by Lucy Clark
‘You’re a paediatrician, Iris,’ he felt compelled to point out. ‘You know how children work.’
‘Yes. How they work. Exactly. I know how to fix them, to mend them when they’re broken, to give them back to their parents.’ She spread her arms wide. ‘I don’t have the first clue about how to raise one, how to do…things with them.’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t do this. I can’t do this.’
Her breathing had increased and he realised she was starting to hyperventilate. Dex immediately pushed her head between her knees. ‘Breathe. Just breathe. It’s OK. It’ll be OK.’
She raised her head to look at him. ‘Which part of this is OK?’
‘Shh.’ He put her head back down. ‘Just…concentrate on your breathing for now. You just need to calm down and think things through. Everything’s just a bit of a shock right now. That’s all. You’re a strong woman. You can do this. You’ll figure it out.’
Iris closed her eyes, allowing his soothing words to wash over her. His voice was so nice, so rich, so calming.
‘Just breathe.’
She sucked in air and slowly her breathing began to return to a more normal pace, the immediate anxiety starting to dissipate. Lifting her head, she looked at Dex who was crouched down next to her chair.
‘There. Better.’
‘You have the most calming voice. So soft and smooth. Like silk. It just washes over you.’
They were close. Close enough that if he were to lean forward a touch, he’d be able to kiss those luscious lips of hers. He stared at her mouth, wanting to feel those same sensations he’d experienced last week. ‘You shouldn’t say things like that.’
‘It’s the truth.’
‘I’m trying to keep my distance here, Iris. I’m trying to figure out what on earth it is that I feel for you, why I’m finding it increasingly difficult to get you out of my mind, and you certainly don’t make it any easier when you say things like that.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Her eyes were filled with sincerity. ‘About last week. About everything. I was rude. I treated you badly. Not just once but twice. I’m sorry, Dex.’
Dex stood, needing to put distance between them because if he didn’t he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself at all. The way her eyes intensified with green warmth when she spoke like that, the way her own sultry tones filled him with anticipation, the way her fresh, springtime scent wove its way into his senses. The woman was undeniably gorgeous and resisting her was becoming one of the daily battles he faced.
During the last few days Iris hadn’t spoken to him unless it had been in direct relation to a patient or something to do with the running of the clinic, and he’d decided to respect her decision and follow her lead. They were like chalk and cheese and were better off remaining simply colleagues.
But now this had happened.
Dex had happened on her only a moment after she’d received such terrible and distressing news and that was why she was now saying what she was saying. She was grateful for his assistance and, therefore, she needed to put things right between them. She’d had a shock and sometimes a shock could help your perspective to shift, just a touch, so you could see the world in a completely different light. When she figured out what she wanted to do, she’d probably regret apologising to him, regret showing so much of her soul. She’d made it clear that she only thought of him as the town’s resident playboy and she was here for less than five more months. She had her next job all lined up and come the end of July, she would leave Didja.
Now, though, it appeared her life was once again to be thrust into turmoil. She’d just discovered she was guardian to a small baby. Even he was having trouble wrapping his head around the concept so it must be infinitely more difficult for Iris. Not only that, her good friends had passed away and death was never easy to deal with.
Her life was changing and even if for one solitary moment he’d contemplated being a part of it, he realised as he looked at her that it could never be. Not now. She would have a child to care for. He would support her in a professional capacity, he’d be polite and helpful, but apart from that, Iris Tennant was now officially off-limits to him.
He walked around to the other side of her desk, needing even more space, to put more physical as well as mental distance between them. ‘What are you going to do?’
Iris looked away from him. She’d been trying to apologise for her bad behaviour, for allowing her neuroses to rule her life. She’d been so wrapped up in her own problems that she’d forgotten that there was a bigger picture out there. Well, if he didn’t want to accept her apology, that was fine. She would just move on. Take the next step. Figure out what to do now.
‘I guess I’ll go to Perth. Meet with the foster-mother and the solicitors.’ She shook her head again. ‘I’m a guardian. It sounds so strange to say it out loud. I simply never thought it through, you know. When they asked me to be guardian, to be Anya’s godmother, of course I accepted. I mean, I love Francie. She’s a good friend of mine and so is Nigel. But I never expected them to…’ She stopped, still unable to get her head around the fact that they were gone. Gone from her life. Gone from their daughter’s life. Just like that.
‘You’ll need to go to Perth.’ Dex started to pace the room. ‘Do you have anywhere to stay when you get there?’
Iris frowned. ‘Hotel.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ll just get a room somewhere. The other thing I’m not sure of is how long all of this is going to take. I mean, I don’t want to leave Joss in the lurch, or the people of Didja. This community has been so welcoming to me.’ Iris turned in her chair, unable to look at him, unable to think about leaving this warm outback township so soon.
‘Don’t go fretting about the clinic, and you do have a six-month contract, Iris. We won’t let you break it that easily.’
‘We?’
Dex stopped pacing and put his hands into his pockets. ‘Joss and myself.’
‘What about Melissa?’
‘Well, I’m sure she’d want you to stick around too, but I mean from a contractual point of view. This is what small clinics are like. We can work around each other’s needs.’
‘You keep saying “we”.’
Dex frowned for a second. ‘You do know that Joss and I own the clinic. We’re partners. Financially as well as professionally.’
‘Wha…?’ Iris knew her mouth was hanging open but within a split second she had recovered. ‘No. Actually, I didn’t know that.’ Again it showed her another side to Dex. One of responsibility, of giving to the community, of being a businessman. ‘I’m sorry. I thought Joss owned the clinic.’
‘Joss started the clinic but not long after I arrived here, he wanted to expand so I invested. Joss is much better at the day-to-day running of everything, taking command of the ship, so to speak, so I just leave him to it.’
Now it all made perfect sense as to why Dex had read her résumé. Why he’d been able to discover her marital status. It also meant he’d be able to help her out in this situation.
‘Are you saying, then, that you don’t want me to break my contract, that you’re more than happy for me to take some time off, to go to Perth to sort this out and then bring a small baby back here and continue with my contract of providing paediatric care to Didja’s community?’
Dex grinned and nodded. ‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’
‘You’d…do that?’ Especially after the way she’d treated him? Iris was astounded at the immediate generosity of the man before her.
‘Hey. You’ve got to sort your life out somewhere and Didja is as good a place as any. Besides, do you have any idea just how Bub will feel about having to look after a little baby whilst you consult? She’ll be beside herself with joy.’
‘Oh.’ Iris frowned. ‘I hadn’t even thought that far.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s all happening too fast. My mind is a blur. My thoughts are all jumbled, jumping over each other, trying to be the one I listen to first.’
‘Sounds like sheep at drench
ing time.’ Dex chuckled but then quickly sobered. What they were discussing here was important and could well affect the rest of Iris’s life. He started to pace the floor again but they were interrupted by the arrival of Joss and Melissa. They both came into Iris’s consulting room.
‘What are you two both doing here at this time of night? There are no patients in the waiting room and Areva’s about to close up shop,’ Melissa remarked.
‘How were house calls?’ Dex asked, although he didn’t sound as though he was at all interested in the answer.
‘Fine. No dramas. Lots of pregnant women. All healthy with growing babes inside them.’ Melissa smiled brightly at them both. ‘And what’s been going on here today? Anything of interest?’
Iris nodded slowly and met her friend’s gaze.
‘What is it?’ Melissa was instantly alert, looking from Iris to Dex and back again.
‘It’s Francie and Nigel.’ Iris slowly explained what she’d just been told on the phone and after Melissa had hugged her tightly and Joss had offered his condolences, he shifted straight into business mode.
‘Dex is right. You must go to Perth and sort this out. Tomorrow.’
‘But, I’m supposed to do—’
‘We can cover whatever clinics, whatever patients you might have needed to see,’ Melissa soothed. ‘This community rallies around its own and no one will mind waiting a bit longer for their children to see you.’
‘We’re a family,’ Joss reiterated. ‘We stick together.’
‘Yeah,’ Dex chimed in. ‘And when you’re in Perth, you could even stay with Joss’s parents. That way, you’re not facing these big decisions on your own or going back to an impersonal hotel room.’
‘Dex is right.’ Joss nodded. ‘My parents would be only too happy to help…’ He stopped and shook his head. ‘Actually. No, they won’t. I was speaking to my dad only last night and he has really bad summer flu. Hasn’t been well for weeks and neither of them told me. Not good for you or a small baby.’
‘It’s all right. I don’t mind the hotel. That way I’m not putting anyone out,’ Iris ventured, although she knew she could really do with some support during this traumatic and emotional time. Still, she’d come through worse on her own and she would soldier on through this.
‘No.’ Melissa shook her head. ‘You need support. This is too big for you to face on your own.’ She thought for a moment. ‘I know, why don’t you stay with Dexter’s parents?’ Melissa ventured.
‘What?’ Dex was stunned at this suggestion.
‘It makes sense.’ Joss stepped protectively next to his fiancée and placed his arm about Melissa’s waist. ‘Your parents have been through similar circumstances. They’d probably be able to give Iris a helping hand with the decision-making process.’
‘But…you just can’t…’ He stopped and glared at Joss. ‘You know the relationship I have with my parents. You can’t expect me just to call them up out of the blue and ask if a colleague can crash at their place whilst she wrestles with some major life-changing decisions.’
Joss shook his head. ‘I never expected you to do that. I was going to call them and ask, and it wouldn’t be out of the blue.’
Dex’s tone dropped, his words very quiet. ‘What is that supposed to mean? Have you been in contact with my parents?’
‘Yes.’
‘For how long?’
‘Ever since you arrived here.’ Joss met his friend’s gaze fair and square. Iris felt as though she should jump between them to stop them from coming to blows with each other but right now she honestly didn’t think she’d be all that effective. ‘They’re your parents, Dex. They love you. They always have.’
‘They lied to me.’ They’d taken his happy, carefree childhood and smashed it into a million pieces. He hadn’t been able to cope, hadn’t been able to believe his entire life had been one huge lie. It had made him realise that if he couldn’t cope with his own life being shattered, he never wanted to put himself in such a vulnerable position as marriage in case he ended up being tested once again.
‘A mistake they’ve regretted more than once.’
Melissa was the first one to move. She walked over to Dex’s side and placed her hand on his arm. ‘It’s time, Dex. Time to forgive, to forget.’ Iris watched as Melissa soothed Dex instantly and realised that whilst Dex might not think there was a very strong bond between them, he was obviously wrong. His sister knew him far better than he perhaps realised. ‘Let go of the pain and move forward. You know that your parents can help Iris and you’re the type of man who likes to help others. It’s in you. I’ve seen it time and time again.’
‘This is a conspiracy,’ he said, but his words were nowhere near as vehement as before.
‘That’s one way to look at it.’ Joss nodded at his friend. ‘Lis is right. You know it. I know it. It’s time to go home, Dex.’
‘Take Iris. Support her. Be there for her.’
Iris was about to protest but found she couldn’t. What she was facing was more than she’d bargained for and if she was going to be honest, she’d admit that she was in way over her head.
‘I never thought they’d die. I never thought, when I agreed to be Anya’s guardian, that this would happen.’ The words were spoken softly as she looked at Dex. ‘When Tim died, I realised so much of the silly things in life we stress and fret over don’t really mean anything. Perspectives shift and that phone call has shifted mine. I do need help and that isn’t an easy thing for me to admit. If you’re offering your support, Dex, I accept.’
Dex looked around the room at the people he called friends, family and colleagues. He wanted to help Iris. More than anything. He wanted to support her as she hadn’t really allowed him to support her the other night. Sure, things had got out of hand but he was positive he now had himself under control where the attraction between them was concerned.
Still, in supporting Iris, did that mean he had to see his parents? Could he do it? Melissa and Joss were right saying that his parents, the two people who had been through the adoption process, would be able to help Iris with the enormous decision facing her.
If he was honest with himself, he’d admit that he’d known this time would come, that he had felt it drawing closer. Hadn’t he been thinking about Mason and Xandi more often lately? Hadn’t he even toyed with the idea of perhaps contacting his siblings to see how they were? And now Joss was telling him that the door between himself and his family wasn’t completely shut—it had been kept ajar.
He was filled with dread mixed with excitement. Apprehension mixed with fear. Stubbornness mixed with hope.
Dex sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out. Perspectives shifted. When he’d come to Didja, his perspective had been very inward looking. Two years later and he was facing strong emotional feelings for a woman he was determined to resist. However, being around Iris, realising the trauma she’d been through, the nightmares that still plagued her…it had made his own problems seem minute in comparison. Now that strong, independent woman was asking for his help but she wanted him to offer it willingly. He looked directly at Iris and nodded slowly.
‘I’m definitely offering.’
CHAPTER NINE
THEY stood outside the front door of the house, Iris looking up at the impressive large wooden carved door, Dex looking down at his feet.
‘Your home is enormous.’ She couldn’t help the words that came from her mouth unbidden. Dex glanced at her, about to tell her that this wasn’t his home, that it was simply a place owned by his adoptive parents, but the words died on his lips.
It was his home. It was the place he’d called home for over thirty years. It was the place that held so many memories, some good, some bad. He remembered falling off his tricycle just over to the left near the hedge. He remembered climbing out the back second-storey bedroom window onto the bough of a tree when he was a teenager. He remembered walking out the very door they now stood in front of, vowing never to return.
�
�I don’t know if I can do this.’ The words were barely a whisper and Iris did the only thing she could do to help him, to reassure him, to show him that just as he’d offered to be there to support her in her time of need, she would be there to support him.
She reached out and took his hand in hers.
Dex was surprised at the action yet incredibly pleased at the same time. For a woman who didn’t like to be touched, who shied away from physical contact, it was definitely a milestone and one she’d chosen to share with him. The fact that he’d held her in his arms on several occasions, the fact that he’d pressed his mouth to hers in the most electrifying kisses he’d ever experienced, the fact that she’d let him press kisses to her delectable body didn’t mean the same as the simple gesture she offered now.
Reaching out and holding his hand was Iris’s way of letting him know how much she really cared about him. This moment wasn’t about sexual attraction, this moment was about support. He’d known throughout his relationship with Catherine that he’d been the giver and she’d been the taker. She had never supported him. She’d never encouraged him and she’d certainly never asked for his help.
Iris had done all those things and Dex looked at her, his fear lifting when he saw that she truly believed he was strong enough to go through with this reconciliation. She was an amazing woman.
‘You can do this, Dex.’ Her words were sure and firm. ‘I’m right here for whatever you need.’
A rakish grin immediately lit his features and he waggled his eyebrows up and down. ‘Whatever I need?’
Instead of getting angry, instead of pulling away from him, Iris smiled shyly. ‘You know what I mean.’
She realised his teasing was also a cover-up for his true feelings and she wondered how many other times he’d employed such a tactic. At any rate, she’d come to the conclusion during the drive from Didja to Kalgoorlie and then on the plane from Kalgoorlie to Perth that trying to fight her increasing attraction to Dex as well as accepting the enormous events that were presently happening in her life was just too much to handle. She liked Dex. She liked the way he teased her and she liked the way he made her feel when he looked at her the way he was now.
