Resisting the New Doc In Town Read online

  ‘Yes. Yes, I did.’ It was only then that Bergan raised her gaze, slowly, to meld with his. ‘Smitty was my father.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  DRAK WAS QUICK in bringing the paramedics up to Jammo and when they arrived Richard and Bergan worked with them to insert an intravenous drip into Jammo’s foot, as she’d attempted to slash her wrists only weeks ago. With an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose, the teenage girl’s observations began to stabilise.

  ‘I’m going with her,’ Drak declared protectively.

  ‘Absolutely.’ Bergan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  ‘They can’t make me leave her side when we arrive at the hospital, can they?’ His eyes were scared, wild, determined. The last thing either Jammo or Drak needed now was a scene in the A and E department.

  Bergan shook her head. ‘Tell whoever you see at the hospital that you know me and that I say it’s fine for you stay with her—as long as you don’t interfere with the treatment. Stay in the room, out of the way, and I’ll be along shortly.’

  ‘Thanks, Bergan.’ Drak, looking paler than she’d ever seen him, surprised her further by pulling her close for a hug. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes and a lump formed in her throat at the action, and although it was over almost before it had begun, she knew in that one moment that Drak had changed from a troubled teenager into a man with direction. Before she could say a word, he climbed into the back of the ambulance and Richard shut the doors, tapping twice to let the driver know he was clear to leave.

  Bergan sniffed and swallowed, blinking away any sign of the emotional tears before she looked at Richard. He was standing beside her, the medical kit from the drop-in centre beside him on the footpath. ‘Shall we head back?’ she asked, indicating the way back towards the centre.

  ‘Good idea.’

  There was no hurry now, and as they walked along, Richard carrying the medical kit, Bergan began to feel highly self-conscious at having revealed so much about her past. The sun had set, the stars were starting to twinkle in the sky, the streetlights had come on and a warm breeze floated around them, almost like some sort of cocoon, keeping them separate from the world.

  ‘Interesting, isn’t it?’ Richard said after a moment.

  ‘What is?’ She almost jumped at the sound of his voice and looked across at him, her defences up in case he said anything personal.

  ‘Watching a boy turn into a man.’

  ‘Oh. Drak. Yes. Yes, it is.’ She nodded as they walked along. Her arms were crossed over her chest as though she was giving him a silent signal not to venture into personal matters. ‘I can’t deny that it makes me feel good. I’ve known him for quite a few years and it most definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing.’

  Richard chuckled. ‘I can well believe it, but tonight…tonight I think the message you’ve been trying to get through to him, whatever it might have been, has finally hit its mark.’

  ‘He hugged me. Voluntarily!’ Bergan couldn’t keep the delight from her voice or the smile from her face. ‘It’s moments like that that make everything I do, everything I try to teach these kids, worth it.’ The smile slowly slid from her face and Richard couldn’t help but watch her as they walked out of the glow of one of the streetlights and headed into the comfortable darkness. ‘I’m just sorry his realisation came out of Jammo’s terrible situation.’

  ‘She has a good chance of recovery, and who knows? Perhaps Drak can get through to her.’

  ‘Hope. There always has to be hope.’ Bergan walked past the next lamppost, skirting around the outside of the glow it emitted, but Richard paused, staring at her.

  ‘What did you say?’

  Bergan stopped walking and turned to face him, dropping her arms back to her sides. ‘Why?’ Was that astonishment she heard in his tone?

  ‘Just…please? Repeat what you said.’

  Confusion marred her brow. ‘There always has to be hope?’

  He frowned then gave his head a shake. ‘Perhaps it was the tone you said it in.’ He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. ‘Never mind.’ He started to walk again, stepping out of the light.

  ‘You’re confusing me. What did I say that was wrong?’ Bergan fell into step beside him.

  ‘Nothing. You said nothing wrong. I…knew someone who used to say that all the time. For a second there you sounded exactly like her.’

  Her? Bergan’s curiosity was definitely piqued. Someone from his past? Someone who was important to him? A girlfriend? An ex-lover? She pushed the thoughts from her mind. If Richard wanted her to know, he’d tell her. She’d learned of old that no good ever came from prying and pushing people when they didn’t want to open up. Still, it made him far more intriguing.

  They walked in silence for a while then Richard said, ‘You’re not going to ask me anything? Try and find out more about this woman I mentioned?’

  Bergan glanced at him. ‘Do you want me to?’

  Richard passed another streetlight and Bergan could clearly see the smile tugging at his lips. ‘Psych one-oh-one, eh? Answering a question with another question?’

  Bergan couldn’t help but return his smile. ‘Well, you either want to talk about her or you don’t. If you do, I’ll gladly listen. If not, I’ll respect your privacy.’ She glanced down at the ground before crossing her arms once more over her chest. ‘And…I’d like to thank you for respecting my privacy earlier and not trying to get me to open up more about…well…about what I said about my…father.’

  ‘Hippocratic oath.’

  ‘I’m not your patient.’

  ‘OK. How about the friendship oath?’

  ‘Friendship?’

  ‘Is this not a friendship date? Are we not becoming friends?’

  ‘I guess. Especially as I don’t usually blurt out my past to just anyone. In fact, only Mackenzie knows the full truth about my upbringing, mainly because she was a part of it.’

  ‘And your other friends?’

  ‘Reggie and Sunainah,’ she supplied, then shrugged. ‘They know bits, as do your parents, but they’re all more than happy to just accept me for who I am today. It’s nice. Refreshing. Rare.’

  ‘Those types of people definitely make the best friends.’ Both were silent for a moment before Richard said, ‘It hasn’t been easy, this past year, on the fellowship, to make many new friends.’

  ‘Four weeks here, four weeks there. Different countries, different languages, different traditions.’ Bergan nodded. ‘I can see that.’

  ‘Hence the recent idea of the friendship date. And I have to say I’m really glad you agreed to let me into your world tonight, Bergan.’ They weren’t far from the drop-in centre and after they passed another streetlight and entered darkness again, Richard stopped, glad when Bergan followed suit.

  ‘I don’t have that many close friendships. A lot of men don’t,’ he said by way of explanation so she didn’t think there was anything wrong with him. ‘I have colleagues spread around the world and I’d classify a lot of them as friends, but real friends—people I can rely on at any time, any place, anywhere—are few and far between.’

  Bergan nodded, her eyes adjusting to the darkness around them so she could see the lines of confusion creasing his brow and hear the hesitation in his words. He shifted the medical kit to his other hand, removing it as a barrier between them.

  ‘I haven’t known you long, Bergan, and yet I feel a connection to you. I think it’s important you know that.’

  ‘I sort of guessed when you asked me out.’

  He smiled. ‘Well, I can’t deny that I find you attractive, but that’s not entirely what I meant.’

  His words warmed her through and through. She wished he wouldn’t talk like that, so openly, about this strange attraction that seemed to exist between them, because it made her feel all uncertain and soft and feminine. She wasn’t used to feeling this way and the intensity of her feelings was starting to cloud her thoughts. ‘I… It’s just…from my point of view, it would be far easier for me
to deal with if you only found me attractive, on a superficial level, I mean, not…’ She stopped and sighed, not sure what she was trying to say.

  ‘Not connected on an intellectual and emotional level as well?’ he finished for her.

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘I can’t say I understand what this…thing…is between us, Bergan—’

  ‘Me neither.’

  ‘But it’s there and that in itself is a surprise and it’s rare.’

  ‘Yes.’ The word was a whisper and as he continued to look down into her eyes, he saw a small smile touch her lips. It was the sign he needed, to know that whatever existed between them they were both on the same page. He breathed out slowly, enjoying this moment for what it was.

  He stared at her, and she stared at him, yet there was no discomfort. ‘Hope,’ he said softly. ‘There always has to be hope.’ Richard spoke slowly, each word enunciated with deep emotion. ‘Those were the last words my wife ever spoke to me.’

  *

  ‘Dr Allington?’ One of the ward sisters seemed astonished to find him waiting in the nurses’ station, especially at almost five o’clock in the morning. He was unsure whether he needed to ask for permission to see a patient.

  ‘At least you know who I am,’ Richard stated, smiling at her.

  ‘I…er…was at your lecture yesterday. It was great to learn about the new techniques and equipment being used in emergency medicine.’

  ‘Thank you…’ Richard looked at the woman’s name badge ‘…Ayana. It’s very nice of you to say so.’

  ‘Oh.’ Ayana returned his smile. ‘You’re welcome. Er…so…um…’ She appeared a little flustered in his presence and Richard wondered if he shouldn’t have called ahead first. ‘What can I help you with?’

  ‘Nothing too bothersome. I only wanted to check on Jammo. We accident and emergency doctors don’t usually spend a lot of time on the wards so I wasn’t sure of the protocol and decided to just to wander up.’

  Ayana reached for Jammo’s case notes and handed them to him so he could read the charts for himself. ‘She’s doing much better. The last time she was in here, which I think was about two weeks ago, she discharged herself within twenty-four hours. At least this time she’s stayed a little longer. We might actually be able to do something to help her.’

  Richard perused the notes. ‘Just over forty-eight hours since we brought her in. It’s good to see she’s recovering well, and I see she’s even seen the social worker?’

  Ayana nodded. ‘Let’s hope we get can through to the poor girl this time.’ The sister shook her head. ‘Only sixteen. She has her whole life ahead of her.’

  Richard nodded and handed the notes back to Ayana. ‘Yes. Yes, she does. Is it all right if I just look in on her? I won’t wake her up if she’s sleeping.’

  ‘That’s fine. That bed over there, with the curtain around it. She’s very self-conscious and having the curtain drawn seems to help her.’

  ‘Thank you, Ayana.’ Richard smiled politely then walked quietly across towards Jammo’s bed. Jaime Purcell was the girl’s real name, but it stated clearly in her notes that she was to be called Jammo as her first name upset her. Richard could only imagine what the young girl had been through, but all of that was in the past and there was definitely hope, just as Chantelle had always told him. Hope. There always had to be hope.

  He slipped carefully and slowly behind the curtain, not wanting to startle the girl if she was indeed awake. Thankfully, he found her sleeping. He wasn’t surprised to see Drak sitting in the chair, which had been pulled close by the bed, the two teenagers holding hands. Drak was also sound asleep, resting his head against the edge of the mattress.

  ‘They make a cute couple.’

  It was only then that Richard looked over to the other side of the bed, in the shadows near the blind-covered window, and realised that Bergan was standing there.

  ‘I didn’t see you,’ he whispered, and stepped over to where she stood so their voices didn’t carry.

  ‘Drak has barely left her side since she was admitted.’

  ‘Is he also the reason she hasn’t tried to discharge herself?’

  ‘He is.’ Bergan sighed. ‘He’s such a good man. He knows Jammo’s been through the wringer.’ She glanced up at Richard. ‘Have you read her file?’

  He nodded. ‘I had a quick glance.’ He also knew exactly what Bergan wasn’t saying. Back in the earlier section of Jammo’s case notes there were several admissions to A and E noted, beginning way back when the girl had been only two or three years old. Admissions for excessive bruising, burns and broken bones. Later, when the girl had been fourteen, she’d been admitted for treatment following a botched abortion attempt.

  ‘Drak won’t push her, won’t rush her. You were right the other night when you said he grew up right before our eyes.’

  Richard thought back to that night when, after he’d admitted to Bergan that he’d previously been married, they’d made their way back to the drop-in centre and after giving Stuart and the rest of the young people there an update on the situation, Bergan had driven them to Sunshine General’s A and E department, where they’d been pleased with the way Jammo had responded to treatment.

  Afterwards, Bergan had driven them home and, after thanking him for his help and for the dinner, she’d headed into her house, leaving him wondering if perhaps he shouldn’t have said anything about Chantelle at all. Bergan certainly hadn’t wanted to talk about it, to ask him questions, like any other woman would have, and that’s when it had finally twigged that she really wasn’t like other women.

  She had a calmness about her, a peace that said she accepted people for who they were now, rather than who they might have been before. It was a little odd, but very refreshing and, given the little snippets she’d let slip about her own childhood, it was no wonder she was more than willing to give people a second, third, even fourth chance and probably more.

  This revelation only succeeded in making him like her even more and for the next few days after their so-called ‘date’ Bergan had kept her distance from him. Whether or not she’d been excessively busy or avoiding him, he had no idea. While she might accept people for who they were, he’d also realised it was more than likely that she didn’t like being at odds with herself. The fact that both of them could feel and admit there was something…different existing between them was something neither of them had expected.

  ‘Everything still calm in A and E?’ she asked a moment later, but before he could answer, Drak shifted and lifted his head. He checked Jammo was all right, placed a soft kiss on the girl’s hand then repositioned his head and closed his eyes again.

  ‘Perhaps we should go somewhere else to talk,’ he suggested, and she instantly nodded, slipping out through the curtain and holding it open for Richard to do the same.

  ‘Cafeteria?’ she asked.

  ‘Sure. I could do with a cup of tea, especially after the night we’ve just had.’

  ‘I hate multiple motor vehicle accidents,’ she said, after they’d stopped and said a brief goodnight to Ayana. ‘But I love working in Emergency. I love being there to make a difference, to save a life, to give the patient the best possible chance of recovery.’

  ‘Every day is different,’ Richard agreed. ‘While I think we all like the quiet days simply from the perspective that no one needs our help, they can make a well-oiled A and E team go stir crazy.’ They headed out into the quiet and deserted corridor. ‘I’ve seen it in every hospital I’ve worked in.’

  ‘Really?’

  He nodded. ‘There are many cultural differences, but that’s the one fact that stays the same. The opposite, of course, is true, that when the emergency room is hectic, that same well-oiled team takes pride in doing everything they can to save a life…and if they’re not successful, the next few minutes are the same the world over.

  ‘That moment when everyone pauses, unable to believe they weren’t successful. The clock ticks on, the second hand so loud
and unnerving, and although you know it’s moving, somehow the world seems to stand still. Then someone calls the time of death and everyone’s jolted back into action, following the necessary protocols and doing what needs to be done, knowing there will always be the opportunity to grieve at a later stage.’

  ‘It’s so true.’ She gave him a grim smile. ‘Although I don’t recall seeing a talk entitled “A global look at intra-professional behaviour during intense medical procedures in the accident and emergency department” on your lecture schedule.’

  He grinned. ‘No, but now that you’ve given me such a great title, perhaps it’s worth pursuing.’

  ‘Make sure you give me a credit.’ She laughed as they entered the cafeteria. Like the corridors, it was mostly deserted, the catering staff having long gone home and the vending machines scattered around the hospital fulfilling their purpose. The hospital, however, did supply staff with free tea and coffee, and Bergan and Richard made a beeline for the urn.

  ‘All you did was give me a title,’ he stated, spreading his arms wide, a broad smile on his lips.

  ‘And without it you’d have no paper.’ She shrugged as though that ended the debate. They made themselves tea and sat down in the chairs, grateful to finally be off their feet. Bergan slouched forward onto the table, needed its support for her exhausted body. ‘It’s not until I sit down that I realise how tired I am, but the instant I do, it hits me like a tonne of bricks.’

  ‘I know what you mean.’ Richard sipped his tea. They both remained silent for a few minutes, and he was surprised at how comfortable it felt. The other night, after he’d mentioned his wife, their companionable silence had changed into an awkward one.

  Thinking about that now caused him to frown. Why didn’t Bergan want to know about his past? Did she really just see him as someone who was passing through, only in her life for a short period of time so there was no real point in getting to know him any better? It also wasn’t like him to be ready to reopen old wounds, to talk about his grief, to open up that one part of his life that he usually kept completely hidden from everyone.