by Lucy Clark
'You OK?' Stephanie forked in another mouthful of eggs. Oliver lifted his head and looked at her for a moment. She was surprised at the hurt and vulnerability reflected in his eyes. She chewed and quickly swallowed. 'Oliver?'
'My daughter hates me.' The four words seemed to be wrenched from deep down inside him and Stephanie frowned.
'She may think she does but from what I overheard, her mother has a lot to answer for regarding your daughter's attitude.'
'You asked last night what Kasey wants and I said she doesn't know what she wants. That's not really true. She doesn't want to spend time with either of her parents. When I last saw her, she told me she'd be far happier spending her summer vacation hanging around the boarding school and helping the grounds staff out. Can you believe that? She'd rather spend her summer with strangers than her own father.'
'Do you think forcing her to come here and spend time with you is the answer?'
'I don't know, but it was all I could think of. Getting her away from Nadele's clutches was another motive. Nadele said she'd planned to visit Kasey at school but, knowing Nadele, she'd raise the poor child's hopes and then dash them by not showing up at all.' He shook his head and exhaled sharply. 'I'm sorry. This isn't your problem.'
'Oliver, perhaps it's better if I'm not in the house. I mean, she'll be here in a foreign environment, and having a complete stranger in the house might not be the best thing. I can go stay somewhere else. Sorting things out with your daughter is important.'
He surprised her by smiling. 'Genuinely giving as well. The more I get to know about you, Dr Stephanie Brooks, the more I like you. Listen, I didn't honestly think about this last night when I suggested we share the house, but since then the idea has grown on me. Having you in the house might actually be good for Kasey. As you said, you're a stranger and at the moment she seems to get along better with strangers than with her parents.' He grimaced. 'She knows Mrs Dixon but more in a disciplinarian role. With you, she might actually be able to relax and unwind.'
'That's putting quite a bit of pressure on me.'
'I know, and that's why I wanted to mention it now. You don't owe me anything, Steph. We're colleagues...' He shrugged. 'Hopefully we're becoming friends...maybe more, given the attraction we both feel, but, still, you don't owe me anything and I completely understand if you'd rather not be here.'
Stephanie drained her coffee-cup. 'I need to think about it.' What she needed to do was to discuss things with Stephen. Her brother had the knack of making her feel more in control and right now that's what she needed because Oliver made her feel totally out of control.
'Good decision.' He nodded as the microwave beeped.
'Thanks for breakfast,' she said, scooting off the stool. 'It was delicious.'
'You're going to leave me to eat alone?'
She smiled. 'I think you need to think as well. I'm going to have a shower so when you're finished we can head off to the hospital to get some paperwork done.' She started out of the room but stopped when he called her name.
'But today's your day off. I'll manage.'
'It's OK. As I wasn't expecting you until the weekend, I thought it best to roster myself off during the week so I was available to help you when you arrived.'
'Sorry to ruin your plans.'
'You haven't ruined them. So long as I get to have brunch with my brother, I can work around that.'
'Hopefully, you'll be able to take some time off on the weekend.'
She shook her head. 'That would mean changing the roster.'
'So?'
Stephanie levelled him with a glare. 'We are not changing the roster!'
Oliver held up his hands in defence. 'Fine. The roster stays as it is.'
'Good.' She straightened her shoulders. 'Now, eat your breakfast. I'll be ready to leave in ten minutes.'
'Ten minutes?' he scoffed as she headed down the corridor. 'A woman ready in ten minutes. I'd like to see that.' He laughed to himself as he took his plate out of the microwave.
True to her word, she was standing waiting for him ten minutes later, her coat on, a colourful scarf wrapped around her neck and her bag in her hands. 'It's probably best if we each take our own car. That way you can stay at the hospital for as long as you need to. Do you have the hospital key-card?'
Oliver searched around for where he'd left his keys the previous night and found it on top of the refrigerator. 'Here it is.'
'Good. Ready?'
'Just let me get my coat.' He wandered down to his room but returned a second later, carrying his coat over his arm, his briefcase in hand. 'Don't you need a hat or something for your head? I imagine it could get quite cold.'
'Yes. I'm surprised how much cooler the wind feels. That was a sensation I was unprepared for,' Stephanie chattered as they left the house, locking the door behind them. 'I usually do wear a hat but it's supposed to be a whole two degrees warmer today so I'll see how I go.'
She walked towards the back of the house.
'Where are you going?' he asked, totally bewildered.
'I parked around here. I usually do. There's a little alleyway one street down and it's easier to get in and out of rather than chancing the busy street out front.'
'Is there room for both our cars out back?'
'Yes.' She fished her keys out and jangled them on her finger, feeling a little self-conscious in his presence, but she wasn't sure why. Was it because they'd admitted an attraction to each other? Was it because they'd shared the most amazing first kiss she'd ever had? Was it because he'd asked her to get to know his daughter? Stephanie shook her head and turned away, calling over her shoulder, 'Well, I guess I'll see you at the hospital.'
'I guess you will. If I wait for you at the top of the street, will I be able to follow you?'
Stephanie turned back to face him and grinned. 'If you can keep up.'
'Think you're a Formula One driver, eh?'
Stephanie's answer was to laugh as she kept walking to her car. She felt bewildered, confused, excited and very happy. It was strange to feel such a wide range of emotions all at once, but she'd go with the flow and see where it took her.
She climbed behind the wheel of her car and started the engine. After buckling her seat belt, she reversed and drove around the block. There Oliver was, in a silver hire car, waiting at the top of the street. He indicated and pulled out behind her.
It wasn't as though the hospital was far—it probably would have taken them fifteen minutes to walk there—but the fact he thought he might get lost was kind of cute. Then again, as he'd driven to the house late at night in the fog, bone-weary from the incredibly hectic day he'd had, he had every right to claim disorientation, but she also knew after this one time of following her car to the hospital, he'd have his bearings and wouldn't need her help on that score again. Unless...
An impish smile crept across her face as she put her indicator on, taking him on a nice long detour around the back streets. She wondered if she could get' away with crossing the main road as he would probably remember that was one of the things he hadn't had to contend with when he'd driven home.
A block away from the hospital, she decided she'd chance it. He was doing a good job of playing follow-the-leader and, while she knew they still had a stack of paperwork to get through at the office, surely another twenty minutes' delay couldn't hurt? He'd been rather stressed after Mrs Dixon's phone call so perhaps a bit of sightseeing would put him in a better mood to work with this morning. Besides, there was one sight in Katoomba every newcomer had to witness.
They were fortunate to get a green light and crossed the highway with little trouble. She checked in her rear-view mirror. Yes, he was still there. She slowed down, still obeying the speed limit, and headed towards the cliffs. The tourist buses had already arrived but they'd still be able to get a good look at Katoomba's most famous landmark.
Stephanie pulled into the car park and cut the engine, undoing her seat belt and climbing out before Oliver had finished parking
. She locked her car and walked around to meet him. His look was one of feigned bewilderment as he followed suit and came to stand beside her.
'Funny. I don't remember the hospital grounds being this spacious yesterday. Then again, I didn't get to see all that much of them.'
Stephanie couldn't help the happiness she felt, glad he wasn't angry with her little detour. 'Come and see.' Eagerly, she took his hand in hers and led him down the path that led to the Three Sisters.
The three-rock formation rose steeply from the floor of the Jamieson Valley. The rocks' awesome beauty, their jagged sides, which had been weathered and eroded over the years, provided a breathtaking sight for locals and tourists.
Still holding his hand, Stephanie led him over to the rail and they looked out at the majestic view before them.
'The Aboriginal dream-time legend had it that three beautiful sisters fell in love with three brothers, but the brothers were from another tribe. Tribal law forbade them to marry but the brothers refused to accept this and decided to capture the three sisters. Well, this caused a tribal battle and the witchdoctor, fearing for the sisters' lives, changed them into stone to protect them. Alas, he was killed in the battle and there was no one else to reverse the spell.' She sighed romantically then shrugged. 'Personally, I just love coming here to marvel at the beauty of nature.' She pointed to the first 'sister'. 'You can actually walk out to the first one by going down those steps. Years ago, you could actually climb the other two, but they've stopped that due to erosion.'
Oliver surveyed the area around them and deep down inside Stephanie was desperate to see how he reacted. If he merely thought they were interesting and pretty to look at, then there would be no hope for any relationship between them. If, however, his soul was touched by their unsurpassed beauty, intrigued by their formation, and he could just sit there for hours looking at the valley below and cliffs on the opposite side, they would be well on their way to forming a deeper and lasting bond.
He gave her hand a little squeeze and pointed. 'Is that mist?'
She turned and looked to where he'd pointed, feeling the cool breeze on her face. 'Yes. Watch. Within a few minutes we'll be surrounded by whiteness and you won't be able to see anything.'
They stood, watching, their hands still linked, and just as Stephanie had said, soon they were caught up in a white cloud of swirling mists, the Sisters being obscured from view.
'I've never seen anything like it before. It's...majestic.'
Stephanie sighed with relief as he turned to face her.
'Thank you, Stephanie.' He bent and brushed his lips across hers and she gasped at the unexpected contact. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.'
'Startle away,' she flirted, and smiled up at him. He obliged but again only gave her lips a feather-light touch.
'You look lovely surrounded by white mist.'
She laughed. 'I suppose I stand out with my green hair and tinkling earrings.'
He joined in her laughter but turned and looked around him once more. 'I'll have to bring Kasey here. She's an outdoors person and would love the area.'
'What about Mrs Dixon?'
'Ooh, no,' he said in a silly high-pitched, well-modulated tone. 'Nature isn't for the likes of Mrs Dixon. She's better off staying warm inside with a nice cup of tea.'
Stephanie giggled. 'I'm sure you're wrong. The Blue Mountains have a way of luring a person outside to appreciate their beauty.'
'If you can coax Mrs Dixon out on an adventure, I'll...' He paused, thinking what he'd do.
'You'll what?'
'Kiss you.'
'You've already done that.'
'Well, I'll have to do it again, then.'
'Is that so?' She raised her eyebrows. 'I thought you wanted Mrs Dixon in the house to protect my virtue,' she teased.
'That's not what I meant,' he countered. He breathed in the fresh mountain air. 'Unfortunately, although I could stay here all day and relax, I have a mountain of stress waiting for me at the hospital. Now, if my guide would stop playing "lose the tourist" games and actually take me there, we might actually be able to get through some paperwork before she rushes off to her feeding frenzy.'
Stephanie laughed again, trying to figure out how he could make her so happy when she hardly knew him. 'You have a point. Not about the feeding frenzy, but the rest of it.' They turned and walked back to the cars, still holding hands.
'Shake your head so I can hear where you are,' Oliver teased.
'The mist's not that thick.'
'I know, but I like the sound your earrings make.' Back at the cars he reluctantly dropped her hand and fished his keys from his pocket. 'So we're going to the hospital this time?'
'I guess so,' she replied like a child who was being forced to do something they didn't want to. 'You spoil all my fun.' She unlocked her own car and climbed behind the wheel. This time she behaved herself and within five minutes they were driving into the hospital grounds. When she'd climbed out, grabbing her bag and briefcase, she smiled at him. 'See, I'm a woman of my word.'
'OK, woman of your word,' he said as they headed inside. 'Let's see how much paperwork we can get through in just over an hour.'
'You'd better let the triage sister know you're here first.'
'But of course.' They left their bags and coats in Oliver's office and headed for the A and E nurses' station.
'Ah, Oliver.' Jade picked up a sheaf of papers. 'These were delivered from Admin. Forms for hospital key-card, pagers, that sort of stuff.'
'Thank you. If you need me, I'll be in my office with Stephanie, trying to get through more of this stuff.' He waved the papers around and grimaced. Stephanie directed them to the tearoom and after they'd both sipped thankfully at their coffee-cups they settled down to work, sitting on opposite sides of the desk.
'I started making a list of the things you'd need to address first,' she said, reaching across the desk for a piece of paper buried beneath the in-tray. 'It was here yesterday morning,' she grumbled as she shifted things around.
'Leave it.' Oliver's tone was gruff and Stephanie glanced up at him, her hands still busy. They instantly stilled when she saw his gaze flick from her top to briefly meet her eyes before he looked away. 'I'll find it.'
She glanced down at her top and realised that from where he was sitting and from the way she was leaning he could see down her shirt. 'Oops.' She quickly settled back into the chair, adjusting her top, trying not to blush. She felt as though he'd actually caressed her and was surprised to find she liked it. Then again, after the kiss they'd shared that morning...why was she so surprised?
Oliver cleared his throat, his hands busy. 'Let's leave the list for now and just work with what's here.' He picked up a piece of paper and the awkward moment passed. Twenty minutes later, he picked up another manilla folder. 'Ah, rosters.'
'Ah, yes. The rosters. I'm sure that was on the top of my list for you to do.' She grinned. Everyone in the hospital knew how she loathed doing the rosters, always having to change things and juggle to suit people as best she could.
'Who's been drawing them up?'
'I have.'
He nodded as he scanned the contents. 'OK. Let's leave it that way.'
Stephanie froze, unable to believe what he'd just said. 'I'm sorry, did you say we'd leave it that way?'
'The arrangement? Yes. You know the staff, you're obviously used to doing them and that will be one less thing I have to worry about.'
'Ah... No!' she said in a sing-song voice laced heavily with determination.
'No?'
'No. Definitely not. I am not doing the rosters. I despise them—with a passion.'
'But I'm your boss.'
'So?'
'So I'm telling you it's your job to do them.'
'Telling me?'
'Yes. That's what bosses do. They tell their staff what to do.'
'Well, not this time.'
'They're just rosters, Steph.' He grinned, enjoying the sparks glowing in her eyes. She
was stunning when she was angry.
'If that's all they are to you, then you do them.'
'But as the assistant director of A and E, it's your responsibility to...assist me.'
'I'll assist in any other way except to do the rosters.'
'Really? That's interesting. And if I make you?' His smile was increasing and although Stephanie knew he was winding her up, she couldn't help but respond.
'I'll quit.'
'You'll quit!' His tone was incredulous. 'That's a little drastic, isn't it?'
'Drastic times call for drastic measures.'
'Hmm.' Looking thoughtful, he steepled his fingers together. 'The rosters go for a month, right?'
'Yes.'
'If, before the next roster is due out, you can get Mrs Dixon to go on an adventure outdoors, I will take over doing the rosters.'
Stephanie raised her eyebrows in amazement. 'You want to bet on this?'
'Why not?'
'Because you're going to do them regardless.'
He shrugged acceptingly as though he hardly cared one way or the other. 'This way is more fun, Besides, are you saying you couldn't coax Mrs Dixon out for an adventure?'
'All right; then.' She held out her hand to his. 'You're on.'
He clasped her hand, shook it but then didn't let go. 'Are you sure about this?'
She met his gaze. 'Absolutely.'
. 'All right.' Slowly he released his hold, his fingers trailing lightly over her palm causing goose-bumps to sprinkle down her spine.
'OK.' She jerked her arm back as though burnt and cleared her throat. 'What's next?'
They managed to get through two more files before Oliver closed the last one he'd been looking at in disgust. 'Who set up the A and E structure here? It's a shambles.'
Stephanie was surprised at his vehemence. 'No, it's not. It works fine.'
'No, it doesn't. There is a more efficient and productive way to run this department than the way it's being run now.'
