Harry St Clair: Rogue or Doctor? by Fiona McArthur Page B
Authors: Fiona McArthur
Tags: Medical
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She couldn’t help him and she needed to concentrate on helping herself.
Her car eased slowly along the curved road past the hotel and she slowed as her eye was drawn to the uninterrupted views across the red sand hills to the great monolith in the distance.
Like a sleeping dinosaur, but millions of years older, Uluru showed its age in wrinkles of stone that caught and held the last of the sun’s rays in textured lines of light and dark orange, and she could feel the rise of goose flesh in an unexpectedly primitive response to nature’s spiritual beauty.
She hadn’t expected that.
It was as if she suddenly began to feel the earth beneath her feet again, to be able to enjoy the beauty of her first sunset and each new place in a way she’d been too stressed and rushed to do in the last year while she’d dealt with Gran’s slow death.
She flicked her mind away from the pull of the past and soaked in the new territory that would be hers to watch over.
Bonnie picked up her speed a little as she drove pasta famous five-star resort with huge white sunshades soaring above the grand marble entry. The sort of place the Harrys of this world would stay.
Then she passed bungalows and an open-plan shopping centre and finally reached the neat and tidy medical centre nestled in its own block beside a small ambulance and police station, all the buildings lined up like a child’s play village.
A lot of thought had gone into the planning of the township, the centre at the centre, she thought musingly as she pulled into the parking area out front.
Bonnie turned the car off and rolled her shoulders back into her seat. It had been a slow drive on the back way from Alice Springs, but she’d enjoyed the scenery. Taken her time, admired the meteor crater at Gosses Bluff, seen Kings Canyon and gazed in amazement at flat-topped Mount Conner in the distance.
She’d had a close shave with a couple of big kangaroos as the long day had shifted into late afternoon, and it was good to get her battered Jeep here safely.
When she pushed open the door to the office the blast of cold airconditioning washed over her face like a cool sponge and she couldn’t help a further lift in her spirits.
New jobs were always a challenge but today it was a stimulation she was keen to relish. Especially today. Three months out here at the centre of Australia promised to be an intriguing addition to her portfolio and the perfect antidote to holiday disillusionment.
‘Can I help you?’ The small, impeccably made-up woman at the desk looked a little incongruous compared to the patients ranged around the room, mostly ebonyskinnedAboriginal men and women with a scattering of red-faced tourists.
The receptionist had a lacy blouse that showcased her trim arms and light tan, shirts like Bonnie had seen everywhere in Bali two days ago, like she herself had been wearing when she’d said goodbye to Harry on the way to her plane.
Bonnie shook off the thought. Okay already. She’d moved on. ‘I’m Bonnie McKenzie, the new nurse practitioner. I start tomorrow.’
‘Welcome. I’m Vicki.’ She gestured to her badge. ‘Receptionist.’ Then she indicated a small doorway into a passage. ‘My husband, Steve, is the practice manager here.’
She stood up. ‘We’re pleased to have you. Thanks for coming a couple of days early. Steve’s still trying for a temporary doctor for the month we can’t fill, and I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever get a permanent one.’
Vicki shrugged and then rolled her eyes. ‘And the nurse you work with had to leave early because of an illness in her family. She’ll be back next week, maybe.’
Vicki shrugged ruefully. ‘Come through and I’ll find Steve.’
Bonnie kept her face serene but her heart dipped a little. It didn’t look like she’d be getting much of an orientation if the medical staff were all away. Still, at least the ambos were next door and the practice manager would have first-aid training.
Her car eased slowly along the curved road past the hotel and she slowed as her eye was drawn to the uninterrupted views across the red sand hills to the great monolith in the distance.
Like a sleeping dinosaur, but millions of years older, Uluru showed its age in wrinkles of stone that caught and held the last of the sun’s rays in textured lines of light and dark orange, and she could feel the rise of goose flesh in an unexpectedly primitive response to nature’s spiritual beauty.
She hadn’t expected that.
It was as if she suddenly began to feel the earth beneath her feet again, to be able to enjoy the beauty of her first sunset and each new place in a way she’d been too stressed and rushed to do in the last year while she’d dealt with Gran’s slow death.
She flicked her mind away from the pull of the past and soaked in the new territory that would be hers to watch over.
Bonnie picked up her speed a little as she drove pasta famous five-star resort with huge white sunshades soaring above the grand marble entry. The sort of place the Harrys of this world would stay.
Then she passed bungalows and an open-plan shopping centre and finally reached the neat and tidy medical centre nestled in its own block beside a small ambulance and police station, all the buildings lined up like a child’s play village.
A lot of thought had gone into the planning of the township, the centre at the centre, she thought musingly as she pulled into the parking area out front.
Bonnie turned the car off and rolled her shoulders back into her seat. It had been a slow drive on the back way from Alice Springs, but she’d enjoyed the scenery. Taken her time, admired the meteor crater at Gosses Bluff, seen Kings Canyon and gazed in amazement at flat-topped Mount Conner in the distance.
She’d had a close shave with a couple of big kangaroos as the long day had shifted into late afternoon, and it was good to get her battered Jeep here safely.
When she pushed open the door to the office the blast of cold airconditioning washed over her face like a cool sponge and she couldn’t help a further lift in her spirits.
New jobs were always a challenge but today it was a stimulation she was keen to relish. Especially today. Three months out here at the centre of Australia promised to be an intriguing addition to her portfolio and the perfect antidote to holiday disillusionment.
‘Can I help you?’ The small, impeccably made-up woman at the desk looked a little incongruous compared to the patients ranged around the room, mostly ebonyskinnedAboriginal men and women with a scattering of red-faced tourists.
The receptionist had a lacy blouse that showcased her trim arms and light tan, shirts like Bonnie had seen everywhere in Bali two days ago, like she herself had been wearing when she’d said goodbye to Harry on the way to her plane.
Bonnie shook off the thought. Okay already. She’d moved on. ‘I’m Bonnie McKenzie, the new nurse practitioner. I start tomorrow.’
‘Welcome. I’m Vicki.’ She gestured to her badge. ‘Receptionist.’ Then she indicated a small doorway into a passage. ‘My husband, Steve, is the practice manager here.’
She stood up. ‘We’re pleased to have you. Thanks for coming a couple of days early. Steve’s still trying for a temporary doctor for the month we can’t fill, and I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever get a permanent one.’
Vicki shrugged and then rolled her eyes. ‘And the nurse you work with had to leave early because of an illness in her family. She’ll be back next week, maybe.’
Vicki shrugged ruefully. ‘Come through and I’ll find Steve.’
Bonnie kept her face serene but her heart dipped a little. It didn’t look like she’d be getting much of an orientation if the medical staff were all away. Still, at least the ambos were next door and the practice manager would have first-aid training.
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