by Sue MacKay
‘We’ll manage. Cole? If you end up going to Cairns Hospital with the boys, don’t do anything risky to get back.’
Get back quickly, so I know you’re all right, but don’t put yourself in danger.
‘We’ll see that he gets a lift with one of the crews if necessary. Is Lucas ready?’ Damon asked her man.
‘Yes.’ Cole stood up and crossed to Vicki. ‘I’ll be back as soon as possible.’ His mouth brushed a light kiss on her cheek. ‘Look after yourself.’
‘You, too.’ Her knees softened, and she stepped closer, felt his warmth and strength. Oh, Cole. ‘Hurry back.’ Be safe and sensible, and hurry back. She kissed him back, longer and deeper. Now who needed to be sensible?
* * *
Relief soared when Cole gingerly stepped out of the dinghy on the other side of the flood waters and heard a woman in dark blue overalls say to him, ‘You Cole Halliday? I’m Bridget Ford, emergency doctor for the rescue services. I understand we’ve got a stat two patient?’
He’d get to spend the rest of the night with Vicki. ‘I’m Cole. The seriously injured patient is ten-year-old Lucas. He was unconscious when the crew got to him, and there’s been no change in the time I’ve spent with him. Suspected internal bleeding in the abdominal area. Fractured leg, and possibly ribs. Trauma to the skull.’ Relief was still running through him. For Lucas and the medical help he desperately needed, and for himself because he wasn’t flying to the hospital. Vicki’s softening towards him had started a flutter in his chest that hadn’t abated throughout the short ride in the boat watching over Lucas.
‘Right, load and go,’ Bridget said. ‘We’ve got a stretcher ready at the back of the chopper. Bringing it to the boat meant getting it soaked and the boy already has enough to deal with.’
Cole held up a hand. ‘There’s also a second boy, Lucas’s brother, Toby. He checks out fine, but I want him to go to hospital anyway.’
‘We’ll find room,’ Bridget agreed.
Cole slung Toby onto his back and reached for one end of the makeshift stretcher in the boat. ‘Ready, Merv?’
‘Yes. On a count of three.’
Within moments Lucas was at the back of the rescue chopper and being swiftly but carefully transferred, and Cole waited until Bridget was ready to take Toby. Then he stepped back, letting the rescue medics take over and do their job. ‘Good luck,’ he called. Now he could return to Vicki. He’d be sharing her with a woman in labour desperate to get to her sons, but at least he’d be with her. His steps were jaunty as he turned back to the boat.
‘Cole?’ Bridget called. ‘I’ve got a message for someone I think is with your lot. Karen?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘The boys’ mother. She’s in labour.’
‘Then you’d better pass this on.’
He listened carefully, nodded, and felt the familiar guilt kick in. ‘That’s great news.’ News that Vicki would’ve wanted to hear the night she’d miscarried.
‘You notice the rain’s down to a drizzle?’ Merv asked as they climbed back into the boat. He revved the motor and aimed for the lawn in front of the house they were using.
Cole looked up and laughed as his vision blurred with water. ‘That was dumb.’ He blinked the rain out of his eyes. ‘But I think you’re right. How long will it take for this new river to go down?’
‘If we don’t get another deluge I reckon less than twenty-four hours.’
‘Now all we have left to do is get Karen out of here.’ Cole looked around and was shocked to realise that the sky was lightening. The night was over. What a night it had been. Nothing like he’d expected when leaving Sydney yesterday. Yet he didn’t feel any regret. This was why he’d studied medicine in the first place, to help those in dire situations. Okay, some regret, because he and Vicki hadn’t had a lot of time alone together, and they definitely needed to. But it could be that just being together, working with their patients, had been good for them. They’d seen another side to each other. They hadn’t argued, or withdrawn into themselves.
‘Cole,’ Vicki called from the house. ‘Want to give me a hand? A baby’s about to arrive.’
Wow. No matter how bad things got, there were the wonderful moments too. ‘Coming. Those contractions sped up?’
‘Karen suddenly had a huge meltdown. She needs to be with her boys, and wants her husband here, not in Western Australia. Then baby started getting on with the process, like it’s got the message that Mum needs someone of her own right now.’
He couldn’t help himself. He wound an arm around his wife’s shoulders, hugged her lithe body in against him. Wonderful. Happiness rose, filled him. He was holding Vicki. She’d probably step away in a moment but he’d take what he could get. ‘I’ve got news for her,’ he said, breathing deep to savour Vicki’s sweet fragrance. He’d missed talking to her, sharing jokes and laughter, and lying in bed with their bodies entwined. ‘Good news.’
‘Has Lucas come round?’ Vicki asked, glancing up at him.
‘I wish.’ He also wished he could read total uncompromised love in those beautiful eyes. But he couldn’t. Wasn’t quite sure what he was seeing. Still with his arm around her, he took Vicki inside.
‘Karen’s in the first bedroom down the hall.’
‘Right.’ The moment he saw Karen, he said, ‘I’ve been told to let you know that your husband is on his way from Perth right now. The reason you weren’t getting through to him was because he’s in the air, heading east. He heard about the flooding from his parents hours ago.’
‘You’re sure?’ Hope flicked through her eyes.
‘The message came via the rescue doctor from your in-laws. It’s going to take time to get to Cairns as he couldn’t get the flights he needed.’
‘He’s coming. That’s all that matters. Thank you so much.’ Some of the anxiety left her tight face. ‘That’s wonderful.’
Vicki slipped from under his arm, nodding. ‘It is. Now you can relax and let this little one make a grand entrance, then you’ll have something to show off to your man when he gets to town.’ Her voice was clipped, filled with an emotion Cole didn’t like. Sadness. And loneliness.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘It won’t happen again.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN,’ Cole repeated under his breath.
He’d never meant anything so much other than telling Vicki he loved her. He used to tell her often, it hadn’t been something to be reticent about. It was true, so therefore he told her regularly. Except not for a long time prior to the miscarriage, and definitely not during the last few phone conversations. The atmosphere had become uncomfortable, making him feel if he uttered those words once more she’d think he was deliberately trying to get her onside without going over what had pushed them apart in the first place.
Vicki was too busy taking obs on Karen to give him a smile. Deliberately too busy? Her focus was completely on her patient, though he saw worry filter through her gaze.
‘Here we go again.’ Karen stood awkwardly and reached for Vicki’s hands, clinging to them as the contraction tore through her belly. ‘Getting worse.’
‘Getting closer.’ Vicki smiled tightly. ‘I need to re-examine you, see what’s going on.’
‘The baby’s coming, that’s what’s happening,’ Karen growled through gritted teeth.
‘Then let’s find out where he’s at,’ Vicki suggested in a firm, don’t-argue tone. ‘What is it with you and boys anyway? Haven’t you heard of girls?’
Karen relaxed a little and sank onto the bed that had been made available by Ester. ‘Everyone asks me that, but I’m happy with my sons. It’s never bothered me not having a daughter. It’s easier having them all the same sex. Though Arlo would’ve liked a girl. He’d have spoilt her rotten. Oh, that’s too soon.’ Her face scrunched up in agony and her hands clasped together around her belly.
‘You can stay. Though Vicki’s doing a great job.’
Vicki chuckled. ‘It’s you doing all the work and making things easier.’
‘Lots of practice,’ Karen grunted. ‘I swear this is the last time. Four kids are enough.’
‘When the contraction ends, can you lie back and let me see if baby’s head’s crowning?’ Vicki slipped gloves on and handed Cole a pair. ‘You up to date with deliveries?’
He was back in favour, as a doctor if nothing else. Then she smiled at him, and his heart turned to mush. More than a doctor then. ‘Not a lot of those in the army, but who can forget the amazement of a new baby? I’ll never forget the first birth I witnessed as a trainee. The most fantastic experience.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Her smile remained so she wasn’t thinking about the baby they’d lost. ‘Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve done midwifery, but then I think how much I enjoy what I do and it’s all good. More variety.’
His heart did a happy dance. For now all was good in his world. ‘You ready for this, Karen?’
‘As long as you’re going to tell me you can see baby.’
‘We’ll do our best,’ he agreed. ‘Have you and Arlo chosen a name yet?’
‘We’ve always waited until we’ve met our boys before deciding on one. I don’t know if it’s about finding a name that suits or about not wanting to jinx anything, but that’s how it’s been from when I was pregnant with Lucas.’ Mentioning her eldest brought the tears on, and her bottom lip was in danger of being torn by her teeth.
Vicki was quick to take her hands. ‘Come on. He’s tough. You told me that yourself. His grandparents are at the hospital and shortly all the boys will be there. Soon their dad will be too. The doctors will be doing everything possible to make Lucas well.’
‘I—know,’ Karen hiccupped. ‘But I feel so useless right now. I’m his mother. I should’ve been able to save him from getting hurt. Same for Toby and Callum. Instead I was in the room that suffered the least damage.’
Cole locked a firm gaze on her. ‘No one knew that hill would come down, let alone which building it would hit. Certainly, no one had a clue which rooms it would take out. Spare yourself this agony and concentrate on getting your new wee man safely out into the world. All right?’
‘Yes.’ She swallowed hard. ‘I needed that.’
‘No problem. We understand what you’re going through, but the best thing you can do is stay focused on what’s happening here. Once baby’s born we can concentrate on getting you both to hospital to join your family.’
Vicki nodded, and moved closer to him, reached for his glove-covered hand, gave him a squeeze. ‘You’re right. About everything you mentioned.’
As in they both understood Karen’s pain? Yes, they did. It had been a different scenario but the pain of not being there for each other had been real. He squeezed back, wishing he had time to hug Vicki tight. Unfortunately, there was a baby waiting to introduce himself to his mother and that really was as important right now. He gave her one anyway, smiled when she leaned into him briefly.
Vicki said to Karen, ‘I’ll take a look now.’
It didn’t take a second to understand that baby was well and truly on his way, Cole saw. ‘You’re about to become a mum again. Push, Karen.’
‘Strange but I haven’t felt the need to do that yet.’
‘Maybe not, but give it your best shot.’
He watched Vicki encouraging Karen to push harder. She was gentle and compassionate, yet not letting Karen off doing the hard work required.
Within minutes the room was filled with a delightful cry that tugged at Cole’s heartstrings. One day he would be a dad. When Vicki had told him she was pregnant he’d been ecstatic. They were going to be parents, raise their own child, love him or her to bits, share the good and bad times, always be there to support him or her through everything the world threw their way. Believe in their honesty.
Then the dream had imploded. It was a common occurrence for parents-to-be, but not once had he realised how devastating it would be when it happened to them. He’d buried the despair while in hospital and only recently had he taken out the anguish of the miscarriage and thought it through. It hurt, but not as much as losing Vicki would.
‘Let me hold him,’ Karen squealed, holding her arms out to take the precious bundle he held in his large hands, making the tiny tot look even smaller.
He didn’t want to let the baby go, wanted to feel the warm, wriggling body in his palms. Of course he handed him over, watched Karen snuggle her new son against her breasts. One day. He glanced sideways and saw the amazed expression on Vicki’s face. Reaching for her hand again, he gave another squeeze. Definitely one day.
When she leaned close to lay her head against his shoulder he couldn’t hold back a smile. Or the kiss he dropped on her forehead. This felt right, just like them, and encouraged him to think all was not lost.
* * *
‘We know how to pick our weekend, don’t we?’
Vicki dropped her sodden jacket on the laundry floor, then shucked out of her shorts. Not a good idea, if that gleam in Cole’s eyes meant what she thought it did. Why would she be wrong, having seen it often in the past? Too late. She wasn’t going to pull the pants back on. That would only make them both more aware of each other.
Who am I kidding? I couldn’t be more conscious of Cole if I tried.
So she had to divert his interest. ‘Here’s hoping the rest of today and tomorrow are ours to use as we choose.’
Going by the way Cole’s eyes widened, that wasn’t working as a distraction. Seemed he had ideas about how he wanted to use their time together. ‘Yeah, I’m hoping we’ve done our bit for the community. I’d like to spend time with you and no one else.’
‘Me, too,’ she admitted, remembering the gentle kiss on her forehead that had turned her toes to mush. ‘But I confess I’m exhausted.’ She’d had very little sleep the night before last, none last night, her nerves on edge for days over Cole coming, and there wasn’t much oomph left inside her. Seriously? When the man of her heart stood before her? What was wrong with her? They still had a few problems yet to sort out. Her shoulders slumped. ‘I’m going to have a shower, then some breakfast. Or lunch,’ she added after seeing her mother’s ancient wall clock showing ten forty-five.
‘So am I,’ he agreed, his eyes finally settling back to normal and a smile appearing. ‘Let’s go with brunch. Covers all the bases.’
‘Sounds good.’ Especially if Cole was cooking. Was she wrong to leave the order of things the same, or should she be stepping up more? The problem was she liked slipping back into their routine. It gave her confidence they’d work everything out in a good way. ‘Where did the hours go?’
‘Into boys and a baby, and hanging around waiting to get out of the place.’
‘There was a time I started to wonder if we’d ever be brought back over to our side.’ They’d waited more than an hour to be brought across the flood waters and driven home.
‘You don’t think Damon or Merv would’ve left you there any longer than they had to, do you?’ Cole smiled. ‘Not when Damon was on edge about you being anywhere near that moving hillside.’
‘True. I suppose that second house getting swamped with mud and water ruined his plans for excavating us sooner rather than later.’ Cole was still staring at her like he’d forgotten what her legs looked like. Grabbing a towel off the shelf, she wrapped it around her waist, and smiled to herself when he sucked a breath and looked away.
‘I’m glad we were able to help those people, but I’m hoping that’s the end of it this weekend.’ Was it selfish to think she’d rather have spent time with Cole, sorting out their differences? Probably, but it showed she was human, didn’t
it?
‘You’re a confident nurse, and the patients respond well to you.’
Wow. A low laugh bubbled through her, followed by a wave of warmth that wrapped around her heart. ‘I could say the same about you, Doctor. We did well in a tough situation. That house gave me the creeps. I kept hearing the walls and roof creaking and cracking, and expected it to drop on my head any moment.’
‘The guys did a good job of shoring it up, at least for long enough to evacuate the family. Who knows what state the house will be in later today.’
‘It’s an insurance job, that one.’
‘There’ll be a few of those after this.’ Cole ran his finger across her chin. ‘I did enjoy being with you, despite the circumstances. We still fit well together.’
She locked her eyes with his steady, endearing gaze. ‘You’re right.’ She swayed towards him, and couldn’t find the brakes to stop. Lifting her arms, she wound them around his neck. ‘It’s been quite a night.’ She had no idea where she was, other than holding Cole, being so close to him, needing him. Loving him.
His head came closer, his lips brushing hers before whispering, ‘Vicki, love.’ Then he was kissing her, deeply, lovingly.
Rising onto her toes, she pushed against his chest, kissed him back, her tongue darting into his mouth to taste. She had missed this, him, so much it had hurt. And heated her blood as she continued to return his kisses. ‘Cole,’ she murmured against his mouth as his hands spread across her waist.
He lifted her, sat her on top of the washing machine, pushed his hips between her legs, and continued kissing, continued ramping up her desire, turning her body into an inferno of need. This was them. This was how they’d got back together every time he’d been away.