Loe raamatut: «A Mother for His Baby»

CHAPTER ONE

‘I FORGOT to ask.’ Jo stopped abruptly and caught Fliss’s arm. ‘Who’s the best man?’

‘Brady McNeal. Friend of the groom. He’s a doctor.’

‘At least half the wedding guests are,’ Jo said with pithy humour. ‘Is he local?’

‘McNeal? Don’t think so. Someone said he’s just arrived back from overseas. If you’d been at Sophie’s hen party you’d have heard all about him.’

‘Well, if I hadn’t been on holidays I would have been there.’

‘Our little gang of three is breaking up, isn’t it?’ Fliss sounded a note of regret. ‘Seems only last week when we graduated. And now Soph and Ben are relocating to Sydney, you’re stuck in your rural practice at Mt Pryde and I’m the only one left here.’

‘Hey, you, don’t get maudlin.’ Jo gave Fliss’s shoulder a little squeeze. ‘We’ll have to organise a regular get-together or something.’

Fliss’s face lit up. ‘We could do that, couldn’t we? Either in Sydney or here in Brisbane.’

‘Or you could both come to me.’

Fliss rolled her eyes.

‘For heaven’s sake!’ Jo remonstrated laughingly. ‘Mt Pryde is barely a two-hour drive from the city’.

‘Honey, two minutes from the city and I get withdrawal symptoms. The sticks aren’t for me. But I know you love it there,’ Fliss placated her friend quickly. ‘I just don’t know what on earth you find to do. And how could you possibly meet any men!’

Jo shook her head, giving the silk wrap over her bare shoulders a little straightening twitch. They’d been down this road a dozen times. Fliss loved the buzz of working in a state-of-the-art city clinic where they specialised in sports medicine, while she herself relished the grass-roots nature of medicine in a country practice where everyone knew the doctors and the doctors knew one another’s patients almost as well as their own families.

‘Oh, look!’ Fliss gave a muted squeal. ‘Here’s the bride now. Oh, bless…Doesn’t she look gorgeous?’

‘Yes.’ Jo’s reply was soft but heartfelt as she watched Sophie, on the arm of her father, moving slowly towards them along the paved walkway for her wedding to her soul-mate, Ben Landers.

Would she ever be so lucky? Jo wondered. At thirty-two she’d had several relationships but they hadn’t lasted and she certainly hadn’t met a man she’d wanted to spend the rest of her life with, laugh with, have babies with. But Sophie and Ben had it all.

‘Let’s get a bit closer.’ Fliss hooked her arm through Jo’s and manoeuvred them to within smiling distance of the groom and his best man, who were standing with the marriage celebrant against the backdrop of rainforest in the Brisbane botanic gardens.

Seeing them, Ben grinned and mock-swiped his brow in a thank heavens she’s here kind of gesture.

‘As if,’ Fliss mouthed, and made a small face back at the bridegroom.

Jo caught none of the interplay between the two. Her eyes were riveted on the best man. Brady McNeal was all male. Impressive height with broad shoulders delineated by the superbly cut charcoal suit. And not bad-looking either.

There was a moment when he turned his dark head towards Jo and smiled. A smile that was wry, slightly lopsided, and was gone in a blink.

The fact that it sent slivers of warmth to every corner of her body was immaterial. Jo dipped her head, convinced her cheeks were on fire and thanking heaven no one had noticed. Instead, all eyes were on the bride as she took her place beside her groom and slipped her hand into his.

* * *

‘Wasn’t it a lovely ceremony?’ Fliss sighed. ‘I think I’d like something just like that.’

‘Someone in mind?’ Jo said jokingly, as they trotted along on their higher than high heels up the street towards the restaurant where the reception was to be held.

‘Mind your own, Josephine.’

‘So there is!’ Jo dug her friend in the ribs. ‘You drama queen. Who is he?’

‘Daniel,’ Fliss said airily. ‘He’s a pilot.’

‘Well that makes a change. Why isn’t he with you?’

‘He’s overnighting to Perth or he would have been.’

‘Oh, well, that just leaves me unattached,’ Jo said philosophically.

Fliss sent her an arch look. ‘Plenty of eye candy amongst the guest list, babe. What about Brady McNeal?’

Jo felt heat scorch her cheeks. ‘Don’t be daft.’

‘According to the goss, he’s single.’ Fliss waggled well-shaped brows suggestively.

‘And I’ll be miles away from here by this time tomorrow,’ Jo pointed out in exasperation. ‘Get real.’

‘She who hesitates…’ Fliss trilled.

‘Oh, ha,’ Jo said in a bored voice. ‘Look, here we are.’ Grabbing Fliss by the elbow, she steered them off the street into the up-market restaurant.

* * *

Brady McNeal looked around him. The reception was in full swing, the hum of conversation filling the small, intimate restaurant. It had been a nice wedding and he’d enjoyed himself more than he’d expected to.

He hadn’t really known anyone except Ben. And Sophie he’d met only recently. But they’d managed to sort him out and he’d met most of their friends—except the cool-looking blonde he’d made eye contact with in the gardens.

When Sophie had dragged him over to their table to ‘meet the guys’ as she’d termed it, the blonde had been at another table, in a huddle with Sophie’s parents and with her back to him.

Well, what did it matter anyway? He was miles away from pursuing a new relationship. That possibility had gone out the window months ago. When Tanya had simply walked away from him.

Leaving him to pick up the pieces of the life they could have had together.

In his more fanciful moments, Brady likened the hurt she’d left behind to a thorn embedded so deeply it could never be removed. He could only hope that one day enough scar tissue would have formed over the hurt so that he barely felt it any more.

And maybe someday he’d find someone special to share his life with. And maybe not. Oh, hell, it was all too difficult, he thought, pulling back the sleeve of his white shirt to glance at his watch.

His mouth compressed slightly. Another couple of hours should see his official duties here ended and he could decently make his exit.

And next week he would begin a new phase of his life. The small rural town with its ring of blue mountains was calling him. He just hoped and prayed he’d made the right decision.

* * *

The newlyweds had left the reception and the farewells were still echoing in Jo’s head as she made her way swiftly along the city block to the parking station.

Some of the guests were going on to a nightclub and Fliss had tried to coax her along, but Jo had declined. She had to drive back to Mt Pryde early the next day to be ready for surgery on Monday.

Saturday night revellers spilled out of a pub, jostling each other, and Jo sidestepped quickly out of the way. After only a couple of nights in the city, she was longing for the relative tranquillity of her country lifestyle.

Crossing the street to where the deserted high-rise buildings lent a somewhat eerie feel to the atmosphere, Jo shivered slightly, taking a tighter grip on the strap of her little beaded shoulder-bag. It was then she became aware someone was following closely behind.

She quickened her steps, relieved to see the neon sign of the parking station up ahead. I don’t need this, she said silently, increasing her pace until she was almost running.

‘Hey!’ A deep voice rang out behind her. ‘It’s OK. I’m from Ben and Sophie’s wedding party—Brady McNeal.’

Spinning round Jo put her hand to her heart. ‘Oh—it is you.’

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.’ Brady’s dark gaze homed in on her sudden pallor. ‘You OK?’

Jo managed a weak smile, feeling slightly foolish. ‘I will be now I know I’m not about to be mugged. We didn’t get to meet at the wedding,’ she added breathlessly, holding out her hand. ‘I’m Jo.’

‘Hi.’ Brady took her hand. ‘You’re the third doctor.’

Jo blinked. ‘Sorry?’

He grinned. ‘Sophie mentioned the gang of three. You, she and Fliss. You all trained together, didn’t you?’

‘Ah…yes. We’ve been friends for ages. And you’re a friend of Ben’s, I take it?’

He nodded. ‘We trained together, too.’

Jo gave a little laugh. ‘This is all a bit ridiculous, isn’t it?’

Brady’s smile was slow and a bit lopsided. ‘Perhaps we were destined to meet.’

Jo took a small step backwards, clasping the silk of her wrap more tightly across her chest. Was this a chat-up line? ‘Are you parked nearby?’ she countered awkwardly.

Well, he’d stuffed that up nicely. Brady had seen the sudden defensiveness hazing her green eyes. ‘I’m collecting my car from the parking station,’ he said briskly. ‘I imagine you’re on the same errand?’

‘Yes.’ Jo licked her lips, her heart thumping and pattering. They began walking again. ‘Are you just in town for the wedding?’ she asked conversationally.

‘My movements are a bit fluid at the moment.’

Well, that seemed to be that. Jo scrabbled in her purse for her parking receipt. ‘I’m on the third floor,’ she said, assuming they would say their goodbyes.

‘Me, too.’ Brady summoned the lift and waited for her to get in.

In the few seconds while the lift groaned its way upwards, the silence was awkward. Keeping her gaze carefully averted, Jo took a sneaky look at Brady McNeal as he hooked his suit jacket over his shoulder and slouched against the opposite wall of the lift. Nice eyes, she thought, and cheekbones to die for, and the snug fit of his suit trousers indicated a pair of long, muscular legs. She was still fanatisising when the lift jerked to a stop.

‘I’ll walk with you to your car.’ He took her elbow firmly as they vacated the lift. ‘These places are spooky at the best of times.’

And she was parked at the very end of a long, long row of vehicles. ‘Perhaps we should have both taken cabs in the first place,’ she suggested on a laugh made brittle by a flood of nerves when his guiding hand on her elbow slid down to entwine her fingers in his.

It was the lightest contact, casual and probably without meaning, yet Jo was suddenly, vividly aware of Brady’s masculinity. For an instant some maverick part of her longed for him to stop and whirl her into his arms. Hold her close. Kiss her…

‘Nah.’ Brady vetoed the idea of taxis with a huff of amusement. ‘I prefer to have my own wheels handy. You can never find a cab when you need one.’

‘And there always seem to be twenty people in line before you,’ she agreed, in a voice that was too high and too bright. ‘It was a nice wedding, wasn’t it?’ Determined to keep up the innocuous chatter, Jo changed conversation channels quickly.

‘Uh, yes, it was. Let’s hope they can stay the distance.’

‘Of course they will. They’re dotty about each other.’

The corners of Brady’s mouth tucked in on a small grimace. ‘There are valid reasons to go into marriage other than being dotty about each other, Jo.’

‘Reasons like money or position?’ Jo couldn’t keep the faint note of censure out of her voice.

Brady was taken aback. They weren’t his reasons at all. Would never be. His reasons were entirely personal. Way too personal to share with someone he’d just met. Even someone as delectable as the lady by his side.A slow, fence-mending smile edged his mouth. ‘No. Speaking personally, I’d never want to marry someone for those reasons.’

It was said with obvious sincerity and Jo felt her heart warm again. She managed a fleeting smile. ‘I wouldn’t either. Ah…’ She pointed ahead. ‘That’s my car at the end, the white hatchback.’

Brady looked at the gleaming paintwork and grinned. ‘Been through the carwash for the occasion, has it?’

‘Something like that. But by this time tomorrow it’s bound to be nice and dusty again,’ she predicted ruefully.

Brady’s dark brows peaked. ‘You don’t work here in the city, then?’

‘Haven’t for ages. I love my relatively quiet existence in a country practice. What about you?’

Brady released her hand abruptly as they came to a halt beside her car. ‘For the moment I’m staying with my parents at Bardon. Taking off to a new job shortly.’

‘Well, good luck, then.’ Hurriedly, Jo delved into her bag again for her keys. Unlocking the door of the car, she stood back for a second. ‘It was…nice meeting you, Brady,’ she said, a bit stiltedly.

‘You, too.’ He stretched in front of her to open the door of the car. His shoulder nudged her arm and the side of her breast before she could step out of the way.

‘Thanks.’ Jo’s thoughts were in wild disarray as she slid into the driver’s seat. Suddenly, everything that was male about Brady had assailed her. Everything from the clean crisp smell of apple-scented laundry softener on his shirt to the subtle male aftershave on his jaw as he’d swooped across her to open the door. ‘Take care, then,’ she said from behind the safe haven of her wound-down window.

‘And you.’ Brady sketched a casual salute, before turning away.

Jo watched as Brady loped back along the row of parked cars and then dodged through the line, obviously to collect his own vehicle.

What was it all about? She gnawed her lip thoughtfully. Perhaps they’d meet up again one day. After all, they had friends in common. The thought wasn’t too far-fetched. Jo shivered involuntarily and admitted she would have liked the chance to get to know Brady McNeal better. A whole lot better.

* * *

He should have asked for her phone number. Brady started the engine of his car and shot towards the exit sign. He huffed a self-deprecating laugh. Hell, he didn’t even know her surname. But Sophie would. His heart somersaulted.

Was he ready for even the most tenuous kind of relationship, though? But in terms of area, Queensland was a vast state. For all he knew, Jo’s country practice could be at the opposite end of the state from where he was going. But they could always email. Relationships had been sustained by much less personal contact. His hopes rose briefly and then flagged. Best forget it. Forget Jo with the tiny freckles across her nose and the very sweet way she smiled.

Get real, he admonished himself silently. What woman in her right mind would want you and your baggage, McNeal?

* * *

The morning at Mt Pryde Medical Centre began to unfold like a typical Monday. Even before Jo had time to stow her case and switch on her computer, Angelo Kouras, one of the partners, poked his head in.

‘Welcome back, stranger. Nice holiday?’

‘The best.’ Jo’s parents ran a bed and breakfast in North Queensland and it was her idea of the perfect holiday; with her mother’s fabulous cooking, her dad’s extensive wine cellar and nothing to do but swim and snorkel, day in and day out.

‘Good trip back?’

‘No dramas. What about here?’

‘A few, but we handled them.’ Angelo tilted a wry smile. ‘Ah, staff meeting at one o’clock, Jo. I’ve asked Monica to cater lunch. We’ve serious business to discuss.’

Jo frowned. Was a patient about to sue? Or were they simply running out of funding? ‘What’s up?’

Angelo came in and closed the door. ‘Ralph’s decided to retire.’

‘What—just like that?’

‘Said he’s been thinking about it for a while. And Lilian’s keen to relocate to Brisbane to be near the grandchildren apparently.’

Jo’s mind began racing. She hated these kinds of changes. They’d have to advertise for a new partner, cull the applicants, make a short-list, interview…She clicked her tongue. ‘I’ve only been out of the place for a month and all this happens.’

Angelo parked himself on the corner of her desk. ‘Ralph dropped his bombshell on Tom and me the day after you’d left on holidays. So at least we’ve had a bit of time to get cracking. Got some ads in pronto.’

‘Any luck?’

‘Six replies. We knocked it down to a short-list of three and selected someone. Sorry, you weren’t here for the interviews but I think you’ll be happy with our choice. He’s been working in rural medicine in Canada for the past couple of years. Seemed to latch on pretty quickly to what we wanted here. And he wants to put down roots.’ Angelo grinned. ‘And the best part is he’s had experience in anaesthetics, which will no doubt please Pen.’

Jo nodded. Angelo’s wife, Penny, was the sole fully qualified anaesthetist at the local hospital and was constantly on call. Still, Jo felt slightly miffed that they’d gone ahead and made the selection without her. Her chin came up in query. ‘Does this paragon have a name?’

‘Brady McNeal. He trained at the Prince Alfred in Melbourne. Excellent CV.’

Jo felt the wind knocked out of her, dropping into her chair as though her strings had been cut. ‘Brady McNeal’s coming to work here?’

Angelo’s dark eyes blinked a bit behind his steel-framed spectacles. ‘Well…yes. Is there a problem?’

Make it a thousand. Jo’s thoughts were spinning. ‘It’s just odd, that’s all.’ She gave a jagged laugh. ‘I actually met Dr McNeal at my friend’s wedding on Saturday. He was the best man.’

‘You’re kidding!’ Angelo’s head rocked back in disbelief. ‘And he didn’t mention his appointment to Mt Pryde at all?’

Jo made a gesture with the palm of her hand. ‘I spoke to him only briefly after the wedding. We’d left our cars at the same parking station and walked along together.’

‘Odd he didn’t make the connection, though. I mean, he was made aware Josephine Rutherford was our female member of the practice.’

Except she’d introduced herself merely as Jo.

‘And we certainly made a point of telling him you’d have been at his interview, except you were on leave,’ Angelo went on.

Jo switched her gaze from Angelo’s puzzled face to her framed medical certificate on the wall behind him. ‘I don’t think I used my surname.’

‘Ah, that would explain it.’ Angelo looked relieved.

‘So, when is Dr McNeal joining us?’

‘Officially next Monday. But he’ll be here today to sign a contract with us and I believe he wants to organise a child-minder for his son.’ Angelo slid to his feet. ‘I know you have an interest in paeds and you’re up to date with the child-care facilities in the town, so I told him you’d be the best person to help him with that,’ he added ingenuously.

So the man was obviously married. Jo pushed back a sick kind of resentment. He certainly hadn’t acted married—giving her all that attention in the car park. Holding her hand, for heaven’s sake! Yet she wouldn’t have put him down as a sleaze either.

It was puzzling and disappointing. She’d hoped…well, what had she hoped? She felt her throat close and swallowed. ‘Is…his wife coming along with him today?’

Angelo’s mouth compressed for a second. ‘There’s no wife, Jo. Brady is a single father. Not unheard of in this day and age—even in Mt Pryde.’

Jo gathered herself, feeling she’d just fallen down a cliff and now had to scramble back up. ‘When am I to have this meeting with him, then?’

‘Three o’clock this afternoon. Vicki will reschedule your list as much as possible. Anything else, I’ll cover for you, OK?’

Well, it had to be, didn’t it? Jo got to her feet and walked Angelo to the door. ‘I’d like to, um, glance through Dr McNeal’s CV, acquaint myself with his background a bit before we meet, if that’s all right?’

‘Of course. See Monica. We can have your input, then, at the meeting. The sooner we get things sorted, the better.’

With Angelo gone, Jo sank onto the edge of her desk, aware of the faint trembling in her fingers as she picked up her mail. She couldn’t help but wonder what Dr Brady McNeal’s reaction would be when they came face to face again.