by Sue MacKay
Sometimes she felt Charlie and Steph didn’t even consider she might have a life of her own. Certainly neither realised how time-consuming bringing up two very young children could be. What would they say if she left the children with them for a day and went out shopping, visiting the beauty parlour or just lying on a lounger, reading a magazine? She couldn’t help the small smile that twisted her mouth. They’d be horrified. As far as Steph was concerned, children definitely didn’t go with the image of a lawyer in one of the city’s top firms. Neither did Charlie think hotshot real estate salespeople should have kids clinging to their tailored suits. But they loved their niece and nephew, and her. As she loved them.
Six years younger than her, her sisters had always turned to her for help with things since the day she’d come home to nurse their mother. When their mum had died she’d kept right on looking out for them. At twenty-three they didn’t really need her to do that now, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Most of the time.
Stephanie was saying, ‘I wonder if Kieran would like to go to the party. The girls from the office would love him, especially with that divine accent. His gorgeous looks won’t hurt either.’
Abby’s stomach plummeted. She knew Kieran loved parties. Her brother had often talked about all the socialising they’d done together. Why shouldn’t he go? He was a free agent. Because he’d come here to work, it didn’t mean he had to be a saint for the duration of his stay. What he did in his spare time had nothing to do with her. He’d probably be glad of a distraction from the ‘children’ problem.
‘Is Kieran still there? I’d like to talk to him.’
‘Sure.’ But then she heard a car starting. At her front gate? Kieran? A low, throaty engine roared away. A sports car kind of sound. Definitely Kieran. ‘Seems I’m wrong. He’s just left.’
Without a word. Whatever happened to saying goodnight? Anger vied with disappointment. Surely she wasn’t asking too much? Even if he couldn’t handle being a dad, he could’ve poked his head around the corner and said something before he disappeared. Even if the situation had got too much for him and he’d needed to get away, how hard would that have been? Guess she didn’t rate too highly on his list of important people or things. Her shoulders slumped. Was she being impatient? Probably. But she didn’t know how to be any different.
Stephanie didn’t seem too concerned. ‘I’ll catch up with him later. I’ll bring my dress over on Friday. See you.’ Click. She’d gone, too.
Leaving Abby feeling incredibly lonely. At home with two children while their other parent, as such, raced back to town and presumably the safety of his new apartment. So where was the problem? She hadn’t expected him to make himself so comfortable that he’d stay to start taking over caring for the children. Give the guy a chance to get used to all this.
Two mugs stood on the bench. The kettle was warm to her touch. So he’d got that far with making the drinks. She boiled the water again and took her tea with her to check up on Seamus. Sound asleep, he looked angelic, which he was. Most of the time. A smile tugged at her mouth, despite her gloomy mood. Seamus always did this to her whenever she was out of sorts. One look and she felt better about her world.
Now she studied his face, so like the face that had haunted her over the last two years. Moving away, she sank onto the end of her bed, her thoughts automatically returning to Kieran. Today, when she’d met him at the airport, she’d seen that her memory had been correct. The sharp lines running down the sides of his mouth were still there, as was that lopsided smile that sliced through her every time. Those full lips that had done untold exciting things to her body were exactly as she recalled. Oh, yes, her body remembered him very well.
Too well. Now all she had to do was cope with him being around for two months when just looking at him sent all her hormones into a dance. That was all. That was all?
CHAPTER FIVE
DRESSED in non-matching panties and bra, Abby headed down the hall, vigorously towelling her freshly washed hair. How could she have slept in? How had she managed to sleep at all with everything going on in her mind? Mainly things about Kieran. He really had got to her in a very short time. She had to get herself under control, stop thinking Kieran at every turn.
Seamus played with a wooden truck in the bedroom, damp nappies drooping around his knees. She left him to go and start making toast. Olivia was chattering in the kitchen, probably telling Teddy what she wanted for breakfast. Had she dressed herself this morning? Some days she did so, with bizarre results, some days she wanted Abby to do it.
At the kitchen door Abby lowered the towel, looking for Olivia, and gasped. Her heart stopped, then with a thud resumed its regular beat.
‘Kieran. What are you doing here? How did you get in?’ Hadn’t she locked up before going to bed last night?
‘Good morning, Abigail.’ He looked past her. For Seamus? Surely that had to be a good sign?
‘Morning yourself,’ she muttered, then realised where his gaze had settled and hurriedly draped the towel around her body. Except the towel was too small and only covered from her breasts to halfway down her backside. Abby started backing out of the kitchen. She’d get dressed properly before asking why he was here.
‘I opened the door,’ Olivia informed her importantly.
‘Haven’t I told you not to open the door to strangers?’ Abby hesitated in mid-flight and eyed Olivia sternly.
Kieran explained, his gaze now in the vicinity of her face, ‘You can blame me. When I knocked and got no answer I came round to the window to see if you were about. Olivia saw me and let me in. There are advantages to being Uncle Kieran.’ At last his eyes met hers, twinkling at her. ‘Anyway, I’d hope I wasn’t a stranger.’
She knew he was referring to his relationship with her, not Olivia. She stuttered, ‘W-what b-brings you out here this early?’
‘I wanted to apologise for my abrupt departure last night. It was rude of me.’ He raised his hands and shrugged disarmingly. ‘I admit to being a little overwhelmed. Throw in exhaustion after that damned flight and everything caught up with me in a hurry. But I should’ve said goodnight.’
‘Apology accepted.’ He surprised her, admitting he’d been out of his depth. But right now she had to feed and clothe the kids, then get to work on time. No, first she had to get dressed before Kieran began sizing her up again in his toe-curling way.
He said, ‘I thought it best to see you before we get to work. It might be a bit awkward explaining in front of other people.’
‘Work?’ He was joking, right? ‘You’re not starting today?’ She’d been relying on having a few more days before he invaded her work space as well as her home.
‘Might as well. There’s nothing else on my agenda at the moment, and I understand Michael is already on leave.’
‘His son’s desperately ill and last week they got word of a liver that might be compatible in Brisbane.’
‘Then the sooner I start, the better. Let’s hope the operation on his son is successful.’
‘Everyone’s got their fingers crossed for that,’ Abby responded. ‘We’ve seen the pain the family is suffering.’
‘I can’t imagine being in their shoes.’ Kieran turned for the back door. ‘I’ll see you later on.’
Relieved that he was leaving, she couldn’t explain the little gremlin that made her say, ‘Since you’re here, can you put the kettle on and start making toast? I’m already running late and could do with a hand.’
He slowly turned back into the room, his eyes again roaming over her. The playboy was definitely to the fore this morning, not the overwhelmed man trying to deal with two very small relatives he couldn’t quite fathom. ‘Of course. Where do you keep everything?’
‘Fridge, cupboard and pantry.’ Abby beat a hasty retreat to her bedroom.
As she changed Seamus into shorts and T-shirt she could hear Olivia telling Kieran what she wanted on her toast and what Seamus liked, and that she wanted juice. ‘No, not in that glass. T
he other one.’
Then, ‘Abby doesn’t cut our toast like that. She makes it into squares.’ And, ‘Not that runny honey. It falls off the toast and messes Seamus’s shirt.’
Abby grinned in sympathy for Kieran. He was learning breakfast wasn’t as straightforward as he’d previously believed.
Time to rescue the man. Back in the kitchen she placed Seamus in his highchair and put his toast in front of him before grinning at Kieran. ‘I heard you getting your instructions from little miss bossy britches.’
Kieran placed a mug of tea on the table in front of her. ‘I never knew making toast could be so difficult. I hope your tea is to your satisfaction?’ He grinned back before looking over to the highchair.
His eyes fixed on Seamus poking food into his mouth and over his cheeks. A mask of indifference hid whatever he truly felt about his little boy and the situation he found himself in. Were his feelings good ones? Or did he still want nothing to do with the kids? Her heart squeezed for Kieran and Seamus. They needed time together, lots of it.
Seamus dropped a piece of toast on the floor. Wrong way up, of course. And Kieran grimaced. It didn’t seem to register with him there was a mess to clean up.
Abby grabbed a dishcloth and wiped the floor. He mightn’t have leapt in to do it but looking at Olivia’s jam-covered toast now cut into squares, albeit very large ones, he seemed to be getting the hang of breakfast under his niece’s tutelage.
Abby asked cheekily, ‘Do I get any toast?’
Kieran dragged his eyes around to her. ‘Coming up. Squares or oblongs? Jam or honey?’
‘Definitely squares and jam. What about you? Have you eaten?’
He ran a hand over his chin. ‘I think I’ve just gone off toast. I’ll head away to ED in a moment.’
Abby grinned to hide the flutter in her tummy. He looked totally unlike the perfectly turned-out doctor with a streak of jam now decorating his chin. She reached over with a paper towel and wiped it clean. ‘Rule number one with children. Never go out before checking in the mirror. You’ll be surprised what you might find.’
Something like horror filled his eyes and he quickly checked his immaculate, crease-free shirt front, flicking a crumb off his tie.
She laughed. ‘Relax. You’ve managed to stay clean despite everything. Now go. I’ve got to get these two ready.’
‘Now who’s the bossy britches?’ he muttered.
‘You’re welcome to stay and help some more.’
‘I think not. You make it look so easy and I’m learning it’s not.’
‘I’ve had more practice,’ she quipped without thought to the ramifications.
‘To be sure, and whose fault is that?’
Tea splashed over her hand as she jolted from the shock of his suddenly harsh tone. So, Kieran’s good mood had been a facade. And the guilt she’d tamped down overnight swamped her again. He would never forgive her.
Abby dashed into ED, pretending to herself she wasn’t looking out for Kieran. She wanted to avoid him for a while if at all possible. For the whole day would be better but that would be asking too much. ‘Hi, Sally, sorry I’m late but it was a disaster zone at my house this morning.’
That had to be the understatement of the century. For some inexplicable reason Olivia had demanded that she stay home with Grandad instead of going to the crèche workers. Abby had delivered one very grumpy little girl to the crèche. Thank goodness Seamus seemed happy enough to be there with his little friends. At least Kieran had left before all the fuss had started. It might’ve kept him away permanently. She sighed. She was being unfair again.
All the way to work she’d thought about him, how his usual confidence had been undermined by the children. Would he have coped better if it had only been Olivia he’d had to contend with? Was it because of finding himself a father that he was outside his comfort zone?
Sally tossed a file on the desk in front of Abby. ‘I thought you might’ve given our new boss a lift to work for his first day since he’s part of your family.’
Abby dropped onto a chair. She’d given the guy dinner, a son and probably a headache. She didn’t need to give him anything else. ‘I don’t think he’d be happy squashed into my car among car seats and kids.’ Or within touching distance of her.
Sally grinned at her. ‘Here I was hoping Dr Flynn might not have gone to his new apartment last night.’
Abby snatched the file up and jerked it open. ‘I know. You only want to see me happily married.’ They’d had this conversation so often Abby knew the lines off by heart. ‘Do me a big favour, drop the whole Kieran thing. For ever.’
One thing for sure, Kieran seemed to have way too many hang-ups when it came to family and commitment for her to consider him for the role of husband. But Sally didn’t know the score and Abby just couldn’t bring herself to explain. The tension in the back of her head wound tighter.
‘For now.’ Sally looked around the department. ‘Can you give Barbara a hand?’
‘Sure.’ Something other than Kieran to focus on.
‘But where is Dr Flynn? I’d have thought he’d be the type to always be early.’ Sally flipped through some files, her gaze fixed somewhere out in the department.
Abby shook her head at her friend. This was what Kieran did so well; how he got everyone in a twitter. Then she saw Sally’s eyes widen and her mouth slide into a beautiful smile. And she knew without looking around that Kieran had arrived. If he could do this to a sane, married woman, what chance did anyone else have?
What chance did she have?
She turned and faced him, but he was too busy introducing himself to Pete and Rose to see her. The interns were drinking up every word Kieran uttered. ‘Making fools of themselves,’ she muttered.
Damn but the man knew how to work a scene. She looked to Sally for some sanity and was sadly disappointed. ‘Stop drooling, it doesn’t suit you.’
‘Why not? Everyone else is.’ Sally grinned. ‘Look at those eyes, that body. Are you sure I’m married?’ Then she nudged Abby. ‘You’ve got a patient. And if I didn’t know better I’d say you were interested in Dr Charming. Why else are you still hanging around the station?’
She wouldn’t lower herself to answer. If only Sally knew the half of it. Kieran hid so much behind those twinkling eyes. He gave away nothing of last night’s turmoil at meeting his son for the first time. Laughter carried across the department and caused Abby’s stomach to roll over agonisingly. She had to admire his nerve. His world had been rocked right off its axis and no one watching him now would ever guess how he felt about that.
‘Hey, Abby, Darren Shore’s here again. He’s had a wee disagreement with his skateboard.’ Barbara took care as she helped a lad onto the bed in a cubicle.
‘Hi, Darren, Jim.’ Abby nodded at the weary man already slouching in the chair on the other side of the bed. ‘Can’t trust those skateboards not to want to go their own way.’ Abby noted Darren’s careful movements. ‘Where does it hurt?’
‘Here.’ Darren tapped his wrist gingerly. ‘And here.’
The ulna. Two breaks? Or transferred pain? Abby carefully slid the sleeve of Darren’s shirt up and felt the swelling of his wrist. A massive bruise covered most of his arm. ‘We’ll send you for an X-ray after I get a doctor to look at you and sign a form. First we’ll clean you up, see how much skin you’ve removed. What did you crash into this time?’
‘The concrete wall by the school gates.’
‘Guess you came off worse than the wall, then.’
‘Yeah. Ouch.’ The boy sucked in a mouthful of air.
‘Let’s give you some Entonox to take away the pain and make you feel happy.’ Abby handed Darren a mouthpiece attached to tubing leading from a gas tank. ‘Take a deep breath of that every time your arm hurts. I think you need a stitch or two in your head to stop the bleeding.’ A large bruise had formed there.
Barbara slipped out of the cubicle, saying, ‘I’ll go find a doctor.’
Darren squinte
d up at Abby. ‘Is my arm really broken? I’ll still be able to ride my board, won’t I?’
‘No, you won’t.’ Darren’s father spoke for the first time. ‘That damned board can go in the rubbish. I’m tired of you coming off it and hurting yourself. There’s not a day goes by that you’re not covered in bruises.’
More bruises? Abby glanced at Darren’s legs but he wore jeans.
‘Dad, no. You can’t throw my board away.’ All pain was momentarily forgotten as Darren sat up and glared at his parent. ‘Gramps gave it to me for my birthday and he’ll go bonkers if you take it off me. It’s a really expensive one with the best wheels you can get.’
Jim growled, ‘I’ll deal with your grandfather. Believe me, that board is trash.’
Abby gently pushed Darren back against the pillow. ‘Let’s get you patched up, and worry about the board later.’
‘I’m going home to hide it.’ But Darren’s bravado quickly evaporated as pain struck again.
Abby began swabbing the cut on Darren’s head, noting an older bruise above his eye. An earlier skating accident? ‘Do you wear protective gear? Like a helmet, for starters?’
‘Yes. Dad won’t let me go out without it.’
‘He’s right. You don’t want to injure your head.’ Abby noticed purple swelling on the uninjured arm. ‘Darren, I want to remove your jeans and examine your legs.’
His father growled, ‘Spends more time falling off than actually riding the damned skateboard.’
Abby could sympathise with both of them. Darren was obviously full of spirits and not put off by his accidents, but what parent would be happy about always taking their child to get stitched up? She’d hate seeing Seamus or Olivia hurt. She might be hiding the skateboard, too, despite knowing life was about getting out there and taking risks.
Taking risks? Like she did? The biggest risk she’d taken since getting engaged to Phillip had been flying to Ireland for the funerals. Then her grief had been so crippling she hadn’t thought about dealing with Customs and Immigration and all the things people had warned her about. She’d just clung to her sisters and followed the arrows.
