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‘That’s fine, Kath,’ Iosef said, then spoke in Russian to his mother, abrupt words that halted her tears but had her arguing loudly with him. But Iosef wasn’t having any of it, taking his mother firmly by the elbow and leading her outside as Jackie spoke at length on the phone to the oncologist across the city before hanging up.
‘He’s not for intubation or resuscitation,’ Jackie relayed. ‘Iosef has been trying to get Nina to have him admitted to a palliative care ward, but so far she’s demanding that he be nursed at home. The ward here is more than happy to take him as, frankly, I think he’s way too ill to be transferred—let’s wait and see what Iosef has to say.’
Not very much.
After just a few moments he returned, his face a touch grey now but his voice extremely steady when he spoke.
‘My mother saw something on the news last night about a treatment.’ He shook his head at the hopelessness of it all. ‘She refuses to accept that he is dying—even with round-the-clock nursing and his doctor coming in, she panics all the time. She does not want him to be admitted to the private hospital, but he cannot stay at home like this.’
‘I don’t think he’s well enough to be transferred anyway,’ Jackie said softly. ‘Iosef, would you like to come to my office? We can—’
‘That will not be necessary.’ Again he shook his head, rubbed the top of his forehead with his index finger for a few seconds as he stared at this father, and for no apparent reason Annie felt a well of tears in her eyes, knew,knewthat despite his cool demeanor, despite the fact he appeared supremely in control, detached even—somewhere deep inside this had to hurt. ‘I will ring his hospital and have him admitted to their medical ward. I should be able to get her to agree to that and perhaps then we can discuss getting him transferred to the palliative care ward.’
‘Iosef,’ Jackie said slowly, ‘I’ve told you—he’s not well enough to go in an ambulance.’
‘I am well aware of that.’ Grey eyes held Jackie’s. ‘I am also aware of the circus this will become once the media find out that he has been admitted. The private hospital is better equipped to deal with that. I also know my family, Jackie, and this is the only way I can think of to get my father the care he needs at this late stage. So give me whatever it is I need to sign and I will escort him in the ambulance.’
Which didn’t leave much room for maneuver.
Still, by the time the ambulance arrived, it felt like every Russian living in Melbourne had trooped through Resus to pay their respects. Ivan Kolovsky was propped up on pillows, sipping lukewarm tea through a straw and cursing in Russian as Annie did his final set of obs before he headed off to the private hospital.
‘What’s he saying?’
‘You don’t want to know.’ Iosef gave a dry smile.
‘Tell me.’ Annie grinned. ‘I won’t be shocked.’
‘Oh, you would... ’ His eyes actually held hers, beautiful, beautiful grey eyes that had a tiny swirl of navy around the outer rim of his iris, and she was grateful for what came next, grateful that what he said could allow for the pink flush that came to her cheeks as she held his gaze. ‘No one can insult like a Russian.’
‘I’d already worked that one out!’ Annie retorted, and for the first time they actually shared a smile.
Even though the department was busy, it felt empty when Ivan went—or rather when Iosef went with him. Even though every bed in Resus was full, for Annie it felt...
Empty.
As if she’d walked into the lounge and watched five minutes of the most amazing film only for the power to cut, leaving her feeling like she was missing the most vital piece of the picture. So, when her shift was over, she was unusually reluctant to leave, standing idly flicking through a magazine and chatting to Jackie.
‘It must be hard on him.’ Turning the pages, Annie paused and stared at a very grainyexclusivephoto of Levander Kolovsky’s new baby which had clearly been taken through a very long lens. ‘I mean, imagine having your father so sick and having to worry about the press getting hold of it.’
‘We’ve already had a load of enquiries from the press.’ Jackie yawned, stretching and moaning in a chair at the nurses’ station and, annoyingly for Annie, again changing the subject back to her wedding.
‘I’ve had the worst day! I told you about my cousins, didn’t I?’
‘You did,’ Annie sighed.
‘How they could have left it till now to book a flight, I simply don’t know...’ Annie felt her heart skip a beat as Iosef returned, swishing through the swing doors and looking so cranky and exhausted and gorgeous she had to stop herself from jumping up and greeting him, her mind flitting in and out of the conversation as Jackie droned on and on about her blessed wedding preparations! ‘I mean, they’ve known for months when the wedding is. Well, if they think I’m going to sit on the computer tonight, trying to find the cheapest one left, they can jolly well think again—I’ve got enough on my plate. The florist is— Oh, hi, Iosef, how is he doing?’
‘Cantankerous!’ He gave a tight smile. ‘But yet again he surprises us all. He wants to be discharged, they’re trying to persuade him to stay till the morning. How are things here?’
‘All yours! I’ll be back at midnight.’ Jackie rolled her eyes and handed him a stack of pagers. ‘Can you make sure you’re here at eight sharp tomorrow morning? I’ve got to get to the caterers.’
‘Of course.’ Iosef nodded.
‘Did you try that wine?’
‘Sorry?’
Annie caught his frown, watched, annoyed at Jackie, as Iosef clearly had to drag his mind back to her strange train of thought.
