The Doctor's Return

by Narelle Atkins

  “Yes, I’ve loved coming home and feeling like I belong in a small community. I’ve missed this over the years, and I like my work. The downside is my business is slow.”

  “What do you really want? Is a career important? Do you want to chase the big sports science research career?”

  “Yes and no. That’s the thing. I can’t decide what I want to do.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I could have tried to help you work through this decision.”

  “But you have a stake in this, too.” She suppressed a sigh. “If I leave, it would be hard to continue our relationship.”

  “You won’t consider a long-distance relationship?”

  “If I chase a research career, I want the freedom to travel and work overseas. Your life is established here in Snowgum Creek.”

  He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “And Bruce needs an answer by Monday morning.”

  “I have the weekend to work out what I want to do.”

  “One more question.” He cleared his throat. “When were you planning to tell me about all this?”

  Her heart constricted. “Tonight, after dinner.”

  “Really?”

  “I was working up the courage to tell you when Bruce turned up at our table.”

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  “You can ask Kate. I promised her this afternoon that I’d tell you tonight.”

  “There’s one thing I don’t get.” He paused, his voice low. “Why don’t you trust me?”

  “I do trust you.”

  “You have a funny way of showing it. Here’s the thing. I can’t pursue a relationship with you if you think it’s okay to keep this kind of stuff from me.”

  She gulped. “Are you breaking up with me?”

  “No, I’m telling you my expectations. Honest and open communication, working together to make joint decisions, and no secrets. These aren’t negotiable.”

  She pressed her fingers to her temples, her head pounding. “Can we talk more tomorrow? I need time to think and pray.”

  “I can swing by Jack and Kate’s place after I visit Ben’s farm for a late lunch.”

  “Okay. That works for me. Do you still want to have dinner with my parents?”

  “Yes. I can’t pretend I’m not disappointed that you didn’t share this with me. But I do want to support you.” His tone softened. “And I’ll be praying for you.”

  “Thanks.” The sincerity in his voice gave her hope. She planned to go home and open her Bible. The special Bible that Luke had given her years ago. Could she find the answers to her current dilemma? Sleep would likely be elusive. Her Monday-morning deadline loomed like a storm cloud ready to burst in her mind.

  * * *

  Megan carried a coffee tray outside and joined Kate on the back deck. She’d enjoyed a lovely lunch with Jack and Kate, and her brother had left them alone to chat. Kate wanted to enjoy their coffee outdoors.

  A strong aroma of smoke infused the air, a brown haze covering the orchards in the distance.

  Megan frowned. “Do you want to go back inside? The smoke is getting thicker.”

  “No, I’m restless and sick of being indoors.” Kate stood in front of her chair, stretching her back muscles. “We can move if the wind changes direction.”

  She poured their coffee, adding milk and sugar. “I wonder if any new fires have flared up.”

  Kate settled back in her seat. “Who knows? Anyway, have you made a decision? Did you tell Luke about the research job?”

  Megan handed Kate a mug of coffee and filled her in with all the important details about her eventful night out with Luke.

  Kate’s jaw dropped. “You certainly know how to make everything so much worse.”

  “Don’t remind me.” She scrutinized her fingernails. “I regret not listening to you and Emily.”

  “What are you going to do about the job offer? You’re running out of time to make a decision.”

  She tasted her coffee, too weak for her liking. “I’m torn between chasing my dream career and wanting to stay here with Luke.”

  “Do you love Luke?”

  Her heart squeezed tight in her chest. “I’ve always loved Luke, even after I left last time.” She stared out at the orchards, the brown smoke haze dominating the horizon. “I haven’t met anyone who compares to Luke.”

  “I can highly recommend married life.” Kate sipped her milky coffee. “The best thing I ever did was stay here and marry Jack.”

  “But you weren’t turning your back on a great career. I don’t want to settle for life with Luke and live with a whole bunch of regrets.”

  “Do you regret leaving him last time?”

  She shook her head. “I do regret the way I did it. I was too immature to even contemplate the idea of marriage, and all I had wanted to do was travel.”

  “You’re older and wiser now, and you’ve traveled the world.” Kate wriggled in her seat. “Are you sure you want the big career, at the expense of marriage and children?”

  Megan rubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know. Could I be happy living indefinitely in Snowgum Creek? I already have itchy feet to travel. I don’t know if I’m capable of being the wife that Luke is hoping to marry.”

  Kate sat forward in her seat, arching her back. “Has he talked about marriage?”

  “Not exactly, but I know where his head is, and he’s not going to waste any time.”

  “Ouch.” Kate stood. “I think I need to walk around for a bit.”

  “Are you okay?”

  She paced along the veranda. “Is Jack still in the house?”

  “I think so. Doris stopped by while I was making our coffee.” Megan widened her eyes, covering her mouth with her hand. “Are you in labor?”

  “Maybe.” Kate placed her hands on her stomach, her flat sandals clunking on the wooden decking. “I think I’m having contractions.”

  “I’ll find Jack.”

  “The pain is getting intense.”

  Megan ran into the house. “Jack, where are you?”

  Jack jogged down the hall, his brows drawn into a straight line. “What’s wrong?”

  “Kate thinks she’s in labor.”

  “What?” His mouth gaped open. “The roads are blocked with the fires.”

  “Which roads?”

  “All the main routes to Sunny Ridge. A new fire has started near Snowgum Creek, and the roads into town are closed.”

  “Call Luke. He should be at Ben’s farm unless he is stuck in town.”

  “Okay, I’ll find my phone. Can you stay with Kate?”

  “Yes.” Megan handed him her phone. “Luke’s on my speed dial.”

  “Thanks.”

  She raced back outside to Kate. “How are you doing?”

  Kate ambled along the deck, massaging one side of her swollen abdomen. “This baby is coming.”

  “Jack is calling Luke now. Can I get you anything?”

  “My hospital bag is packed and ready beside the back door.”

  “Do you think you’ll need to go there this afternoon?”

  Kate nodded. “The contractions are strong and closer together. Bub is getting ready to make an appearance.”

  Megan sucked in a deep breath. How were they going to get Kate to Sunny Ridge Hospital in time if all the roads were closed?

  Chapter 14

  Luke rested his hands on the edge of Ben’s kitchen counter, staring out the window at the smoke plume building on the horizon. “The fire is looking really close.”

  Ben chopped up a range of vegetables from his garden at his kitchen island. “It’s in the pine forest and it looks like you’re st
uck out here. The roads back into town are now closed.”

  He turned around and walked over to the kitchen island. “It’s a good thing I’m meeting Megan at Jack’s farm.”

  Ben paused, a wide grin covering his face. “Are things getting serious between you two?”

  “Maybe.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Everything was going great until she dropped her bomb last night.”

  “What did she do this time?”

  “I found out from Bruce that he has offered her a research position on his new skiing project.”

  “What? How did you have the misfortune of running into Bruce?”

  “I took Megan to The Ridge last night.”

  Ben let out a low whistle. “You really are serious about Megan. Why didn’t she tell you about her new job opportunity?”

  “Long story, and she hasn’t made a decision yet. Bruce expects an answer from her by Monday morning.”

  Ben scraped a pile of diced vegetables into his slow cooker. “What does this mean for your relationship with Megan? She’d better not ditch you a second time.”

  He shoved his hands on his hips. “This time if we split it’s not going to be because she ran away and we didn’t have a chance to talk through the issues.”

  “Is she opening up more?”

  “I had thought so, but now I’m not so sure.”

  Ben started peeling a carrot. “I’ll pray for you, bro. It sounds like you’re in for a full-on weekend.”

  “Yeah. So much for relaxing and taking a break.” His phone rang and he checked the screen. “Hey, Megan.”

  “It’s Jack. Are you at Ben’s?”

  Luke frowned. “Yes, and why are you using your sister’s phone?”

  “I think Kate’s in labor. Can you swing by here now?”

  “I’m on my way.” He disconnected the call. “Kate’s in labor.”

  Ben stopped peeling and looked up. “How will you get to Sunny Ridge?”

  “Are all the roads closed?”

  “We’re surrounded by a ring of fire. You’ll have to drive south toward the Victorian border.”

  “Can we get through to Albury?”

  His brother nodded. “If you do a long loop south to the Murray River at Jingellic. The roads are clear from Albury to Sunny Ridge.”

  Luke snatched his car keys off the kitchen counter. “That sounds like a good option, and we can head over the border to the hospital in Wodonga if her labor progresses too fast.”

  “You’ll be okay once you’re on the highway to Sunny Ridge and can call an ambulance to meet you. Is there anything I can do?”

  He shook his head, walking with Ben to the back door. “Pray we make it to a hospital on time.”

  Ben slapped his back. “You’ve delivered a baby before.”

  “In a hospital. I don’t want to deliver Kate’s baby on the side of the road.”

  “That wouldn’t be good, especially if there are complications. I’ll be praying.”

  “Thanks. Say goodbye to Amy and the kids for me.”

  Luke drove to Jack’s farm in record time, parked on the drive and grabbed his medical bag from the backseat.

  Jack raced over to meet him, concern etched on his face. “Thanks for coming over.”

  “How’s Kate doing?”

  Jack shoved his hand through his hair. “She seems calm but I can tell she’s in a fair bit of pain.”

  He walked with Jack to the house. “Do you know if her waters have broken?”

  “Not yet, and her contractions have slowed a little bit.”

  “Okay.” He climbed the steps to the back deck, his gaze homing in on Kate.

  Kate paced along the polished wooden floor, her steps heavy. She gave Luke a tight smile. “I’m glad to see you.”

  “I’m glad I was nearby. How long have you had the contractions?”

  “They started before breakfast.”

  Jack let out an exasperated breath. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

  “Because they were only twinges and weren’t close together.”

  Luke nodded. “We need to go inside and I’ll check you over. Is Megan around?”

  “Yes.” Kate rubbed her belly with both hands. “She’s inside with Doris, and they’re trying to contact Jack’s parents.”

  “Okay. Let’s see what’s happening with this baby.” He followed Jack and Kate indoors, relieved Kate’s contractions had slowed. It looked as though they’d have time to reach Sunny Ridge before the baby decided it wanted to be born.

  * * *

  Megan sat on the sofa beside Doris and disconnected her phone call to her parents. “They won’t be back for at least a few hours.”

  Doris sipped her tea. “You should go to the hospital with Kate and Jack while I wait here.”

  “Will you be okay on your own?”

  “The fires aren’t a threat to the farm, and we can drive over to Sunny Ridge later tonight. The baby may not even arrive until tomorrow.”

  “True.”

  Luke appeared in the doorway, worry lines prominent between his eyebrows.

  Megan leaped to her feet. “Have you seen Kate? How’s she doing?”

  Luke smiled, his gaze softening. “She’s doing great, and getting ready to leave for the hospital.”

  “Now?” Megan asked.

  “It’s going to take four or five hours to reach Sunny Ridge,” he said.

  “That’s not good news.” Doris fluffed up a cushion on the sofa. “Which route are you planning to take?”

  “Along the Murray.”

  Megan twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “That’s the long way around.”

  He nodded. “So far there are no fire outbreaks on that route. We could wait a few hours and hope the roads into town reopen, but there’s another large fire to the west that’s blocking the roads between Snowgum Creek and Sunny Ridge.”

  “Okay, that makes sense.” Megan bit her lower lip. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  “Yes, please. Another pair of hands will be helpful if we don’t make it to the hospital in time.”

  She covered her mouth with her hand. “Is that likely?”

  He shrugged. “Babies are unpredictable.”

  Doris stood. “I’ll help you organize your supplies for the road.”

  “Thanks,” Luke said. “We’ll need towels and a bucket in case Kate throws up. Jack’s filling a large flask of water and topping up my Jeep with fuel.”

  “I’m on it.” Doris walked out of the room.

  Luke held Megan’s gaze and stepped closer. “We need to talk later.”

  “I know.” She lowered her lashes. “Kate’s baby is our first priority now.”

  Kate wandered into the room, her eyes glazed. “We’re nearly ready to go.”

  Megan frowned. “You don’t look too good.”

  “I’m okay.” Kate sighed. “I took Luke’s advice and I’m wearing my least favorite maternity dress.”

  Megan cringed. “We’re hoping and praying we’ll get you to the hospital in time and you won’t deliver the baby in the car.”

  Luke clapped his hands together. “It’s time to hit the road. The hospital is expecting us tonight.”

  Megan turned to Luke. “Are we traveling together, or do you want me to bring my car?”

  “We’ll go together because I may need your help.”

  “Yes, Megan,” Kate said. “You can sit in the front with Luke while Jack looks after me in the back.”

  “Sure.” Megan collected her purse from the coffee table. “Let’s go.”

  She had at least four hours to survive in the car with Luke, knowing she hadn’t made a decision about the job. He was determined to talk a
nd she had no idea what to say. The thought of walking away from him was growing harder to accept. But how could she turn down a remarkable career opportunity and the chance to travel the world?

  Minutes later Megan buckled her seat belt and slouched in the familiar front passenger seat in Luke’s Jeep. Kate sat in the middle of the back seat, her head resting on Jack’s shoulder.

  Luke revved the engine. “Who wants to pray before we leave?”

  “I will,” Megan said.

  Luke held her gaze and released the hand brake. “Thanks.”

  She closed her eyes. “Lord, please keep us safe as we take Kate to the hospital. We pray that the baby will be patient and wait until we reach Sunny Ridge Hospital. Please help Kate to cope with the pain and discomfort. And please give us a good run on the back roads to the highway, with no new fires flaring up to slow us down. Amen.”

  “Amen.” Luke patted her hand and turned onto the road heading south. “We’ll get there in time.”

  “I hope so.” She glanced over her shoulder. Kate’s eyes were shut, her face creased as if she was in the middle of enduring another painful contraction.

  Luke bumped up the air-conditioning and cold air blasted through the cabin. “Is Kate okay?”

  “Yes.” Jack placed a damp cloth on his wife’s forehead. “My girl is doing well.”

  Kate groaned. “I’ll be glad when the long drive is over and this baby is out.”

  The first hour of the trip passed quickly. Luke and Jack amused Kate by telling her stories from their teenage years. Megan half listened, her mind dwelling on her job dilemma. She had less than forty-eight hours to make a decision, and no clue how to discern the right option. She’d spent an hour reading her Bible last night, and if anything she was more confused than before.

  A mass of white appeared on the road ahead. “Luke, watch out for the sheep.”

  “I see them.” He slowed the Jeep, crawling to a halt as a flock of sheep gathered across the road.

  Megan huffed. “What are these silly sheep doing on the road?”

  “They’re grazing by the side of the road,” Luke said.

  Kate sighed. “Please tell me they’ll move soon.”

  Luke rolled the Jeep forward. “Megan, can you please hop out and walk ahead to try and keep them moving?”