The Midwife's Secret Child

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The Midwife's Secret Child Page 15

by Fiona McArthur


  Look at her niece’s man. Though when she did, all she could see was joy. Which made Isabel smile.

  Dominico leaned in to say something but paused as another instruction came from the priest. They turned and Dominico reluctantly let her go to return to the altar to stand beside his brother. They did it all again one more time.

  ‘I think he likes you.’ Faith was grinning at her as she did her stately bridal walk past, a particularly unfazed, calm bride. How come she, Isabel, the maid of honour, had all the nerves since Dominico had arrived?

  Isabel whispered as she and Faith stood together to enter, ‘He’s too young. And he’s got issues.’

  Faith rolled her eyes at her. ‘Issues are right up your alley.’

  ‘You’re being silly.’ But she couldn’t stop the heat creeping up her cheeks.

  ‘I’ve never seen you blush before, Izzy,’ Faith teased. ‘Even when that locum doctor asked you out.’

  The next few minutes were blessedly question-free until she was back down the aisle with Dominico’s corded muscles beneath her arm again.

  ‘It should be you who brings Chloe over to our villa while the honeymooners tour Italy and France.’ Dominico’s voice was low.

  Isabel raised her brows. ‘They will only be away two weeks.’

  Dominico inclined his head. ‘They could then stay longer.’ He shrugged. ‘For my new sister-in-law’s peace of mind when her daughter is in Europe while she is away from Australian shores, of course.’

  Isabel glanced sideways with mild amusement at him. ‘And what would Chloe and I do while waiting in Florence?’

  ‘There is much to see.’ He lifted his head and smiled. Slowly and with a definitely wicked slant. Quite shocking after all the serious faces she’d seen from him earlier. ‘I would show you both around, of course.’

  Isabel laughed. ‘Thank you for the invitation. We’ll see what Faith wants to do.’

  ‘Not what you wish?’

  ‘I always do what I wish.’

  Two days later

  Raimondo’s heart thumped with slow, vast joy at the front of the white church on the hill above the waves. He lifted his face to the light and with infinite patience, indeed he owed his bride that, and with his brother Dominico’s shoulders level with his, they faced the round stained-glass depiction of Christ together and waited for Faith and her party to arrive.

  To those seated on the pews, waiting with them for the ceremony to begin, they must look like two dark men in this place of light.

  Beside him, Dominico’s face seemed hewn like the painted granite of the church, inscrutable as he stared ahead in his matching black suit. Raimondo had no doubt his brother was remembering his own tragic marriage and the loss of his family.

  He would not have gloom today. ‘Brother?’ Dominico turned to look at him and thankfully Raimondo noted the strain ease away. ‘Today is for rejoicing, yes?’

  ‘Indeed.’ Dominico’s mouth kinked upwards. ‘I rejoice. You managed to wait a whole month before you married her.’

  Raimondo laughed quietly. ‘It was not possible for more speed or it certainly would have been sooner. Thank you for being here.’ It had been difficult to extricate his brother from the many technicalities of an incinerated business, and a lethargy steeped in despair, but even Dominico had known he would have to come if Raimondo married in Australia.

  Raimondo smiled internally to himself as he stood, basking in the early afternoon sunshine through the round window, and waited with an eager heart for his beautiful bride. How much time he, Raimondo, had wasted without Faith by his side.

  Faith and Chloe. How could a man be so fortunate? He would ensure that he earned it in his care of his wife and daughter for the rest of his life. Perhaps they would be blessed by more family as well.

  He had to sympathise with his brother on the irresistible attraction of the Fetherstone women.

  At the wedding rehearsal his brother had been unusually taken with the maid of honour, but Isabel had brushed off Dominico’s attention as if she were the older, wiser woman fussed over by a boy. It had been amusing to Raimondo when she was only seven years the elder and Dominico... Well, his brother had been markedly ruffled by her dismissal.

  His smile kicked at the thought but he knew better than to say anything.

  Dominico had reluctantly left Florence with every intention of hurrying home as soon as the nuptials were completed. Though, to Raimondo’s delight, it had taken just one evening in the company of Isabel Fetherstone for Dominico to mention to his brother that he might stay ‘perhaps a little longer’.

  After the honeymoon, he and Faith would return here to live, where the sea breeze blew salty whispers through the open windows of the houses along with the sound of crashing waves and circling gulls.

  This bay, this place, held magic the like of which he had never seen before and watching his brother had made him pray for the healing of his sibling’s heart as well.

  He glanced over his shoulder to see in the congregation Faith’s friends and colleagues who would be his associates when he began work here. Yes, he could live here very happily for the rest of his life. There would be many times when he flew home but never again would he leave his new family behind.

  But that did not dim the expectation of showing Faith and Chloe his world. The delight of that was for the future.

  A car pulled up. He heard the doors open and his heart rate picked up. Soon. Soon he would see the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.

  The music started and a rustling at the door and shift of light drew all eyes to the entrance.

  Raimondo strained to see his bride.

  Ah. The little flower girls. His daughter, his Chloe like a daffodil in her sunshine-yellow dress, the lilac sash so pretty, her dark hair plaited around her sweet, serious face as she solemnly sprinkled yellow rose petals down the aisle for the bride. Little Piper followed her, her own basket of dewy softness on her arm as she copied her friend. They looked like fairies as their glowing faces spread joy like petals among the congregation.

  Isabel stepped into view, head up, large eyes excited, yet her face serene, her mouth curved in the happiness of the moment, and Raimondo felt his brother tense beside him. Sì, she was a vision. But not Raimondo’s vision.

  There Faith’s aunt waited, the maid of honour who’d refused to be a bridesmaid, the pale lilac dress highlighting the dark auburn of her hair, the silk that slid and slithered over the slim body modestly but with that hint of allure he found abundantly in Faith. Isabel stepped sideways and the music lifted to a climax and there she was.

  His bride. Standing in the doorway. Her inner light bathing him with love from fifty feet away as she caught and captured his gaze. His angel. His love. His Faith.

  Dios. So beautiful. Glorious. In that moment he swore he would never fall short of her needs again as he stood drinking in the sight of her as she paused in her walk towards him. His swelling heart overflowed with gratitude for this woman, so beautiful inside and out, and the love she offered him made his heart swell.

  * * *

  Faith stopped at the entrance to the church as she reached out and rested her hand lightly on Isabel’s arm. Isabel, her aunt, her friend, her rock, was the one to give her away for safekeeping into the arms of the man she loved, as she should be.

  She’d never thought this time would come, her at the front of a church, Raimondo waiting at the end of the aisle with such a powerful love shining her way she almost lifted off the ground with it, so it was with surprise she realised her fingers didn’t shake. That there was no caution as she threw herself and Chloe into this headlong rush of marriage.

  No doubts since the hospital, no doubts since Raimondo had promised his inclusion fully in their future. No doubts since he’d returned to stay by her side.

  Now she could imagine nothing else.

&n
bsp; The time was here.

  She looked ahead to where her husband-to-be seemed to fill the end of the aisle in his black tuxedo and white silk shirt, a yellow rose in his lapel, his eyes on her. Yes, his brother stood beside him but she had eyes only for Raimondo.

  Their eyes held and now her belly twitched and came alive. Her heart rate sped up and her breathing increased.

  Yes, Raimondo. I’m coming. She lifted her head and stepped forward, Isabel by her side, and closed the distance between herself and the man she would always love.

  * * *

  If you missed the previous stories in the Midwives of Lighthouse Bay trilogy, look out for

  A Month to Marry the Midwife

  Healed by the Midwife’s Kiss

  And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Fiona McArthur

  Midwife’s Marriage Miracle

  Midwife’s Christmas Proposal

  Midwife’s Mistletoe Baby

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling by Susan Carlisle.

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  Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling

  by Susan Carlisle

  CHAPTER ONE

  SALLY DAVIS PULLED her bag and a portable bottle of oxygen out of the back of the ambulance. The heat from the burning abandoned warehouse was almost unbearable. Her work coveralls were sticking to her sweating body.

  This structural fire was the worst she’d seen as a paramedic working with the Austin, Texas, Fire Department over the last year. Her heart had leaped as the adrenaline had started pumping when the call had woken her and the dispatcher had announced what was involved. These were the fires she feared the most. With a warehouse like this, there was no telling who or what was inside. There were just too many opportunities for injury, or worse.

  She watched as the flames grew. The popping and cracking of the building burning was an ironic contrast to the peace of the sun rising on the horizon. She didn’t have time to appreciate it though. She had a job to do.

  Moments later a voice yelled, “There’s someone in there!”

  Sally’s mouth dropped open in shock as she saw Captain Ross Lawson run into the flames. Even in full turnout gear with the faceplate of his helmet pulled down and oxygen tank on his back, she recognized his tall form and broad shoulders. Sally’s breath caught in her chest. What was wrong with him? Her heartbeat drummed in her ears as she searched the doorway, hoping...

  Sally had seen firefighters enter a burning building before but never one as completely enveloped as this one. She gripped the handle of her supply box. Would Ross make it out? Would there be someone with him?

  The firefighters manning the hoses focused the water on the door, pushing back the blaze.

  Every muscle in her body tightened as the tension and anticipation grew. Ross was more of an acquaintance, as she’d only shared a few shifts with him since moving to Austin. However, he and her brother were good friends. More than once she’d heard Kody praise Ross. From what little she knew about him he deserved Kody’s admiration.

  Right now, in this moment, as she waited with fear starting to strangle her, she questioned Ross’s decision-making. Since she had joined the volunteer fire department back in North Carolina, Sally had been taught that judgment calls were always based on the safety of the firefighter. She doubted Ross had even given his welfare any thought before rushing into the fire.

  The loss of one life would be terrible enough but the loss of a second trying to save the first wasn’t acceptable. In her opinion, Ross was taking too great a risk, the danger too high. He hadn’t struck her as a daredevil or adrenaline junkie but, then again, she didn’t know him that well. Was this particular characteristic of Captain Lawson’s one of the reasons Kody thought so highly of him?

  James, the emergency medical tech working with her, stepped next to her. “That takes guts.”

  A form appeared in the doorway, then burst out carrying a man across his shoulders. The sixty pounds of fire equipment he wore in addition to the man’s weight meant Ross was carrying more than his own body weight. Sally had to respect his physical stamina, if not his reckless determination.

  Two firefighters rushed to help him, but he fell to the ground before they could catch him. The man he carried rolled off his back to lie unmoving beside him, smoke smoldering from his clothes.

  “You take Captain Lawson. I’ll see to the man,” Sally said to James as she ran to them.

  Ross jerked off his helmet and came up on his hands and knees, coughing.

  Placing the portable oxygen tank on the ground, she went to her knees beside the rescued man, clearly homeless and using the warehouse to sleep in, and leaned over, putting her cheek close to his mouth. As the senior paramedic at the scene, she needed to check the more seriously injured person. Ross had been using oxygen while the homeless man had not.

  Her patient was breathing, barely. She quickly positioned the face mask over his mouth and nose, then turned the valve on the tank so that two liters of oxygen flowed. By rote she found and checked his pulse. Next, she searched for any injuries, especially burns. She located a couple on his hands and face. Using the radio, she called all the information in to the hospital.

  “We need to get this man transported STAT,” Sally called to her partner.

  Another ambulance had arrived and took over the care of Ross, leaving James free to pull a gurney her way. With the efficiency of years of practice, they loaded the man and started toward the ambulance. She called to the EMT now taking care of Ross. “How’s he doing?”

  The EMT didn’t take his eyes off Ross as he said, “He’s taken in a lot of smoke but otherwise he’s good.”

  “Get him in a box. I still want him seen,” she ordered.

  Ross shook his head. “I’m fine.” He coughed several times.

  “I’m the medic in charge. You’re going to the hospital to be checked out, Captain.”

  He went into another coughing fit as she hurried away. She left the EMT to see that the stubborn captain was transported back to the hospital.

  Minutes later she was in the back of the ambulance—the box, as it was affectionately known—with the homeless man. While they moved at a rapid speed, she kept busy checking his vitals and relaying to the hospital emergency room the latest stats. The staff would be prepared for the patient’s arrival.

  The ambulance pulled to a stop and moments later the back doors were opened. They had arrived at the hospital. A couple of the staff had been waiting outside for them. Sally and one of the techs removed the gurney with the man on it.

  As other medical personnel began hooking him up to monitors, she reported quickly to the young staff nurse, “This is a John Doe for now. He was in a burning warehouse. Acute smoke inhalation is the place to start.”

  Just as she was finishing up her report, the gurney with Ross went by. She followed it into the examination room next to the John Doe. Ross’s coat had been removed and his T-shirt pulled up. He still wore his yellow firefighter pants that were blackened in places. Square stickers with monitoring wires had been placed on his chest connecting him to machines nearby. Aware of how inappropriate it was for her to admire the contours of his well-defined chest and abdomen, she couldn’t stop herself. The man kept himself in top physical shape. It was necessary with his field of work but his physique suggested he strove to surpass the norm. No wonder he’d been able to carry the man out of the burning building.

  Hi
s gaze met hers. Heated embarrassment washed over her and she averted her eyes. Ogling a man, especially one that she worked with, wasn’t what she should be doing.

  Ross went into another round of heavy coughing that sent her attention to the amount of oxygen he was receiving. The bubble in the meter indicated one liter, which was good. Still, at this rate it would take him days to clear the smoke from his lungs.

  Sally stepped closer to his side and spoke to no one in particular. “How’s he doing?”

  One of the nurses responded. “He seems to be recovering well. We’re going to continue to give him oxygen and get a chest X-ray just to be sure that he didn’t inhale any more smoke than we anticipated.”

  “I’m right here, you know.” Ross’s voice was a rusty muffled sound beneath the mask. He glared at her. This time her look remained on him.

  “You need to save your voice.”

  He grimaced as a doctor entered. What was that look about? Surely, he wasn’t afraid of doctors.

  Slipping out of the room as the woman started her examination, Sally stepped to the department desk and signed papers releasing Ross and the John Doe as her patients into the hospital’s care. Done, she joined the EMTs at her ambulance.

  She gave James a wry smile. “Good work out there this morning.”

  “You too,” he replied as he pulled out of the drive.

  In the passenger seat, she buckled up, glad to be out of the back of the box. She wasn’t a big fan of riding there.

  She shivered now at the memory of when she’d been locked in a trunk and forgotten while playing a childhood game. To this day she didn’t like tight spaces or the dark. Being in the square box of the ambulance reminded her too much of that experience. It was one of those things she just dealt with because she loved her job.

  Sally leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Ross’s light blue gaze over the oxygen mask came to mind. She’d met Ross Lawson soon after she had moved to Austin and gone to work for the Austin Medical Emergency Service, the medical service arm that worked in conjunction with the fire department that shared the same stations and sometimes the same personnel when a fireman was also qualified to work the medical side. As an advanced paramedic, she was assigned Station Twelve, one of the busiest houses of Austin’s forty-eight stations. It just happened that it was the same station where her brother and Ross worked. She hadn’t missed that twinge of attraction when she and Ross had first met any more than she had this morning. But she had never acted on it and never would.

 

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