by Lucy Clark
Henry was momentarily mesmerised at the way the sun glinted off her brown hair, giving it a coppery, bronze look and one which was highly appealing. ‘Thanks for the tip.’
‘There are jugglers, fire-eaters, all sorts of street performers. You name it, Deni has it.’
‘Quite a claim to fame.’
‘Yep, and the world record ute muster at the end,’ Rayne added. ‘That’s the “blokey” bit, although a lot of women love it, too. Big concerts. Lots of larking about. It’s all good fun and it’s good for the town’s economy.’
‘And what about the health-care professionals? Do you all go a bit barmy during the busiest week in Deniliquin’s year?’
Rayne laughed and Henry instantly wished she hadn’t. Her bright eyes were turned in his direction, sparkling brightly. They were a deep green, almost the colour of a well-cut emerald, and when she looked at him like that…
Henry shook his head to clear it and watched as she stretched out a slim arm to reposition her hat on her head.
‘You could say that. Why? Offering to lend a hand?’
‘Uh…’ He hadn’t actually thought that far. ‘Well…I guess if you wanted some help…’
Rayne blinked, her teasing smile in place. ‘I was sort of kidding. It would end up being a sort of busman’s holiday for you if you had to work on your vacation. Anyway, as you’re heading into town…’ Rayne opened the door of her car and pulled a set of car keys from the pocket of her jeans ‘…why don’t you follow me? Perhaps once you’re settled at a hotel, we could…I don’t know…meet up for dinner?’
‘Dinner?’
‘Sure. Country hospitality and all that. It’s the least I can do to say thanks for helping me to deliver little DT.’
Henry paused for a moment, as though considering what she was saying. ‘OK. Sure. Would it also be all right if I visited Donna just to, er…?’
‘See that she’s all right?’ Rayne nodded. ‘Occupational hazard, isn’t it? I was in Melbourne about six months ago…’ She stopped for a second and Henry thought he saw the light go out of her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had come and he wondered whether he’d imagined it. ‘And I helped out in an emergency. Woman choking on a chicken nugget in the shopping mall,’ she went on. ‘I followed the ambulance to the hospital, waited while she was checked, even visited her the next day just to make sure she was OK.’
‘We seem to have a lot in common.’ The words were out of his mouth before he realised it.
‘What? Over-achievers? Or people who just can’t switch off when they’re supposed to be taking a break?’
‘How about all of the above?’
Her phone rang at that moment and she rolled her eyes. ‘Never off duty, it seems.’
‘I know the feeling.’
Rayne checked the cellphone display. ‘Hello, darling. What’s up?’
Henry tried not to listen in, instead deciding to pack his own medical kit back into his car to give Rayne the privacy she needed. As he walked away, he idly wondered who ‘darling’ was. Rayne didn’t wear any rings but that wasn’t uncommon with medicos. Anyway, it was none of his business. She’d invited him to dinner to say thanks for helping and that was all there was to it. And, quite frankly, for the first time in an exceedingly long time, he was actually looking forward to it. After that, he might bump into the Deniliquin GP here and there during his stay but that would be about it. A polite ‘hello’ or even a little conversation about little DT’s progress and then they’d move on. She had her life. He had his. They’d intersected for a very short time and that was all there was to it.
Henry followed Rayne’s ute the short distance into Deniliquin and was surprised when she pulled into the hospital car park. He parked his car and climbed out, walking over to her.
‘I thought you were going to take me to a hotel?’
‘I was. I mean, I am but I called ahead to Sylvia’s hotel—which is the best in Deni, by the way—and she said she’d get a room organised for you. I didn’t have your number so I couldn’t call and tell you and thought, well, why not go to the hospital first?’ She shrugged a few times as she spoke, wondering for a moment whether she’d been too impertinent. ‘I hope that’s all OK. I tend to sort of take over.’
‘You appear to be good at organising.’
‘My life needs to be organised or I don’t cope. Miss Hospital Corners. That’s me.’
‘Don’t you mean, Dr Hospital Corners?’
Rayne laughed. ‘I guess I do. Anyway, if there’s anything I’ve arranged which you don’t like, let me know because I can always undo it.’
‘Undo a confirmed reservation at the best hotel in Deniliquin? Perish the thought.’ He indicated the hospital. ‘Shall we?’
Rayne nodded. ‘We shall.’
They headed inside the hospital, which was newer than Henry had expected. For some reason, because Deniliquin was an outback town, he’d expected nothing but the basics, but this appeared to be quite up to date and almost state-of-the-art…for a population of eight thousand.
He watched as Rayne conversed easily with all the staff members, introducing him along the way to everyone she bumped into, including the cleaners. It wasn’t that Henry was a snob but at the Sydney hospital where he worked, medical staff certainly didn’t fraternise much with the domestics. Again, it was as though new doors were being opened to him and inside was a different world—a world which he liked much better than the one he inhabited on a regular basis.
When they found Donna and DT, she was sitting up in bed, nursing the newborn.
‘How are things going?’ Rayne asked as she walked in.
‘Good. I’ve been checked out. DT’s been weighed and measured and all that jazz and pronounced completely beautiful by everyone she’s met.’
Rayne smiled and stroked the downy head. ‘She is, Donna. Beautiful and perfect.’
‘And you’ve brought the handsome stranger to visit me.’ Donna held out her free hand to Henry and gave it a quick squeeze. ‘I never did thank you for stopping to help, so thank you.’
He beamed, liking the way the simple words made him feel. He’d helped patients in difficult situations before and he’d been sent cards and fruit baskets and the like, but for some reason, this ‘thank you’ was more…personal.
‘It was my pleasure, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of ushering your impatient daughter into the world.’
Rayne watched Henry as he interacted with Donna and the baby, noticing how he seemed to have a different light in his eyes. She had no idea why but for some reason she got the feeling he was almost rediscovering his love of medicine. She shrugged. Perhaps that was the reason he was on holiday? Anyway, it was no business of hers. He was simply someone who’d stopped to help out and who she was thanking by taking him to dinner. Period.
Rayne drove the short distance to Sylvia’s hotel, checking her rear-view mirror to ensure Henry was following her in his flash car. Her ute, unfortunately, kept spluttering, as though gasping for air, and she hoped Godfrey would be able to fit the ute in for a service before the hordes of tourists came into town.
‘Here you are. At last.’ She stood outside Reception and waited for him to join her. ‘You’re probably exhausted after driving for the better part of the day and then delivering a baby on the side of the road.’
‘Actually, I’ve only come from Wagga Wagga today, which isn’t all that far.’
‘Oh. Just a couple of hours. Sorry. I thought you’d come from Sydney today.’ She shook her head. ‘Don’t know why. Anyway, you’re still probably eager to get settled in so I’ll leave you to it.’
‘OK.’
Neither of them moved. Both just stood there like statues, not blinking but somehow communicating. It was definitely something Rayne hadn’t experienced before and while it probably looked quite strange—the two of them standing there, just staring at each other—it felt so right. She also knew, however, that she needed to snap out of it.
�
�Right, then. I’ll leave you to it and meet you at the San Zucker Lane Hotel and Bistro. Sylvia will be able to give you directions.’
‘Good.’ He nodded and Rayne forced her legs to move.
‘See you, then.’ She turned and tried not to rush to the driver’s side. She’d opened the door and was about to climb in when Henry called her name. She looked over at him expectantly.
‘Uh…what time?’
‘Oh.’ She smiled, feeling slightly embarrassed. ‘Uh… how’s six-thirty?’
‘For dinner?’ His eyebrows shot up at the early time. ‘Is there a dinner rush in the town as well? Have to eat before seven or something bad happens?’
‘No.’ She laughed. ‘Nothing like that. If that’s too early…’
‘No. It’s fine. San Zucker Lane Hotel and Bistro at six-thirty.’
‘Yes.’
He grinned. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Rayne smiled back at him. ‘Me, too.’
Two hours later, after Henry had unpacked and studied the map of Deniliquin, circling the San Zucker Lane Hotel and Bistro, which was only a block away from where he was staying, the phone by the bed rang and he picked it up.
‘Dr Har—’ He stopped for a split second. He wasn’t here as a doctor. He wasn’t here in an official capacity at all and to that end he simply said, ‘Hello?’ just like a normal person.
‘Henry? It’s Rayne.’
She sounded younger on the phone but he liked the way her lilting tones washed over him. ‘Hi, there. Need help with another delivery?’
She chuckled. ‘No, but I’m afraid I do have bad news.’
‘You need to cancel,’ he stated.
‘I do. I’m so sorry. Something’s come up.’
‘Anything I can help with?’
‘No. No you’re on holidays, remember? Besides, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Rain-check on the dinner?’
‘Of course.’
‘How about Wednesday?’
‘For dinner?’
‘Yes. It’s just that for the next few nights I’m going to be held up with school stuff.’
‘School?’
‘Yes, and Wednesday is my first free night. Same time and place?’
‘Sounds good.’
‘Excellent and again I’m really sorry I need to canc—’
‘There’s no need to explain, Rayne. I completely understand. In fact, if you just wanted to forget it, that’s OK, too. I promise to still believe in country hospitality.’
‘I don’t want to cancel.’
‘Oh. All right, then. We’ll make it Wednesday.’
‘See you then—if not before. Bye.’
Henry rang off, then sat down on the bed and slowly let out the breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. Disappointment swamped him at the thought of not meeting Rayne tonight and until that moment he hadn’t realised how much he’d been looking forward to it.
The question was—why?
CHAPTER TWO
FOR the next two days, he took in the sights of the small outback town, realising it wasn’t as small as he’d initially thought. Sure, it was nothing compared with Sydney or Melbourne but, then, it didn’t profess to be. In the city life was all hustle and bustle and he realised that the pace of life here in Deniliquin was much slower, more leisurely. And he liked it.
As he walked around, being greeted by almost everyone he passed with a nod or a ‘G’day’or ‘How ya doin’?’, Henry found himself taking deep cleansing breaths. Something he only belatedly realised he hadn’t done for a very long time.
The last six months had been so full on, so high pressured, and the pressure had come from no one else but himself. He’d felt as though all eyes had been on him, had been watching him, waiting to see how he coped with the death of his wife, and he’d wanted to prove to all of those prying eyes that he was fine.
Now he was beginning to wonder if he hadn’t overdone it. Getting away like this, simply taking leave and getting in the car and driving away from everything he’d ever known, was…liberating.
‘OK. Thanks. See you later.’
The sound of a woman’s voice, a voice he recognised, stopped him in his tracks and he turned to see Rayne coming out of the bakery carrying a box. She was across the street and before he knew what he was doing, he’d stepped off the deep, wide kerb and was heading in her direction.
‘Hi. Rayne!’ He called her name and she stopped, looking in his direction, her smile automatically brightening.
‘Henry. This is a nice surprise. How are you enjoying Deni?’
‘It’s a great town.’
‘No arguments from me.’
‘Where are you headed?’ he asked, pointing to the box. ‘Back to your clinic?’
‘No. I somehow got roped into helping at the hall today. The cupcakes are to bribe the builders.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I need them to build me another special table and they’re not going to want to do it.’
‘And cakes will help?’
‘Oh, yes. These cupcakes, my friend, are the best in the state— No! Best in the country. In fact, I’d go as far as to say the best in the world.’
‘Wow. They must be like magic.’
‘They taste like it, too. Darren—he’s the baker—is the judge of the cake competitions for the festival.’
‘Glad to hear it. It would be hardly fair to have the man who bakes the best cupcakes in the world to be a contestant.’
They both stood there, looking at each other, grinning like silly Cheshire cats. Rayne couldn’t believe how happy she was to have bumped into him, her thoughts having constantly turned to their dinner the next night.
For some reason, this handsome stranger had infiltrated her subconscious and several times in the past few days she’d found herself daydreaming and sometimes not when she was alone. At work, at home, while she was helping out at Jasmine’s school. This man, this man she knew next to nothing about, had piqued her curiosity and she found herself wanting to know more. That in itself was a frightening prospect because Rayne had made a vow years ago to simply be friends with men, to keep them at arm’s length and to protect herself.
‘Well…I’d better let you get to where you’re going,’ Henry eventually said.
‘Huh? Oh, right. Hey, if you’re not busy, would you like to come along? If you have any skill at swinging a hammer, I’m sure you’d be more than welcome.’
‘And if I can’t?’
‘Then you’ll be given one job or another. There’s always too much to do and not enough people to do it.’
‘And if I help, that makes me eligible for one of the world’s best cupcakes?’
Rayne’s smile increased. ‘It most certainly does.’
‘Then count me in.’ They headed off, Henry a little surprised when it didn’t appear as though she was heading to her ute. ‘We’re walking?’
‘Yes. Is that a problem? The hall’s not too far.’
‘I know that. I’ve done quite a bit of walking around the town, familiarising myself with the layout.’
‘And?’
‘And it’s really nice. I particularly like the heritage walk and the wildlife reserve, and then there’s the Edward River which always seems to have people either walking along the banks or enjoying watersports.’
‘It’s a good time of year for it and at least we have a river to water-ski on. Some towns up north, their rivers have almost dried up.’
‘It’s a harsh time for our country.’
‘Yes.’
‘But we do have the best cupcakes available to us.’
Rayne grinned, surprised to find his sense of humour seemed to work on the same wavelength as her own. ‘An added advantage to the drought.’
As they walked across the hall’s car park, Henry looked around for Rayne’s ute but it wasn’t there either. ‘Where’s your car?’
Rayne groaned and rolled her eyes. ‘In the shop. Godfrey has promised me he’ll
fix it before the festival begins. I hope he does. The last time he had my ute, it took him five weeks to fix it.’
‘Really? Perhaps you should take it to a different mechanic.’
‘What different mechanic? Godfrey’s it for the town.’
‘One mechanic?’
‘Well, one mechanic and a few apprentices. He gets by. Hopefully this time the ute won’t need an extra part. That’s why it took so long before. He had to send away to Sydney for the part and, well, it would have been much faster for me to drive to Sydney, find the autoshop, buy the part and drive it back only I, uh…didn’t have a vehicle to do it.’
‘How on earth did you get around for five weeks without transport? Don’t you have house calls and things like that?’
‘Yes, but we’re a close-knit community and I had people scheduling themselves on to give me lifts or let me borrow their cars. It all worked out in the end and I got to meet a lot of people.’
‘Sounds as though it didn’t bother you all that much.’
‘It wasn’t long after I’d moved to Deniliquin so it was a really good way to introduce myself to the masses.’
‘What? “Hi, there, I’m the new doctor in town. Can I get lift to Timbuktu?”’
Rayne laughed again, opening the door of the hall. ‘That’s it. Exactly.’
Henry liked her laugh. It was bright, uplifting and made him feel glad to be alive. It was a strange sensation but it wasn’t the first time Rayne Hudson had evoked a different emotion in him since they’d met. The woman seemed to have a love of life and that was something else he hadn’t come across all that often.
‘Hi!’ she called, addressing the room in general.
‘Oi, Doc. Good timing,’ one man said as he fitted his hammer into his belt and wiped the sweat from his brow.
Henry watched in fascination as six burly blokes dressed in workboots, shorts and navy-blue singlets—all of them wearing tool belts—carefully chose a pretty, iced cupcake from the box Rayne was holding open.
‘Mmm. Delicious,’ one mumbled, mouth half-full, pink frosting on his nose. Henry couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
Rayne looked up at him. ‘I know. They look like attack dogs but they’re really puppies at heart.’ The rest of the hall was filled with women sorting out tables of jumble-sale items and various craft things and pinning up photographs onto a specially made cork-board. They took their time in finishing up what they were doing before joining in the cupcake devouring.
