LITMIR.BIZ

      ‘I’ll come with you.’

      Where had that come from? She wasn’t on call. She and Tom had sat down last Monday and defined their call duties. Tonight she was off—unless for emergencies.

      This was hardly an emergency—an old man falling, possibly breaking a hip. Shallow Bay had an ambulance service of sorts, a vehicle equipped with stretchers, manned by volunteers trained in first aid. Tom could easily assess the damage and call her in if he needed her.

      So why was she offering?

      She had no idea. Maybe it was the slump of Tom’s shoulders as he disconnected, a slump that spoke of regret.

      Why, though? If he was back in Sydney she’d understand it. He’d be leaving his friends, his good time. Here, this call would mean little more than being home late for children who weren’t his, children who were already being adequately cared for.

      Except he did care. That was the part she was struggling with. Taking children from their grandparents when they were being obviously mistreated—that was understandable. He’d had no choice. But she’d met Rose. She knew that lady was a carer in a million. The boys were safe.

      Tom had already confessed he didn’t want to play their video game. This was the perfect excuse. So why the shoulder slump?

      She didn’t understand—but neither did she understand the imperative urge to help.

      ‘Rachel, thanks, but I need to go now.’ Tom was gathering the empty bottles, turning towards the track.

      But she’d already hauled her dress over her swimsuit. She grabbed her beach bag and headed after him.

      ‘I can cope,’ he said as she fell in beside him. ‘There’s no need for you to come as well.’

      ‘You have trained paramedics?’

      ‘You know we don’t, but…’

      ‘But you’re sure I’d be useless? Tom, I can get you home to the boys faster. I’d go by myself but I don’t know the way and risk getting lost. Plus you’ve already told him you’re coming and it sounds as if he knows you.’

      ‘Everyone in Shallow Bay knows me,’ he said. He hadn’t eased his stride to accommodate her but she was keeping up.

      ‘Because you came here as a child?’

      ‘The people here loved my grandparents,’ he said, talking briskly as he walked. ‘My grandpa cared for everyone. My grandmother wasn’t a doctor but she cared even more. They only had the one child, my dad, but that didn’t stop their house being stuffed to the plimsoll line with people in need, stray dogs, pot plants Grandma was looking after for people in hospital—whatever. I was supposed to have my own bedroom in the school holidays, but in the end I carved out a niche in the attic and called it mine. I told Grandma if ever I found a needy anything in there, animal, mineral or vegetable, I was heading straight back to Sydney.’

      ‘Did you mean it?’

      ‘Of course I didn’t.’

      ‘And now you’re right back in the chaos.’

      ‘As you say,’ he said briefly.

      They’d reached his car, parked outside his cottage. He paused. ‘I’ll duck in and tell Rose what’s happening. But there is no need for you to come.’

      ‘You don’t want help?’

      He gave her an odd look, as if considering. Then he nodded. ‘Of course. Two doctors are always better than one.’

      ‘Which is why I’m here,’ Rachel said. ‘Instead of where we’d both be happier, back in Sydney.’

      ‘Okay, then,’ he told her and tossed her his phone. ‘Accepted. Can you find “ambulance” in Favourites? Maggie coordinates the ambulance volunteers. Tell her we need a car up at Col Hunter’s place. Probable fracture. No lights and sirens, though, take it easy.’

      ‘Why not lights and sirens?’ Surely there was a need for haste.

      ‘Because our volunteers love lights and sirens,’ he said grimly. ‘And it’s getting dark and the roads are narrow. Once upon a time I lived and breathed adrenaline but not any more. Shallow Bay might have two doctors now, Dr Tilding, but let’s not go asking for trouble.’