The aftermath of the crises the storm had brought could have left Jennifer feeling drained. Instead, she was curiously content. The shake-up her world had experienced was over and the pieces were settling into a familiar, if somewhat improved shape.
The hours of consultation time this afternoon had been very ordinary. She’d seen a toddler with an ear infection, old Mr Bates who had prostate problems and Mrs Scallion who needed to start medication to control her high blood pressure. Alice Hogan, an excited young farmer’s wife from Pigeon Bay, came in to have her long-awaited pregnancy confirmed and Edith Turner’s leg was healing as well as could be expected. The older woman now had torches placed strategically around her house so she wouldn’t trip over anything in the event of another power cut. Sam McIntosh came in after school for a check-up and was showing no evidence of any repercussions from his head injury. Jennifer invited him to come and play with the twins the next day.
‘It’s Saturday, so you can come for lunch and stay as long as you like,’ she told Sam. ‘If this fine weather keeps up we might get Button’s saddle out and give him some exercise.’
‘Isn’t it lovely to see some sun again?’ Sam’s mother, Jill, was picking up her son’s coat and schoolbag. She glanced at Jennifer. ‘Are you sure it’s OK for Sam to come over tomorrow?’
‘I wouldn’t want you to get overloaded with visitors, especially at mealtimes.’
‘It won’t make any difference at all,’ Jennifer assured her.
‘I saw that camper van going down the road yesterday. Has that Dr Stephenson gone home, then?’
‘Not yet. The rental company sent someone to collect the van.’
‘Oh.’ Jill looked thoughtful. ‘I guess he’s stuck here for a while, then.’
‘Not necessarily. He can always catch a bus. There’s just not much point paying a hundred dollars a day for a van that’s not being used.’
‘No,’ Jill agreed. She didn’t appear to be in a hurry to leave. ‘I heard he was pretty sick.’
‘He was. It’s going to take him a few days to get back on his feet.’
‘I also hear he’s an old friend of yours. From medical school.’ Jill’s gaze was suspiciously eager.
‘That’s right.’ Jennifer’s response was cautious. She knew the gathering of parents at child collection time after school provided ample opportunity for the exchange of news and gossip, but just how much information had Saskia been sharing? Or the children for that matter. At least Sam was keen to get home. He was tugging at his mother’s hand.
‘I guess you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.’
‘Mmm.’ Jennifer merely smiled.
‘Come on, Mum. I’m hungry.’
‘See you tomorrow, Sam.’ Jennifer followed them out of the consulting room. She wanted to collect her inpatient files from the office and do a quick ward round. Jill McIntosh had no idea how correct her statement had been, she reflected. She and Andrew did have a lot of catching up to do. They had even made a deal to do just that but that had been two days ago and no opportunity had presented itself. Andrew was out of bed for short periods now but there always seemed to be children around. Especially the twins. The novelty of a captive audience was too good to pass up. Drew had to be shown the wonderful picture of them all in the newspaper—several times. He was required to listen to reading homework and to watch how clever Zippy the terrier cross was at fetching tennis balls.
Artistic creations in the form of get-well cards and presents were being delivered at a rate of knots. The after-school effort yesterday had involved cardboard boxes, glue, dried pasta shells and poster paint. Michael’s lack of contribution had been more than made up for by Angus, and the time the adults could have had alone after dinner had been spent washing paint from both the three-year-old’s hair and Zippy’s wiry coat. By the time the children had all been in bed, Andrew had also been asleep and Jennifer had been loath to disturb him. He needed rest more than anything else at present.
Besides, the urgency had gone. Andrew hadn’t seemed bothered by the fact he was stranded without his own transport. He had offered to move himself into the shearer’s cottage where Jennifer had stored his belongings or into a motel, but Jennifer had informed him she was quite happy sharing the enormous bedroom the twins occupied. He was to stay right where he was until she was satisfied his condition was vastly improved.
‘You’re still my patient,’ she told Andrew sternly. ‘I’m not going to have my reputation as a doctor in this town shot down by you collapsing in the street. Or some motel.’
Andrew’s acquiescence had been surprisingly forthcoming. ‘Just for a day or two,’ he agreed. ‘I’ll be back on my feet properly by then.’
‘We’ll see,’ Jennifer promised. It was her professional duty to make sure that Andrew stayed around until he had recovered after all, both from his illness and his leg injury. She was quite sure it would take somewhat longer than just a day or two. And Jennifer was happy that she had the situation well under control.
Her inpatients in the hospital were also under control. Mrs Dobson had received a new supply of talking books from the mobile library service and was happy to sit listening for hours at a time. Lester’s pain levels were becoming more tolerable and he was keen to get home to his family. Elizabeth Bailey was ready to go home as well. Jennifer’s final duty for the day was discharging the young mother and her baby. She followed the proud parents out to the car park where they fussed over securing the infant car seat.
‘Bye-bye, Brooke.’ Jennifer blew a kiss towards the baby before smiling at Liz. ‘Sue will be in to visit you for the next few days to see how you’re coping at home. Call me if you’re worried about anything, otherwise I’ll see you at Brooke’s six-week check-up.’
She waved them off with a smile. Jennifer hadn’t been surprised that the baby’s father, Peter, had hated the suggestion of Storm for his daughter’s name. In today’s sunshine it would have seemed even more inappropriate. The Baileys’ car turned carefully onto the road past a familiar vehicle waiting to turn in. Jennifer watched Brian Wallace climb out of his car.
‘You’re back early, Brian. I thought they were going to run all sorts of tests on you in the cardiology department.’
‘They did—very efficiently. X-ray, ECG, echo, exercise test and bloods. And a consultation. I was most impressed.’
‘And? What did they say?’
‘I’m on a semi-urgent waiting list for an angiogram. I might need a repeat angioplasty or possibly bypass grafting.’ Brian scowled. ‘I guess I failed my exercise test.’
‘What was the result?’ Jennifer walked beside Brian towards the front entrance of the hospital. ‘How long did you walk for?’
The response was a deliberate mumble. Jennifer grinned. ‘How long?’
‘Ninety seconds,’ Brian growled.
‘And why was it terminated?’
‘Bit of chest tightness.’
‘Any ST depression?’
‘A bit.’ Brian wasn’t slowing down as he pulled the door open. ‘I could murder a cup of tea. I wonder if Ruby’s done any baking.’
‘Don’t try and change the subject, Brian. I’ll be having a copy of the results sent to me anyway. How much ST depression did you get?’
‘Four millimetres. Maybe five.’
Jennifer bit her lip. The test had been very positive, then. Blood supply to Brian’s heart had diminished sharply with minimal exercise and he was getting angina at rest. ‘You should be on an urgent list for a cardiac catheterisation.’
‘They don’t have too much of a waiting list. I should get an appointment within a few weeks. I’m not in any hurry to find out bad news.’ Brian looked over his shoulder briefly. ‘How’s everything been here?’
‘No problems.’ Jennifer recognised that she had received as much information as she was going to get for the moment. ‘That was Liz and Peter taking the baby home that you passed on the way in. Lester’s doing well—we can probably discharge him in a day or two—and Mrs Dobson has received enough talking books to keep her happy for weeks. Nothing exciting at the clinic but I’ve started Mrs Scallion on a beta blocker.’
‘Have the results come back on her fasting glucose levels?’
‘No. I was going to ring the lab about that.’
‘I’ll do it.’ Brian was heading for the kitchens. ‘After my cup of tea. Ah, Ruby!’ Brian smiled at the tiny woman in the large white apron. ‘That’s not one of your famous chocolate cakes by any chance, is it?’
‘It is,’ Ruby acknowledged proudly. ‘But I’m not sure if you’re allowed any on your diet, Dr Wallace.’
‘There’s some nice crackers in the pantry,’ Jennifer suggested innocently. ‘And plenty of cottage cheese in the fridge.’
‘Go home,’ Brian told his junior colleague. ‘I refuse to be ordered around any more today. At least, not until I get home and Pat starts bossing me about. This is the one place I’m still in charge and I intend to make the most of it. Ruby, love, pour me a cup of tea and let me enjoy a small slice of that cake.’
Jennifer gave in gracefully. Brian had insisted on taking call tonight and she hadn’t argued about that either. The new problems he was facing with his health were enough of a blow without her damaging his pride further by trying to edge him away from the front line of the career he loved so much. While Brian had been very impressed with the way Jennifer had handled the crises during the storm, the fact that he’d been considered unfit to participate had distressed him deeply. The older doctor was being forced to consider his future seriously right now, and while Jennifer could do her best to ease his professional workload she couldn’t take over. Brian had been quite correct in his statement. He was the senior half of the partnership and he was still in charge.
Besides, Jennifer was looking forward to getting home. The day at work had been quiet and the early August weather had decided to pretend it was springtime. The sunshine and warmth of the day was fading rapidly now but it had been enough to spark anticipation of the pleasures of a New Zealand rural summer. Relaxing family times with the children. Picnics on the beach and lots of swimming. Lazy afternoons mucking about with the pony or floating toy boats down the stream. The sort of activities that had lived on in Jennifer’s memory from her own happy childhood and ones she could now share again with her sister’s children. Maybe this summer would be happy enough to heal the scars more effectively. Especially for Michael.
Andrew declared himself well enough to join the family for dinner that evening, and he did look a lot better. He was still very pale, however, and Jennifer noticed that he paused to catch his breath on the way down the stairs. He ate very little but Saskia glowed with pride when he praised the lasagne.
‘It came out of the freezer,’ Saskia admitted. ‘But sometimes I still manage to burn it.’
During the after-dinner flurry of clearing up, finishing homework and getting the younger children ready for bed, Andrew took himself into the living room adjoining the kitchen. Moving slowly, he set and lit the open fire and then eased himself onto one of the comfortable old couches nearby.
‘I’m sick of staying in bed,’ he responded to Jennifer’s suggestion that he needed rest. ‘I’ll sleep a lot better if I stay up for a bit.’
Angus didn’t need to stay up any longer in order to sleep well. His thumb was in his mouth by the time Jennifer carried him upstairs and his eyes closed the instant his head touched the pillow. Jennifer kissed the tousled curls and tucked the teddy bear under the covers. She left the nightlight on and went to the bathroom to check on the twins’ progress. Jennifer sighed heavily at the sight that greeted her.
Damp towels lay abandoned on the floor. Discarded clothing lay amidst puddles of water and plastic toys that had clearly been thrown from the bath. The girls had made no attempt to tidy up after themselves and had now absconded. Jennifer fished under the bubbles to retrieve the soggy bar of soap and then pulled the plug. More toys became visible as the water level receded, including a rag doll that had no business being in the bath. Jennifer shook her head and moved downstairs with the intention of rounding up Jessica and Sophie. They could clean up their own mess.
The intention was postponed the instant Jennifer entered the living room. The scene was one of domestic warmth. The blazing log fire had much to do with the atmosphere, as did the old but comfortable furniture. Saskia sat cross-legged in a huge, cracked leather armchair, about to give Vanessa a bottle of milk. Michael lay on his stomach in front of the fire, using the poker to bat a tennis ball towards Zippy. Jessica and Sophie, fresh from their bath and cutely attired in fluffy pyjamas, sat on either side of Andrew on a couch. Elvis lay with his head on Andrew’s foot and Tigger was ensconced on his lap. Andrew was reading a picture book to the twins. Both girls had a stack of other books beside them, clearly ready to extend the session as long as possible. One look at the absorbed expressions on the children’s faces as they gazed up at Andrew, and Jennifer forgot about sending them upstairs. She quietly began clearing up the pile of paper and crayons left on the table, hoping that Michael might be enjoying the story as well. Maybe the novelty of hearing an adult male voice in the house might bring her nephew out of his shell just a little.
Michael appeared disinterested, however. He poked the fire and watched the resulting shower of sparks. An ember landed on the hearthrug and Jennifer swooped, picking up the glowing fragment and throwing it back into the fire before it could burn her fingers.
‘Don’t do that, please, Mike,’ she told the boy quietly. ‘It’s dangerous.’ Jennifer put the container of crayons on top of the mantelpiece just as Andrew finished the story.
‘This one now, Drew.’ Jessica slotted a book into his hands swiftly.
‘No—this one.’ Sophie had a larger book, the corner of which dug into Tigger as she tried to position it.
‘Don’t do that!’ Jessica admonished. She tugged Drew’s arm. ‘Sophie’s poking Tigger.’
‘I can tell.’ Andrew nodded. ‘She’s digging her claws into my knee so she doesn’t fall off.’
‘Tell her to stop,’ Jessica commanded. ‘Anyway, she got to choose Little Bear so it’s my turn to choose.’
‘No more stories.’ Jennifer felt obliged to rescue Andrew. ‘It’s time you two were in bed.’
‘Drew could read us a story in bed.’
‘Not tonight,’ Jennifer said firmly. ‘Drew’s tired. He’s still getting better and he needs a rest.’
‘Oh, but—’
‘No buts. And I want the bathroom tidied up, too. It’s a disaster area.’
Michael poked the fire again. The embers crackled and popped.
‘Nearly bedtime, Mike,’ Saskia warned.
‘No, it’s not,’ Michael responded loudly. ‘I’m nearly nine and I don’t have to go to bed until eight o’clock. It’s only the girls who have to go to bed now.’ The poker dropped onto the hearth with a resounding clatter. ‘It’s stupid not having a TV,’ he announced. ‘Other kids all do. We don’t even have a computer.’
‘Come on, girls.’ Jennifer was beckoning the twins. ‘Upstairs.’
‘I’ve got a computer,’ Andrew said casually. ‘Would you like to have a look at it, Mike?’
‘No.’
‘I need to get it out anyway.’ Andrew ignored the ungracious response. ‘I’ve got a report to write for Jennifer.’
‘Can we see your computer?’ Sophie asked eagerly.
‘Tomorrow.’ Jennifer answered for Andrew.
‘Why have you got a computer?’ Jessica queried. ‘Where is it?’
‘In one of my boxes.’
‘Jennifer put your boxes in the cottage.’ Jessica could see a new direction to try and stall their departure. ‘We saw them. You’ve got an awful lot of stuff.’
‘It’s all my worldly goods,’ Andrew informed her solemnly.
‘What are worldly goods?’
‘Stuff.’ Andrew grinned.
‘Did you live in the camper van? Haven’t you got a house?’
‘Not any more,’ Andrew admitted.
‘Nowhere, I guess.’
‘Yes, you do!’ Sophie wasn’t going to be left out of this fascinating conversation. ‘You live with us.’
Saskia was grinning broadly. ‘This is the place for waifs and strays all right. Look at me.’
‘Am I a waif?’ Jessica was determined not to be ushered from the room. Jennifer took hold of her hand.
‘Upstairs!’ she ordered.
Jessica gave in. ‘’Night, Drew,’ she said reluctantly. ‘See you in the morning.’
‘Sure.’
‘’Night, Mikey,’ the twins chorused. Michael ignored his sisters. He had wriggled closer to the couch and was fiddling with the long plume of the black dog’s tail.
‘Has your computer got games on it?’
‘Indeed it has.’
Jennifer was pulling both twins away. ‘Why don’t you find a torch, Mike?’ she suggested. ‘You could show Drew where I stored his things. He won’t know where the key to the cottage is.’
It took some time to supervise the restoration of the bathroom, tooth- and face-cleaning chores and the eventual settling of the twins into their beds. Jennifer wondered whether Michael’s interest had been stimulated. Perhaps a computer was just what he needed right now. She could ask Drew about what sort might be best. Drew. Maybe it was the children’s use of the name that now made Jennifer feel awkwardly formal using his full name. Or maybe it was because he’d been drawn into her unusual family over the last few days. A gathering point for waifs and strays wasn’t so far off the mark really, but the idea of Andrew Stephenson fitting that category was ridiculous. Or had been, until he’d become too ill to care for himself. There was no disputing how well he did fit in. No longer a stranger but not like a visitor either. He was carving a niche in the household that felt disturbingly comfortable. Sophie had declared that Andrew lived with them. Funny how Jennifer hadn’t felt any urge to correct the little girl’s statement.
Returning to the living room, Jennifer found Andrew and Michael sitting at the table. A laptop computer was plugged in and they were both absorbed by what was on the screen.
‘You can use the mouse to jump the ravine,’ Andrew was saying. ‘See? You’ve got to get the timing right, though, or you’ll fall in and there are giant spiders out to get you down there.’
‘Can I try?’
The smile on Michael’s face was fleeting but it twisted something inside Jennifer. How long had it been since she’d seen him really happy? Catching Andrew’s gaze, she realised that she wasn’t alone in assessing Michael’s state of mind. Andrew looked as hopeful as she felt that the boy’s reserve might be showing a crack. The phone rang as Jennifer smiled her acknowledgement. When she returned a few moments later, her expression was surprised.
‘It’s for you, Saskia. A man—but he didn’t say who it was.’
Saskia looked disconcerted. ‘Who’d be ringing me up?’
‘Maybe it’s a modelling agency,’ Andrew suggested. ‘They saw your photo in the paper and fell in love with your hair.’
Saskia grinned at Andrew. ‘I’ll show you how to do dreadlocks if you want.’ Uncurling her legs, the teenager lifted her now sleeping baby. Jennifer held out her arms.
‘I’ll take Vanessa. I’ll put her to bed while you get the phone.’
Saskia was curled up in the armchair again when Jennifer returned. She was staring at the fire with an expression that made Jennifer pause.
‘What’s up, Sass?’
Andrew’s glance in their direction was swift. His touch on Michael’s shoulder was light. ‘That thing’s got batteries,’ he told Michael. ‘Let’s unplug it and you can take it upstairs and do battle with the spiders for a bit longer before you turn your light out.’
‘It’s OK.’ Michael stood up abruptly. ‘I’ve had enough, anyway.’
‘’Night, Mike.’ Jennifer’s smile was a little distracted. ‘Don’t forget to clean your teeth.’ She picked a couple of small logs from the basket and knelt on the rug beside the two sleeping dogs to add the wood to the fire. Andrew moved to resume his position on the couch. Elvis roused himself with an effort, slipped onto the couch beside Andrew and immediately lapsed back into unconsciousness with his black, shaggy head now on the man’s lap.
‘Watch out,’ Jennifer warned. ‘He dribbles sometimes.’ She stayed where she was on the rug, turning back to the unusually silent teenager. ‘Who was on the phone, Sass?’
‘My dad.’
‘Really?’ Jennifer’s eyes widened.
‘He saw the photo in the newspaper.’ Saskia sounded very subdued.
Jennifer leaned forward and touched Saskia’s leg. ‘Are you OK? Did he say something to upset you?’
Saskia shook her head. ‘It was weird. He said he missed me. That he’s been trying to find me ever since I left.’
‘How long ago was that?’ Andrew asked.
‘Ages,’ Saskia told him sadly.
‘Almost a year,’ Jennifer added. ‘Saskia ran away from home when she found out she was pregnant. I found her sitting on the beach in the middle of the night and she’s been here ever since.’
‘And you didn’t let her parents know she was safe?’ Andrew sounded incredulous.
‘Of course I did. I rang as soon as Sass gave me her number. I spoke to her stepmother, Donna.’
‘She told Dad I was in Auckland, staying with friends,’ Saskia said. ‘That’s where he’s been trying to find me. He went to the police and everything.’
‘Did you have problems with your stepmother, Sass?’ Andrew asked gently.
‘You could say that. When she found out I was pregnant it was the last straw. She said I was a slut and it was just as well Dad had had some decent kids since he’d married her. She said I’d always been in the way and the sooner he kicked me out, the better.’
‘And he did?’ Andrew was outraged. ‘He told you to leave?’
‘I didn’t wait to give him the chance.’ Saskia turned to Jennifer. ‘He said he never knew I was pregnant. That he had a granddaughter. I think…’ Saskia added slowly, ‘I think he was crying.’
‘Oh, Sass.’ Jennifer looked ready to cry herself. ‘That’s so sad. I can’t believe your stepmother could have been so cruel.’
‘I can.’
Both Saskia and Jennifer turned to Andrew in astonishment. ‘You don’t know anything about Donna,’ Jennifer said accusingly.
‘But I know what can go on in step-families. The preference that can be given to children that aren’t even half-siblings. How your life can be made absolute hell by being left out, taking the blame for things you didn’t do, being made to feel unwanted and in the way. Like nothing you could do would ever fix things.’ Andrew spoke softly. ‘Like you really weren’t worth anything at all as a person.’
Saskia was nodding, her mouth gaping in amazement. ‘How do you know that? Did you have a stepmother?’
‘Stepfather. With two boys who were older than me. He wanted my mother enough to take on the burden of an unwanted child. My mother wanted him enough to put all her efforts into his sons. By the time I left home I was convinced that nobody would ever think I was special. I was going to have to make it on my own. It’s the loneliest feeling in the world.’
‘I felt like just walking out into the sea,’ Saskia confessed. ‘I’m so glad Jen found me.’
‘You were lucky,’ Andrew agreed. ‘And you deserve to be. I’m not surprised that your dad misses you.’
Jennifer was watching the embers as she listened. Her opinion of Andrew was attempting another disconcerting U-turn. He’d always come across as vaguely superior at medical school. Aloof from the group. They’d assumed he’d considered their company undesirable but had it really been a lack of confidence on his part? Had he wanted to belong but hadn’t made an attempt to avoid the risk of being rejected?
‘Donna’s left,’ Saskia informed her audience. ‘Gone back to her ex-husband, and Dad’s on his own again. He wants to see me.’
‘I’m not sure. Excited, I guess. I need some time to get used to the idea.’ Saskia uncurled her legs. ‘I think I’ll go to bed.’
No sooner had Saskia left the room than the door opened again. Michael held onto the doorhandle and looked at the floor as he spoke.
‘Thought I might have another go at that game.’
Jennifer and Andrew exchanged a glance. She carefully hid any hint of a smile. ‘Sure, Mike. Light out in fifteen minutes, though.’
‘OK.’ Michael picked up the laptop and closed the living-room door behind him.
Andrew was grinning broadly when Jennifer caught his gaze again. ‘I knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.’
‘It’s lovely to see him interested in something.’ Jennifer smiled. ‘Especially something that’s just for himself. Something fun.’
‘He’s a serious kid,’ Andrew agreed. ‘But I can’t say I’m surprised. He was old enough to be badly affected by his mother’s death.’
‘Actually, I think it was a worse blow when his dad left,’ Jennifer said. She raised her eyebrows. ‘How much have Saskia and the children told you about things?’
‘Not that much,’ Andrew responded. ‘I know that the children’s mother was your older sister. Janet, was it?’
Jennifer nodded.
‘And that she was ill for a long time with cancer before she died and that their father…’
‘Philip,’ Jennifer supplied.
‘That Philip couldn’t handle the situation after Janet died and has gone to live in Australia.’
Jennifer shook her head slightly. ‘That’s not anywhere near the full story, though I can imagine it’s what Sass has picked up locally. People have very short memories about some things.’ Jennifer sighed sadly. ‘Philip’s a fantastic man,’ she told Andrew. ‘He came here to work about twelve years ago and single-handedly kept the family farm going after my father died. Mum got sick after he married Janet so they moved in here to look after her. It wasn’t easy. Mum had very hard to control diabetes and she went completely blind, but she was independent and terribly stubborn right to the end. They managed by themselves until Janet had the twins and then it all became a bit much. That was when I decided to take a year and work out here as a GP.’
‘You went to Christchurch hospital for your houseman years, didn’t you?’
Jennifer nodded. ‘So did Hamish. It wasn’t a huge commuting time so we thought we’d still see each other at weekends. We were both so busy that I didn’t think it would change things that much.’
‘But it did?’
‘I guess so.’ Jennifer chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. ‘Hamish couldn’t understand me putting my family ahead of him. He was prepared to cut me some slack but became more and more impatient. Then I discovered he was seeing someone else.’ Jennifer smiled ruefully. ‘Our relationship was habit more than anything. All those years of being engaged without ever getting around to getting married. It was remarkably easy to let go. Almost a relief.’ Jennifer lapsed into a silence that Andrew finally broke.
‘And you stayed here? What happened to those ambitions of working overseas? Becoming a surgeon?’
‘It was nearly two years before Mum died and by then I’d discovered that I rather liked working here. My family history goes way back to the first settlers and it’s always been home for me. On top of that, Janet became unwell. She discovered a lump in her breast and had to go through all the trauma of treatment for breast cancer after it was confirmed to be malignant. Janet needed me. Philip and the children needed me.’
Jennifer took the poker and pushed a log further into the fire. ‘We thought she’d beaten the cancer. Angus was born the following year. The later stages of her pregnancy masked symptoms that were, in fact, the return of her cancer. Only this time it was worse. The spread included the liver.’
‘That must have been rough. Especially with a new baby.’
‘Angus never really knew Jan. I suspect he’s always thought I was his mother. Even the twins turned to me more and more as Janet got sicker. It was a very slow process. She hung on for nearly two years. It was Michael who was the most affected. And Philip,’ Jennifer added. ‘He was suffering from depression even before Jan died but he still held things together—just. It was me that suggested he take some time out away from here and the children.’ Jennifer’s glance at Andrew was defensive. ‘I didn’t think he’d need this long to get things together and neither did he. He’s stayed in close touch with the children and he hasn’t abandoned them. He’ll be back as soon as he’s ready and they’ll be a family again.’
Andrew was silent for a long time. Lost in her own memories, Jennifer continued to play with the fire. When Andrew spoke again, the soft words touched something very deep inside her.
‘Are you happy, Jen?’
Jennifer was tempted to respond lightly. Positively. To say of course she was. She loved the children and Saskia had been a real bonus. But when was the last time someone had asked her that question and been genuinely interested in an honest answer? Even Hamish had never bothered making sure he knew the truth. As long as he’d been happy he’d assumed that she’d been as well.
‘I love my work,’ Jennifer finally answered. ‘And I love my home. I have a lot of people that I care about very deeply and I’m never alone, so I can’t be…’ Her voice trailed off with a vague tone of surprise.
‘Lonely?’
Jennifer shook her head. ‘Silly thing to say. Especially to you.’
‘Why?’
‘We hardly know each other,’ Jennifer said carefully. ‘Not as friends, anyway. And here I am telling you something that I hadn’t even realised myself. Something that sounds, oh, I don’t know…ungrateful, I suppose. Here I have an interesting and challenging career, a beautiful home and wonderful children sharing my life. How could I possibly feel lonely?’
‘Very easily,’ Andrew said quietly. The very notion of Jennifer feeling lonely made him want to gather her in his arms. To hold her so close she would know that she never needed to feel lonely again. He knew exactly how she felt. And he knew the reason. ‘You don’t have a partner,’ he added.
‘I do. Brian Wallace. He came here to see you the first day you were sick. Don’t you remember?’
‘I’m not talking about a professional partner. I’m talking about a life partner. An equal relationship. Someone to love and be loved by. You nurture and care for a lot of people, Jen. Isn’t there someone who can do that for you?’
‘A man, you mean?’ Jennifer grinned. ‘As if!’ She spread her hands. ‘Look at me. I’m the old woman in the shoe. What man in their right mind would set foot in this place?’
‘Me,’ Andrew answered promptly. ‘See? I’m here.’
Jennifer laughed. ‘You were definitely not in your right mind when you arrived and you’re still too weak to escape.’
‘I’m not in any hurry to escape,’ Andrew said quietly. ‘I like it here.’
Jennifer’s face stilled. She held Andrew’s gaze for a heartbeat longer than was comfortable. A flush of colour crept into her cheeks as she looked away. ‘We like having you here. And you’re welcome to stay just as long as you want.’
Andrew let his gaze remain on Jennifer’s profile as the glow from the fire played on her face and highlighted the golden glints in her hair. Her words had been polite. Friendly. But Jennifer seemed distracted. Almost embarrassed. Had he given away too much in that glance they’d shared?
Did Jennifer have any idea at all of the implications of her invitation? He could stay as long as he wanted.
Andrew Stephenson wanted for ever.