Children’s Doctor, Christmas Bride

by Lucy Clark

  Before Summer could say a word, Cassandra took the dress out and held it up. ‘Here it is. I only finished it last night after I arrived.’

  ‘Cassandra.’ Summer breathed out with appreciation as she looked at the strapless ballgown with multi-layered skirts in a mixture of red, orange and yellow organza. ‘It’s stunning.’

  ‘Jason said you knew clothes, knew designers, so I’m definitely going to take your reaction as a compliment.’

  ‘You should. It’s the most perfect dress I’ve ever seen.’

  Cassandra eyed her creation critically. ‘I haven’t named it but I think I’m going to call the dress Summer because it has all the perfect summer colours in it and it is so completely you.’

  ‘I can’t carry off all of those bright colours.’

  ‘Oh, yes, you can. Trust me on this. I know what I’m talking about. Now, come on, let’s get you into it to see how it looks.’

  Summer allowed herself to be persuaded and tried the dress on, loving the way it swished and moved with her. She stood on tiptoe, admiring her reflection.

  ‘See. If we put your hair up with some curls and— Oh, my gosh, I almost forgot the shoes.’

  ‘Shoes?’

  ‘Yes. I guessed last time we met that we were about the same size and I couldn’t go past these shoes when I saw them. They’re simply perfect for the dress.’ Cassandra pulled a shoe box from the closet and put it on the bed. When she lifted the lid, it was to reveal a pair of red pumps.

  ‘They’re gorgeous.’

  ‘Oh, yes. Dorothy’s ruby slippers have got nothing on these shoes.’

  The overall effect was startling and Summer simply stared back at her reflection in total shock. She looked every inch the Sydney socialite but this time, somehow, her true personality shone through. The colours of the dress were something she would never have chosen for herself but Cassandra was right. It suited her—as did the incredible shoes.

  ‘“Only the soul that loves is happy,”’ Summer repeated softly, her eyes radiating hope. She loved Jason, more than she’d loved any man before in her life, and even if he didn’t love her back, even if his sister was mistaken and she wasn’t as important to Jason as he was to her, she realised that it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Of course her life would be miserable but it had been worse before and she’d survived.

  She loved him. And because of that, her soul was happy.

  Now all she had to do was to make Jason love her the same way, and she’d start at the ball—by showing him the real Summer. The real woman inside this gorgeous gown who he’d help teach to overcome her personal demons and fears.

  She was strong, she was intelligent, and she loved the most perfect man on the earth.

  CHAPTER TEN

  JASON was on his third attempt at tying his bow-tie, the collar of the tuxedo feeling way too tight around his neck. The phone rang and he was glad of the interruption, quickly answering it.

  ‘Jason Daniels,’ he said into the receiver, brushing some lint from his trousers.

  ‘Dahling. How are you?’

  Jason froze as Amanda’s sultry tones floated down the line. ‘Fine. How are you, Amanda?’

  ‘Never better. Listen, this is just a quick call to say Merry Christmas. Thought I’d better get in early due to the fact that I’ll be in Paris the day before Christmas, in New York on Christmas Day and then the day after I’m off for a well-earned break in Mauritius.’

  ‘OK. Merry Christmas, then.’ His first instinct was to hang up the phone but he didn’t follow through with it. Her tinkling laughter came down the line and where it had previously always managed to twist his gut and make him want to hold her just one more time, this time it didn’t happen. He frowned. ‘What are your plans for New Year?’

  ‘There’s apparently an excellent party in Madrid so a few of us are thinking of seeing what that would be like, but another part of me is thinking I might go skiing instead. There’s nothing like New Year on the slopes. Davos is nice this time of year.’

  As he listened to her talk, he realised he wasn’t having the same reactions he’d had when she’d called in the past. While she’d hurt him badly, the divorce had been amicable. Now he was starting to realise that perhaps she hadn’t really hurt him as much as he’d initially thought or perhaps he was really starting to heal. They’d parted because their lives had been destined to go in two different directions.

  Amanda had been right when she’d said he could go with her to Europe, to get a job at a hospital in Milan, but it hadn’t been what he’d wanted to do. Why hadn’t he? As she continued to try to impress him with stories of the famous people she’d met, Jason began to realise that if he’d really loved Amanda as much as he’d thought, then he would have followed her, he would have moved heaven and earth to be with her. And he hadn’t.

  He checked the clock and realised if he didn’t get Amanda off the phone and get his bow-tie tied, he’d be late for Summer. Summer. At the thought of her, his heart jumped. Jason stared at his reflection. If Summer told him she was going to leave, to move back to Sydney or shift to Melbourne or New Zealand or France or Germany or the North Pole, he realised he’d follow her. He would follow her, and why? Because she was real. She had all the qualities he’d originally thought Amanda had possessed and she had them in abundance.

  ‘Listen, Amanda. I have to go. Tonight’s the night of the charity ball and if I don’t make a move, I’m going to be late.’ He cut her off in mid-sentence.

  ‘Oh, the charity ball. Going stag?’

  ‘No, as a matter of fact, I’m not. Anyway, look, it was great to chat. You take care and don’t break a leg on those Davos slopes. Ciao.’ With that he hung up, no doubt leaving his ex-wife stunned, but that wasn’t his problem any more. Shaking his shoulders, he felt free. Free of his past and anxious to get his future under way.

  With his tongue between this teeth as he concentrated, he turned his full attention back to the bow-tie. His future was waiting.

  Jason paced around Summer’s lounge room, tugging on the bow-tie he’d had eight goes to get perfect. What was taking her so long? He’d been anticipating this moment for so long, especially as he knew she would be wearing one of Cassandra’s special dresses.

  He’d seen Summer dressed in casual clothes, work clothes, pyjamas, and all of those times she’d exuded elegance and poise. He knew she’d initially been reluctant to go to the charity ball as she’d attended these sorts of functions all the time in Sydney, and dressing up was nothing special to her, as it was for their colleagues. He knew that whatever dress she’d chosen from Cass’s creations would look incredible on her and his impatience was starting to take its toll.

  ‘You’ll make a hole in the carpet,’ Tommy pointed out as he sat there, just as eager to get going as Jason was, but he’d been taught to sit still and remain on his best behaviour. ‘At least, that’s what Mum says when I used to walk up and down.’

  ‘Hmm?’ Jason looked at the boy and only then realised he’d been pacing. He stopped. ‘Yes. You’re right.’ He sat next to Tommy. ‘So…looking forward to tonight?’

  ‘Yep. Brad said the country club is awesome and last year there were heaps of activities for the kids from hoops to bowling.’

  ‘Lawn bowls,’ Jason corrected with a smile. ‘The club is just out of town on a big property. There’s a croquet lawn, too, and stables.’ At the mention of horses he saw Tommy shift nervously and instantly remembered what Summer had told him. Did Tommy still have a fear of horses? If so, Jason wouldn’t blame him, given what he’d been through, but he should also know it was important to work hard at overcoming his fears.

  Was that what he’d personally been doing ever since he’d met Summer? The woman had driven him wild, tied him up in knots, but he’d known if there was ever going to be anything more than friendship between them, he’d have to overcome his own fears. The possibility of having his heart broken again was definitely a gamble but he’d come to realise that Summer was defin
itely worth it. He loved her. Just like that, he’d come to realise she meant more to him than any other woman ever had, and it was that reasoning which had helped him to take that step out onto the ledge again, to risk his heart. Now all he had to do was convince her that they belonged together—for ever—and tonight was the most perfect night to accomplish it. If she ever finished getting ready, that was.

  ‘There’s riding?’

  Tommy’s words brought Jason back to the present. He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. OK? You’re an intelligent boy and you don’t need to prove anything to anyone so don’t let anyone goad or coerce you into doing something you’re not ready to do.’

  ‘I liked riding. I used to ride every day. My first pony was called Smoky because he was grey.’

  ‘Good name.’

  ‘And then I had Skipper, he was a bit bigger.’

  ‘Well, when you’re a growing boy, you need a bigger pony.’

  ‘And then…’ Tommy’s lip quivered. ‘I had Guido.’

  ‘Guido?’ Jason smiled. ‘Incredible name for a horse.’

  ‘He was my first proper horse.’ Tommy hung his head. ‘And my last.’

  Jason kept his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, hoping to reassure him. He’d wanted to have children— No, he needed to have children, and this sort of thing, helping them through tough times, was part of it. He already loved Tommy like his own son and he was going to be there for him.

  ‘I’m scared of horses.’ The words were only a whisper.

  ‘That’s OK,’ Jason told him firmly.

  ‘It is?’

  ‘Sure. Your mum’s scared of spiders. Some people are scared of snakes. Other people don’t like horses either.’

  ‘They don’t?’

  ‘They don’t, and for all sorts of reasons. You don’t need to be ashamed of being afraid of something, Tommy, but also you can’t let it hold you back from doing something you like doing.’

  ‘I really did like riding horses.’

  ‘I’m sure you did, and I’ll bet you were really good.’

  Summer walked into the hallway and was about to announce herself when she saw the two most important men in her life sitting on the lounge, Jason’s hand on Tommy’s shoulder.

  ‘My dad died.’ The words were soft and small and brought an instant lump to Summer’s throat. Was this it? Was her son’s personal drought ready to break? She held her breath, watching as he looked at Jason.

  ‘He got stood on by a horse. That’s why I’m scared.’

  ‘You have a good reason, then.’

  Tommy frowned a little. ‘My dad wasn’t a good dad. He didn’t like me. He died before I could make him like me.’

  Jason’s gut wrenched. ‘It wasn’t your fault, mate,’ he urged. ‘Do you know that?’

  ‘But if only I’d been better. If I’d worked harder. He—’

  ‘No.’ Jason stopped him. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’ He said each word clearly and slowly. ‘Your mum told me what happened, Tommy, and nothing that happened was your fault.’

  Summer bit her lip, gripping her hands together, not wanting to make a sound to break this most precious moment.

  Tommy processed Jason’s words, a look of deep concentration etching his face. ‘Are you sure?’

  Jason nodded emphatically. ‘I’m positive. Dads are supposed to be there for their sons. To help them. To show them how to do things.’

  ‘Like cooking fish fingers?’

  ‘Exactly.’ Jason met the boy’s eyes. ‘Your dad wasn’t there for you and that wasn’t your fault either.’

  ‘So even if I’d been better…even if I’d worked harder…’ He trailed off.

  ‘It wouldn’t have changed what happened.’ Jason took a deep breath and slowly let it out. ‘It’s OK to feel bad or sad or upset or even angry at the way things turned out.’

  ‘It is? But I thought I was supposed to be calm and controlled at all times. That’s what my dad and grandfather used to say. Men are controlled. In charge. All the time.’

  Jason shook his head, only imagining what the poor young boy had been through during his seven years of life. ‘Nope. I’m not like that. Neither is my dad.’

  ‘You’re not?’

  ‘I don’t think we were too controlled when we were falling over in the big clown shoes, were we?’

  Tommy smiled. ‘You were so funny.’

  ‘See? Sure, there are some things you have to be serious about and exercise a level of control over, but you don’t need to live your entire life like that. If we were like that, we’d end up…I don’t know, more like…’

  ‘A robot?’

  ‘Precisely, and we all know robots aren’t human.’ Jason leaned a little closer as though he was about to reveal an important truth. ‘Also, men can cry, Tommy.’

  His eyes widened. ‘Have you?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘But I think you’re totally cool.’

  ‘And there you go. Cool men aren’t afraid to show their emotions. They’re not afraid to say how they feel. They’re not afraid to stand up for what they want and they’re not afraid to back down when it’s needed.’

  Then, surprising him yet again, Tommy shifted and wrapped his arms about Jason’s neck. ‘I wish you were my dad,’ he whispered in Jason’s ear, and Jason closed his eyes, holding the boy close and wanting the same thing.

  When he opened his eyes, he saw Summer standing in the doorway, a trembling hand at her mouth as she watched the two of them with those big blue eyes of hers. She was half-hidden in the shadows and obviously hadn’t wanted to disturb them. How long had she been there? How much had she heard?

  ‘Look who’s finally ready,’ Jason said softly to Tommy, and pointed, unable to take his eyes off the woman he loved. Tommy turned and Jason watched as Summer immediately dropped her hand and pasted on a smile, walking towards them.

  ‘Wow, Mummy. You look really good.’

  Jason stood and stared as she came forward into the light. ‘Yeah.’ It was all he could manage, the power of speech having left him at the sight of her. No one moved, the two of them connecting through the unspoken communication they seemed to have. To say she carried the dress was an understatement. Her hair was up on top of her head with little blond tendrils hanging down here and there. Her eyes were shrouded in a dark blue colour fringed with black lashes which definitely enhanced the sultry look she was giving him now. Her lips were painted with a red-pink lipstick which highlighted their plumpness and simply begged him to kiss her, but the way she was looking at him told him something he’d never expected to see—that she’d dressed up, that she’d wanted to look pretty…for him.

  Tommy nudged Jason, who was now staring open-mouthed at the woman before him. Classy, Daniels. Real classy. He closed his mouth before swallowing. ‘Summer.’ When he spoke her name, he wasn’t at all surprised to discover his voice was heavily laced with desire. Jason walked slowly towards her, taking in the astounding creation his sister had made and the stunningly beautiful woman wearing it. ‘I have never, in my life, seen a more… glorious sight.’

  Summer glanced down at the ruby slippers she wore. They made her feel as though anything could happen tonight or perhaps that was Jason and the way he was looking at her. She smiled alluringly at him as he took her hands in his, holding them wide and taking his time to visually caress her body. Summer’s breathing started to increase but she worked hard to keep herself under control, especially given that Tommy was in the room.

  ‘You’re…’ Jason searched his vocabulary but shook his head. ‘Not even the word “stunning” can describe how incredibly beautiful you look.’

  Summer smiled shyly, loving every compliment he gave her because she knew he meant it. ‘Thank you.’ She squeezed his hands.

  ‘I mean it. You are going to steal every person’s breath when you walk into that room, you know that, don’t you?’

  ‘We’re going to steal their breaths. You loo
k pretty handsome yourself.’

  Jason let go of one of her hands and ran his finger around the collar of his shirt. ‘It’s a little tight. I never wear it except once a year at the Christmas ball.’

  Summer arched an eyebrow. ‘Perhaps we can think of another reason for you to wear it.’ Her words were suggestive. They were supposed to be, and she saw by the brief flick in Jason’s eyes that he hadn’t missed her meaning.

  ‘So now can we go?’ Tommy asked as he walked over to the door, impatience written all over his face.

  ‘Yes, darling. We can. I just need to get my bag.’

  Tommy rolled his eyes but waited by the door. ‘I’m so glad I didn’t have to dress up like you two.’ The boy was wearing a pair of jeans with a T-shirt depicting his favourite band. He carried a jacket in his hand which Jason knew Summer was making him take, knowing the evening would turn cool. Running shoes were on Tommy’s feet and his hair was slightly spiked up. Even this boy was different from the seven-year-old he’d met not that long ago. He was more relaxed and Jason sincerely hoped that after what they’d been discussing before Summer’s appearance, Tommy would start to settle even further.

  ‘Right. Ready,’ Summer announced as she picked up her keys. They headed to the door, Jason holding it for her and ensuring the door was locked as they left. He crooked his arm to Summer.

  ‘Milady.’

  ‘Sir.’ She slid her hand with its perfectly manicured nails around his arm and looked up into his eyes.

  ‘We are going to have a fantastic night,’ he declared.

  ‘I’m loving it already,’ she replied as they headed out to the car, where Tommy was once more waiting for them.