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Brett drove Ana and Liam to Elizadale Medical, where they were met by Doctor Joanne Brennan. She helped Ana into the treatment room and examined her thoroughly, expressing plenty of concern over her bruises while Brett directed Grace on how to photograph Ana for evidence. She continued to ache as Joanne and Grace took various x-rays, then she lay on the treatment bed while Grace cleaned her cuts. Relief washed through her when Joanne announced her ribs and facial bones were intact.
‘I recommend plenty of rest for the next forty-eight hours, Ana,’ Joanne said as she took her blood pressure again to check for signs of internal bleeding. If her blood pressure held steady, Joanne said there was no reason to send her to Cairns. ‘And be mindful. I want to see you again tomorrow and if you feel anything is wrong, call me immediately. I live three houses down from Liam.’
Ana nodded, grateful. She’d seen Joanne at yoga but hadn’t really met her until today and liked her immensely. She was just the kind of compassionate woman one would want as their local physician.
‘I will,’ Ana promised. ‘But I only took two blows to the stomach and I’m feeling all right. My face does hurt though.’
‘You’re very lucky, Ana. It doesn’t look as bad as what you said happened last time.’
Ana exhaled. ‘Yeah, last time was a lot worse.’
‘I hope he goes away for a long time. I’m sure Brett and Cade will have plenty to pin him for and the New South Wales police won’t be happy.’
‘Do you think they’ll charge him with attempted murder?’
Joanne shrugged. ‘I don’t know the law well, but maybe. He’s got parole violation and two accounts of assault, anyway. Rick will serve out his sentence and more. Just go to the police station the moment you’re done here to give a statement.’
Brett had already asked her to, so Ana nodded. ‘I will.’
‘Good. I want Rick to pay for this, Ana. No one gets away with hurting people in my town. Especially when they need to come to me for treatment.’
‘The people here must really love you.’
Joanne smiled softly. ‘Well, I’ve been here almost thirty years. I’ve seen many people come and go. I remember when Deb and I discovered she was pregnant with Liam, so yeah. It’s been a long time. It’s going to be hard to step back from this place.’
Ana’s heart sank. ‘You’re stepping back?’
‘I’m hoping to. It’s time for a change and I have things I want to do, but I’m not going to leave. I’m getting a junior doctor, someone who wants to put their skills to use in a rural practice. It’ll be good for the town, I think. And it’ll give me more time with David so we can go away on school holidays and enjoy life.’
‘That sounds lovely. I suppose you can’t be the only town doctor forever.’
‘It’ll be good to have two. I’ve had a few registrars in my time and believe me, this place works better with two doctors.’
‘As long as you’re happy about it. I hope it works out.’
‘I hope so too. Anyway. I’m going to get you some pain meds. The swelling should go down in a couple of days, but you’ll be bruised for a while, I’m afraid. I’ll go see if Meg’s brought you a change of clothes. Be right back.’
* * *
Liam paced the waiting room, his hands on his head. He’d had the x-ray Joanne had insisted upon, but his headache had subsided and he felt fine. His head did, anyway. His heart and soul were a different story.
Meg sat beside Jack and Adam. Michael had taken Steph to the vet in Mareeba with Louis for support. Ana said Steph had only taken one kick, so he wasn’t too worried, but Liam had wanted her checked over regardless.
Ana, however, had taken a bloody beating.
Joanne stepped into to the waiting room and Liam shot to her side. ‘She okay?’
‘Ana’s just fine.’ Joanne placed her hand on his arm. Liam exhaled, his shoulders sagging. ‘But I’ll want to talk to you in a minute. Meg, can I have those clothes?’
Meg handed over the bag she’d brought from Ana’s place and Joanne returned to the treatment room. But Liam didn’t feel any better as he sank into a seat and dropped his head into his hands.
Ana was safe. That was all he kept telling himself. He could barely comprehend what she’d been through and hated that he’d failed her. But she was still here, alive, and she was going to be all right.
When Joanne said he could see her, Liam was up in a flash. He walked into the treatment room where Ana sat on the edge of the bed, her scratches and cuts cleaned with those on her arms and knees bandaged. But her face ... Liam wanted to storm into the police station and murder Rick with his bare hands.
He tried not to let that anger show though as he slipped his arm around Ana’s shoulders and placed a kiss on her forehead. He sat beside her and she leaned into him as Joanne gave them both instructions.
‘Ana will need rest, Liam, and plenty of fluids because she’s exhausted. I want the bruises, especially those on her face, to be iced and she must avoid heat for the next two days. That includes the shower. Ana understands this and I want to make sure you do too. You look after her, okay?’
‘I will.’ He glanced at Ana and brushed his hand up and down her arm. ‘I’ll take care of her for the rest of my life.’
Ana’s lips barely curved, but he recognised her smile by the sparkle in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, then squeezed his hand instead.
Joanne moved towards the door. ‘You’re free to go. I’ll see you both tomorrow for a check-up. The police need that statement, so go there now.’
They thanked Joanne and left the room. Meg’s hands flew to her mouth when she saw Ana, tears filling her eyes. Ana assured her that she was okay, but Jack had to pull Meg into a chair and calm her down. Ana made their follow-up appointments with Grace, then with warm wishes from their friends, Adam drove them to the police station since Joanne insisted that Liam couldn’t drive.
She let him sit with her while she gave the statement. Liam maintained a firm grip on his control and his shoulders tensed during the dramatic points, but he kept his cool and held Ana’s hand supportively as she spoke.
Knowing that bastard was in the building though, Liam wanted to bash him around and see how he liked it. Tie him to a fucking tree or knock him out.
He couldn’t be more grateful for Cade and Adam’s timely arrival. At least they’d managed to save her. Ana told them Rick had been clear about his intentions—wanting to kill Steph, then rape and kill Ana—so Brett and Cade had the case in the bag.
Then finally, it was over. Liam led Ana out of the station.
* * *
Outside, Ana sighed and leaned into Liam. His arms went around her as she rested her sore face against his chest. ‘Take me home, Liam. I just want to go home.’
He kissed the top of her head. ‘Okay. Adam’s on his way to pick us up and Michael texted saying he’s back at Jackson Villas with Steph and Louis. She’s fine, of course. We’ll let Louis inside so he can curl up with you and make you feel better.’
Heat flooded her already hot cheeks and her belly knotted. ‘Actually ... I think I’d be more comfortable at your place. Then I won’t have the stairs and Steph and Louis won’t be in that little yard.’
Liam let out a small laugh. ‘When you said “home”, you meant my place, didn’t you?’
Ana squeezed her eyes shut, wincing with pain and embarrassment. ‘I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean home, I just meant—’
‘Ana, it’s okay.’ Liam placed his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze. Amusement overshone the anguish in his blue eyes. ‘You’ve practically been living there anyway. Louis certainly has. And if you want it to be your home ... it could be.’
Ana’s heart leapt. ‘What? Are you ... asking me to move in with you?’
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. ‘What would you say if I was?’
‘Um ...’ Hell yes! It was all she’d dreamed about this past week. But now wasn’t the best time to be making life-altering decisions. She wasn’t thinking straight and he probably wasn’t either. Moving in together after two months? Wasn’t that Liam’s definition of too fast?
‘I think I want to,’ she replied slowly, ‘but my head’s not with it right now, so let’s pick up Steph and Louis and we can discuss it later.’
‘Okay.’ Adam pulled up and Liam kept his arm around her waist as they walked towards the LandCruiser. ‘But just so you know, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.’
Speechless, Ana slipped into the car.