Coming Home (Williams Siblings)

by Ann B. Harrison

  Rhian smiled and licked her bottom lip. "What aren't you telling me here?"

  "I'd forgotten you could read me like a book."

  "Anyone can if they know you well enough, honey."

  "It wasn't until I’d already started my course I found out I was pregnant. Funny hey, four months along and I didn't have a bloody clue. Anyway, Pete and Julie looked out for me and helped where they could. It was tough, really tough but I wanted to give my baby a good life and that meant I had to work."

  "Oh hell, why didn't you get in touch with me? I could have helped you."

  Rooney winced at the look of rejection on her friend’s face. "How? Seriously, how could you have helped me? Not saying you wouldn't, but you were the same age as me. I couldn't come home, Dad would have killed me and Stevie. It was easier to stay where I was and things just chugged along, as they do. I would probably still be there if Dad hadn't died."

  Rhian gave her a wobbly smile. "I'm sorry. I know you probably did the right thing but I wish I’d been there for you." She wiped her fingers under her eyes and sniffed. "Have you told Stevie yet?"

  Rooney took a deep breath. "No, no I haven't. I will, because it’s only right he knows about Tam. I just have to find the right moment."

  "You will, honey, trust me. I know you’ll do the right thing. Now where is that child? I want to meet her."

  "First day of school today. She was so excited and nervous too. You should come over to the house for coffee and catch up with everyone again." Rooney looked up as a small van pulled into the driveway. "Looks like I have my first delivery. Hang on a minute."

  She jumped up and ran outside to greet the courier driver. "Hi."

  "Delivery for Doctor Williams."

  "Yep, that's me. How many boxes do you have?"

  The driver looked at his list. "That would be four. Sign here please." He handed the board to Rooney and she scribbled her signature, itching to get her hands on the supplies.

  He helped her carry the boxes into the waiting room, nodded and left them alone.

  "This is just like Christmas," Rooney said as she pulled the tape from the first box.

  "Fill me in on what's happening here. I know this used to be the old vet clinic but it's been closed for years."

  "Yes, I bought it and, once I get these supplies on the shelves, I can officially open my doors for business."

  "Don't have an assistant by any chance do you?" Rhian grabbed a handful of the items from Rooney and put them on the desk.

  "No, I don't but then I don't have any money for one anyway. Why do you ask?" She handed over another pile of small packages and dumped bubble wrap to one side, exposing a shiny steel object. Squealing, Rooney pulled it out and grinned. "This is the most important thing I had to get and it's here."

  "I'm kind of looking for a job."

  "What? But you're pregnant. Why would you want to work?" Rooney walked into the surgery room with the sterilizer, placing it carefully on the counter before peeling away the protective covering.

  "Because I'm going nuts. I used to work part time at Len's meat shop but the smell made me sick so I had to quit. Dennis said I don't have to work, he earns enough at his job but I'm going crazy. I need to have contact with other people. Please give me a job, Rooney. I can answer phones and look after things for you."

  Rooney turned around and leaned back on the counter, watching her friend beg for work. "I don't have any money for staff, not yet anyway."

  "I don't care. Pay me when you start getting clients. I have to get out of the house or I swear to God, I will do someone a bodily injury. Please, Rooney," she wheedled.

  "If you’re sure—"

  "Thank you, thank you. You won't regret it, I promise," Rhian said as she grabbed her in a big hug, squealing with joy. Standing back, she took a deep breath. "Okay, what do you want me to do first?"

  ***

  "I'm sorry, Jack but that leg is definitely broken." Russ looked at the x-ray again and pointed out the break to the child laying on the bed with his mother hovering at his side. "You will be in a half cast for at least six weeks."

  "Does that mean I get out of school too?" He looked at Russ with a cheeky grin.

  "Only for the first couple of days, until you get used to your crutches." He flicked off the light on the x-ray box and pulled down the film. "I'll let the plaster room know to expect you. You can go home once they’re finished with you."

  "Thanks, Doctor Williams." Jack’s mother looked tired.

  "He’ll be fine. It's a clean break and shouldn't give him much pain but let me know if anything about it worries you."

  "Thanks." She smiled as Russ left the room and he could hear her talking in hushed tones to her son.

  "Doctor, there is a lady in the waiting room who insists on seeing you." Lizzie stood at the door, her mouth pinched tight and a haunted look in her eyes.

  "What's wrong, Lizzie?" Russ reached out to grip her arms but she stepped away from him, a world of hurt in her eyes.

  "Your wife is here, Doctor." She turned and tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm holding her back.

  "I'm divorced. I don't have a wife."

  "Russ, oh Russ, thank goodness I found you." He looked up as Paula came running toward him with her arms out. Lizzie wrenched free and walked away, her back stiff and Russ felt as though he’d been punched in the gut.

  "What are you doing here, Paula?" He held his hands out stopping her before she could wrap her arms around him. "You are not my wife. I signed the divorce papers, remember?"

  "Yes, darling, you did." She pouted at him and batted her eyelashes. "It's like this, Russ, I didn't sign. I've been having second thoughts and besides, I have news for you which changes everything."

  "I don't need to hear it, Paula. Whatever you’ve come up with now, I don't want to know. As far as I'm concerned we are over." He turned to walk after Lizzie.

  "I'm pregnant."

  Russ stopped and closed his eyes. This can't be happening. He took a deep breath and lifted his head before turning back to Paula just in time to see Lizzie's back as she raced away.

  "What did you say?" He walked toward her and the smile slipped from her face.

  "You heard, baby, I'm pregnant."

  Russ took her arm and led her into his office, slamming the door behind them. "Why don't I believe you, Paula? Is this your idea to get more from me?" He gave a bitter laugh and lifted his hands in the air. "Guess what, there is nothing else. I gave you everything except my car and personal belongings. You have everything I owned."

  She pouted and took a seat, making sure to cross her legs and let her skirt slide up her thigh before looking back at him. "But honey, I want more. I want our child to grow up in the fabulous old home you now part own, according to my lawyer, surrounded by family and with everything you had, servants and house parties. Don't you think our child deserves that?" Paula leaned back in the chair and looked around his office, a frown on her face. "I really think that as head doctor of the hospital, Russ, they could have given you a much fancier office than this."

  He stood looking at the woman who’d made his life hell for the last twelve months and wondered why she thought she could get away with this. "You and I haven't had sex for months, Paula. That child can't be mine."

  She smiled sweetly at him and shrugged. "Well, that may be the case Russ but you have to prove it, and in the meantime your reputation will be ruined. I'm sure you don't want that being the new doctor in town. I mean, really, don't you have a certain standard you should be adhering to?"

  He opened the door. "Leave now, Paula, before I throw you out. This isn't going to work."

  She lifted her head and gave a small, tight smile. "Really? I think it will, darling. I'm staying in town at the Regent. It might be a good idea if you dropped by tonight and we had a proper little chat about this problem. I'll expect you for dinner, Russ."

  "I won't be there. This is over between us and any child of yours is not my problem."

&
nbsp; "That is where you are wrong, darling. I'll make it your problem. Don't let me down, Russ. Seven o'clock, ciao baby." She got up and kissed his cheek in passing, her laughter hanging in the hallway as she walked out.

  Russ stood frozen at the doorway. This was the last thing he expected would happen. You fool. You should have checked to make sure the divorce had gone through properly. He started when a cough sounded behind him.

  "Doctor, your next patient is waiting in treatment room four." The nurse gazed at his face before turning and walking away.

  Russ followed her and took care of his patient, his mind far from the job at hand. When he was finished, he walked out to the nurse's station. "Where is Nurse Stanley?"

  "She is on lunch break, Doctor Williams. Can I help with anything?" The young nurse looked at him hopefully, her smile seductive.

  Russ shook his head and walked to the canteen looking for Lizzie. When he couldn't find her there, he tried her office. The door was shut and he tapped before opening it.

  She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and her nose shiny.

  "Lizzie..."

  "Get out."

  "I have to talk to you."

  "No. You've had your fun, Doctor Williams, now you can go back to your wife."

  Russ stepped in and shut the door, ignoring her. "I told you the truth, Lizzie. She is not my wife."

  She stood up, pushing her chair back into the wall in a temper. Leaning on the edge of desk, she glared at him. "From what I heard, she is. And pregnant to boot, what a bonus. Get out of my office, Doctor, before I call security." She stood straight now, her mouth tight as the tears welled in her eyes again.

  Lost for words, Russ walked out, closing the door behind him. He headed for his office to make a call.

  "Tory, I need help."

  Chapter Twenty

  The drive back to the farm was a mix of emotions for Cade. He had two more weeks to do the best he could to mend his leg. If he lay in bed and did nothing it might help and if that’s what it took, then that’s what he’d do, even if it drove him crazy. Better that than get kicked off the team.

  He drove past the house and parked his car in the barn. When he shuffled out of the car, he looked around the farm. Kate was in the coral with a young horse and he could see a couple of the guys down the paddocks rounding up cattle.

  Deciding to say hello as he passed, Cade hobbled up to the fence and watched her wrestling the spirited young colt.

  "Need a hand with that?" He dropped his crutches on the grass and pulled himself up to sit on the top railing.

  "In your condition you’d be more of a hindrance. Just sit back and let me get on with my job." She cracked the whip and made the colt break into a canter around the yard.

  Cade watched her work, his gaze going from her long legs to the muscled arms and strong hands holding the lunge rope. The girl had a body on her and he approved of how well she’d grown up. Such a shame he hadn't noticed her more when she was a kid following him around, but she was in his territory now and Cade was enjoying the show.

  She hung onto the animal as it fought and tossed its head. It had the bearing of all of the farm’s horses. A strong frame but perfectly well proportioned. The bloodline was obvious. This was a youngster from his father's favourite stallion. It had the same wild nature its father had and he mentally applauded her determination and stamina for the way she handled it.

  This was a very different Kate from the one who had hung around him as a teenager. This girl was strong and capable, and wasn't afraid to show it. The younger Kate had been all legs and wild red hair with a scattering of freckles over the bridge of her nose. She was too scared to say anything, always hanging out in the corner of the room or the shadows of the group of kids that hung out on the farm.

  "Slow down you, stupid colt," Kate growled to herself as the animal skittered around, throwing its head again. She held the lunge rope and stood her ground, speaking soothingly to it. Cade knew she was letting the animal sort itself out. He’d seen his father working the horses enough to know who’d taught her.

  A gust of wind blew a puff of dust around her and the horse twisted its head pulling Kate off her feet to land in the dirt on her butt.

  "Kate, look out," Cade cried out as the animal reared up, its front legs pawing the air in fright. Without thinking, he jumped from the fence to lend her a hand. Misjudging his landing because of the whiskey he'd consumed earlier, he stepped in a rut catching his foot. Screaming as the pain ripped through his knee, Cade fell to the ground.

  "You frigging idiot!" Kate's curse broke through the haze of pain.

  He heard her calming the horse and the shuffle of hooves before the slam of a gate. She hurried over and dropped to his side. "What the hell did you do that for?"

  "It was..ahh..going to...fuck that..kills...ahh.. hurt you." The pain ripped through his leg and Cade knew he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead and he started to shake.

  "You’re such a stupid shit, Cade. For the love of all I hold dear, you test my patience. I know that horse, it was just freaking out with the wind." She held his shoulders and let him lean back against her. "I'm not totally green you know. I rolled out of the way, it's not the first time he's put me on my arse."

  "Shoot the bloody thing then…ahh, don't move." He sucked in shallow breaths to let the pain subside. The sweat dripped down his face and Kate wiped it from his eyes, shielding his face from the sun. He swallowed hard, pushing down the nausea rolling in his stomach.

  "Let me know when I can move you. Or if you would rather, I can call an ambulance for you?" She brushed his hair back and smiled into his eyes. "You didn't have to do that Cade, but thanks for thinking of me. I never thought of you as a hero before."

  "No ambulance. Won't do any good now." He lay back against her and closed his eyes. His life was now in ruins because he played the hero to a farm girl. No amount of whiskey was going to dull this pain. He was finished.

  ***

  "I think you should go to hospital." Essie fussed over him. Kate had managed to get him into the house with the help of the farm hands and he was lying on the couch in the front room. His foot was propped up high on cushions and Cade lay back, his gaze on Kate as she stood at the end of the couch watching him.

  "Just give me something to drink, Essie. I have painkillers upstairs beside my bed. Russ can give me something stronger when he gets home."

  "Painkillers and alcohol don't mix, you should know that."

  "Stop fussing. I know what I'm doing." Cade was furious with himself and taking it out on the people who meant the most to him wasn't making him feel any better. "Just be a love and get me a drink. Kate, can you run upstairs and grab the pills beside my bed, please?"

  She turned and walked away, her footsteps pounding up the stairs before she walked into the room above his head. Her boots were muffled as she hurried across the carpeted room and then the tap on wood as she ran back down again.

  He held his hand out for the packet she carried. "Thanks, much appreciated." Cade grimaced at the glass of water Essie passed over. "Don't let me hold either of you up any longer. I'm sure you both have a lot to do." Through half closed eyes, he watched the women share a glance and hesitate before leaving him alone.

  The sound of their voices wounded him more than he thought possible. Cade, the football star, the all round sporting hero lay half drunk on the sofa, incapable of upholding the farce his life had been for so long. It was all over and he’d lost it in front of the last person he wanted to see that he was infallible. He’d had a front to keep up and now it was gone.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  After a lousy day at work, Russ was relieved to be home. He grabbed his briefcase, slammed his car door harder than necessary and headed for the house. As he passed Kate's cottage, the front door opened.

  "Hi, Russ, can I have a minute?"

  She stood at the door with the light from inside shining brightly into the dark night. He si
ghed. The last thing he wanted was polite conversation. What he needed was a drink and his bed. Russ turned to her, his briefcase in one hand and the other in his trouser pocket toying with his car keys, trying to keep his agitation under control. "What can I do for you, Kate?"

  "It's not me that needs help. It's your stupid brother." She headed out toward him. "Silly fool tried to be a hero today when I was breaking in a young colt. He jumped off the fence and did his leg in. I think he has done more damage to his knee and won't go to hospital. He's waiting for you."

  "What am I supposed to do about it? He's a big boy. I can't make him do anything he doesn't want."

  "Can you at least try, Russ? I feel responsible because he was trying to help me. It was kind of sweet of him even if he is a jerk." She shrugged and looked at him with hope in her eyes. "Can you please talk to him about getting it checked out properly?"

  "I'll see what I can do, not that I can promise anything."

  "Thanks, Russ." She tucked a long red lock behind her ear. As she turned away, Kate looked over her shoulder. "Good luck with him." She walked back to her cottage, shutting the door behind her.

  Russ sighed. After the day he’d had, dealing with his younger brother wasn't appealing. He didn't need the grief or someone else's problems. The lights in the kitchen were on when he pushed the door open. The smell hit him before he saw the woman leaning over the kitchen sink. Essie, his faithful Essie had cooked his favourite meal, Thai beef curry. It was as though she knew the kind of day he'd had.

  With gratitude, Russ walked over and leaned his chin on the shoulder of the only woman who had never let him down. "You are awesome."

  "Bad day? You look terrible, Russ. Are they working you too hard already?" She dried her hands on the tea towel and turned to take his dinner from the oven. Walking over to the island bench, Essie placed the hot plate on a mat and told him to sit.