The Army Doctor's Baby (Romance Novella)

by Scott Taylor, Helen

  "Keep? He's not a pet."

  He gestured in irritation. "I'm trying to be reasonable here, Liv. Don't make this difficult."

  "No." She shook her head and tightened her arms around her darling little boy. "I don't need you to pay anything."

  Cameron's expression tightened. "Then why have you been hassling me for months to contact you?"

  "Because I wanted George to have his daddy in his life." She paused. "And I did need help," she added reluctantly. "Luckily your mum has been wonderful."

  "And I expect she's paid for half this stuff." Cameron waved his arm around, indicating the stroller parked in the corner and the other baby things. "I'd better pay her back."

  Heat rushed into Olivia's cheeks. She really wanted to tell him not to, but she had no right to expect Sandra to keep putting her hand in her pocket. Even though she said she didn't mind.

  What would Radley make of this? Should she tell Cameron that she and Radley were together? Except right now they weren't. Radley was halfway around the world in some godforsaken place, and she had no idea when she'd see him again. He'd said he loved her, but he'd made her no promises.

  "If you can afford it, I'm sure your mum would appreciate it. I promised to pay her back, but it will be awhile before I can."

  "Okay, that's settled. I'll send you some money each month for George." Cameron jumped up and headed to the door. "I'll have a quick shower and be back for my good-bye hug with my boy."

  Olivia stared at the door long after Cameron had disappeared. His boy. If Cameron was determined to accept his role as George's dad, where would Radley fit into her son's life?

  Chapter Seven

  Olivia parked Radley's car in the town's main square and climbed out. A tall Christmas tree stood in the center, decorated with colored lights while cheery holiday tunes sounded from the nearby stores.

  She couldn't believe it was only two weeks until Christmas. George was nearly three months old. That meant she'd known Radley for nearly three months. For six weeks of that time they'd been together virtually 24/7, and then he had gone back to Afghanistan and left her unsure what the future held for them. Or if there was a them at all.

  Fear and foreboding pulsed inside a hollow place in her chest, as it always did when she thought of Radley now. She hated that he was in a war zone and at risk of being hurt. She missed him so much yet he'd only called her once since he left.

  It wasn't Radley's fault his leave had been canceled, but she hadn't had a chance to say a proper good-bye before he left. She couldn't help feeling abandoned. Sandra said it was difficult for the troops to call from Afghanistan and that seemed likely, yet Cameron now Skyped once a week from Germany so he could see his son.

  Radley had access to a computer because he'd e-mailed, so why couldn't he Skype her as well? She would love to see his face. Wasn't he interested in seeing how George was changing, or in seeing her? In his e-mails he just talked about trivial things. He hadn't asked about the weekend Cameron came home, even after she mentioned that Cameron was now giving her money for George.

  Radley said he loved her, but it was meaningless if she never saw him. Her father still tossed out "I love you" when he called her, but he didn't or he would make the effort to see her occasionally.

  Glancing at her watch, she hurried towards the realtor's office. She'd started doing a couple of shifts a week at an old people's residential home, a similar job to one she'd done before to supplement her student loan. It was only twenty minutes until her shift started so she had to be quick.

  Christmas lights hung from the street lamps and spanned the road, lighting up the area as darkness fell. Olivia paused outside a toy store to examine the display of cuddly animals. She hadn't bought any presents yet. At least now she had some earnings, so she could purchase small gifts for the Knights and George.

  A few moments later, she pushed open the glass door to the realtor's office and glanced around. The woman who had met her and Radley at Brook View Cottage was seated near the back. Olivia approached and smiled, noting the woman's name on her desk.

  "Hello, Lindsey, I need to talk to you about Brook View Cottage. The one Radley Knight is buying."

  The woman looked up, recognition in her eyes. "Of course. How can I help? There isn't a problem with the purchase, is there?"

  "Not a problem, just a delay."

  Olivia explained that the contract had arrived from the lawyers but Radley couldn't sign yet as he was in Afghanistan. Sandra had called the lawyers' office but they wouldn't discuss the transaction with her because of the Data Protection Act. They would only talk to Radley and that was obviously impossible right now. Olivia hoped the realtor might be more helpful.

  "Is it possible for you to contact the seller to explain why there's a delay? We don't want him to think that Radley's lost interest."

  "That shouldn't be a problem. Sit down for a moment. I'll call him now."

  Olivia sat and laced her fingers together over her tummy, still aware of the tenderness where the C-section scar was. A small silver Christmas tree sat on a filing cabinet, and glittery baubles hung from the ceiling. Signs of Christmas were everywhere, yet Olivia had never felt less like celebrating. The only good thing about Christmas was that by the time it arrived, she would have her exam results.

  When the realtor's call was answered, Olivia listened carefully to the side of the conversation she could hear. It didn't seem to be going well. Lines appeared on the young woman's forehead and she apologized a few times.

  When she put down the phone, she sighed. "It's not good news, I'm afraid. Mr. Knight promised the sale would be completed by Christmas and the seller is depending on that. He needs the money for his own purchase."

  "It's not Radley's fault. His leave was canceled unexpectedly. He was recalled to Afghanistan."

  The woman nodded. "My cousin's in the army, so I sympathize. The trouble is there's another couple interested in Brook View who offered cash. The seller says if they can rush through the deal before Christmas, he'll sell to them instead. I'm sorry."

  Olivia gasped as though she had been punched in the chest. Radley had set his heart on Brook View and she loved it too. This was so unfair. Everything was going wrong.

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. "Thank you for finding out for me. At least we know."

  Olivia trudged out into the bitter evening air. She felt so helpless and frustrated. If only she or Sandra could act on Radley's behalf, the cottage would be his. If she stayed with Radley, would it always be like this—him away, her struggling to deal with things on her own?

  She'd managed on her own ever since her mother died. But now she had George. She really didn't want to handle everything alone, and she wanted George to have a proper family with a mum and dad around, the life she had missed out on when she was a child. She wanted the man she loved by her side, sharing things. Not halfway around the world.

  ***

  It was just after midnight when Olivia let herself quietly into Willow House after a shift at work, and headed for the stairs. The sound of a sob from the sitting room pulled her up, and she frowned for a moment before changing direction.

  She pushed open the sitting room door to reveal the softly lit room. The log fire had died down. In the glowing light from the embers, she could see Sandra kneeling beside a Christmas tree that hadn't been there when Olivia left.

  The tree was partially decorated, the lights in place and some baubles on the lower branches. As Olivia moved closer, she saw boxes of decorations on the floor.

  Sandra was rocking George in her arms. It was only when Olivia reached her that she realized Radley's mother was crying.

  A shock of fear raced through her and she crouched beside the older woman. "What's wrong?"

  "Oh, nothing, just me being silly." Sandra wiped her cheeks with the back of a hand. "My husband was meant to call tonight. I've been waiting for hours, watching the clock, but no call." She gave a hollow laugh. "After all this time, I know it doesn't
mean anything. I must be hormonal or something. Maybe I'm missing him more than usual because I was decorating the tree."

  Olivia pulled over a footstool and sat at Sandra's side. After being on her feet for so many hours, she needed to sit down. Sandra passed George across to her and he nuzzled her shirtfront. "Are you hungry, little man? Just for a change."

  Sandra gave a watery laugh and stroked George's hair. "He's such a good little boy. He reminds me so much of Radley."

  "Not Cameron?" Olivia said in surprise. After all, Cameron was the dad.

  "Lord, no. Cameron was a handful, very noisy and very demanding. He needed to be constantly entertained. Radley was happy with his own company like George."

  "I'm sorry Brigadier Knight didn't call," Olivia said. "I suppose he's too busy or not near a phone."

  Sandra sighed deeply and rose to her feet. "You're right. I'm sure." She stooped and gathered up some baubles, then hung them on the tree. "I hoped he'd be home for Christmas, but he didn't know last time we spoke. With the current troubles, there's a strong possibility it will be just you, me, and little George for Christmas this year."

  She wiped away another tear and added more baubles to the tree. Her melancholy mood was catching. Olivia's own worries about Radley welled up and her eyes filled, but she swallowed back the need to cry. "Aren't you used to this?"

  "Gosh, yes. When we were first married, my husband was only a captain. He had no say if he got home for Christmas. But in those days the boys were little, and Christmas is so much about children. We lived in army married quarters, and the holiday season was filled with events for the children. Then just before Christmas I'd bundle up the two boys and drive down to my parents' house in Hampshire. They had a beautiful place in the New Forest."

  "That sounds nice." Olivia remembered her own Christmases, just her and her mum, her dad rarely making it home from wherever in the world he was working. But he hadn't been kept away by orders, just by his own indifference.

  "I thought it would get easier as the years went on, but with the boys gone too…" Sandra's words trailed away, and she cleared her throat.

  "A brigadier has choice over when he takes leave, but with the recent flare-up of hostilities in Afghanistan, I don't know if he'll make it back. He has a strong sense of duty and Radley takes after his father. This might be the first year ever that I don't have any of them home."

  "Well, you have us," Olivia said.

  "Yes. Thank heaven for you two." Sandra stopped and folded her arms around Olivia and her baby, hugging them tight. "You don't know how pleased I am to have you here, love. Don't ever think you're imposing. You're not. You and this little darling are a godsend to me."

  The tears flooded back in Olivia's eyes at Sandra's heartfelt words. She had been planning to move out after Christmas, had already started looking for an apartment. Since her mother died, she had been alone. Her father occasionally contacted her, but she was lucky to see him once a year.

  "I'm glad we'll be here with you for Christmas. I'm looking forward to it." And for the first time, she realized she was. This had been a tough year. She had faced challenges she had never dreamed of. Now she had her darling little boy and he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

  Sandra took Olivia's hand and squeezed it. "I hope Radley marries you and makes sure you stay in the family."

  "If the army ever lets him come home." Olivia stared pensively into the dying fire, all her uncertainties flooding back.

  "At least you've had a taste of what it's like to be an army wife before you take the plunge. You have to love a man very much to put up with always coming in second to his career."

  ***

  While he waited to retrieve his baggage, Radley's finger hovered over the screen of his phone. He longed to send Olivia a text saying, "Back in the UK!" With a sigh, he resisted, and dropped the device back in his pocket. It was unfair to raise her hopes that he would be home for Christmas when he wasn't absolutely sure he would be.

  "There you go," his father said, pointing at the luggage carousel at RAF Brize Norton in baggage claim. "That's yours, isn't it?"

  Radley pulled off his bag and his father picked up his own. They headed out through the bustle of arrivals and departures where forces personnel mingled together with a few civilian family members.

  They left the main terminal building and a corporal met them at the door and saluted. "I have your car, sir," he said to Radley's father. He led them to a black limo and stowed their luggage in the trunk.

  Radley climbed in the back of the car beside his father. Nepotism was alive and well in the British army and Radley was thankful for it. Otherwise he'd be on a bus heading for the train station to find his own way to London.

  Once they were under way, Radley pulled off his cap and ran his fingers through his gritty hair. He was looking forward to a luxury hotel room with a soft bed and a shower. His father opened his briefcase and started perusing official documents. Radley sighed and pulled out his phone again to check his e-mails, hoping there might be one from Olivia.

  "Have you told Mum you'll be home for Christmas?" he asked his father.

  "Not yet." The brigadier didn't look up from his work.

  "It's only three days away. She'll be wondering."

  Finally his father raised his gaze. "I'm almost certain we'll both be there, but I don't want to say anything, just in case. There's nothing worse than letting the women down. It's much better to say nothing, then it's a pleasant surprise when we turn up."

  "Or you hope it's pleasant," Radley said.

  His father laughed. "Very true."

  Radley tapped the screen of his phone. He couldn't resist texting something to Olivia. He satisfied himself by sending the same thing he'd sent many times before. "I love you. R." Although after nearly six weeks with little contact, she was probably growing weary of proclamations of love with nothing to back them up.

  He scrolled to his photos and went through the ones he had taken of George and Olivia. He realized now that he'd taken that special time with them for granted. He hadn't expected his spell of playing happy family to end so abruptly. He wanted that life for real, but it sounded as though Cameron had now staked his claim on George. Radley had no idea how things would pan out when he arrived home.

  The colors of the English countryside whizzed past the window as the car sped down the motorway, such a welcome change from the sepia tones of the desert. He dozed for a while and woke as they entered central London. The car dropped them outside a discreet hotel in Whitehall. He quickly showered and changed into service dress before meeting his father back in the lobby.

  The car picked them up again and dropped them outside the huge gray edifice that housed the Ministry of Defense. They entered the tall doors and passed through security, then rode the elevator to the correct floor.

  His father saluted a superior officer, which was something Radley didn't see very often, and they stopped outside a suite of offices.

  "George, good to see you." Lieutenant General Platt, one of Radley's father's oldest friends, met them at the door. He shook hands with Brigadier Knight and they disappeared into the office, leaving Radley to wait outside.

  "Would you like a cup of tea or coffee, sir," a young woman in uniform asked him.

  "Yes, coffee. Cream, no sugar. Thank you."

  She brought his drink, then returned to her desk and started tapping at her computer keyboard.

  Radley picked up a magazine and flipped through it halfheartedly. His father was here to discuss a potential move to work for the Ministry of Defense, but Radley had no idea why he'd been ordered to attend.

  A little over an hour later, his father came to the door and beckoned him inside. The three-star general indicated Radley should take the vacant chair in front of his desk. His father regained his seat to the side and picked up a half-finished glass of whisky.

  "Well, Major Knight. The first order of business is to congratulate your father on his new appointment w
ith the Ministry of Defense." The two older men shared a look. "And his promotion to major general, but please keep that under your hat for a few weeks until it's officially announced."

  "Congratulations, sir." Radley beamed at his father, thinking how pleased his mum would be to have his dad based in London for the foreseeable future.

  Lieutenant General Platt poured a finger of whisky in another glass and handed it to Radley. Then he raised his glass towards Radley's father. "To Queen and country," he said, "and your continued success in their defense."

  They all knocked back the contents of their tumblers and the double malt burned its way down Radley's throat, spreading fire along his veins. Ever since his father told him they were coming here together, he'd been curious as to why they wanted to see him in the lofty halls of the MOD.

  "I expect you're wondering what you're doing here, Major?" the senior officer said, as if reading his mind.

  "Yes, sir."

  "You might think we don't notice what goes on in field hospitals, but we do. I don't pretend to know anything about surgery, but I'm reliably informed you have a particular skill in dealing with acute trauma to limbs."

  "Yes, sir," Radley repeated, wondering to which far-flung part of the world they would send him next, and silently praying he could take his remaining leave first and spend Christmas at home with Olivia and George before he left.

  The lieutenant general smiled and opened a folder. "Well, Major Knight. I believe your next posting will interest you very much."

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia danced around the entrance hall of Willow House with George in her arms. Her exam results had arrived in the mail that day while she was at work, and she'd just opened the letter. She'd earned a first class honors degree! She couldn't wait to tell Sandra and Radley.

  Excitement raced through her. All her hard work had paid off. Although her pleasure dimmed when she remembered the less-than-enthusiastic response she'd had when she contacted the local law firms to ask about training positions. It seemed all the vacancies had been taken by graduates who passed their exams in the summer.