page10 (2/2)

‘Can you do Callu and I need to stay because they’re discussing our equipment allocation’

Hailey sighed, resigned to her fate She glanced at Callu to avoid him any more but that didn’t mean she wanted to spend any extra tiaze ‘Is Dad there?’

‘He’s chairing it’

Hailey’s father, John Winters, was the Brisbane General’s s such as these ‘Blow hi up the phone

‘Looks like you got e She risked another glance at Callu et this show on the road’

2B was a twenty-bed ward In an ideal world eight beds were allocated to surgical patients, eight to h-dependency bay for those children that needed closer hted more heavily one way or the other which caused all kinds of administration headaches

But that was the nature of hospitals and as far as nursing their patients went, Hailey couldn’t give a fig about the ical mix—they were all sick kids

She pushed the chart trolley froress was discussed She hadn’t done a round with Callum before and was hness and quirky bedside manner He developed a quick rapport with the parents and wasn’t afraid to take the time with the kids to touch them and try and elicit a smile or two

Hailey had been on too many ward rounds that were rushed and left the parents with more questions than answers Calluenuinely interested, concerned and willing to listen He also engaged his entire tea as he went, and it was obvious they liked and respected him

He was careful to include her as well, seeking her opinion, consulting her about decisions, h on impossible not to interact with him She’d hoped the round would be quick and painless but she’d been wrong She was more aware of him than ever now she’d seen the professional side of him

The truth was, even after thirty ly admit she admired the hell out of him An irresistible e in her consciousness Damn it all This was a man she could like

The surgical bays were full of the ’s ENT list Several tonsillectoroeons would be in to see them later but Callum took the time to check all ith them

The medical bays sported a mix of conditions From their frequent flyer, Lucy, with cystic fibrosis, to Troy, an eight-year-old cerebral palsy patient with pneumonia, and an adventurous three-year-old, Jake, who had petted a possum and ended up with a bitten arm for his trouble The wound had developed cellulitis, necessitating intravenous antibiotics