Ice Maiden Melts

By Larissa Lovejoy

When Marcia returns to her hometown Sydney to take up a new hospital job, she is surprised to see Joel as the surgeon. Once, they were best friends, boy-meets-girl-next-door close. She, rich daddy's daughter, he, working-class boy makes good.

Parted for five years, these doctors are on edge. Why are there icy cold barriers between them? Why is Ma

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perspicuous Press
• Release date: Mar 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645142273

Larissa Lovejoy

Larissa Lovejoy is an Australian writer who believes that love creates meaningful relationships, and tender friendships bring hope and joy.

Book preview

1

Marcia Knight was every bit as sassy as her name sounded. She looked intently at her reflection in the mirror. She applied no make-up except for her trademark, glossy, red lipstick. Not displeased with her image, she stepped back, and smoothed her hands over her shapely hips, enjoying the fresh touch of her linen suit. It was new, plain navy, and understated, very suitable for her first day of a new job.

Mm, Dr Marcia Knight, she said out aloud, you’ll pass the test, I think. I sure hope so.

Marcia pulled her hair back and twisted it into a chignon. The blonde hair immediately unravelled. It was in that awkward in-between stage of being almost shoulder-length. The novelty of having it cropped short for the heat and informality of the conditions of her previous job had worn off, and she welcomed the familiar return of length, body, and curl. In this new job, she’d need to tie it back, but today it didn’t matter. One last brush was all that was required, and she was ready to go.

While it was early morning, the Australian heat was already evident, and she was glad of the air conditioner in her new, sleek, red Jaguar, a coming home present from Daddy. Part of her wished he didn’t spoil her in such ostentatious and extravagant ways, the other part of her, the bigger part of her, relished his generous attention. Why shouldn’t she? There was no other man in her life.

The distance from her new apartment in a leafy suburb, to her new place of appointment, was short, and she winced a little with slight embarrassment as she noted the older cars parked in the staff car park. Her car stood out. Perhaps she might walk to work in future, as she had done in her previous job in the far north of Australia. But it was stifling hot, and she hated feeling sweaty.

She parked her car beside a dilapidated, white Volkswagen with save the health system, and children matter, stickers randomly plastered over the sides and the front bonnet. Something about the car looked familiar. The owner uncoiled his enormous frame out of the tiny beetle car, and called out, staff only, my dear.

Immediately despising this man’s patronising tone, Marcia retorted, I am staff, then aware how standoffish she must have sounded, added shyly, new staff.

Marcia was intent on getting into the hospital building as quickly as she could, the air was already a trifle sticky, and the humidity would bring out her curls. This man’s dominating presence was unnerving her. Not that she was looking at him, or taking him in, but out of the corner of her eyes, she instantly noted he was everything she loved in a man; he was tall, broad shouldered, and exuded a commanding sense of presence. Her eyes dropped as she saw him move toward her and stand blocking the staff entrance.

A deep, friendly, masculine voice asked, so you must be the new Dr Knight then?

There was something about his voice that jolted her. That’s right, replied Marcia, only now looking up to meet this man’s eyes. Her bright blue eyes met his deep dark brown eyes, and they stood transfixed, neither able to speak.

After a short time of silence, the man took a deep breath. Marcia? he asked tentatively, but not needing an answer.

Joel? she asked in disbelief, shock, and she had to admit, slight horror.

Oh Marcia, I can’t believe this, and seeing her face pale with surprise, he grasped her arm, and pulled her gently into the entrance, ushering her into a small, side waiting room.

The touch on her arm made her shiver with its familiarity, and as he moved closer, to embrace as old friends might, she grasped his arm coldly, and thrust him away. There was no way she was going to let him know how her heart was racing at pace, a crazy pace.

Joel, she hesitated, Dr Trucker, I guess I should call you here, why didn’t you know it was me coming here today? Why didn’t you alert me to the fact that you’re here at this hospital? Why didn’t you tell my father? Why didn’t he tell me? Why aren’t you still in Melbourne?

Instead of being disgruntled with the barrage of questions, Joel guffawed, a loud, hearty, warm laugh that Marcia recalled so well that she resisted an instant natural smiling response, one most people would find it impossible not to give. He knew her reactions and understood how to read the impatience on her face for his answers. He tried to calm her by placing his large, tanned hand on hers, but she thrust it hastily aside.

Still smiling, he said quickly, like you, I escaped and went away, and like you, I came home again, but much quicker than you did.

I don’t think it’s as simple as that. Marcia’s face glared with an animosity she felt confused with. Why, oh why, was her first day on this job going to be ruined by this handsome man who she had spent so many years trying to forget?

Whatever Joel read in her face wasn’t troubling him at all. You forget my lovely one, that I… but whatever he was about to say was interrupted, the sentence was left unfinished, dangling in mid-air.

This time, Marcia grabbed his hand, squeezing it somewhat menacingly, and said, presume nothing, Dr Joel Trucker.

I won’t, Dr Marcia Collins.

Joel Trucker, if you ever call me that again, I’ll, I’ll…. And this time she couldn’t finish the sentence.

Joel was standing so close to her that their bodies were parallel but not touching. She could feel his energy radiating around her. Sometimes, she thought that was merely hippie talk, but no, today, she felt the energy, like an aura. Their bodies were heaving rhythmically, in tune with their high-intensity emotions. Disturbing passion was unwelcomed on this important first day of work, but its presence overwhelmed Marcia, she couldn’t deny it, and she wanted to fall onto that impressive chest that lay dangerously close to her.

Come on Marcia, Joel said quietly, understand my position. I wasn’t on the selection committee for your appointment, so I didn’t see your curriculum vitae. I was away, giving a conference paper in Sweden. All I knew was that the new doctor had a lot of experience in the north of Australia, working particularly with Aboriginal children. At first, I thought it might have been you, but I didn’t recognise the name Knight. If I suspected that the number one candidate, was you, I would have looked for a Dr Collins, isn’t that right? His look turned to bewilderment as Marcia’s face was blank, but gently probing, he asked, and who is Dr Knight?

Me, Joel, Marcia said, blue eyes blazing in fury, and don’t you ever forget it.

Why Knight?

It was my mother’s maiden name. I wanted a new identity when I went north, so I took on her name. It helps me to feel closer to her.

You were escaping, just like me. He paused, his probing eyes locked onto hers. How did you get around the legalities of your medical certificates being in a different name?

I explained the bare minimal of my situation. They understood. They were desperate to employ me.

They stood facing each other, years of memories brimming to the surface, emotions bubbling in a hot cauldron.

Marcia noted that Joel’s appearance hadn’t changed much in the five years since she’d seen him last. But there was a novel attractive look of maturity she had not seen before. He stood a full head taller than her height, and she was tall for a woman. His broad shoulders were visibly heaving up and down as he breathed deeply, clearly affected by this chance meeting. Is anything chance?

He wore crisp navy trousers, a white shirt, and a comical Mickey Mouse tie that the sick children they attended to, would love. His skin was clear and fresh, a man who spent as much time outdoors as he could. He was highly tanned, she knew of his love for the ocean. He hadn’t lost his boyish habit of pushing his hands through a mop of unruly, dark, curly hair, that had a reddish glint when he was outside or under the light. His dark eyes signalled a swirl of meaning; she could sink into the pool at any time if she didn’t watch herself. Without a swimming costume, Marcia felt herself being pulled into the depths, dragged deep, and instinctively couldn’t take her eyes away. She was light-headed, almost drowning.

Desperately wanting to submit, afraid that he was going to pull her to him and wrap his long, secure arms around her, and never let her go, Marcia stepped back as she heard a woman’s voice outside the room, and a nurse blustered in.

The woman who burst in was a picture of beauty. She had long, red hair tied haphazardly back, although the loose, wild, ringlet curls were desperately, and successfully, trying to escape. She had a wonderful sense of liveliness about her, and with a lilting Irish brogue, she almost sang, oh Joel, I thought I saw you, and she laughed in a free, relaxed manner, as Joel placed his hands on her bottom, brought her to him, and kissed her full on the lips.

Marcia turned away, astonished, embarrassed, and angry at herself for feeling uncontrollably jealous. This was no proper start to her new job. Work was her life. It kept her sane.

Nothing seemed to worry Joel. He whispered to this nurse for a while, and then pivoted her around so the two women were facing. Dr Knight, meet nurse Una Byrne, our resident Irish Colleen, the apple of many a man’s eyes. The woman laughed easily, Marcia didn’t, but she took the hand offered and shook it, not reciprocating the friendly smile.

We are a very close team here at the Children’s Hospital, the nurse said, giggling with Joel. I’m very pleased to meet you. I hope you’ll be very happy here.

Marcia looked at her watch and grimaced, she hated being late. Una noticed her anxiety and reassured her. We’re in good time. I’ve come to collect you both, to take you to the Director, and she marched off in haste. The Director was clearly not someone to be kept waiting.

Joel walked beside Marcia, close, but not quite touching. How close a team is this, Dr Trucker? asked Marcia, still surprised at Joel and Una’s intimate greetings. Her face was grim. Icy cold. She shivered with nervous anticipation.

Oh, very close, Dr Knight. His grin was wicked, decidedly mischievous.

You always were very forward, Joel.

You have become strangely prim, Marcia. In fact, you appear as an Ice Maiden. Marcia looked straight ahead.

Hospital corridors are long, and Una marched off at a cracking pace, almost intuitively knowing when to slow down for Joel. Marcia couldn’t be anything but impressed with Joel’s obvious popularity. Everyone appeared to know him, some calling him Joel, others more formally, Dr Trucker. He had a kind or witty comment for all and sundry, and he seemed to know the names of the porters, the nurse assistants, the senior nurses, secretaries, cleaners, and consultants. Marcia was vividly aware of his presence beside her. It was impossible not to. Her heart was pounding.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination, and Marcia was surprised to see a small room full of twelve people. She recognised a few faces from her interview. The Director explained that she liked each working unit to meet at the start of the week, and this was a good time to introduce the team to Dr Knight, the new anaesthetist to the general surgery section of the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Marcia felt unusually startled when the Director asked her to tell the group a little about herself. It was a perfectly reasonable request. Normally, she was an easy, confident public speaker. She often gave talks about health to school children, and she loved speaking at mother and toddler groups. Today, the presence of the tall, handsome man whose eyes never stopped dancing in her direction, annoyingly unnerved her.

Their eyes met across the room. For a few seconds, it was as if no one else was in the hospital seminar room except themselves.

I can introduce Dr Knight, Joel said unexpectedly, an authoritative look of triumph on his fine-looking face.

Oh, do you two know each other? the Director asked, clearly surprised.

Not in the Biblical sense I hope, quipped Una gleefully, as everyone bar Marcia laughed easily.

Quick as a flash, not giving Joel the chance for any further exposure, fearing what he might say, Marcia retorted, we know each other from the past, we were at university together.

Why didn’t you mention that Joel when we were going through names? the Director asked.

Please God, cried Marcia to the heavens, please don’t let Joel blow my story. I might have graduated as Dr Collins, but I am now Dr Knight for very good reasons that no one here needs to know about. She sensed bemused faces looking at her and Joel. She avoided his gaze, embarrassingly conscious of those dark eyes penetrating through to her innermost being. They kept reaching their target, and she shivered inside.

After what felt like a long time, but was only a few seconds, Joel responded in a voice less animated than usual. Medical school seems a long way back. I’ve been in Melbourne, Dr Knight’s been up north. We’re both back in Sydney with wards full of sick children, and we all have important jobs to do.

No one seemed entirely convinced by the reply, but Joel’s charm carried him through. As usual.

Marcia took a deep breath and introduced herself briefly. In an offhand manner, she signalled toward Joel, while avoiding eye contact. Yes, I was at Melbourne University with Joel, we both were awarded scholarships. I specialised in anaesthesia. Apart from some holiday travel, I’d never seen much of the north of Australia, so I went to the Northern Territory to work with Aboriginal children. It was a fascinating time. I learnt an incredible number of new ideas about general practice, as well as my specialism. However, it’s very hot, and the presence of scary crocodiles means you can’t swim in the rivers or ocean, and she paused while the group laughed. Besides, my father is getting older and lonelier, and I wanted to return home to spend more time with him. I was delighted when this vacancy arose, and I’m very pleased to meet you all.

She meant this. The group members were friendly, open, and warmly welcoming. All of this augured