His voice was strong and deep and confident and Luci could feel it roll through her like waves rolling onto the shore. His voice caressed her and she was tempted to close her eyes as she listened. Maybe then she would be able to concentrate.
He was talking confidently about the cultural differences between the indigenous communities and those families with European backgrounds and the impact that had on the health of the children.
‘Indigenous families are often reluctant to bring their children to the health clinics because of the lessons history has taught them. Many are fearful but we know that early intervention and health checks save lives. Education is the key, not only by the health professionals but also by the schools. We know that educated people have a better standard of living and better health. We have been running playgroups and early learning sessions to encourage the families to come to the clinics and the hope is that the parents will then feel comfortable enough to enrol their kids in school. Our current focus from a health perspective is on nutrition and family support so for any of you who will spend time working with these communities during your placements you’ll need to be aware of the cultural sensitivities.’
Luci knew she should be taking notes but she was too busy watching and listening. She hadn’t been able to keep her eyes closed. It was too tempting to watch him. And she knew where to find him if she had any questions.
‘Funding is an issue—nothing new there,’ he was saying, ‘but the health department will continue to lobby for that. Our stats show there are benefits with these early intervention health programmes.’
There were lots of questions as Seb tried to wrap up his session. Luci guessed they all wanted to prolong the time that he spent in the room and even when he dismissed the class several of them crowded around him like kids around the ice-cream truck.
Luci gathered her notebook and laptop and shoved them into her bag. She wasn’t going to hang around. If he was finished by the time she was packed up she’d stop and talk to him, otherwise she’d leave. She picked up her bag and started up the steps.
‘Luci! Can you wait a moment?’ Seb’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
She hesitated. She had nowhere she had to rush off to. She had no reason not to wait. She dumped her bag on a chair and sat down, aware that some of the other girls were looking at her curiously. That was okay. She was used to being stared at and talked about.
Seb finished his discussions with the other students and came over to her.
‘Dr Hollingsworth?’ Luci was determined to get the first words in but that didn’t seem to faze Seb.
‘Nurse Luci.’ He was smiling at her, making her insides turn somersaults. Again. ‘Have you got time for a drink?’
‘Why?’
‘It seems we have some things to discuss, I thought it might be nice to share our secrets over a drink.’
‘I don’t have any secrets,’ she fibbed.
His grin widened. ‘Everyone has secrets,’ he said. He had his jacket and helmet tucked under one arm and he picked up Luci’s bag with his other hand. ‘Come on, I’ll give you a lift.’
‘Where are we going?’
Seb smirked, obviously sensing victory, and replied, ‘The Sandman, it’s about halfway down the beach.’
The bar was on North Steyne Street, a little over a kilometre away. Luci had walked past it before. ‘I’ll meet you there,’ she said. The walk would give her a chance to clear her head and hopefully time to get over her jitters. She wasn’t sure if this was a good idea but she couldn’t think of an excuse on the spot. She couldn’t think of anything much when Seb looked at her and smiled.
Luci took her bag from Seb and slung it over her shoulder. When she reached the beach she rolled up the legs of her khaki pants and slid her canvas sneakers off her feet and walked along the sand. The late-afternoon sun bounced off the waves, turning the water silver. Kids with surfboards ran in and out of the ocean, their shouts drowning out the screeching of the seagulls. The beach was busy. She didn’t know a soul but she was fine with that. Back home she couldn’t walk down the street without bumping into half a dozen people she knew and it was a pleasant change to have anonymity, especially after the past six months. It wasn’t always so great having everyone know your business.
She stepped off the beach opposite the bar. She walked on the grass to brush the sand from her feet then slipped her shoes back on. Seb had beaten her there and he lifted a hand in greeting as she crossed the street. As if she wouldn’t have noticed him—the bar was busy but he was easily the most noticeable person there.
Somehow, despite the crowd, he’d managed to grab a table with a view of the beach. He stood up as she approached and offered her a stool, his motorbike helmet on a third stool, like a chaperone.
‘What can I get you to drink?’
‘What are you going to have?’
‘A beer.’
‘That sounds great, thank you.’
Sturdy Norfolk pines lined the foreshore, guarding the beach, and Luci watched the ocean through the frame of the trees. She took her phone out of her bag as Seb went to the bar and snapped a photo of the view. She sent it to Flick captioned, After-work drinks, could get used to this! But she resisted saying anything about the company she was keeping. There was no way to describe how he made her feel. Nervous, excited, expectant. She was silly to feel those things, she knew nothing about him, and she knew she couldn’t share her thoughts, Flick would think she’d gone crazy.
She slipped her phone into her bag as Seb came back to the table.
He handed her a glass. ‘So, you’re a nurse?’
‘And you’re a doctor.’
‘I am. Is that how you met Callum? Through the hospital? How come I’ve never met you?’
Luci laughed. ‘Which question do you want me to answer first?’
‘Your choice.’
He was looking at her intently and her heart pounded in her chest. He made her feel nervous—a gorgeous man paying her attention. It was such an unfamiliar situation but she would have to admit she rather liked it. She didn’t even mind the nerves. It was exciting.
She took a sip of her beer as she thought about which answer to give him.
‘I’ve never actually met your brother. And I’ve never been to Sydney before, which would be why we’ve never met. Callum needed a place to stay and so did I. The house swap was convenient for both of us. Nothing more than that.’
Luci had been restless since her divorce and Flick had been pushing her to get out of Vickers Hill, but she’d needed more than a push. She was buying her ex’s share of their house and she couldn’t afford to pay her mortgage and rent elsewhere so it wasn’t until the house-swap idea had been suggested that she’d been brave enough to actually put a plan in motion. Having the opportunity to study and have free accommodation had been a big deciding factor for her. Which brought her back to the matter at hand. Where was she going to be able to stay now? It would be extremely inconvenient if she had to change her plans.
‘Callum didn’t tell me that he had any other tenants,’ she said. ‘I suppose I could look into nurses’ accommodation through the hospital if you want me to move out. Do you know if the hospital has any student accommodation? I’m afraid I don’t know anyone in Sydney to stay with.’
Seb shook his head. ‘You have more right to be there than I do. I told you, whatever plans you made with him stick. It’s his place and I’m not even