Penny stared as they left the room with the child. ‘Mycoplasma pneumonia? She had all the signs of gastroenteritis.’
‘We won’t know for sure until the results come back but clinically, yes, I’d say that Lara made a good guess.’ Christian put the pen back into his pocket, his expression inscrutable. ‘Fran rang through. Amy’s father is in Reception. Can you go and talk to him, Lara? You’re good with anxious relatives.’
It was obvious that he intended to speak to Penny and Lara quickly melted from the room, only too eager to follow his suggestion.
She took Mr Wills up to PICU and then returned to Paediatric Resus. There was no sign of Penny and Christian was at the desk, writing up some notes.
‘I hope you directed her to the chapter on resuscitation of the sick child,’ Lara muttered as she slid into the seat next to him.
Christian sat back in his chair. ‘She didn’t realise the child was so seriously ill.’
‘I pointed it out.’
‘Yes.’ He gave a faint smile. ‘She told me. She’s very new to the ED. She hasn’t yet worked out the nurses usually know more than the doctors.’
‘I don’t mind inexperience, but she didn’t want to call you.’ She stopped talking as Penny walked up to them.
‘I had no idea that the child was so sick,’ she said humbly. ‘I just thought she was quiet because she had a stomach bug. What was it that made you suspect that the child was seriously ill? I mean, you just took one look at her and took her into Resus and asked for Christian.’
Lara thought about it. ‘I don’t know.’ Instinct? Experience? ‘When you’ve seen a few sick children, you know when to worry.’
Penny pulled a face. ‘I need to gain that instinct fast.’
‘Work alongside Lara,’ Christian suggested, rising to his feet in a fluid movement. ‘She has the best instincts of any nurse I’ve worked with. It’s a shame she’s going to Australia.’
Lara watched as he strode from the room. He was just complimenting her nursing skills, she told herself. Nothing else.
And it wasn’t a shame she was going to Australia.
It was the thing that was going to save her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LARA lit the candles on the kitchen table and then blew them out again.
Too romantic.
Christian had made it all too clear that he wasn’t interested in anything other than friendship. Since the kiss, he’d become even more detached and distant. At work he was cool and professional and he treated her exactly the same way as he treated the other nurses. At home, he spoke to her as if she was a valued friend.
He gave her no encouragement, barely glanced in her direction when they were together, and it was clear to her that he wasn’t struggling with the situation in the same way that she was struggling.
Lara removed the plates from the cooker and stood for a moment, her mind drifting.
The kiss had obviously cured him of whatever attraction he’d felt.
Unfortunately it had had the opposite effect on her.
Lost in thought, Lara gave a start as she heard the sound of his key in the door and the plate slipped from her fingers.
‘Stupid, stupid, stupid,’ she muttered to herself as she stooped to pick up the broken pieces.
‘Don’t cut yourself.’ Christian’s deep voice came from the doorway and he walked towards her, a frown on his face. ‘Was the plate wet?’
‘No.’ She kept her head down, afraid that her feelings would show in her expression. ‘I just wasn’t holding it properly. Sorry. It was expensive. I’ll replace it.’
‘Why would you want to replace it? It’s only a plate.’ He shrugged his broad shoulders out of his thick coat. ‘It’s freezing out there. We’re going to have more snow. Are the girls asleep?’
‘Yes.’ She stood up, wrapped the broken pieces of plate and dropped them in the bin. ‘They stayed awake as long as possible, waiting for you, but you were later than we all planned.’