The Doctor's Outback Baby

by Carol Marinelli

  ‘I wonder if I’ll get her through customs.’

  And then the joking stopped, the nerves, the shyness disappearing as their eyes locked above their tiny little red-headed babe.

  ‘She needs a name,’ Timothy said, his voice thick with emotion. ‘We can’t let them keep calling her Baby Watts. What was your mother’s name?’

  ‘Elizabeth,’ Clara whispered. ‘But everyone called her Beth.’

  ‘Beth.’ Timothy said the name slowly, his face breaking into a smile. ‘Beth Morgan—it sounds nice, don’t you think?’

  Her eyes never left his, confidence, hope, love, tears all shining in her eyes.

  ‘It sounds perfect.’

  ‘She’s going to be all right,’ Timothy said softly, one large finger stroking the tiny pink cheek. ‘More than all right, she’s going to be just fine.’

  And this time his optimism didn’t irritate her, this time his blind faith didn’t annoy her.

  It was everything she needed.

  ‘We’re all going to fine,’ he added softly.

  EPILOGUE

  ‘YOUR mum and dad would have been so proud of you.’

  Bill’s voice was gruff as he offered his arm, and Clara leant on it gratefully as he fussed over Beth with all the skill of a new grandfather, his daughter Martha’s baby already a playmate for Beth.

  ‘You look wonderful,’ Eileen enthused, fiddling with Clara’s dress as her heels sank into the dry red earth.

  ‘So do you,’ Clara whispered through her chattering teeth.

  ‘At least I’ve managed to produce a bit of hair for the day.’ Eileen grinned, fingering her fine, short hair. ‘A bald maid of honour’s not the best look.’

  ‘I’m just glad you’re here,’ Clara said softly, the double meaning not wasted on Eileen as she smiled back fondly. And Eileen truly did look wonderful. Her thin face was filling out now, hope shining in her eyes at the beauty of a future she could glimpse now. They’d decided against a headdress of flowers for Eileen. She truly didn’t need them. The wispy locks that framed her smiling face held all the hope of a meadow in springtime.

  ‘Do you want me to take Beth for you?’

  Clara shook her head. ‘I want to walk up the aisle holding her.’

  ‘They’re all ready for you.’ Hamo was walking towards her, unfamiliar in a dark suit, his hair for once neatly cut, the perfect groomsman for Tennengarrah’s tiny church.

  ‘Just give me a moment.’

  Clara stood for a second gazing at the dusty town she loved, the barn all set up for this magical day, white ribbons adorning it, fairy-lights draped all ready for the biggest party Tennengarrah had ever witnessed. She gazed on the dry, hot land that was her home, knowing deep down that it was time to leave, to follow Timothy’s dreams, to help him be all he was going to be.

  ‘We’ll be back,’ Timothy had promised. ‘When I’m a surgeon, we’ll come back where we all belong.’

  And they did belong, Clara knew that now.

  They belonged to the endless red earth, to the family that was Tennengarrah, to the community that had embraced her, not because they’d had to but because they’d wanted to.

  Love was never a duty.

  But by Timothy’s side was where she wanted to be now, where she was needed the most.

  Walking towards him, she jumped slightly as the music thundered into life, as the whole of Tennengarrah turned towards her, smiling, taking every step with her as Timothy waited patiently.

  Waited and watched as his family walked towards him.

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-5777-4

  THE DOCTOR’S OUTBACK BABY

  First North American Publication 2004

  Copyright © 2004 by Carol Marinelli

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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