The door slapped back in its frame and Piper buried her face in her hands.
Chapter 6
‘He was going to fly up on Christmas Eve but when I told him that you and I were volunteered for the first aid tent at the bonanza, he decided that he didn’t want to miss out on work drinks and instead booked the first flight out on Christmas morning. Crazy that there are flights on Christmas Day. I suppose it’s reassuring knowing that the health industry isn’t the only workplace that works every single day and night of the year.’
Emmett kept his eyes on the road and rolled his shoulders as Stef continued to yammer on from the passenger seat beside him. The trip from Townsville to Rush Creek was one they took often, and Emmett could probably drive it with his eyes shut, but the threat of kangaroos and other wildlife—along with potholes, weather and other drivers—kept them open. He never wanted to be the paramedic who needed a paramedic because he’d crashed the ambulance.
He should’ve let Stef drive like she always bugged him to. That way he could safely stare out the window and replay the scenes from this morning over and over again. Had he really patted Piper on the shoulder? He was the biggest moron in the world. She’d been crying and he’d had zero clue how to handle it.
‘Emmett? Hello!’
‘Sorry, Stef. Don’t forget police work every day and night too.’
She groaned loudly. ‘That was about two kilometres ago and I’ve changed conversation twice since then. What’s going on with you? You never let me prattle on this much without a single command to zip it. Spill! Are you worried about old Mrs Narlinney? It’s like her third trip into the big smoke.’
Emmett shook his head. They’d transported Mrs Narlinney from Rush Creek Aged Care facility to the hospital in Townsville after she had another turn the previous night. He didn’t know the elderly lady that well apart from the trips she’d taken with them, but his heart still felt heavy in his chest knowing that this might be the time when the Rush Creek local didn’t come back.
‘It’s not Mrs Narlinney.’
‘What’s up with you, then? Your broodiness is on the advanced level today.’ Stef swivelled a little in her seat to face him.
He gripped the wheel a little tighter. ‘I think I stuffed up with Piper this morning.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘I’ve dated before, you know, and I grew up with a single mother, so I’m not a complete novice when it comes to women and their emotions, but I generally exit before anyone can get attached or …’
‘Or need too much from you?’
‘Exactly. It might sound cold, but it’s worked for me so far.’
‘Until Piper.’
‘There’s nothing going on with me and Piper, but she had a rough phone call with her mum this morning and cried after it and I … I didn’t really handle it very well.’
Stef was quiet. Too quiet, and he risked a glance from the road to her. Her lips were pursed as she studied him.
‘What did you do?’
‘I accidentally threw the tissue box at her, then patted her shoulder and left.’ He cringed at the memory.
Stef burst out laughing. ‘You idiot. When a woman cries, the best thing you can do is offer to give her a hug. Hugs fix everything and often don’t require words.’
‘Huh.’ A hug. That sounded a lot simpler than what he’d tried. ‘I could probably try that next time.’
Stef’s laughter died down. ‘Can I offer you any more words of wisdom?’
Emmett scratched his palm against the steering wheel, thinking back to Piper’s side of the conversation with Maree. A quiet Christmas. He was really starting to hate that phrase.
‘In your limited life experience—’
‘Oh, give me a break. It might be my first year out of university, but it’s not like you’ve been working for decades.’
‘I’ve lived in more places than you.’ He paused as Stef rolled her eyes then returned his focus to the road. They weren’t too far out of Rush Creek. ‘If someone really loves Christmas, grew up annoying everyone around them with their festive spirit and decorations and Hallmark movies, do you ever think they fall out of love with it?’
‘Be specific. You’re talking about Piper again, aren’t you? Are you sure you guys are just friends? You talk about her a lot.’
‘She’s my best friend’s little sister.’