Christmas in the Outback Read online

  ‘Hear, hear,’ echoed softly around the gathering.

  ‘Just one more thing before we close.’ Dion held up a detaining hand. ‘Perhaps we should avoid serving alcohol on the evening. We don’t want any mishaps as folk make their way home. That would be too awful.’

  Liam drew his legs up and sat back in his chair. ‘I don’t think one glass of champagne apiece would hurt, Dion. I’d be happy to donate it.’

  Dion wavered and then made a throw-away motion with her hands. ‘That’s very generous of you, Liam. And who knows?’ she added with a hopeful smile. ‘Perhaps there’ll be something else along with Christmas to celebrate.’

  ‘Like rain!’ Anna and Jade said together.

  ‘You sly philanthropist, you.’ Liam’s voice mocked Nikki gently as they drove home from the meeting.

  ‘And who’s donating crates of champagne?’ she countered spiritedly.

  He laughed. ‘Think your caterers could supply some decent stuff?’

  Nikki’s mouth curled into a prim little moue. ‘I dare say it could be arranged. I’ll need your cheque up-front, though, otherwise they’ll stick me with the bill.’

  ‘Your wish is my command, Dr Barrett.’

  Nikki made a mock swipe at him, a shiver of awareness shafting through her when his hand reached out and imprisoned her fingers. He raised them gently to his lips. ‘I’m so sorry, Nik…’ His voice roughened. ‘I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?’

  Nikki gave a strangled laugh, blinking through a sudden lens of tears. ‘Just marginally.’

  ‘Do you feel terribly aggrieved?’

  The swift overflow of tears unbalanced her, as had the starkness of his question. But she did feel aggrieved. He’d guessed that correctly.

  Ever since she’d come to Wirilda, it seemed she’d done all the running, planned all the opportunities for something to happen between them. And his response had been to blow hot and then cold, to build a fence around his emotions and consign the tender buds of their possible reconciliation to the scrap heap.

  Yet she’d always known he was by nature a cautious man. He’d had to be, he’d told her early on in their relationship. He had no wealthy father to bail him out if he made the wrong choices.

  She heard him drag in a deep breath, then he spoke quietly. ‘Over the past twenty-four hours I feel as though I’ve been hit with a rock from a great height.’

  He sounded curiously vulnerable and Nikki’s resentment faded.

  She turned her head away, her voice cracking. ‘Has it knocked some sense into you?’

  There was an endless, breathless silence.

  ‘Tell you when we get home,’ he said eventually.

  Nikki closed her eyes and hung on and in barely minutes they’d swept into his drive and jerked to a halt.

  ‘That was some ride,’ she said weakly.

  He stabbed a hand through his hair. ‘Sorry, there are things I need to say to you.’ He slid out and opened her door and they went inside. Alerted by their arrival, Lightning jumped down from his perch on the gatepost and followed them in.

  Liam pushed the cat aside and turned awkwardly to Nikki. ‘Give me your hands.’

  She did and he began to chafe them briskly. ‘Liam…’ She caught hold of his wrists. ‘I’m not cold.’

  ‘No. Sorry. Uh, I don’t know where to start.’

  The ghost of a smile played around her lips and she became aware of the accelerated beat of her heart and a singing in her veins. ‘Perhaps we could begin by holding each other.’

  ‘Yes.’ His eyes squeezed shut and when he opened them they were lit with purpose. ‘I love you,’ he said at last.

  Nikki clamped hard on her bottom lip, watching as his face worked, his broad chest rise and fall in a broken sigh.

  It was more than she could bear.

  In a second they’d reached for one another, their bodies surging together like waves hell-bent on reaching the shore. Nikki could feel the jerky rhythm of his breathing, hear the rasp of it through the wall of her own emotions.

  Like someone who had been away from home for a long, long time, she began re-exploring him, revelling in the whole of him, his familiarity. ‘I love you, too…’ She hadn’t said it so openly, so honestly since the first time they’d made love.

  Slowly she became aware of his palm resting gently against the nape of her neck while his fingers pushed up through the lowest strands of her hair, and she was aware of nothing but the sensation seeping through her body like the spread of a wonderful, delicious warmth.

  ‘Oh, Nik…’ His voice broke. ‘I’ve been trying to come to terms with all these feelings I’ve had and all the while what I truly felt was staring me in the face.’

  ‘And now?’ she asked, her throat dry.

  ‘Now?’ His eyes were so close to hers she could see flecks of black in the brown. ‘Now I want you with me always. If you’ll have me…’

  She felt the warm flood of desire ripple through her body. ‘Of course I’ll have you, you crazy man. Of course—’

  Her words were blotted out by his kiss, and she responded with a wildness that matched his own, filled with a need to be part of him, to hold him and have him hold her. For ever.

  Finally they pulled back, standing close, looking into each other’s eyes. ‘Don’t ask me to sleep alone tonight.’ Liam traced his lips along her throat, behind her ear, against her hair.

  ‘The cat, mind the cat.’ She stifled a giggle as Lightning purred and pressed around their ankles.

  ‘What a passion-killer,’ Liam muttered, hefting the animal gently with his shoe and shutting him outside.

  Nikki extended a hand to him. ‘Come,’ she said softly.

  His fingers tightened on hers. ‘Come where?’

  She laughed, the sound like music to his ears.

  ‘To bed. It’s OK.’ She went on tiptoe and kissed him gently. ‘We’re allowed to.’

  In the bedroom Liam’s eyes clouded and he drew her close again. ‘Are you sure about this, Nikki?’

  ‘Need you ask?’ She hugged him, tears filling her eyes.

  He held her away from him, tracing down the outsides of her arms with his fingertips. ‘I’ve dreamed of you like this. A thousand times.’

  She swallowed and smiled and held his gaze. ‘Shall we have a candle?’

  She took his silence as a yes.

  The candlelight was soft, giving off a shadowed beam across the pillows as they undressed without shame or shyness.

  ‘I hardly dare believe this…’ Liam brought her slowly against him. Lowering his head, he captured her mouth, his hands sliding intimately from her shoulders to her thighs.

  ‘Are you real, my Nikki?’

  ‘I’m real.’ Her voice was so small she could hardly hear it herself. And nervous.

  The floor shifted beneath her, then disappeared as he lifted her in his arms, drawing her down with him onto the bed. She shivered, wrapping her bare legs around him, her arms reaching up to pull his head down, sighing as she felt his warm weight against her skin.

  ‘God, I’ve missed you,’ he confirmed thickly, lowering his mouth to hers.

  Nikki wanted him. Wanted everything to be wonderful. And it was. They fitted together perfectly as they’d always done.

  She urged him closer and closer. Here was their meeting point, the renewal of their love at last.

  She cried out, knowing he had found his place at the very centre of her being, where he should always have been and where he would now be for ever.

  Blinded by tears of happiness, she pressed her face to his, her voice fracturing as she whispered, ‘Promise you’ll never leave me again.’

  He buried his face in her tears and they mingled with his own. ‘I promise.’

  It was the day before Christmas Eve.

  ‘I had a peek inside the hall today.’ They’d finished their evening meal and were doing the washing-up.

  At least Nikki was. Liam was looking at the calendar on the wall. ‘Mmm. How was it?�
�

  She chuckled. ‘A hive of activity but starting to look very festive.’

  ‘Oh, good,’ he said absently. ‘I figure if we can get locum cover, we should be able to take a couple of weeks off towards the end of January.’

  Nikki turned and studied his back. ‘Where would we go?’

  ‘One of the Barrier Reef islands. I’ve already looked up some resort accommodation on the net. I found a place that looks promising.’ His grin was faintly sheepish. ‘It’s got a suite with a circular bed.’

  ‘Oh, my!’ She laughed a husky feminine laugh that made his body clench. ‘I’ve never tried one of those—have you?’

  No.’ His answering smile was as old as time. ‘Shall I go ahead and book it, then? And hope like mad we can get a locum?’

  ‘Let’s,’ she said softly, going to him.

  Liam swept her up in his arms, hugging her hard against his chest, his head pressed close to hers. ‘Let’s throw our bread on the water. Is that what you’re saying?’

  She looked into his eyes, reading the sincerity in them, the love. ‘It’s worked for us so far, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it has,’ he murmured unsteadily.

  When the phone shrilled its summons, it took them several seconds to register the intrusive sound. ‘Yours or mine?’ Liam asked, his cheek against her hair.

  She gave a throaty chuckle, twisting her head to look in his face. ‘Definitely yours. But I’ll come, too, if you need me.’

  ‘Always.’ He swiped a kiss across her nose and went to answer the call.

  ‘It was the hospital,’ he relayed economically. ‘Michelle says they have an imminent birth. A young couple just turned up at the hospital. Mum looks a bit iffy, according to Michelle.’

  ‘Let’s go, then.’ Nikki was already halfway to the door.

  Michelle met them at the nurses’ station. ‘Oh, good, you’ve both come,’ she said as if seeing them together was the norm.

  ‘What can you tell us, Michelle?’ Liam’s voice was clipped.

  ‘OK. Our couple are Aaron and Jody Morrison. They’re very young and very scared. I managed to get Jody into the shower before I called you.’ Michelle led the way along the short corridor to the midwifery suite. ‘But then things started hotting up and I’ve put her straight into the delivery room.’

  One look at their patient told both doctors Michelle’s instincts had been right. This new life was not about to wait. Under Nikki’s gentle questioning Jody revealed that her labour had progressed slowly and steadily all day.

  ‘I’m looking for work.’ Aaron Morrison held tightly to his wife’s hand. ‘We’ve been on the road since early this morning. And then Jody started feeling sick so we had to find a hospital fast.’

  ‘Right.’ Liam’s tone was brisk. He turned to the young father-to-be. ‘We’ll need to examine Jody now, so if you’d step outside for a few minutes?’

  ‘She’s tiny, isn’t she?’ Nikki murmured as they scrubbed.

  ‘Mmm.’ Liam chewed his lip thoughtfully. ‘Let’s hope she’s not in for a bumpy ride.’

  Nikki sent him a quick discerning look. A Caesarean? Not if they could help it.

  ‘Perhaps not.’ Liam pulled on his gloves. Turning, he sent a reassuring smile to their patient. ‘I’ll be as gentle as I can, Jody,’ he promised, beginning his internal examination.

  Jody looked at him with huge, frightened eyes.

  ‘She’s fully dilated and the baby seems rather small.’ Liam quietly gave his findings to Nikki. ‘I’d be inclined to let her try to deliver naturally.’

  ‘I’ll proceed normally, then.’ Nikki moved to cannulate Jody, taking the bag of saline Michelle had ready.

  The fluids would keep the line open, saving them precious time in the event of an emergency when drugs would have to be injected in seconds.

  Hooking up the drip, Nikki felt a surge of energy. She was quietly confident they could deliver Jody of a healthy baby without difficulty.

  But thirty minutes later she wasn’t so sure. Each contraction seemed longer and more painful than the last, and Jody was becoming distressed.

  Aaron’s thin arms supported his wife’s shoulders. ‘This is killing her!’ He looked wildly at the medical team. ‘Can’t you give her something?’

  ‘No, Aaron, we can’t.’ Liam was firm. ‘Jody’s progressed too far into her labour. Any drugs now would cross the placenta and possibly harm your baby.’

  ‘Come on now, Jody,’ Nikki coaxed. ‘You’re doing so well. You’re nearly there.’

  ‘I can’t do this,’ she sobbed. ‘Just…get the baby out—please…’

  ‘How’s her BP, Michelle?’ Liam’s face was set in harsh lines.

  In a few seconds Michelle relayed the reading. ‘One-sixty over seventy.’

  Nikki pressed her lips together. The blood pressure was elevated but that was to be expected. Nevertheless, she felt a lick of unease. Had they done the right thing in even allowing this petite girl to try for a natural birth?

  Now it seemed the only safe measure left to them was for Jody to use the nitrous oxide gas.

  Quickly Nikki whipped the mask from its repository and instructed Jody how to use it, praying the gas would blur the pain and allow Jody to ride out the contractions.

  ‘Heart rate one-eighty,’ Michelle reported calmly.

  ‘Come on, now, Jody…’ Liam was cajoling. ‘Here’s a big one. Give me a push. Good girl. Go gently now. Don’t strain. You’re nearly there.’ He spun to Michelle. ‘Episiotomy tray ready?’

  ‘Wait, Liam,’ Nikki cut in urgently. ‘She may not tear. Oh, look—she’s managed beautifully!’ Nikki’s voice held pure relief as the baby’s head crowned. ‘Well done, Jody! You’re a star!’

  ‘You have a son,’ Liam said, expertly clamping and cutting the cord a little later. In seconds he’d removed the infant to a nearby examination table.

  One glance at the newborn’s stillness, his blueness, told Nikki they had a problem. Her heart squeezed tight as she ran a stethoscope over the infant. ‘We’ve got a heartbeat,’ she said, tossing the stethoscope aside. ‘I’ll suction. Get ready to bag him, Liam. We’re not about to lose this little man.’

  Deftly, Liam placed the tiny Air Viva mask over the baby’s nose and mouth, willing his own breath into the flat little lungs. And then, thankfully, they heard the most beautiful sound in the world, a splutter and a cough followed by an indignant little squawk.

  Liam nodded, his mouth compressing. ‘He’ll make it.’

  ‘Eureka…’ Nikki felt her legs turn to jelly.

  An hour later, with the baby checked over and Jody tidied up, the doctors were on their way home.

  ‘The bub was tiny,’ Nikki said. ‘But I think he’ll do quite well, don’t you?’

  ‘I’ve delivered smaller and they’ve thrived so, yes, baby Morrison will do nicely,’ Liam agreed. ‘But that young man has taken on quite a lot, hasn’t he? No job and a new baby to look out for.’

  ‘With so much Christmas spirit about, I’m sure something will turn up.’ Nikki’s voice held a ring of confidence.

  ‘And we’ll keep mother and babe as long as we decently can. That will give Aaron some space to organise something.’

  ‘You’re really a very nice man, aren’t you, Dr Donovan?’ Nikki’s hand went across to rest on his thigh.

  ‘We haven’t talked about having babies.’ Liam placed his hand over hers and squeezed.

  ‘I’d like some, wouldn’t you?’ In the dimness of the car, Nikki spun him a soft look.

  ‘It would be the most wonderful gift to have a child with you, Nikki,’ Liam said gruffly.

  For answer, she turned her hand over and returned the pressure on his fingers as emotion swamped her. ‘I imagine Clare would adore to be someone’s nan…Even my father would probably like the idea of a grandchild.’

  Liam frowned. ‘Are you in touch with him?’

  ‘Yes.’ It was a mere breath of sound. ‘He knows I’m here with you.’
/>
  Liam snorted. ‘And?’

  ‘And nothing. He’s mellowed, Liam. He really has.’

  ‘Does he still hate my guts?’

  ‘These days he doesn’t hate anyone’s guts,’ she reproved. ‘He had a cancer scare a couple of years ago. That rather showed him that money couldn’t buy him immediate good health.’

  Liam softened slightly. ‘How is he now?’

  ‘No recurrence so far.’ She huffed a wry laugh. ‘And at least it made him give up smoking.’

  They were quiet for a while, locked in their own private thoughts.

  ‘Excited about tomorrow?’ Liam brought her knuckles to his lips.

  Excited didn’t begin to describe it. She curled herself against him as far as the seat belt would allow. ‘We’re having only a morning surgery,’ she reminded him.

  ‘Will that give you enough time?’

  ‘I’ll have heaps. The whole community has been on a roll. There’s hardly been anything for me to do.’ In fact, Nikki had been stunned by the endless goodwill the people of Wirilda continued to show towards her. She blocked a yawn. ‘What time is Fergal getting here?’

  ‘Early, he hoped, when I called him.’ Liam slowed and turned the Land Rover into the driveway. Switching off the engine, his eyes gleamed down at Nikki. ‘He’s pretty excited, too.’

  ‘Well, he would be.’ Nikki gave a mysterious half-smile. ‘He planted the idea in the first place.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHRISTMAS Eve.

  ‘Just grab my arm and beam,’ Liam instructed as they stepped into the party atmosphere.

  ‘Oh, my goodness!’ Nikki clung tightly. ‘Can this be our little community hall?’ Eyes wide in disbelief, she looked around her at the tables set so beautifully, so bold with colour, as if the people had decided to thumb their collective noses at the dreariness engendered by the drought and welcome in Christmas with a bang.

  Amazingly, from somewhere the decorating committee had found a richly checked fabric of red, green and blue for the tablecloths. Blue sparkling wineglasses were juxtaposed with the red of the Christmas crackers and the green and white of the serviettes.