Instant Father

“Yes. I wanted to fathom your secret, to find out what you have that makes Peter turn to you. I thought perhaps I could learn from you.”

“Oh, I see.” She was glad of the darkness to hide her disappointment.

Gavin sighed. “But it doesn’t work. You give him something I can’t. I don’t know what it is.”

“Gavin, how often do you put your arms around Peter?”

He grimaced. “He wouldn’t want me to.”

“You don’t know that. He might hug you back. He might sense that you need it as much as he does.”

He came closer and gave her a wry look. “You talk as though I were one of your sick animals. Can’t you meet anyone without diagnosing them?”

“I guess not. It’s an instinct by now. This is a sanctuary. No wounded creature is ever turned away. And after a while you learn that most creatures are wounded.”

She sensed him flinch at the implication, but he stood his ground. “And that’s how you cure them? By putting your arms around them?”

“There’s only one way to heal,” she whispered, “and that is to love.”

“Is that your secret, Norah?” he asked softly. “Is that why all creatures come to you for comfort?”

“Not all,” she said, looking at him.

“Yes,” he replied huskily. “All.” On the last word he reached for her blindly, pulling her against him so that his mouth could cover hers.

She went easily into his arms, kissing him back and holding his body close. She knew now that she’d been longing for this to happen ever since last night. He’d taken hold of her then to comfort her, and she’d been comforted, but it hadn’t been enough. She’d wanted more. Now more was being offered to her and she seized on it with shameless hunger, receiving the caress of his lips and caressing him back with her own. A deep sigh broke from her as she felt his arms tighten about her. His need was there in his lips, in the heat of his body, in the urgent movements of his hands.

“Norah…” he whispered against her mouth. “Norah…”

She tried to murmur a response, but he was kissing her again. For once this super-controlled man had let his control slip, letting her sense depths of passion and abandon that were usually hidden. That was the man she wanted, the one so carefully concealed behind the iron front, the true man who could set her heart alight if only he were allowed to live and breathe in the sunlight. And she was being given a chance to find him…

But then a chill invaded her, as she realized the moment was slipping through her fingers. Gavin wasn’t just drawing apart from her. He was actively pushing her away.

“Gavin…” she whispered, half pleading.

“That wasn’t very wise,” he said in a voice that shook.

“No, I suppose not, but-”

“But we can be wise now,” Gavin hurried on. “It’s not too late to keep our heads and remember that we’re still on different sides. That’s what you were going to say, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” she said bleakly. “I guess that’s what I was going to say. How lucky for us both that you’re a cautious man.”

“I’ve always had to be. It’s stood me in good stead in my career.”

“And in your life?” she couldn’t resist asking with a touch of bitterness. “Has caution enriched your life, Gavin?”

“It’s saved me from some bad mistakes.”

“And kissing me was a mistake?”

“Getting involved with you would be. It would be a mistake for you, too. I’m not-not a very nice person.”

“You are sometimes.”

“Not often enough. Go on thinking badly of me, Norah. You’re safer that way. That’s a friendly tip from someone who likes you.”

“Oh, you!” she yelled. “Get out of here and stop confusing me.”

He went at once. She watched him disappear in the direction of the house, fighting a desire to throw something at him, preferably something that would hit him on the head and knock some sense into him.

The wire beside her shook, and she saw Mack clinging to the other side. She sighed and tickled his tummy. “Why can’t I be like you?” she whispered. “All you think about is the next meal and the next sleep, and I’ll tell you something. You’ve got life worked out.”

He nibbled her finger, and his bright eyes gleamed at her.

When she’d calmed down, she followed Gavin into the house and prepared to go to bed. But when she reached the top of the stairs she found him standing outside Peter’s room, listening intently. From behind the door Norah could hear Peter’s voice, murmuring soft words. “He’s got Flick in there,” she said.

“And he’s talking to him,” Gavin said with a touch of bitterness. “He can talk when he wants to.”

“He’ll talk to you when he’s ready. Give him time.”

He gave a mirthless laugh. “I thought I’d have made the breakthrough before now-long before now. That’ll show you how little I know. Perhaps I should just give up and go away. Nobody needs me here.”

“That’s not true,” she said urgently. “Don’t give up, Gavin. Peter needs you more than he knows. Be patient.”

He sighed. “I’ll try. But it gets harder every day. Good night, Norah. I’m sorry about tonight. Sorry for everything. Just try to forget anything happened.”

“Happened?” she queried ironically. “Did anything happen? I didn’t notice.”

He gave a wry grin. “I asked for that, didn’t I? But you’re quite right.”

“Battle lines drawn up again?”

“Right.”

But despite her words, as she went to bed Norah found herself thinking of Liz, and wondering about her first marriage. She’d been fond of her stepmother, and apart from her one meeting with Gavin six years ago had mostly taken her view of him from Liz. Now a new thought startled her. Perhaps Liz had never really understood Gavin. Perhaps if she’d understood him properly, she might have loved him better. He was a man who would need a great deal of understanding, but Norah was used to dealing with creatures who lashed out because of some inner pain. It seemed to her that this would make her the ideal person to love him. “But I don’t,” she told herself quickly. “Of course I don’t. What’s one little kiss, after all?”

Yet the feeling of his lips on hers stayed with her long into the night, and when she fell asleep the memory haunted her dreams.

When the telephone rang next day, Norah had a rebellious moment of refusing to answer and take yet another message for Gavin. But then she thought it might be for the sanctuary, so she snatched up the receiver.

“Gavin Hunter, please,” snapped a male voice.

“I’m afraid he’s not here at the moment.”

The man made an exasperated sound. “Is that his secretary?”

“Oh, yes,” she said ironically, “of course I’m his secretary. I can’t remember when I was anything else.”

“Fine. Tell him please that Harry Elsemore called. I’m making progress on raising the finance on the property, but it’s hard when he only owns half of it. Hallo? Are you there?”

“Yes,” she said slowly. “I’m here. What did you say?”

“About this place-Strand House-that he’s trying to raise money on. It’s not easy when he’s only the half owner. It would be better if he could get the other party out. I’ve got some ideas about that. Tell him to call me back as soon as he comes in. He’s got my number.” The man hung up.

Iris, contentedly feeding rabbits a few minutes later, was startled to see Norah stride out of the house, sprint across several hundred yards in double-quick time, and storm into the wooden hut she used as an on-site base. The door was slammed with a force that nearly demolished the hut, but this was followed by a silence that was even more alarming. After a moment Iris approached and apprehensively opened the door a crack. When nothing happened, she ventured to open it further and discovered Norah sitting on the table, her arms wrapped around her body. She was totally silent, but the silence had a volcanic quality.

“What-what are you doing?” Iris ventured to ask.

Norah spoke between gritted teeth. “I…am…calming…down.”

“Oh, I see. Well, I’ll leave you to it.” Iris crept away.