by Lucy Clark
Jasmine grinned with happiness at the praise.
‘It’s good to see you smiling. That also helps in so many ways.’ Stacey brushed her sister’s hair back from her face. ‘I’ve been so worried about you.’
‘I was…’ Jasmine bit her lip, hesitating.
Stacey waited intently.
‘That day in the park, when Nell got hurt…’
‘Yes?’ It was a day Stacey could never forget. So much had transpired that day. So many emotions. ‘What about it?’
‘I thought I’d caused Nell to get hurt.’
‘What?’
‘I threw the Frisbee too far and she tried to get it, and it landed near that barbecue where the man was cooking, and if I hadn’t thrown it there Nell wouldn’t have been near it, and Nell getting hurt is all my fault.’ Jasmine broke down into tears, covering her face with her hands.
Stacey instantly put her cup on the table and gathered her sister close. ‘No. No, sweetie. It wasn’t your fault. Not at all. There was absolutely no way you could have known what was going to happen. It was an accident. Not your fault at all. Oh, poor Jaz. Have you been carrying this burden with you all this time? Oh, honey.’ Stacey started crying as well, feeling her sister’s pain keenly.
‘I was so angry at you for taking me away from my friends, for bringing us here. I wanted to punish you, and then when I saw Nell lying there…I…I…all I wanted was you. I wanted you to pick me up like you used to and cuddle me close and tell me everything would be all right.’ Jasmine spoke through her tears, hiccuping now and then. ‘I know Nell’s OK now, but…but…’
Stacey fished around in her pockets for some tissues and managed to find two clean ones. ‘I’m always here for you, Jaz. No matter what the circumstances. You’re allowed to be angry with me, or Cora or Molly or any of us. You’re entitled to your own emotions and to be able to show them. That’s OK. We’re sisters. We’ll always work it out in the end because we love each other.’
‘Pierce said you love me. He said that things are really difficult for you. And until he said that I hadn’t really thought about it like that, you know? And now he’s gone, and you’re working lots, and you’re really tired and you’re unhappy, and I don’t like seeing you like that. So I couldn’t talk to you about Nell, but it was getting too much. That bottle you talk about—it was building up too much. And then…I just couldn’t hold it in any more.’
A fresh bout of tears accompanied her words and Stacey held her sister, dabbing at her eyes.
‘It’s OK. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be all right,’ she crooned, and after a while Jasmine stopped crying and blew her nose. Stacey followed suit and they both smiled. ‘I do love you, Jaz. You’re my sister. We’re family. We’re all we’ve got.’
‘We’ve got Nell and Pierce now, too.’ She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Oh, I forgot. Molly told me not to say his name around you in case it upset you too much, but—’
‘It’s fine. Molly’s just being protective.’
‘Do you need protecting?’ Jasmine sat up straighter. ‘Because I’ll protect you, too.’
Stacey felt another wave of tears coming on—tears of happiness at seeing that fierce and determined spirit of her sister’s shining forth yet again. ‘Thank you. But I’m doing all right at the moment.’
‘Do you miss him?’
‘Of course. But it’s important for people to follow their dreams.’ She’d tried to keep her words strong but even she had heard the wobble in her voice. This time it was Jasmine who offered the hug, holding her big sister close, and Stacey loved every moment of it.
Jasmine sniffed. ‘I love you, Stacey.’
‘I love you, too. Always.’ They both blew their noses again and then laughed. ‘Look at us. Red eyes and red noses. We must look a sight.’ Stacey stood and pulled Jasmine to her feet. ‘How about some ice cream?’
‘But…you haven’t even had dinner.’ Jasmine pointed to the kitchen. ‘I’ve made a plate of food for you.’
‘Thank you. You’ve been such a wonderful help. But at the moment I need ice cream. Comfort food.’ Stacey headed to the kitchen. ‘Want some?’
‘Yeah.’ Jasmine watched as her sister pulled out an ice cream tub and scooped some into bowls. ‘I’ve never seen you like this before. All “break the rules”, like.’
‘Then it’s about time you did.’
And that was how Molly found them an hour later, when she arrived home from the hospital, exhausted. Stacey had finished her ice cream, then eaten her dinner, and Jasmine had kept her company.
‘Kids asleep?’ Molly asked as she kissed her sisters on the cheek.
‘Yes,’ Jasmine replied. ‘George put himself to bed tonight—he was so tired after his karate lesson—and Lydia fell asleep with a book still in her hands.’
They all chuckled.
‘Typical Lydia,’ Molly remarked as she reheated her dinner. ‘Oh, I had a thought earlier today. How about next weekend we all do something together? A family activity. I’m not on call, and the kids will all be finished school for the year, so we should celebrate by doing something super-fun.’
‘How about ice-skating?’ Jasmine suggested.
‘I’m not sure Nell knows how to ice-skate, and although her ankle has now healed I wouldn’t want to risk her falling over and injuring it again.’
‘Good point.’ Jasmine nodded, pleased that Nell was automatically included in their family plans.
‘How about bowling?’ Molly suggested a moment later.
‘Bowling?’ Jasmine’s eyes lit up. ‘I used to love it when Mum took us bowling. Yeah. Let’s go bowling—Nell will love it.’
‘Plus,’ Molly added, hugging Stacey close, ‘the local bowling alley has cheesy music videos.’
Stacey grinned and hugged her sister back. ‘Sounds like the perfect tonic for me. The cheesier the better.’
The following weekend, with the children excited about being on school holidays for six weeks, Stacey completed her house calls in record time—especially as Jasmine had volunteered to come along and help out. They picked Nell up from her house—Samantha and Loris declined the invitation to join them—and then went home, where they met an excited George and Lydia bouncing around in the corridor.
‘Where’s Molly?’ Stacey asked.
‘She’s in the bedroom on the telephone. She said she had some loose ends to tie up.’
‘Oh?’ Stacey hoped her sister hadn’t been called in to the hospital, but thankfully when Molly appeared a moment later she assured her sister that everything was fine and that they should head off before they missed their booking.
At the bowling alley they all enjoyed the game—Nell perhaps most of all. And seeing the delight on the young woman’s face Stacey wished Pierce was there to see it. She took a photo on her phone of Nell’s smiling face after she’d knocked all the pins down, then sent the picture to Pierce’s phone.
‘You all right?’ Molly asked as she came and sat down next to Stacey while Lydia had a turn at bowling.
‘Sure!’ Stacey offered the word with fake brightness, pointing to the cheesy music video on the television monitors scattered around the bowling alley and the black lighting which made the fluorescent bowling balls stand out like neon. ‘Glad I didn’t wear white or I’d be glowing brightly under these lights, but the music videos are definitely worth it. Oh, the eighties! Those fashions! That hair!’
‘It’s fun.’
‘It is. It was a good idea, Molly. Thank you.’ Stacey hugged her sister.
‘Uh…well, you may not want to thank me too much.’
Molly whispered the words in Stacey’s ear and she felt a prickle of apprehension work its way down her spine. Stacey eased back and looked at her sister.
‘Why?’ she asked cautiously.
‘Um…well…’ The music video changed on the screen and Molly pointed to it. ‘Look. Let’s watch this one. Hey, kids. Let’s watch this music video.’
‘What’s g
oing on? Why are you acting so stran—?’ Stacey wasn’t able to finish her sentence as her eyes widened at what she was seeing on the television monitors.
It was Pierce. Larger than life. On every single television monitor in the bowling alley.
‘What? But…how?’
Then she stared in utter shock as he started lip-syncing to one of her favourite songs—a song about love, trust and dedication to each other.
‘Pierce made you a cheesy video,’ Molly remarked quietly.
‘He…what?’
‘Just watch.’
And she did as Pierce, dressed in an all-white suit, holding a large bunch of red roses, was seen to be looking high and low for his one true love, searching for her everywhere, singing to the camera, his handsome face radiating an earnest and honest desire to find her. Stacey’s jaw dropped open in stunned disbelief as she watched him knocking on the door to her house, but receiving no reply.
‘When was this filmed? And…how?’
‘We live in an age of digital technology, Stace,’ Jasmine offered.
‘Yeah. It’s not hard,’ George added, like the wise old man he was.
Nell was clapping along in time to the music, thoroughly delighted at seeing her big brother on the television. At the end of the video Pierce was still searching, and there was a shot of him walking to the front of the bowling alley. Stacey sat up straighter in her chair—then the television monitors went blank. But the music continued playing over the loudspeakers.
Now everyone in the bowling alley had stopped bowling and they were all pointing and gasping in delight as the man from the video walked into the bowling alley, dressed in the pure white suit which became bright white beneath the black lights. He still carried the enormous bunch of red roses—Stacey’s favourite—and headed slowly in her direction.
She stood, belatedly realising she was trembling. When he reached her side he smiled at her and held out the roses. A few people around them started clapping, but Stacey didn’t hear them. All she was aware of was Pierce, standing before her, smiling brightly and placing the roses into her arms. What did it all mean?
She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
When the music ended Pierce held out his hand for hers. Stacey shifted the roses onto one arm and gave him her hand, loving the feel of her hand securely in his. She bit her lip, her heart pounding with love for the man before her.
‘Stacey. I’ve missed you so very much. Too much to be apart from you any longer. You encouraged me to follow my dreams and you were right when you said I’d feel a strong sense of accomplishment when I was finally in the right job in the right place at the right time…and that dream job is working alongside you in a small family-run GP clinic in Shortfield.’
‘What?’ She gaped at him. ‘But what about Yale and your research and—?’
‘All still good. All still happening. But happening on both sides of the world. I’m setting up a sister study at Newcastle General Hospital. I’ll work part-time there and part-time with you at the clinic…but I’ll be working full time in the best relationship, the happiest relationship I’ve ever had the pleasure to be in.’ He shook his head slowly from side to side and gazed down into her eyes. ‘I’ve missed you, Stacey. So much it started to physically hurt to be so far away from you.’
‘Oh!’ Stacey tried to blink back tears of happiness, not wanting to miss a second of seeing his handsome face, of hearing his perfect words.
Then, to her further astonishment, he released her hand for a moment to unbutton his white suit jacket, revealing a white T-shirt beneath. On the T-shirt was painted, in fluorescent pink writing, the words Will you marry me?
He went down on bended knee and took her hand in his again. ‘I love you, Stacey, and I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you that. I adore you. Please, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
Stacey opened her mouth to speak but found her words choked with pure emotion, so she quickly nodded and tugged him to his feet, desperate to have his lips pressed against hers. ‘Yes,’ she finally whispered, just before he kissed her.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he returned. ‘I love you. So very much.’
‘You are my everything,’ she told him, smiling with happiness when he tenderly brushed away a few escaped tears with his thumb.
Then somehow the flowers were removed from her arms and Pierce was hugging her close, kissing her passionately in front of anyone and everyone who happened to be in the bowling alley. The round of applause and whoops of joy from their siblings went unnoticed as both Stacey and Pierce only had eyes for each other.
‘How did you like the music video?’ he eventually asked when Nell had insisted on finishing her bowling game.
Stacey sat on her fiancé’s lap, her arms around his neck as though never letting him go again.
‘Cheesy enough for you?’ He chuckled.
‘It was the perfect blend of tacky and ridiculousness. I can’t believe you went to so much trouble just for me.’
‘You’re worth it.’ He shook his head again.
‘I still can’t believe you’re here. You’re actually here. When did you fly in?’
Pierce checked his watch. ‘About three hours ago. I had the idea for the video and Molly helped make it happen. We knew you’d be out on house calls this morning, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to do all the photography then.’
‘But I still don’t know how it was edited together so fast and—’ She held up her hand. ‘You know what? I don’t want to know.’ She pressed a kiss to Pierce’s lips. ‘I just want to enjoy.’
It was a lot of kisses later when Stacey looked deeply into his eyes and said softly, ‘You once told me you could see loneliness in my eyes, my sad eyes, and it was true. It was there because something was missing from my life—something just for me, something precious and rare. And that’s you. You were what was missing from my life.’
‘Marry me soon, Stacey,’ he remarked as he kissed her yet again, unable to get enough of her delectable mouth.
‘Of course. And that, my love, will be a definite dream come true.’
EPILOGUE
THE WEDDING WAS held outside in Nell’s backyard a few weeks after New Year. Pierce had waited only the least amount of time it took to have their banns read before he married the woman of his dreams.
‘Do you remember how we used to pretend that we’d get married in this very back garden?’ Cora asked as she made the final touches to Stacey’s hairstyle before putting a garland of flowers carefully in place. ‘Oh!’ She gasped. ‘You look just like we always imagined. Like a princess at a small backyard wedding with our closest family and friends and we have Mike ready to walk you down the garden aisle, giving you away.’
Molly clutched her hands to her chest before tying Lydia’s sash, which had come undone again. All of Stacey’s sisters, including Nell, were with her, getting ready. George was with Pierce in the room down the hall. The wedding celebrant was an old family friend of her parents and the garden was filled with their closest friends.
‘Nervous?’ Jasmine asked, and Stacey wrinkled her nose.
‘No. Not even worried. I get to marry Pierce today. My handsome prince. This time it’s the real deal.’
Molly took one of her hands and Cora took the other, all the triplets standing together, grinning at each other, sharing incredible emotions.
‘This is right, Stace. He’s so perfect for you.’
‘And you’re so perfect for him.’
‘Thank you.’ Stacey looked to the two women who had been with her for ever. They were sisters, and sisters were never wrong.
Jasmine rallied Lydia and Nell into position as Edna came in to check everyone was ready.
‘Pierce is impatiently awaiting your arrival,’ Edna told them as Mike came to offer Stacey his arm.
Both Edna and Mike looked at her.
‘Oh, your father would have been right proud to see this day,’ Mike told her.
; ‘So proud,’ Edna agreed, and kissed Stacey on the cheek. ‘We’re so proud—aren’t we, Mike?’
‘Yes. We’re proud of all of you.’ Mike’s gaze encompassed them all. ‘And of little George, of course,’ he added, which made Lydia giggle, and the sound of Lydia’s giggle made the rest of them giggle too.
It was just the tension release they all needed, so that when the music started Stacey proudly took her place at the bottom of the garden.
Her smile only increased when she saw Pierce standing there, waiting expectantly for her. She floated towards him, not caring whether she walked in time to the music, not caring if anything went wrong. Pierce was looking at her as though she were the most stunning woman in the world, and she knew in her heart that was exactly what he thought because he’d told her so—quite often.
‘You look…wow!’ They were the first words out of his mouth as she came to stand beside him, her simple white sundress and flat white shoes enhanced by the wild flowers in her hair and bouquet. Au naturel. No fuss. No big puffy dress. Not this time. This was her dream wedding. Simple. Casual. Family.
‘You look pretty wow yourself,’ she told him as she took in his light grey suit.
‘Ready to get married?’
‘To you? Absolutely.’
She reached for his hand, linking her fingers with his, unable to believe such a pure, perfect happiness as this existed, and that it was a happiness that, for them, would last for ever.
*
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin ebook. Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN-13: 9781460339510
DR. PERFECT ON HER DOORSTEP
Copyright © 2014 by Anne Clark & Peter Clark
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
