Twice Lucky

by Mardi Alexander

  “Yeah, same here. Looks like the medical ward, ICU, and high dependency have copped it the hardest.”

  “I think we need to lobby again at the next board meeting to provide annual flu shots for staff. If I raise it, can I count on your support?”

  “Absolutely. I know it’s not a hundred per cent protection, but if it can give us the edge, then surely that’s a win in anyone’s court.”

  “Great.”

  “How’s Mac doing? I saw her yesterday, so I guess she’s back at work, right?”

  “She’s sort of on modified duties. She’s giving classes again, but she needs someone to help out with the lifting and physical demonstration parts. Everything’s improving steadily, which is good. Her hands are taking the longest.”

  “How’s she dealing with that?”

  “She seems to be okay, but I can tell it’s starting to bug the hell out of her.”

  “That’s understandable. I know it would drive me crazy. How’s Jean doing?”

  Sarah filled her in on the latest news.

  Colleen shook her head. “You know, I complain about Brian, but I know I’m very lucky. He’s a good man. He’s loving, kind, passionate, and he’s a good father. Sure, he has his faults and he does things that drive me around the twist, but so do I. God knows, you and I see plenty of people who aren’t nearly so lucky in who they end up with.”

  Sarah was folding up her napkin. “Well, I think I’m lucky too. I don’t know how, but you know what? I don’t care.”

  Colleen looked at her with her head on the side. “In all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think I have ever seen you look so…content. You look happy and peaceful but, most of all, content.”

  Sarah rested her chin in her hand. “I am, Colly. I really am. A couple of months ago I would never ever have contemplated living with someone. Now, I can’t bear the thought of not being with Mac. I don’t care where we are, as long as it’s together. It’s weird. Everything used to revolve around work. Now, I can’t wait to get home. And some mornings…” Sarah felt her face go red. “Let’s just say it takes great strength of character to get here on time.”

  Colleen laughed. “Ah, love. There is nothing else quite like it in the whole world.”

  “You got that right.”

  *

  Mac and John parked the truck back at the station a bit after two. It had been a busy—but fun—morning at the school. The fire safety classes went well with the games afterwards being an absolute hit, for children and adults alike. There were relay games and target practice with water balloons, finishing with a small group of Safety Buddies deputised to help Miss Kelly, the teacher, in the event of a fire drill. By day’s end, everybody had gotten a ride in the fire truck, even the parents.

  The class was divided into groups, and each group was given a fire mascot teddy bear to mind. Children were chosen, one from each group, to be the bears’ first minders, taking them home at night and sharing fire-safety tips with the family. After being in charge of the mascots for the week, they would select the next week’s teddy minders.

  After unpacking the truck, Mac and John went into the station’s kitchen and made themselves much-deserved hot drinks—Mac had tea, while John had coffee. Martha soon joined them. “So, how did the morning go?”

  John laughed “We got monstered. I don’t know about Mouse here, but I’m stuffed. It was a heap of fun, but I am spent.”

  Mac chuckled “I think I’ll stick to being a firey—heaps easier, and drier, I might add.”

  John was laughing merrily away. “Well, you were standing in front of the target at the time. Technically, it was a bullseye. Thomas and I pegged you, fair and square.”

  “I was standing the target back up. That was a cheap shot and you know it.”

  John was laughing. “Yeah, it was. But it was so worth it. The look on your face was priceless—the kids will be talking about that for weeks. I hope someone got that on camera.”

  “We’ll soon find out. I gave Jean my camera to take a mix of photographs and videos. They’re downloading now. What say I put them on a stick, and we’ll play it in the meeting room?”

  Within minutes Mac had the morning’s events playing on the big screen. Chief O’Reilly came down to see what all the noise was about. Mac replayed the files, and pretty soon everyone was in stitches. Martha was dabbing her eyes as John pointed at the screen. “Wait for it, wait for it…Bam! Right on the Mouse tail.”

  Even Mac was laughing. One of the videos showed her walking towards a target that had been knocked down and, in the background, John and Thomas conspiring. As Mac bent to pick up the target, Thomas threw the perfect pitch, hitting Mac fair and square in the seat of her pants with the water balloon. She turned around with a look of absolute shock on her face. The rest of the crowd were cheering and laughing as Mac started to laugh too, wagging her fingers at both of the boys and signing to them, “Just you wait, you two. I am so going to get you back.”

  Jean had done a wonderful job taking photos of every child in the class participating in the activities. There was a great still of John and Thomas conspiring just before they tagged Mac. To recognize the safety program, there was a special photo of the safety buddies wearing their hats, next to Mac, John, and the truck. Lastly there was Mac’s favourite photo, a group shot with kids all over the truck, and the grownups standing in front, everyone sporting huge smiles on their faces.

  The chief stood up. “That was far too much fun to be called work, you two. But going by the look on everyone’s faces, I would say that the morning was a success. Well done. Lieutenant James, I would like copies of the photos of the safety buddies and the large group, please, on my desk. Officer Bettford, I would suggest that the balloon incident was highly illegal, as play had obviously been suspended, pending equipment adjustments—however I commend you on the accuracy and the teamwork involved. That young man has a good arm for pitching.” With that, the chief went back to his office and everyone had another round of chuckling.

  Back in her office, Mac made a couple of copies of the photos and videos. She would bring one set home to show Sarah and Jean, and the others she would drop off to the school tomorrow for Miss Kelly, so that each child could have a memento of the day.

  Mac had done all she could for the day. She picked up her keys, the files, and the photos and headed off towards home.

  *

  Sarah texted to say she was running a bit behind time but hoped to be home for dinner, which left Mac plenty of time to get what she wanted at the shops, including a nice bottle of wine and some Thai takeaway. She was setting the table when Sarah walked in.

  “Hey beautiful. How was your day?” Sarah said, smiling.

  Mac kissed her and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Today was a fun day. Exhausting, but fun. I’ve got some footage to show you after dinner if you’d like.”

  “Love to. Mm, something smells nice.”

  “How about you hop in the shower and I’ll set about heating dinner up, and then you can come out and tell me all about your day.”

  Sarah kissed her and started to undo Mac’s tie and unbutton her shirt. “I’ve got a better idea. How about you hop in the shower with me, and I can tell you all about it while we’re in there?”

  Mac grinned. “I think I can manage that.”

  After dinner they retired to the lounge room. Mac set the television up and replayed the day’s events. She handed Sarah the file of photographs that she had printed off that afternoon. While Sarah was looking at them, Mac topped up their wine glasses, then took the bottle back out to the kitchen. She returned, carrying a bag.

  “They’re super photos. They really capture the fun of the day.”

  “I know, Jean did a great job.”

  Sarah noticed the bag. “What’s in there?”

  “I had some time this afternoon and went shopping. I thought Jean and Thomas might like this.” Mac pulled out a frame with the photo of Jean and Thomas, in his safety buddies hat,
standing next to the truck.

  “Look at that! They are so going to love that. Look at Thomas standing to attention. Isn’t he gorgeous?”

  Mac went quiet. She reached into the bag again to lift out a small gift-wrapped box. She held it in her hand a moment before taking a steadying breath and placing the box in Sarah’s lap. “This is for you.”

  Sarah looked at the box, then looked at Mac, who was clearly nervous. She carefully unwrapped a soft ash-pink velvet box. Slowly she opened the box, to discover a fine silver necklace hosting a tiny silver- and diamond-encrusted key. Sarah’s mouth fell open. It was beautifully crafted, finely made, the delicate touch of diamonds on the key’s head catching the light and sparkling. Truly elegant. Sarah looked up at Mac, her voice whisper soft with emotion. “This is beautiful.”

  Mac’s fingers nervously traced a thread line along her trouser leg. “I’ve been wondering what I could get you. I saw this and it felt right.”

  “Oh, honey, you don’t have to get me anything. You are my gift.”

  Mac shook her head. “I wanted to give you something, to show you how important you are to me. You are the key that has set me free. You’ve helped me start living again. You have given me love, when I didn’t think there would ever be another chance to love again.”

  Tears gently flowed down Sarah’s face. She closed her eyes.

  “Too much, too soon?” Mac asked, and Sarah could hear the nervous tremor in her voice.

  She opened her eyes. She could see Mac’s face closing down at her prolonged moment of silence. “It’s beautiful. I feel a little overwhelmed. I was only thinking today, that the note you left for breakfast—that’s the first love note I’ve ever been given. And now you give me such a beautiful gift and tell me how much you love me. I can’t believe how lucky I am that I met you, and even luckier that you love me.”

  Mac’s eyes filled with tears. “So you like it?”

  Sarah kissed her. “I love it. Thank you.”

  Mac held up her hands. “I’m sorry, I can’t put it on for you.”

  Sarah reached into the box, gently lifted the chain, and placed it around her neck. Sarah touched it lovingly. “Does it look okay?”

  Mac smiled. “You look perfect.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Mac’s final class at the hospital went smoothly, finishing on time, which coincided nicely with Sarah’s lunch break. Over lunch Sarah showed Mac a photo of Richard. Even on the phone’s small screen, Mac could see where some of Thomas’s features had come from, such as his colouring and physical build. As she played with her yoghurt, she wondered about the danger Richard might pose to his family.

  “Not hungry love?” Sarah asked.

  “Not really.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Don’t know. I don’t suppose I’ve done enough to be hungry.” One of her legs bounced up and down under the table. “I’m just a bit antsy. Is there a storm predicted for the weekend? Sometimes I get like this before a big storm. Sort of restless inside, if that makes sense. Maybe I should do something physical when I get home—that might fix it.”

  “All right. If that doesn’t fix it, then we’ll have to think of something else.”

  Mac grinned. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  Sarah stirred her coffee. “Oh, I don’t know, I thought I’d take you for a drive, down a quiet country road somewhere, let you out, and you could run behind the car all the way home.”

  “Oh, ha-ha. I thought I might clean the house and get a head start on the laundry if I finish up early. Not exactly groundbreaking, but it is useful.”

  “Good idea. I think I’m on my last pair of clean knickers.”

  Mac grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “You could go commando.”

  Sarah playfully bumped her with her shoulder. “I won’t have to if you do the laundry this afternoon.”

  Mac rubbed her chin in deep thought. “Hmm, choices, choices…clean underwear and clothes, or near-naked partner. Have you got a coin I could toss?”

  Sarah scrunched up a napkin and threw it at her, laughing.

  Mac stirred her yoghurt again. “I’m guessing Jean and Thomas will be staying on at your place for a while.”

  Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “I guess. Is that a problem?”

  Mac shook her head. “No.”

  “What’s on your mind, then?”

  Mac gathered her thoughts for a moment in the hope of making sure what she wanted to say came out right. “Some of my furniture is a bit old. I mean, I know that you have your own place, I was just thinking, for the interim, while Jean and Thomas are there, we could maybe look at getting some new furniture. Make it more into our place…if you want.”

  Sarah’s fingers went briefly to her key necklace, and then she reached out and took both of Mac’s hands in hers. “I’ve done some thinking lately, about you and me, and I have come to a few rather startling conclusions. The biggest of those is that I don’t care where I live, as long as you’re there. I need some more things from home, like underwear, obviously, but really? All I need is you.”

  Mac smiled. “Well, I would still like to go shopping, if that’s okay? I’d like it if, wherever we are, it could reflect a little bit of us. Maybe tonight, we can have a look and a think about what we might like to do.”

  “Okay. How about if you pick us up something nice to drink with dinner this afternoon and maybe some catalogues from some of the stores, and I’ll make us dinner and we can sit down and bounce some ideas off each other.”

  Mac sipped her iced tea. “Okay, I can do that.”

  “Good, that’s settled, then.”

  Mac was conscious of the time. “I suppose I should let you go, and I had best drop the photos and posters off to the school.”

  “Thanks. Oh, and can you pick up some paint colour charts too? I want to see what shades of pink might work in the bathroom.”

  Mac’s eyebrows went up in surprise. Pink?

  Sarah slapped her on the upper arm. “Gotcha.”

  Chuckling, Mac shook her head. “All the world’s a comedian, and I get you?”

  Sarah kissed her soundly and stood up grinning. “You sure do, honey.”

  *

  Mac arrived at the school armed with a set of all the photos that Jean had taken the previous day. Her favourite was the blown-up and laminated group photo, that could be pinned up in the classroom. She’d also come equipped with a selection of fire-safety posters that would enable Miss Kelly to rotate them throughout the year. Spying Jean coming towards her, Mac slowed up. “Hello, there.”

  Jean came over and kissed her on the cheek. “Hi, Mac. I have to thank you for yesterday. Thomas hasn’t stopped raving about it. He wore his cap to bed, you know?”

  “Did he? That’s too cute.”

  “I know. In fact, all the kids are raving. You and John were an absolute hit yesterday. And to tell you the truth? I had fun too.”

  Mac beamed. “I’m really glad. I have to say, you took some fantastic pictures yesterday. My chief even asked for some copies for his office.” She reached into the box and gave Jean her framed photo. “I thought you both might like this to take home.”

  Jean looked down and smiled. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  “No, thank you for helping to make the day so wonderful. But I have to confess, I don’t know how you do it, with the kids all day. I was completely busted by the end of yesterday. I take my hat off to you.”

  Jean took a piece of paper out from one of the folders she had tucked under her arm. “Speaking of photos, I sent Sarah one earlier, but here’s a better one of Richard.”

  Mac looked at the printout. Thomas had Richard’s profile, but the subtle fine symmetry of his mother. You could easily pick them as father and son. Mac folded up the picture and put it into her jacket pocket. “Thank you. I’ll take this home and show Sarah. Any more news from the solicitor or the police?”

  Jean shook her head. “No. Nothing official.”

  �
�But?”

  “It’s like holding your breath, waiting for the other shoe to fall.”

  “I hear you.”

  Jean took in a deep, calming breath. “In the meantime, we just have to keep on keeping on.”

  “Absolutely. Speaking of which, I had better get these to the classroom.” Mac leaned over and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “You know where I am if you need anything.”

  “I do, and thank you, Mac.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Mac knocked on the classroom door. One of the children she had met the previous day opened the door. “Hello, Shelley.” Mac smiled at the girl.

  “Hello, Mac.”

  Miss Kelly could be heard clearing her throat in the background. “Ahem, Shelley, what do you say to Mac?”

  “Please come in, Mac.”

  “What lovely manners. Thank you very much.” Mac walked into the classroom and set the box on the table to free her hands up to sign. “Hello, Miss Kelly, hello, everyone.”

  The group cheerily greeted her back in unison. “Hello, Mac!”

  Mac presented each child with their photos, and the framed group photo was given pride of place at the front of the teacher’s desk. Finally, Mac reached inside the box for the USB stick that contained the complete set, only to discover that it wasn’t there. “It must have slipped out on the trip over. May I borrow a couple of safety buddies to help me, and we’ll just nip out to the truck and get it?”

  Thomas and Shelley headed out with Mac to her vehicle. “What we’re looking for is a red-and-silver plastic computer stick, about the size of your finger.” Mac opened the front passenger door and the back seat door behind that. Both kids stuck their heads into the car to see if the stick was on the floor. Shelley found a poster that had rolled out of the box just as Thomas knocked on the panel of the door, triumphantly holding the missing USB stick in his hand.