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  “Dr Grossman, you say,” she repeated, with a smile. “He’s a consultant now, but I shall contact him and see if he wants to see your husband.”

  “Thank you, Doctor…I think you’ll find he will.”

  The doctor passed Chris’s notebook to a nurse who promptly started copying it on a machine on the other side of the main Emergency counter. The doctor then walked over to Martin and began examining him.

  “How many times is my poor husband going to be examined? Don’t you people ever read each other’s notes?”

  Chris took hold of Kate’s elbow and guided her to a group of chairs and sat her down. “Don’t get yourself in a state, Kate. It’s what they call counter measures. They keep checking each other’s notes just in case someone misses something. It’s common practice and it guarantees no one makes a mistake.”

  “I don’t believe that,” Kate responded sarcastically. “The papers are always full of reports where someone in the hospital has made a mistake.”

  “There’s nothing you can do about it, Kate,” he countered.

  When the doctor finished her examination she called a porter to take Martin to X-ray and returned to her little desk to make a notation down on his new sheet.

  Despite Chris’s attempt to hold her back, Kate stood up and walked over to the doctor. She looked up with an expression that said, ‘Are you still here?’ and Kate stiffened her resolve. “Why does my husband have to be X-rayed? You already have the films from the cattle station.”

  “Exactly…I don’t know how old their equipment is, but it’s not a satisfactory result. I’ll get a much better idea how his wrist is healing on our own machine. By then I should have the results of his blood test and I shall be able to confirm or not this Dr Fitzpatrick’s report. Why don’t you go and comfort your husband?”

  She walked off and started talking to a nurse.

  Kate was not known for having a short fuse, but this patronising woman was just about taking her there. If she hadn’t glanced at the expression on Chris’s face she might have given her a piece of her mind. She took a deep breath and returned to the seat next to him. The nurse had just returned his notebook.

  “That woman is infuriating,” Kate said, sitting down.

  “Only because you’re questioning her; she’s following a boring routine,” Chris answered her as he made sure his notebook was intact.

  “I suppose you’re right. All this routine is driving me crazy. It’s just the same as last time; only then he had some serious injuries. It was hours before I got home.” Kate suddenly remembered the kids. “Oh dear…see what this place has done to me; I forgot to ring home.”

  Kate took out her mobile and as she was about to dial, Chris covered it with his hand. “Before you get all weepy and engrossed in your family, I have to leave. I have to report back to Philip; that’ll take me into the afternoon. Anyway, I put your bag next to the stretcher trolley, so don’t forget it.”

  Still gripping her mobile, Kate flung her arms around his neck and kissed the young man on the cheek. “Oh Chris, I’m so sorry to see you go. We haven’t known each other very long, but I feel we’re old friends. Do you have my address?”

  “Yes, I have it somewhere here.”

  He opened his book and checked, nodding his head.

  “If you’re in this neighbourhood at Christmas, you must call and see us. I would love the kids to meet you, and Martin, if he’s out of hospital.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, Kate; I shall keep an eye on him through AMINCO. As for Christmas, we’ll see. It may only be a week away, but I have no idea what the company has in store for me after this.”

  They stood up, gave each other another hug and Chris picked up his bags and made his way back towards the flapping plastic doors. Kate sat down and returned to her mobile. She opened the flap and a big smile crossed her face when she saw she had a signal. She dialled her number and waited.

  “Hello,” a male voice answered.

  “Guess who this is,” Kate said with a chuckle.

  “Mum…is that you? Where are you?”

  “I’ve just arrived at the hospital. Jennifer knows where it is. I’m still in Emergency, so if you hurry you might still catch me here.”

  “Is that you, Mum?” Jennifer called out, grabbing the phone.

  “Yes, dear…I landed about fifteen minutes ago. I’ve missed you both so much, so hurry. I can’t wait to tell you what’s happened.”

  “Adam’s getting the car out. Is Dad all right? Oh, he’s here now. See you in ten minutes. Is it the same hospital Dad was in last time?”

  “Yes, dear…see you soon.”

  The hyperactivity that had surrounded Martin when he’d arrived had concluded in a silence that was worse than the flight. A nurse had drawn the curtains around Martin’s cubicle, shutting Kate off from the calamity that was Emergency. It was not apparent to her when they first arrived. She was so focused on Martin getting the right attention and listening to everything Chris said to Dr Loxley, in the event he overlooked something, that her surroundings did not register. Now, in the seclusion of three curtained walls and one covered with electrical points, oxygen outlets and Martin’s trolley, she could hear every trauma.

  Someone was being violently sick, another was arguing about the injection they were being subjected to and there was an annoying beep coming from the next cubicle. It was one of those regular sounds; one that made you aware that it was the rhythm of someone’s heart.

  A small female hand entered the break in the curtains. Kate jumped, expecting it was the doctor at last, with information on Martin’s condition and what was going to happen to him. The hand stayed there for a moment; someone was talking to its owner. And then the curtain opened; it was Jennifer.

  “Oh Mum,” she said, looking teary. “I thought they weren’t going to let me in for a moment. Adam’s still trying to park the car.”

  Martin was just coming round again. His eyes looked bleary, but he quickly recognised Kate and then Jennifer. “Is that you, Jennifer?” he said, trying to see where he was. “And Kate…are we still on the plane?”

  “No, dear, we’re in the Broome hospital now. We’ve just arrived.”

  He sucked in a deep breath as he continued looking around the small space and listening to the activity outside. “I know that smell,” he said. “Where’s Mini?”

  “Who’s Mini, Mum?” Jennifer asked.

  “That’s the nurse on the cattle station. She looked after him.”

  Tears ran down Jennifer’s face. She brushed them away with her hand and bending over her dad she gave him a big kiss. She looked at Kate. “Oh Mum, it’s just like it was last time we were here.”

  CHAPTER 27

  The following morning when Kate, Adam and Jennifer were preparing to leave for the hospital, the phone rang. It was Dr Grossman. He seemed surprised to be talking to Kate again since their last encounter with Martin’s accident.

  “Good morning Mrs Dexter,” he opened. “It’s been a long time since I treated Martin after his car crash. Three years, I think.”

  “Yes, it was, and it’s Kate, Doctor.”

  “Of course it is, Kate,” he said, sounding friendlier. “Have I caught you on your way to the hospital? Dr Loxley has contacted me about Martin being in Emergency again. An air crash this time I understand?”

  “Yes, Doctor. Over a week ago. He’s been treated on a cattle station till yesterday when we flew back to Broome.”

  “That’s why I rang, Kate. I made a cursory examination of his condition and read his notes. It’s a bit confusing, so I thought if you were visiting the hospital you might look me up and we can have a chat. Sort out a few details. I’m intrigued why this big American company is showing so much interest.”

  Kate let out a nervous laugh. “It’s a long story, Doctor. What time do you want to see me? I’ll be in the hospital by nine-thirty.”

  “Why don’t we say about ten? I’ll clear a space for you,” he said.

  Ka
te agreed and put the phone down. Jennifer was nosily standing alongside by now, curious to know who was ringing at this time.

  “I’ll clear a space for you,” Kate parodied, with a snooty expression on her face. Then she saw Jennifer. “That was Dr Grossman.”

  “Is that what he said?” Jennifer asked.

  “Yes… He was just an ordinary doctor last time we met. Now I gather he’s a consultant, and he wants to see me at ten.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “I shouldn’t think it will be a long session, so you can stay with your dad and keep him company while I see this Dr Grossman,” Kate said, with a frown on her face. “How do I address a consultant? I can’t keep calling him Doctor.”

  “What consultant? Adam questioned, as he walked into the lounge.

  “Mum’s got to see this Dr Grossman…consultant when we go to the hospital this morning. Have you got the car out?” Jennifer asked.

  “Yes…it’s all warmed up and waiting to go.”

  Kate stood up, “I’ll drive,” she said, holding her hand out for the key. “I want to get used to Broome traffic again.”

  As far as Jennifer and Adam were concerned, Kate had not told them about their father’s aberration regarding Joe. It was the same with the car crash. She kept Jennifer out of that part of his treatment; so to her, this Dr Grossman was only treating Martin for his injuries. The last thing she wanted was his children thinking he had some form of mental condition.

  The night before, Martin had been moved to a part of the hospital set aside for private patients. Chris had organised this with Dr Loxley. The last thing AMINCO wanted was Martin lingering in an Emergency cubicle for longer than was necessary.

  So when the family arrived, they were surprised when the receptionist could not find him. Kate had to mention Dr Loxley and Dr Grossman’s name before a spark of recognition crossed her face, and she immediately switched to another screen.

  “Ah… Now I know who you’re talking about; Mr Dexter, the new American patient who was flown in yesterday.”

  “My husband’s not American,” Kate said. “He works for an American company. How did you get that mixed up?”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs Dexter. I can only go on what I read on the screen. But now you mention it I can see what’s happened. He’s been transferred to the private wing under the prefix: American, Mining Corporation. Whoever typed this up mistakenly placed a comma between American and Mining.”

  “That’s fine,” Kate said, with a smile… “As long as you’ve found him.”

  “All done,” the woman said, satisfied. Take the lift on your left, he’s on the fourth floor, room 26,” she continued, handing Kate a plastic card.

  It looked like one of those keycards for hotel doors, only this one had Martin’s name on, the AMINCO details and the room number. Other than Martin having a room of his own, which surprised Kate at first, he was still in the same hospital; apparently on the floor above Dr Grossman’s suite.

  When they entered the room Martin was sitting upright, sinking into a mass of plump pillows behind his back. His eyes were closed and Kate could see a thin plastic tube running from the junction in his arm to a bag of clear liquid hanging from a tripod next to his bed. The first thing she did was examine the bag. She turned it around to read what it said. The bold letters were sufficient to explain they were giving him an intravenous drip of saline solution.

  She also noticed he was no longer wearing his cattle station clothes. They had changed him into a pair of lightweight pale-blue pyjamas.

  “I bet they even washed him first,” Kate said, walking round to the side without the drip. “I mean, look at him. He looks all new and shiny. I bet as soon as they saw cattle station on Chris’s notes they decided to decontaminate him.”

  Jennifer sniggered, “I see what you mean, Mum,” she said.

  “Do you think Dad’s asleep?” Adam asked.

  “I can hear every word,” Martin said, opening his eyes.

  “Oh, you fraud,” Kate said, giving him a big kiss. “Here we are tiptoeing around, not wanting to disturb you, and you’re awake all the time.”

  “How are you feeling, Dad?” Adam said.

  “Better,” he replied, staring at Adam. “Why aren’t you at university?”

  “It’s Christmas break, Dad. And I had to come to Broome as soon as I heard.”

  “Christmas,” Martin said, with a surprised look. “Christmas already?”

  Kate could see the large clock on the opposite wall. It was nine-forty-five and she decided she had to go or Dr Grossman might get upset. She leaned over him again and kissed his cheek. “Sweetheart, I have an appointment with the doctor. I shan’t be long. Apparently they want all the usual details about your medical history.”

  “Not again?” he cried.

  “I’m afraid so. That’s the bureaucracy for you.”

  As soon as Kate stepped out of the lift she thought she had pressed the wrong button. Directly opposite was a sign indicating this floor was the Psychiatric Unit. It took Kate several seconds for the implication to sink in. She knew Martin had experienced difficulty coming to terms with the trauma of his car crash, but there was no mention of it being a mental problem. This could not be right, she thought, but when she checked the floor level above the lift, she found it was. She glanced back at the sign and saw arrows pointing left and right indicating which way the numbers ran.

  According to Dr Grossman’s instructions, his office was the first one on the left before the glass doors leading into the main ward. His door was only a few metres further on. It was obviously his; his name stood out in large brass letters.

  Kate hesitated for a moment before she entered the room; she was filled with apprehension. Three years ago Dr Grossman had been just an ordinary doctor. She had the vague idea he had been studying to be a Psychologist, but at the time she’d been more concerned about Martin. She recollected that he was not actually his physician; he was just one of the doctors in a white coat that patrolled the ward and shared a consulting room with a colleague.

  She glanced back at his shiny name on the door and entered the room. It was not what she expected. The room was a swish, modern waiting room; casually furnished with an array of easy chairs grouped in nests around coffee tables covered with magazines. Three-seater lounges occupied the walls either side of the window, with elegant prints above. Directly opposite the door sat an attractive brunette behind a long mahogany desk; she looked up at Kate and smiled.

  She glanced at her computer screen. “You must be Mrs Dexter,” she said.

  She caught Kate off guard still concentrating on the room. This was going to be a day of surprises, she thought. “Yes, it is…I have an appointment with Dr… sorry, Mr Grossman.”

  “He’s almost ready for you. Would you like to sit down and I’ll let him know you’ve arrived?” she said, gesturing to the nearest group of chairs.

  As Kate sat down she had the gnawing feeling this was about to be the prelude to many visits, either on her own or with Martin. No sooner had she picked up one of the magazines when the door opposite opened. A smart man walked out with an elderly woman. He caught sight of Kate and offered a polite smile. Kate was desperately trying to place him, but too much time had passed.

  This man was nothing like the Dr Grossman she knew back then. This man was suave and business-like, dressed in smart trousers, a blue-striped shirt and silk maroon tie. She could see it was silk or satin by the way the light from the windows shimmered across it as he moved. His once half-shaven face, now smooth, had matured and the unruly mop of hair, not unlike Adam’s, was a well-groomed, short-cropped style.

  The woman finished and turned away towards the door and his attention fell back on Kate. She stood up, dropped the magazine back on the table and followed him into his consulting room. He stood by the door until she was inside and offered her his open hand.

  “How nice to see you again, Mrs Dexter. Not under these circumstances, of course. Why d
on’t you sit down over there?” he said, shaking her hand and then gesturing to yet another group of easy chairs.

  The room was similarly decorated to the waiting room except for the large desk across in the opposite corner. Kate sat in one of the easy chairs with her back to the window. It was still a while until noon, but the sun was already streaming through the massive panes of glass, despite the blinds being partially closed.

  Grossman sat opposite. He had retrieved a file from his desk first and placed it on the coffee table between them. He relaxed back in the chair, crossed his legs and casually draped one arm across its back. “Mrs Dexter, I asked you to drop in so that I could talk to you about your husband’s condition,” he started, leaning forward and opening the folder. “To put your mind at rest, Dr Loxley has confirmed that Martin is over his blood infection and subject to his fractured wrist healing, he is physically fit. I would go so far as to say you could take him home.”

  Kate’s face lit up. She was ecstatic about the possibility of having him home for Christmas, but she could see there was a reservation in his eyes.

  “There’s a ‘but’ isn’t there, Doctor?”

  “I’m sorry, there is. May I call you Kate, please? I would like you to call me Felix.”

  “I thought there might be,” she said, her elation turning to a frown. “I recognised the same symptoms when I visited him in the medical clinic on the cattle station. He was delusional. Dr Fitzpatrick was not qualified to say whether it was due to the trauma of the crash or Martin’s high temperature. But I knew he was experiencing the same reaction he had to the car crash.”

  Felix nodded his head as he read the notes. “Yes… this Chris Isles, the paramedic has done an excellent job in documenting Martin’s condition even though he was not privy to his previous mental episode.”

  Kate’s eyes opened wide. She knew there was something lingering from the past. “There it is again, that casual reference to a mental episode. Yet…I don’t recall anything being mentioned at the time.”