Noni quelled the urge to throw a cushion at him, as if she’d known him forever. How could she feel like this after only one day?
Harley bounced into the room and Jacinta followed, carrying her drink. Noni took it, sipped and decided she’d avoid looking in Iain’s direction. That way lay dragons.
The phone rang. ‘I’ll get it.’ Harley rebounded off the floor and raced into the hallway. His polite greeting and enquiry on the phone made Noni smile. Good boy.
‘It’s for you, Mr McCloud. It’s Miss Soams.’ His schoolboy voice struggled over the words.
Noni watched Iain frown as he left the room. Interesting. He’d said Dr Soams had suggested they come here. So he knew the family and not just Greg? How well did he know Greg’s daughter?
Noni rolled her eyes. Penelope, a girl she’d been to school with, had been the Burra Show Society Princess the year Noni had been pregnant with Harley – and hadn’t she rubbed it in. Aunt Win, a life member of the Show Society, had not been happy, she’d even had words with Dr Soams over his daughter, but Noni was over it. She and Penelope would never be friends. The woman was a witch. Noni sat up straight.
As if sensing her disquiet, Harley climbed onto her lap and she cuddled him. Immediately, her equilibrium began to level. ‘You had a big day today, too, mate.’ They cuddled for a little while until Noni glanced at the clock and saw the time.
‘How about you go to bed? I’ll be up in a minute to see you. Say goodnight to Jacinta.’
Harley had never been a problem at night. ‘G’night, Jacinta. G’night, Mummy.’
She heard him say, ‘G’night, Mr McCloud,’ as he passed through the hall. Her heart swelled. Good boy, again.
She looked across at Jacinta. ‘How was your day? What did you do?’
‘We went to see Dr Soams, and that Penelope woman took some blood.’
Jacinta scowled again and Noni hid a smile behind her glass as she took a sip. ‘Did it hurt?’
‘Nah. But Miss P is a pain.’ She indicated the phone call with a twitch of her head. ‘She was all over Iain, and it was gross.’ She shrugged that away. ‘Plus, I hate needles.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘Lucky, I s’pose. If I didn’t I probably would have tried heroin.’
Noni choked on her drink. She started to cough and put the glass down hastily.
‘You all right?’ Jacinta jumped up, belly and all, and hovered near Noni’s chair, ready to thump her on the back. Iain came through the door and stared at Noni as tears streamed down her face and she gasped for breath.
‘What are you doing now?’ He strode across the room and tapped her firmly between the shoulder blades until she drew a deeper breath. He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket to mop up her face.
‘Drink down the wrong way,’ Noni gasped, and took another sip to soothe her throat. It started another fit of coughing, but she managed to wheeze it under control.
Iain leaned towards her again. ‘No. Don’t help me any more,’ she told him. ‘The cure is worse than the disease.’
Jacinta looked from one to the other and shrugged. ‘I’m going to bed, too. See ya tomorrow.’ She cast one warning look at Noni and shook her head. Don’t tell my father, it said.
‘See “you” tomorrow, not “ya”, thanks, Jacinta,’ her father corrected.
‘Spare me,’ his daughter threw over her shoulder, in exactly the same tone as he’d used.
Noni tried not to laugh but couldn’t help it. Of course it started the coughing again and she got up from the chair and backed away from Iain. She held up her hands as he advanced towards her.
‘Spare me,’ she spluttered.
He dropped his hands and stood looking at her for a moment with a penetrating gaze. ‘What was that all about?’
‘Girl talk.’ Noni had her breath back now. She should tell him what had passed between them, but it might destroy any chance of gaining Jacinta’s confidence. She’d find another way of getting the message across. Maybe via her aunt.
Iain raised one eyebrow. ‘Fine,’ he said, glancing at his watch. ‘I have to go out now. I’ll be a couple of hours. Are you well enough for me to leave you in charge of the house?’
‘I do run this guesthouse every weekend,’ she said sweetly.
‘If you’re sure.’
He’d probably go to see his friends Greg and Penelope Soams. Ugh, Penelope. He could have her. ‘Perfectly fine. Don’t let me cramp that style.’ He didn’t say anything. Just looked measuringly at her as he turned towards her before leaving.
‘Goodnight, Noni.’
‘Goodnight.’ She watched him leave, then got up, climbed the stairs and tucked Harley in. She came back down and sat in the empty room for at least another hour before heading back to her bed. She still had a vague headache, and when she looked in the mirror her face glowed an unattractive red. She felt like crying at the inelegant ruddiness, but accepted the likelihood that her emotional turmoil was all a side effect from the sunstroke.
Chapter Nine
Win
Winsome Frost waved to the driver who dropped her off at the Rumblin’ Tummy Restaurant. Time for her Sunday lunch with Greg Soames and, smiling, she tweaked her flowing caftan. His wife, Margarite Milson, who had so sweetly slid Greg out of Win’s friendship and orbit in her twenties, had passed away two years ago and, apparently, Greg thought enough time had passed for grief.
The late Margarite had been fond of imparting to anyone who would listen that Winsome Frost was such a hippy. In contrast, Margarite herself was exactly what a doctor’s wife should be.
In response, Win had leaned even more heavily towards Aquarius to widen the gap, rather than moving back towards conservative. But lately, she suspected she might be tiring as a child of the moon.
Win wasn’t quite sure how this lunch meeting had evolved. It was Greg’s idea initially, and the first time had been fun. Gradually their lunch dates had escalated to four times in as many weeks, and she had to admit she’d begun to look forward to them as a regular Sunday highlight. Though it proved annoying Greg wouldn’t let her pay.
She tried not to ruminate about the coldness his wife had always shown to everyone, including Greg. Perhaps that was why he said he loved Win’s nurturing soul and had mentioned the need for a future with warmth.
Greg’s brown eyes brightened and he rose when she entered the restaurant. He solicitously ushered her into her chair before the waiter could, then he stood there until sure her chair was exactly where she wanted it. When he sat back across from her with such a welcoming smile on his face, she looked at him quizzically.
‘You look pleased with yourself.’
‘I have you here, haven’t I?’ He leaned forward and patted her hand. ‘How was your kayaking?’ His eyes rested on her face as if she was the best thing he’d seen all day. It felt strange, awkward but pleasant, to be the centre of his attention. Though, she kept wanting to make sure she didn’t have a spot on her nose.
They were so different. He so straight-laced and respected and she, well, she enjoyed life and to hell with what people thought. What did he want her to say? She felt the urge to shock him. Make him see their differences. ‘Are you wondering if it was uncomfortable to sit in a boat with no clothes on?’
He shrugged just a little ruefully. ‘I try not to.’ A distinguished-looking man in his early sixties with a suspiciously humorous twinkle in his brown eyes, Greg was one of the kindest and gentlest men Win knew. She’d always liked him far too much and he’d always tried hard not to look askance at the mention of her hedonistic weekends.
Win laughed. ‘If you want specifics, there were eight of us this weekend. On the water the breeze caresses your whole skin, and the sun feels divine at this time of year. We climbed up to the waterfall as well. And Johnny wrote a new song for the band. Plus, we jammed and recorded a long, rambling, relaxation instrumental for Noni that has definite potential for her antenatal classes.’
‘That sounds very productive.’ She could read his mind.
All while they were naked. Greg did have a stumbling block with her recreational regime. Tough. Perhaps, it was time to confront the naked elephant in the room.
‘Naturism is a lifestyle, Greg. I’m embracing nature, the environment, respect for others, healthy eating, non-smoking and drinking, and physical exercise as well as nudity. Only on the weekends. Does that sound terrible?’
‘No. Of course not.’ He grimaced. ‘It sounds very healthful – of which I am an advocate. Of course.’
‘Of course you are, Doctor. Do you want to talk about this some more?’
He looked at her and smiled a little sheepishly. ‘No.’
‘Anytime you do, let me know.’ Win resisted the urge to ask him if he wanted to join them for the shock value. ‘So, how was your weekend?’ she asked, still having trouble suppressing the smile as she thought of Greg joining her weekend naturalist group.
‘Quiet, except for one episode where I strong-armed your house guest into helping me with an emergency caesarean. Twins.’
Win’s brows rose.
Greg nodded. ‘True story. You should have seen the theatre sister’s face when Iain had both babies out within ten minutes and the mother sewn up again well under the hour. She didn’t quite applaud but she wanted to.’
He poured Win a glass of water and then sat back. ‘It’s such a shame we can’t entice him to come here and practise. It would solve a lot of our problems.’
Win watched Greg’s face, wishing she could help him but knowing she was unable to. ‘No chance of that, I suppose. Noni would be thrilled, too. She’s Bachelor of Midwifery so isn’t a registered general nurse. She’s worried the labour ward will shut. She’d have to work in Wagga if that happened.’
Greg sadly shook his head. ‘I asked. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool private hospital practitioner. Great guy in an emergency. Really skilled at caesareans. Though, with the particular private sector he attends, he’s used to more caesareans than natural births and most of the vaginal births happen under epidurals. He wouldn’t fit in here. The midwives would kill him.’ Greg laughed in delight at the thought and Win enjoyed the sound, and sight of his face creased with mirth. He should do it more often.
Win tried for more humour. ‘He could change.’
Greg laughed again. ‘He’s the hot-shot consultant at his Macquarie Street practice. His rooms have a view over the Harbour Bridge. Our boy moves in a different world. A world we can’t offer him.’
Win didn’t have time for possessions outweighing sense. ‘Doesn’t mean he’s happy there. We have charm as well.’ Then she frowned. She’d listened to enough hospital news over the years to know that such multiple-birth emergencies weren’t normal. ‘How did you end up with twins? Don’t you usually refer them on to the bigger hospital?’
‘You’re right.’ His eyes brightened and he leaned forward. He loved to talk about his work and she found it all fascinating as much as she enjoyed his enthusiasm. She wondered what he had in mind when he retired to keep his mind active. She suspected the thought of how he would fill his days had crossed his mind. Wasn’t long now. Travel? Gardening? Naturism? She smiled wickedly.
Greg sat forward and lowered his voice. ‘You know, we normally don’t deliver twins here, especially if they’re both breech like these little tykes. But mum arrived in established labour and we didn’t have the forty minutes up our sleeve for the ambulance to take them to the base hospital.’ He shook his head at the situation. ‘Poor woman looked terrified and had never made the first ante natal appointment to book in. Lives with her partner up in the hills and they were going to have the baby at home. He got cold feet when she went into labour, thank God. Nearly had a heart attack when I told him there were two babies.’
Win shook her head. They were lucky Greg’s skills were so versatile. It was common for country doctors to be able to turn their hands to anything, but times were changing, and when Greg left more skills would be lost. ‘I didn’t think that sort of thing happened any more. Undiagnosed twins are rare enough, but no antenatal care?’ That made two un-looked-after pregnancies in a week with Jacinta, she thought.
‘Social services will look into the reasons.’ Greg thought for a moment with a worried frown and then he shrugged. ‘You can’t presume to understand people’s choices. Would have been tricky with twins without a second surgeon. Iain walked into theatre, scrubbed like he owned the place, glanced around and wanted to know where the paediatricians were! Not used to having to deal with babies as well as mums.’ Greg’s eyes twinkled again. ‘Precious lot, these consultants. You should have heard him. “Just the two of us?”’ Greg grinned at the memory and Win thought he looked ten years younger when he did that. ‘I said we were damn lucky he was here or it would be the midwives, the theatre sister and me. Not that we haven’t done it before. But he was expecting a force of neonatal staff, I think.’ He laughed and Win smiled along with him.
‘Welcome to obstetrics in the country,’ she said. ‘I imagine he found it a bit different. We can just hope he’ll fall in love with it. Did he mention the guesthouse?’
‘Made me promise not to mention him being there to Noni.’ His voice dropped to imitate Iain’s precise vowels. ‘If Noni Frost finds out I’m an obstetrician, my peace is gone.’
Win chuckled. ‘They do seem to strike sparks off each other.’
‘Apparently,’ Greg dropped his voice again into that remarkably good imitation of Iain’s measured tones, ‘judging by the classes, she’d stand up for her women and let the doctor know if she doesn’t agree with their management.’ Greg smiled and said in his normal voice, ‘I said I’d not mention it, of course.’
Win thought about that and stroked the thick plat of hair at her neck. ‘So, he doesn’t want Noni to know he’s just what she’s looking for?’ Win sighed. ‘That will cause an explosion when it gets out.’
Greg looked momentarily worried. ‘Does that leave you in an awkward position because you’re aware and Noni isn’t?’
Did it? Win considered it momentarily and decided that none of it was her business. She’d always been careful with any information Greg shared. ‘I think it’s up to Dr McCloud to proclaim that news and deal with his own fall-out. Noni won’t be happy that he kept it to himself.’
‘He says he’s going straight back to Sydney after Jacinta’s baby is born, if not before.’
Win nodded. ‘Noni is a stickler for honesty. We all are, but she’s obsessive about it. She won’t be sorry to see your doctor go, in that case. Which might be a blessing. Especially if he hasn’t been truthful about himself.’
Chapter Ten
Noni
The birth brought back so many memories. Noni smiled mistily at two of her previous antenatal students as she stood beside the bed. There were many things she admired in these two young women as they met each new challenge their unplanned pregnancies threw at them.
Kylie rested wearily back on the beanbag and hugged her baby to her breast. Aimee, heavily pregnant, stared with awe at her friend.
Noni suspected that Aimee was uncomfortably aware her own labour was fast approaching. She made a mental note to take Aimee aside and answer any new concerns she might have now that she’d witnessed Kylie’s labour. Maybe introduce her to Jacinta if there was time. A week had passed already since the lodgers had arrived and she had the feeling Jacinta could do with a young friend.
The new mother looked up, tired but triumphant. ‘Thanks for staying, Noni. I did it. You said I would, but I can’t believe it.’
Noni leaned over and brushed the damp tendrils of hair from the girl’s forehead. ‘You were incredible, Kylie. Congratulations. She’s beautiful.’
She drew Aimee closer to the bed and hugged her briefly. ‘You must be tired, too, Aimee, you’re a great support person. Birth is pretty amazing, isn’t it?’
Aimee nodded and ran her finger gently down the baby’s foot. ‘Look how tiny her toes are.’ She brushed a tear away from her cheek. ‘I can see it’s all worth it,
though.’
‘Definitely.’ Noni smiled and tucked the bunny rug around mother and daughter as they lay skin to skin. She stepped back to check the infant’s airway was clear and she was feeding correctly, and saw baby Sarah’s little jaw move up and down vigorously as she pushed into her mother’s breast.
‘I’ll drop in over the weekend to see how you’re getting on, Kylie, but I have to go now. Cricket practice.’ Oh joy. ‘You and baby have some time to get to know each other. Aimee will call the other midwife when you’re ready to shower.’
While she’d been teaching their antenatal classes, Noni had realised that neither young woman had a peer-support person to be with her during labour. It was such a shame Jacinta couldn’t have met these two before now. The connection she’d encouraged between Kylie and Aimee had worked beautifully so far. Which was lucky because she really had to go. She closed the door quietly, leaned back against it and rolled her shoulders.
Aunt Win’s words to her five years ago at her own son’s birth floated into her thoughts. ‘When it gets tough, just remember you’re designed to do it.’ Those words had been recalled to other women many times in the years between.
Then, Noni had been twenty, single and blown away by the whole birth experience, too. It would have been nice to have had a friend like Aimee, someone in the same situation, to make her feel less like a social outcast. Although there had only been the one woman – Penelope – who had really rubbed in Harley’s illegitimacy, but Noni wasn’t going there.
She pushed herself off the door, smiling. She didn’t regret a single moment with Harley.
‘Hey, Noni,’ Cathy called out to her from the nurses’ desk. ‘The supervisor wants to know if you’re still here.’
Noni moved over to stare into a large box of chocolates an appreciative family had left for the staff. Cathy slapped her fingers as she meticulously divided the treats into bags for the staff. ‘Tell her I’m just going and I’m not claiming overtime.’ She clasped her hands as if in prayer. ‘Please, may I have mine now?’
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