of you. Is that breakfast in that bag? It will probably be tastier than the cereal I’ve got here for Dr Bostock.’ With the number of patients she saw every day the woman would be used to making similar mistakes.
Cam finally got a word in. ‘Jenny, do you want the hospital breakfast? We won’t be insulted if you do.’
She shook her head. ‘Just the milk and sugar, thanks, Sadie.’ A quick read of the name badge pinned to the woman’s ample chest earned her another smile.
‘Here you go, then.’
Then another voice spoke from the doorway. ‘Good morning, Jenny.’ Angus strolled into the room, dressed in light slacks and a T-shirt. ‘Morning, Cam, boys. How’s everyone today?’
It was getting to be like a bus station in here. She looked around, found everyone watching her, waiting for her to answer. ‘I’m good. Not that I’ve got out of bed yet so I’ve no idea how I’ll go on crutches.’
‘Crutches?’ The twins’ eyes lit up.
She grinned at them. Their innocent sense of fun made her feel good about a lot of things. ‘It’s going to be exciting driving my car, don’t you think?’
‘Time we left Jenny alone.’ Cam headed for the door. ‘She’s got to talk to Mr McNamara.’
Disappointment tugged. With all the chatter between her and the twins Cam hadn’t said a lot, and now she wished for a rerun of the minutes they’d all been here. This time she’d talk to Cam, find out more about living in Havelock, just because it would be a safe subject and she could listen to his deep, husky voice. But they were already on the way through the door, the boys pushing each other.
‘Cam,’ she called. ‘Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate it.’
He turned a steady gaze her way, that anguish under control. ‘I could leave the boys with you for the day if you want company.’
I’d like that. I really would. They’re gorgeous fun. One day, Jenny, one day in the distant future. ‘Guess the ward staff might have something say about that.’
‘So would you after the first hour. We’d better not keep Angus waiting. He’s dressed for golf, I’d say.’
‘You’re not wrong, Cam. I won’t be long with Jenny if you want to wait.’
Cam shook his head. ‘We’ve got things to do in town. I want to be done and home before the temperature really cranks up. It’s hot out there already.’ Cam turned to her again. ‘See you later.’
Really? He’d drop by again? She nodded, afraid if she spoke the sudden lump in her throat might dissolve into tears. She was so used to being on her own it was like being knocked in the back of the knees to have had the Roberts trio turn up here to see her. Watching Cam walk away, she drank in the sight of his broad shoulders and a very tidy butt clad in khaki chinos.
Angus cleared his throat and she turned her attention back to him. ‘What happens next? Am I out of here this morning?’
‘Have you got anywhere to go?’
‘Yes.’ They had taxis in Blenheim, didn’t they?
The surgeon was shaking his head. ‘You’ll have to do better than that. Your admittance form gave a post box number—in Dunedin.’
Caught. ‘I’m staying in a motel.’
‘Which one?’
Hell. What was the name of one she’d checked out on line two days ago? The Grape Castle? The Vineyard Retreat? Her shoulders slumped. ‘I’ll make a booking before I leave here.’
‘That will be tomorrow at the earliest. If you had someone to take care of you I’d discharge you today, but I don’t want you tottering around on your own until you’ve got the hang of using crutches. Anyway, you shouldn’t be walking anywhere, even across a room, until the swelling’s gone down, and I suspect checking into a motel would involve more movement than I would be happy with.’
‘Give me all the gory details and then go and enjoy that round of golf. I’ll stay put. For now.’
The look he gave her suggested he didn’t trust her to behave. Neither did she, but she’d keep that to herself. By the time Angus had filled her in on the operation and written a prescription for painkillers she no longer had the energy to get out of bed. Round one to the surgeon.
The moment they got home Cam headed for the third, and rarely used, bedroom. He’d made his mind up. It was probably the dumbest thing he’d contemplated in a long line of dumb things but, hey, he’d do it anyway. ‘Guys, come and give me a hand.’
Marcus and Andrew appeared in the doorway in a flash. ‘What are you doing, Dad?’
‘I want you to take all these books and toys and store them in your bedroom. In the back of the wardrobe if necessary.’
‘Why?’ came the usual question.
Because he’d seen despair in Jenny Bostock’s eyes at the mention of sorting out what to do with her car tomorrow when she’d no doubt be feeling like hell on crutches. Plus because she seemed filled with sadness and loneliness, something he could understand. What he should be taking notice of was that restless expression that trawled through her gaze at times.
That expression he’d seen all too often in Margaret’s eyes in the months before she’d packed her bags and left them, except Margaret had been more of a caged lioness waiting to attack the world, whereas Jenny looked lost. A few days bunked down in Havelock wouldn’t hurt her. His heart sighed. As long as that didn’t hurt him.
There was something indefinable about Jenny that teased him. Beyond her physical attributes, that was. Despite that frailty he sensed a selflessness and a need to put things right. Would a woman like that walk out on her man after vowing to love him for ever?
‘Dad, why are we cleaning this room?’
‘Because I’m going to ask Jenny if she’d like to stay with us for a while.’
‘Yay, that’s cool.’ The boys leapt into the air and high-fived each other. ‘We like her.’
‘She didn’t tell us off or get mad or anything like that.’
That was the final reason he’d invite her. A thank-you and an apology. ‘You’re very lucky she’s such an understanding lady.’ He was curious why she hadn’t immediately revealed to him that she was a doctor. Had something gone wrong with a case that had led to that sadness leaking out of her eyes and dulling her face when she’d thought no one was watching her? It would have to be bad for her to stop practising, if that’s what she’d done. It was a rocky road at times, being a doctor.
Cam picked up a pile of books and handed them to Marcus. ‘Put those away.’
Andrew lifted an even bigger pile and staggered after his twin. Warmth stole through Cam. They really were great kids. If only he didn’t get so tired and busy, and forget that sometimes.
Within minutes they were back scooping up armloads of toys and traipsing out again. Getting ahead of him and what
