‘Kids like dogs,’ Charles said flatly. ‘I can’t believe this. You crashed the car for
‘Hey,’ Dom said. ‘Mind the insults. You need to be wary of new mothers. Very hormonal.’
He was still grinning. Laughing at…Charles? At her situation? Erin turned a shoulder to tell him what she thought of that-and tried to concentrate on Charles. ‘I have to take her.’
‘Not to my parents’, you can’t,’ Charles said bluntly. ‘Mum’d have kittens.’
‘That’d add to the menagerie,’ Dom said, still grinning.
‘Your mother would have forty fits as well,’ Charles added. ‘And I can’t imagine how Peppy would react.’
‘Who’s Peppy?’ Dom asked, interested. ‘Great Aunt Peppy?’
‘Peppy’s my mother’s poodle,’ Erin snapped. She could do without the levity.
‘Your parents and Charles’s parents live together?’
‘We’re having a family Easter,’ Erin said, trying not to sound…strained. Knowing she hadn’t pulled it off. ‘Our parents are old friends. Charles’s parents asked us all for Easter.’
‘That’s great,’ Dom said, and suddenly the laughter was gone. His tone had turned implacable. ‘That’s six adults to look after one dog and three pups. Two dogs if you count Peppy.’ Behind him, his phone started ringing. ‘Can you excuse me? I need to answer this.’ Then he glanced at Marilyn who was looking-meaningfully-at the door. ‘Could you guys take Marilyn out to the garden? Now she’s off her IV line, I’m thinking she might need a walk.’ He carried his phone into the kitchen and closed the door.
Walk. Right. Not so much a walk as a stagger, Erin thought. For both of them.
She ignored Charles for the moment-she was taking Marilyn and there was nothing she could do to help him come to terms with the inevitable. Dom’s wellingtons were at the door-used, she guessed, for carting wood in the rain or something equally bucolic and messy. This was where she was now, she thought ruefully. Country and messy. She hauled on the boots over her dressings, and then-as Charles still didn’t move-she limped to the stairs. Marilyn followed.
They struggled, but both of them made it down the couple of shallow steps and onto the grass. Marilyn sniffed the grass in appreciation, cast Erin a look of what seemed to be gratitude and did what was expected.
Last night in the dark and confusion and fear Erin had thought the dog was fat. Now she saw the too-prominent ribs, the sunken face. The legs that trembled. But the terror of the night was over. Marilyn turned her big, ugly face up to the morning sun as if soaking in its warmth. Erin gazed down and felt her heart wobble.
Last night it had seemed as if the world was ending-for her as well as for Marilyn. Last night, as the car had rolled, for a long terrifying moment she’d thought she might die. Marilyn had been close to death. This morning the sun was glinting on the sea, on both of their faces, on their lives, and here they were, ready to start again.
For this dog, life was about to change. It must, no matter what. Even if her own life changed in the process. For that was how she felt right now. It was as if she’d never felt the sun on her face before. Like she’d woken from a dream and found a new reality.
Maybe she was being dumb. Fanciful. But she looked down at Marilyn and her resolution was absolute. Knocking Charles’s proposal back was only the start of it.
‘Hey,’ she said softly, and squatted on her heels in the soft grass. It hurt a bit but her foot was nothing compared with what Marilyn had been through. ‘You’re a dog in a million.’
‘She’s not,’ Charles said from the veranda. He’d made no move to help. He seemed too…stunned. ‘Erin, get serious. If this guy…’
‘You mean Dominic.’
‘If this guy can’t take her…’
‘He can’t. He’s the only doctor for the town and he’s a single dad.’
‘Then she has to be put down,’ Charles went on, inexorably. ‘You know that. She’s a stray. No one wants her.’
‘Do you mind?’ She put her hands over Marilyn’s ears. ‘Do you know what she’s been through? Someone threw her out of their car.’
‘All the more reason to do what’s sensible,’ he said, and then softened his tone. ‘Sweetheart, I know you’ve had a rotten shock. If this guy can’t take the dog…’
‘I’m not your sweetheart.’
‘And I can’t take the dog.’ Dominic was abruptly with them again, pushing the screen door wide with a bang and striding down the steps with speed. ‘Sorry, but I need to go. I’ve called a neighbour to come over and care for the boys but I can’t wait. I’ve had a call-a kid with nut allergy. Jamie’s gone into anaphylactic shock. They’re driving him to meet me. Can you stay with the boys until Dulcie gets here?’ He was heading for the garage at a run. ‘Great to meet you both. See you again some time.’
Anaphylactic shock…
Erin’s mind switched into medical mode, just like that. If a child’s reaction was severe…
This was what she did.
Without making a conscious decision, she found herself running, not noticing her feet, reaching Dom’s car almost as he did.
‘I’m going, too,’ she yelled over her shoulder to Charles. ‘Can you look after Marilyn? And the two kids inside.’ She slid into the passenger seat.
Dom paused, hand on the ignition. ‘What the hell…?’
‘You might need help. Go.’
‘Charles-’
‘He’s a doctor, too. He understands emergencies. I’m an accident and emergency specialist. I can help. Go, Dominic. Move.’
CHAPTER FOUR
HE HAD help.
He shouldn’t have let her come. She was hurt herself. He glanced across at her but she stared straight ahead, her face determined. Like she thought he was going to stop the car and kick her out.
He didn’t have time to argue. But even if he wanted to…
She was another doctor.
Last night he’d had insight into this woman’s medical skills. Maybe it could make the difference in whether Jamie Sutherland lived or died.
Okay, he wasn’t about to argue.
He had his phone in the car cradle now. He phoned the ambulance in Campbelltown, requesting help. Then he concentrated on driving. Concentrated on what lay ahead.
‘Tell me what we’re facing,’ Erin said into the silence. He was speeding as fast as he dared without putting themselves in danger, but his foot on the accelerator must tell its own story. She knew this was life or death.
‘Jamie’s eight years old. He’s had a couple of near misses. Last time it was from a friend’s mum making peanut-butter sandwiches, not washing the knife and then making him a ham sandwich. He nearly died. This time he’s eaten half a muesli bar. His cousin told him it didn’t have nuts in. It’s chock full of ’em.’
‘His parents have what they need?’
‘They have adrenaline, antihistamine and an action plan. They’ve done everything they can, but they phoned from the car and I could hear him choking.’
‘You wasted time ringing the neighbour.’
‘I don’t have a choice,’ he said grimly. ‘Martin and Nathan aren’t safe on their own.’
‘I would have-’
‘It was quicker to phone Dulcie rather than hope you’d do it.’
She fell silent. But he could sense what she was thinking.
‘I don’t know you,’ he said at last. ‘I couldn’t trust that…’
‘Of course you couldn’t.’ She shook her head, as if convincing herself, obviously trying to see the whole picture. ‘But…if Martin and Nathan need such close supervision…if you’re the only doctor for miles…is it fair that you take on
