by Lucy Clark
‘Anyway…’ Pierce was first to break the silence as he put the lid down on the green recycle bin. ‘I didn’t mean to take our conversation in such a maudlin direction. You asked about Mike. Chest is extremely tight, asthma meds are providing basic relief, but I think the chest pains might be worse than he’s letting on. Edna said he’d been dizzy, but I didn’t take my otoscope with me and when I suggested he see someone about it, to make sure it wasn’t the start of something a bit more sinister, he growled at me and kicked me out of his house.’
‘He always did have a good bark.’ Stacey’s smile was instant as she followed Pierce towards the house, quietly amazed at how comfortable she was around him. ‘Edna asked me to pop over once I’d finished clinic.’
‘That’s why you’re here? To give Mike a check-up?’
‘Yes, but I can see Edna’s car’s not in the driveway, so I’ll wait until she gets home.’
‘And your question about neighbours was a test, eh?’ He grinned, crossing his arms over his broad chest. ‘I take it I passed?’
‘Yes.’
‘Excellent.’ He jerked his thumb towards the house. ‘Does this mean you feel safe enough to come and take a look around inside?’
Stacey nodded, excitement starting to build. She told herself it was because she was getting the chance to see inside the house, rather than because she was getting to spend a bit more time with the handsome Dr Pierce.
‘Where are you working?’ Pierce asked conversationally as they crossed the veranda and entered the house.
‘I’ve recently bought my father’s old GP practice.’
‘The one up the road? Shortfield Family Medical Practice?’
‘That’s the one. Phillip Morcombe took over the practice from my father sixteen years ago, and when I realised it was up for sale—’ Stacey stopped as she stood on the other side of the threshold, her gaze drinking in the living room of the house which held all her earliest memories.
‘Oh!’ She clutched her hands to her chest. ‘That’s where my sisters and I used to lie on our stomachs after school and watch half an hour of television.’ She pointed to the middle of the room. ‘And the bay window. There used to be a curtain that separated it off from the rest of the room and that used to be our secret corner, where we’d spend hours whispering our best secrets to each other. Or we’d curl up with a book and just read.’ She smiled. ‘Well, Cora and I read books. Molly could never sit still. Still can’t.’
‘How old are your sisters? You sound so close.’
‘You don’t know the half of it,’ Stacey said with a grin. ‘We’re triplets. Non-identical,’ she added, as a matter of routine. She waited, expecting the usual reaction of, Wow. Triplets? I’ve never met triplets before, or Can you sense each other’s emotions? or How far apart are the three of you? Who’s the eldest? but all Pierce did was smile widely.
‘What a lot of fun you must have had.’ His tone sounded almost wistful. ‘So close, so connected.’
Stacey mulled over his words as he headed around to the kitchen and dining room. ‘Are you an only child?’
‘I was. For quite a while. I was fifteen when my sister was born. She was born very late in my parents’ life, but they loved each and every moment they had with Nell.’
He walked into the kitchen and pointed to a framed photograph up on the wall—one of him and a lovely-looking young woman who was staring at him with open delight, as though he’d just handed her the moon.
‘That was taken six months ago, at Nell’s twenty-first birthday. I’d just given her the keys to this house. Independent living.’ There was a thrill of pride in his tone as he looked at the picture of his sister.
Stacey processed his words. ‘You’ve done all this work with the house for your sister?’
‘It’s been Nell’s goal. She’s been working towards it for so long and we’re almost ready…in about another three months’ time.’
‘You’re not married?’ Why had that question sounded as though she was fishing for information? ‘Er… I… You don’t have to answer that. It’s really none of my business.’
‘Married? Me?’ Pierce shook his head emphatically. ‘No. No. No, no, no, no, no.’
‘So that’s a no?’ she remarked drolly, wondering if his determined answer hinted at matrimonial issues. She tried not to frown, tried not to lump him into the same category as another specific male she knew who had also had deeply rooted issues with marriage and commitment.
‘I’d do anything for Nell.’ As he said the words he quickly checked his watch, then gasped. ‘And that includes going to meet her at the bus stop. Come on, Stacey.’ Pierce grabbed her hand and tugged her back through the house, across the veranda and into the garden. ‘We’re going to be late.’
‘We?’ She pulled her hand free. ‘Er… I’ll leave you to it.’
‘But you have got to meet Nell. She’d love to meet someone who used to live here. She adores this house. She picked it out five years ago and told me that was the house she was going to live in when she was twenty-one. She’s very stubborn and adamant, my sister.’
‘Well, then, I’ll go next door and see if Edna’s home yet and—’
‘There’s no time for discussion now.’
Pierce grabbed her hand again and started tugging her along with him as he quickened his pace, pointing in the distance to a bus that was drawing closer.
‘That’s her bus! We’ve got to make it to the bus stop in time. Usually she can cope if I’m not there to greet her, but her whole routine has been a little out of whack lately—what with her promotion at work and all the new things she’s had to learn. Hence me meeting her bus is the one absolute she needs in her life right now.’
Pierce spouted this information quickly as they continued towards the bus stop. When he broke into a jog as the bus drew closer Stacey had no option but to go along with him. As they jogged she had to confess she was rather intrigued at the way Pierce spoke about his sister.
They arrived at the bus stop just as the young woman from the photograph was climbing down the back steps of the bus, stepping onto the pavement. She looked around, anxiety etched on her features, but the instant she saw Pierce running towards her, the anxiety cleared and a wide, beaming smile brightened her face.
‘I got scared. I could not see you, Pierce. But now you are here.’ Nell, who had shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes that matched her brother’s, spoke every word perfectly, but with little inflection.
Pierce let go of Stacey’s hand before enveloping his sister in a hug. ‘Sorry, Nellie. I was gardening and forgot the time.’
He took Nell’s bag from her and slipped his arm around her waist as Nell started off down the street, counting her steps. She didn’t seem to notice Stacey at all, and as Pierce beckoned for her to follow them, Stacey’s sharp medical mind began sifting through the information she knew.
Nell had been born to a more mature mother, and clearly needed a strict routine. She hadn’t paid any attention to Stacey, even though Stacey had been holding hands with Pierce. The fact that Pierce hadn’t tried to introduce Stacey, instead allowing his sister to continue counting the steps from the bus stop to the house, alerted her to the fact that while Nell might appear to be a beautiful young twenty-one-year-old on the outside, mentally her age was far younger.
It wasn’t until they were standing on the front veranda of the house that Nell stopped counting and turned to smile at her brother. ‘I got it right. The same number as yesterday.’
‘That’s great, Nellie.’ He removed his arm from his sister’s waist and turned to indicate Stacey. ‘There’s someone I want you to meet.’ It was only then that Nell seemed to notice Stacey’s presence. ‘Nell, this is Stacey.’
Dutifully, Nell held out her hand to Stacey and shook it firmly. ‘Hello, Stacey. I am very pleased to meet you.’ She nodded and smiled, as though she was secretly proud of herself for getting the greeting correct.
‘Good girl,’ Pierce said s
oftly. Nell let go of Stacey’s hand, her smile increasing at her brother’s praise. ‘I know this is your house now, Nell, but when Stacey was a little girl she and her sisters used to live here.’
Nell looked from Stacey to Pierce and back again, as though slowly processing the words. ‘Really?’ Her eyes widened with delight. ‘Did you sleep in the same room as me? The pink room?’
Stacey smiled and nodded. ‘The room was definitely pink.’
‘Why don’t you show Stacey your room now?’ Pierce encouraged as he opened the door, holding it for the women to precede him.
‘Yes!’ Nell entered the house and clutched her hands to her chest with the excitement of a child at Christmas. ‘I love my room. Did you love it, too, when it was your room?’
‘Yes. I really did.’ Allowing Nell’s excitement to affect her, Stacey followed the young woman down the hallway.
Nell was delighted to show Stacey her doll collection, as well as a cupboard full of puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, wooden puzzles, metal ones too.
‘You must be very good at puzzles, Nell.’
‘Yes. I am. My brother says that I have an amazing puzzle brain.’
She grinned, and Stacey couldn’t help but instantly warm to her.
‘He is so funny.’
‘Afternoon snacks are ready,’ Pierce called, and Nell immediately turned and set off for the kitchen.
‘I like afternoon snacks. Do you like afternoon snacks, Stacey?’
‘I do, Nell.’ Stacey smiled as she watched Nell politely thank her brother before sitting down at the kitchen bench to attend to her food. They all ate, Pierce having prepared fruit with cheese and a glass of juice for himself and Stacey as well.
‘How was work, Nell?’
‘It was good, Pierce.’ Nell swallowed her mouthful.
‘Nell works as a researcher for a computer company. She solves a lot of their internal programming issues.’ Pierce offered the information for Stacey’s benefit, but Nell nodded as though to confirm it.
‘That sounds impressive,’ Stacey added.
‘It is.’ Nell ate another mouthful.
‘Did you do anything exciting today?’
Pierce continued with his questions and Stacey had the feeling it was all part of their routine.
‘Yes. I solved the number puzzle Mr Jorgensen could not do. He said I did it really fast.’ Nell preened a little, feeling good about herself. ‘I like puzzles.’
Once Nell had finished eating she stacked her plate and glass in the dishwasher before announcing that it was time to watch television. Off she went, leaving Stacey sitting at the table with Pierce. He watched his sister in the other room, a proud smile playing about his lips, and when he looked back at Stacey he saw she was watching him intently.
‘Higher functioning autism,’ he stated as he drank the last of his drink.
‘She’s doing very well for herself,’ Stacey remarked, finishing her juice.
Pierce nodded as he collected their glasses and stacked them in the dishwasher. ‘She is, and I have to say I’m very proud of her.’
‘So I can see.’ Stacey grinned. ‘And thank you for the snack. I can’t remember the last time I actually sat and had an after-work snack.’
‘It’s Nell’s routine.’
‘What happens if you’re at the hospital when she gets home from work?’
‘I try to be here most days, but if I’m not at the bus stop to meet her then Edna or Mike usually help out. And if that’s not possible, and I know I’m going to be delayed, I’ll ring Nell and let her know before she gets off the bus. But thankfully those days are few and far between.’
‘If you need further support I’d be happy to add Nell to our practice nurse visitation list.’
He nodded. ‘I was going to suggest something like that. I’m so glad you’ve bought the practice. We all thought it was going to close completely.’
‘I know. My father’s old partner retired last year, and since then there have been various locums running it.’
‘A practice can’t survive like that. It definitely needs someone at the helm.’
Stacey spread her arms wide. ‘As you see.’
‘You’re running it by yourself?’
‘Uh…with my sisters. Well, sort of. We all own the practice equally and Winifred the practice nurse, who has been there for years, is staying on—thank goodness.’
‘Ah, yes. We’ve met Winifred several times. She’s lovely.’ Pierce leaned back in his chair and watched her for a moment. ‘I take it both your sisters are doctors, too?’
‘Yes. We went through medical school together, did all our GP training together.’
‘And what do you mean by “sort of”? Your sisters are “sort of” running the practice with you? How does that work?’
Stacey frowned as she thought about Molly’s new plans to study surgery. She was proud and delighted with her sister’s accomplishments, but it did put her in a bit of a bind.
‘Actually, my sister Molly has decided to study surgery.’
He raised his eyebrows at this. ‘She’s been accepted to a surgical training programme?’
‘Yes.’
‘Here?’
‘Yes, at Newcastle General. A place came up at the last minute so she took it. Effective immediately.’
He nodded. ‘Good for her.’
Pierce leaned one elbow on the table and rested his head on his hand, giving her his undivided attention. She shifted in the seat but forced herself to remain calm and collected as she placed her hands in her lap.
He continued just to sit there, watching her as though she were a complete mystery to him. When he raised a questioning eyebrow she spread her hands wide. ‘What? Is there something on my nose? Do I have milk on my lip?’
Pierce smiled and shook his head. Good heavens! Did the man have any idea just how lethal that small, gorgeous smile of his could be? The way it caused the corners of his eyes to crinkle with delight? The way it made her feel as though he wasn’t trying to judge her, just trying to understand her? For all intents and purposes this man was a stranger to her, and yet for some reason she felt so comfortable around him. It was an odd sensation, but with both Cora and Molly telling her to loosen up, to step outside her comfort zone, start living her life for her instead of everyone else, and with Pierce smiling at her so acceptingly, Stacey found herself telling him things she usually wouldn’t tell anyone.
‘Yes—yes, it is good for Molly. She’s always wanted to do it. But it does leave me somewhat in the lurch. Cora, my other sister, is over in Tarparnii at the moment, working with Pacific Medical Aid.’
‘An excellent organisation. I have…friends who do a lot of work with them.’
Stacey wondered at his hesitation. Were they his friends or weren’t they? ‘Are you interested in going to work there, too?’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe. One day.’
‘It’s not on your bucket list?’
Pierce grinned. ‘There are a lot of other things on my bucket list so I’ll attend to them first.’ He gestured to the house. ‘And first on the list is to get this place completely shipshape for Nell and her soon-to-be housemates.’
‘She has friends who are moving in, too?’
‘Two other fine young ladies who she works with. Loris is in a wheelchair, which is why I need to finish getting all the ramps made, and Samantha has high-functioning Asperger’s.’
‘Sounds like it’s important for me to get to know all of them.’
‘Yes. Your medical practice will be the closest one for all of them. But where Nell is concerned, if she knows you on a more personal level then she’s more likely to come to you when she needs help.’
‘And we’ll help in any way we can.’ She smiled politely.
Pierce nodded with thanks, then looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Hang on a minute. If Molly’s studying surgery at the hospital, and Cora is overseas, then who is running the clinic with you?’
‘Molly does a day here and
there, and she’s promised to find me a locum to cover for her.’
There was silence between them for a minute, with the clock on the mantel ticking loudly. Pierce continued to watch her intently, leaning his head on his hand. Stacey started to feel highly self-conscious as he just looked at her…stopped everything and really looked. What did he see?
‘All right.’ Pierce straightened up and slapped his hand onto the table, making her jump. ‘I’ll do it!’
‘What? What will you do?’ Stacey asked, startled by his abrupt behaviour.
‘Call your sister. Tell her the search is over.’
‘What search?’ Stacey stared at him as though he’d grown an extra head.
‘The locum search.’ He stood and held out his hand to her. ‘Dr Pierce Brolin, at your service.’
Stacey shook his hand, still a little dazed. ‘I’m not sure I underst—’
‘I’m coming to work for you. I’m your new locum.’
CHAPTER TWO
STACEY UNLOCKED THE front door of the family medical practice and headed to the light switch, illuminating the reception area and waiting room. It was early. Just after seven-thirty on a Monday morning. And although her first patient wasn’t due to walk through the doors for another hour she’d been too nervous to sleep.
She sniffed. The air still smelled faintly of paint, and she quickly located the air filters she’d purchased last week and switched them on. If it wasn’t for the rain outside she’d open the windows, but the September weather was giving them the runaround—one day sunny, the next pouring with rain.
Stacey walked through the practice, opening blinds and switching on the equipment that needed to be on. She refused to dwell on the second consulting room—the one which would be assigned to Pierce Brolin, whose first official day in the clinic would be starting in about an hour’s time.
Had she done the right thing? It was true she needed a locum. It was true that Pierce was not only available but also extremely willing. His credentials were certainly impressive—especially his extensive experience in autism spectrum disorders—so she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t working in his chosen specialty.
