antonia?’
‘One-sixty over a hundred. Pulse a hundred and ten, resps thirty.’
Rafe acknowledged her call with a swift nod. So far so good but his gut feeling was telling him they weren’t out of the woods yet.
Toni began to sponge Carol’s forehead. She still looked very unwell, very clammy … Alarm ripped through Toni and automatically she felt for a pulse. Nothing. She hit the arrest button. There was a flurry outside and Justin appeared.
‘Will you intubate, please, Justin?’ Rafe was professional and calm. ‘And I need adrenaline ten here.’
Harmony slapped the prepared dose into his hand.
‘And another ten. Any pulse?’
‘No.’ Toni felt her nerves pull tightly.
‘Let’s defib, then, please.’
‘Charging.’ Toni’s teeth clenched on her lower lip.
‘All clear.’ Rafe discharged the paddles.
All gazes swung to the monitor.
‘Damn all …’ Rafe spat the words from between clenched teeth. ‘Let’s go again. Clear.’
This time the trace bleeped, faded and then staggered into a rhythm. ‘Yes …’ Rafe’s relief was controlled. ‘We’ve got her. Thanks, everyone.’
‘You did really well today, Harmony.’ Toni was fulsome in her praise for the younger woman.
‘Oh—thanks, Toni.’ Harmony gave a pleased smile.
They were putting the resus room back to rights, Carol McKay having been transferred to the hospital’s small IC unit. ‘I’ve had a few doubts about working in A and E,’ she confessed,
