Emergency: Christmas. Alison Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ alone as they cleared up the trauma room. The highly equipped area needed to be made completely ready for any new incoming emergency. If Richard Milne returned to the emergency department after his CT scan he would go into another area, but it was more likely that he would be transferred directly to the intensive care unit.

      Belinda watched Penelope for a moment before returning to her task of restocking the drug cupboard. Then she shook her head with an expression of fond exasperation.

      ‘For goodness sake, Pen. If you feel this strongly about the man, then do something about it.’

      ‘Like what?’

      ‘Ask him out.’

      Penelope’s jaw dropped. ‘Are you kidding? I couldn’t do that!’

      ‘Why not? I would.’

      ‘You would, too.’ Penelope eyed her friend enviously. ‘Why can’t I be more like you?’ The frustrated shake of her head made the shoulder-length tumble of black curls bounce.

      ‘You’ll just have to try harder.’ Belinda raised her eyebrows. ‘Remember our New Year’s resolution? It was you, after all, who proposed we swear off men for life. ‘‘Who needs them?’’ you said. With great conviction, I seem to remember.’

      ‘I’d had rather a lot to drink,’ Penelope reminded her. ‘And it was only a month after Greg had gone back to what’s-her-name.’

      ‘Sharon,’ Belinda supplied helpfully. ‘Greg dumped you and took off with his old girlfriend and you were unbearably miserable.’

      ‘I wasn’t!’

      Belinda smiled at the scowl she was receiving. ‘I should know. I was the one who had to live with you.’ She turned to lock the drug cupboard. ‘He’d ruined your life, you said.’

      ‘I’ve recovered.’

      ‘Yes. With the help of our New Year’s resolution. You’ve been doing rather well so far. Don’t weaken.’

      ‘It is November, Bindy.’

      ‘Almost Christmas,’ Belinda agreed. ‘And then it’ll be New Year again.’ She grinned widely. ‘We can renew our vows.’

      Penelope sighed. ‘How do you do it? You act like you don’t give a damn, and men can’t stay away from you.’

      ‘It’s because I’m not acting. I don’t give a damn and neither should you, Pen. Love ’em and leave ’em—like they do to us. No strings.’

      ‘Maybe I want strings. I’m thirty, Bindy. I’m an aunt five times over. Five and a half times actually, and now it’s my baby sister who’s expecting a baby.’

      ‘How is Rachael?’ Belinda seemed eager to be diverted from the depressing direction of Penelope’s thoughts. ‘She hasn’t been around to the flat for ages.’

      ‘I haven’t seen much of her since she got pregnant.’ Penelope bit her lip. ‘Maybe I’m jealous,’ she confessed. ‘Rachael’s three years younger than me and she has everything I’ve always wanted. A fantastic husband, a great job, a baby on the way and...and blonde hair.’

      Belinda laughed. ‘So—bleach your hair!’

      ‘Tried that when I was fifteen.’ Penelope snorted. ‘It looked totally disgusting.’ She shook her head. ‘That was half a lifetime ago. Do you know, my mother had four children all going to school by the time she was my age?’

      ‘Fate worse than death,’ Belinda stated cheerfully. ‘I should know. Been there, done that.’

      ‘You didn’t have any kids.’

      ‘No, thank goodness.’ Belinda reached to switch off the overhead lights. ‘Look, Pen, you can have a baby when you’re in your forties these days. You’ve got another whole decade of freedom.’

      ‘I don’t want freedom,’ Penelope responded with conviction. ‘I want...’ She sighed heavily. ‘I want Jeremy Lane.’

      ‘Fine.’ Belinda sounded decisive. ‘You can have him.’

      Penelope grinned, pausing as she headed for the doors pushing a linen bag. ‘How?’

      ‘Leave it with me. I’ll think of something.’ Belinda followed Penelope out of the trauma room. ‘Just don’t marry the man.’

      ‘Why not?’

      ‘Well, are you planning to change your name when you get married?’

      ‘Probably.’ Penelope skirted the ambulance stretcher waiting by the sorting desk. A middle-aged man was holding a blood-soaked towel under his nose. ‘Why?’

      ‘Have you considered what your name would be if you married Jeremy?’

      ‘Shh!’ Penelope’s glance around them was anxious but the emergency department staff were all gainfully employed at enough of a distance not to overhear Belinda’s indiscreet query. Still, Penelope kept her voice well down, unable to resist a response. ‘Penelope Lane,’ she whispered. ‘What’s wrong with that?’

      ‘‘‘Penny Lane’’? You know—the Beatles’ song?’ Belinda began humming loudly.

      ‘Go away, Bindy.’ Penelope couldn’t help laughing. ‘I’ve got work to do.’

      Penelope was still smiling as she moved back to the sorting desk. Her name was on the whiteboard to take the next patient and it looked like she had a nosebleed to sort out. She had to concede that Penny Lane might be a name that could cause some amusement but Penelope Lane had a much more dignified ring to it.

      In fact, it had a very nice ring to it indeed.

      CHAPTER TWO

      THERE was something distinctly unsettling about pale-coloured eyes.

      These were pale blue eyes with a darker rim that seemed to emphasise the intensity of the stare that Penelope was receiving.

      ‘What’s your name?’

      ‘Penny.’ Penelope glanced at the booking-in paperwork in her hand. ‘And you’re Aaron, aren’t you?’

      He nodded without returning the smile. ‘Aaron Jacobs. Do you like being a nurse?’

      ‘Of course. It’s my job. Come this way, Aaron. Have you been waiting long?’

      ‘It doesn’t matter. I know how busy you guys are. Where are we going?’

      ‘Cubicle 10. It’s this way.’

      ‘What’s going to happen? Are you coming with me, Penny?’

      ‘I’m going to be your nurse,’ Penelope confirmed. ‘I’ll check you out and then one of the doctors will come to see you. It’s your wrist that you’ve hurt, isn’t it?’ СКАЧАТЬ