by Sue MacKay
‘Her words were, “Maybe there’s enough of an attraction here to keep Jackson from returning to Hong Kong.”’ Sasha locked her eyes on Jess’s, looking right inside her. ‘It’s okay, you know. In fact, I wholeheartedly approve.’
The air in Jess’s lungs whooshed across her lips. ‘I’m glad it isn’t going to be an issue between us. But you and your mother are getting ahead of the game. One night doesn’t automatically lead to a wedding.’
‘Got to start somewhere.’ Sasha grinned again.
These lovesick grins were getting tiresome. But, then, hadn’t she been smiling and laughing more than normal this morning? ‘Great sex does the trick every time.’
‘Excuse me?’ Sasha’s eyebrows rose and her brow wrinkled.
‘You and Grady, going around like those clowns at the show with big grins that won’t close.’
‘Oh. Like the one on your face right now? Bet there’s one on my brother’s mug, too.’
Jess couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing, and grabbed Sasha into another hug. ‘Guess we should get these pavlovas done.’
‘You always change the subject when it gets too hot for you.’ Sasha resumed hulling the bowl of strawberries on the bench beside her. ‘By the way, thank you for that painting you gave us. It’s fabulous. How does the artist do such intricate work? Looking at that gull on the post with the sea in the background makes me feel the sun on my face and the salt air in my nostrils.’
‘He’s very good, no doubt about it.’
‘Yeah, well, we love it and thank you so much. Of course, I could say you shouldn’t have spent that kind of money but then I’d have to give the painting back and I’m not parting with it.’
‘Damn. My cunning plan failed.’
They talked about the wedding as they worked, reminding each other of everything that had happened from the moment they’d started getting ready early yesterday morning.
Loud masculine laughter reached them through the open kitchen windows and Jess stopped to stare out at Jackson as he stood talking with Grady and Ian. Those butt-hugging jeans and a T-shirt that outlined his well-defined muscles made her mouth water. Her heart bumped harder and louder than normal, and those pesky butterflies in her tummy started their dance again. ‘Sasha, what does love feel like?’ she whispered.
Sasha came to stand beside her and looked in the same direction. Slipping her arm through Jess’s, she answered softly, ‘It feels like every day is summer, like the air is clearer, and at night the stars are brighter. Love feels as though nothing can go wrong. As though everything is bigger. It makes you laugh and smile more.’
Jess bit down hard on her lip. I’ve fallen in love. Overnight. Or did it happen the moment I saw Jackson standing beside Grady as they waited for us to arrive and the wedding ceremony to start? Does it even matter? It’s happened. And it’s not going anywhere.
Sasha nudged her gently. ‘The sky’s very blue today, isn’t it? Sparkling with sunlight.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. What the heck do I do now?
‘The colour of love, I reckon.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘WHO’S LOOKING AFTER Nicholas while you’re working all these extra hours?’ Jackson asked Jessica, as she folded the towels just back from the laundry and stacked them in the storeroom. It was Wednesday and he’d missed her every minute since the weekend. At least working here at the medical centre he got to see her occasionally but most of the time they were both too busy for more than quick snatches of conversation.
‘He’s at day care until Andrea picks him up after she collects her little boy from school. Bobby started school on Monday and Nicholas is so jealous. June can’t come quickly enough for him.’
‘I bet. It must be hard to leave him while you work.’ She doted on her boy.
‘It is. His little face turns all sad, which hurts to see. But it only happens a couple of days a week unless I’m covering for someone here.’ Her face was turning sad now.
‘You wouldn’t think of not working at all?’ What was her financial situation?
‘Thanks to my parents...’ she winced ‘...I could afford to stay at home, but not having a partner I need some adult contact. The brain needs some exercise, too.’
‘I can understand that. It won’t hurt Nicholas to be mixing with other kids his age either.’ Do not wrap her up in a hug. Not here at work. ‘Do you like doing Sasha’s job as well as your own?’ From what he’d seen so far, she coped remarkably well. Nothing seemed too much for her. It made him wonder if people took advantage of that.
Jessica shrugged. ‘Two weeks is nothing. And I get to keep my other nursing skills up to date.’
‘Do you often do the nursing job?’
‘First and foremost I’m the midwife, but if either nurse wants time off I cover for her. I like the variety and there are times when I’ve got no babies due and need to be busy.’ The face she lifted to him was beautiful. Those big brown eyes were shining and her mouth had been curved in a perpetual smile all day.
‘That chicken dish you dropped at home yesterday was tasty. When did you find the time to make it?’ He and Dad had come in from the orchard late to find that Jess had dropped by with the meal. ‘Mum was grateful, though, be warned, she’s not likely to tell you.’
‘I know. Not a problem. The wedding took its toll on her.’
‘Which is why I haven’t had time to call round to see you since Sunday.’ Not for lack of trying. ‘Dad’s had a lot to do, clearing away everything and getting on with the orchard needs.’ He’d ached to visit Jess but knew his priorities lay with his parents for a few days at least. His guilt at not having been here for so long could only be kept at bay by working his butt off, doing chores for them. Leaving in April was not going to be easy. ‘My tractor skills have been in demand.’
‘I understand.’ The hand she laid on his arm was warm, but the sensations zipping through his blood were red hot. ‘Virginia’s worked nonstop on wedding plans since the day Sasha proposed to Grady. She had to crash some time.’
Jackson grinned. ‘Sasha proposed to Grady? Are you sure?’
Nodding, Jess told him, ‘Absolutely. She did it minutes after Melanie was born.’
‘That’s so Sasha. I’d have thought Grady would’ve been chomping at the bit to ask her to marry him. He’s besotted.’
‘Isn’t he? Sasha had been keeping him at a distance. Afraid he might leave her again, I guess.’
Jackson stepped back, away from the citrus scent, away from that body that he so craved. Otherwise he was going to haul Jess into his arms and kiss her senseless. Something he wanted to do every time he saw her. Something he very definitely couldn’t do while at work in the medical centre. But they could catch up out of the work zone. ‘I’ve been checking the tides and it’s looking good for a spot of surfcasting. How about we take Nicholas down to the beach when we’re done here and he can try some fishing?’
Her eyes were definitely fudge-coloured right now. ‘You’d do that? I’d love it, and you’ll be Nicholas’s hero for ever.’ Then the light gleaming out at him dimmed. ‘Maybe that’s not so wise.’
Jackson stepped back close, laid his hands on her shoulders. ‘I promise to be careful with him. And Grady will be back to replace me in my male role model position.’ He suddenly didn’t like that idea. Not one little bit. For a brief moment he wished he could be the man who showed Nicholas the ways of the world. But he wasn’t being realistic at all. It was not possible to be there for Nicholas for more than a few weeks. So having Grady in the background was good. He had to believe that, or go crazy, worrying about the little guy.
Under his hands her shoulders lifted, dropped. ‘You’re right. But just so as you know, I don’t want Nicholas getting high expectations of your involvement with him. Not when you’re not staying around.’
At least she hadn’t said anything about his involvement with her. While he hadn’t worked out where their relationship was headed, he didn’t want the gate closing before they’d spent more time together. ‘I understand, Jess.’
‘Do you?’ She locked her gaze on him, like she was searching for something. ‘I worry because I know what it’s like to have expectations of adults and never have them met.’
‘Your parents?’ He held his breath, waiting for her to tell him to go to hell. To say it was none of his business.
But after a moment she nodded. ‘Yeah. I’m sure they loved me. But they never needed me. I was a nuisance when all they needed was each other and their busy life outdoors, studying native flora and fauna, and how to protect it for generations to come. They tried. I’ll give them that. I always had more money than even I could spend. Occasionally they took me on trips to places in the world most people aren’t even aware of. All far away from civilisation, from the fun things a kid likes to do. I guess growing up I never wanted for anything. Except hugs, and sharing girl talk with my mother, and being able to brings friends home for sleepovers.’
When she started spilling her heart she didn’t stop easily. The pain in her words cut him deep. No one should ever feel that they came second best with their parents. No one. To hell with being at the medical centre. He wrapped his arms around her, held her tight, and dropped kisses on the top of her head. ‘You already give Nicholas far more than that.’
‘I hope so,’ she murmured against him, her warm breath heating his skin. ‘It’s a work in progress.’
‘You think you don’t know how to love? From what I’ve seen, you’re spot on.’ She exuded love—to Nicholas, to Sasha, his parents, her patients. Did she have any left over for him? Because he really wanted some. Correction, he wanted lots. And what would he give her in return? Love? Full, hands-on love? Or the chilly, remote kind, like her parents’? From afar, in a city that was not conducive to raising a small boy with an apparent penchant for the outdoors.
His hands dropped away and he took that backwards step again. It was too soon to know. Did he want to know? He knew he didn’t want to hurt Jess. Don’t forget you’re heading out of here come mid-April. No way will Jessica and Nicholas be going with you.
Jess rocked sideways, regained her balance. Gave him a crooked smile. ‘Thanks. I think. Fishing after work would be lovely.’ Then she spun round and became very intent on those damned towels again, refolding already neatly folded ones. Shifting them from stack to stack.
‘Jackson.’ Sheree from Reception popped her head around the corner. ‘Mrs Harrop’s here to see you.’ Her voice dropped several octaves. ‘She’s not the most patient lady either.’
‘On my way.’ He stared at Jess’s ramrod-straight back, waited for the other woman to return to her desk out front. ‘We’ll have fish and chips for dinner on the beach. That okay with you? And Nicholas?’
‘Sounds great.’ Jess turned and he relaxed. Her grin was back. Her eyes were like fudge. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
So was he. A lot. Too much for someone who wasn’t getting involved. Face it, taking a woman and her son to do regular stuff like fishing was a first.
‘And, Jackson?’
He turned back. ‘Yes?’
‘Mrs Harrop is a sweetie underneath that grumpy exterior.’
‘I’ll remember that.’ How come Jessica stuck up for the underdog so much? Maybe it was because she’d been the odd one out in those two years she’d been to school here. He’d had the loving, sharing family and all the friends at school, and yet he stayed away.
* * *
‘Mrs Harrop, it’s been years since I saw you. Do you even remember me?’ Jackson showed the rather large, elderly lady to a chair in the consulting room he was using while Grady was away.
‘Could hardly forget the boy who kicked his football through my front window.’
Jackson winced. That had been at least fifteen years ago. He gave Mrs Harrop a rueful smile. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘You’ve been away too long, my boy,’ she muttered, as she carefully lowered herself onto the seat. ‘But you’re here now.’
As this was about the fifth time he’d heard almost the exact words since arriving in Golden Bay Jackson didn’t react at all. He might even have been disappointed if people hadn’t commented on his return, even though it wasn’t permanent. After all, since one of his reasons for leaving was that everyone here knew everything about people’s business, he’d feel cheated if his actions were no longer justified.
‘I wasn’t going to miss the wedding. Sasha would never forgive me.’ He wouldn’t have forgiven himself. He loved his sister. ‘She’s so happy, it’s wonderful.’
‘That Grady was always meant for her.’ Mrs Harrop was pulling up her sleeve. ‘You going to take my blood pressure, or what?’
‘I sure am. But first, how’ve you been feeling?’ He’d read the patient notes before asking Mrs Harrop to come through and knew that she’d had two arterial stents put in six months ago.
‘Old, tired, and a lot better than I used to.’
‘How’s your diet been? Are you sticking to fat-free?’ Jackson saw that her last cholesterol test had been a little high but nothing dangerous.
‘Your lady makes sure of that.’
‘My lady? Mum? Or Sasha?’ He wound the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around her upper arm.
‘Pssh. I’m talking about Jessica. She’s very good to me. Always delivering healthy meals and telling me how she’s cooked too much. You’d think she’d have learned a new excuse by now. She’s the best neighbour I ever had. Very kind. She genuinely cares about people.’
Alarm bells began clattering in his head. Mrs Harrop was calling Jessica his woman and they’d only spent one night together. Wasn’t this why he left Golden Bay in the first place? ‘You live in the house next to Jess?’ Guess that explained her comment about his woman. At seventy Mrs Harrop might have old fashioned ideas about him spending a night with a lovely young woman.
Without waiting for Mrs Harrop’s answer, he stuck the earpieces in and squeezed the bulb to tighten the cuff. Then he listened to the blood pumping through her veins and noted the systolic and diastolic pressures. ‘Moderately high. Have you been taking your tablets daily?’
‘Yes, young man, I have. But I need a new prescription.’ His patient pulled her sleeve down to her wrist and buttoned it. ‘She bought both houses.’
‘I think you need a different dosage.’ Jackson began tapping the computer keyboard. ‘She what? Who bought both houses? Jessica?’
Mrs Harrop’s chin bobbed up and down, and her eyes lit up with satisfaction. ‘Of course, Jessica. She saved my bacon when she bought mine. And now she lets me rent it back for next to nothing. I know I should be paying more but I can’t.’
Jackson slumped in his chair. Jess owned both those homes? She hadn’t said. But why should she? She might’ve talked about her parents earlier but that didn’t mean she would be telling you everything. Like you, she can play things close to the chest. Another vision of that chest flickered through his brain before he had time to stamp on it. Beautiful, full breasts that filled his hands perfectly.
Apparently Mrs Harrop hadn’t finished. ‘You see, that boy of mine cleaned out my savings and left me with only the house. I wouldn’t even have had that if my lawyer hadn’t made me get a trustee to oversee any sale I might want to make.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ But Jess had saved this woman from heartbreak.
‘The day Jessica decided to return to Golden Bay was my lucky day.’
‘So it would seem.’ Good for you, Jess. You’re an absolute star. Money had never been in short supply in her family, yet she drove a joke of a car and gave her neighbour cheap accommodation. ‘Now, Mrs Harrop, here’s your prescription. I’v
e upped the dosage a little and I want to see you again next week.’
‘Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make an appointment on the way out.’
Jess was taking bloods from Gary Hill when he walked back from showing Mrs Harrop out. He asked, ‘Hi, Gary. You still into motocross?’
‘Gidday, Jackson. Sure am. Though the body’s a bit stiff these days and I don’t land so easily when I come off. Break a few more bones than I used to.’ The guy appeared flushed and lethargic, but had plenty to say. Some things didn’t change.
‘Maybe it’s time to give it up.’
Jess turned to him and rolled her eyes. ‘Even when he broke his clavicle and humerus, there was no stopping Gary. You honestly think he’ll give up because his body’s getting rumpty on him?’
‘Guess not.’ Jackson was puzzled as to why Jess was taking bloods. ‘So what brings you here today? I’m seeing you next, aren’t I?’
‘I’ve got a fever. I got malaria last year when I was riding in Malaysia and this feels exactly the same as the previous two bouts.’ Gary shrugged. ‘Just hope I’m not on my back too long. I’m supposed to be heading away to the Philippines in eight days.’
‘Sorry, Jackson, but the courier’s due to pick up medical specimens and Roz suggested I take Gary’s bloods while he waited to see you.’ Jess labelled the tubes of blood for haematology and biochemistry, then made some thick blood smears. Next she stuck a tiny plaster on the needle entry site on Gary’s arm. ‘There you go. We should hear back tonight about the malaria.’
Back in his room Jackson began to read Gary’s file on the computer screen as he asked, ‘Any symptoms other than the fever?’
‘Hot and cold, hell of a headache, and I keep wanting to toss my food.’ Gary eased himself onto a chair, rubbing his left side.
‘You’re hurting?’ Was that his spleen giving him grief, engorged through trying to remove malarial parasites from his blood system?
