The Family Practitioner Read online

‘Just reading.’ Throwing his magazine to one side, he raised his arms and stretched. ‘You OK?’

  She nodded. ‘Matt and I have discussed wedding dates and things.’ Joanna dropped onto the edge of the bed beside him. ‘We thought a month from next Saturday. That’ll bring us into spring. And we both like the idea of a church wedding but nothing grand, so we’ve decided the Grove chapel might be the way to go. It’s non-denominational so that doesn’t put pressure on anyone.’

  Jason buried his chin in his upturned hand. ‘Are you going to wear bride stuff?’

  ‘Oh, please!’ Joanna chuckled and rolled her eyes. ‘Both Matt and I have been married before so this time around what we pledge to each other will seem more important than what we wear.’

  ‘Matt’s been married?’ Jason jerked his knees up to his chin.

  ‘Mmm.’ Joanna looked down, fingering the soft weave of the bedspread. ‘His wife was killed. She was pregnant at the time. Matt’s little boy survived only a few hours…’

  A beat of silence.

  ‘That must have been rough.’

  ‘Yes. Matt was left with nothing.’ After a pause, she said quietly, ‘I was much more fortunate. Even though I lost your dad, I had you to remember him by.’ She blinked a bit. ‘I’m going to miss you, Jase…’

  ‘Yeah. I know, Mum.’ The boy’s voice was gruff. ‘I’ll miss you too. But I need to do this. Anyway…’ he lifted a shoulder ‘…it’s not for a few months yet.’

  Joanna took a deep, steadying breath. ‘You’ll come home for holidays, won’t you?’

  Jason grinned. ‘Sure. And I’m hoping you and Matt will come to me. We could go down to the snow country like we used to.’

  ‘That sounds like a good plan,’ Joanna said slowly. ‘But I don’t know whether Matt can ski.’

  ‘He can.’ Jason blocked a yawn and reached over to switch off his bedside lamp. ‘I already asked him.’

  Of course he had. ‘’Night, then.’ There was a smile in Joanna’s voice as she leant across and ruffled his hair.

  ‘’Night.’

  ‘See you in the morning.’ Levering herself up from the edge of the bed, she moved quietly to the door.

  ‘Mum?’

  Joanna paused with her hand on the doorknob. ‘Yes, love?’

  ‘Are you and Matt planning to have kids?’

  The unexpectedness of the question sent Joanna blank for a second. ‘Ah…yes. We’d like to.’ She bit her lip. ‘Would you mind?’

  ‘Nah—be good…’ Jason’s voice was already blurred with sleep.

  ‘Don’t you dare go hiring a restaurant!’ Deb Carlisle upended a pan of muffins onto a wire rack to cool. She’d invited Joanna to Featherdale for morning tea. ‘We’ll have the reception here.’

  ‘But, Deb…’ Joanna poured boiling water into the teapot ‘…you’ve enough on your plate.’

  ‘Joanna, I want to do this for you and Matt. Please, let me.’

  Joanna opened her mouth and shut it. When Deb had her teeth into something, it seemed easier to go with the flow. Besides, she knew their wedding reception, left in her future sister-in-law’s capable hands, would be wonderful. ‘OK, then, thank you.’ Joanna brought the teapot to the table. ‘It’s awfully generous of you.’

  ‘Rats!’ Deb flapped a hand. ‘I’ll love every minute of it. Come on, now. Let’s have our tea and you can fill me in on all the details. I know it’s at the chapel. My darling brother told me that much. Is your dad giving you away?’

  ‘No.’ Joanna bit into one of the warm muffins. ‘I hate that expression anyway. The aisle in the chapel is only short so Jason is going to walk me to meet Matt at the altar.’

  ‘Oh…’ Deb’s eyes misted over. ‘How lovely. What else?’

  ‘Well, Matt and I were hoping you and Scott would be our witnesses.’

  ‘Oh, we’d love to! Scott’s arm’s come ahead in leaps and bounds. He’s managing to do quite a bit now. What are you wearing?’ Deb leapfrogged onto the next question.

  Joanna stirred her tea thoughtfully. ‘Well, it’s an afternoon ceremony so I thought something elegant but not too bridal.’

  ‘Oh…’ Deb’s face fell. ‘Why not? You’d look gorgeous as a bride.’

  ‘No, Deb.’ Joanna held up her hands. ‘Definitely not. But I’ll make a nice compromise, I promise.’

  Deb had to be content with that. ‘How many are you and Matt asking? I’ll need to know for the catering.’

  ‘About thirty. I’ll give you firm numbers as soon as I can. But there’ll just be our folk from the clinic, a few friends, your boys, of course, and the three sets of grandparents.’

  Deb chuckled. ‘We’re going to be quite an extended family soon, aren’t we?’

  Joanna suppressed a shiver, realising how close they’d come to not being a family at all. She bit down on her bottom lip. ‘You know, Deb, if you hadn’t said anything to me that day…’

  ‘Joanna, you and Matt would have found your way,’ Deb reinforced softly. ‘True love always does. Haven’t you noticed?’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  MATT had thought their wedding day would never come. Yet here it was and he felt as nervous as a cat on a high wire. ‘Got the ring?’ he asked Scott for the umpteenth time.

  Scott sent his eyes heavenwards and tapped the inside pocket of his jacket. ‘Stop worrying, mate,’ he joked. ‘You’ll be hitched soon enough.’

  Matt blew out a hard breath. He couldn’t wait. He wanted his ring on Joanna’s finger, something tangible that would shout to the world the beginning of their lives together.

  A faintly mysterious smile played around his mouth. He had a surprise for her. She’d vetoed an engagement ring as such so he’d suggested they have a special wedding ring made instead. Joanna had been happy to go along with that, and apart from having her finger sized at the jeweller’s she’d left the choosing of the ring to Matt.

  And she was going to love it. He’d pored over various designs with the jeweller, finally deciding on a simple band of gold. But what set the ring apart and made it unique were the four beautiful Argyle diamonds, their rose-tinted brilliance enhanced even further by the rubbed-over Victorian setting.

  Matt couldn’t wait to place it on his bride’s finger.

  Joanna looked in the cheval mirror, a little amazed at her reflection. She’d wanted to look beautiful for Matt and, not to put too fine a point on it, she thought she’d achieved nearly that.

  Oh, lord. She took a fractured breath and wondered if it was possible to overdose on sheer happiness. And her dress was just right. In ivory silk with a slim-line skirt, it flowed gently around her ankles, the narrow beaded straps across the shoulders giving an elegant touch to the otherwise simple design.

  Joanna did a little twirl this way and that in front of the mirror. There was no way of denying it. And she realised she didn’t want to anyway. She looked bridal.

  The atmosphere in the chapel was hushed. Word had gone round that the bride had arrived. Matt’s throat worked as he swallowed and moved to take his place with Scott in front of the altar.

  Joanna paused at the entrance to the chapel, her hand securely tucked in her son’s arm. Jason turned and winked. ‘You look fab, Mum,’ he murmured.

  She squeezed his arm and took a steadying breath, for a second looking around her. Feathers of late afternoon sunshine were just beginning to filter through the stained-glass windows at the rear of the altar. And the ancient silky-oak pews looked as though they’d been especially polished for the occasion.

  She took her gaze higher, seeing the light from the old-fashioned chandelier spilling down, shimmering like weightless water so that it appeared to illuminate the warmth in the faces that were turned expectantly towards them.

  With a youthful grin, Jason nudged her back to reality. ‘Matt’s waiting,’ he reminded her. ‘Hadn’t we better get a move on?’

  The wedding reception was in full swing, the buzz of conversation interspersed with shards of laughter filling the nigh
t air.

  ‘It’s lovely we were able to hold everything outdoors, isn’t it?’ Joanna smiled at her husband, his body warm against hers as they rocked gently together on the impromptu dance floor.

  ‘Mmm.’ Matt kissed her lingeringly.

  ‘I love my ring.’ Joanna lifted her hand from his shoulder, watching as the outdoor lighting caught the sparkle.

  ‘Thought you would.’ There was a boyish grin on Matt’s face. ‘I had to work lots of overtime to afford it. But I didn’t mind.’

  ‘I should hope not…’

  ‘We had to have diamonds anyway.’

  ‘Tell me why.’ Joanna smiled, indulging him.

  ‘Because they’re for ever.’ His eyes glittered briefly. ‘And that, my love, is what we’re all about.’

  ‘Oh, Matt…’ She blinked away a mist of tears and hugged him tighter.

  ‘Ah, there you are!’ Deb bore down on them. ‘Sorry to interrupt but you have to cut the wedding cake.’

  ‘Now?’ Matt looked pained.

  ‘Now!’ His twin tugged him by the arm. ‘Bring your wife and let’s have you over here at the round table. It can’t wait, it’s an ice-cream cake.’

  ‘Whose idea was this?’ Matt grumbled gently, as they trundled across the lawn to more applause.

  ‘The ice-cream cake?’ Tucked close to his side, Joanna laughed with delight at what she saw. ‘I think we need look no further than my son and your nephews. Look at them, holding out their plates and practically drooling.’

  ‘Disgusting.’ Matt shook his head but Joanna heard him chuckle as they took up the beribboned knife and with his hand on hers plunged it into the rich, creamy confection.

  ‘Have we mingled enough, do you think?’ They were lingering over their coffee and, tucked away in the shelter of the old Moreton Bay fig tree, they could have been the only two people in the world.

  ‘More than enough, I’d say.’ Matt trapped her hand against his chest. ‘Reckon we could just sneak away?’

  ‘No.’ Joanna was firm. ‘Not when everyone’s come to wish us well, and some from long distances, too.’

  ‘Knew you’d say that.’ Matt kissed her hand on the way to his lap. ‘Happy?’

  For answer, she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. ‘But perhaps you’re right—we should make a move. And soon.’

  ‘Really?’ His smile was as old as time.

  ‘Mmm.’ She leant against him, glorying in the solid strength of his body.

  ‘Shall we try for a baby soon?’ Matt’s arms were around her waist, pulling her back against him. He so wanted her.

  Joanna felt the heat of desire ripple through her body. She loved him so much. Turning her face to his, she pressed light kisses on his mouth, once, twice, three times. ‘Are twins catching, do you suppose?’

  A chuckle rose in his chest. ‘You’re the doctor, you tell me.’

  ‘Perhaps they take twice as long to make. What do you think?’

  His head rested against hers and the soft sigh of his breath teased her hair. ‘I think we should say our farewells and make tracks out of here.’

  In a time-honoured ritual, the guests formed a circle while the bridal couple began moving in opposite directions, kissing and hugging their way around the circle, until they met up again where they’d begun.

  Joanna, smiling a bit unsteadily, made a quick twirl and sent her bouquet flying.

  Steffi screamed, letting go of Kim’s hand just long enough to catch it. Putting her cheek to the lush blooms, she looked across at the newly-weds. ‘I just love happy endings,’ she sighed dreamily.

  Laughing, Matt and Joanna linked hands, and with a final wave to their families and friends they ducked through the circle and fled into the moonlight.

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-5733-0

  THE FAMILY PRACTITIONER

  First North American Publication 2003

  Copyright © 2002 by Leah Martyn

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