by Lucy Clark
After work, she met Nicolette for coffee, pleased to hear her friend was no longer fighting her attraction towards Stephen.
'Yes. I love him. Satisfied?'
Stephanie grinned. 'You'd better believe it. You're so perfect for him.'
'If only he would see that.'
Stephanie sighed, knowing exactly how her friend felt. She managed to neatly sidestep any questions regarding Oliver and her current situation, knowing that although Nicolette would be supportive and encouraging, the fact was, she just wasn't ready to discuss it.
When she arrived home, it was to find Oliver holding his daughter in his arms and dancing around the room to Chopin. She presumed by the wonderful aroma wafting through the house that Mrs Dixon was in the kitchen. She stood by the doorframe, watching them -both, Kasey giggling as she held on tight. It was a picture-perfect moment and the magnitude of her emotions swamped her. She swallowed over the lump in her throat, telling herself now was not the time as she fought back the tears.
Seeing Oliver and Kasey getting along so well made Stephanie realise she was no longer needed. Initially Oliver had needed her help—now he didn't. His relationship with Kasey had gone from strength to strength in a very short space of time but she was glad she'd been able to bring them together.
Tonight she would tell him she'd be moving out. She had no problem with him staying in the house for as long as he needed to, even though she knew he'd been looking at other houses during the week. Oliver hadn't said a word but Kasey had. Stephanie had tried to be positive as the eight-year-old had told her about some of the houses she'd looked at with her father, but the realisation that her job in Oliver's life was done was becoming painfully obvious.
The staff at work had accepted the changes Oliver had made, a little reluctantly at first but now everyone could see how everything was working better and faster. Again, the staff had looked to her for guidance and she'd given it, supporting Oliver all the way.
Even at work, she was obsolete.
Realising she was fighting a losing battle with the tears that kept threatening, she hurried up the corridor to her bedroom, hoping she hadn't been seen. She blew her nose and took some deep breaths, and a moment later a knock sounded on her door.
'Steph?' It was Kasey. 'Can I come in?'
Stephanie cleared her throat and pasted on a smile. 'Sure.'
The girl bounced into the room, excitement radiating through ever pore. 'Guess what? Dad's going to take me to Sydney for the weekend.'
Stephanie was unable to control her reaction to the news. In fact, her face must have looked very bleak because Kasey said, 'What's wrong? Aren't you excited? I am!'
Stephanie turned away, cross with herself for not being able to control her emotions. 'That sounds great. You'll have a wonderful time.' How could Oliver do this to her? She was the one who'd planned to go to Sydney for a break, and right now she desperately needed it. If he was going to Sydney then she'd have to stay here and wait for her next weekend off.
'Oh, but you're coming, too.'
'What?' Stephanie spun around to face her.
'We're going shopping, remember?'
'Uh...but you're going with your father.'
'Yes, but he doesn't know the first thing about clothes.'
Kasey twirled around, the skirt of her dress flaring out. 'We're girls. We know how to find a bargain.'
Stephanie laughed, unable to help herself. She sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for Kasey to come over. The little girl came and put her arms around Stephanie's neck. 'It does sound wonderful, but I can't come.'
'Why not?' a deep, masculine voice asked from the doorway. 'Kaz has her heart set on it and I've made sure you're not rostered on this weekend.' He took two steps into her room. 'And don't ask me to change the rosters, Stephanie Brooks, because you know how horrible and frustrating that can be.'
She smiled in spite of her turbulent emotions. 'Yes.'
'You'll come?'
Stephanie pondered it for a moment. She'd still be able to catch up with her friends and she'd never been shopping with an eight-year-old before, so it might just be exciting. She and Kasey could shop and Oliver could do his business. She might not even need to see that much of him. 'Is Mrs Dixon coming?'
'Er...' He seemed surprised at the question. 'I think so. I'm sure she would.'
She glanced down at Kasey who was grinning expectantly. 'OK. I'll come.'
'Yay!' Kasey danced around the room and Stephanie marvelled at the change in the child who had first walked into this house. Mrs Dixon called them to dinner and they all headed out of her room—Oliver waiting, as a gentleman should, for the women to precede him.
'Thank you,' he said, his breath tingling down her spine. She hadn't realised he was so close. 'You've made her night.'
Stephanie shivered but didn't turn to look at him...it would have been too dangerous. She breathed in, loving his unique scent, amazed at what he could do to her just by being so close. He wasn't even touching her and she was a quivering mass of jelly. How on earth was she going to survive the heartbreak she could feel coming? It had been nearly a week since she'd told Oliver she loved him, and yet here they were, still doing the same dance, a dance which she knew wouldn't end in commitment.
He wanted to date her but beyond that they hadn't discussed a thing. Part of her wanted to say that she'd date him and not expect anything else, but she just couldn't. She was an old-fashioned girl waiting for a man with old-fashioned values. It was that simple.
*
When Friday dawned, her alarm clock buzzing in her ear, she groaned, switched it off, turned over and buried her head beneath the pillow. She wasn't due at work until just after lunch so why was her alarm clock bugging her now?
A moment later, there was knocking at her bedroom door. 'Huh?' She lifted her head. 'Go away. I'm sleeping.'
She heard Oliver chuckle. 'Can I come in?'
'No, you can't,' she said.
'Steph, it's almost midday, and you're due at work in an hour.'
'What?' She sat bolt upright and glared at her clock and it confirmed what Oliver was saying. 'Why didn't you wake me up sooner?'
'I thought that's why you had an alarm clock. Listen, I've just dropped home to have lunch with Kaz—and do I have to have this conversation through the door?'
Huffily, Stephanie gathered the doona around her. 'Fine. Come in, then.'
So he did, and stopped just inside the doorway, staring at her in the big bed. It was messy, with a few pillows on the floor and the doona untucked. Testament to a sleepless night. Snap! Stephanie, though, looked the most incredible, the most stunning he'd ever seen her, and he swallowed quickly, watching how she took in everything about him. Belatedly, he realised she was speaking. 'Pardon?'
'What do you want, Oliver?'
'You sound tired.'
'I am.' Thank goodness he hadn't said she looked tired, otherwise she would have thrown him out of her room and possibly out of her friend's house. 'Your point for barging in here was...?'
'Yes.' He cleared his throat and forced himself to look away, unable to believe how she could turn his mind to mush just by being in the same room as him. 'I received a phone call from my solicitor this morning. Augustus has persuaded Nadele to relinquish custody of Kaz.'
Stephanie's jaw dropped in surprise before a smile lit her features. 'That's...' She shook her head, her mind not up to deciding which adjective was appropriate to describe her feelings. 'You must be thrilled.'
'I came home to give Kaz the good news.'
'She's happy about it?'
'Yes. There are still a lot of formalities to wrap up.'
'Hence the trip to Sydney?'
'Yes. Kaz needs to have a conversation with my solicitor just to confirm this is what she wants. Once the papers are through, we sign them and seal them and deliver them. I don't know to whom, but deliver them we shall.'
His good mood was infectious and Stephanie found her earlier fatigue lifting afte
r just a few minutes in his presence. They would be so perfect together. Why couldn't he see that?
'Was there anything else?'
'Huh? Er...no. Just wanted to tell you the good news.'
Stephanie nodded. 'I appreciate it. Now I think I'd better get up and get ready for work.'
'Of course.' He headed to the door then stopped and turned back to face her. 'Do you think we can leave by ten o'clock tomorrow?'
Stephanie had already started moving and when he turned back to face her she had just put her feet on the floor, her short nightie revealing a generous amount of leg. Oliver found himself staring, his mouth suddenly going dry.
'That's fine.'
He heard her reply but it didn't compute. 'Oliver, unless you plan to marry me, I suggest you stop looking at me like that and get out of here as fast as you can.'
'Marry?' He raised his gaze to hers. He saw a mixture of repressed anger and desire and realised she was at the boiling point, ready to explode. 'Right. Sorry.'
'It worked,' she muttered gloomily, after he'd closed the door and left her in peace. 'Peace? Ha!' She forced herself to go through the routine of showering and dressing and, after she'd eaten something, congratulating Kasey on the verdict, Stephanie's anxiety increased. Surely the situation between herself and Oliver wasn't affecting her this badly?
'Are you all right?' Oliver asked.
'I'm not sure.'
He raised his eyebrows and went to put his hand on her forehead, but she shied away.
'It's not that. I think I'll give Stephen a call. I won't be long and I certainly won't be late for my shift.'
'I have no doubt about that,' Oliver said. He said goodbye to Kasey and Mrs Dixon and headed out the door. Stephanie reached for her cellphone and went back to her room for a bit of privacy. Stephen answered on the first ring.
'Hi, Steph.'
'Hi, yourself. Having fun?'
'Not really.'
'I thought as much. This is just a quick call because I'm about to walk out the door and head to work. So what's going on? More angst over Nic?'
'I doubt it will ever go away,' he mumbled.
'It'll only go away if you face it. Have you told her how you feel?'
'The attraction is mutual, Steph.'
'It's amazing that you can be more stubborn than me. I'm not talking about the attraction. Do you love her?' Stephanie waited, amazed at how similar their situations were. Oliver seemed to be as stubborn as her brother.
'I don't know,' Stephen finally answered.
'Well...' she drawled. 'That's an improvement on "I hardly know her", which is what you've said in the past. So she's still succeeding in driving you crazy, eh? Way to go, Nic.'
'Steph, this is hardly helping.'
'Look.' She thought quickly, deciding to bluff his real feelings out into the open. 'There's another reason why I called. Oliver has a friend coming to town tomorrow morning and we thought it would be nice to introduce him to Nicolette.'
'Why?'
Stephanie smiled. Not only could she feel his tension increase, she could hear it in his voice. If only it were this easy with Oliver, but she was sure that if she pretended to be interested in another man he would merely shrug and wish her all the best. Then again, he had been jealous of Stephen earlier on. Hmm. Something for her to ponder. Right now, though, she needed to sort out her brother. 'Because she's a nice person, she's single and this guy sounds like her type.'
'I'm a nice person, I'm single and how on earth would you know what her type is?' he growled fiercely.
'I'm her friend. Girls talk.' Stephanie began to giggle and then he caught on.
'You're playing me.'
'So how did you feel, eh? Does the thought of Nicolette with any other man make you crazy? Personally, I think the answer is yes,' she went on before he could say a word;
'Well, if you want to talk about romance, Steph, let me give you a little quiz about Oliver.'
'Oh, gee. Is that the time? I have to go now, bro.' She laughed. 'See you later. Love you.' She hung up and stood, grabbing her bag. Not only did she not want to talk about Oliver, right now she didn't even want to think about him. She needed to focus on her job and put him right out of her mind.
'Easier said than done,' she mumbled as she walked out of her room.
Stephanie had been at work for just over three hours, with no sign of Oliver, when she was given the case of a seventeen-year-old girl who had a sewing needle through her finger. Her mother had opted to stay in the waiting room, saying she was 'no good in hospitals'.
'That's certainly interesting,' Stephanie said as she looked at Amy's finger. 'What were you sewing?' She turned away and checked the X-rays she'd sent Amy for on arrival.
'Denim. I've been under a lot of pressure lately because my assignment is already two weeks past deadline, and with all my other subjects, things just seem to pile up.'
'Carelessness?'
'I guess...' She shrugged. 'And I'm really tired. I didn't get to bed until three o'clock because I was trying to finish my history paper.' Amy winced a little as Stephanie touched the needle, which had gone right through the finger.
'I think a bit of local anaesthetic is in order. So what's your project for sewing class?'
'Industrial design—that's what the subject is.'
'Oh. Things have changed so much since I was at school. What are you making?'
'I'm doing a step-by-step booklet about how to turn your old denim jeans into a denim skirt.'
'Excellent.'
'My teacher doesn't think so. Fm the only girl in the class and he tends to patronise me. And even if my work is faultless, he finds something really small to mark me down on. It wouldn't matter so much except some of the boys, whose work is clearly below standard, get better marks for incomplete work!'
'You are under stress. What about registering a formal complaint?' Stephanie administered the local and set about getting the instruments she'd need.
'I've tried, but the principal is the teacher's brother-in-law and—'
'Your complaints are falling on deaf ears. That's not right.'
'I've only got this year to go and then I'm out of there. No more school for me.'
'No university?'
.'My mum wants me to go but...' Amy shook her head. 'I want at least a year off just to relax.'
Stephanie smiled. 'Sounds good.' They continued chatting until the anaesthetic had done its job. 'All right. Let's get this needle out of your finger.'
'What happens then? Do I need to keep my hand bandaged?'
'I'm afraid so.'
Tears filled Amy's eyes. 'But I won't be able to finish.'
'I'll be giving you a doctor's certificate and if necessary speaking to the teacher in question myself. The pressure you kids get put under today...' Stephanie shook her head as she concentrated on her job. She heard the curtain around Amy's bed slide back and glanced up briefly, surprised to see Oliver there.
'Hi,' she said, and returned her attention to her work. Oliver introduced himself to Amy and heard the teenager's tale of woe while Stephanie managed to extract the needle cleanly and without complication.
'You'll need to soak it daily so it can heal from the inside out,' Stephanie said as she bathed the finger before bandaging it. She went to give Amy a few extra bandages but realised the cubicle was not stocked properly. 'I'll be back in a moment,' she said, sliding the curtain open and heading out. She returned five minutes later with bandages and instructions for Amy, as well as a doctor's certificate and note for her teacher.
'If he has any problems with that, you call me and I'll speak to him personally. I know the experts say the pressure on students in their final year is to prepare them for the outside world—and in some ways they're right. You're always going to come across someone who doesn't give you a fair deal, whether they're a co-worker or your boss, but at your age the pressure shouldn't be so much that you end up completely frazzled.'
Amy nodded, tears welling in her
eyes.
'You have bags under your eyes, you're exhausted and you need a good, uncomplicated sleep.'
'She's a regular flatterer,' Oliver said jokingly to Amy. 'But she's right. I know you're under pressure but try and get some rest.'
'Paracetamol will help with the pain.'
'OK.'
Stephanie walked Amy out to the waiting room and very briefly explained to Amy's mother what had happened. The other woman's face went pale so Stephanie cut things short. 'Here are the X-rays and the rest of the paperwork.' She handed them over. 'Good luck with the project, Amy, and when you've finished the booklet, please, drop a copy off so I can learn how to do it. It sounds like a terrific idea.'
'I'll do that. Thanks again. I've felt better just talking about things.'
'Make sure you see your GP in two weeks' time to have that finger checked,' she reminded her, before heading back to the nurses' station to write up the notes.
'All done?' Oliver asked over her shoulder, making her jump.
'Yes.' She turned and looked up at him. They were in the exact the same positions as his first night at the hospital—the night when she'd stood and kissed him on the cheek. It seemed so long ago instead of the couple of weeks it had been since she'd met him...and now she was in love with him! She supposed her life could never be called dull.
'Er...' He cleared his throat and she realised she'd been staring. 'So, can you come to my office when you have a spare ten minutes? I need to talk to you.'
Stephanie met his gaze, noticing how it had darkened with desire from her appraisal. 'I'm free now.'
'OK.' Unable to control the temptation to touch her, he reached for her hand and helped her to her feet. He reluctantly dropped it as they walked through the department and to his office. Once there, he closed the door and motioned for her to sit.
'So? What's up, boss?'
'Nothing bad. I just wanted to share some good news with you.'
She waited, watching as a small smile creased his lips.
'I've just put in an offer for a house.'
