The Doctor's Wife for Keeps

by Alison Roberts

  ‘No worries. Let’s do it again next week.’

  Matteo’s easy grin also dispelled the notion that he was holding back. ‘We might be doing it for real before long. Don’t forget you can’t get married unless I’m your best man.’

  Luke was still shaking his head as he ended the call. Shutting the laptop, he lay back to rest his head on the arm of the couch.

  A wedding wasn’t on the cards. Sure, the ‘pact’ that he had resurrected was that he and Kate would marry each other if they were both still single at thirty-five but it didn’t conjure up any images of a wedding. It was more like a general term to signify a committed relationship—the kind that you could build a future on that would be strong enough to raise a family in.

  The last few weeks had been all about testing the friendship between them, hadn’t it? To see if there was enough of a connection to build that future on.

  Would a piece of paper make any difference to that?

  No.

  And he was confident that Kate would feel the same way.

  Except...she was a bit of a stickler for rules, wasn’t she? Maybe she would want a committed relationship legitimised by something recognisable.

  Okay. Why not? A quick trip to a registry office would be doable. As long as it didn’t involve any of the hoopla that went with the usual celebration of true love and happy-ever-afters.

  What really mattered were the things that would last the distance. A connection that was strong enough to provide a relationship glue that would hold people together through thick and thin. And it was becoming steadily clearer that he and Kate had an endless supply of that kind of glue.

  Had he really suggested to Kate that sex would only ‘work’?

  Man... Talk about the understatement of the century...

  If Luke had had any idea of what it could be like, there was no way in the world that they would have remained simply friends back in med school.

  Why on earth had he ever bought into the myth that you needed to fall in love with the person who was your perfect partner for life? That, somehow, that would make the sex better than ever?

  This was the answer.

  To take an established friendship to the next level. To be with someone you really liked, that you didn’t have to treat like a piece of precious china that might break if you did something wrong. Someone you could be completely honest with, who knew you well enough to overlook any small wrongdoings and make them something to laugh about and learn from.

  This wasn’t a friendship with benefits.

  This was...well...this was nothing short of perfect as far as Luke was concerned. And, best of all, Kate seemed to feel the same way. Maybe she hadn’t invited him into her home yet but she’d been putting as much effort as he was into finding so much time to be together.

  Matteo had called them ‘adventures’ and it was true that they’d been finding some very cool things to do on their days off. Like the ghost tour and the bike ride and the folk dancing. And what about that evening of pure luxury with the reclining sofas and full table service for a movie at the Dominion Theatre? That had been his idea of heaven after a full-on day.

  Other couples had been holding hands or snuggling on the sofas but he and Kate didn’t need that kind of mushy, romantic stuff. They were best mates when they were out and passionate lovers when they shared a bed. The absolute best of both worlds.

  The ping of an incoming text message made him reach for his phone. Had Matteo thought of something else to say? He was the only person who would text him this late at night. Even Kate kept their increasingly frequent communication to more civilised hours.

  But maybe that was changing because this message was from her.

  Thanks for dinner. Reckon it’s about time you found out how bad my cooking is. G’s on night shift Wednesday if you’re free.

  Had Kate been waiting until Georgia was absent before inviting him to her home? The unexpected twinge of anxiety was Matt’s fault. Maybe her best friend did disapprove and could end up talking Kate out of making a commitment to a relationship that was based on something as unromantic as a pact.

  Or...maybe Kate wanted the place to themselves so that dinner could naturally morph into the kind of sexual playground that was Luke’s absolutely favourite place to be these days.

  Yep...that was far more likely to be the reason, given how enthusiastic Kate was to play. Tilting the bottle to finish the last swallow of lager, Luke closed his eyes in a blissful moment.

  It really didn’t get any better than this.

  * * *

  ‘Whoa...wasn’t expecting that.’

  The spell of the lingering kiss was broken at the sound of Georgia’s voice but, for a heartbeat, Kate’s gaze was still locked with Luke’s as they drew apart.

  ‘Want me to go out and come in again?’

  A huff of laughter from Luke tickled Kate’s face.

  ‘No. We’re good. I’m just leaving.’ Was it her imagination or was he having difficulty dragging his gaze away from hers? ‘Sorry, Georgie. I thought I’d be gone before you got back from night shift.’

  ‘No late jobs for a change and the traffic was light.’ Georgia dropped her backpack on the floor beside the kitchen door. ‘You are allowed to stay here, you know, Luke.’ She grinned at him. ‘I’ve known about you and Kate for weeks so it’s not exactly a secret that you’re sleeping together.’

  Luke was grinning back at her. ‘We’re just good friends.’

  Georgia laughed. ‘Yeah, yeah...’

  Kate was trying to smile. Trying to buy into this light-hearted dismissal that anything significant had been outed but it was difficult.

  Almost...heartbreaking?

  How ridiculous was that? She’d just had the perfect night, in a perfect setting. A cute little cottage to themselves, a candlelit dinner for two and her own bed to share with her lover.

  And that, right there, was where the problem was, wasn’t it?

  Luke wasn’t her lover. He was her friend that she just happened to be having sex with. Astonishingly wonderful, passionate, even tender sex and Luke might love her in the way that you loved your best friend but to be a lover, you had to be in love.

  Luke was gone, with a friendly wave and a promise to text Kate later in the day.

  ‘Any tea in that pot?’

  ‘No. The coffee’s hot, though.’

  Georgia shook her head, sinking onto one of the two chairs beside the tiny table tucked into the corner of the kitchen.

  ‘I’m desperate to sleep. Coffee would keep me awake.’

  ‘Really? You’ve always said it never made any difference after a night shift.’

  Georgia yawned. ‘Maybe I’m getting old. Or going off coffee or something.’ She pulled the band off her ponytail and fluffed her hair with her fingers. ‘I can make the tea. You must need to get to work, too.’

  ‘No, I’ve got a later start. Long day.’ Kate was filling the kettle at the kitchen sink but she was staring out of the window. Watching Luke’s car as he got to the end of the driveway and turned onto the road.

  Was he still thinking about her? About how perfect the night had been? Or was his mind firmly on the day ahead, perhaps going over the complex surgery he could be doing within the next hour or two on that child with a potentially damaged aorta?

  The water flowing onto her hand over the top of the kettle made her realise how long she had been distracted.

  ‘Oops...’ She tipped half the contents of the kettle out.

  ‘Not like you to be away with the fairies.’ Georgia’s eyebrows were raised. ‘Short of sleep, huh?’

  Kate shrugged. ‘Maybe...’

  ‘Ooh...do tell. I’ve almost forgotten what good sex is like.’

  Kate was silent. She lit the gas under the kettle and then opened the cupboard to find the teabags and mugs.r />
  ‘It was good, wasn’t it? That was some kiss I interrupted...’

  ‘Yeah...’ With a sigh, Kate turned and leaned against the bench as she waited for the kettle to boil. ‘It was...amazing. He’s amazing. I’m...’ It was disturbing how intense her voice sounded. The way it broke before trailing into silence.

  Georgia’s jaw dropped. ‘Oh, my God... You’re totally in love with him, aren’t you?’

  Kate closed her eyes. Her voice was no more than a whisper. ‘Yeah...’

  ‘Does Luke know? Did he say it back? Is that what that steamy kiss was about? Oh, help... I really did interrupt something...’

  Kate shook her head. ‘No. And no and no.’ She opened her eyes to find her friend staring at her.

  ‘That’s a lot of “noes”.’

  Kate busied herself making the tea. ‘I can’t tell him.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I’d lose him and...and I don’t want to lose him.’

  Georgia was frowning now. ‘That doesn’t make sense. From what I saw, he’s totally into you.’

  ‘As a friend.’

  ‘Yeah...right...’ The tone of disbelief echoed Georgia’s reaction to Luke’s claim that he and Kate were ‘just good friends’. ‘Who are you trying to kid?’

  Kate put the mugs of tea on the table and sat down. ‘There’s something I’ve never told you. You know that Luke and I were friends back in med school?’

  ‘Of course. He was your best friend until he got married and his wife couldn’t cope with him having a girl buddy.’ Georgia grinned. ‘Maybe she wasn’t wrong to think you might be a threat.’

  ‘There was no attraction back then. Not on his side, anyway. And not on mine after I got over that initial crush. The idea of it would have been shocking. Like... I don’t know...incest, almost. He was like my brother.’

  ‘So when did that change so dramatically?’

  ‘At the rally. The night of the party. He...he kissed me.’

  ‘And now he’s spending every spare minute he’s got with you and giving you the best sex ever and, I have to say, he looks pretty happy about it.’

  Kate nodded. ‘He is. Because, as far as he’s concerned, we’re just friends. Because the “L” word is not an issue. For him... We made a pact, Georgie. After graduation, when we’d had too much champagne. We agreed that if neither of us was married by the time we were thirty-five—if neither of us had found “the one” we’d marry each other.’

  ‘No way... Are you trying to tell me you’re engaged?’

  The headshake was emphatic. ‘We haven’t actually talked about that again. I tried to tell him that being good friends wasn’t enough. That there had to be a different kind of connection. I was talking about being in love but he took it as meaning a sexual connection and suggested that we gave it a try and...um...’ Kate bit her lip. ‘I guess we’re still trying that, as far as he’s concerned.’

  ‘But surely he’d be delighted if he knew how you felt. That you would be prepared to honour the pact.’

  ‘But that’s just it. He wants to reinstate the pact because we’re not in love. He thinks that’s the best foundation for a successful relationship. He fell in love with Nadia, remember? The first woman he married? And that was a disaster. If he knew I was in love with him, or he felt like he might be falling in love with me, he’d run a mile. He’d know he couldn’t trust it.’

  ‘Hmm...’ Georgia sipped her tea. She was silent for a long time but then her gaze met Kate’s steadily. ‘Maybe he’s right.’

  ‘What?’

  Georgia shrugged. ‘You’re so sure that there are rules to follow and a proper order of doing stuff but what if something like this works better? Like an arranged marriage? He might not be in love with you but he cares about you, doesn’t he?’

  Kate nodded. ‘Yes. He always has. As a friend.’

  ‘And the sex is good, right?’

  Kate could feel her cheeks warming. ‘Oh...yeah... I never knew it could be this good.’

  And it wasn’t just the sex. Last night, for the first time, they had fallen asleep together. Or rather Luke had fallen asleep and Kate had been awake for a very long time, too aware of the solid presence of his body so close to hers that she could feel as well as hear every breath he took.

  It had made her feel...safe?

  Protected. It wasn’t that she’d ever felt nervous about being in the house alone when Georgia was on a night shift, mind you. No, this feeling of protection was about something much bigger than that.

  Protection from feeling alone, perhaps. Or from a future that was emptier than she would want?

  Georgia’s smile suggested that she could sense what Kate was thinking about. ‘Does he want the same things as you? Like kids down the track?’

  ‘Yes, I think so. He said he wants more to life than just his career.’

  ‘And you share the same career. You could support each other and share the kid stuff. You know what?’

  ‘What?’ ‘It sounds just about perfect to me.’ Georgia yawned again. ‘I need to sleep.’ She got up and took her mug to the sink.

  Maybe she was right, Kate thought. How many women would dream of having a gorgeous guy like Luke to care about them? To have fun with. To have mind-blowingly good sex with? To be their life partner and raise a family with? Being in love wore off, everybody knew that. Eventually, the lucky ones were left with...well, pretty much what she and Luke had now.

  Georgia was still standing beside the sink. Staring into it, presumably at the dirty breakfast plates that probably had congealed egg fragments all over them.

  ‘I’ll do the dishes in a minute.’

  But Georgia didn’t seem to hear her. She had her hand pressed against her mouth and when she turned away from the sink, her face was pale. Very pale.

  Shocked, Kate watched her run from the room. Their small, downstairs bathroom was right beside the kitchen so it was impossible not to hear her throwing up. Especially seeing as Kate followed her. A few minutes later, she was offering a damp facecloth as Georgia finally sat back on her heels and let go of the hair she had been holding back from her face.

  ‘I’ll never eat eggs again in my life,’ she groaned.

  ‘You didn’t eat any in the first place. You just looked at the plates.’

  ‘I know...’ Georgia leaned back against the wall, the facecloth pressed against her eyes.

  ‘Are you sick? Running a temperature?’ Kate reached for her friend’s wrist, to check her heart rate.

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘Did you eat something dodgy on night shift? Like a kebab?’

  ‘No.’

  Something was nagging at the back of Kate’s brain as it collected all available information. Georgia had looked tired but not unwell when she’d arrived home. She hadn’t wanted coffee because she said it might keep her awake. Or that she’d ‘gone off it’. The nausea had been triggered by the sight of egg yolk.

  ‘Oh, my God...’ Kate could feel the colour of her own face fading. ‘Are you pregnant. Georgie?’

  Georgia didn’t respond. She seemed, in fact, to have gone very, very still.

  Kate sank onto the bathroom floor and shuffled around so that she was leaning against the same wall as Georgia. It was her sigh that broke the long silence.

  ‘When were you going to tell me?’

  ‘When it was too late to have an argument about whether or not it was a good idea to go through with it.’

  Kate’s breath came out in a shocked huff. ‘Did you think I’d try and persuade you to have a termination?’

  Georgia lowered the facecloth. Damp curls framed hazel eyes that seemed a lot bigger than usual. ‘Why not? You’ve never approved of my plan for single parenthood. You told me the whole idea was hare-brained.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean I wou
ldn’t support you in whatever you chose to do.’ Kate could feel tears prickling at the back of her eyes. ‘I can’t believe you’ve kept this to yourself. How pregnant are you?’

  ‘About ten weeks.’

  Kate’s brain had no trouble doing the maths. ‘So it was the person you hooked up with at the rally. Who was it?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Of course it matters. It’s your child’s father. You need to know about family genetics. You’ll need financial support.’

  Georgia’s headshake was emphatic. ‘That’s precisely the reason I did it this way. I don’t want to know about the father’s family. I don’t want financial support. I don’t want anyone interfering in any way. This is my baby. And it’s going to stay that way. Don’t ask again, Kate, because I’m never going to tell you. I’m never going to tell anyone, especially the father. And I couldn’t anyway because I don’t have his address. I barely remember his name. And...oh, God... I’m going to be sick again...’

  The vomiting almost seemed an appropriate finale to the impassioned speech. It was some time after that before the atmosphere in the small house felt calmer. Georgia tried another cup of tea and a piece of dry toast and declared herself to be over the bout of morning sickness.

  ‘I’m going to sleep like a log.’

  ‘Are you on another night shift?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Should you even be working at the moment? Aren’t there rules about being pregnant and on the road?’

  Georgia sighed. ‘Yes. And I’ll sort that soon but I’m not looking forward to getting stuck behind a desk on light duties. I’m fine, honestly. I’m being careful about lifting and everything. It’s not as if my body’s not used to this stuff. It’s only dangerous if you’re doing different things—like riding a horse for the first time. The women that are used to it can ride safely pretty much until they give birth.’

  ‘But there are rules. They’re there for a reason.’

  Georgia rolled her eyes. ‘Cut it out, Kate. I’m a big girl. I get to make my own decisions.’ She stood up. ‘And right now I’m deciding that it’s my bedtime. Have a great day.’ She grinned at Kate. ‘How could you not, after having such a great night?’