Lily opened a packet of cheese Twisties and shoved them under Mackenzie’s nose. They were taking a short break in the staff tea room before their shift ended. Two hours to go. Mackenzie could already hear her pillow calling her name.
“I’d prefer something sweet, but these will do. Thanks.” Mackenzie grabbed a handful and shoved them in her mouth, crunching noisily.
Lily rifled through her bag. “I’ve got some chocolate here somewhere too.” Seconds later, she held the familiar purple block of chocolate triumphantly above her head. “Here we go. Just what the doctor ordered at five o’clock in the morning. Food of champions.”
“Maybe not for champions,” Mackenzie said with a laugh, “but perfect for night duty nurses.”
“How are your wedding plans coming along?” Lily asked. “Have you set a date?”
“Yeah, we have. June fifteenth.”
“Oh wow, so soon.”
“We don’t want anything big so it won’t take much to plan.”
“Have you got a dress?”
Mackenzie groaned. “That’s the one thing I’m dreading. Dress shopping.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “Why? I would have thought that would be the best thing about getting married. Choosing a dress that makes you feel like a princess.”
“I don’t have the body shape that looks good in most things.”
“Rubbish,” Lily replied. “I’m certain the perfect dress is out there for everyone. When you see it, you’ll just know.” Lily’s eyes took on a dreamy expression.
“I never thought you’d be the romantic type,” Mackenzie said with a giggle.
“Oh you have no idea. I think every man I go out with is going to be the one. I can’t wait to get married.”
Mackenzie chuckled. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Trust me, you’ve got plenty of time. Just don’t settle for anyone. Just like you think there’s a perfect dress out there for everyone, I happen to think there’s a perfect man for every woman.”
“So when is Nathan coming back?” Lily asked. “From what you keep telling me, he’s certainly your Mr. Perfect.”
At the mention of his name, a grin bubbled up from deep inside. Looking up from her phone she grinned. “Next week. Four more days.”
“You must miss him.”
“I do.”
“He’s cutting it pretty fine, isn’t he? When’s his sister’s baby due?”
Mackenzie laughed. “Kate is never early for anything. She’s not due until the middle of March. Over two weeks away.”
“Which means the baby will probably come early, you realize?”
Mackenzie laughed again. “Probably,” she agreed.
They sat quietly for a while. Their break was almost over.
“So, why did Nathan have to go back to Iron Ridge?” Lily asked, standing and putting her coffee cup in the sink.
Damn good question!
Mackenzie stared at her phone in shock.
“Mackenzie?” Lily’s voice cut through her subconscious. “What’s wrong? You’ve gone white. What’s happened?”
“I don’t know.” Mackenzie handed the phone to Lily. “You tell me. What does it look like Nathan’s doing over there?”
In her Facebook newsfeed, someone had tagged a picture of Nathan. Draped over him was a gorgeous leggy blonde, pool cue held high in triumphant victory. Nathan was smiling broadly as he gazed into her eyes. If Mackenzie was unsure of what she was seeing, the words beneath the picture explained it all. Eliza O’Connell, self-described as the “Pilbara Princess” visiting from the UK, had posted the picture of them along with a status update. According to her status, she was the new Iron Ridge pool champion, taking the crown from the very hot, and according to her, still single, Nathan Kennedy.
Lily’s face mirrored her own. “Who the hell is that?”
“I have no idea. But he’s certainly got some explaining to do.” Single indeed! “Hasn’t this so-called Pilbara Princess read his Facebook relationship status? He’s in a relationship, for crying out loud!”
She punched in his number, and when he didn’t answer she left a terse voice message. Slamming the phone on the table, tears welled in her eyes. She turned her head, not wanting Lily to see her cry.
“I knew it was too good to be true! I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. Look at her! I can’t compete with that.”
“Mackenzie, this may not be what it seems,” Lily said gently. “And it’s not a competition. Nathan loves you. He asked you to marry him, not her.”
“Oh don’t be bloody ridiculous. Look at this.” Mackenzie thrust the phone at Lily again. “He chose her first. And no wonder. She’s gorgeous. He’s only been gone five weeks and he’s already forgotten about me.”
“That’s not true at all. When did you speak to him last?”
Mackenzie’s shoulders sagged. “Last night. He was on his way out to the pub. Told me he was having a catch up with friends – friends he’d met when he was living in the UK. I never even gave it another thought.”
“So maybe she’s just an old friend.” Lily pulled the phone toward her and began searching through the woman’s Facebook page. After a few seconds she stared back up at Mackenzie, her eyes large and sad. “Oh dear. Going by her photos I’d say once they were very good friends. Maybe more.”
Suspicion snaked its way around her heart before biting hard. Eliza. This must be Ellie. Mackenzie took the phone from Lily and her heart sank. Image after image of Eliza with Nathan in various locations around England. Definitely Ellie.
She tapped out a quick text even though he would be asleep. Call me. We need to talk.
Shoving her chair back underneath the table, she nearly knocked over her empty coffee cup.
“I guess that means I don’t have to worry about finding a dress or planning a wedding.”
*
She left work the minute her shift ended and drove straight home as the sun was climbing over the treetops. A pervading sense of doom surrounded her like a heavy cloud. Bone-deep weariness had settled in. She was grateful Kate and Joel had left the house earlier and she didn’t have to face them. She tried to eat breakfast, but the porridge tasted like she was chewing sawdust. All morning she wallowed in self-pity, scrolling through the photos of Nathan and Eliza repeatedly until she would have recognized the woman anywhere – even in a crowded room with a paper bag on her head. By then she was completely out of tears.
When her phone rang and she saw Nathan’s name on the screen she felt sick.
“Kenz! Is everything okay? My phone’s been on silent and I’ve just seen your missed call and message. Has something happened to Kate? What’s wrong?” Nathan tripped and stumbled over his words.
Was he feeling guilty? Or was he genuinely worried something was wrong?
“You tell me,” she answered coldly. Her imagination had been in overdrive ever since she’d seen the images.
There was silence on the other end and she pulled the phone from her ear. Had the call been disconnected?
When he finally answered, his voice was quiet. “Mackenzie? What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
“Does the name Eliza O’Connell mean anything to you?”
Just saying the name filled her with a sick sensation. Ellie. She tried to control her breathing but her ribs felt tight against her lungs. There was more silence from Nathan. Yep, no doubt about it, he was guilty. Probably racking his brain for an answer or an excuse and wondering how she’d found out about them.
“Eliza is a friend of mine. I lived with her family when I was in the UK. She’s out here visiting her brother. We caught up last night for drinks at the pub. Like I said.” His words sounded cautious and measured.
“Just drinks?”
“Yes, Mackenzie. Why the third degree?”
“So you just had a few drinks?” she repeated.
“Yes. With friends. Eliza was with our group. I’m not hiding anything, Mackenzie, if that’s what
you’re thinking.”
“Have you checked Facebook today?”
“You know I’m never on Facebook. It’s a waste of time.”
“Well perhaps you should, and then call me back with an explanation as to why Ellie has decided now’s the time to leave her family and come to Australia.”
She hit the end button on her phone and burst into tears. The phone rang again immediately.
“Mackenzie! What is going on? Why did you just hang up on me?”
“Because I don’t want to have anything to do with you if you’re lying to me.”
“What am I supposed to be lying about?” She pictured him running his hands through his hair.
“Your relationship with your little Pilbara Princess,” she said, sarcasm lacing her tone. “What did you think, Nathan? One last fling before you got married? Or is she a little bit on the side?” She let out a puff of frustration. “This is why I don’t believe in long-distance relationships, Nathan!”
“Mackenzie, stop! I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She felt a chill in her bones but continued anyway. “I’ll tell you and then I’ll give you twenty-four hours to tell me the truth. There are hundreds of photos of you and this Eliza O’Connell together on Facebook, including one taken last night with her half naked body – her gorgeous, skinny, half naked body – draped across yours. They say a picture tells a thousand words and I would say that’s true. I’m going to bed. The wedding’s off.”
The moment she hung up the phone she switched it onto silent. Let him stew on that and come up with a plausible story. He’d have to if he wanted her to forgive him. Even if he came up with an incredible excuse, she wasn’t sure she could marry him now. She didn’t trust him. He said he loved her but judging by the photos it was obvious the kind of woman he preferred was the leggy blonde type. Not a short boring brunette like her.
The sharp ache in her body was nothing compared to the crushing sensation in her soul. She wept, stinging hot tears rolling down her cheeks and onto her pillow.
It was over.
*
After a predictably poor night’s sleep, Mackenzie woke with a screaming headache and a fresh round of anger just after four o’clock in the afternoon. Woozy with fatigue, she forced herself to get up and walk to the bathroom. She splashed water on her face and looked at herself in the mirror. Pale lips and shadowed eyes stared back at her.
Ignoring common sense she downed two Panadol and two Nurofen on an empty stomach before checking her phone. As she guessed there would be, there were dozens of missed calls, including one from a number she didn’t recognize. She frowned. Who, other than Nathan, would have called her? She was about to listen to the messages when her phone vibrated. No caller ID. Probably Nathan calling from a different number. She swiped her finger across the screen anyway, her heart racing. A staccato drum beat pounded in her ears. Time for round two.
“Hello,” she snapped.
“Is that Mackenzie Jones?”
She didn’t recognize the male voice on the other end but detected a slight accent. British, maybe.
“Who is this?” she said more cautiously.
“Hi Mackenzie. This is Doc. Remember me?”
Doc. Daniel O’Connell. The nurse she’d replaced in Iron Ridge. Her heartbeat slowed and her shoulders relaxed. He was probably calling about something work-related. Maybe even offering her his job again. Yeah, right, fat chance of her doing that.
“I’m calling about Eliza and Nathan.”
She sat bolt upright, tasting acid in the back of her throat. “So it’s true. They are together.”
“No, it’s not true. That’s why I’m ringing,” Doc said. “Eliza is my sister. Not Nathan’s ex, Ellie. Didn’t Nathan tell you Ellie got married three years ago? She and her hubby have twin boys now. Eliza’s my sister, out here from England visiting me. And trust me, she’s definitely not having an affair with Nathan. They’re just good friends.”
“But I saw the photo.” Mackenzie was confused. Ellie wasn’t Eliza? She felt the first prickling of alarm. “They certainly looked far more than just friends.”
“Oh bollocks, Mackenzie. Shut up and listen.”
She inhaled and rubbed her arms, suddenly cold. “Go on.”
“I met Nathan at the pub years ago when he first arrived in the UK. It was because of him I decided to move out here to Australia. He lived with our family for about four years. Mum and Dad always pick up strays and orphans and we had a spare room. Mum was lonely because Eliza was away at boarding school so they asked Nathan to move in. My sister was merely a stupid teenage kid when he arrived and right from the start she was infatuated with him. She would be all over him during the school holidays. Problem is, she’s a bit of a flirt and has never been able to take no for an answer, especially where Nathan is concerned. But trust me, Mackenzie, we’ve talked about it heaps over the years and you have to believe me. He doesn’t see Lize as anything other than an annoying kid sister. There’s never been anything between them and there never will be. She’s not his type.”
“Really?”
“Really. Nathan’s like a brother to me, Mackenzie. And you’re good for him. Perfect for him in fact. I wish I’d been the one to set you both up.”
She shook her head. She still didn’t believe him. “But she was draped all over him last night and she described him as single on Facebook.”
Doc sighed so hard Mackenzie heard the whoosh of breath across the line. “That’s because she’s stupid and young and didn’t think. She’d had too much to drink and she’d finally beaten him at pool. She was celebrating. Dad taught us all how to play and Nathan and Eliza would play most nights down at the pub. That’s how he got so good. The only time Nathan would give Eliza the attention she craved was when they played against each other. Last night was the first time she’s beaten him and she was celebrating the only way she knows how. Eliza thought she was being funny, saying he’s still single. He’s been a confirmed bachelor for so long she was having a dig at him about getting hitched. But she knows all about you and feels terrible. Nathan came over after you called. Eliza is gutted and wants to talk to you and explain. I told her to pull her head in and shut up because she’s caused enough trouble already.”
Mackenzie licked her dry lips and tasted bile again. She shouldn’t have taken those tablets on an empty stomach.
“What did Nathan say?”
“Mackenzie, you gotta believe me. He’s devastated. He loves you, but now he thinks he’s lost you for good.”
She was silent for a moment, taking everything in.
“Has he ever lied to you in the past or done anything which would make you believe you couldn’t trust him?”
Mackenzie heard the urgency in Doc’s voice. She knew the answer. No.
“I need to go, Doc,” she said at last. “I need to call him.” She tried to fill her lungs but her breathing sounded ragged and labored even to her own ears.
“Good idea. I know it’s none of my business, but I couldn’t sit back and watch my idiot kid sister destroy the best thing that’s ever happened to Nathan Kennedy. Promise me you’ll call him.”
“I promise. And thanks, Doc.”
Mackenzie disconnected the call and stared out the window. She paused, took a breath and forced herself past the wave of dizziness that hit her. Had she lost him again?
Chapter 33
After talking to Doc, Mackenzie showered and then took the dogs for a long walk in the hope the fresh air might clear her head and her heart before she called Nathan. It didn’t work. If what Doc said was true, she’d completely ruined things. Again. Dammit! Why hadn’t she trusted him?
Eventually darkness and hunger made her return home. Kate’s car was out the front but the house was dark and quiet and not a single light shone from the windows. That was odd. It was a bit late in the day for Kate to take a nap, but with less than three weeks until her due date, Kate was sleeping a lot. The back door caught in the wind, slam
ming shut behind Mackenzie.
“Joel? Is that you?” Kate called out.
“No, it’s me,” Mackenzie replied, dumping her keys and the dogs’ leads on the kitchen table. “Where are you?”
“Bathroom.”
Mackenzie shrugged away a shiver of unease. What was that noise?
“Can you come here, Kenz?”
Mackenzie knocked before pushing open the bathroom door. For a few seconds she couldn’t catch her breath. She swallowed a gasp as she saw Kate on her hands and knees on the floor. Two frightened eyes darted up to meet hers.
“My water just broke and I need to push.”
“No you do not!” Mackenzie exclaimed. She inhaled deeply, her mind racing. She’d never delivered a baby in her life. That’s what midwives were for!
“I’ll call an ambulance.”
“There’s no time,” Kate said through gritted teeth.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll still call. Where’s Joel?”
“No idea. I’ve tried calling him for the past hour, but he hasn’t answered. And your phone must be on silent.”
Mackenzie pulled her phone from her pocket and saw the dozens of missed calls from Kate and a few from Nathan too.
“Joel’s somewhere with Liam,” Kate added.
“Thank God!” Liam was a paramedic. He would know what to do. Surely he’d delivered dozens of babies. “What’s Joel’s number?”
Kate groaned again before reeling off the number. Mackenzie punched it into her phone. He answered on the first ring.
“Joel! It’s Mackenzie. Kate’s having the baby. I need you and Liam here now!” Not bothering with any more information, Mackenzie disconnected the call and punched in three zeroes. On the floor, Kate continued to make guttural sounds.
“Police, fire or ambulance?” came the steady voice of the operator.
“Ambulance!”
“Connecting you now.”
Hurry up!
“Ambulance. What town are you in?”
“Birrangulla.”
“And the nature of the emergency?”
“My friend’s about to give birth! Her waters have broken and she says she needs to push.”
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