Language of Love

Chapter 47 - New Year's Eve

Shouldering the door to the tower open, Abi arrived on shift for New Year's Eve laden with cookies from Caitlinn.

Chappo and KC quickly relieved her of the stack of boxes. Chappo helping himself to some of the contents before placing them on the counter.
"How's it been?" Asked Abi as she scanned the seemingly calm tower and the busy beach beyond.
"Same old." Said KC, settling himself back into a chair.
"Southerly coming in later. That'll make the end of shift quieter." Chappo said.
"Sam's coming in at 2 so I can show her around." Abi said.
"Good of her to volunteer to help out tomorrow."
Abi was looking out the window, scanning the beach as she responded.
"Yeah. We've been talking about starting an interpreter consultancy together. We could share the Bondi and APOLA contracts and there's lots of other work out there. Between us we cover a lot of languages. We both think it's time to find something more long-term than teaching at the language school."
"And Caitlinn?"
Abi shook her head.
"Her visa ends in February. She's going back to the States."
"I'll miss the little firecracker." Chappo chuckled.
The radio buzzed to life.
"Troy to Central. Is Abs in yet?"
"Checkin' in on ya girl already?" Laughed Chappo.
"Got a Chinese school group down here needs moving to the flags."
Abi took the radio from Chappo.
"Hey. On my way."
"Hey Abs." Troy responded over the radio. "Bring a cookie with ya."
Laughter from others crackled over the radio.
"Totally ruined that little romantic moment with the food request Gonz." Harries voice crackled.
"Caitlinns cookies?!" Jake radioed in from North End. "Send some this way!"

Abi grabbed her own radio, strapped her microphone and battery pack to her arm, grabbed 3 large cookies from the box and jogged down to Backpackers.

Troy and Beardy were waist deep in the water, attempting to herd the coach load of Chinese teens back to shore when Abi arrived. She grabbed the loudspeaker and made the usual announcements. Most of the teens and their teachers listened and splashed their way back to shore. Abi watched as both Beardy and Troy each caught the arm of two students who were about to be swept off the sandbank and physically dragged them back onto the bank against the pull of the rip. The two then sheepishly returned to shore with the annoyed lifeguards close behind.
"Every time!" Beardy sighed as he gratefully took the towel Abi passed him and sat back in the rhino.

Abi held a towel out for Troy. He used it to pull her closer and wrap her in a wet hug.
"Brekkie with Mum sweet?" He asked.
"Yeah, it was nice." Abi replied. They settled into the rhino, all three of them munching a cookie whilst they caught Abi up on the morning so far on the beach. It had been pretty standard with no big rescues or first aids. Beardy joked that the film crews were bored.
"Don't curse it." Scolded Abi.

The radio blipped.
"Resus at the flags. Defib now." Jake called in and Abi gave Beardy a pointed look as they started the rhino and sped towards the other end of the beach. "Male, reckon in his 50s. Suddenly collapsed in shallow water."
"Heart attack?" Pondered Troy as they veered up the beach to collect KC, who was running down the tower steps with the defib.

KC jumped on the back and they sped on. Parking outside the ring of death the 3 lifeguards and Abi cleared a way through to find Harries doing chest compressions and Jake bagging the patient. Troy and KC prepped the defib whilst Beardy took over compressions. Abi looked around and spotted a distressed woman nearby.

"Do you know the patient?" Abi asked. The woman nodded her head and a stream of Italian followed. The man's wife was begging for him to be okay.
"Is he on any medication? Does he have a heart condition?" Abi asked.
"No, no heart problems. He has no medications." The woman replied.
"Has he seemed unwell at all?"
"He said he had a headache. This morning he said his arm ached."
"Okay. Come with me. We'll need to stay back from the lifeguards whilst they work but I'll keep you up to date with what's happening."
She led the wife a little closer to her husband and updated the team with the information she'd received from the wife. They'd administered a first shock from the defib and were back to chest compressions.

After a second shock Jake detected a pulse and by the time the ambulance arrived the man seemed to be coming round a little and breathing on his own. The wife was sobbing on Abi's shoulder and the lifeguards looked relieved to be handing over a living, but extremely ill, patient to the ambos.

Chappo radioed down from the tower and KC rushed off to perform another rescue at Backpackers. The others helped package the man up and transport him to the ambulance. Abi reassuring the wife and helping her stumble to the ambulance.

The doors closed and the lifeguards paused for a moment to watch the ambulance drive away. Troy slipped his arm round Abi's waist, giving her a reassuring squeeze. They all took a collective breath then turned and headed back to the beach.
"That was definitely Beardy's fault." Groused Abi.
The radio buzzed again.
"3 more in backpackers. KC'S going to need a hand."
Troy and Beardy sprinted away. Jake nipped into the tower, reemerging with a cookie before heading back towards the flags with Harries.

Abi leant against the railings for a moment, surveying the beach and watching the 4 lifeguards returning to their posts, before heading back in to join Chappo in the tower.

The Southerly blew in around 2pm. The wind kicking up the sand and the sky darkening with clouds. Most of the crowd quickly abandoned the beach with the weather change. Abi eyed the clouds dubiously. Chappo leant precariously far back in his chair.
"It's not meant to get gnarly. Bet the set up crew for the New Year Eve's party are nervous though." He gestured towards the busy promenade where teams of people were setting up staging, lights, security fencing and sound systems.
"You looking forward to tonight?"
"Yeah. It's sweet of Troy to do the touristy thing for me. I can't wait to see the fireworks over the harbour."

                     *     *     *    *

Shifts over, Troy was sat on the sofa waiting for Abi. She emerged from the bedroom in a black bodycon dress, her hair flowing down her back in blonde waves.
"So fucking beautiful." Troy breathed as he rose from the sofa.
Abi blushed then looked him over, taking in his black suit jacket with white trim. His hair now short again.
"Not bad yourself." She smiled as she slipped on her low heeled slingbacks.

He drew her into him, kissing her possessively before pulling away as his mobile rang.
"That'll be the cab." He said and they hurried down the steps to meet it.

                 *      *     *      *
The cab pulled up outside a busy restaurant on the harbour front. Troy opened Abi's door and together they headed inside, ignoring the paparazzi snapping photos out front. Abi gasped at the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
"Hop knows the owner." Troy supplied as they were shown to their table with an incredible view of the Opera House.

The 4 course meal was like nothing Abi had ever had before. Then afterwards Troy lead her further along the harbour to a new high-end club. He bypassed the queue and spoke to the bouncer who immediately let them in. A hostess met them with glasses of champagne and led them through the club to a VIP section, including a huge terrace with a view of the bridge and Opera House.
Taking a seat on a cushioned bench near the terrace edge they sipped their champagne.
"When I asked to see the fireworks I wasn't expecting this." Abi said.
"Too much?" Troy asked, looking nervous.
"No, this is incredible Troy."
"Figured I don't spoil ya enough. Ya put up with me, always working and training and hanging out with the guys. You deserve more moments like this."
Abi laughed "I really don't need spoiling Troy."
Troy leant in and rested his forehead against hers.
"I don't deserve you Abs." He whispered.
"Don't be ridiculous. Have you seen you?! I've no idea how you even looked twice at me."
Now it was Troy's turn to laugh.
"Babe. It's you that don't see yourself. You outclass even the ultimate."
Abi laughed at the return of his cockiness and pushed him playfully.
"Alright Ultimate. Let's go dance." She dragged him up and onto the terrace dancefloor where they danced until the countdown for New Year began.
Troy dragged her towards the edge of the terrace, making sure they had the perfect view of the harbour as the countdown continued
3.....2....1.....Happy New Year!

Abi missed the first few fireworks as she kissed her boyfriend, then turned in his arms to watch the show.