One Week to Win His Heart

‘Oh, yeah. I’ve seen that one. Right.’ Melody at least had a picture of the actor in her head.

‘He’s been filming his latest film in several locations around Sydney and today they were doing a stunt, and he fell.’

‘OK. I’m on my way.’ She hung up the receiver and turned her attention to George.

‘What’s happening?’

‘Rudy Carlew is in the ED.’

‘Who?’

Melody laughed. ‘I’m glad to see I’m not the only one out of touch. He’s a movie star,’ she continued as she packed up her desk and headed for the door. Turning out her light, she looked over her shoulder at him. ‘Want to accompany me to the ED?’

‘Sure.’ His enthusiasm was evident.

‘I guess most of the operating you’ve done has been scheduled, right?’

‘Exactly. I can’t recall the last time I dealt with an emergency.’

Melody pressed the button for the lift and while they waited she tilted her head and eyed him thoughtfully. ‘What’s the deal with your operating and practising licence? You must have operated in some of the finest facilities in the world.’

‘I have. For visiting professorships, the recipient is granted an international operating licence.’

‘So you could quite easily operate with me right now if I asked?’

‘Yes.’ The lift arrived and they rode it to down to the ED. ‘Will you?’ George asked the question with the delighted anticipation of a child at Christmas. ‘Please?’

Melody couldn’t help but smile at him. ‘I don’t know.’ She pretended to consider him thoughtfully. ‘How’s your upper-limb expertise?’

‘Pretty rusty,’ he confessed. ‘But I’d only be assisting,’ he was quick to point out.

‘Let’s see how his injuries present. Chances are he won’t require surgery at all.’ She told him what the triage sister had said and he nodded, all pretence gone as they walked into the ED. If she’d wanted to get people’s attention, she had it—walking in with the visiting orthopaedic surgeon to treat a movie star.

What had started out as a difficult day was turning into one that most definitely had its perks.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE NOISE COMING from outside was deafening and hospital security was stationed at the front door, as well as the door that led through to the treatment area.

‘Oh, there you are, Melody,’ the triage sister said, a hint of excitement mixed with exasperation in her voice. ‘He’s in treatment room two.’

‘Thanks.’ Melody pointed to where the security guards were standing. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Mr Carlew’s fans!’

‘Oh.’ Melody shrugged and led the way to treatment room two. ‘Hello,’ she said to the patient lying on the bed. She did indeed recognise the talented Rudy Carlew. ‘I’m Dr Janeway, Head of Orthopaedics. This is my colleague, Professor Wilmont.’

Rudy Carlew nodded slightly and then winced in pain.

‘Can’t you people do something?’ the woman standing next to him complained. ‘He’s in pain.’

Melody accepted the patient chart from one of the nurses and checked his analgesics. ‘Are you still experiencing pain, Mr Carlew?’

‘Rudy,’ he said softly.

‘Any pain, Rudy?’

‘Minor.’

‘You people have got to do something,’ the woman shrilled again.

‘I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.’ Melody politely.

The woman sighed with dramatic exasperation. ‘I’m his manager. Now do something.’

‘I will,’ Melody said. ‘Unfortunately, you’ll need to wait outside. The sister here will show you where.’

‘I’m not leaving him.’ The woman grabbed his hand and poor Rudy cried out in pain.

‘It’s all right, Astrid. I’ll be in good hands.’

Astrid looked at him, then back to the doctors. ‘He’s worth a lot of money to the studio, so fix him.’

‘Why don’t you appease the fans, Astrid,’ Rudy stated.

‘Yes. I can do that.’ Astrid headed out.

‘Now, Rudy.’ Melody moved in for a closer look at his injuries. ‘Let’s see what sort of damage has been done.’ She inspected both his arms gently. He had a few cuts and scratches on his legs and upper torso, which had been attended to by the ED staff.

‘I think we’ll let Radiology enjoy your company next.’ Melody smiled as she wrote up the X-ray request forms. ‘You’ve dislocated your shoulder but I don’t want to put it back in without it being X-rayed first.’