they understood each other.
They understood that Mia was still bruised from the last tall, dark and handsome man that had stirred her, promised her the world for life, and then brushed her and her pregnancy off like dust on his sleeve.
‘I’ll look forward to meeting him, then,’ Misty said, and glanced down at the notes in her hand.
Mia felt the next glance, but she didn’t meet it and her friend did what she’d hoped she would do.
‘The ward’s very quiet. Josephine Perry is coming in at three to talk to you about arranging private relaxation lessons and maybe a home birth. She’d better hurry because they’ve only a few weeks to go. Josephine and Paul are friends of Andy’s. You’ve met them, the flying people from the aero club.’
Mia remembered them. A great couple. ‘Yep. It’s their first baby. They were at the antenatal class last week.’
‘Otherwise Tammy and my step-grandchild…’ Misty grinned at the thought ‘…are coming home with me when I leave and the ward will be empty. Staff in Emergency will be glad to see you because the morning girls have left them with a full house.’
‘No problem. I’ll go over there as soon as I clean up here.’
‘Ben’s picking us up.’ Misty’s voice warmed again when she said her new husband’s name and Mia wondered how things would be for them, sharing early married life with Ben’s teenage daughter, Tammy, and her new baby.
‘Tammy’s still managing well?’ At ten years younger than herself, Mia had marvelled at the natural way Tammy had embraced motherhood and she hoped she’d be able to cope as well when her own child arrived.
‘She’s wonderful. Jack’s taken to feeding like a baby a month old, not just a day. We’ll prepare her meals and help out for the next few weeks when she comes home, though.’
‘Do you get sick of cooking now that you’ve left the residence for your own home?’
Misty smiled. ‘Ben might when our baby comes. He cooks a lot now, though. That man is amazing. It’s lovely to have our own house. Bliss! The rest of the furniture arrived yesterday. Tammy and Jack have a separate flat underneath. It’s gorgeous, and she’s really excited to have their own space.’
Mia couldn’t help a tiny probe. ‘As long as you and Ben have your own space.’
Misty smiled at some secret thought and Mia hated herself when she felt a stab of jealousy over her friend’s happiness. ‘We have our own space.’
Mia looked down at her now ringless hand. That should have been her. To catch babies at work, have babies at home, and find that man who would make her glow like Misty glowed now.
She’d been rudely awakened to the fact that the fiancé she’d left behind at Westside had been no great loss. It had all been such a fabulous whirlwind when they’d met. The knight to storm her chastity, romantic declarations and gifts from Mark, but then within a few months she’d been the cook, cleaner, laundress and all-round organiser for a man who just wanted a mother while he played at medical research.
She’d thought she was in love, he’d looked the part and even said the right words in the beginning, but now she just felt stupid for seeing something that hadn’t been there.
The first inkling had come when she’d caught a virus that had left her weak and unable to care for herself, let alone do all the things she’d grown used to doing for Mark.
He’d been horrified that she’d hoped he’d help her. Then to find out she was pregnant when her contraception had failed and Mark’s absolute horror and total denial that he would ever want a family or responsibilities. Something he’d neglected to mention when he’d asked her to marry him.
Then his other girlfriend had showed up. Another research scientist and as glamorous as Mark.
Mia wasn’t sure who she felt more sorry for. Herself for love and illusions wasted or the poor woman who was engaged to him now.
She and her baby would be fine. She would build a wonderful life for both of them and Lyrebird Lake would help them.
‘You okay?’
Mia refocussed on her friend. ‘Sorry.’ She dredged up a smile for Misty. ‘I’m so glad you and Montana insisted I move up here. I’ve missed you guys.’
‘We’re glad you’re here too. Apart from the fact that we desperately need midwives as our clientele grows. Come and say hello to my stepdaughter. Tammy’s almost packed.’
Half an hour later Mia watched the new family drive away and she turned back to tidy up before Josephine arrived. After that she’d lock up. A couple of hours in a busy emergency ward would be just the thing to stomp on the self-pitying thoughts she couldn’t shake off.
Her thoughts drifted over to Ned and Angus and she wondered how things were going over at the house. It was surprising how much she would have liked to be a fly on the wall over there.
‘We missed you last night.’ Angus was already in the kitchen the next morning when Mia opened the door, and he looked very large and very much at home.
She guessed technically he was home! From something Simon had said she had the feeling that his father hadn’t had much of a home life since he’d left.
Angus stood up and waited for her to be seated and she frowned. She’d thought chivalry had gone out with the ark. It’d certainly had for Mark.
‘Good morning, Angus. Don’t wait for me. Please sit down.’ She poured herself a tiny coffee from a shiny chrome percolator she’d never seen before, which was plugged beside the stove. A taste wouldn’t hurt, she thought, adding plenty of milk for good measure.
‘I’ll wait,’ he said, and she frowned at him.
The strong smell of rich coffee beans made her draw a deep, indulgent sigh and when she opened her eyes Angus was watching her. She sat quickly.
‘Smells good?’
‘My only weakness,’ she said firmly and ignored the tremble in her knees. Then she had a thought. ‘Coffee and chocolate. I have two.’
‘Chocolate?’
‘Mmm.’ She wanted to talk about him. ‘So what are your plans now you’ve been reunited with Ned and found a son?’
He put his cup down and sat back in the chair. The silence lengthened and he didn’t smile, but somehow she knew he was amused. ‘So you just want to go straight for the information, do you? No fooling around?’ Angus said.
Their eyes met and she could feel those flickering darts of heat in her stomach that she hadn’t realised could be ignited by just a glance. She shouldn’t even be talking to this guy. He was far too dangerous to her peace of mind.
She feigned an uninterested shrug and pulled the toast he’d indicated towards her. ‘If you don’t want to tell me then don’t.’ It was so frustrating that she couldn’t read his thoughts, but she didn’t have any idea what was going on in his mind.
‘Prickly little thing, aren’t
