STEPHANIE was thankful to get home and quickly rushed around, making sure the place was as tidy as could be.
She was a little puzzled as to why Oliver wasn’t there, waiting for Kasey and Mrs Dixon, but there were a few things about Oliver that she didn’t understand. He’d declared he wanted permanent custody of Kasey but was this the type of life the child could look forward to? Surely an eight-year-old girl needed more than just an old family housekeeper for support, especially coming to a new country? No doubt Mrs Dixon was as esteemed as Oliver seemed to think she was, but in Stephanie’s opinion a child needed parents…and that parent was Oliver.
She thought about Caitlin and how she had seemed more mature than her age. Was that because she was being raised in a one-parent family? Would Kasey be the same? More mature for her age? Stephanie was interested to see.
She boiled the kettle and soon was sitting down, sipping a cup of herbal tea, the soothing sounds of Chopin filling the air. If no one else was going to make Kasey feel welcome, she would. She couldn’t imagine what loneliness felt like and her imagination was very vivid. Being a twin, she’d never been alone. Even when Stephen had been in a war zone for twelve months, even though she’d felt his desolation and despair, she still hadn’t felt alone.
With a burst of energy she decided she was going to make sure Kasey didn’t feel alone while she was staying in this house. Stephanie put her cup down and turned the music up. Going to the desk, she turned on the computer and inserted paper into the colour printer.
Soon, she’d finished her transformation. She’d made the beds for both Mrs Dixon and Kasey, printed out some colourful pictures of the latest pop stars she’d downloaded from the internet and stuck these up in Kasey’s room, made a WELCOME banner and pinned it up in the lounge room and ordered dinner from one of her favourite restaurants in Katoomba. Although she loved to cook, a girl couldn’t do everything in so short a time.
As she stepped back to survey her handiwork, she momentarily wondered whether she’d overstepped the mark. After all, Kasey was really nothing to her except Oliver’s daughter. Oliver’s daughter. Was that the real reason why she’d done all this? Would Kasey see this as a desperate attempt on Stephanie’s part to win over her dad?
Stephanie bit her lip, wishing now she’d stopped to think things through a little more. Taking a breath, she let the thought go. No point now, all the work was done…and she was quite proud of it. She heard the crunch of car tyres on the driveway and hoped it was Oliver and not the guests arriving. Crossing to the window, she peered out and breathed an audible sigh of relief as she recognised the silver hire car Oliver had been driving.
He’d no sooner climbed from his car than the sound of another car approaching could be heard. Stephanie watched Oliver turn and head to the edge of the driveway. He put his briefcase down as the hire car came to a halt, and walked over to open the door. A woman, tall and thin with greying hair, climbed from the car. Dignified was the word that came to mind to describe the woman. Although Stephanie was certain Mrs Dixon would take good care of Kasey, would she also let the child have fun?
Stephanie watched with interest as the girl climbed from the car, scooting over to get out the same door as Mrs Dixon. She had red hair which, as she grew older, would darken and become the colour a lot of women envied…women like herself. She smiled but the smile faded as she watched Kasey remain stiff and unmoved as her father came to hug her. Thank goodness Oliver had at least been here when she’d arrived, although it didn’t seem to make much difference to Kasey.
The driver brought the bags to the doorstep and Oliver signed a document, no doubt payment for the service, before the driver left. Stephanie swallowed, trying not to fidget or double-check that the banner was straight.
‘Don’t worry about them, Mrs D. I’ll bring them in later. Come in, come in,’ she heard Oliver say.
It was then she realised she shouldn’t be standing beneath the banner like some idiot welcoming committee. She skidded into the kitchen, grabbed the kettle and headed to the sink. Trying not to pant, she had the tap turned on as they came around the corner. She finished filling the kettle and turned. ‘Oh, hi. I’m Stephanie,’ she said, pleased at her relaxed and friendly manner. ‘Cup of tea?’
‘Super,’ stated Mrs Dixon.
Kasey stuck out her tongue and made a gagging motion with her finger. Stephanie grinned and switched the kettle on. ‘Tea not your thing? Would you like a soft drink? Oh, I mean a soda.’ She said the word with an American accent but received no reaction from the child.
‘Perhaps later,’ Oliver said, placing his hand on Kasey’s shoulder. The girl shrugged it off and moved away.
Oh, dear. Stephanie grimaced as she met Oliver’s gaze. He looked perturbed but was doing his best not to show it. There was a moment of awkward silence until Mrs Dixon saved the day.
‘Oh, how splendid,’ she said as she noticed the banner in the lounge room. ‘Look, Kasey. A WELCOME banner. What a lovely touch, Oliver.’
‘Er…yes. Yes.’ His eyes widened as he gazed again at Stephanie.
She smiled and winked. ‘Why don’t you show Kasey and Mrs Dixon their rooms?’ she suggested. ‘I’ll help bring in the bags and then they can freshen up.’
‘Yes. Good idea. Right this way, ladies,’ he said. A moment later a squeal of excitement came from Kasey.
‘I’m allowed to stick posters on the walls?’
‘Uh…sure,’ came Oliver’s uncertain reply, and Stephanie giggled as she retrieved cups and a teapot from the cupboard. Next she headed outside and started hauling in the suitcases. Oliver came to help and took one from her. He put it down and placed both his hands on her shoulders.
‘Thank you.’ He bent and pressed his lips to hers in a brief and friendly kiss. ‘How did you know?’
‘Who her favourite pop star was?’ She shrugged. ‘I didn’t. But if she doesn’t like the posters, I’ll have them in my room. I think he’s quite cute.’
Oliver dropped his hands, chuckling as he picked up a bag. ‘You’re amazing, Stephanie Brooks, and constantly surprising.’
‘I presume this is Kasey’s bag?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll take it in to her. Why don’t you deliver Mrs Dixon’s luggage and then make her some tea?’
He nodded. ‘Do you want a cup?’
‘No, thanks. I’ve just had one.’ She headed towards Kasey’s room and knocked on the door.
‘Come in.’ The call was a weary one.
Stephanie opened the door to find the child sitting on the end of the bed, gazing up at the posters. ‘Hi. Here’s your suitcase.’ She hefted it onto the bed. ‘Want some help unpacking?’
‘No.’
‘Ever unpacked before?’
‘Of course.’ Kasey rolled her eyes. ‘I do it every year at boarding school.’
‘I forgot that you go to boarding school.’
‘That way neither of my parents have to bother dealing with me.’
‘That’s surprising. I’d say your father’s more than willing to…deal with you, as you put it. Otherwise I doubt you’d be here.’
‘I’m only here because the courts say I have to be. I spend two weeks every summer holidays with him.’
‘What did you do last year?’ Stephanie asked.
‘We went to Disneyland.’
‘For the whole two weeks? How cool.’
Kasey allowed herself a small grin and Stephanie realised the main resemblance between father and daughter were those amazing Bowan blue eyes. ‘Yeah, it was kind of cool but it would have been better if one of my friends had been there. I mean, Dad threw up on practically everything that went around in circles.’
Stephanie laughed. ‘Really?’ She flopped down onto the bed. ‘Tell me all about it. I’ve wanted to go to Disneyland like…for ever.’
‘There are so many rides and this summer they’ve added even more.’
‘What about the food? Did you get to eat candy floss?’
‘I begged Dad to buy me a stick and he eventually caved in, but I only got one stick for the whole two weeks.’
‘Hmm. Something will have to be done about that.’
Kasey giggled, then looked warily at Stephanie. ‘Can I touch your hair?’
‘Sure.’
‘It’s spiky.’ As she took her hands away, she tinkled Stephanie’s earrings. ‘These are so wicked.’
‘Aren’t they? My brother bought them for me. We’re twins.’
‘You have a twin brother? That’s way cool. I’d love to have a brother or sister but it isn’t going to happen because my parents are divorced. Mom’s probably going to get married again soon, but she’s said she doesn’t want any more kids and said she only had me because Dad wanted a child.’
Stephanie swallowed over the lump in her throat at the child’s confession. All she wanted to do was to wrap the child in a huge hug and let her know everything was going to be all right. The bond she was forming with Kasey was as instant as the one she’d formed with the child’s father. What was it about these Bowans that just drew her to them?
As though realising she’d said too much, Kasey clammed up and walked around the bed to open her suitcase. Almost desperate to get the previous mood back, Stephanie sat up.
‘So, as you’re such an expert at unpacking, I thought I might just stay here and get some advice from you while you do it.’
‘Advice?’ Kasey opened the cupboard and started putting her neatly folded clothes into the drawers.
‘Yes. I don’t know what to do with my hair. The green colour is starting to grow out. It was much darker when I had it done a few weeks ago. What colour should I do next?’
‘Really? You’re going to colour your hair again?’
‘Well, I’m not. The hairdresser is.’
‘That’s so not fair. You grown-ups get it so easy. You want to do something, so you do it. I want to change the colour of my hair but I’m not allowed to.’
‘Your colour is fantastic.’
‘It’s horrible. Girls at school call me Carrot Top and Orangeade.’
‘Isn’t that a drink?’
‘Hello! Of course it’s a drink.’
‘But in a few more years your hair is going to darken and be the most beautiful colour. My hair used to be almost the same colour as yours before I had it all shaved off.’
‘Why did you? I thought maybe you’d been sick and that’s why your hair was short.’
‘No.’ She explained about the ‘Shave for a Cure’ campaign.
‘Wow. That’s so cool.’
‘My point is that I paid to have my hair coloured the same colour as yours. Many women do. It’s the in colour.’
‘Really?’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t care. I hate it.’
‘Are you going to give me advice or just whinge?’
‘Whinge?’ Kasey was puzzled at the word.
‘Whine.’
‘I wasn’t whining.’
‘Sounded like it to me, Kasey.’ Stephanie smiled, taking away the severity of her words.
The girl grimaced.
‘What?’
‘I don’t like my name.’
‘Oh? What do you like?’
‘Kaz. It’s what my friends at school call me.’
‘Okey-dokey. I’ll call you Kaz and you call me Steph.’
The smile was back. ‘Deal.’ There was a knock at the door and after Kasey gave her consent, Oliver opened the door.
‘What are you two doing in here?’
‘Deciding important girl stuff,’ Stephanie said, and crossed to the door.
‘Such as?’
Stephanie stood back and looked him up and down. ‘I don’t see you wearing a dress, Dr Bowan, which means you’re not a girl.’
‘Hey. You’re not wearing a dress either and your hair is shorter than mine.’
Stephanie giggled. ‘Oh, just go. We’ll be out in a minute. Go and drink your tea.’ She gave him a little shove backwards and winked at him again. The smile he gave her in response had her insides melting, and as he relented and left, she shut the door, leaning against it in a dreamy fashion.
She sighed then crossed to the bed again. ‘Now, where were we? Oh, yes, you were going to pick a new colour for my hair.’
‘Are you dating my dad?’
‘Well, that’s certainly straight to the point. No. I’m not dating your dad.’ She smiled. ‘But I’d like to.’
‘That’s gross. He’s so old.’
Stephanie laughed. ‘So am I.’
‘Yeah, but you don’t act it.’
‘So I’ve been told.’ She grinned, then added, ‘Your dad and I work together at the hospital.’ She briefly told Kasey about the fire and the mix-up in accommodation.
‘That’s so sad.’
‘But now I get to pick out all new stuff for my new house and I had to go and buy all new clothes.’
‘Wow. Need help shopping?’
‘You like shopping?’
Kasey stood up and twirled around. ‘I am wearing a dress, aren’t I?’
Both of them giggled. ‘Come on,’ Stephanie said once Kasey had finished unpacking. ‘Let me put your suitcase away for you and we’ll go see what your dad wants.’
At the door, Kasey said quite seriously, ‘Leave it green for a bit longer. I’ve never met anyone with green hair before. The snobby girls at school are so going to freak when I tell them.’
‘OK. Green it stays for a while longer. Thanks.’
The following week was quite interesting and Stephanie found she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Kasey. ‘You know she prefers to be called Kaz, don’t you?’ she asked Oliver one evening as they sat in the hospital cafeteria, enjoying a coffee-break. The hospital was alive with rumours of the personal relationship between Stephanie and Oliver but the truth was he’d made no effort to kiss her for over a week. Instead, they’d both worked hard at maintaining their agreement to be just friends and Stephanie had found she liked being Oliver’s friend…very much.
‘I know you call her that but I thought it was just a nickname you’d come up with.’
‘No. She told me she prefers it.’
‘Oh.’
‘Try it.’
Oliver shook his head. ‘I can’t. She hasn’t told me.’
‘So? I’ve just told you.’
‘I don’t want to upset her.’
‘You won’t. Trust me. She’s already started thawing and I noticed this morning at breakfast she actually laughed at one of your teasing jokes.’
Oliver’s smiled brightened at the memory. ‘Yes, she did, didn’t she?’ He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. ‘A lot of Kasey’s positive attitude is thanks to you.’
‘As you said, she was responding better to strangers when she arrived.’ Stephanie shrugged and drained her coffee-cup. ‘I just filled that gap.’
‘I think she’d hardly call you a stranger now. I heard you both giggling in her room last night.’
Stephanie smiled and reached across the table to take his hand. ‘She is so much like you, Oliver. She’s so easy to get along with.’
He laced his fingers with hers. ‘Whatever you do, don’t tell her that.’
‘Why not? She needs to feel she’s at least inherited something from her parents—it gives her a sense of worth. When she becomes a teenager, she’ll deny all connections to you but now…right now she’s desperate to attach herself to either you or Nadele.’
At the mention of his ex-wife, both of them sobered. ‘Have you heard anything from Nadele in the last few days?’
‘Yes. Another email came through saying she was definitely going to take it further.’ Oliver shook his head with determination. ‘These past few days, seeing Kasey beginning to thaw, have just increased my resolve to fight harder.’
‘What about a permanent housekeeper? If you were to get custody of her, wouldn’t that be a stipulation of the court? Mrs Dixon has only agreed to be in Australia with Kasey for the duration of her stay.’
‘That’s something I’m still working on.’ He let go of her hand and stood. ‘This has to work out. I’m not letting her go back to that boarding school. I can tell she hates it.’
‘Why don’t you try talking to Kaz about all this?’
‘She’s only—’
‘Don’t. Stop treating her like a child—’
‘She is a child, Stephanie.’
‘Without a brain, I was going to say. Kasey is a highly intelligent girl, Oliver. She takes after her father.’ Stephanie smiled as she stood and carried their coffee-cups over to where the dirty dishes were stacked. ‘Ask her what she wants. At least, that way, if she wants to stay here with you, you have something to work with. She has every right to go before the court and give her own opinion.’
‘But what if she doesn’t want to stay?’
Stephanie’s smile increased and she waggled her eyebrows up and down. ‘Then we need to do some fancy foot-work. Come on, we need to get back to work.’
As they walked along the corridor, Oliver glanced across at her. ‘What do you have in mind?’
‘For a start, this Friday let’s take her out and give her a special day. Mrs Dixon as well. Just as a way of saying thank you to both of them.’
He stopped walking and she followed suit. ‘Does this have anything to do with you getting Mrs Dixon out the house so you can win your bet?’
‘See how well you know me?’ It was true. In the week they’d just shared, the bond between them had increased and on several occasions they’d been able to read each other’s minds.
‘I don’t know whether to sabotage or support it. If I agree, I have the opportunity of becoming closer to my daughter, but I’ll be stuck doing the rosters.’
‘Let me give you some advice—you’re going to be doing the rosters whether you win the bet or not.’
He laughed and continued walking before he gave in to the urge to haul her into his arms, spin her around in the corridor and plant a lip-smacking kiss where it definitely belonged. ‘What do you have in mind?’
‘Well, if the weather’s fine, I thought we might head to Lithgow and take her on the Zig Zag Railway, then we can head to Jenolan Caves and do a cave walk or two, perhaps have a bite to eat in Caves House and then head back towards Blackheath and have afternoon tea at the Megalong Tearooms. The tearooms have the most yummy meals and snacks and you can sit outside in a lovely garden where you feel all the stress of the real world simply disappear.’
‘Sounds like a very grand day out.’
‘Yes. Seeing some of the wonderful sights this area has to offer.’
‘And you’re planning to get Mrs D. to come along for it all?’
‘She won’t be able to resist.’
‘How do you know?’ They walked into A and E towards the nurses’ station.
‘Because it’ll be educational, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed about Mrs Dixon, it’s her determination to make this holiday in Australia as educational as possible for both herself and Kasey.’
As Friday morning dawned, Oliver marvelled at the wonder of Stephanie. True to her plan, which she’d outlined to Mrs Dixon in great educational detail, the weather seemed perfect. A little cool but the sky was blue and the sun was shining.
Kasey was as excited as he’d ever seen her, and not for the first time he realised how much he owed to Stephanie. Before he’d come to Katoomba, his life had felt so conflicted, so…in a mess, and now, less than two weeks later, his daughter was laughing and smiling at him, Mrs Dixon seemed more at ease than he’d ever seen her before and all because of the infectious spirit of one woman.
Stephanie was dancing in the kitchen to a tune on the radio and Kasey was watching. Then, to his surprise, Kasey joined in the chorus, singing with an amazing voice and moving up and down the small kitchen beside Steph. Oliver was stunned.
‘Kaz. You have an amazing voice.’ The admiration was clear in his tone and Kasey beamed.
‘Thanks. I started taking singing lessons last term.’
‘Why didn’t I know about this?’
She shrugged but the old look of shutting him out came across her face. Oliver stood and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. ‘Please, Kaz,’ he said softly. ‘Tell me why you didn’t want me to know.’
Kasey shrugged. ‘Mom always says you hate frivolous things.’
‘What?’ He was shocked and glanced past Kasey at Stephanie. She gave him an encouraging look and turned down the radio, eager to see how Oliver dealt with this information. ‘How is singing frivolous?’
Kasey shrugged.
‘But last year we went to Disneyland. Surely that should show you I like frivolous things.’
‘Mom said she begged you to take me and that you finally gave in only to stop her from hounding you.’
‘What?’ Oliver found it hard to swallow his temper and slammed a fist onto the bench, making both Kasey and Stephanie jump. ‘Sorry.’ He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head. He realised he couldn’t tell her the situation had been completely reversed. He’d wanted to take Kasey to Disneyland but Nadele hadn’t agreed, saying it was a waste of money and he’d be better off buying Kasey an expensive present to show her how much he cared. Yet, if he told Kasey that now, he’d be doing exactly what Nadele had done. If he put Nadele down, he’d be sinking to her level, and he wasn’t going to give his ex-wife the satisfaction.
‘I had a fantastic time at Disneyland, and do you know why?’
‘Because I didn’t force you to go on all those rides.’ Kasey’s words were a statement and one which she wholeheartedly believed. She lowered her head and looked at the ground.
‘No! I had a fantastic time…’ he lifted her chin so their gazes could meet ‘…because I was with you.’
‘Really?’ Hope flared in the little girl’s eyes. It was as though she desperately wanted to believe him but wasn’t sure she could trust him.
‘Yes.’ He gently pushed some hair out of her face. ‘Kasey, I love you. Don’t you know that?’
‘Well…Steph told me you did but I wasn’t sure.’
Oliver’s gaze flicked up to meet Stephanie’s, then he laughed. ‘Are you crying, Dr Brooks?’
Stephanie sniffed and reached for a tissue. ‘Don’t mind me,’ she said as she blew her nose, making Kasey laugh. ‘You two just keep going. I’ll make some popcorn because this is an excellent show.’
‘Popcorn for breakfast?’ Oliver queried, picking up his daughter for the first time in many years and holding her close. To his absolute delight, Kasey put her arms around his neck.
‘Hey—don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, mate. Besides, popcorn for breakfast is…well…frivolous.’ She grinned at him and was surprised when he came over and placed his free arm about her shoulders.
‘Steph, you are one in a million.’
‘Actually,’ she said as she gazed up at him, ‘that’s one in a billion, if you don’t mind.’
Oliver couldn’t help himself. Still holding Kasey, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to Stephanie’s.
‘Oh, ick!’ Kasey groaned and wriggled free from his grasp. ‘I thought you two weren’t dating?’
‘We aren’t,’ Stephanie said.
‘I don’t see why not,’ Mrs Dixon said as she walked into the kitchen. ‘Both of you want to.’
‘She’s right,’ Kasey added, as she walked around the bench and climbed onto one of the stools. ‘Now, are we going out today or are you two going to make moochy faces at each other?’
‘Moochy faces?’ Oliver reluctantly let Stephanie go and came to sit by his daughter.
‘You figure it out, Dad.’
‘Hmm, I think I already have.’ He looked across at Stephanie again and to his surprise she winked at him. It brought the smile back to his face. ‘Right. Let’s have breakfast and get this day rolling. Frivolity—here we come.’
Stephanie quickly excused herself and rushed to her room, closing the door firmly and leaning against it. Then, as though her legs were made of jelly, she walked across to the mirror and looked at her reflection.
Her blue eyes were wide with incredulity and she shook her head slowly as she acknowledged the truth of her emotions. ‘It shouldn’t have happened,’ she told her reflection softly. ‘How could it have happened?’
Quite easily, came the answer from her heart, and she realised it was the truth. From the moment she’d met Oliver, she’d known there was something different about him. There was amazing chemistry between them, they’d become good friends and she’d helped him mend some fences with his daughter. It was no wonder she’d fallen in love with the guy, but the main problem was, what on earth was she supposed to do about it?