He laughed and lifted ahand, running it through his short blond hair. "No, certainly not. Ifollow the book but I thought, working in a smaller community hospital, thestaff would all know each other and be a little friendlier than in the bigcity. I do hope I'm not mistaken."
He kept his gazeon her face and Lizzie fidgeted with the edge of her white cotton blouse,rolling the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. "Look, I don't wantto come across as a hard taskmaster but in front of my staff, especially myyounger staff, I would appreciate it if you and I kept to formalities. Some ofthe nurses may get too familiar with staff and patients, and that makes my joball the more difficult." She swallowed as he kept his gaze on her face."This is a work environment and we are here to help people, not makefriends."
"If that’s whatmakes you happy, so be it."
"Thank you. Now,let me fill you in on the roster and how things run here. Although I'm sure itwon't be much different to what you’re used to, it would make me happier toknow I've gone over everything with you."
For the next hour, Lizziewent over the hospital system, rosters and staff. When she was sure therewasn't anything she’d forgotten, she stood up.
"Right then, we should go on a tour so you can familiarise yourself witheverything and meet the staff before you get dragged into the fray."
"I'd like that,thank you." Russ stood and opened the door for her, following as she leftthe office.
Lizzie wasn't at allsurprised at the adoring looks Doctor Williams got from the female staff, bothyoung and old. She had time for a small pang of jealousy before remindingherself she was off the dating roster for her own good. Jealousy that now makeher regret the decision to stop dating but with the horrors from her past,Lizzie wasn't prepared to put her heart on the line again.
Chapter Thirteen
Rooney drove her trustystation wagon up the driveway to her childhood home, past the large dam she hadswum in as a child, past the weeping willows where she and the boys had builtcountless tree houses and forts.
"You'll like ithere, Tam." She smiled reassuringly at her daughter who gazed out thewindow with a frown on her young face.
"I wish we couldhave stayed with Pete and Julie." Rooney heard the sigh in her voice."I don't know anyone here."
She reached out and grabbedher daughter’s hand, squeezing her fingers. "You know it will take you allof five minutes to find people to talk to. Once you’re enrolled in school,you’ll find your feet. I know you will."
Tam turned and lookedout the window again, saying nothing more.
Rooney drove up theback, past the old Morton Bay figs and around by the old stables. Chickensscattered as she past the kitchen garden and pulled up at the back of thehouse. She unclipped her seatbelt, turned off the engine and got out of the car."Let's go."
Walking around to openthe passenger door, she helped Tamara slip out of her seatbelt and took herhand as she got out. As the door screen slammed and Essie cried out, Tamaratucked into Rooney's side.
Essie ran toward them,her arms outstretched. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she hugged Rooney."Hey Essie, you knew I was coming back. Shush, it's alright."
"I was so worriedyou would change your mind when you got back to the city." She looked downat Tamara hugging her mother's side. "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. I didn'tmean to scare you with my carrying on." She crouched down and held herhand out. "I'm Essie. I looked after your mother when she was a littlething just like you."
"I'm not little.And I don't need looking after."
"Well, that's goodto hear then because I know there is heaps I need to do around here. Not sure Ihave time to go running around after a little girl when I should be bakingchocolate chip biscuits and roasting chicken for tonight's dinner."
Tamara looked at the housekeeperbefore glancing up at her mother, a question in her eyes. "You can ask,but mind your manners." Rooney twisted her lips to keep the smile tuckedaway as Tam eyed off Essie. When the grip on her leg eased, she breathed a sighof relief.
"Can I have abiscuit, please?"
"How about I giveyou one after you help your mother with your bags, Tamara?" Essiestraightened and pressed her hands down her apron, smoothing out the creases asshe waited for an answer.
"Tam, I get calledTam."
"Fine, Tam it is.Let me go ahead and get you a drink and a biscuit then while you grab a bag.Your mother can show you to your room and when you’re ready, come on down tothe kitchen."
"Thanks,Essie."
"I've put you inyour mother’s room, Rooney. Tam can have yours."
Rooney swallowed thelump filling her throat. Blinking rapidly, she brushed away the tears thatthreatened to run down her cheeks. "Fine." She walked to the back ofher car and lifted the boot lid. She handed a small suitcase to Tam and grabbedher own, deciding to leave the boxes until later. With more gusto thanwarranted, she slammed the boot before guiding her daughter inside.
They walked through thekitchen, ignoring the heavenly smells of roasting chicken and fresh bakedcookies. Rooney pulled her suitcase up the stairs, pausing every now and thento wait for Tam who followed behind her. When they reached her old bedroom shestopped, resting her suitcase against the wall. She stepped into the room andlooked around. Her bed was against the wall under the window, just as it hadbeen when she’d walked away with nothing more than the clothes she was wearingand a back pack stuffed full of things she couldn't bear to leave behind.
The dressing tablemirror still had the love hearts cut out of red cardboard stuckto the glass with blue tack They were faded now. Rooney walked over and tracedher fingers over the one with cut out pictures of her and Stevie. She pulled itoff and jammed it in her pocket.
In the reflection ofthe mirror she saw Tam walking in, glancing around the room. "Can I keepthis stuff?" She looked around and grinned when
