SARA RAISED HER chin and turned around to face Tom. She looked across the room to see him sitting back down in his high-backed leather chair. She thanked the heavens that, no matter how extraordinarily talented her estranged husband was, at least he wasn’t a mind-reader.
She was angry with herself for the way she was reacting to him again. She was so distracted. Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep, calming breath. She had to get her emotions under control. Tom was bringing back feelings that she couldn’t afford to entertain. She had other plans.
But now, seeing Tom again, her heart began questioning her head.
Would she ever find a man she loved as much as Tom?
She had dated a few men over the past three years but not one of them had ever matched up. She always compared her dates to Tom. She hated that she did it. And she hated that they never came close.
She cursed silently as she studied him. He wasn’t going to ruin her life. She could be happy one day and have the big messy family that she’d always wanted. She deserved a man in her life who was willing to give her that family.
‘Listen, Tom, I think that it’s best I head to the hotel and put my feet up for a while.’
There was a knock on the door, forcing Sara to step back. A tall, well-dressed woman entered, a clipboard in hand. She was very attractive and Sara guessed her to be in her late twenties. Her hair was short and dark in a Cleopatra cut, which suited her almond shaped eyes and Mediterranean features.
‘Tom, I’m sorry to interrupt but I thought you should know that tomorrow afternoon’s list has an alteration. The mandibular advancement, Troy Reeves, has cancelled. Influenza. I’ve rescheduled him for the twentieth of the month. With any luck you’ll finish surgery by six tomorrow night.’
‘Christina, this is Sara,’ Tom said, as he reached for the amended list. ‘Sara, this is Christina, my secretary.’
Both women smiled courteously.
‘Christina, if you’ve done your bit, go on home,’ Tom told her. ‘I really appreciate you coming in on a weekend. I’ll make it up to you.’
‘Don’t be silly, Tom. I’m happy to help out under the circumstances and I’ll see you around seven.’ With that she headed back to the open door. ‘Nice to meet you, Sara.’
Sara smiled and with equal grace said goodbye before the door closed.
‘Don’t know what I’d do without her,’ Tom remarked casually. ‘She’s a remarkable woman.’
Sara felt an unexpected ache in her heart when she heard him talk that way about another woman. And they had plans at seven. They had a date. It was ridiculous to be feeling anything other than elation. But she didn’t. She felt jealous. It was insane. Why should she care what he thought of or, for that matter, did with other women? Tom could date other women. And now he’d signed the divorce papers he could marry another woman. As long as she didn’t want children. It wasn’t her concern what he did.
You wanted a divorce and now you have it within your reach. And don’t forget it, she reminded herself as she tried to pull her thoughts back to the situation at hand.
Before Sara had a chance to open her mouth, the door burst open again. She spun around and found herself being hauled into the arms of a tall, rather robust man with a bushy beard. She felt dwarfed by his stature. He hugged her ferociously and then stepped back.
Sara had to steady herself. It took a moment for her to register just who was on the giving end of the exuberant embrace.
‘Sara,’ he said. ‘You’re looking great. How long has it been?’
‘Stuart!’ she managed to return, realising it was her old friend hiding beneath the thick facial hair. His trademark mop of russet curls hadn’t changed at all, now she took stock of him, neither had his twinkling brown eyes in rimless glasses. ‘Gosh, it must be three years or more. Last time I saw you would’ve been...at...um...your...’ She stumbled over her words.
A cough echoed from across the room. ‘I think Sara’s trying to say it was at your anniversary party just before we went our different ways,’ Tom interjected. ‘And by the way, Stu, it would’ve been nice of you to let me in on the fact Sara was filling in for you. I had no idea.’
Stuart just shrugged his shoulders. ‘Should’ve read the memo I left on your desk in the office.’
‘Maybe you should have just told me.’
‘I’m not your secretary, Dr Fielding. We’re partners!’
Sara smiled at the banter. They were like bickering children.
‘It’s lovely to see you again, Stu,’ she cut in, to change the subject before it escalated further.
‘Just wonderful to see you, gorgeous. You haven’t changed a bit. Stunning as always,’ he said, stepping back. ‘I’m sorry I was delayed in ICU. I wanted to be here when you arrived and talk through everything but since Tom is here I’m sure he can run you through my caseload and his as well. He’s going to take over my day at the hospital and you will cover his day there. It’s easier than trying to have you cover at the hospital for me. Way too much paperwork in this place,’ he said, rolling his eyes.
‘Okay, I’m happy to fit in where I can,’ Sara said after hearing the update. She’d had no idea she would be covering for anyone else, let alone Tom, but it did make sense.
‘I’m glad I got to thank you in person before I leave. You’re a trouper. Dana and I can’t tell you how much it means to us.’
‘It’s my pleasure. Are you looking forward to your time off?’
‘It’s not exactly time off for the sake of it. I’m taking time out to be with Bonny. She was hurt in an accident up on the farm. The tractor lost its grip on an embankment. It rolled into a ditch where Bonny was playing.’
‘Oh, my...’ Sara’s hand instinctively covered her mouth. ‘When did that happen?’
‘A few weeks back. She’s okay. She’s out of hospital now. I mean, all things considered, she’s doing really well. It was a dirty great tractor and she’s so tiny and it could have been much worse. Thankfully there were huge great boulders that took the full weight of the tractor. It fell sideways and Bonny got injured when the metal toolbox lost its moorings and landed on her. She was knocked unconscious and her leg was pinned underneath the exhaust pipe.’ The pain in his eyes couldn’t mask the distress he was feeling at retelling the story.
Sara was horrified at the thought of Bonny pinned beneath the tractor. She felt her own spine rush with cold and then tears begin to build. She blinked them away.
‘I didn’t want to guilt you into coming so I didn’t mention Bonny when you offered to fill in. It would’ve been unfair to put that sort of pressure on you.’
‘It wouldn’t have been pressure. You know I would do anything for you and Dana. I’m just so incredibly sorry to hear about all of this,’ Sara told him truthfully. ‘I’m glad I’m here, and I hope you can just focus on Bonny and get her better even sooner.’
‘She’s up and walking but still in a frame,’ Stuart told her. ‘But she’s determined to get back on those little feet of hers. I know she can do it and I think she’s going to get better that much sooner with me home full time to help her through the physio. I’m usually home three days a week then here in Melbourne, consulting, the other four.’
Sara watched as Stuart looked pensively down toward his hands and nervously twisted his wedding band back and forth. She felt helpless to ease the almost tangible pain he was suffering.
‘She hasn’t regained her speech yet,’ he began, in little more than a dying whisper.
Sara reached for his hands and encircled them in her own.
‘If she’s anything like you, little Bonny will be back on her feet and telling you off before you know it.’
He coughed to clear his throat and slowly pulled his hands free of hers and stepped away from her. Sara suspected it was some sort of male strategy he was u
sing to keep his emotions in check.
‘I know she will. It’s Dana that needs convincing. The specialists have told us with family around her full time she’ll be racing ahead. I originally organised a nurse to help out with the twins so Dana could spend time with Bonny, but now, thanks to you taking over for the next month, we can keep it just the family and I know it will make all the difference to her recovery.’
Stuart wrapped one arm around her shoulder and pulled her close again in a bear hug. ‘Dana sends her love and hopes you can visit us at the farm soon. We’ve had it for two years now. Dana really wants you to meet the twins. They’re nearly one and, of course, Bonny’s almost seven now.’
Sara felt a twinge of guilt for not returning to Melbourne to visit Stuart and Dana. The four of them had shared some wonderful times together, but after the separation Sara had felt the need to stay away from risk of seeing Tom. She’d emailed often and called occasionally. She’d sent them a basket filled with toys and baby gifts when the twins were born. But for the last few months she had been too focused on planning the trip and hadn’t spoken to them. Obviously because of the accident and their priority being Bonny, they hadn’t reached out to her either.
‘It has been far too long since I saw you,’ she began. ‘I really would love to visit you and Dana on the farm when Bonny is up to it.’
‘Of course, Dana would love it,’ he responded. ‘Sars, some things never change, you know, like you and Tom. Good friends you can always rely on in times of need.’
Sara was having trouble concentrating. Her mind was spinning with images of helpless little Bonny lying in the ditch beneath the tractor. She could only imagine how devastating it had been for the family.
She was deep in terrible, vivid thoughts she didn’t want to have filling her head, when Stuart’s prickly beard brushed against her neck as he kissed her cheek to thank her yet again.
‘I won’t forget this, kiddo,’ Stuart told her. ‘If there’s ever anything I can ever do for you, just ask.’
‘Don’t you think twice about it,’ she returned. ‘Just get Bonny well—that’s enough for me.’
‘Well, I expect to see you up on the farm the first break you get.’ He smiled and was gone, leaving her alone in the office with Tom.
The atmosphere in the office changed within moments.
With calm composure Sara walked to the door and softly closed it. Her hand quietly released the handle before she turned on her heel and marched over to his desk. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Bonny when we caught up the other night?’
‘I hadn’t seen you for three years, we were keeping it light and I didn’t see the point. You said you were leaving to live in Texas. What could you have done? I had no idea that you were coming here to work with me...’
‘Neither did I, but surely something as serious as that would rate a mention.’ Sara was angry with Tom and not afraid to let him know it.
‘Sara, you walked out on me. You walked out on our life together and everything we shared. You never brought up Stu or Dana that night. What right do you have to question me about my actions or what I do and don’t tell you? We shared a few hours together. I don’t know what’s been happening in your life any more than you know what’s been happening in mine. We kept it light, Sara, so don’t lecture me about what I should and shouldn’t have shared with you.’ His lips were tight and his mouth formed a hard line.
Sara stepped back. She was acutely aware that Tom was right. She had walked away and she had no right to criticise him. She hadn’t asked about Stu and Dana during the evening they’d spent together. That night she had purposely steered the conversation away from anything and anyone that linked her back to their life together.
‘You’re right. I’m sorry,’ she said, regret tainting her voice. ‘I guess it wasn’t your job to bring me up to speed that night. It’s just that we were so close to Stu and Dana and I wish I’d known. I wish they’d called me or I’d called them.’
Sara realised that she had only herself to blame. It wasn’t Tom’s fault. Her lack of sleep was finally taking its toll and she could feel that her eyes were becoming heavy.
‘Tom, I’ve had a long night and I need to get some sleep, maybe just a short nap.’ She reached for a pen and began writing on a small message pad on his desk. ‘This is the name of my hotel. I’ll call you in a few hours after I take a nap and perhaps we can sort out the working arrangements for the next month over a late lunch.’
* * *
Sara woke to the sound of a knock at her door.
She lifted her head from the pillow, surprised to find the room dark. She sat bolt upright and could see the bright lights of the city skyline through her window. A muted glow from the corridor was creeping under the narrow gap below her door.
Fumbling a little, she reached for the lamp beside the bed. Her blurry eyes tried to focus on her watch. It couldn’t be. Seven o’clock, in the evening? She must have slept for almost ten hours. She looked down to find she was still dressed in her suit and lying on top of the bed covers.
‘Who is it?’ she called out, as she climbed from the bed.
‘Tom,’ his husky voice returned. ‘I thought we’d go out for a late lunch. It’s nearly eight here but it has to be lunchtime somewhere in the world. Maybe in Texas they’re tucking into buffalo wings.’
Sara smiled but she felt uncomfortable knowing that he was at the door of her hotel room. She remembered only too well what had happened last time.
She ran the brush through her hair once more, quickly looked in the mirror and cleared the smudges of mascara from under her eyes, then crossed the room. Her hands ran over her crinkled skirt and, as respectable as she could look under the circumstances, she opened the door.
Tom stood before her, dressed in a fine grey polo knit and black trousers. His hair was swept back from his forehead in gentle, still-damp waves. He looked as if he had just climbed from the shower. It only took seconds for his subtle cologne to penetrate her senses.
‘Hello, Tom,’ she managed, glad that her tone was cool, despite how nervous she felt or how handsome he looked, standing in her doorway. ‘Just to let you know it’s not eight, it’s only seven.’
He grinned ruefully. ‘No, it’s nearly eight, you’re on Victorian time now, you’re not in Adelaide anymore. You must be tired,’ he said, tilting his head to one side. ‘Are you up to grabbing a bite to eat?’
She glanced down at her watch. He was right on both counts. It was eight and she definitely wasn’t in Adelaide anymore. She was in Melbourne and she was uncomfortably close to her far too handsome and soon to be ex-husband.
‘I suppose I am a little peckish,’ she began trying to push away how he was making her feel. She looked down and saw again how crumpled her clothes were after flying and then sleeping in them. ‘Can you give me fifteen minutes to freshen up?’
‘Not a problem. I’ll wait downstairs.’ With that he walked off down the corridor to the lift.
She watched him. The way he swayed just slightly as he walked. The way his clothes fit his masculine body. The perfect silhouette of his broad shoulders and slim waist.
‘I’ll be in the bar,’ he called back, turning around too quickly for her to pretend she wasn’t watching him.
She slammed the door shut with her foot, angry with herself once again.
* * *
The hot water over her body felt good and she wished she could stay there longer but she knew she had to get downstairs. Quickly, she applied light make-up and then searched through her suitcase for something that didn’t need ironing.
She chose a salmon knitted top and cream slacks, casually draping a soft pastel scarf around her neck and slipping on her kitten heel sling-backs before she left her room.
On the trip down in the elevator Sara tried to remind herself that she was doing t
his for Stu and now for Bonny. There was no backing out.
The lift reached the ground floor and Sara walked across the foyer and up a few steps into the raised bar area. She spied Tom at a table but he wasn’t alone. Christina, his secretary, was with him. Of course, she suddenly remembered, they had a date.
Sara unexpectedly felt a tug at her heart. It was ridiculous. Why shouldn’t Tom move on? The divorce papers were on their way to the lawyer. But even so, seeing Tom with another woman made her feel unreasonably possessive.
Suddenly, as she approached the couple, a little voice inside her head demanded to be heard. Sara Fielding, this will make it so much easier. He is taken. He’s not available so keep your emotions in check.
Sara watched the way Christina was looking at Tom. Her heart wasn’t thrilled at what she saw, but her mind was elated with the couple’s body language. They were at ease and relaxed with each other. So relaxed Sara felt sure they must be lovers. She swallowed hard with that thought.
‘Tom, Sara’s here,’ Christina prompted, in little more than a whisper.
Tom turned and his eyes met Sara’s. For a split second she felt as if they were the only two people in the room. It wasn’t right, she knew it. Perhaps he didn’t realise the effect he had on her. But she did and she had to take responsibility for her own thoughts. Right here and right now. She would never step back into Tom’s life.
‘Sara,’ he said, as he stood and pulled out a chair for her. ‘I thought you must have fallen asleep, again.’
‘I wasn’t that long,’ she replied brightly, trying to set a light-hearted mood as she sat down. ‘In fact, if I wasn’t so hungry I’d probably still be in the shower.’
‘Speaking of food,’ Christina interrupted, ‘I’d better be getting home. I want to prepare something special for tomorrow night’s dinner with Robert.’ She bent down and kissed Tom on the cheek. ‘Thanks for the drink and thanks for listening.’
Tom patted her hand. ‘Any time.’
‘Sorry I can’t stop, Sara,’ she said, with a smile. ‘Perhaps next time we’ll be able to chat.’
Back in Her Husband's Arms Page 4