Taking a Chance on the Single Dad

by Sue MacKay

  Dylan’s grandparents had already started grooming him to be compliant by having him running around after them for the hell of it—something he hadn’t been able to prevent on the days he worked and Dylan didn’t have preschool.

  ‘You could learn something from him,’ Jess murmured beside him. ‘Stop worrying so much.’

  ‘You haven’t met Brenna.’

  ‘Surely she’s not going to kick your butt—verbally or physically?’ Dave’s wife never felt the need to hold back.

  ‘I’d handle that.’ Might even welcome it. But getting the cold shoulder from Bren would punch him hard. Neither did he relish the idea of being treated like a special friend who needed taking in hand to learn the ropes at the helicopter rescue base. Brenna Williamson. He knew nothing about what she’d been doing since that heartbreaking phone call. Had deliberately shut down on anyone telling him about her. He’d had to or go insane with grief.

  Jess swiped his arm. ‘It’s been a long time. You’ve moved on, so will she have. Anyway, you can cope with anything. Look at Dylan. After everything he’s been through, he’s happy because of you.’

  Hunter’s gaze was still fixed on that small body in the large bed, despite the picture of Bren in the forefront of his brain. ‘He trusts me to get it right for him.’

  ‘Get it right for yourself and the rest will follow.’

  ‘Is that your way of saying that if I’m happy Dylan will be happy?’ That was Jess all over. But, then, she was a psychologist.

  ‘At last something’s got into that dense brain matter. Now get a move on. You’re due at the base in twenty-five minutes, and even at five-thirty in the morning traffic around Kitsilano is more than what you’re used to.’

  ‘On my way.’ So much for having breakfast before he hit the road. He’d spent ten minutes watching and absorbing the sight of his son sleeping; Dylan was his world, and one of the reasons he’d returned to the city where he’d been happiest. The first time he’d moved here had been within weeks of leaving high school; his best friend, Dave, right beside him. They were going to conquer the world and put Kamloops into the only-for-visiting-the-olds file.

  He’d truly believed he’d escaped his parents. More fool him. His dreams had begun falling into place, then his father had had yet another mental breakdown and he’d been expected to pick up the pieces. Now here he was back again, the dreams altered but still there. Everything he did, worked for, would be about Dylan, not his parents, other than to make sure they were safe and comfortable. His son was not growing up under the weight of his parents’ selfishness.

  At last he’d learned to stop feeling guilty every time his father got ill. It wasn’t his fault, and he shouldn’t be expected to give up his life to fix their problems when they weren’t prepared to try and sort things out themselves.

  Oh, just call Hunter, get him to do it.

  Hunter swallowed hard. Coming here had been the right thing to do. For his boy, and for him. Time to start over with a clean slate. There’d be memories of Bren around every corner, which he’d have to ignore once he got today done and dusted. He was under no illusion. Seeing her for the first time would be difficult. Yet it had to be done, then he’d get on with settling into Vancouver, the place where he’d been so very happy so long ago.

  Not that he was the young guy any more who laughed at everything, thought the world owed him, and believed there might be a chance that if he worked hard enough, he might achieve the life he wanted. No, but something from that time lingered and had drawn him back, away from Kamloops and the darkness and frustration that lurked around every corner.

  Straightening up, he took one last look at his boy and strode away, his eyes moist. At the front door he paused, said, without looking back, ‘Jess? Go easy on him if he gets upset today, will you?’ It wasn’t Jess who needed reminding Dylan stressed at new settings with new people. It was him who needed reassuring that everyone had Dylan’s back while he went to work. Deep down he understood Dave and his family were there for his son. It was just that he needed reassurance that he had done the right thing, coming to Vancouver.

  ‘Get out of here, will you? I’m going back to bed to snuggle up to my man for half an hour. When you get out of my hair.’

  Hunter was pushed out the door, and the lock clicked behind him.

  ‘I’m going, all right?’ Not that Jess would hear, but habit had him getting the last word in. Zipping his puffer jacket up to his chin, Hunter slid behind the wheel of his four-wheel drive and backed down the drive.

  ‘Here I go.’ He headed to SW Marine Drive, trying to ignore the confusion in his head, and failing. Shortly he was going to see Brenna, hear her voice, her laugh, and he had no idea how he’d react. He wanted to be cool, calm and friendly. That’s how he should be after all this time. Once they hadn’t been able to get enough of each other, had believed the future was theirs for the taking. Hunter shook his head abruptly in an attempt to banish those memories, which were probably rose-tinted anyway. He was meant to be looking forward, to settling down in a city he loved, to a life he chose and not one dictated by guilt and strained loyalties.

  When he’d decided to make the move west, he’d thought through all the consequences and while accepting he’d once loved Brenna more than life itself, he believed she wasn’t going to be a problem—if he ever saw her. At the time he hadn’t known he’d end up working alongside her for four weeks.

  He should’ve turned down the request to work on the emergency helicopters the moment he’d heard her name. Hard to do when the base director had all but gone down on bended knees begging him to give whatever time he could manage, they were that short-staffed. Anyway, he loved emergency medicine. The adrenalin shot when racing out to an accident always made him feel needed and happy to be helping people.

  The position he was taking up next month at Vancouver General would have plenty of those moments, but there was something about getting into an ambulance and racing to help someone. Since arriving in town he’d been walking on hot coals every day with nothing more to do than wait for his hospital job to start and to move into his house on the settlement date. With Dylan happy at his new preschool he was redundant for hours.

  Jess had told him about the rescue service’s need for a temporary paramedic and had offered to look after his son before and after school if he took it up. She was probably sick of him hanging around the house during the day.

  The airport loomed ahead far too quickly, and Hunter was pulling into the rescue centre long before he’d prepared himself. Bren wasn’t just a part of his past. She was still real, and, for a few weeks at least, a piece of his life again. Hopefully she was still always late to everything, and he’d get a few more minutes to pull himself together.

  His palms were damp on the steering wheel. His ears filled with a thumping sound coming from behind his ribs. Was she as beautiful as he recalled? Would that regret over what they’d lost, which he’d felt the day he’d married Dylan’s mother, return?

  Would Brenna shoot him on sight just for turning up?

  Hunter put the gear stick in Reverse. He was out of there. Doing a runner. He’d head for the hills until it was time to pick Dylan up.

  His foot remained on the brake pedal. He had to stay and go into the hangar, sign on and do his job. Twelve hours and he’d be able to quit—until tomorrow, when it would be a little bit easier. The ice would be broken. With a sigh he turned the ignition off. Since when had he become so gutless?

  Stepping inside the cavernous hangar, he headed in the direction of the voices coming through an open door. Kevin, the base commander, and—He stopped. It was Bren’s voice he was hearing. His skin tightened. Brenna. Not Bren. Those days were gone, over, finished, because he might stumble in his determination to make this move work if he allowed any feelings from the past to beat him around the head. As were the days over when he dropped everything and everybody to be
there for his parents. He did love them, but they weren’t playing the guilt card any more.

  Brenna was saying, ‘Sorry I’m late. A burst water main on my avenue had traffic diverted all over the show.’ A metal locker door banged shut.

  ‘You’re fine. Nothing’s happening so far,’ Kevin said.

  She thought arriving right on time was late? Change number one.

  ‘Good. I want to go online and book the car onto the ferry before it’s too late. When I got home late from Whistler last night I was exhausted and figured I’d find time today. Mum was supposed to do it but she ran out of time too. She’s busier than ever now she’s retired.’ Brenna laughed.

  That laugh, warm and endearing, and much too familiar, crunched Hunter’s gut. His feet dragged towards the doorway, her voice winding around him, reminding him of sultry nights between the sheets. Spinning around to run for the car park was tempting. Instead he clenched his hands and tightened his leg muscles. Running wouldn’t solve a thing. Beneath his ribs a heavy thudding felt as though he was being beaten with a stick.

  This was far more difficult than he’d believed. The past would be harder to ascend than Mount Baker, and it seemed Brenna still had the power to make him aware of her. Right down to his toes. He’d once loved her with all his being. Now he didn’t. Didn’t? Or shouldn’t? His mouth dried. He still loved Bren? Had he been in denial all along? No. He couldn’t have. Then why these wild emotions brought out by the sound of her voice?

  ‘Find anyone to cover for Patch while that broken femur heals?’ she was querying.

  ‘Yes. I heard about the man who’s taking over as head nurse at the hospital’s emergency department next month. He’s had experience as an ambulance paramedic. Figured I had nothing to lose by approaching to see if he’d help us out. He was more than happy, which takes the pressure off for now.’

  I’d still be a full-time paramedic if I’d been able to make the hours work around Dylan.

  Hunter stopped in the doorway. Exhaled hard. His gaze was rooted to the woman before him. Beautiful, still as curvy. Those caramel eyes still sparkled with fun, her crazy curly auburn hair was still long and tied back in a ponytail, her mouth still soft and enticing and undeniable. Bren, as he remembered her, as he’d loved her. Brenna.

  Tying up her bootlaces, she laughed. ‘The man never stood a chance once you got your teeth into him. Who is he? Anyone we know?’

  That beating against Hunter’s ribs became a whipping. On a deep breath he stepped right into the room.

  Kevin said, ‘Probably not. He’s shifted across from Kamloops. Name of Hunter—’

  * * *

  ‘Ford,’ Brenna finished as she stared at the sexy apparition strolling towards her with all the panache of someone totally at ease with his world. Her head spun. This wasn’t a vision brought on by a restless night. Only one man she knew swung his left leg slightly outward as he walked, thanks to a quad-bike accident as a kid. ‘Hunter, what are you doing here?’ she squeaked, thoughtlessly launching herself at her past.

  ‘Hey, Brenna. Great to see you too. Oof.’ He put his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from plastering her body all over him.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s you.’ Damn it, she was pushing close, wanting to lay her face against his chest like she’d always done back when they’d been together. Then reality got in the way. She jerked backwards. Hunter had dumped her. He hadn’t wanted her any more.

  Hunter gazed down at her, not a hint of enthusiasm in his eyes. ‘You’re looking good.’

  Brenna took his reaction on board and reacted accordingly. ‘Why wouldn’t I?’ He wasn’t about to find out how hard it had been to get over him. ‘You’ve scrubbed up okay yourself.’

  The boyish good looks of six years ago had hardened into a strong, handsome face. Looking closer, she noted the weariness blinking out from those steel-grey eyes where there used to be laughter shining. Then his apathy registered. They were not lovers, not even friends, nothing but colleagues for the next few weeks. Brain slap for being such an idiot. Throwing herself at Hunter like she’d been waiting for this moment, like she had to have him, was ridiculous.

  Stepping away, she flattened her mouth, swallowed her annoyance at having been so stupid. This was the man who’d phoned to say that after three years together they were over. Finished. Told her to go get a life and forget him.

  What did people say when they first met each other after a long time apart? With their history? She said tartly, ‘So you’ve returned to Vancouver.’ Hope fluttered awake. She squashed it. Don’t go there.

  Hunter’s hands fell to his sides as he too took a backward step. ‘Yes.’ This man used to talk non-stop, not coming up for air for hours.

  His reticence spurred her on. ‘How long have you been in town?’

  Why haven’t you got in touch? This is me, us. I’m not going to blast your head off for walking away from what we had going. Or am I?

  Six years ago, she’d wanted to, but not now. What was the point? It couldn’t be undone. Except there was a flame of attraction scorching her inside and out.

  He left you. Don’t forget that.

  Like she could.

  ‘We arrived ten days ago.’

  We? Brenna stepped further away; widening the gap physically, if not mentally.

  I threw myself at him as though we were still an item.

  He had a significant other half in his life, and she’d done that. Her stomach shrivelled and all the moisture evaporated from her mouth. Her chest lifted, stayed there as a breath stuck in her throat.

  I didn’t stop to think. Instead, the moment I saw Hunter I reacted like I used to. How bad is that?

  Now he’d get the wrong idea. ‘How are your parents?’ Banal but safe. Unless... The air finally whooshed out of her lungs. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘They’re fine, living in a retirement village. Mum’s having a wonderful time. Even Dad’s happy. The orchard sold last year.’ Hunter didn’t look overly thrilled, but then he hadn’t looked too happy about anything so far. Including her. He hadn’t been surprised to see her. So, he’d known she worked here and had still taken the job.

  Her teeth gnashed. He’d signed on despite the fact this was her space. About to spew her sudden anger at him, she bit down, kept herself under tight control. Having a spat wouldn’t change a thing, only make the coming weeks even more awkward than they were going to be. ‘That’s great.’ It was far from great, but it was better than saying what was really on her mind.

  Kevin interrupted, looking pleased with himself. ‘So, you two know each other.’ Rostering staff problem solved?

  Oh, no. She usually paired with Patch. She wasn’t working with Hunter. ‘It was a long time ago.’ Hunter was back in town. For how long this time? How permanent was his permanent job at the emergency department? Why did she even care? He wasn’t alone any more. Even if he had been, it still wouldn’t matter. She was not revisiting their relationship. He’d broken her heart once; she wasn’t handing it over to be devastated a second time.

  ‘Then you’ll have plenty to catch up on. Good thing I’ve rostered you together this week.’

  Brenna tightened her mouth against protesting, and instead managed to say in a semi-steady voice, ‘There’ll be opportunities to talk over the coming weeks.’ Though hearing what Hunter had been up to since they’d split might help soften the blow seeing him had inflicted, she did not need to learn how in love he was with another woman.

  She stared at this man she’d once believed would share her life right through to the rocking-chair days. The good looks that had women falling at his feet were still there, somewhat jaded now, but somehow that made her soften towards him. Silly woman. Note that wariness in his gaze. It was foreign to her. Seemed the years away hadn’t been kind to him. Through a sigh she asked, ‘Want a coffee before our first callout?’

  That tire
dness dipped further, tightened his face before he rallied. ‘Sure do. Might try to have my breakfast since I ran out of time at home.’ He shrugged off the small pack slung over his shoulder.

  Heading for the kitchen, she asked, trying to sound, oh, so uninterested, ‘Is this a long-term move?’ Again, the question arose—how permanent was permanent in his book? At her side her fingers crossed. She wanted him to stay? Or to be heading away again? It wasn’t as though they would kick-start their relationship. That was finished. Besides, even if Hunter was available, she wasn’t prepared to get involved only to find herself coming second to someone or something else again. She’d learned that lesson the first time.

  Hunter answered in a manner suggesting he was wondering how much to say. ‘The plan’s to settle here long term. I’ve bought a house in Kitsilano and take it over in a fortnight.’

  She gasped. Of all the places to move to. Not only was Hunter back in town, but he was right on her doorstep, apparently settling in for the foreseeable future. Not fair. Once more she struggled for calm. ‘I can’t believe you’re here.’ True. ‘What’ve you been up to?’ Truly? She wanted to know? No. Well, maybe. Depended on what he had to say.

  ‘Nothing out of the ordinary,’ was Hunter’s acerbic reply. Followed by, ‘I didn’t expect to find you working on the choppers.’

  ‘Why not?’ she snapped, before engaging her brain.

  Don’t let Hunter see how rattled you are.

  Sure. Like that would work. This was the guy who could read her without a glance. Hopefully he’d lost that ability when he’d pulled the plug on their relationship.

  ‘More than anything you wanted to be head of an emergency department before you were thirty-three.’

  He remembered. Why wouldn’t he? She had been driven about getting that position. Until they’d broken up and restless energy had overtaken her. Then she’d needed something more to her life than working in an emergency department. Not that that wasn’t drama personified, but she’d wanted something for herself and, adding in her passion for adventure photography, flipping around the sky in helicopters and whipping down hillsides on skis or a mountain bike had given what she’d hankered after. It made her feel exciting and not a woman intent on studying and being the best doctor with nothing else to her name. ‘I changed my mind.’