Page 42 of Ruby’s Outback Love

“She should be out of surgery by now.” I glanced at Phil. “The person at reception told Phil they’d taken her straight in after she arrived. I’m pretty sure a major vessel had been severed as there was large blood loss from the wound on her leg. She was out cold from the time the plane crashed to when the ambulance took her away.”

“Kirra?” Linda asked.

“Not a scratch on her. She didn’t wake up at all. The anaesthetic certainly knocked her for six, Cam.”

Cam nodded. “Probably a good thing, she would have been terrified otherwise.” He turned and headed towards where he’d come in through the curtain. “I’m going to see if I can find out how she is.”

As he gazed back at me, I noticed his eyes held concern and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“I’m glad you’re okay, sweetheart. Don’t go scaring us like that again.”

“Let me know how she is before you leave the hospital?” I asked as he left, waving his hand to indicate he would be back.

“How long are they keeping you here?” Drew asked.

“The doctor said I can go home tomorrow as long as I have someone to stay with me for the next forty-eight hours. Problem is, mum can’t stay because she has the rest of the family to take care of and dad’s hopeless – the kids take advantage of him. I can’t stay there in a house full of teenagers, I wouldn’t get a minute’s peace. They don’t know the meaning of quiet. When the thumping in my head finally lets up, I don’t intend encouraging it back.”

I continued answering Drew’s questions.

“Did you have scans done?”

“Yes, everything was fine.”

“That’s good to hear. So what will you do about going home? You know as well as I do you shouldn’t be alone.”

Linda gazed at me, an apologetic expression on her face. “I’d offer to stay, but as you know, Drew and I are headed to Sydney tonight and won’t be back until late Sunday.”

I squeezed her hand. “I know.” Before I could tell her not to worry, Phil interrupted.

“I’ll stay with you.”

The three of us swung towards him. I’m sure our shock showed on our faces. Why on earth would Phil offer to stay with me after the way I’d treated him?

“I mean, only if you don’t mind. I have the weekend off.”

“Aren’t you meeting with Carl and his partner tomorrow night?” I asked.

“I’ll postpone, you’re more important to me.”

My stomach clenched at the idea of having Phil in my home for two days. Was it excitement over being alone with the man I loved? What if I couldn’t move past what had happened in our past? Would we both be hurt beyond repair?

“If you really don’t mind, Phil, I’d appreciate you staying. Thank you.”

I watched as he let his breath out in a sigh of relief and we smiled at each other. Hope rose in me, maybe – just maybe, we’d be able to move forward and at least be friends.

Ha, friends! I wanted so much more. I needed to set my stubbornness aside and go with my heart for once in my life.

Cam reappeared a moment later.

“How’s Elouise?” I sounded anxious because I was.

“Surgery went well and she’s in recovery. The popliteal artery had been severed and the popliteal vein was punctured. The surgeon repaired the damage, cut away the jagged skin and secured the wound. Scans showed there was no head injury, but she has a serious concussion and eleven stitches.”

“Hmmph, one more than me.”

The others laughed and the previously serious atmosphere lightened.

Cam continued. “Anyway, the doctor I spoke with said Elouise will be here for a couple of days. She’s having I.V. antibiotics and a second unit of blood has been written up to run over night. The FDS has been contacted about getting in touch with her next of kin.”