Rescued by the Dreamy Doc / Navy Officer to Family Man

by Amy Andrews / Emily Forbes

  Sebastian returned her gaze with a steady one of his own. He slid a hand along her jaw, cradling it as his fingers speared into her hair.

  ‘You don’t have to worry. I’m with you on this, one hundred and fifty per cent.’ He rubbed his thumb gently back and forth across her ear. ‘I fully understand where this comes from. I have no desire for a child either and I would never ask that of you.’

  Sebastian lowered his head and kissed her gently on the mouth. ‘I promise.’

  Callie sighed and smiled, her heart feeling as big as a basketball in her chest. ‘In that case,’ she whispered against his lips, ‘I’d love to keep this thing going.’

  And she reached for his towel and pulled.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE steady, rapid rhythm of a foetal heartbeat filled Sebastian’s office and Callie smiled down at Ginny, who was reclined on the couch, her shirt pulled up to expose her taut eight-and-a-half-month pregnant belly.

  It was a noise that Callie had heard very regularly over the last five months. Luckily it hadn’t affected her again the way it had the first time she’d heard it during the ultrasound.

  Ginny’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m so sorry to be a bother.’

  Callie smiled at Ginny as her client wiped away an escaping tear. ‘It’s no bother,’ she reassured her as she switched off the hand-held Doppler.

  ‘It’s just that I’ve been so busy getting everything ready for the baby since I finished work and now everything’s done and…What if something goes wrong? I keep thinking of all the things that could go wrong and I then I saw this documentary the other day about ana—anaceph…oh, I don’t know how to pronounce it.’

  ‘Anacephaly?’

  Ginny nodded vigorously. ‘That’s it.’

  ‘But, Ginny, your little girl has a perfectly formed head. You’ve had three ultrasounds—one of them 3D—and she has a beautiful head.’

  Ginny sighed. ‘I know. I know that. I guess I’m just… What if I’m…going nuts again, Callie?’

  Callie reached for a tissue on the nearby coffee table and wiped at the gel she’d applied low down on Ginny’s belly then she picked up her client’s hand.

  ‘You are going through exactly the same thing that thousands of mothers go through towards the end. You’re anxious?’

  ‘Anxious?’ Ginny interrupted, half sitting, alarm in her voice.

  Callie smiled and squeezed Ginny’s hand. ‘A lot of mothers-to-be are anxious. What you’re going through is normal.’ She squeezed again. ‘Perfectly normal.’

  Ginny relaxed back and even gave a half smile. ‘I suppose so. I guess when I realised that I hadn’t felt her move for a couple of hours I just panicked.’

  ‘Remember what the midwife said?’ Callie reiterated. ‘Decreased foetal movements are common in the last few weeks. There’s not much room to move inside that belly at the moment,’ Callie joked, giving the round expanse a gentle poke.

  The baby, obviously objecting to the nudge, kicked back and Callie watched the corresponding belly movements as the baby seemed to roll from one side to the other.

  ‘Of course she’s been moving around like a jumping jack ever since I walked in here,’ Ginny said, absently rubbing her belly. ‘I should have waited.’

  ‘No.’ Callie shook her head. ‘It’s good to be in tune to these things and if you do ever feel that she’s not moving as much then come here or ring the community midwife.’

  She pulled Ginny’s shirt down and helped her into a sitting position. ‘It’s better to be cautious.’

  Ginny left five minutes later, much calmer than when she’d arrived. Callie stood in the doorway, watching her client leave. She smiled as Sebastian, who was in the glass-panelled group therapy room, waved at Ginny on her way out.

  Her gaze stayed with Sebastian as he ran his teen group therapy session. He was in blue jeans and an olive T-shirt that complemented his eyes and the red-gold of his hair and sat snugly across his biceps and pecs.

  He was leaning forward, both feet planted firmly in front of him, his elbows on his knees, his hands, loosely interlinked, hanging between his legs. Even from across the room she could see his absolute focus as he engaged Bree, a fifteen-year-old anorexic.

  Callie glanced at the painfully thin teenager who was smiling shyly at Sebastian. A nasogastric tube used for night feeding was taped to her cheek and marred features that would have been pretty had they not been so gaunt.

  Bree hated the tube. She hated the sessions. She especially hated the weekly weigh-ins. Or she had anyway. But for the tenth week in a row she’d gained weight and she taken delight in the progress instead of seeing it as a failure and another reason to hate herself and her body. She had a spring in her step and a smile on her face instead of her usual sullen frown.

  Callie didn’t doubt that Sebastian was a large part of the teenager’s recovery.

  Sebastian’s focus shifted to Eric, the fourteen-year-old boy beside Bree, who had been referred for self-harming. But Callie kept her eyes glued on the girl. Prior to her turn-around Bree would sit in these sessions with the typical fidgety movements of those suffering from profound anorexia nervosa.

  She’d tap her toes repeatedly, jiggle her thighs and drum her fingers against her crossed arms. Exercise in any form was important to anorexics?even seemingly passive they could increase their metabolic rate and burn fat. So movement, any movement, was good.

  Being idle was the enemy.

  But now she sat still, listening attentively. She laughed, smiled, joined in the conversation and even engaged the newcomers who were reluctant to join in.

  Callie spied Bree’s mother flicking through an ancient magazine in the central waiting area. She wandered over and sat opposite. ‘Hi, Anita. How’s it all going?’

  Bree’s mother glanced up from her reading and smiled at Callie. ‘The bad days are getting fewer, thank goodness.’

  Callie nodded. The smile couldn’t erase the extra years Bree had added to her mother’s life. Anita looked ten years older than when they’d first met two years ago after Bree’s diagnosis.

  They both glanced over at the session, which was drawing to a close. ‘I can’t thank Sebastian enough. He’s just connected with her. Mind you…’she smiled ‘…I can’t say I blame her. He’s very easy on the eye, isn’t he?’

  Callie laughed as Anita openly ogled Sebastian. She quashed the urge to say, You should see him naked. ‘That he is.’

  ‘Seriously, though.’ Anita sobered, looking back at Bree. ‘Since her father left a few years ago she’s been lacking a strong male role model. Sebastian has been such a godsend. You should hear her at home—Sebastian said this, Sebastian said that.’

  Callie reached out and covered Anita’s hand with hers. ‘It’s good to see her coming out the other side. Don’t forget, though, she’s still got a way to go.’

  Anita patted Callie’s hand. ‘I know. I know. It’s just been so nice to see. So nice to not feel so utterly helpless for a change.’

  Callie nodded. ‘Of course.’ She looked back at the room. ‘Looks like they’re done. See you next week?’ she asked, rising from the lounge.

  Anita nodded and winked. ‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

  Callie had a smile on her face as she wandered into the staffroom a couple of moments later. Sebastian had caught her eye as she’d passed and given her that have I got plans for you tonight look.

  Their transition to spending their nights together had been a natural progression once the R word had come out into the open, and Callie felt a small trill of excitement every time she thought about sleeping with him.

  ‘Coffee’s here,’ Geraldine announced, walking past her with a laden four-cup cardboard tray from the coffee shop over the road.

  Callie took hers and sat at the table. She removed the lid and inhaled the rich, earthy fragrance of her doubleshot espresso, waiting for the delicious buzz as it hit her olfactory system.

  It was a shock when a powerful surge of nausea to
ok hold instead. Callie pushed the cup away violently, the liquid sloshing over the sides and onto the table. ‘Ugh.’ She clapped a hand to her mouth, relieved that it vanished as quickly as it appeared. ‘That smells awful.’

  Geraldine raised an eyebrow and lifted the mug to her face. ‘Smells like coffee to me,’ she murmured.

  Callie shuddered. ‘Must be that bout of food poisoning I had last week. I still feel a little delicate and things seem to taste different.’

  Geraldine blew on her coffee, watching Callie over the rim. ‘You sure it was food poisoning?’

  Callie nodded. ‘Sebastian was ill too. We think it must have been something in the take-away we’d had the night before. He got over his quicker than me, though.’

  Geraldine took a sip. ‘Funnily enough, I couldn’t stand the smell of coffee when I was pregnant with Tahlia. The merest whiff and I was throwing up like there was no tomorrow.’

  There was something in Geraldine’s voice that made Callie’s eyes narrow. ‘Gerri,’ she warned.

  Gerri shrugged. ‘I’m just saying.’

  ‘Well, don’t.’

  Gerri sipped again. ‘You and Seb being careful?’

  Callie rolled her eyes. ‘Of course, Mother.’

  Except that once…I don’t want any barriers between us tonight.

  ‘Hmm,’ she said, placing the cup on the table and crossing her arms over her ample bosom. ‘And you’ve had a period lately?’

  Callie did not like the speculation in her friend’s eyes. ‘Yes. Last week.’

  ‘Yep, that can happen. I had my period until I was five months pregnant with Damon.’

  ‘Gerri.’

  ‘Tired?’ she persisted, ignoring the note of warning in Callie’s voice. ‘Peeing a lot? Sore boobs?’

  Callie stood. ‘I am not pregnant, Geraldine Russell. So get that thought right out of your head.’

  Rodney walked in, oblivious to the conversation. He placed his lunch on the table and lifted the plastic lid on his regular curry from the Indian take-away, also across the road. The aroma of coriander and all-spice wafted upwards and he inhaled appreciatively.

  ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do if The Raj Palace ever closes down,’ he mused. ‘I might have to actually make my own lunch.’

  Callie felt the nausea return with a vengeance but this time it didn’t settle. Instead, it became all-consuming and she knew that there was definitely going to be follow-through.

  ‘Excuse me,’ she gasped, praying that she’d make it to the staff toilet in time.

  Rodney blinked as he watched Callie gallop off. He looked down at Gerri, concern in his eyes, only to find her grinning like an idiot. ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked.

  ‘Life is, Rodney.’ Geraldine laughed. ‘Life.’

  Callie felt so rough she popped into Sebastian’s office to let him know she was taking the afternoon off and cancelling their movie plans.

  ‘Of course,’ he said, dropping his pen and rising from his chair. ‘I’ll drop by after work and check on you.’ He reached her side and pulled her into an embrace.

  ‘No, it’s okay.’ Callie dropped her head against the pillow of his chest. She was so weary suddenly she felt like she could sleep for a week. ‘I’m having a shower and going straight to bed.’

  ‘Okay.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘You do feel a bit warm,’ he murmured. ‘I think you should see your doctor. This food poisoning thing has been dragging on a bit too long.’

  Callie nodded, pushing Geraldine’s theory firmly from her head. ‘Tomorrow.’

  ‘Come on. I’ll drive you home.’

  ‘No.’ Callie roused herself. ‘You have your private session with Frank Jessop in five minutes. I’ll be fine.’

  Callie left soon after, the drive seeming to take an eternity. Long enough for her thoughts to turn back to Gerri’s preposterous intimation.

  Preposterous!

  Gerri, better than anyone, knew Callie’s stance on children and how she’d spent her entire fertile life trying to avoid pregnancy. Why on earth would she even put forward such a ridiculous idea?

  But that night in the shower replayed in her mind. Her insistence that they have no barriers between them.

  Surely not…?

  Surely she couldn’t be that unlucky?

  Once—just once in her life…

  Of course it was possible, she castigated herself. She was a nurse, for crying out loud, she knew that one time was all that it required.

  But …surely not?

  No. No, she’d had a period. Just last week. A little late but her cycle was getting longer as she moved towards her forties. And, okay, it had been quite light but it had happened in the middle of the whole food poisoning incident and she had figured that her body was giving her a break.

  She refused to give Gerri’s Damon anecdote any thought.

  Callie swung into her drive and switched off the engine, wishing she could switch the thoughts off as easily. The prospect of going into an empty house with only Gerri’s insinuations for company was daunting.

  But her shower and her bed beckoned and within twenty minutes, despite the ridiculous thought of pregnancy hanging over her head, Callie was sound asleep.

  She awoke the next morning feeling much better. Rested and ready to face a new day. It was odd, though, to wake up without Sebastian next to her and she slid her hand over the cold sheets beside her. It felt wrong to wake alone.

  Her stomach still felt a little delicate and the coffee she’d started to make was soon abandoned, but a piece of toast and a cup of tea seemed to settle things down and she left the house with a spring in her step.

  ‘Morning,’ Geraldine greeted her. ‘And how are we feeling today?’

  Callie ignored the probing gaze, breezing past her boss. ‘Fantastic. Slept like a baby. Ready and raring to go,’ she said as she entered the staffroom and stashed her bag in her locker.

  Geraldine followed. ‘Now, some would say that was a Freudian slip.’

  Callie frowned. What on earth was Gerri on at the moment? ‘What?’

  Gerri raised an eyebrow. ‘Slept like a baby?’

  Callie turned and smiled sweetly at her colleague. ‘I’m officially ignoring you.’

  Rodney breezed past them with a bakery bag. ‘Morning, ladies. Hot cinnamon rolls, baked fresh.’ He plonked the paper bag on the table and ripped it down the centre decanting them onto a plate.

  The room filled with a warm yeasty fragrance. Callie felt a surge of nausea as Rodney offered her one, the sweet, sugary aroma engulfing her. She dared not look at Geraldine as she tried not to recoil from the offering and excused herself to walk rapidly to the toilet.

  She just made it in time as her stomach revolted and discharged its paltry contents in great heaving spasms that seemed to go on for ever. Afterwards she pulled the lid down and sat on it, elbows on knees, cradling her head in her hands. Her legs were shaking. Her hands were sweaty.

  She wanted to die.

  It couldn’t be. Surely?

  A knock pulled her out of her misery. ‘Just a moment,’ she said, taking a couple of deep breaths and standing gingerly. She reached for the lock and opened the door.

  Geraldine was there, holding up a pregnancy test kit. ‘I think you should do this.’

  Callie looked at the packaged item that they always had in stock in their storeroom. Then she looked at her friend and shook her head.

  ‘Humour me,’ Gerri said. ‘If you’re so sure its negative, what have you got to lose?’

  Callie swallowed. Somehow the mere thought of doing the test gave credence to this whole crazy thing. It gave it legitimacy?and that scared the hell out of her.

  ‘This can’t be happening to me.’ To her horror she felt tears prick her eyes.

  Geraldine passed the test to her. ‘Maybe it isn’t. There’s only one way to find out.’

  Callie reached for the packet. ‘I don’t want this.’

  Geraldine nodded. ‘Sometimes you don’t
get a say, Callie. And sometimes things happen that seem like a complete disaster at the time yet they turn out to be the best thing that ever happened.’

  Two minutes later, a little pink plus sign swimming before her eyes, Callie’s worse fears were realised. She opened the door to find Geraldine waiting. Callie walked straight into Gerri’s open arms and promptly burst into tears.

  ‘I can’t do this, Gerri. I don’t want this.’

  Gerri listened silently as Callie sobbed and ranted and choked out incoherent words and jumbled, half-formed thoughts. She didn’t say anything until Callie had run out of steam.

  ‘Go home. It’s Friday. Take the weekend. Don’t make any rash decisions. Talk it over with Seb—’

  ‘Oh, God!’ Callie wailed. ‘Sebastian. He wants kids even less than I do.’

  So much for continuing after he left to go back to Melbourne. She’d be lucky if he actually spoke to her for the rest of his term. What on earth had possessed her to have unprotected sex that night? Where had her brain been?

  ‘This is a mess. A damn mess,’ Callie sniffed.

  ‘Maybe he might surprise you,’ Gerri offered.

  Callie shook her head. ‘We’ve talked about this. He…’ She couldn’t stop herself thinking about the moment she’d insisted on not using a condom. This was all her fault.

  Her fault.

  ‘He’ll be pretty angry.’

  ‘You have to talk to him some time, Callie.’

  Callie avoided the frank look in her friend’s eyes. ‘I know. I know. I just need to think first. I need to…work out what I’m going to do.’

  Gerri nodded. ‘Sure. But don’t forget, it’s his baby too.’

  Sebastian’s baby. She was pregnant with Sebastian’s baby. It was too big. Too momentous to even comprehend. ‘Can you tell him that I called in to say I’ve gone away for a few days and that I’ll see him on Monday?’