by Fiona Lowe
‘Because I never want to relive this last week again either and should I ever fall back on old habits, you’ll remind me of how miserable I was without you and how much I need you.’ He brought one hand up to cup her cheek. ‘You’ve taught me more than you’ll ever know, but most importantly you’ve opened my eyes and shown me that my life with you is stronger, richer and happier. I can only hope that you believe your life with me is stronger, richer and happier too.’
His heartfelt words all but demolished her doubts and she put her finger under his chin, tilting his head slightly so she could look directly into his eyes. She saw a deep and abiding love, and a pledge of commitment to her. He spoke the absolute truth. He really did love her. Warmth spread through her, clearing away the remnants of her misgivings, and the axis of her world righted itself, spinning on joy.
She touched his cheek. ‘I found a peace with you I’ve never known. I love you, Tom Jordan.’
Relief flooded his handsome face and he pulled her close, his lips seeking hers. She met them with her own, welcoming the heat of his desire, and at the same time recognising the change in it. This time love underpinned his need and it flowed through her as a living thing, touching every organ, bone, muscle, tendon, tissue and cell until she almost cried out from the intensity of it.
When he finally broke the kiss he said, ‘You love me and I’m the luckiest man alive.’
She leaned into him, still not quite believing that he’d come back and found her. ‘Don’t ever forget it,’ she half teased.
‘I won’t. I promise.’ He stroked her hair. ‘Hayley?’
Her senses reeled with the musky smell of him, the solid feel of him in her arms, and she never wanted to move. ‘Mmm.’
‘I spoke to Richard Hewitson today.’
She raised her head to look at him, holding her breath before she finally spoke. ‘And?’
He grinned. ‘I’m the new associate professor at Parkes School of Medicine, and as well as lecturing I’m setting up a support structure for disadvantaged students. Not only for those enrolled in the programme but for students who aren’t here yet, like Jared. I’m going to help create pathways into medicine and then support the students when they’re here, like Mick and Carol did for me.’
He’s found his way. Happiness flooded her and she kissed his cheek. ‘That’s fantastic, Tom. I’ve always said you had great rapport with young people.’
His mouth kicked up at one corner. ‘And I finally heard you.’ He pressed a kiss into her hair. ‘You know, not being able to operate will always feel like I’ve lost a limb, but there’s nothing I can do to get my sight back. I have to move on, and being blind has led me to this new job and the possibility of helping kids just like me. I know it’s going to challenge me in new and different ways, and that feels exciting. Most importantly, my blindness led me to you.’
His love and sincerity cocooned her and she rested her forehead against his. ‘If I’ve opened your eyes then you’ve given me back the dark. Thank you.’
His hand curved around the back of her neck. ‘Like you told me, we make a good team. Will you make us a permanent team by marrying me?’
She didn’t even try to stifle her squeal of delight as she enthusiastically threw her arms around his neck. ‘Yes. Oh, yes.’
He swayed from her body slam and grinned at her. ‘I love your answer, but do you have a couch we could sit on before you knock me off my feet?’
‘No.’ She dropped her voice to the smoky timbre she knew he adored. ‘But I do have a bed.’
His eyes flared with love and desire. ‘Even better.’
‘I’m full of good ideas.’ She took his hand. ‘Follow me.’
His fingers closed around hers. ‘I’ll follow you anywhere, Hayley.’
Her heart melted with happiness. ‘And I’ll walk beside you for the rest of my life.’
Smiling, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, and she knew she was home.
EPILOGUE
TOM Jordan—Prof to almost everyone—felt his academic robes slide over his knees as he rose to his feet and joined in the applause for the graduating class. Sixty new doctors would be commencing their internships in hospitals across Australia and Jared was one of them. Tom could only remember a couple of other times in his life that he’d felt this proud.
Hayley’s hand slipped into his and he thought he heard her sniff. ‘I can’t believe he’s going to be working at The Harbour.’
‘Daddy, why is Jared throwing his funny hat in the air?’
He looked down at the daughter he’d never seen, but his picture of her was crystal clear in his mind. He’d held her within seconds of her birth, counted her fingers and toes, felt her snub nose, tangled his fingers in her masses of hair and had recognised the differences in her cries ahead of Hayley. ‘He’s celebrating, Sasha. This is his special day.’
‘Like my party?’ Sasha had recently turned five and her voice sounded hopeful. ‘Is there cake?’
His hand ruffled her silky hair. ‘Yes, Nanna Carol made Jared a great big cake.’
‘When Mummy was at the hospital?’
‘That’s right.’ Hayley was now a consultant at The Harbour and had two registrars working under her.
People started moving around him and Hayley said, ‘We should probably go now so we’re home before our guests arrive. Sasha, hold my hand, please.’
Tom reached down, his left hand clasping leather. ‘Forward, Baxter.’
His guide dog rose and safely guided him through the crowd, the way he’d been doing for seven years, and it constantly amazed Tom how expert he was at it. He smiled when he thought back to when he and Hayley had got married and how hard she’d worked to convince him that a guide dog would suit him perfectly. Years on, he knew that Hayley understood him almost better than he understood himself, and as a result he was much more open to her suggestions. He loved having a dog and couldn’t imagine himself without one.
Two hours later, the party was in full swing. Tom had made a speech and was taking a breather from all the noise out on the balcony.
‘Hey, Prof.’
Tom turned toward the voice. ‘Hey, Dr Jared Perkins.’
Jared came and stood next to him. ‘I’ve imagined being called “Doctor” for so long, but now it’s here it sounds so weird. Six long years and I’m a doctor.’
Tom smiled. ‘If you want to do neurosurgery, you’re preparing to scale another mountain. Seven to ten more years.’
‘Yeah, but it will be worth it. Without neurosurgery and without you I wouldn’t be here. Thanks, Tom.’
The emotion in his friend’s voice stirred the well in Tom he no longer hid, and he found Jared’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ‘It goes both ways, mate.’
‘What does?’
Hayley’s perfume and quick steps had preceded her, and Tom dropped his arm from Jared’s shoulder and extended it toward his wife. ‘Thanks go both ways.’
‘They do.’ Her smile sounded clear in her voice. ‘Now you’re dealing with rosters, Jared, Sasha’s going to miss your Friday night visits. No other babysitter lets her get away with pizza in front of her favourite DVD.’
‘Forget Sasha, we’re going to miss our date night,’ Tom teased. ‘I wonder if there’s another student in the Pathways Programme who might be interested in paid babysitting.’
‘Jared!’ Sasha’s running feet hit the tiles of the balcony. ‘Can you cut your cake, please?’ She managed to elongate the ‘please’ with endearing charm.
Jared laughed. ‘For you, Sash, anything.’
‘Daddy, I can cut some cake for you.’
‘Thank you, darling, but let Jared help you. Mummy and I will be there in a minute.’
When he heard the sound of their retreating feet ebb into the carpet, he pulled Hayley in close and a rush of tenderness made him smile. ‘I just felt the baby bump.’
Hayley’s hands slipped around his neck and she kissed him. ‘In four months our life is going to c
hange.’
He stroked her cheek. ‘Life’s always changing. We’re going to have a new baby and a new puppy.’
‘Poor Baxter. His retirement’s going to be noisy and busy with a baby human and a puppy in the house. Sasha can’t wait to play with him and I think she plans to dress him up for her tea parties.’
Tom still pinched himself every day that he’d been so blessed in his life. Hayley had changed his world and then Sasha had arrived and added to it in more ways than he could count. Now he could hardly wait to welcome their second child.
Tom laughed. ‘Poor Baxter indeed. I had to be the tea-party guest last Wednesday.’
Hayley giggled. ‘The work of a father is never done.’
‘And I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
‘I might have known you two would be out here canoodling,’ Carol interrupted with a chuckle. ‘Akim and his wife have just arrived and they’ve brought basboosa cake.’
‘We’ll be right there, Carol.’ But he didn’t move his feet.
Hayley sighed. ‘We should go.’
‘We should and we will.’ With the fingers of both hands he traced Hayley’s face and then he brought her lips to meet his. He savoured her taste and felt her love pouring through him, and then he gave her all his love in return.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
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First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House,
18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Harlequin Books S.A. 2012
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Fiona Lowe
for her contribution to the Sydney Harbour Hospital series
ISBN: 978-1-408-97574-9
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Copyright