‘Guess I’ll get to meet him again, then. I try and run on Takapuna beach every day.’
‘Takapuna’s our paddleboard beach. I have to use one of Jay’s because it would be a bit tricky to carry one on a bike. If it’s just a run or a swim we’re after, we’ve got half a dozen beaches and bays to choose from. Or we can just jump overboard.’
‘Sorry?’ Zac was folding up his leather jacket. He couldn’t see Summer because she was behind the open door of her locker now. He was sure he hadn’t heard her correctly but then her face popped out and she was smiling. Really smiling. A real smile—like the one she’d given him in his office the other day, when they’d agreed to start again. A smile that could light up the darkest place.
‘We live on a boat.’
‘Oh…’ Zac was lost for words. Just when he thought he was getting a handle on his new colleague, the rug got pulled out from beneath his feet. It wasn’t just the unusual place to call home. That smile was doing something strange to his gut. It was more than relief that things seemed to be on a better footing. More, even, than the way it reminded him of what her lips had felt like for that brief instant. Maybe it was the impish quality—the hint of sheer joie de vivre—that made it impossible not to smile back.
‘What sort of boat?’
‘An old yacht. A thirty-foot Catalina. Her name’s Mermaid. I’m not sure she’d be seaworthy to take out but I’ve been renting her to live in ever since I came up to Auckland. It’s the only home Flint’s ever known. He’d be a sad dog if he couldn’t see the sea.’
‘What does he do when you’re at work?’
‘Guards the boat. Or sleeps on the jetty. Everybody at the marina knows him. He’s never wandered. Never needs a lead. He only wears a collar to hang his registration tag on and make him legal.’
Summer was pulling her flight suit on over her shorts and T-shirt. Her curves were disappearing beneath the shapeless garment and maybe that was just as well.
Zac was beginning to realise what an extraordinary woman Summer was. With the absence of the hostility with which they’d started working together, he was getting far more of a glimpse of what she was like. Fiercely independent, judging by her choice of lifestyle. Open-minded, maybe, given that she was prepared to take his word over that of a long-term friend. The relationship she had with her dog suggested a mutual loyalty and—a bit like her pet—maybe she was a free spirit who chose exactly where she wanted to be and who she wanted to be with. You couldn’t lead Summer anywhere she didn’t want to go.
But how privileged would you be if she chose to go with you?
Hang on a minute…she’d said ‘we’ live on a boat. He’d assumed she was talking about herself and her dog but what if there was another component to that ‘we’?
That might go even further than both the misinformation on his past and prematurity in having made that kiss so shocking for her. No wonder this all felt so complicated.
Zac took a mental step backwards. Yep. He really did need to tread a little more carefully. There was still a lot more he needed to learn about Summer.
A trip to one of the inhabited islands right out in the Hauraki Gulf was always a bit of a treat. The longer flying time provided an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views below. The harbour was busy, with ferries and yachts out enjoying the afternoon breeze. There was even a sleek cruise ship in the channel between Rangitoto Island and Takapuna beach.
‘Tough day at the office.’
Summer laughed. ‘You said it, Monty. And—even better—we’re off to deliver a baby.’
‘Might have arrived by the time we get there,’ Zac warned. ‘How far apart did she say her contractions were?’
‘Five minutes. And Comms said she sounded a bit distressed.’
‘I’m not surprised. It’s an isolated place to give birth if something goes wrong.’
‘She might be a bit earlier than full-term. It’s usual practice for women to go to the mainland for delivery.’ Summer was still enjoying the view. ‘That’s Tiritiri Matangi island. You ever been there?’
‘No. Love lighthouses, though. It’s a bird sanctuary, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. It’s well worth a visit.’ Summer took a breath, about to say something more, but then she closed her mouth.
Had she been about to suggest that they took a ride up to Gulf Harbour on their bikes the next time they had a day off at the same time? And then take the ferry and walk around the island, seeing things like the feeding stations that attracted hundreds of bellbirds and tuis?
Yep. Even now, the idea of spending a day like that with Zac was extremely appealing but he might have just been being polite, suggesting that they had a ride together. After all, it was a working relationship they’d agreed to make a fresh start on, not a personal one.
Wasn’t it?
They were met at the landing site by a man called Kev, who was in charge of Civil Defence and the volunteer fire brigade for the small community. A retired fisherman with an impressive white beard, Kev had an ancient jeep to provide transport. The local nurse was unavailable to assist because she’d taken the ferry to the mainland to go shopping.
‘Janine? Yep. I know where she lives. Haven’t seen her for a while but she likes to keep to herself. She’s sick?’
‘In labour, apparently.’
‘She’s having a baby?’
Summer caught Zac’s glance as he lifted the Thomas pack of gear into the back of the jeep. This was odd. In such a small community, surely a full-term pregnancy wouldn’t go unnoticed?
Kev started the engine. It coughed and died so he tried again. This time it caught but he was shaking his head.
‘A baby…well…how ‘bout that?’
Summer climbed into the vehicle. ‘You didn’t know she was pregnant?’
Kev grinned. ‘She’s a big girl, is Janine. Can’t say I noticed last time either, mind you.’ He clicked his tongue. ‘That was a sad business…’
‘Oh? In what way?’ Under normal circumstances, it might not be ethical to be discussing a patient with someone who wasn’t a family member but the comment was ringing alarm bells. If the last birth had caused major problems, they needed to know about it.
‘She did all the right things. Went to the big hospital in Whangerei to have the bub. Dunno what happened exactly, but it didn’t come home. Janine was in bits. Broke her and Ev up in the end. He lives over on the mainland now but she goes off on the ferry to visit him sometimes so… Guess they must have decided to try again. She shouldn’t be having it here, though, should she? Crumbs…what if something goes wrong again?’
‘That’s why we’re here.’ Zac’s tone was calm. Reassuring. ‘How far is it to her house?’
‘It’s not a house, exactly. More like a caravan with a bit built on. It’s not too far. Up in the bush at the end of this beach coming up.’
‘Does she have any family here?’
‘Nah.’
‘Friends?’
Kev scratched his beard as he brought the jeep to a halt. ‘She gets on okay with everybody but, like I said, she keeps to herself pretty much. ‘Specially since the trouble. Want me to come in with you?’
Summer caught Zac’s gaze. There could be a reason why Janine had been keeping her pregnancy private.
‘How ‘bout you wait out here for us, Kev? We’ll see what’s happening and hopefully you can get us all back to the chopper pretty fast.’
Except that it didn’t look as if they’d be moving their patient any time too soon.
Janine was inside the caravan, hanging onto the edge of the built-in table with one hand and clutching her belly with the other. She saw Summer and Zac ease themselves into the cramped space but clearly couldn’t say anything in response to their introductions. Her face was contorted with pain.
‘Contraction?’
Janine nodded, groaning at the same time.
‘How long since the last one?’
Their patient shook her head. ‘Dunno,’ she gaspe
d.
‘Have your waters broken?’
A nod this time.
‘We need to check what’s happening,’ Zac said. ‘Would you prefer it if Summer examines you?’
Janine shook her head. ‘You’re the doctor. I’m…scared…’
‘Let’s get you on your bed.’ Summer took Janine’s arm to encourage her to move. ‘We can help you. It might help us if you can tell us about what happened last time…’
But Janine burst into tears as she climbed onto the narrow bed. She covered her face with her hands. Summer could see the swell of the young woman’s belly now that she was lying flat. She helped her bend her knees so that Zac could find out how advanced the labour was.
He was frowning when he looked up a short time later.
‘No dilation whatsoever,’ he said. ‘No cervical softening, even.’
‘Really?’ Summer placed her hands on Janine’s belly. ‘Let’s see if I can find out how Baby’s lying.’
The swollen belly felt firm. And oddly smooth.
‘Has Baby been moving?’
‘Yes. Lots. Until this morning, anyway…’
Zac was unpacking the portable ultrasound unit. ‘Have you been going over to the mainland for your antenatal checks, Janine?’
‘No…’ She turned her head away from them. ‘I didn’t trust the doctors at the hospital. Or the midwives. Not after last time…’
‘What happened, love?’ Zac paused, the tube of gel in his hands.
‘It was all fine until I was in the hospital. They said it was a knot in the cord and it…it stopped the oxygen. I knew something was wrong but they were still telling me to push and I…I…’
‘It’s okay, Janine.’ Summer caught her hand. ‘You’re having contractions now but you’re nowhere near giving birth. We’re going to get you to a safe place in plenty of time.’
Zac was pressing the ultrasound probe to Janine’s belly, staring at the small screen of the unit. He was frowning again. He shifted the probe and tilted the screen so that Summer could see it. She stared too, totally bewildered.
‘We just need some more gear,’ Zac said calmly. ‘We want to take your blood pressure and things, Janine. Be back in a tick.’
But… Summer stifled the word. They had all the gear they needed in the pack right beside them but she recognised the warning glance and followed Zac into the lean-to built onto the caravan that was a living area with armchairs and a potbelly stove.
She kept her voice low. ‘There’s no baby, is there?’
Zac shook his head.
‘But she looks pregnant. She’s having contractions. She’s in labour.’
‘She thinks she’s in labour.’ Zac spoke just as quietly. ‘This is incredibly rare but I think it’s a case of pseudocyesis.’
‘Phantom pregnancy? Good grief…what do we do?’
‘She needs help. When she finds out that she’s not actually pregnant, it’s going to be as devastating as losing her first baby. This isn’t the time or place for that to happen.’
‘So we go along with it? Transport her, believing that she’s still about to give birth? Give her pain relief for the contractions?’
‘What else can we do?’
There was no answer to that. Getting Janine to the specialist psychiatric help she needed was a no-brainer. Making the situation even harder to deal with would have been a stupid option. It took a lot of persuasion to get Janine to agree to transport at all.
‘I want to have my baby here. Where it’s safe.’
‘But it’s not safe, Janine. You’re too far away from the kind of specialist people and facilities that make it safe. And it’s not going to happen for a while. We can’t stay but we can’t leave you here by yourself either.’
Finally, she agreed. She told Summer where the bag was with all the things she would need for the baby. A glance inside the bag showed some gorgeous hand-knitted booties and hats. A soft pink teddy bear. She was blinking back tears as they helped Janine into the jeep.
‘You should’ve told us, love.’ Kev looked worried. ‘We were worried about you.’
‘I’ll be fine, Kev. I’ll be back soon. With the baby.’
It was the strangest case Summer had ever had. She was still thinking about it that evening when she was walking on the beach with Flint.
She’d known there was a good chance of meeting Zac on Takapuna beach. It was easy enough to guess what time he was likely to be having a swim or a run. Maybe that was why she’d chosen this beach, despite not intending to go paddleboarding today. Maybe she wanted the chance to talk about such a puzzling case.
He’d been good to work with today. The fresh start was working well. Maybe there was even a pull to see him again that she wasn’t about to admit to.
The excuse that this was where some of Flint’s best dog friends came to play was a good cover. And Zac seemed happy enough to sit and chat.
‘It was a good day, wasn’t it? It’s not often you get a “once in a lifetime” case like that.’
‘I still can’t believe that something imaginary could give rise to actual physical signs.’
‘The power of the mind.’ Zac nodded. ‘It’s extraordinary, isn’t it?’
‘The things she said when I was getting her history down en route. Like the date her periods stopped and the early nausea and breast changes. Feeling the baby starting to move at about sixteen weeks. Everything sounded so normal.’
‘She’d been through it before. She knew what to expect.’
‘But do you think she could actually feel what she thought was the baby moving?’
‘I’m sure she could.’
‘And the size and shape of her belly. I couldn’t believe it when the ultrasound showed there was no baby.’
‘I’ve read about it. They reckon it’s due to changes in the endocrine system. When a woman wants to be pregnant so desperately, it can trick the body into believing it’s pregnant, as well as the mind. That triggers the secretion of hormones like oestrogen and prolactin and that will stop periods and cause breast changes and nausea. And the weight gain and belly swelling. So, of course, there’s no reason for her to stop believing she’s pregnant—it just gets confirmed.’
‘But for so many months? To actually go into an imaginary labour?’
‘That’s really rare. I think that psychiatrist that got called in looked quite excited about the case. He’ll probably write it up for a journal article.’
‘I just hope he takes good care of Janine. Poor thing.’
‘Yeah…You have to feel sorry for her.’
They sat in silence for a while, then, watching Flint do the sniffing thing to greet a small black Spoodle. With an excited yap, the Spoodle ran in a circle and then dipped its head, inviting Flint to chase her. He complied and, a moment later, both dogs were splashing though the shallows at high speed against the backdrop of a pretty sunset over Rangitoto.
Summer felt her smile stretching. Life was good. Shifting her gaze, she found Zac smiling as well and, suddenly, there they were again. Looking at each other like they had been when they’d been sitting on her board the other night.
Only this time it felt different.
Relaxed.
The tension was gone and, just as suddenly, Summer thought she knew why.
‘It’s been bothering me,’ she admitted. ‘Why I believed Shelley. My instincts are usually so good about whether people are telling the truth. But it’s like Janine, isn’t it? What you said about the power of the mind.’
‘Not sure I’m following you.’
‘If we hadn’t had that ultrasound with us, I would have believed Janine was pregnant.’
‘She was certainly convincing.’
‘So was Shelley.’
‘But Shelley was pregnant.’
‘I’m talking about the other stuff. About you being the father and…’ No, she didn’t even want to think about the accusations of violence. Zac had been so kind to poor Janine and the compassion in his
voice had suggested he felt as sorry for her as others should. He’d made a terrifying situation bearable for Frances the other day. He adored his gran. It would be insulting to even voice something so unbelievable. ‘But maybe she was believable because that’s what she believed herself.’
Zac grunted. ‘She’s pretty sick, then.’
‘Like Janine.’
‘Janine’s only hurting herself.’
‘We don’t know that for sure. There could be collateral damage for others—like her ex-husband? He might be involved enough to believe he’s about to have another child.’
‘I guess. You could be right. Maybe feeling sorry for Shelley is the best way to go.’ Zac’s sigh suggested that he didn’t want to talk about it any more and that was fair enough.
Flint was shaking water from his coat as the Spoodle took off to rejoin its owner further down the beach. Any moment now and he’d probably come back, all damp and sandy, and she might have to excuse herself to go and finish their walk. Or maybe not. Zac might not want to talk about Shelley any more but he didn’t seem annoyed when he spoke again.
‘So you have good instincts, then?’
‘I’ve always thought so.’
‘Just out of interest—given what you thought you knew—what did those instincts tell you about me the other day?’
That was easy to answer. ‘That you couldn’t possibly be the monster I’d assumed you were.’ She smiled. ‘No one but an exceptionally nice person could start talking about his gran the moment he opened his mouth.’
Zac grinned and Summer found herself saying more than she’d intended to say. ‘ I liked you,’ she admitted. ‘It felt wrong but I…I really liked you.’
Zac was silent for a moment. It looked as if he might be taking a rather slow breath. Then he cleared his throat. ‘Just for the record, I really liked you too. I still do.’
Another silence as Summer absorbed his words. Oh, yeah… Life was good.
‘And what did those instincts tell you when we were on the beach the other night? When I…kissed you.’
‘But I kissed you.’
‘I don’t think so.’ There was amusement in his tone. ‘At least, that’s not the way I remember it.’ He caught her gaze. ‘You wouldn’t have been so shocked if it had been your idea,’ he added. ‘You jumped like you’d got burned.’
Daredevil, Doctor...Husband? Page 6