Page 47 of Stranded with the Surgeon
In her relief at ending the journey, she had totally forgotten how disreputable she must look. Her boots were soaked and covered in mud, as were the hems of both her coat and skirt. Her hair hadn’t yet dried from her time chasing the bull in the rain either, and she knew it would be hanging like old string, looking as though it hadn’t been washed for weeks.
Not that it mattered. In fact, the grin from Maggie made Jennifer feel more than welcome.
‘Last time we saw you in here, you were being unloaded from the helicopter after your miracle survival.’
‘And now you’ve come in with a miracle baby,’ Hugh added.
Jennifer smiled at the baby in question, who had just passed his first thorough medical examination with flying colours and been declared fit enough to do without an incubator despite his early arrival. ‘I think he’s the one who made the dramatic entrance.’ She glanced up to where Phil had his arm around Ellie. ‘Has he got a name yet?’
‘Isaac,’ they both answered.
‘And his middle name will be Guy,’ Ellie added drowsily.
Phil grinned. ‘We’d make it Jennifer, but I don’t think it would go down too well at school.’
Guy was releasing the pressure on a blood-pressure cuff on Ellie’s arm. He pulled the stethoscope from his ears. ‘BP’s up to one ten over seventy,’ he reported.
‘Fabulous.’ Hugh nodded. ‘It’s all looking good, folks, so I think the show’s almost over. We’ll get this family tucked up in the ward and make sure they all get a good rest.’
‘You look like you need a rest, too, Jenna,’ Maggie decided. ‘Or at least a shower and a change of clothes. I could give you a lift into town in the ambulance, if you like. Where are you staying?’
‘I’ve only just arrived,’ Jennifer responded a little awkwardly. ‘I haven’t decided where to stay yet.’
She stared at Guy, trying to catch his eye. They needed to talk. Would he allow her back onto his own turf to do that? If he chose somewhere impersonal like a hotel, she would know that any fantasy of him being involved in the future of her and their baby was a pipe dream.
‘Jenna’s rental car is back at my place.’ Guy didn’t look at Jennifer as he spoke. ‘I’ll take care of her.’
The promise in those words lasted only until Jennifer had showered and changed into jeans and a comfortable pullover at Guy’s cottage and they shared a late lunch of soup heated on the coal range served with crusty, thick slices of buttered bread.
The rain had stopped and sunshine was breaking through patchy cloud cover, but the warmth from the open fire was still welcome. The dogs added to the sense of homely peace by stretching luxuriously and groaning in happiness.
Jennifer’s tentative contentment evaporated when Guy broke the seemingly companionable silence in which they’d eaten.
‘I’ll give you any support you need as far as finances and things go, but that’s all I’m prepared to do.’
‘I don’t need your money.’ Jennifer could hear that she wasn’t entirely successful in keeping the sharp disappointment from her tone. ‘I earn enough.’
‘What did you come here for then?’
Her tone hardened. ‘I thought you’d want to know you were going to be a father. I actually thought you might want to have a meaningful place in your child’s life.’
Guy snorted incredulously. ‘You mean you expect me to do the decent thing andmarryyou? Isthatwhat you came here for?’
Yes, Jennifer cried silently. ‘No, of course not,’ she said aloud.
‘What, then? You think I’m going to up sticks and shift to Auckland so I see my kid every second weekend or so? You know how I feel about living in cities, Jenna. Do you really think that anything would induce me to try that again?’
‘No. It didn’t even occur to me to ask you to move.’
Guy shook his head. ‘Don’t tell me you’re thinking of moving to Central and becoming a rural GP?’
‘Hardly.’
Not that it seemed like a totally undesirable scenario after the excitement and satisfaction of the case they had just attended. Jennifer mirrored Guy’s head shake as she tried to clear the errant thought.
‘I’ve got a job interview tomorrow afternoon for a position of head of department.’ She lifted her chin a fraction. ‘It’s what I’ve always wanted and I’ve worked damn hard to get there.’
‘Good for you,’ Guy said coldly. ‘I’m sure you’ll be successful.’
