by Sue MacKay
‘Tell that to my father.’
Their meals arrived then and Abby took time to savour her fish and let Kieran regain his composure. Then as he began eating she changed the subject. ‘How are you finding working in Nelson?’
‘Great. Everyone’s friendly and helpful, and well trained. Their goal is the same as mine, to help people. Yes, I am enjoying it.’
She smiled at him. ‘You look surprised.’
‘I hadn’t really stopped to think about it.’ He smiled at her. ‘Too many other things going on outside work.’
‘The children.’ She put her fork down. ‘Are you beginning to feel at ease with the concept of being a father?’
His eyes widened, and he took his time answering. Finally, ‘I think I’m starting to accept it. I don’t deny I got a shock when you called me Daddy on Friday night. And more than a shock when Seamus actually brought me that opener. Though I’m not convinced he understood you.’
‘I agree, but with each time I say something like that he’s going to learn who you are. And with each little thing you do for him he’s going to understand what a daddy is.’
‘Steady on. I’m still getting used to the idea.’
‘Don’t take too long.’
‘Don’t push me too hard.’ Kieran shoved back in his chair, feeling cornered. ‘I’ve only been here a week.’
In front of him he saw hesitancy in Abby’s face then she seemed to shrug mentally, as though thinking, What the hell, and said to him, ‘Then you’ve only got seven weeks left.’
He jumped in his seat. What? How dared she? Wasn’t he doing his best? Abby obviously didn’t think so. Less than two weeks since first learning about Seamus and he was taking too long? How long did he need? Which was Abby’s point exactly.
‘Easy for you to say,’ he murmured.
‘I wasn’t born a mother or an aunt. I had to learn, as does every parent. Unfortunately kids don’t come with a manual.’
He stared at this determined woman sitting opposite him. She was only trying to do the right thing for her children. If that meant harassing him, then harass him she would. She was courageous, and honest, and very warm and loving. How many other women did he know who’d give up their dreams to look after, first, her mother, and then someone else’s child? Not one. Her revelation about quitting med school had stunned him, but it had also highlighted her decent, selfless nature.
He’d do well to follow her example.
Her knife and fork rattled on her plate. Her hands were shaking. Because of him? His reaction to her suggestion? Reaching for her hands, he squeezed gently, surprised to feel her trembling. ‘You’re right, there’s not a lot of time. I’ll work on speeding things up.’
Caution flicked through her eyes before she drew a breath and said quickly, ‘Then you’ll be coming to the staff Christmas barbeque next weekend. Everyone takes their partners and kids and we have a ball. Play cricket, swim, run three-legged races on the beach. I’m taking Seamus and Olivia.’ She hesitated. ‘And you.’
Gobsmacked at her spunk in light of his earlier irritation, he sat looking at her, thinking how marvellous she was. Then a laugh rolled up his throat. ‘Oh, no, you’re not. I’ll take you and the kids.’
She grinned back. ‘In that tiny sports car?’
‘I’ll change it for something more suitable.’ She deserved that at least. But darn. He did enjoy driving around in that car. ‘Now, let’s look at the dessert menu. My sweet tooth will not be ignored.’
‘I’ll settle for coffee.’
‘You don’t want to share some cheesecake? Or brandy snaps?’ Coffee be damned. He could see the longing in her eyes. So why not indulge? It wasn’t as though she had to worry about her figure. That was perfect. ‘Cheesecake and brandy snaps,’ he told the hovering waitress.
And when dessert came he made sure she ate some by holding a brandy snap to her delectable lips. Big mistake. Her lips parted to take the end of the treat. Her teeth bit through the crisp confection. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, the tip of her tongue slid past her lips and licked a dollop cream from the snap. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. His spoon shook. He might think he had everything in control when he was around Abby but his body was making a liar of him.
Abby reached for the rest of the brandy snap, taking it between her fingers, holding it as though it was a precious jewel. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He certainly couldn’t swallow the piece of cheesecake clogging his dry mouth.
Abby’s eyes were huge. Her expression startled. He saw her swallow. Waited for her to take another mouthful. Wished she wouldn’t. His system couldn’t take it. Willed her to. Sighed when she placed the snap on the plate.
The waitress appeared, placed Abby’s coffee on the table. And gave Kieran time to gather his senses. What had happened there? Apart from his hormones going on the rampage?
He pushed the dessert aside and asked for the bill. The restaurant had got too hot and stuffy. He needed fresh air, and lots of it. But it was just as uncomfortable outside. Had they heated up the universe? Without thinking, he reached for her hand and felt a zing of current between them. She moved closer, her sweet honey scent teasing his nose, crashing into his senses.
‘Abby …’
She turned to face him, her eyes opaque. Desire? She swayed closer. He caught her shoulders, steadied her. And then he kissed her. Her lips were soft. The scent of her teased his nose, racked up the tension that had begun inside the restaurant. And then he tasted her. His senses exploded.
Wrapping his arms around her, he hauled her in against him, trying to make her a part of him. And he kept kissing her. Like a dehydrated man drinking. Everything between them had boiled down to this moment. One heady kiss. A kiss that enmeshed her in his heart. A mind-blowing kiss that sent waves of desire rocketing through his body. A dangerous kiss.
Slowly they pulled apart. Abby stared up at him, swallowed. ‘I’ve never been kissed like that before.’
Only one woman in the whole wide world had ever kissed him back like that. Abigail Brown.
‘You look like you’ve been knocked down by a tornado,’ Sally chirped when Abby arrived at work the next morning. ‘A bad night with the kids or a great night with Kieran?’
Abby dropped her bag under the desk and rubbed her aching back. ‘I slept on that lumpy old couch of mine. Charlie had snagged my bed and when she sleeps she spreads out like a starfish leaving no room for anyone else. How her previous boyfriend managed I don’t know.’
She wouldn’t mention that the lumps in the couch hadn’t had as much to do with her restless night as images of Kieran feeding her that brandy snap. She got hot all over just thinking about it. If Sally knew, she’d never let it go.
‘Here I’d been thinking you and Kieran were having a good time together. He’s wearing similar shadows under his eyes.’
‘Kieran’s here already?’ So much for arriving before him.
‘Cubicle four. Robyn from the night shift is with him until one of the day shift shows up. That’s you.’
‘Sally, could you put Barbara with him today?’ As well as those food images, shockwaves from last night’s kiss were still rolling through her body.
‘You know it doesn’t work like that.’
‘Why do I get to be his right-hand nurse all the time? Give someone else the experience for a change.’ She glared at Sally. ‘And stop playing matchmaker. It isn’t going to work.’ Unfortunately. Gulp.
Sally nudged her. ‘Cubicle four. A five-year-old boy has been brought in by his neighbours after being found hiding in their laundry. He’s badly bruised around the head and has suspected fractures to one arm and a finger.’
Abby shuddered. The poor little guy. ‘Where are the parents?’
‘Apparently the police were called out last night to a violent argument between them. The boy must’ve been overlooked or had already hidden, too terrified to come out. When the neighbour found him and took the boy home, no one answered his knocking.’
‘How can parents be like that?’ Her heart thumped her ribs as she thought of her two children; their trusting eyes, happy faces, soft cuddles. How could anyone want to destroy that?
‘Someone from Social Welfare will be here any minute,’ Sally told her.
‘They should’ve been there before he got beaten.’ Abby stuffed her fists in her pockets. Some people didn’t deserve to be parents.
When she slid between the curtains of cubicle four, she had her anger under control. Kieran raised his head as she stepped up to the bed, and the compassion in his eyes for his young patient softened her heart. He’d never do this to his son. Wouldn’t that knowledge make him feel more secure as a father?
‘This is Joey.’ Kieran nodded to the thin child curled up tightly on the bed.
Large brown eyes watched Abby warily as she moved to the bedside. No other part of him moved. Ugly purple bruises stained his arms and forehead. Abby wanted to lift him into her arms and cuddle him for ever.
‘Hi, Joey. I’m Abby and I’m going to look after you now.’ Those fearful eyes flicked to her face, but he kept quiet. The poor little guy looked exhausted.
‘How old are you?’ Abby tapped her finger on her lips and screwed up her nose. ‘Let me guess. You look too clever to be three, but I could be wrong.’
Nothing.
‘Just teasing. You’re really four. Although you’re quite big for four.’
Joey turned his head slowly to one side and back.
‘Okay, I’m really dumb, aren’t I? You’re six.’
Again the head moved from side to side. Then Joey blinked. His mouth opened enough for him to whisper, ‘I’m five.’
‘Go on, you’re not.’
‘Am so.’ The whisper was now a little stronger.
‘A schoolboy. Wow. Cool bananas.’
‘I like school.’
Kieran tapped her on the shoulder. ‘We need to get Joey out of his clothes and into a hospital gown. Robyn’s getting a warm blanket. I’m surprised he’s not hypothermic.’
A middle-aged man spoke from the corner of the cubicle. ‘When I found him he was curled up in the washing basket amongst the clean washing so he probably kept warm throughout the night.’
‘Thank goodness he went to your place and didn’t hide outside, or we could have a whole different scenario on our hands,’ Kieran acknowledged, before nodding to Abby to follow him out where he spoke quietly. ‘You’re doing great with Joey. That’s the most we’ve got from him so far. Can you stay with him while we sort out what’s going to happen next?’
‘Of course.’ Try and keep her away. This child needed her.
‘Joey’s undersized for his age. Hopefully the paediatrician will admit him for a full assessment.’
‘Then what? He’ll go home to more of the same.’ Abby couldn’t help the despair breaking through her resolve to be totally professional with this case. How could she be? That gorgeous little boy was hurting, inside and out. He needed loving, not beating.
‘Unfortunately we have to hand him over to the system.’ Kieran’s finger touched her cheek briefly, his eyes full of the same emotions she felt. ‘In the meantime, let’s make him as comfortable as possible and show him not everyone’s a monster.’ Digging into his pocket, he withdrew some money. ‘I’m sure there’s something in the cafeteria that little boys love to eat.’
‘Definitely far more exciting things than what the main kitchen will come up with.’
‘You want to go and get something before relieving Robyn?’
‘On my way.’ Abby snagged the note from his fingers and smiled at Kieran. ‘You’ve got the right instincts when it comes to children. You know that?’
‘Not a clue, but with you enlightening me all the time I’m sure I’ll catch on eventually.’
Cheeky so-and-so. His smile warmed her to her toes, and she nearly whistled as she hurried to the café, all thoughts of Joey’s situation momentarily on hold. Once again her mind returned to Kieran’s kiss. A toe-tingling, spine-bending kiss that had blanked her mind and teased her body.
Idiot. She grinned to herself as she bagged a chocolate cake in the café. Idiot, idiot. She was supposed to be keeping Kieran at arm’s length. But it was getting harder by the minute to ignore the effect he had on her. She felt more alive than she had in years. Perhaps she should just enjoy Kieran, have some fun, and make the most of whatever happened between them. The problem with that brainwave would be how to get over him when he left again. But her grin stretched further. She couldn’t even get over last night’s kiss.
Dale Carlisle, Joey’s mother, and the social worker arrived simultaneously, the mother causing pandemonium as she ranted and raved at the top of her voice about neighbours poking their noses where they shouldn’t. Kieran offered his office to the social worker but Dale refused to accompany her, insisting on staying with her son, then verbally abusing Abby when she tried to take Joey to Radiology.
Kieran intervened, standing between Abby and Joey’s mother. ‘Dale, please don’t talk to my staff like that. We’re only looking after Joey.’
Abby appreciated the protection, although she didn’t need it. Having Kieran stand up for her felt good.
Dale sagged into the chair beside Joey’s bed and tipped her head back. The hood of her sweatshirt slid off her face, revealing bruises on her forehead and cheek. So Joey hadn’t been the only one to take a beating last night.
Abby shivered. It was impossible for her to imagine living with a thug. She knew she wouldn’t stand for it but, then, she hadn’t been ground down by a lifetime of beatings and bullying.
Kieran tried again. ‘Joey needs X-rays. Then he’s going to have a cast put on that arm before being admitted to the paediatric ward for a few days.’
‘You can’t keep him here. His dad’ll go ballistic. The kid’s coming home with me.’ Dale’s eyes flicked left and right, left and right, her agitation growing. ‘I want to take Joey home now. He’s not seeing no social worker.’
The little boy curled up tighter than ever on the bed, one small hand clutching at Abby’s uniform. Her heart squeezed for him. His gaze seemed fixed on a spot on the wall behind her, as though his mind had gone somewhere that didn’t include anyone in this room.
Kieran remained calm in the face of the woman’s tirade about hospitals and busybody social workers who didn’t have lives of their own so had to interfere in everyone else’s. But Abby could see his fingers tightening by his sides. He waited quietly until Dale stopped for air, and then said, ‘Listen to me. Nurse Brown is taking Joey to Radiology now.’
Abby swallowed her angst at the young mother. After all, Dale was a victim, too. ‘Dale, I’ll stay with Joey until the X-rays are taken. He’ll be fine with me, I promise.’
Dale muttered something under her breath as an orderly pushed the bed out of the cubicle, but she didn’t prevent them going.
When Abby returned from Radiology she looked around for Kieran.
‘He’s taken a five-minute break,’ Sally told her.
‘That’s not like him.’ Abby wondered where he’d gone. He never left his post.
At least the department was quiet so he’d chosen a good time to disappear. Had the Joey incident affected him more than he’d let on? She wasn’t going to find out standing here, so she’d make everyone a drink. ‘Coffee, anyone?’
Stirring mugs of coffee, she was so absorbed in wondering about Kieran that she didn’t hear him approaching until he said, ‘Is one of those for me?’
The teaspoon rattled against a mug. ‘Gees, you’re doing that creeping thing again.’ She turned, her breath catching in her throat. He was that close. If she just leaned forward a little, her lips would touch his. Like that. A soft touch. A loving kiss.
A loving kiss? She jerked away, turned back to the coffees. Reached for another mug to make one for Kieran. Anything to concentrate on other than the effect he had on her. Sugar spilled over the bench. She bit her lip. Hard.
Kieran reached for her
hand, took the spoon and shovelled sugar into the mug while his other hand rested on her shoulder. If he couldn’t feel her trembling then he had to be dead.
‘I went down to the crèche,’ he murmured. ‘I needed to check on the children. Something inside me had to see them, touch them.’
Again she turned, only to find herself within the circle of his arms. ‘Because of Joey.’
‘I mightn’t think I’m any good at parenting but I’d never, ever hit my son. Or my niece. Or anyone’s child.’
She touched his lips, this time with her forefinger. ‘You’re not telling me anything I didn’t already know. But I’m glad you felt compelled to go see them. It shows you’re thinking like a parent.’
Kieran’s pager beeped before he had a chance to answer her. Disappointment warred with common sense. They were at work, and any moment now someone would come to see what had happened to the coffee. Abby sighed and picked up three of the mugs. ‘Want to grab the others?’
‘Sure. There’s a call for me from Radiology. Probably about Joey.’
At the nurses’ station, Abby pulled up a chair beside Kieran as he dialled the number on his pager.
‘Two fractures in Joey’s arm, but nothing else,’ Kieran informed her when he’d hung up.
‘Well, at least his head’s okay.’
Time to change the subject. Abby said to Kieran, ‘Did you bring togs with you from Dublin? Or do you have to go shopping before Saturday’s barbeque?’ She tamped down hard on the image of Kieran naked apart from swimming shorts.
‘Togs?’ His forehead creased in puzzlement.
‘Swimming gear. Shorts.’
‘Swimming? Me? I don’t think so.’
‘You can’t go to the beach with children and not get in the water.’ She grinned wickedly. ‘Plenty of surf shops in town where you’ll find something.’ Please don’t buy skimpy Speedos. Her tongue flicked across her bottom lip. There’d be no accounting for her reaction if he did.
Kieran grinned back at her. ‘You’ve got a very expressive face.’
Then he headed toward a cubicle where an elderly lady was being admitted with chest pains, leaving her staring after him in amazement, her cheeks blazing. He couldn’t have read her mind. She crossed her fingers.