The Family He Needs

by Lucy Clark

  As the ambulance navigated its way through the banked-up traffic, which the police were now controlling, Zac and Julia kept a close eye on Aki’s condition. Although his breath was rasping, the airways were still clear and the bronchodilator was working.

  When they arrived at Gold Coast General, Zac wrote out a list of X-rays and tests needed before handing Aki over to the accident and emergency crew.

  ‘Let’s head to Emergency Theatres and get the equipment ready,’ he suggested to Julia. ‘It’ll also give me a chance to give you a quick tour. A very quick tour.’ He smiled at her and Julia’s heart rate increased. She returned his smile and walked beside him as he headed off down a pale green corridor.

  ‘In here,’ he said, opening a door, ‘is the family waiting room.’

  Julia saw some comfortable chairs as well as tea and coffee facilities. There were magazines on the table—the basics but, then, what did people want while they were waiting for their loved ones to come out of surgery?

  ‘Further down here,’ he said as they went through some swinging doors into an area marked STAFF ONLY, ‘is the doctors’ tearoom.’ Zac rounded a corner and opened the door. This room was a lot larger and had comfortable chairs as well as tables and chairs for people to work at. There was a small kitchen bench, which had tea- and coffee-making facilities and a sink for people to wash their cups up in. A few Impressionist prints were hung on the walls, as well as one large X-ray viewing box.

  ‘That’s the essentials out of the way,’ he said. ‘Where to find the coffee and the patient’s family!’ He grinned at her and raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, perhaps I’ll show you where we’ll be operating as well.’

  ‘Might be handy.’ The laughter was evident in her tone. There were three emergency theatres, all different sizes, and after introducing Julia to Beatrice, the sister in charge, Zac organised Aki Ishimaru’s operation.

  They would need to debride and insert a Grosse and Kempf intramedullary nailing rod down the centre of the femur, as well as relocate the right shoulder, and that was just for starters. Once they’d had a good look at the X-rays Zac had requested, things would be clearer.

  Zac directed Julia to the changing rooms and showed her where to find the scrubs. As she went in to get changed, she looked at her elegant black dress in the mirror and smiled sadly, shaking her head. ‘Interesting night,’ she murmured to herself.

  ‘Most definitely,’ a female voice said from behind her, and Julia looked at Beatrice’s reflection in the mirror before turning around. ‘Sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’

  Julia returned the smile. ‘No need to apologise. It’s just been a little hectic this evening.’

  ‘Out on a date?’ Beatrice crossed to her locker.

  Julia thought for a moment. She guessed it was probably wise not to tell Beatrice the whole truth about tonight, that being Jeffrey’s attempt to set her and Zac up as a couple. ‘Of sorts. Jeffrey McArthur wanted to introduce me to Zac. On the way home, there was an accident!’

  ‘Ain’t it just like those MVAs.’ Beatrice shook her head in mock disgust.

  ‘Too true,’ Julia agreed as she started taking the pins from her hair. She shook out her curls and ran her fingers through them. ‘Right now, though, I’d better get changed. I don’t want to keep Zac waiting.’ She pulled her hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of the way.

  ‘Oh, sure,’ Beatrice said as she returned her focus back to her locker. She took out a packet of lollies and offered one to Julia.

  ‘No, thanks.’

  ‘I’m trying to quit smoking,’ Beatrice confided. ‘These help and they’re sugar-free,’ she said as she munched on the lolly. ‘So what do you think of GCH’s most eligible bachelor?’

  ‘Zac?’ Julia’s smile was completely natural. ‘Zac is the most eligible bachelor? This hospital needs some new blood.’

  ‘What? You don’t think he’s good-looking?’ Beatrice asked in amazement. ‘Are you blind?’

  Julia laughed. ‘Of course I think he’s good-looking but Zac and I are old friends.’ There, it was out. The hospital grapevine would be buzzing with rumours by the time Monday morning came—her official starting date.

  She’d made sure she hadn’t hesitated, that she’d said it as though it were nothing—common knowledge. Julia continued changing. ‘His sister, Vanessa, and I were in med school together.’

  ‘Really! What a small world.’

  ‘You can say that again.’ Julia laughed. She closed the locker she’d been assigned. ‘Right now, though, I’d better go and find the man we’re discussing and track down the patient’s X-rays.’

  ‘Yeah sure. Well, well. You already knew him.’

  ‘Meaning?’ Julia stopped by the changing room doors.

  ‘Just when the hospital grapevine heard the new orthopod was a female, some staff started placing bets that the two of you would get together.’

  ‘Why? Does Zac have a habit of falling for every woman he works with?’

  Beatrice shrugged. ‘Has been known to happen!’ With that, she merely smiled and shoved another lolly in her mouth.

  Julia frowned and continued on her way. What was that cryptic comment supposed to mean? Then again, did she really want to know about Zac’s love life during the past ten years? At the moment, she decided, ignorance was bliss.

  ‘Ah, there you are,’ he said when she re-entered the doctors’ tearoom. ‘Looking exquisite in hospital green scrubs. Only you could do them such justice, Jules,’ he murmured. ‘Nice hairstyle, too.’ He flicked her ponytail. ‘Now, this is the Julia Bolton I remember. Scruffy-looking with ponytail in place.’

  Julia smiled at him. ‘Any news on the X-rays?’ He was so…the same, and she’d always enjoyed his company.

  ‘First lot of films are on their way here right now.’

  ‘Good.’

  Zac narrowed his gaze. ‘Is everything all right?’

  Julia cleared her throat and nodded. ‘Sure. Everything’s just…peachy.’

  ‘Why is your surname still Bolton?’ he asked quietly. ‘You didn’t want to take your husband’s surname?’

  Julia looked down at her hands before looking up at Zac. ‘A lot of female doctors prefer to use their maiden name for consulting purposes,’ she replied.

  ‘You’re avoiding the question. Why?’

  She shrugged. ‘No real secrecy. I just prefer not to talk about it. My life with Ian was…’ she shook her head ‘…such a long time ago. I’ve changed a lot since then.’

  ‘Hi, Zac,’ a female voice said, and in walked a woman who Julia guessed to be five feet exactly. ‘Radiology asked me to bring these to you.’ She handed him a packet of X-rays.

  Julia was relieved at the interruption.

  ‘Hi,’ the other woman said, holding out her hand to Julia. ‘I’m Lucille Barnstock, the anaesthetist.’

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ Julia replied.

  ‘Have you reviewed the patient?’ Zac asked as he hooked the films up onto the viewing box.

  ‘Yes. His breathing is more stable now,’ Lucille reported as they all gathered around.

  ‘Femur nailing looks as though it’s going to be straightforward,’ Zac mumbled as he changed the view of the fracture.

  ‘How’s his spinal column?’ Julia asked, and Zac swapped the films over. ‘Let’s see…’ They all peered closely at the film. ‘Looks OK.’ He turned to face Lucille. ‘I guess we’re ready when you are.’

  ‘What about the shoulder?’ the anaesthetist asked.

  ‘Good question,’ Zac replied, and hunted through the packet of films. He swapped the views over.

  ‘Nice and clean,’ Julia announced. ‘We can relocate that once he’s under.’

  ‘Sure,’ Lucille answered. ‘Well, I’d best get changed. See you both in Theatre,’ she tossed over her shoulder as she left the room.

  ‘At least his breathing has improved,’ Julia remarked as she looked at the femoral views once more. ‘Is Lucille
good?’

  ‘One of the best anaesthetists I’ve worked with,’ Zac said with a nod.

  ‘Should be no problems then.’

  He was standing very close and Julia found herself holding her breath, looking unseeingly at the X-rays before her. Unbelievable! Her entire body was tuned to his every movement. How had this happened so quickly? They’d only been in each other’s company for a matter of hours and it was as though the years had disappeared.

  His hands came up, one on either side, to touch her arms and he bent his head close to her ear. ‘You can feel it, can’t you?’ he whispered, causing goose-bumps to spread over her body. ‘It’s as though we’ve never been apart.’

  Julia closed her eyes and took a steadying breath, trying to calm her senses. Instead, the scent of his cologne wound its way around her, making her feel light-headed and helpless.

  ‘Zachary,’ she whispered as he slowly turned her to face him. She opened her eyes and looked up, still feeling as though she were dreaming.

  ‘This is…’

  ‘Uncanny,’ she finished for him with a nod. ‘I know, and it feels so…’

  ‘Right.’ He looked down at her for a few more seconds before taking a step back. He turned and looked at a picture on the wall moments before the door opened and Beatrice came in. Julia turned around, unable to look the nurse in the face.

  ‘Here are the rest of Aki Ishimaru’s X-rays.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Zac nodded and returned to Julia’s side at the viewing box. ‘Let’s have a look at these.’ He hooked up the views of the wrist fracture first and then the left tibial fracture.

  ‘Both quite clean,’ Julia said with a nod. ‘Plaster of Paris ought to do the trick.’

  ‘Agreed.’ Zac gathered up all of the radiographs and put them in the packet. ‘Let’s go see how Aki is coping.’ His tone was professional and so was the way he turned and walked out of the room.

  ‘Professional,’ she reminded herself. She was here because she had a job to do, not because she wanted to reignite the sparks that appeared so naturally between herself and Zac.

  They checked on Aki who was now drowsy from his pre-med, although still able to mutter, ‘Taskete. Taskete kudasai.’

  ‘What?’ Zac asked, looking around at one of the nursing staff.

  ‘It means, “Help. Help, please,”’ Beatrice translated. She spoke to him in his native tongue and within a few minutes Aki was once again reassured and resting comfortably.

  He was wheeled into Theatre and into Lucille’s care.

  ‘We’ll relocate his shoulder and then tackle the intramedullary nailing of the femur,’ Zac advised. It was clear who was the senior surgeon. Julia nodded as they made their way to the scrub sink.

  ‘Once we’re done there, we’ll apply POP to the right wrist and left tibia. Then hopefully—’ his voice dropped to a more quiet tone ‘—we can finish our date and I can take you home!’

  Julia smiled up at him but was saved the trouble of replying when the scrub nurse came to help them. The operation went well and the procedure of stabilising the femoral shaft with a G&K intramedullary nail was completed without complication.

  Julia had been a little bit anxious about operating with Zac as they’d never worked together in such an anticipatory role before. As it turned out, she’d had nothing to fear as they’d complemented each other to perfection.

  After Aki stabilised and had left Recovery for the critical care unit, Julia went back to the changing rooms, feeling a little ridiculous as she changed back into her little black dress.

  There was no way she’d be able to get her hair back into the style that she’d worn earlier. That had required her mother’s assistance, and as it was now almost time for the sun to rise Julia couldn’t be bothered.

  She smothered a yawn as she pulled her hair from the ponytail and fluffed her fingers through the curls. Edward would be waking up soon and demanding Mummy’s attention.

  She smiled at her reflection at the thought of her son. Nothing like a child to keep you humble as well as exhausted, although at this stage her new job was taking all the credit for the exhaustion part.

  Glad it was now Sunday, Julia was happy she could rest and relax before starting her new job the next day. She left the changing rooms and went in search of Zac. She found him in the middle of the main corridor, talking to Beatrice, looking magnificently male in his dark suit.

  ‘Ah, there you are, Julia. Ready?’ He raised his eyebrows as his gaze skimmed quickly and appreciatively over her black dress and her long legs revealed beneath it.

  At his glance her breath was momentarily caught in her throat and she found herself unable to speak, so she nodded instead.

  ‘Good.’ He turned back to Beatrice. ‘Thanks for the update. Call me if there are any complications.’

  ‘Will do,’ Beatrice said. ‘See you tomorrow, Julia.’

  Julia cleared her throat and smiled. ‘Yes.’

  They walked out of the hospital together and over to Zac’s car. ‘So much for a nice relaxing evening,’ he said as he smothered a yawn. He held the door for her before walking around to the driver’s side. ‘Beatrice just advised me that all the other tourists have been attended to and all kept in overnight for observation.’

  ‘Good.’

  Neither of them spoke much on the drive, except for taking it in turns to yawn.

  ‘Stop yawning,’ Julia accused lightly. ‘You’re making me tired.’

  Zac chuckled as he turned into Julia’s street, following her directions. He pulled up outside her house and cut the engine. ‘Stay there. I’ll get the door,’ he said when she undid her seat belt. He strode around and opened her door, offering his hand to help her out.

  Julia accepted and swung one high-heeled foot out before the other followed suit. She watched as Zac once more appraised her legs and she smiled.

  ‘Perfect legs—as always,’ he murmured, before closing the car door. He refused to let go of her hand as they walked up the front path. When they reached the door, they stopped and turned to face each other.

  ‘Julia, tonight has been a revelation. The chemistry between us is still very much alive and I think we should—’

  ‘See where it leads us?’ she interrupted.

  ‘Yes. I want to see you again.’ He yawned and they both laughed.

  ‘You will,’ she said teasingly. ‘We’re going to be working together for the next twelve months.’

  ‘That’s not what I meant,’ he said, his smile causing her to forget all rational thought. ‘How about next Saturday night? Just the two of us.’

  Julia thoughts turned instantly to Edward. He hadn’t wanted her to go out last night and as they’d just arrived in the Gold Coast he still needed time to settle into his new environment. Edward might be used to her working all hours of the day and night, but the sooner he settled back into his previous routine, the better. It was one of the reasons her mother lived with them—to provide a stable home environment for Edward while his mother went off to work. ‘I…I would need to check my roster. I might be on call next Saturday.’

  ‘We both are,’ he said. ‘As we’re the only two full-time orthopaedic surgeons employed at the hospital, we alternate the emergency roster during the week but we’re both always on call for the weekends. Except for once a month when a locum comes down from Brisbane and we both get the weekend off.’

  ‘So this isn’t the weekend off.’

  ‘No, but, like tonight, if there is an emergency, at least we’ll still be together.’

  A war raged within Julia. Should she or shouldn’t she? She hadn’t dated for the past three years since she’d divorced Ian. Mainly because of Edward but also because she was through dating men with hang-ups. One thing she’d rediscovered tonight had been that she liked being with Zac. They shared the same sense of humour, the same drive and ambition. And despite everything that had happened between them, she’d still had fun. ‘I’ll think about it,’ she answered finally.

&nbs
p; ‘I guess that’s all I can ask.’ With that, Zac took a step forward and placed his hands on her arms. ‘How is it that you’re more beautiful than ever?’

  Julia’s breath caught in her throat at the compliment. It had been a long time since a man had thought her beautiful and the sweet words bolstered her damaged ego. She forced herself to meet his gaze. ‘Thank you.’ The atmosphere between them grew thick with repressed tensions. ‘Zac?’ she whispered as his hands slid up her arms to cup her face.

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Don’t hurt me again.’ She closed her eyes as his head slowly descended towards her lips. He brushed them lightly across hers before looking down at her.

  ‘I never intended to hurt you in the first place, Jules.’ His words were spoken with honest sincerity. Again, he brushed his lips across hers.

  Julia’s eyelids fluttered closed and she sighed into the embrace as she threaded her fingers through his hair, opening her mouth to accept his kiss. This time, his lips were soft and gentle on hers, unlike the fiery greeting they’d shared back at the restaurant. His hands moved downwards, his thumbs gently grazing the sides of her breasts as he slid his arms beneath hers, enabling him to gather her closer.

  He groaned and deepened the kiss, the fire and passion scorching through both of them just as it had long ago. Zac’s kisses had sweetened Julia’s dreams for years and here she was again, back in his arms.

  Zac was a very handsome man. Ian, too, had been tall, dark and handsome, but where Zac had morals and ethics, Ian hadn’t. She’d known, back in medical school, that Zac was going to make a wonderful doctor and it was him she had to thank for her love of orthopaedics.

  She’d become quite successful in the orthopaedic field herself, even though she’d been juggling motherhood and her career for the past three years. Edward! The thought of her son was enough to help her break away from the memories Zac’s kisses were evoking.

  Julia rested her head against his shoulder as her ragged breathing slowly returned to normal. ‘Do you have any idea what you do to me?’

  ‘Exactly the same as what you do to me,’ he answered, and wrapped her securely in his arms, his own breathing slightly uneven. ‘Fate has brought us together once again, Julia.’