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Earthquake Baby
 Their
lives were changed in an instant…
Trapped under a collapsed building, Laura Scott thought she would never
survive. As the choking dust enveloped her, one man kept her alive and
lifted her to safety – Dr Jack Riley.
That life-saving moment led to a night of unforgettable intimacy. It was
as if they’d been together for ever. Yet in the morning Laura left
without a trace.
It’s ten years before they meet again, and Jack discovers not only
how real their connection was, but also that Laura is the mother of a
ten-year-old child…
Excerpt
Mr Gordon had been in full cardiac arrest for
forty minutes when the futility of the situation called for a reluctant
end to the proceedings. The atmosphere, which had been charged with pure
adrenaline only moments before, was suddenly hollow and heavy. Solemn
introspection replaced frenetic activity.
Laura, who had taken over the cardiac massage, stilled. Her shoulders
ached from the effort of compressing such a big man’s sternum. And
her heart ached for another life they couldn’t save. She stared
down at the gloved hands that formed a barrier between her and the bright
purple rash covering the patient’s body – the hallmark of
meningococcus.
“Laura? You’ve been dealing with the family?” asked
Jenny.
“Yes,” said Laura.
“Shall we?”
They de-gloved solemnly and washed their hands at the sink. Jack approached
as they were drying their hands.
"What are you doing here?" asked Laura, not even her surprise
at seeing him managing to shake the gloom from her voice.
"I was paged. The social worker is dealing with a crisis on another
ward and it was felt that Mr Gordon's family would need some grief
counseling.
Has he passed away?"
"Yes," said Laura
"Oh, dear. How awful." Jack voice was quiet as he watched Laura
intently. He saw the sadness and disbelief etched on her face and had
an inkling of how she was feeling.
He had felt similar emotions at Newvalley. The suddenness of such an incident
was hard to get your head around. How quickly someone could die was always
startling. And it didn't matter how many times you'd seen it before it
was always shocking.
The fact that Mr Gordon was a complete stranger to Laura would only make
it harder. It just wasn't right that people died amongst strangers. Surely,
in the most desperately dire time of his life, Mr Gordon should have been
surrounded by people who knew and loved him?
Such was the nature of the work on an Intensive Care Unit. But Jack knew
it didn't make it any easier and as he continued to watch Laura he could
see she was having trouble reigning in her emotions. Perhaps she wasn't
the best candidate to be present when the dreadful news was given to the
family. Maybe she'd had enough emotion for one day?
Jenny excused herself to answer a page and Laura found herself waiting
for Jenny's return with Jack beside her.
"Do you think it's a good idea that you be the one to break the news
to Mrs Gordon?"
"Jenny will do that," she said, staring straight ahead.
"Yes, but do you really need to be there too?"
"I'm the only one here who the family vaguely know. Her husband is
dead. I think the she deserves to have at least one familiar face around
when she's told. Don't you?" Laura's voice was terse. Her body tense.
"You're looking a little shaky at the moment. You're going to need
to be a lot more detached than this," Jack pushed.
"Don't tell me how to do my job," she hissed turning to look
at him. "I am a professional. I've been sitting in on awful conversations
for years. I haven't broken down in front of a client ever. Ever! And
I'm not about to start. When I go in that room I will be perfectly in
control."
"Okay, okay. Calm down. I didn't mean to upset you."
"When you question my professionalism it upsets me!" she said
in an angry whisper. "You think I want to be part of what's going
to be said in that room? Because I don't. Every part of me rebels against
the idea."
Laura took a breath and tried to calm her racing pulse and seesawing emotions.
Yes, the swiftness of Mr Gordon's deterioration was having an effect on
her but she had to make Jack understand why he was wrong.
She softened her voice. "But I am a nurse, I don't have a choice
here. I am compelled to be there because it's the right thing to do. The
only thing to do. I've made a connection with them. I can't just break
that connection in their neediest hour because it's emotionally challenging."
Jack nodded. He understood what she was telling him but was worried about
her nonetheless. At least he would be present during the talk. He had
been paged for Mrs Gordon's emotional journey but as Jenny rejoined them
he knew that Laura's needs took first place.
“Mrs Gordon.” Jenny addressed the woman, face grim, introducing
herself and Laura and Jack.
“No,” Mrs Gordon shook her head wildly, looking from one to
the other, knowing from their faces what they were about to say.
“I’m sorry Mrs Gordon. We did all we could but...your husband
died a few minutes ago.”
“No,” she whispered fiercely. “He can’t be dead.
He was fine four hours ago.”
Jenny nodded solemnly. “Mrs Gordon, what we think your husband had,
Meningococcal septicaemia , it probably got into his blood stream. Its
onset is very quick...”
The woman wasn't listening. She came closer to Laura and grabbed her by
the forearms, her eyes accusing. “You said they were the best. You
said they’d do everything they could.” Her voice rose hysterically
and she began to shake Laura.
Laura looked into the woman’s eyes wild with grief and was paralysed
by the her disbelief and anger. Even the bite of the woman’s fingers
as they dug into her skin, didn’t register. She opened her mouth
to say something but the words just didn't come.
She had witnessed many emotional moments, working in this field, comforted
many grieving people but most were surprisingly quiet, reserved in their
mourning. To feel the full force of such raw emotion directed right in
her face was shocking.
From "EARTHQUAKE BABY" by Amy Andrews
Mills and Boon® Medical Romance™August 2005
ISBN: 0-263-84326-2 Copyright: © 2005 Amy Andrews
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. The edition
published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. For more
romance information surf to:
http://www.eHarlequin.com
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Review
Earthquake
Baby by Amy Andrews
Aug 05 UK , Sept 05 AUST
ISBN: 0-263-84326-2
Category Romance 4 stars
Ready
for a rumbling good time (sorry couldn’t resist the play on words)
then prepare for Amy Andrews ‘Earthquake Baby’.
Laura
Scott had faced pain and tragedy in her life and had come out of it stronger
and with a beautiful son. Now his father Dr Jack Riley is back in her
life and she has to find a way to explain just how different things are
and why he is suddenly a father ten years on. But will tragedy strike
again and take away what she holds most dear?
Dr Jack
Riley never forgot the tragedy that bought him and Laura together and
he certainly remembers their romantic night together and the morning she
fled him. Now he is back in her life certain she hasn’t put the
past behind her either and he is sure that all her pent up pain is just
waiting to overwhelm her. He just doesn’t realize that he may be
the one overwhelmed; can these two work through past pain and suffering
to emerge a whole family?
Amy Andrews
second foray into the world of the Medical romance is an unqualified success.
I enjoyed this read and spilt a few tears over the characters. Time had
obviously been spent on background and characters and the author has produced
a tear jerker that grabs at the heart. I loved Laura and Jack, the hero
and heroine, typical people that we can all relate to. The storyline was
believable and I felt the author took the time to let her story unwind
instead of rushing to its conclusion.
The part
that makes this story is the feel of realism, the medical terms and procedures
dotted through the book show that the author knows her stuff and gives
it a ring of truth that appeals. To be honest I can’t tell you a
fav part because I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and it will
go on my keeper shelf.
Check
out Amy Andrews emotional journey in ‘Earthquake Baby’, you
won’t be disappointed.
Kelly
Bowerman
Cataromance
Reviews
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