‘We’ll manage. Cole? If you end up going to Cairns Hospital with the boys, don’t do anything risky to get back.’
Get back quickly, so I know you’re all right, but don’t put yourself in danger.
‘We’ll see that he gets a lift with one of the crews if necessary. Is Lucas ready?’ Damon asked her man.
‘Yes.’ Cole stood up and crossed to Vicki. ‘I’ll be back as soon as possible.’ His mouth brushed a light kiss on her cheek. ‘Look after yourself.’
‘You, too.’ Her knees softened, and she stepped closer, felt his warmth and strength. Oh, Cole. ‘Hurry back.’ Be safe and sensible, and hurry back. She kissed him back, longer and deeper. Now who needed to be sensible?
* * *
Relief soared when Cole gingerly stepped out of the dinghy on the other side of the flood waters and heard a woman in dark blue overalls say to him, ‘You Cole Halliday? I’m Bridget Ford, emergency doctor for the rescue services. I understand we’ve got a stat two patient?’
He’d get to spend the rest of the night with Vicki. ‘I’m Cole. The seriously injured patient is ten-year-old Lucas. He was unconscious when the crew got to him, and there’s been no change in the time I’ve spent with him. Suspected internal bleeding in the abdominal area. Fractured leg, and possibly ribs. Trauma to the skull.’ Relief was still running through him. For Lucas and the medical help he desperately needed, and for himself because he wasn’t flying to the hospital. Vicki’s softening towards him had started a flutter in his chest that hadn’t abated throughout the short ride in the boat watching over Lucas.
‘Right, load and go,’ Bridget said. ‘We’ve got a stretcher ready at the back of the chopper. Bringing it to the boat meant getting it soaked and the boy already has enough to deal with.’
Cole held up a hand. ‘There’s also a second boy, Lucas’s brother, Toby. He checks out fine, but I want him to go to hospital anyway.’
‘We’ll find room,’ Bridget agreed.
Cole slung Toby onto his back and reached for one end of the makeshift stretcher in the boat. ‘Ready, Merv?’
‘Yes. On a count of three.’
Within moments Lucas was at the back of the rescue chopper and being swiftly but carefully transferred, and Cole waited until Bridget was ready to take Toby. Then he stepped back, letting the rescue medics take over and do their job. ‘Good luck,’ he called. Now he could return to Vicki. He’d be sharing her with a woman in labour desperate to get to her sons, but at least he’d be with her. His steps were jaunty as he turned back to the boat.
‘Cole?’ Bridget called. ‘I’ve got a message for someone I think is with your lot. Karen?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘The boys’ mother. She’s in labour.’
‘Then you’d better pass this on.’
He listened carefully, nodded, and felt the familiar guilt kick in. ‘That’s great news.’ News that Vicki would’ve wanted to hear the night she’d miscarried.
‘You notice the rain’s down to a drizzle?’ Merv asked as they climbed back into the boat. He revved the motor and aimed for the lawn in front of the house they were using.
Cole looked up and laughed as his vision blurred with water. ‘That was dumb.’ He blinked the rain out of his eyes. ‘But I think you’re right. How long will it take for this new river to go down?’
‘If we don’t get another deluge I reckon less than twenty-four hours.’
‘Now all we have left to do is get Karen out of here.’ Cole looked around and was shocked to realise that the sky was lightening. The night was over. What a night it had been. Nothing like he’d expected when leaving Sydney yesterday. Yet he didn’t feel any regret. This was why he’d studied medicine in the first place, to help those in dire situations. Okay, some regret, because he and Vicki hadn’t had a lot of time alone together, and they definitely needed to. But it could be that just being together, working with their patients, had been good for them. They’d seen another side to each other. They hadn’t argued, or withdrawn into themselves.
‘Cole,’ Vicki called from the house. ‘Want to give me a hand? A baby’s about to arrive.’
Wow. No matter how bad things got, there were the wonderful moments too. ‘Coming. Those contractions sped up?’
‘Karen suddenly had a huge meltdown. She needs to be with her boys, and wants her husband here, not in Western Australia. Then baby started getting on with the process, like it’s got the message that Mum needs someone of her own right now.’
He couldn’t help himself. He wound an arm around his wife’s shoulders, hugged her lithe body in against him. Wonderful. Happiness rose, filled him. He was holding Vicki. She’d probably step away in a moment but he’d take what he could get. ‘I’ve got news for her,’ he said, breathing deep to savour Vicki’s sweet fragrance. He’d missed talking to her, sharing jokes and laughter, and lying in bed with their bodies entwined. ‘Good news.’
‘Has Lucas come round?’ Vicki asked, glancing up at him.
‘I wish.’ He also wished he could read total uncompromised love in those beautiful eyes. But he couldn’t. Wasn’t quite sure what he was seeing. Still with his arm around her, he took Vicki inside.
‘Karen’s in the first bedroom down the hall.’
‘Right.’ The moment he saw Karen, he said, ‘I’ve been told to let you know that your husband is on his way from Perth right now. The reason you weren’t getting through to him was because he’s in the air, heading east. He heard about the flooding from his parents hours ago.’
‘You’re sure?’ Hope flicked through her eyes.
‘The message came via the rescue doctor from your in-laws. It’s going to take time to get to Cairns as he couldn’t get the flights he needed.’
‘He’s coming. That’s all that matters. Thank you so much.’ Some of the anxiety left her tight face. ‘That’s wonderful.’
Vicki slipped from under his arm, nodding. ‘It is. Now you can relax and let this little one make a grand entrance, then you’ll have something to show off to your man when he gets to town.’ Her voice was clipped, filled with an emotion Cole didn’t like. Sadness. And loneliness.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘It won’t happen again.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN,’ Cole repeated under his breath.
He’d never meant anything so much other than telling Vicki he loved her. He used to tell her often, it hadn’t been something to be reticent about. It was true, so therefore he told her regularly. Except not for a long time prior to the miscarriage, and definitely not during the last few phone conversations. The atmosphere had become uncomfortable, making him feel if he uttered those words once more she’d think he was deliberately trying to get her onside without going over what had pushed them apart in the first place.
Vicki was too busy taking obs on Karen to give him a smile. Deliberately too busy? Her focus was completely on her patient, though he saw worry filter through her gaze.
‘Here we go again.’ Karen stood awkwardly and reached for Vicki’s hands, clinging to them as the contraction tore through her belly. ‘Getting worse.’
‘Getting closer.’ Vicki smiled tightly. ‘I need to re-examine you, see what’s going on.’
‘The baby’s coming, that’s what’s happening,’ Karen growled through gritted teeth.
‘Then let’s find out where he’s at,’ Vicki suggested in a firm, don’t-argue tone. ‘What is it with you and boys anyway? Haven’t you heard of girls?’
Karen relaxed a little and sank onto the bed that had been made available by Ester. ‘Everyone asks me that, but I’m happy with my sons. It’s never bothered me not having a daughter. It’s easier having them all the same sex. Though Arlo would’ve liked a girl. He’d have spoilt her rotten. Oh, that’s too soon.’ Her face scrunched up in agony and her hands clasped together around her belly.
/> ‘Hopefully, this will be over quickly,’ Cole said. ‘Do you want me here, or should I go look busy elsewhere?’
‘You can stay. Though Vicki’s doing a great job.’
Vicki chuckled. ‘It’s you doing all the work and making things easier.’
‘Lots of practice,’ Karen grunted. ‘I swear this is the last time. Four kids are enough.’
‘When the contraction ends, can you lie back and let me see if baby’s head’s crowning?’ Vicki slipped gloves on and handed Cole a pair. ‘You up to date with deliveries?’