Emergency: Mother Wanted

‘So, have you found somewhere to live yet?’ Nicky flicked the switch on the kettle and turned to glance at Keely. ‘You’ve been here three weeks and you’re still living in that awful flat.’

‘Awful?’ Zach walked into the room in time to hear the last remark. ‘What’s awful about Keely’s flat?’

‘It’s fine,’ Keely lied, ‘just not in the nicest position. I wanted to live in the middle of the country with a view of the fells.’

‘Your flat is not fine,’ Nicky said firmly, ignoring the looks that Keely was giving her. ‘There’s damp on the living-room walls and your landlord is decidedly creepy. And he’s bothering you, you know he is.’

Keely glared at Nicky but it was too late. Zach was suddenly still, his eyes watchful.

‘In what way is he bothering you, Keely?’ His soft tone didn’t deceive anyone and there was a sudden silence in the common room.

‘He isn’t,’ Keely said hastily. ‘Not really. Nicky’s exaggerating.’

‘That’s not true.’ Nicky spoke up again and Keely closed her eyes.

She was going to kill Nicky when she got her alone!

‘He keeps knocking on her door at all sorts of weird hours,’ Nicky told them, oblivious to the furious glances that Keely was sending in her direction. ‘I’m really worried about her. She needs to move out of that place.’

Zach’s expression was grim. ‘Keely? Is it true?’

Keely suppressed a groan. Oh, no. Now he’d get all protective again, and he’d just started to treat her like an adult.

‘I think he’s just a bit lonely,’ she said lamely, and his mouth tightened.

‘I’ll get you a room in the medical block until you can find somewhere else.’

Without waiting for her reply he paced over to the phone and spoke to the accommodation officer. Judging from Zach’s tone, they were less than helpful and when he finally replaced the receiver his expression was black.

‘They haven’t got anything at the moment—apparently they had a burst pipe last week and it’s taking for ever to fix. We’ll have to think of something else.’

‘It’s all right,’ Keely said mildly. ‘I’ve got two flats to look at on Friday when I’m not working. Thanks for trying but I’m taking care of it.’

He hesitated, his dark jaw tense. ‘I’m not happy with you staying there—’

‘It’s fine, Zach,’ Keely repeated firmly, conscious that Nicky and two of the other doctors were watching them curiously. And no wonder. Why was he making such a fuss?

‘Well, if those flats don’t come to anything, let me know. If you’re stuck you can sleep in the doctors’ room.’

They had a room where doctors could sleep if they were on duty at night, but it was rarely used.

‘Thanks.’

Zach turned and walked out, and Nicky let out a long breath.

‘Well, who’s protective, then?’

Keely rolled her eyes. ‘To Zach, I’m still sixteen and I probably always will be.’

With that she stood up and left them to speculate.

She was checking an X-ray later in the day when she heard Nicky shout from the corridor.

‘Keely, I need a doctor—now!’

Keely was there in an instant, her heart pounding as she saw the toddler in the arms of a paramedic.

‘She’s fitting,’ Nicky said quickly. ‘It may be a febrile convulsion. Get her into Resus and I’ll bleep Paeds.’ A febrile convulsion was a fit brought on by a high temperature and was quite common in very young children.

‘Are the parents here?’ Keely took charge of the toddler’s airway and gave her some oxygen.

‘Not yet.’ Nicky turned to one of the student nurses, her expression grim. ‘Call Zach. Call Zach now!’

Keely glanced up in surprise. Why was Nicky in such a panic? It wasn’t like her at all and everything was under control.

‘It’s OK,’ she said calmly. ‘I can handle this without Zach.’

‘I know you can handle it,’ came the reply. ‘I don’t need Zach for his medical skills.’