Chapter 3
Life in the outback carried on apace, with all the trials and tribulations of the 'Queen of the Outback' competition, plus emergencies, clinic runs etc. Chris and Grace chatted by phone a couple of times a week, and they both looked forward to Grace moving. They decided that initially she would stay with Chris while they saw how things worked out.
Then the day after Emma was crowned 'Queen of the Outback' came the plane crash on the way back from the competition. When Geoff, Kate and Debbie got to the crash site, they could only see one person outside of the plane, the original pilot. Inside they found Chris trying to tend to Gibbo, with George trying to suggest that Chris should lie down and think of the baby. Geoff and Kate forced Chris, who admitted she was worried she might be bleeding, to lie down until they could check her over. Assisted by George, they battled to free Gibbo from the wreckage.
The next few hours were a blur for everyone. Chris was frustrated by not being allowed to help, but she recognised the concern for her baby. Kate found herself disproportionately concerned for George, who had ignored his broken arm to try and help Gibbo and Chris - she found herself kissing his cheek as she passed on her way to theatre. Sharon sat with Gibbo, trying to be strong for him. Geoff worried about everyone, busy in a frantic whirl of activity.
The following day Chris was released from hospital and Grace arrived to take care of her and ensure she took things easy for a week or so. George apologised for his previous treatment of Kate, telling her that he loved her and wanted to change his lifestyle to one where she would be happy to join him. Kate realised that she loved George despite everything, though she was not yet willing to commit to him.
And Gibbo died, despite all they could do, on his way to Broken Hill for further treatment.
They all sat together at the memorial service. Kate clutched George's good hand tightly, aware of how easily it could have been him or Chris they were remembering.
Chris sat with Grace, crying as she thought that Tom's former housemate would not be around to meet Tom's child, but grateful at the same time that her baby was safe.
Geoff, whilst sad and sorrowful, realised that he felt at home with these people. At home in this small community.
As they sat together they drew strength from each other and were grateful when they were called out during the wake.
Life moved on as life has to. Sam Patterson came to join the team as the new pilot. Joe decided to make the leap and follow his theatrical ambitions, so DJ joined the team and livened things up at the base. Dr. Turner and Matron Fisher both took retirement. George was elected as the local MP and proposed to Kate, who, much to her own surprise, found herself accepting. She planned to carry on working, but wanted to have rather have more regular hours. She and George were planning to live in the Crossing, where he was building them a luxurious new house. Due to being in Canberra when Parliament was sitting, George was planning to put a manager in on his property. So Geoff and Chris started to put plans into action for how to run the hospital and the base, plus planning for Chris's maternity leave.
The plan was to integrate the hospital and the base, so the idea was to put Kate in overall charge at the hospital and to get a new nurse for RFDS work. Chris and Geoff would share the hospital and RFDS duties, plus Chris's maternity cover was coming soon, so that there could be some overlap of personnel to ease the transition.
So in the last six weeks before the baby arrived Sister Jenny Jones arrived to work for the RFDS, while Dr. Sheila Hughes arrived to cover Chris's maternity leave. Everyone was anxious to keep Chris's workload light, though persuading her that would be a good idea was not easy. Her former headstrong and impulsive self seemed to have returned to an extent as she grew accustomed to her new circumstances, and additionally she had taken Grace's words about the importance of a career to heart. But in truth, a handover period was helpful; not least because it kept Sheila under control, who turned out to be a woman of very fixed opinions - she made Frank and Ingrid look like movers and shakers. Jenny had settled in immediately though, so Geoff just reminded himself every night that Sheila was only there for six months. He just hoped he could survive for that long.
Two weeks before Chris's due date Grace arrived for good. Once she arrived Chris finally agreed to slow down, and the two women spent the remaining time preparing for the baby's arrival. They both enjoyed sharing a house, which they had agreed was a good place to start, at least while the baby was small. They had tentative plans for Grace to move out in time, but for now they were both happy.
Chris's baby finally arrived five days late, delivered by Geoff and Kate, with Grace by her side for support. The little girl was tiny, barely six pounds, with hair as dark as Tom's. Grace shed a tear at the thought of what Tom was missing, but Chris was entranced by her little girl and only had eyes for her. All the pain and heartache of the last nine months was worth it for this moment - despite having delivered many babies herself Chris was not prepared for the overwhelming emotion and the total love she felt for her daughter.
"Amy. Amy Grace." she murmured to the baby in her arms. She smiled at Tom's mother. "I know her last name will have to be Randall, but I think her having your name works, don't you?"
Grace smiled through her tears, "I'm honoured Chris. She's so beautiful, thank you for letting me be here with you." She stroked Amy's cheek with a gentle finger.
"It's me that should be thanking you for being here."
