Christmas in the Outback

by Leah Martyn

  A brief whimper of disbelief escaped from her mouth and then her hands were sliding under his T-shirt until her arms were around him, anchoring him as if she’d never let him go.

  He felt wonderful—sleek-muscled, so familiar. And she still knew his body as well as her own, her touch revelling in the feel of it under her hands.

  But the urge to touch wasn’t hers alone. Liam’s hand slid from her shoulder to cup her breast and stroke the soft under-swell.

  ‘Oh, Nik…’ Her name was torn from his throat and lost against her lips, his mouth catching her own breathy sigh, swallowing it, savouring it, until he claimed her as though he was dying of thirst.

  Then just as suddenly it was over. Like a fever that had run its course.

  With one accord they stepped back from each other. For a few taut seconds their gazes held, then Liam squeezed his eyes shut briefly. ‘We’ve done enough for today. Why don’t you take the shower first?’

  Nikki let her breath out slowly. Her first instinct had been to analyse what had just happened—the kiss and all it stood for. But obviously Liam was already sidestepping the issue. Or perhaps he intended to forget it had happened at all.

  In a quick, protective movement, she put her hand to her mouth, feeling his kiss rebound in a wash of quivering nerve-ends.

  If only it was that easy.

  Nikki closed off the taps and stepped out of the shower, hastily drying herself. Winding a towel turban-like around her damp hair, she decided she’d just about got the three-minute routine down pat.

  Opening the bathroom door cautiously, she called, ‘Shower’s free!’ She heard the faint tremble in her voice as it echoed down the hallway and, almost as if she was being pursued, scuttled into her bedroom and closed the door.

  ‘What about a glass of wine before we think about dinner?’ Liam asked a bit later.

  ‘Lovely.’ Nikki had regained some sense of normality, settling herself at the servery with her elbows propped on the counter and her chin in her hands.

  Watching her former husband move around the kitchen, her gaze was almost hungry. She knew all his features by heart—the coal-black eyes that seemed to see right to your soul, the hair, unruly still, springing back from his temples in a tangle of dark waves, the strength of his facial features, these days honed to an almost hawk-like leanness.

  ‘Here you are, Doctor, a nice crisp Chardonnay.’ Liam slid the drink across to her and their fingers brushed as she took it. She tensed, sharp bitter-sweet memories of their kiss enveloping her as the electric tingle shot up her arm and hovered around her heart.

  ‘Shall we go outside to the cool?’ Liam gestured towards the rear verandah and Nikki spun off the high stool and followed him.

  It was early evening and a Sunday.

  ‘It feels good to unwind a bit, doesn’t it?’ Legs outstretched, Liam’s gaze narrowed on the long back yard, the straggly she-oaks at the end of it.

  ‘Mmm.’ Nikki made herself more comfortable in the canvas director’s chair and placed her drink on the nearby low table. After a while, she remarked, ‘We need some greenery out here, Liam. Some hanging baskets would be terrific, have such a cooling effect. I mentioned it to Pam. She’s going to sort out some kind of hardy ferns for us.’

  Us? Liam frowned. The inclusive pronoun had slipped so easily from her tongue, adding a dangerous dimension to the new kind of intimacy they seemed to have found.

  Lifting his glass, he took a careful mouthful of his wine, a cross-current of apprehension zig-zagging up his backbone. His heart was still too battered to become involved again. And yet…was there anything he could do to stop it happening, even if he wanted to?

  It was a long time before either of them spoke again and then it was to discuss what to have for dinner. ‘A barbecue would be nice and easy.’ Nikki tipped her head on one side and smiled at him hopefully.

  ‘Except all outdoor fires are banned at the moment,’ Liam countered.

  Nikki raised an eyebrow. ‘Take-way?’

  But again he shook his head. ‘There’s still some of that chicken casserole left and we could do some jacket potatoes in the microwave.’

  ‘Sounds good. And I’ll make a green salad with everything in it to freshen our palates.’ Nikki moved across to the fridge. The wine had begun to create a warm glow inside her and almost automatically her gaze drifted over her ex-husband as he busily scrubbed potatoes at the sink. Half closing her eyes, she absorbed his essence, letting her senses take over to run full pelt into the realms of forbidden territory.

  Between them, the preparation of the food took little time and then they carried everything outside. ‘A candle might be nice,’ Nikki said almost shyly.

  Liam pulled a face. ‘OK. But not on the table. It’ll draw the moths.’

  Nikki felt her stomach knot. ‘I won’t bother, then.’ She felt deflated. Obviously he thought she’d been trying to engender some romance into their evening. Feeling caught out in some way, she set the plates down with a little thump, the feeling of togetherness they’d experienced earlier gone like yesterday’s tide.

  ‘I’ll make some tea, shall I?’ Liam said when they’d finished eating, scowling down at his wineglass, which was still half-full. They’d struggled through the meal, with stilted comments about the practice, one or two of their patients, the chance of rain before Christmas…

  Nikki nodded. ‘Fine.’

  But Liam made no effort to move. Instead, he felt his gaze drawn towards his former wife, to her bravely held little chin, the soft curve of her cheek, the sweet fullness of her mouth. His gaze lifted to her silver-grey eyes, so pale they were almost transparent. As though they were windows to what was going on in her mind.

  ‘Don’t look at me like that, Liam,’ Nikki said awkwardly.

  ‘Like what?’

  She saw the swift jerk of his muscle as his jaw compressed. ‘As though—as though you’ve never seen me before.’

  ‘You’re different somehow.’

  ‘We’re both older…’ She swallowed uncomfortably.

  He frowned. ‘It’s more than that. You’ve grown in ways I can’t make out.’

  ‘I’ve extended my horizons over the last few years. Something must have rubbed off.’

  Liam shook his head. ‘The way you’ve tackled things here. Fitted in, as though you were born to it. And all this stuff about the ecology…’

  Her eyes flew up to meet his, the look in them sending her heart lurching sideways. ‘It’s just something I’ve been working on.’

  ‘Where?’

  Nikki rocked her hand dismissively. ‘Here and there.’

  ‘That’s not an answer, Nikki.’ His dark brows shot together. ‘I could ask to see your CV,’ he pointed out thinly.

  ‘Oh, all right!’ Unable to sustain the intensity of his gaze, she dipped her head. ‘I’ve spent most of the past year and a half working for Médecins sans Frontières, first in North Vietnam and more recently in Papua New Guinea.’

  ‘Bloody hell.’ His head came up sharply. ‘I’d never have guessed. But it’s fantastic you did something like that, Nik. I’m so proud of you.’

  Her eyes flashed silver. ‘I did it for me, Liam—not to impress you or anyone.’

  His mouth drew in. ‘Did your father approve?’

  ‘No, he didn’t! But I went anyway.’ She swung to her feet, as if to close the subject. ‘Now, are we going to make this tea or what?’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ANOTHER week or so had passed. Nikki stood at her surgery window looking out, deciding she didn’t know whether coming to Wirilda had been such a good idea after all.

  She’d only meant to help Liam through a crisis. She certainly hadn’t meant to begin chasing old shadows, opening old wounds. And yet that’s exactly what she’d done. But then, Liam had done his share of chasing and opening, she reflected bleakly, her thoughts winging back to the previous evening.

  The conversation had begun innocently enough. They’d done a late round at th
e hospital and then stopped off to buy fish and chips on the way home. Sitting over their informal supper, Nikki had said, ‘Michelle came in for a final check-up today.’

  Liam had raised a dark brow. ‘How was she?’

  ‘Everything was fine and she’s cut back on her night shifts.’

  ‘That’s good. Danny seems a supportive partner. That will have helped.’

  ‘Every marriage should have one,’ Nikki had responded with an over-bright smile.

  A beat of silence.

  ‘Yes, they should.’ He’d made a sound, half impatience, half sigh. ‘That’s where we fell down, wasn’t it?’

  She’d raised her head a fraction and met his eyes. They’d been over-bright and a lump had risen in her throat. ‘We can’t go back,’ she’d said softly.

  ‘No.’ He’d looked out into the soft night surrounding them. ‘I should’ve tried harder.’

  ‘I should’ve tried harder,’ she’d countered, biting her lips and looking down at her hands. ‘My father always got in the way. I can see that now.’

  Liam had laughed hollowly. ‘My family didn’t have money. I was never going to be good enough for his daughter, was I?’

  ‘Don’t.’ Nikki had looked away, choking on her feelings. Her father had been scathing about Liam and she’d been torn between the two.

  Suddenly, the day of their parting was crystal clear in her mind. The day when Liam had come home from the Royal Brisbane where they’d both worked and had said flatly, ‘There’s no place for me here, Nikki. Your father’s money bought this place. His influence is everywhere. It’s like having a third person in our marriage. I’m jack of it. I’m leaving.’

  Even though things between them had been tense for weeks, Nikki had been shocked almost beyond words. And then anger had taken over. How could he be so ungrateful? Her father had done so much for them. She’d said the first thing that had come into her head. ‘You’ve never got rid of that great lump of wood off your shoulder, Liam. You’ve never even tried to fit in with my family’s expectations! Instead, you expect me to live like some kind of…peasant! So, yes, go. Maybe that’s the best thing for both of us.’

  And, tight-lipped, he’d gone, just like that.

  And she’d let him. And her father had rushed to console her. ‘Come home where you belong, Nicola. Divorce the young whippersnapper. And if thinks he’ll come out of this marriage with any of my money, he can forget it. I made sure the property was in your name only.’

  ‘Oh, dear God.’ Nikki sighed, wrapping her arms around her midriff and turning away from the window. It was all so long ago and she’d been young and easily influenced. And Liam had been young and as stubborn as a mule.

  Looking back, it was easier to see the mistakes they’d made. But, left to their own devices, perhaps they could have made a go of their marriage.

  If only her father hadn’t kept sticking his oar in.

  Glancing down at her watch, she saw it was lunch-time. Liam would be waiting. They’d got into the habit of having a bite to eat and discussing their morning. Slowly, as if mentally she was wading through liquid concrete, she made her way across the corridor to the lunchroom.

  While they were waiting for Grace to arrive with their usual pot of tea and sandwiches, Liam said, ‘I’ve had two cases of toddlers presenting with vomiting and diarrhoea this morning. Both families are residents of the caravan park.’

  Nikki raised an eyebrow. ‘Is that significant?’

  ‘It could be. Let me know if you strike any over the next day or so, please, Nikki.’

  She nodded. ‘Perhaps folk are being a bit lax about washing their hands, thinking they’re saving water.’

  ‘Maybe. Maybe not. It could be something else entirely.’ He went quiet for a few seconds, then said, ‘If any more kids go down, we’ll have to act swiftly to trace the source.’

  By the end of Nicola’s afternoon surgery, Liam’s worst fears had been realised. Nerissa Bycroft, the young mother of a toddler, James, was frantic with worry. ‘He’s vomiting everything, Doctor.’

  Nikki examined the child carefully. He seemed exhausted, poor little pet. ‘What are you giving James, Nerissa?’

  ‘Not much—because he wouldn’t take much. I tried him with a cup of milk and a bit of custard—he usually loves that.’

  ‘And he threw it right back at you?’ Gently, Nikki smoothed a twist of fair hair from the little boy’s forehead.

  The young mum looked uneasily at her son. ‘I’ve stuffed up, haven’t I? But I’ve had no one to ask.’ She swallowed. ‘We’ve come into town from one of the station properties. Jared, my husband, was working for the Sykes family at Torrington. But with the drought they’ve had to let him go.’ She stopped and bit her lip. ‘He’s gone over the border to look for work in New South Wales.’

  ‘And where are you living now, Nerissa?’ Nikki asked, needing for everyone’s benefit to get an overview of the family’s situation.

  The young woman looked glum. ‘At the caravan park. The facilities are pretty basic and the manager is the pits. He’s recently had all the vans connected to tank water and upped the charges. I complained and he told me if I didn’t like it, there were plenty of people to take my place.’

  ‘That sounds like intimidation!’ Nikki’s eyes flashed in anger. ‘Surely you should report him to the council?’

  ‘No. I couldn’t do that.’ Nerissa’s throat constricted. ‘You won’t say anything, will you, Dr Barrett? He’ll chuck me out—and I’ve nowhere else to go with James.’

  Nikki’s mouth firmed. ‘Of course I won’t implicate you, Nerissa. But James is the third toddler from the park we’ve seen today with gastro symptoms. Something is amiss and as Health Officer for the district, Dr Donovan will have to report our findings to the council. For the moment, though, let’s try to get this little one more comfortable, shall we?’

  Almost on cue, as though to hurry things along, James began to whimper and pull his legs up as if in pain.

  ‘Right.’ Nikki pulled her pad towards her. ‘Keep James right off milk for the moment, Nerissa. He should be having small, frequent amounts of clear fluids only.’

  The young mum nodded. ‘How small? And how frequent?’

  ‘Good questions.’ Nikki’s mouth turned up in a brief smile. ‘Small means about twenty mils. Do you have a measure at home?’

  ‘I have a whisky measure. Will that do?’

  ‘That’s fine. Now, clear means not milk and not solids, just fluid. I’ll give you a note for the chemist. He’ll have various mixtures you can add to water. They’re especially designed to replace all the water and chemicals little James may lose because of his continual vomiting.

  ‘But if he rejects that, try diluted lemonade. Say one part to four parts water. If you like, freeze it and make little ice cubes for him to suck.’

  ‘I can do that.’ Nerissa looked eager. ‘So, how often?’

  Nikki considered. ‘Let’s go with every fifteen minutes to start with and then you can lengthen it to thirty minutes if he’s tolerating it and looking happier. We have to be aware of James dehydrating so if you’re at all worried, ring me day or night or take him immediately to the hospital. Either Dr Donovan or I will be straight over.’

  ‘Thank you so much, Dr Barrett.’ Nerissa blinked fast as she struggled to her feet with the now-sleeping toddler. She put out a hand and took the script. ‘I’ll get started right away.’

  Nikki went to open the door for her and then hesitated, disturbed by her train of thought. ‘Use bottled water for the time being, Nerissa, and I’ll call in at the park tomorrow and check James over.’

  Nerissa bit the underside of her lip. ‘I’d rather bring him here—if that’s OK?’

  Sensing the girl’s fear of being branded a troublemaker by the park management, Nikki’s mouth firmed. No doubt a visit from a medical officer would be seen as snooping. ‘That’s fine. Pop in any time. I’ll ask Grace to fit you in between patients.’

  Nikki re
turned to her desk and buzzed Reception. ‘Does Liam have anyone with him, Grace?’

  ‘Last patient left about five minutes ago. Like me to make a cuppa?’

  ‘Not just now, thanks. I’ll be with Liam if you need me.’

  Liam’s dark head shot up when Nikki rapped on his door and swept in. ‘Problem?’

  ‘I’ve just seen another toddler from the caravan park,’ she said without preamble. ‘I think we have to move very fast, Liam, before we have a full-scale epidemic on our hands. Or a tragedy.’

  ‘Right.’ Liam swung to his feet. ‘I’d like you with me, please. We’ll head straight over to the council offices and report our findings.’

  ‘Don’t you mean suspicions?’ Nikki countered. ‘It’s obvious something dodgy is going on at the caravan park.’

  ‘We can’t go around making accusations, Nikki.’

  ‘Oh, I can, Liam. Just watch me!’

  ‘Calm down.’ His hand fell on her shoulder. ‘This is a close community. As the medical officers, we play it by the book, all right?’

  Nikki’s mouth tightened. ‘You mean sit on the fence?’

  ‘I’d call it treading a fine line.’ He frowned at her. ‘You haven’t lost your boots-and-all approach, I see.’

  She lifted her chin dismissively and stood back while he opened the door.

  ‘So, who is this council person we have to see?’ Nikki asked. It was a few minutes later and they were in Liam’s vehicle and heading along the main street.

  ‘Warren Hartley. If anything, he’ll be a bit cautious about moving on this.’ He added the blunt rider with a warning glance in her direction.

  ‘He’ll move,’ Nikki asserted with the air of a kitten about to turn into a tiger. ‘And if he doesn’t, we’ll just go to the park ourselves and confront this manager guy.’

  ‘Nik, any investigation will have to go through the proper channels.’ Liam brought the Land Rover to a stop outside a low-set red brick building.

  Nikki snorted. ‘Meanwhile, tiny children are at risk. Surely we can do better than that, Liam?’ She turned, her gaze clashing with the dark depths of his.