Weekend With The Best Man

‘Of course I don’t.’ Dan felt a spark of anger. Where had she got that idea? He gave a tight shrug. ‘I was out of line earlier. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.’

Lindsey felt her whole bearing soften. His ownership of his lapse was more, much more than she’d expected. She lifted her chin and met his gaze, suddenly aware they were close, too close for comfort. What was he thinking? She couldn’t tell. His eyes were clouded with uncertainty. Out of nowhere, Lindsey felt a twist of uncertainty herself. She hated being out of sync with any of her colleagues. Hated it. ‘Stuff happens in Casualty.’ She gave an open-handed shrug. ‘Don’t beat yourself up.’

‘Thank you.’ Dan felt the ton weight lift from him. He gave a tight smile. ‘Put it down to an off day. We all have them, don’t you agree?’

‘I guess we do,’ Lindsey said carefully. And if she was any judge of the human condition, he was still having an off day. He seemed a bit...desperate, for want of a better word. Edgy. And there were shadows beneath his eyes. Again. If anyone needed a hug, it was Dan Rossi. But that would be totally out of order. Unprofessional. And embarrass the socks off him. She looked away quickly. In seconds, the tenor of her day had changed completely. What was going on here had no rhyme nor reason. It was just...happening. And she felt she was jumping fences ten feet high and couldn’t stop. It was an extraordinary sensation.

Dan swallowed through a very dry throat. She had her hair twisted into a topknot and flyaway strands were coming loose. He wondered what it would look like if she were to let it tumble down, releasing the scent of the flowery shampoo she used. It wasn’t going to happen. In an almost reflex action she reached up, pushing the wayward strands back in. Dan fisted his hands, resisting the urge to do it for her. ‘So, what’s on the agenda?’

Lindsey put her nurse’s head on quickly. ‘We have a little kid waiting for sutures. Michelle and Andrew are presently treating a youth with burns, the result of walking barefoot on coals after a bush barbecue. If you’d rather take over there and have one of them see the child...?’

‘No, no.’ Dan frowned a bit. ‘Our junior doctors need to gather experience. I’ll see the child. Point me in the right direction.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ she said, as Vanessa took over the station.

‘Fill me in,’ he said, as they walked towards the cubicles.

‘Preschooler, Michael Woods. He was chasing a ball out of bounds, tripped and hit his chin on the edge of a brick garden bed. Fair bit of blood. Panic stations and the school rang mum. She’s with him.’

‘Good. She’ll be a calming influence.’

Lindsey chuckled. ‘You hope.’

‘Are you saying it’s the mothers we have to be afraid of, Lindsey?’

Lindsey turned her head and caught his gaze. She blinked a bit. Unless she was mistaken, there was actually a curve happening to one corner of his mouth. On impulse, she sent him a full-blown smile in return, urged on by a feeling of oneness with him she couldn’t explain. ‘I’ve met a few.’

* * *

Five-year-old Michael was sitting on the edge of the treatment couch, his small legs swinging rhythmically back and forth. He didn’t look overly upset, Lindsey noted thankfully, although the blotches of dried blood on his T-shirt indicated it had been a heavy bump to his chin.

Dan smiled at the mother. ‘Mrs Woods? I’m Dan Rossi. I’ll be the doctor looking after Michael.’

‘I’m Stephanie.’ Michael’s mother kept her arm protectively around her little boy’s shoulders. She gave a wry smile. ‘He’s a bit of a tornado in the playground.’

‘So, you like playing footy, Michael?’ Dan asked.

‘I can kick the ball as high as the house,’ Michael declared, aiming upwards with one small arm.

‘Fantastic.’ Dan looked impressed.

Lindsey gave him a tick of approval for keeping things light and thereby gaining their small patient’s trust. Unobtrusively, she gloved and said quietly, ‘I’ll pop that sticking plaster off Michael’s chin, shall I, Dr Dan?’

‘Let’s do that.’ Almost casually, Dan hooked over a mobile stool and snapped on gloves. He sat in front of Michael. His eyes narrowed slightly. The removal of the plaster had revealed a gaping hole underneath. The mother’s gasp was audible. ‘Easily fixed.’ Dan’s tone was gently reassuring. Tilting Michael’s chin, he examined the damage more closely. The edges of the wound were uniform. They would align nicely. It would be a neat scar.

‘Is he OK?’ Stephanie asked anxiously.

‘His bite seems even,’ Dan responded. ‘And his baby teeth all seem in place. I’ll put a stitch or two in his chin and he should be as right as rain.’

Gently, Lindsey positioned Michael for the suturing procedure, laying him back with his head at the end of the bed.

Dan rolled across the trolley containing the instruments he’d need and switched on an overhead light. ‘Now, Michael, this is where you have to be as brave as the best footy player in the world,’ Dan said, flicking up the syringe of local anaesthetic.

Michael’s blue eyes lit up. ‘Like David Beckham.’

Dan huffed a laugh. ‘That’s the guy. Now, if you lie very still for me while I make your chin better, I’m sure I can find an amazing sticker you can wear on your shirt tomorrow and show the kids at preschool.’

‘My shirt’s all dirty,’ Michael said with childish logic.

‘Honey, we’ll find you a clean one to wear.’ Stephanie smiled at her son and held his hand tightly.

Dan looked up. ‘Lindsey, if you would, please?’

She nodded. The injection of the lignocaine would sting and be a shock to the little one. ‘Squeeze Mummy’s hand hard, Michael,’ she said, placing herself gently across the child’s body in case he tried to wriggle free.

In a few seconds the local had been injected and they waited a couple of minutes for it to take effect. Dan prodded the wound gently in several places. ‘Can you feel anything hurting, Michael?’

Eyes squeezed shut, Michael said, ‘No...’

‘Good boy. Keep holding Mummy’s hand and we’ll be finished in no time.’

In a short time Lindsey watched Dan snip the last suture close to the skin. ‘There you are, sweetheart.’ She gave the little shoulder a gentle pat. ‘All finished.’

‘Can I get my sticker now?’

Dan looked a question. He’d promised one to his small patient. He just hoped they had some in the department.

‘They’re in a box at the station,’ Lindsey said right on cue. ‘Won’t be a tick.’

* * *

‘Gorgeous little boy, wasn’t he?’ Lindsey remarked lightly as she went about tidying the treatment room.

Dan was parked at the mobile tray, writing up his notes. He lifted his head in query. ‘Sorry?’

‘Michael,’ Lindsey said. ‘He’ll probably be a real heartbreaker.’

‘Yes, probably...’ Dan went back to his notes, finishing them swiftly.

‘Thanks.’ He gave the ghost of a smile and left quietly.

Lindsey bundled the soiled linen into a bin with a vengeance. What was with this guy? Would it kill him to indulge in a bit of normal conversation?

* * *

Dan was amazed how quickly the rest of the shift passed. The ache in his shoulders had disappeared. Cautiously, he began to feel, as a result of the sudden turnaround with Lindsey, he might have a chance at some kind of normal life here at Hopeton. A chance he couldn’t afford to ignore.

Deep in thought, he began collating paperwork at the station. There were some end-of-shift letters he needed to write to several GPs. In Dan’s opinion, their respective patients would need referral—

‘Still at it?’ Lindsey stopped at the station, her brows raised in query.

Dan’s mouth tipped into a rueful smile. ‘Still a bit of tidying up to do. You’re off, then?’ His fingers curled round his pen. Idiot. It was the end of her shift. Of course she was off. Gone were the hospital scrubs; instead, she was wearing soft jeans that clung to her legs and a long-sleeved silver-grey top, a silky scarf in a swirl of multi-colours around her throat.

And knee-high boots.

Dan felt his heart walk a few flights of stairs. He couldn’t think of a single thing to say to the beautiful woman standing in front of him. And how pathetic was that?

‘It’s Friday, you should give yourself an early mark.’ Lindsey looked more keenly at him. The lines of strain were still there around his eyes. He needed to relax. But whether or not he’d allow her to help him do that was another matter entirely.

But for some reason she couldn’t fathom, she had to try.

‘Most of us are going to the pub. Few drinks, a game of snooker, a pizza or five later. You’re very welcome to join us.’

Dan’s heart suddenly came to a halt. Thank you, God. ‘Sounds good. Uh—which pub?’

‘The Peach Tree. Ancient red-brick place at the top of the main street. See you there, then?’

‘You bet.’ He nodded enthusiastically. ‘Thanks for the invite.’

‘Welcome.’ Lindsey hitched up her shoulder bag and turned, moving off quickly to catch up with Vanessa.

A fleeting frown touched Dan’s eyes as he watched the two women make their way towards the exit. He took a long controlling breath and let it go. Thanks to Lindsey’s invitation, he’d taken the first steps towards his new life.

With the thought still humming in his head, he went back to his office to type up his referrals.

Letters completed, Dan swung up from his desk, looking up in question when Martin Lorimer, the senior doctor on take, poked his head in. ‘Ah—Dan. You’re still here. MVA coming in. Pile-up on the highway, two vehicles, all teenagers. Can you hang about?’

Dan felt his gut contract. Did he have a choice? Hell. Lindsey would think he’d bottled out or just been plain rude. And he didn’t need that kind of misunderstanding after today’s debacle. He’d text her if he could but he had no idea of her mobile number. He swore under his breath. If the injuries to the kids were not too serious, maybe he’d still make it to the pub. Holding that thought, he made his way towards the ambulance bay.

* * *

‘I got you another OJ.’ Vanessa placed the glass of juice in front of Lindsey. ‘And what’s with you tonight, Lins? We could have won the snooker if you hadn’t been so not into it. Now I owe Andrew ten bucks.’ Vanessa pleated a strand of her blunt-cut blonde hair behind her ear. ‘Um...do you think Andrew might be a bit keen?’

‘On you?’ Lindsey took a mouthful of her drink. ‘Maybe. Every time he needs a hand with a patient, he makes a beeline for you.’

‘So, do you think he’s ever going to get off his butt and do something about it?’

‘Why wait for him? Van, you live in the same building. Surely you run into him about the place. Just ask him in for a coffee or something.’

‘But if he said no, I’d feel stupid,’ Vanessa moaned. ‘And I have to work with him.’ She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. ‘Did he seem to miss me while I was on leave?’

‘Not that I noticed,’ Lindsey said drily. ‘But he’s coming over now. Perhaps you’re about to find out.’

‘You bet I will.’ Full of resolve, Vanessa whirled to her feet. ‘Are you off home?’ She gave Andrew a pert look and a very warm smile.

‘Think I’d better. I’m back on a late tomorrow.’

‘Oh, me too.’ Vanessa grabbed her bag. ‘Let’s share a cab. I’ll put the ten bucks I owe you towards the fare. Deal?’

‘Deal.’ Andrew’s white smile gleamed. The two took a few steps away then turned and chorused, ‘’Night, Lins.’

Lindsey dredged up a smile and fluttered a wave. Ten minutes later her eyes did another tour of the lounge. Still no Dan. Inwardly, she gave a philosophic little shrug. She’d invited him and he hadn’t shown. And yet he’d seemed keen enough. Perhaps he’d thought better of it. Her mouth turned down. And perhaps she’d come across as being too pushy. Well, whatever, she wasn’t going to hang about, wondering.

Outside, the night was clear and crisp. Lindsey looked up. The moon looked so pretty, hanging there like...a silvery seahorse...

‘Lindsey!’

She spun round. She’d know that voice anywhere. Her heart jagged into overdrive. ‘Dan?’

Dan emerged out of the shadows and into the filtered lighting at the pub’s perimeter. ‘You waited,’ he said, and looked at her. ‘I got caught up.’ Briefly he filled her in.

‘When will kids realise speed can be a potential killer?’ Lindsey shook her head. ‘They’ll all be OK, though?’

‘Should be, in time,’ Dan replied, fisting his hands into the side pockets of his bomber jacket. ‘I’m whacked,’ he admitted frankly. ‘Are they still serving meals here?’

‘Long finished,’ Lindsey said. ‘The club scene’s taken over now.’

‘Uh, OK. Thanks for hanging about,’ he said, hunching his shoulders in a shrug. ‘I thought my not turning up might have ticked you off. I didn’t want that.’

‘I guessed you’d had an emergency,’ Lindsey said, forgiving herself the small untruth. ‘It’s a bummer when that happens right at the end of a shift, isn’t it?’

His blue eyes regarded her levelly. ‘Well, this time it certainly was. I had no way of letting you know.’

Lindsey flipped a hand dismissively. ‘We can fix that now, if you like.’ She reached into her bag and pulled out her mobile and in a few seconds they’d exchanged numbers.

‘So, we’re good, then?’ Dan’s head came up in query and he returned his phone to his back pocket.

Lindsey swallowed unevenly. Running into him like this had been unexpected. And now it all seemed a bit surreal. And why on earth were they standing here? It was freezing. ‘What are you going to do about some food?’

‘I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to get a takeaway if I look hard enough.’

Lindsey bit the edge of her bottom lip. She had the sudden vision of him going back to his place, sitting alone, eating alone. After the kind of brutal day he’d appeared to have had, the mental picture was awful. The fact that it bothered her so much took her by surprise. She lived only a few minutes away. She could offer to feed him. An invitation hovered on the tip of her tongue...

‘Do you have the weekend off?’ Dan asked.

Lindsey snapped her thoughts back to reality. ‘Yes. You?’

‘Back on an early tomorrow.’

Lindsey made a face. ‘Make sure you eat, then.’ She cringed inwardly. She’d sounded like his grandmother.

‘Thanks for caring.’ His eyes held a penetratingly blue honesty.

‘Mmm...’ Lindsey’s mouth went dry.

‘I haven’t exactly been fun to work with.’ Half turning, he dragged a hand through his hair, leaving a few dark strands drifting across his forehead. It gave him a faintly dissolute air.

Lindsey scrunched her fingers through the folds of her scarf, suddenly shaken by the intensity of emotion that just standing next to Dan generated throughout her entire body. ‘Maybe we should appoint a laughter coach for the ED.’

Dan felt disconcerted for a second. Her mouth was smiling. Just. More a tiny upward flick at the corners. He smiled back and, for just a moment, a blink of time, there was a connection of shared awareness. Sharp. Intense. And then it was gone, retracting like the sun under cloud. ‘Take that idea to the board.’

‘Would I have your backing?’

Was she serious? ‘You bet. Laughter in the ED sounds...remedial.’ And ridiculous. In fact, the whole conversation was verging on the ridiculous. Which only went to prove how out of touch he was with the ordinary stuff, like social interaction. Especially with beautiful women. The atmosphere was fraught again.

‘If you’re looking for a takeaway, the Chinese should still be open,’ Lindsey offered.

He gave a one-shouldered shrug, moving restively as though he wanted to be away. ‘Maybe I won’t bother after all. I’ve food at home. I can whip up something.’ Or I could ask you to come and have a coffee with me. His thoughts churned with indecision. He took the easy way out and said, ‘You’re OK getting home, then?’

‘I’m parked just over there.’ Lindsey indicated the small sedan the same make as a dozen others in the car park. ‘Where are you?’

‘Near the exit.’

Lindsey burrowed her chin more deeply into the roll collar of her fleece. This was bordering on crazy, standing here like two puppets waiting for someone to pull their strings and activate their mouths. She felt like chucking all her doubts and insisting he come home with her for a meal. Instead, she lowered her head and began fishing for her car keys in her bag.

Dan’s jaw tightened as her hair fell forward in a shimmering curtain and it was all he could do not to reach out and draw it back and hold it while he pressed a slow, lingering kiss on her mouth...

‘Got them.’ Lindsey held up the keys triumphantly. Her gaze held his for a long moment. Expectant. Something... ‘I guess I’ll see you at work, then.’

Dan managed a nod. Whatever chance he’d had to further their...friendship outside the hospital had gone now. He’d stuffed it. ‘Guess so.’

‘Make sure you eat,’ she reinforced, and they both took off in different directions.

‘Hey, Lindsey!’

She turned. He was walking backwards and smiling. ‘In case you were wondering, I can cook.’

‘Never doubted it.’ Lindsey’s own smile carried her all the way home.

Wednesday, the following week...

‘Told you he’d shape up.’ Vanessa’s voice held vindication, as they completed handover for the late shift.

‘Andrew?’ Lindsey feigned mild interest.

Vanessa gave an eye-roll. ‘Our Dr Rossi. He’s been exceptionally co-operative and I detected quite a nice sense of humour lurking somewhere there.’

‘I’ve hardly seen him this week.’ Lindsey made a pretence of checking the list of patients waiting in cubicles. ‘His shifts have obviously been all over the place.’ And she’d noticed his absence. Oh, boy, had she noticed.

‘Well, if you’re happy with everything, I’m out of here.’ Vanessa hauled off her lanyard and scattered a handful of pens into a nearby tray. ‘Andrew and I are going to a movie.’

‘Well, fancy that...’ Lindsey drawled. ‘He’s finally asked you out on a date.’

‘Well, actually, I asked him. But he was all for it,’ Vanessa added quickly.

‘Good for you, Van.’

‘Well, the opportunity kind of just presented itself,’ Vanessa said modestly. ‘But it just goes to show, doesn’t it? Some men merely need a shove in the right direction.’

Was there a message somewhere in there for her? Lindsey’s eyes were thoughtful as she set about triaging the patients on her list.

CHAPTER THREE

LINDSEY TURNED UP the music and did a rhythmic little rock with her shoulders as she drove. It was Friday at last and she was on leave. Going home. It was a good feeling. And perhaps back among the vines and the majestic blue hills she’d be able to sort out her feelings about a certain doctor. Was she wasting her time, though? Maybe. Maybe not.

She shut her music off. It was time to concentrate on her driving. Even though the country road was bitumen and usually well maintained, it was narrow. And it was just on dusk, visibility questionable to say the least, but she hadn’t wanted to hang about in Hopeton. With the thought of home beckoning, she’d just wanted to be on her way.

Automatically, she concentrated her vision on the road ahead. The headlights of an approaching car were illuminating the horizon. Lindsey adjusted her own headlights in preparation. She noticed there was a vehicle behind her as well. But so far it was obeying the road rules and keeping a safe distance.

* * *

Dan’s thoughts were very mixed as he drove. He hadn’t managed to catch Lindsey much over the past week. And that had been a frustration. He’d wanted to reinforce the little progress he’d made in getting to know her. But his hours at work had been manic, only because he’d made himself available so as to accumulate a few days’ leave after the wedding. The wedding was tomorrow. He hadn’t prepared a speech so he’d speak off the cuff. He and Nathan had so much shared history, it shouldn’t be difficult.

Abruptly, Dan was jolted out of his thoughts of weddings and speeches as he noticed the lurching drift of an oncoming car. What the hell? All his reflexes sprang into action. He reduced speed instantly, preparing to brake. For a split second he forgot to breathe, following the speeding car’s trajectory as it plunged out of control, crossing the centre line and placing it on a collision course with the car in front of him. He felt every nerve in his body tense.

Surely, a crash was inevitable.

* * *

Lindsey hissed an expletive, all her defensive driver training coming into play. This couldn’t be happening! Who was this lunatic of a driver? Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears. Please, no! She pulled hard on the steering wheel, feeling she’d dodged a bullet as the sports car shot past in a blur. She was safe. The relief was instant but short-lived as the vehicle clipped the rear section of her car, pushing her off the road. Her head snapped forward and then back, slamming into her headrest as her car spun and spun again.

Dan’s jaw went rigid. This was a nightmare. He watched in horror as the sports car rolled before coming to rest right side up in a mangled mess of metal and broken glass. One headlight remained working, shining brokenly on the prostrate figure lying in the middle of the road.

* * *

It took a few seconds for the nurse in Lindsey to react. All thoughts of her own welfare fled. Pushing out of the car, she set her feet on the road. She felt woozy as she stood, swallowing back sudden nausea. She had to get to the injured person. She began running.

* * *

The sight of the female figure running towards the accident wrenched Dan out of his quagmire of disbelief. He brought his Land Rover as near as was safe to the accident site, switching his headlights to high beam. In seconds, he’d lodged a call for an ambulance. Seconds after that, he was out and grabbing his medical case, complete with oxygen and suction. He had a feeling he was going to need every last item in his kit. He took off at a run, noting the woman was already at the scene, crouching over the injured man. Dan frowned. Should she even be there? He’d seen how her vehicle had copped the impact of the sports car. ‘Are you hurt?’

Lindsey startled at the brisk demand, raising her head. She blinked uncomprehendingly. ‘Dan...?’

Sweet God. Dan let his breath go in a stream. ‘Lindsey?’

For a mini-second they stared at each other in amazement and total disbelief. But the whys and wherefores had to wait until later. They had a life to save. ‘Are you OK?’ Dan rapped.

She frowned slightly. ‘Think so...’

‘Then let’s see what’s going on.’

The injured man looked in his sixties. Possible causes for the accident ran through Dan’s head. Had he fallen asleep? Suffered a stroke or heart attack...? He was wearing bike shorts, T-shirt and hiking boots. Dan threw open his medical kit, snapping on a pair of gloves. Who was this guy—some kind of fitness nut? First things first, he decided, placing an oxygen mask over the man’s face.

Lindsey hunkered down beside Dan. ‘Ambulance coming?’

‘Yep. They’ve diverted one. Let’s hope it gets here in time.’ Dan shook his head at the carnage. ‘Glove up, please, Lindsey. I need your help here.’

She swayed a little then gathered herself, taking a deep breath and then another, pulling on her gloves over shaking hands. ‘Is he still breathing?’

‘Just. Obviously he wasn’t wearing a seat belt to be thrown out like that.’ Dan did a quick head-to-toe check. ‘Multiple contusions, by the look of it, fractured tibias.’ He ripped out an expletive. ‘Arterial bleed from his groin.’

Lindsey felt her stomach turn upside down, the sight of bright blood pulsing from the femoral artery almost making her gag. She took quick, shallow breaths, swallowing down the bitter taste of bile. Working like a robot, she grabbed whatever she could find in Dan’s bag to absorb the flow of blood and pressed hard against the site. Pressure. They needed pressure. A tourniquet. An ambulance. A and E back-up. Her brain fogged. This was bordering on her worst nightmare. She’d attended dozens of accident scenes. What on earth was wrong with her...?