The Doctor and the Debutante. Anne Fraser

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      His forehead was bleeding profusely, but Alice had read somewhere that even shallow head wounds tended to do that. Apart from the cut to his head and his dazed expression he didn’t seem badly hurt. ‘I didn’t see them. I was talking on my phone. I didn’t see them.’

      ‘Someone has phoned for an ambulance,’ Alice reassured him. ‘They will be here soon.’

      ‘Could you stay with this lady and this gentleman?’ Alice asked the helpful bystander. ‘I’ll be back in a minute. I must see if the doctor needs help.’

      Her heart still beating painfully fast, Alice sped across to where the doctor was examining the child. Alice noticed that he’d moved the little girl into the recovery position. She was disturbingly pale but what was worse was that she had a piece of metal protruding from just below her collar bone. Horrified, Alice sucked in a breath. The man had removed his T-shirt and was using it to staunch the blood pumping from the wound.

      Although his attention was focussed on his patient, he must have sensed her presence.

      ‘Are the other two all right?’ he asked.

      ‘The driver seems okay, but the grandmother seems to have broken her ankle.’

      ‘What is your name?’

      ‘Alice.’

      ‘I am Dante. I need you to help me so I can check the other patients, Alice,’ he said. He guided her hand towards the pumping wound. ‘Press here as firmly as you can. Don’t stop applying pressure whatever happens.’

      Gingerly Alice did as she was asked. She didn’t want to hurt the child any more than necessary. The bleeding increased.

      Immediately an impatient hand was on top of hers again, pressing the pad into the wound. ‘Dio mio, did I not say firmly?’ he growled. ‘We want to stop the blood, not mop it up!’

      ‘Okay. I get it. I get it.’

      His dark gaze held hers for a split second. Then he released his hold and turned away. Over the buzzing of the audience around them, Alice heard the voice of the child’s grandmother calling out to the little girl.

      Within seconds the makeshift bandage was soaked with blood. Alice was aware of the sound of the child’s grandmother’s distress above the noise of the traffic.

      As if aware of her grandmother’s cries, the little girl’s eyes flickered.

      Alice leaned forward and spoke softly to her. ‘It’s okay, sweetheart. Try to stay as still as you can.’ She kept her voice low and managed a smile.

      Dante laid his head on the girl’s chest. ‘I wish I had my stethoscope. As far as I can make out her breathing is okay, but she needs to get to hospital.’

      ‘Shouldn’t we try and remove the metal from her shoulder?’ Alice asked.

      ‘No, absolutely not. If we did that we could make matters worse. Much worse.’

      ‘Really?’ The makeshift bandage was ominously soaked with blood.

      ‘Really,’ he repeated. ‘Stay with the little one while I check her grandmother. Keep talking to her. Whatever you do, keep the pressure on her wound. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Call me if there is any change.’

      Alice could only nod. Her heart was banging so hard against her ribs it was almost painful. She didn’t want to be left in charge of the child. What if her condition changed suddenly? Alice knew she wouldn’t have a clue what to do.

      ‘Nonna?’ the child whispered.

      ‘The doctor is looking after your nonna. What’s your name?’

      ‘Sofia.’

      ‘Okay, Sofia. Can you understand English?’

      ‘A little bit. I am learning at school.’

      ‘Everything’s going to be just fine. Soon the ambulance will be here to take you to hospital. In the meantime, you have to lie as still as you can. Will you do that?’

      The child nodded. Alice kept her eyes fixed on the little girl’s and made herself smile reassuringly.

      ‘I hurt. I want my mamma.’ The child was beginning to panic. Alice knew she had to keep her from moving. She placed a hand on the child’s shoulder and glanced around. Dante was bent over Sofia’s grandmother.

      ‘Where is your mamma?’ Alice asked.

      ‘She’s at home. Nonna and I shop for food.’

      ‘Where do you live?’ Alice wanted to keep the child’s attention from what was happening a few feet away.

      ‘Back up the road. In the mountains. I help my nonna.’

      ‘Your mama must be proud of you. And she’ll be even prouder when she hears what a brave girl you’ve been.’

      To Alice’s relief, the wail of an approaching ambulance cut through the sound of traffic. At last help was on its way. She looked over her shoulder. Dante was still occupied with the child’s grandmother but, as if sensing her eyes on him, he looked up from whatever he was doing and raised a questioning eyebrow. Alice nodded to let him know that the child was okay.

      ‘Come with me. In the ambulance?’ the little girl asked. ‘I’m scared.’

      Alice squeezed her hand. ‘Of course. And I’ll stay until your mamma and papà come, if you like.’

      Sofia dipped her head slightly, then, to Alice’s relief, Dante was by her side again. The ambulance was getting closer but by the sound it had become snarled in traffic.

      ‘How is she doing?’ Dante asked. ‘Okay, under the circumstances. She’s conscious and speaking.’

      Dante pulled out his mobile phone and said something to Sofia in Italian.

      Sofia whispered a number and Dante punched the numbers into the phone and moved away still keeping a close eye on the injured child. Alice guessed he was calling Sofia’s parents and she didn’t envy him his task. She could only imagine how the mother would feel when she heard about the accident.

      As he was speaking the ambulance drew up and a couple of paramedics jumped out. While one stayed to check over the driver of the car, the other ran towards them. Alice continued to hold the young girl’s hand as the paramedic set about putting up a drip. Dante finished the call and his shoulders slumped. He crossed back to them and updated the paramedic in rapid Italian.

      Within minutes, Sofia was being loaded into the ambulance. Alice understood enough to know that another ambulance was on its way to collect the grandmother.

      ‘I’m going with her,’ Alice told Dante. ‘I promised I would.’

      Dante nodded and helped her into the back of the ambulance. ‘Bene. She will be less frightened with a familiar face. I am coming too.’ He lowered his voice. ‘There is still a chance she could СКАЧАТЬ