The Doctor's Return

by Narelle Atkins

  Luke shuffled to the other side of the room, out of camera range.

  Jack snapped a couple of photos of the proud aunt with her niece. Luke’s heart skipped a beat, imagining Megan holding her own baby. His child.

  He rubbed his hand over his face, the fleeting image bittersweet. By Monday he’d know if that was ever going to be possible. She held his future in her hands, and didn’t seem to realize or care about how her indecisive actions were wreaking havoc in his life.

  Kate waved at him. “Luke, please stand with Megan so we can get a photo of the four of you.”

  Luke moved to Megan’s side, his arm only inches away from her. Sarah gurgled and her tiny face puckered.

  Kate snapped a few photos and he walked away from Megan, thankful to have some distance. His delight for his friends was tempered by his frustration with Megan. He detested living in limbo, his life on hold until she made up her mind.

  A knock sounded on the door, and Megan’s parents entered the room with Doris. Megan passed Sarah to her mother, and the family gathered around the newborn.

  Luke caught Jack’s eye. “I think I’ll take off now, if that’s okay with you?”

  “Sure.” Jack smiled. “We really appreciate everything you’ve done for us today.”

  Megan moved to Luke’s side. “Are you leaving now?”

  He nodded. “Your family’s here, and you can catch a lift back with them to Snowgum Creek later. I don’t want to intrude on your family time.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow, but I don’t know if I’ll make it to morning church if we stay here late.”

  He nodded. “Can we talk tomorrow?”

  “Yes.” She gulped in a shallow breath. “I promise I will make my decision by tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” He said his goodbyes to Megan’s family and walked out of the room. The familiar corridor crowded in on him, the intensity of the past few hours catching up with him. He swung by the café and purchased a coffee to go. He looked forward to having two hours by himself on the drive home to think and pray.

  Lord, is my desire to marry Megan and build a family with her an impossible dream?

  For his sanity he needed to end the madness tomorrow, and make a decision one way or the other. He loved Megan but he couldn’t live with her constant indecisiveness. She needed to either commit to a relationship with him or walk away. The middle ground was no longer an option.

  * * *

  A few hours later, Megan headed back down the corridor to the hospital café. She’d arranged to meet Emily during her break. She had left her parents and Doris coddling Kate and Sarah, doting on their first grandchild.

  Jack had fallen asleep in the reclining chair beside Kate’s bed. Sarah was a content baby, and the midwives were happy with her progress. Her family planned to drive home to Snowgum Creek after she caught up with Emily.

  Emily breezed into the café, her blond hair tied up in a knot at the back of her head. “Hey, Megan.” She hugged her close, a big smile on her face. “Congratulations on becoming an aunt.”

  Megan grinned. “I’m pretty excited. Sarah is so cute.”

  “I’m sure she is. I’ll swing by Kate’s room with you before I go back on night duty.” Emily glanced at her phone. “I have twenty-five minutes left of my break, and I’m starving.”

  Megan walked to the counter with Emily and ordered a latte to go. Emily requested a club sandwich with her coffee and they sat at their usual table in the corner.

  Emily devoured half her sandwich, and wiped a dab of mayo off the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “Where’s Luke?”

  “He left when my parents and Doris arrived.”

  Emily’s eyes widened. “You haven’t made a decision about the job.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Megan, you can’t keep doing this to Luke. It’s not fair and you know it.”

  She bit her lip, tears pricking her eyes. “I can’t bear the thought of leaving him.”

  “Then don’t leave him.” Emily sighed, her tone soothing. “Tell him how you feel and that you want to stay with him in Snowgum Creek.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right.” Emily took another bite of her sandwich, her gaze thoughtful. “I know Luke, and his love for you is genuine. The real deal. There aren’t too many men like him out there. And the worst thing is you’ll break his heart if you leave him again.”

  She sipped her latte. “I know and I’ve been praying about this.”

  “I think you have your answer. You can trust Luke to love you forever and do his best to be a good husband. His faith is strong and he has his priorities right.”

  “I know.” Luke’s faith was rock solid, unlike hers, which had wavered in the breeze since she’d left university. The past few months in Snowgum Creek had shown her the importance of making her faith and family her priority.

  “Good.” Emily gulped down a mouthful of coffee. “He has been waiting to find the right woman, one who shares his faith and values.”

  Emily’s words resonated in her mind. Luke had made it clear that he wasn’t going to settle for second best. And he was a natural at baby cuddling, stirring her maternal instincts. “I’ll never forget holding Sarah for the first time.”

  “Yeah?”

  Megan relaxed in her seat, her mouth lifting into a smile. “It was a beautiful moment, cradling this tiny baby who inspired so much love from everyone in the room.”

  “Babies often have that effect on people.”

  She nodded. “Emily, I think I’ve known for a long time what I should do. I knew, deep down, that I loved Luke and wanted to marry him. But I’ve always had a hard time sticking with things, making hard decisions and taking responsibility. I was afraid I would miss out on something if I settled down in one place.

  “But being back in church, being with my family and Luke, and now having baby Sarah, it’s all put it in perspective for me. I can see how empty my life was before. I’m still a little afraid, but I don’t want to let Luke go. Like you said, there aren’t too many men like him. In fact, I haven’t met any.”

  Emily grinned. “I’m so glad you’ve worked this out.”

  “You knew I was going to choose Luke?”

  “You two are a good match, and I believe God brought you back together for a reason. And just remember, being married doesn’t mean you stop living and doing fun things. You can still travel and ski. But now you’ll always have a place to come home to.”

  Megan pressed her finger on the corner of her eye, a tear trying to escape from beneath her lashes. “Now I need to convince him that he still wants to marry me, despite the fact I’ve been a complete idiot.”

  Emily laughed. “I don’t think that’s going to be too hard. The man is head over heels in love with you.”

  Megan’s heart filled with hope, overflowing with love for Luke and her niece.

  Lord, thank You for providing wise friends like Emily and Kate. And for the safe arrival of Sarah. Please help me to have the right words to express my feelings to Luke tomorrow. I pray he’ll forgive me for not realizing this earlier.

  Chapter 16

  Megan adjusted the rim of her sunglasses on her nose, quickening her pace as she walked along the main street in Snowgum Creek. She’d slept through her alarm this morning, struggling to wake from her restless night’s sleep. After arriving back late last night from the hospital, she’d been unable to switch off her overactive mind. Church had started five minutes ago and she’d messaged Luke, asking him to save her a seat near the back.

  The skirt of her long cotton dress swirled around her legs in the light breeze, her feet clad in comfortable sandals for her brisk walk. She crossed the road and entered the church, thankful the congregation were on their feet an
d singing. The whole church wouldn’t notice her tardiness.

  Luke caught her eye, and she squeezed into the vacant seat beside him.

  He smiled. “Good to see you.”

  “You, too.” She switched her attention to the overhead screen, singing along with the congregation.

  Luke stood tall, looking relaxed and refreshed. An uninterrupted night’s sleep because he wasn’t on call at the hospital last night seemed to have made a big difference. She’d gulped down half a cup of coffee and a slice of toast this morning before rushing out the door.

  The song ended and she sat down, comforted by Luke’s arm resting beside hers. It felt right to be by his side in church, surrounded by their friends. Amy’s father stood at the podium, working his way through the announcements and notices. Her ears pricked up when her pastor mentioned her family’s name.

  “We’re delighted to hear that Jack and Kate Bradley are celebrating the birth of baby Sarah, born last night in Sunny Ridge. I also heard it was a bit of an adventure to get Kate to the hospital due to all the fires. We’re thankful the fires are now under control, and Kate and Sarah are doing well. Please remember the Bradley family in your prayers.”

  Megan smiled as she reflected on her pastor’s words. The congregation cared about her family, and a strong sense of belonging seeped into her heart.

  Luke squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, “I’m sure half the congregation has already seen the baby photos.”

  She nodded. “My mother started sharing a few photos last night.”

  The service passed slowly, and she struggled to keep her eyes open during the sermon. Her pastor talked about priorities in the Christian life, and how God needed to be number one in our lives.

  Her eyelids fluttered closed, her mind dwelling on her career decision. If she had accepted the research job, would her desire to prioritize her career have created problems in her relationship with God? Or could she have remained strong in her faith if she returned to her carefree and nomadic lifestyle?

  Her past history suggested she’d stumble without the steady support of her close friends and church family. She had drifted along, distracted by the pursuit of worldly goals and dreams.

  She opened her eyes, Jesus’s words from the Gospel of Mark stirring her heart. How could she love the Lord above everyone and everything else, including Luke and her career? What would her life look like if she chose this path?

  Before long the service ended and Luke turned to her.

  “You look exhausted,” he said.

  She winced. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  “Do you want to stay here a bit longer, or take a walk in the park?”

  “A walk sounds good, after we pick up a coffee to go.”

  He grinned. “You haven’t had your caffeine fix this morning?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Yes, but understandable. Are you heading back to the hospital today?”

  She shook her head. “Mom and Dad will probably visit this afternoon, and Kate should be home with Sarah in the next few days.”

  Megan snuck out the main door of the church with Luke, accepting baby congratulations from their pastor and well-wishers. Her parents and Doris hadn’t made it to church this morning. No doubt they were exhausted after their busy day and long trip to the hospital late yesterday afternoon.

  She walked in silence with Luke across the road to the bakery, the sun warming her face. She stifled a yawn, looking forward to an injection of caffeine to wake her up. They ordered lattes and doughnuts, waiting only a few minutes for their coffee before heading back across the road to the park.

  Luke pointed to a bench in the shade under a canopy of gum trees. “Would you like to sit here?”

  “Sure.” The bench was a number of steps off the main path, giving them privacy to talk without being overheard by passersby.

  He sat beside her, offering a doughnut from the paper bag. “I still can’t believe you wanted a doughnut.”

  “They look good.” She selected a chocolate one and placed it on a napkin.

  He shook his head. “We haven’t eaten doughnuts together in years.”

  She shrugged and sipped her coffee. “I need a sugar hit to keep me going.”

  “Did you sleep at all last night?”

  “Kind of. I think I tossed and turned most of the night.” She bit into the cream-filled donut, savoring the sweet texture and chocolate flavor. “I’ve made my decision.”

  He paused, holding his doughnut in midair. “You’ve told Bruce.”

  “Not yet.” She tipped her chin up, meeting his questioning gaze. “I’m not taking the research job.”

  * * *

  Luke’s stomach flipped as Megan’s announcement sank in. “You’re saying no to the opportunity.”

  “Yep.” She smiled, her eyes soft. “And I feel at peace about my decision.”

  He took a sip of his drink and turned toward her, shifting a few inches closer on the park bench. A glimmer of hope stirred in his heart. Could they build a future together? Was she prepared to commit to living in a small town?

  He leaned against the hard bench seat, bracing his forearm on top of the wooden slats. “What led you to this decision?”

  She flicked her hair back over her shoulders. “I finally figured out my priorities.”

  “Which are?”

  “My faith is a lot stronger now. I no longer feel like I’m in the wilderness, wandering aimlessly and searching for more meaning in my life.”

  “Okay.” This sounded promising, but he reined in his hopeful thoughts. He needed to be sure that she was making this decision for the right reasons.

  She bit into her doughnut, and licked cream off her upper lip. “A few months ago I wouldn’t have indulged in one of these.”

  “Because of your healthy eating regimen.”

  “Yes, I admit I was obsessive about my diet and exercise program. It was the most important aspect of my life, and I couldn’t bear to miss an exercise session.”

  “So what’s changed?” He shot her a cheeky grin. “Are you going to start eating a doughnut every day?”

  She laughed. “Not quite, but the world isn’t going to end if I break my diet rules or miss a couple of exercise sessions.”

  “The rest of us already knew that.”

  “Very funny. Do you know why I didn’t go to the ski fields last season?”

  He tipped his head to the side. “No, but I had wondered why you didn’t seem interested, especially after the situation with Jason was resolved.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I was scared that if I went back I wouldn’t want to leave.”

  “I had no idea you missed skiing that much.” The research job was an attractive proposition, combining her love of skiing with an academic career.

  “I don’t want to go back to my old life, or get caught up in an all-consuming career that will leave little time for anything else.”

  Luke nodded. “I totally get the work thing. As you know, I’m seeking balance in my life as well, and also trying to avoid filling all the gaps for everyone else at the expense of my own health and well-being.”

  She looked up, staring into his eyes. “You should feel like you can give yourself permission to travel and do mission work overseas, if the opportunity is there.”

  “True. What opportunities do you think are opening up for you?”

  “Careerwise I can stay in Snowgum Creek. I find my jobs here fulfilling, and I don’t need to chase academic accolades to feel like I’m a success.”

  He widened his eyes. “Don’t you think your career so far is successful?”

  “Not really. I’ve floated around between jobs but haven’t truly committed to anything, until this year.”

 
He reached for her hand, trailing his thumb along her fingertips. “Are you serious about having commitment in other areas of your life?”

  She nodded. “I want to spend more time with my family. I want to have the opportunity to get to know Sarah and be a part of her life. To do that I need to live closer to Snowgum Creek. Sydney is too far away. And I’d like to see more of Jack and Kate now they’re new parents.”

  “I’m sure they’ll appreciate your support.”

  She sucked in a deep breath. “I know I did the wrong thing by not telling you about Bruce’s offer. And I need to have the courage to speak up and discuss the tough issues.”

  “You know you can trust me.”

  She squeezed his hand. “You’re too good for me.”

  He shook his head. “I’m far from perfect and we all make mistakes.”

  “Can you forgive me?”

  “Yes.” He cupped her cheek in his hand, gazing into her beautiful eyes. “I hope you’re willing to give us another chance, because I love you, Megan Bradley.”

  She leaned closer, her magnetic eyes locked with his. “I love you, Luke Morton, and I don’t plan on leaving Snowgum Creek anytime soon.”

  He lowered his head, his lips caressing her sweet mouth. She ran her fingers through his hair and he drew her closer, deepening the kiss. Moments later he reluctantly pulled back, breaking their connection.

  He grinned. “I could sit here and kiss you all afternoon.”

  She laughed. “I don’t have to be anywhere this afternoon.”

  He draped his arm over her shoulders, inhaling the light floral scent in her hair. The birds in the overhead branches sang, and he sighed. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, with the woman he loved in his arms.

  * * *

  Megan removed her sandals at Luke’s front door and walked ahead of him into his new house. Luke was only a few weeks away from moving in, and he’d been working on the finishing touches. The pool installation company was booked to start digging up the ground at the back of the house next week.

  She smiled. “I love the color and tones. Your interior decorator has given you great advice.”