THE GIFT OF A CHILD

by Sue MacKay

  ‘I doubt she’ll be surprised. Mum doesn’t miss much. She probably even guessed we’d grab takeaways and head back here.’ Jodi winked at him. ‘Though you needn’t think you’re getting out of taking me to dinner at one of those fabulous restaurants down on the Viaduct.’ Jodi trailed her fingers through the light hairs on his chest. ‘I was really looking forward to that, but somehow we got sidetracked.’

  Yeah, the moment he’d thought about them having a deep and meaningful discussion over dinner he’d changed his mind about going to the amazing restaurant he’d chosen. That was for fun, for romance, not for dissecting their past relationship. ‘I’ll definitely take you there another night. Soon, I promise.’ He crossed his fingers briefly.

  Jodi chuckled. ‘I’ll keep you to that.’

  ‘Anyway, you sidetracked me. Not the other way round.’

  She blushed. ‘I did, didn’t I?’ Her eyes widened, big brown pools that drew him in. ‘I’d decided this wasn’t going to happen again. At least not until everything else was out of the way.’ The smile she bestowed on him was wicked and cheeky. ‘But when you came out of your bedroom looking so mouth-wateringly gorgeous I lost the argument.’

  ‘So why did we get into my four-wheel drive and start heading into town?’ It was Jodi who was gorgeous, not him. Dressed in a knee-length dress that floated around her as she moved, the colour—not quite emerald, not quite turquoise—suited her perfectly. His heart had thumped wildly at the sight of her. Wild horses wouldn’t have stopped him from kissing her then. And that stunning dress hadn’t stayed on very long.

  A while later they’d had to get ready all over again, only to get as far as the first Chinese takeout shop before buying some food and racing home again.

  ‘I’d just bought the dress. I had to wear it out somewhere.’ Had she thought this might happen when she’d packed it? Her finger circled his nipple. Her tongue replaced her finger, licking slowly, tantalisingly.

  Hot need shot through him, waking up every muscle in his body. Again.

  ‘You want more? So soon?’ He pushed up on his elbow and leaned over her, kissing those fingers, taking them into his mouth.

  ‘It’s this, or having a quick shower and going back to the hospital.’ Her hand reached down between his legs. ‘Your call.’

  It was no contest. Sliding his body over hers, he gave her his answer.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ‘JODI? CAN WE COME IN?’

  Jodi dragged herself upright from Jamie’s bed and ran her hands over her hair and down her face. ‘Claire? Of course you can. I’m a bit of a mess but, hey, it’s good to see you.’ Exhaustion dragged at her muscles, numbed her mind.

  Claire stepped closer, tugging a little girl with her. ‘I’ve brought you something for your lunch.’

  ‘You’re an angel, you know that?’

  ‘Don’t talk daft. How’s Jamie doing?’ she whispered.

  ‘It’s okay, you won’t disturb him. He wakes and sleeps as he needs to and no amount of noise will unsettle him.’ She stretched her kinked back as she looked at the child hanging on to Claire. ‘Hello, you must be Lilly.’

  ‘Lilly Silly Billy.’ The girl grinned and shook her head in all directions. ‘That’s what my friends call me cos I’m always dancing and singing and laughing. Want me to show you a dance?’

  Claire quickly cut off that line of thought. ‘No, Lilly, no. We’re in hospital, remember? Sick people don’t like lots of noise.’

  ‘I’d do it quietly, Mum, promise.’

  Claire rolled her eyes. ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word.’

  Jodi smiled at Lilly. ‘Maybe another time. I know, what about when we’re at Mitch’s house? Do you go there with your mum sometimes?’

  ‘After play centre I do. Can I see Jamie? Why’s he asleep in the morning?’ Lilly began climbing up on the bed.

  ‘It was a mistake, bringing you here.’ Claire lifted Lilly back down to the floor.

  Jodi pushed a chair towards Claire. ‘No, I’m glad you dropped by. Lilly’s not a problem. It’s okay if Jamie wakes up. Truly. A little distraction would be good for him. But, Lilly…’ Jodi lifted the girl onto her knees. ‘See all those tubes?

  ‘They’re stuck to Jamie with plaster.’

  ‘Yes, those ones. Now, you have to be very careful not to bump any of them because you could hurt Jamie if one gets pulled out by accident.’ Her heart ached for her boy who, if he woke up, would be gutted that he couldn’t play with Lilly. He’d missed out on so many opportunities to have fun with other kids over the years. It seemed so unfair. Sometimes having all the stories in the world read to him just didn’t cut it.

  ‘I’ll be good,’ Lilly assured her earnestly. Then her face split into another wide smile. ‘I’m always good, aren’t I, Mum?’

  Again Claire rolled her eyes. ‘Of course you are.’ Then she turned to Jodi. ‘I dropped your mum off at the airport.’

  ‘You’re kidding! Mrs Independence accepted a lift?’ Mum held on to her money like it was a lifeline but she also never took offers of help from people she didn’t know very well. Oh. ‘I get it. She grilled you on Mitch.’

  Claire looked uncomfortable. ‘A little bit.’

  ‘Mum doesn’t do little. All or nothing is my mother.’ She’d changed her flights by a day so that she could sit with Jamie last night. But now she was heading back to Dunedin to check on her shop, but she’d be back in a week.

  ‘You’re right. I got a barrage of questions thrown at me. I think she was disappointed when I explained Mitch was my boss and I wasn’t prepared to talk about him behind his back. When I added how much I need my job and why, she backed off.’ Claire grinned. ‘A little. Actually, I like your mum. She cares about you all.’

  ‘Yeah, she does.’ Even Mitch.

  Claire sat up straighter on her chair. ‘Mitch, hi. I’ve got your groceries in my car. I’ll drop them off after we leave here.’

  Looking around, Jodi gaped, then smiled at the man standing a couple of metres away, studying Jamie thoroughly. ‘Max, what brings you here?’ But she knew already. He’d come to check out Jamie, to take another look at his nephew. He’d been doing that regularly since the team consultation.

  Claire stared at Jodi. ‘Max? Who’s Max? This is Mitch.’ Then her eyes widened further. ‘Blimey, has the guy been using two different names? That could get him into all sorts of trouble.’

  ‘Claire, meet Max Maitland, Mitch’s twin. Max, Claire is Mitch’s housekeeper.’ She’d never had any trouble telling them apart. Max’s eyes were set slightly wider, and his smile didn’t have that lopsided thing going on that Mitch’s did.

  ‘I never knew Mitch had a twin. Or any family, for that matter.’

  Max’s mouth tightened but he sounded his usual charming self when he spoke. ‘Nice to meet you, Claire.’ Then he instantly turned those knowledgeable eyes on Jamie.

  Actually, no. Try hungry eyes. Now, there was something to think about. Did Max want kids of his own? Why wouldn’t he? She’d judged him on Mitch’s standards, which was hardly fair. She stood and crossed to Max, gave him a hug. ‘I’m glad you came.’

  Max returned her hug before gently setting her aside. ‘Just keeping an eye on my patient.’

  Sure, buddy. ‘Not a problem. He’s doing fine, if you call having daily dialysis fine. Which I don’t.’

  ‘Okay, watching over my nephew. Feel happier?’ He chucked her under the chin with his forefinger, a smile lightening his face.

  ‘Absolutely.’ More than happy, ecstatic.

  Then the smile slipped. ‘Jamie hasn’t had a lot of fun in his short life, has he?’

  ‘Very little.’ She tried to read his eyes but Max had always been good at hiding his true feelings. It was a family trait. Came with the twin gene. Only one way to deal with either Max or Mitch when they did this. Speak bluntly. ‘No fresh kidneys on their way from somewhere around the country, then?’

  ‘You’d be the first to know.’ He grunted, shoved
his hands deep into his pockets. Another Maitland gesture. ‘Ever felt you wanted to step outside and knock someone off so you can save your child? Because that’s how I’ve been feeling all week.’

  When Claire gasped, Max turned to her with a self-deprecating smile. ‘It’s all right. I have no intention of spending the rest of my life behind bars. But this is my nephew. It’s a whole different ball game now.’

  Claire was staring at Max again. ‘You and Mitch must cause a lot of problems around here, being so alike and all.’

  ‘We don’t work in the same departments.’ Then he shrugged. ‘Yes, occasionally I get grumped at by a staff member for forgetting something when it wasn’t me they talked to.’

  ‘Bet you two have caused all sorts of trouble over the years.’ Claire grinned as she took her daughter’s hand and said, ‘Okay, come on, Lilly. We’d better go and unpack those groceries before the ice cream melts. You can see Jamie another time.’

  Jodi and Max watched them leave, neither saying a word. As Lilly, looking over her shoulder and waving hard, disappeared around the corner, Jodi turned back to her boy, who had slept through everything. Which brought tears to her eyes. Just another little thing he’d missed out on. A visit from a sweet little girl who wanted to be friends. When was this going to end? How was it going to end? Where was Mitch? Suddenly she wanted him there with her more than anything. His arms around her, sharing his strength, sharing her fears. Guarding their son together.

  ‘How have you managed?’ Max’s shoulders rolled. ‘You still look sane. And strong, which I guess answers my question. But to do this on your own? Obviously still stubborn too. You should’ve told Mitch. Hell, you should’ve told me,’ he growled.

  ‘Too late for this conversation.’ Jodi shivered.

  ‘How’s Mitch taking it? It must’ve been a hell of a shock. Is he okay? I know he seems to be stepping up but what’s going on inside that skull of his? Does he need to talk to someone?’

  Jodi’s jaw clenched as she tried not to gasp in surprise at Max’s apparently genuine concern for his brother. Totally out of left field. Perhaps Jamie would be the catalyst that got them talking to each other. Really talking, not sniping. ‘Maybe you should be talking to Mitch about those things.’

  He huffed. ‘I’m more concerned about you and Jamie. Mitch is a big boy. He can look after himself.’

  ‘Who’s been suggesting I can’t?’ Mitch snapped from behind them.

  ‘Mitch, no one, not even me, was suggesting you can’t,’ Max snapped in an identical tone to his twin’s.

  Mitch studied his brother. ‘Okay.’

  ‘I dropped by to see how Jamie was holding up,’ Max explained. ‘I always feel frustrated waiting for an organ for my patients, but this time it’s far worse.’

  Mitch nodded. ‘Sure is.’

  ‘Mummy.’ Right on cue.

  ‘Hey, Jamie, love.’ She wrapped his hot little body in her arms and stroked his back.

  ‘Mitch?’ Jamie squawked. ‘There are two Mitches.’

  ‘No, love. One’s Mitch.’ One day you’ll call him Daddy. ‘And the other’s Max. You met him the other day.’ One day you’ll call him Uncle Max.

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  Okay, not going there. Too complicated. ‘Want a juice? Or some water?’

  ‘No.’ Jamie yawned and snuggled in against her, his big, bewildered eyes peering out at the two men standing together at the end of his bed. Side by side.

  ‘Thought I might find you here.’ Carl strolled into the room, dressed comfortably in jeans and an open-necked shirt. ‘Didn’t expect to see both the Maitland doctors in the same room together.’

  Mitch spun round. ‘Carl. I’ve said no. You are not coming near Jamie or Jodi. Not now, not ever. Which bit of that don’t you get?’

  Carl held up a hand. ‘Take it easy. I’m not here to badger you or Jodi. I wanted to see how the wee lad was getting on. Nothing more than taking an interest in your child.’

  Max turned slowly and eyed the newcomer up and down appraisingly. ‘I don’t believe we’ve met.’

  The man thrust his hand out. ‘Carl Webster, TV Aotearoa. I’m filming a documentary in this hospital’s emergency department.’

  Jodi wrapped her arms tighter around Jamie. ‘Are you still hoping I’ll agree to you filming my son?’ Her voice was rising. Frantically swallowing, she tried to lower the pitch of her voice. ‘The answer is no. Absolutely not. Get it? I know I thought it could be good for the donor service but I just can’t have anyone coming near Jamie with a camera. Not so you can give your viewers some excitement while they eat their dinner and argue over whose turn it is to clear the table.’

  Mitch came to her, laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Jodi, he won’t. Trust me.’

  Carl stepped up to the bed. ‘Jodi, I apologise for giving you the wrong idea. I genuinely wanted to see how Jamie was. I’ve overheard conflicting snippets of talk from the staff. I feel for you all. There is no ulterior motive in my visit.’

  He had guts. She’d give him that. ‘I see.’

  Max looked at Jodi, something like sympathy in his eyes. He smiled kindly then read the charts at the end of Jamie’s bed. ‘He’s holding his own. I’ll drop in again later.’ With that he strolled out of the room, as if he didn’t have a worry in the world. But he had been concerned about Jamie. About Mitch, even.

  ‘I’ll be getting back to my crew.’ Carl turned to follow Max then turned back. ‘But if there is anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d really like to help if I can.’

  Jodi stared after him, even when he had turned the corner and disappeared from sight. ‘I think he meant it.’

  ‘I guess we’ll never know. I’m not asking him for anything.’ Mitch sat on the edge of the bed. ‘How’d you like to go home for the night, Jamie?’

  ‘Ah, excuse me?’ Jodi glared at Mitch.

  ‘Wouldn’t you like to spend a night in a bed, not sprawled out beside Jamie?’ When her eyes widened he smiled. ‘On your own, getting some much-needed sleep.’

  ‘Oh.’ Disappointment flared. It hadn’t taken long to get used to having sex again. But Mitch was right. She did need sleep—very badly.

  He was still smiling. ‘What about a quiet night without nurses shining torches as they check on Jamie? Not to mention a meal that hasn’t been reheated in the microwave?’

  ‘Low blows, Dr Maitland.’ She weighed up the pros and cons. It wasn’t as though Jamie wouldn’t have medical care on hand. ‘I guess Jamie’s well enough for an overnight stay away from here.’

  ‘We’ve got Lucas’s approval.’

  ‘Stop looking so smug.’ Her sprits were suddenly lifting.

  ‘Can I take Bingo home?’ Jamie asked.

  ‘Where you go, Bingo goes, sport.’

  If only everything could be sorted out as easily.

  *

  Mitch put the last pot away and hung the tea towel on the oven door handle. Leaning back against the bench, he folded his arms across his chest and breathed deeply. ‘Jodi, how would you feel about us telling Jamie who I really am?’

  Her head snapped up so fast it must’ve hurt. The gaze that met his was filled with surprise. Then she studied him as though she was looking at every single cell of his body.

  He waited for all the questions about his intentions. He was ready for her, knowing deep within he’d never back off from being a father to Jamie. Now Jamie was in his life there’d be no letting go, no changing his mind. There were a lot of things to decide still, like Sydney and whether Jodi moved over there with him, but he’d make it all work. He had to.

  Jodi smiled. ‘I’d like that. He should know.’

  ‘Truly? Just like that?’

  ‘I can see you mean it, that you didn’t just decide this between washing the dishes and putting them away in the cupboards. You really care about Jamie, love him, and that’s all that matters.’

  The tension gripping him eased off. His mouth spread into a smile.
Warmth sneaked through him.

  ‘Let’s tell him now before I put him to bed.’ She pushed up from the table.

  Mitch looked through to the lounge where the TV was tuned to a cartoon programme. Jamie lay curled up on the couch, his blankie in his fist, thick pyjamas keeping him snug. Bingo was perched on the arm of the couch. Mitch could feel his heart swelling with love for the little man who carried his genes. Reaching for Jodi’s hand, he walked through to his son.

  But Jodi took over before he could utter a word. ‘Jamie, sweetheart, we’ve got something to tell you, something good.’

  ‘Not now, Mummy. I’m watching the dogs chasing the rabbits.’ Jamie’s gaze didn’t waver from the screen as he pointed. ‘See?’

  ‘I see,’ his mother answered, without looking around. ‘Jamie—’

  Mitch shook his head at her. ‘It’s okay. Only a few minutes till the end,’ he said. ‘It’s kind of funny, really. When I finally want to tell Jamie I’m his dad he makes me wait for the cartoons to finish.’

  He sat down on the other end of the couch, stretching his legs half across the room. He watched the enjoyment flitting across his boy’s face and the resulting giggles making his cheeks screw up. Saw the gap where Jamie had lost a tooth this week. Noted the dark too-long hair so like his own. The tiny scar on his chin where Jodi said he’d once banged into the corner of a table. The little-boy things that made Jamie who he was.

  Sitting beside him on the arm of the couch, Jodi swung her legs and played the piano on her thighs with her fingers.

  Suddenly Mitch’s stomach squeezed. Was this the right time to be telling him? Why not wait until after the surgery? But almost immediately the panic abated and he relaxed again. He wanted this.

  The credits began to roll on the screen. ‘Finished, Mummy. Can I have a drink?’

  Jodi leapt off the couch and went to kneel beside Jamie.

  ‘In a minute. Do you know what a daddy is?’

  Jamie nodded. ‘He’s a man-mummy.’

  Mitch felt his mouth drop open. I’m a man-mummy? Couldn’t have put it better myself. And he grinned.