more than most that attachments hurt.
‘If we take her tonight then you’ll want to take her everywhere,’ Donna was saying. ‘She’s not going to change her mind.’
At least Donna understood, Gemma decided. At least Donna could see it.
‘Just for tonight…’
‘No.’ Donna’s voice was suddenly just like Gemma’s. Implacable. ‘Kids don’t interest me, Nate. Hell, we’d be stuck. I mean, having a kid in the back seat…’
It would cramp her style, Gemma thought, not without sympathy. But her twinge of sympathy wasn’t enough to let her relent.
‘Gemma…’ Nate had turned to her again.
‘No!’
‘Hell!’ Nate closed his eyes. ‘Gemma, this is just plain unreasonable.’
‘Ring the discrimination board,’ she said flatly. ‘They’ll tell you how reasonable it is to expect a work colleague to look after your children.’
‘I don’t-’
‘You do. That’s what this is. Coercion. Do you want me as a doctor or do you want me as a babysitter?’
‘As a doctor, of course.’
‘Then look after your own kid.’
‘We’re giving you your keep for nothing…’
That was all she needed! Her eyes flashed fury. ‘Then I’ll move into the motel tonight.’ She slammed the plate into the sink and stalked to the door. ‘Thanks for the bed last night. Send me the bill for accommodation when you bill me for Cady’s medical expenses.’
‘Gemma, don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Goodbye, Nate,’ she said, and walked out the door, slamming it behind her. Before the pair of them could see the tears of frustrated rage welling in her eyes.
‘Gemma?’
‘Go away. I’ll be out of here in five minutes.’ She was shoving her hairbrush into her handbag. She had nothing else to pack, she thought bitterly, which made stalking out in style a whole lot easier.
Hopefully the motel would have a vacant room. Otherwise she’d sleep in the car, and as soon as Cady was well enough to travel she’d bundle him up and take him back to Sydney.
The thought was immeasurably bleak and those damned tears threatened to fall.
‘Gemma…’ The door of her bedroom swung open and Nate was there. Nate with his face wary-as if he expected the hairbrush in her hand to come whizzing across the room at him.
‘What?’ She was so angry she was almost speechless.
‘Gemma, I didn’t mean-’
‘You did mean.’
Hell!
He stared across at her, baffled in the face of her fury. She had two burning patches of colour on her cheeks, giving life to her otherwise too-pale face, and her eyes were shining. With unshed tears?
Damn, he’d made her cry. All at once he felt like a king-sized rat.
‘Gemma, I’m sorry.’
‘There’s no need to apologise. You’re right. I owe you heaps. But I won’t pay it off by taking over your responsibilities. By taking on your baby. Just add my board to Cady’s bill, charge us for what we owe you and be done with it.’
‘We won’t be billing for Cady.’
‘Of course you will. Why wouldn’t you?’
‘Because you’re a colleague. We don’t charge colleagues.’
‘Colleagues don’t babysit. Unless they offer.’
‘You’re right,’ he said gravely, watching her face.
Would she still walk? He’d messed it up, he thought. Hell, he’d nearly had another doctor for this place and he’d messed it up by pushing too hard, too fast.
But looking at her face…
The void that was threatened was more than the thought of losing a potential partner, he thought, but how much more? He didn’t know. He couldn’t really figure out what he was feeling right at this minute-except that he didn’t want her to go so badly that he’d sent Donna away.
And Donna wouldn’t return. She was furious. Babies weren’t her scene.
There’d be other Donnas, he thought. Women weren’t a problem. He hadn’t wanted a long-term relationship with Donna.
He didn’t want a long-term relationship with anyone.
But he did want another doctor in this practice. Graham couldn’t keep working for much longer and the workload was crazy. Gemma could well be the answer.
Which was why he was standing right here, apologising. It had nothing to do with the look of blind misery on her face. Nothing at all. It was the sensible, practical thing to do.
As was crossing the room in two strides and taking her shoulders in his hands. Forcing her chin up so her tear-drenched eyes met his.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’m not crying.’ She gave a desperate sniff. ‘I never cry. I must have hay fever or something.’
‘Of course. I can give you some pills for hay fever.’ But he felt in his pocket and brought out something that was far more useful. ‘Meanwhile, how about a handkerchief?’
‘Thank you.’ She took it and blew-hard. It was a sound never heard from the likes of Donna or Fiona. It was un-feminine, loud and almost defiant in its misery.
And it touched him as nothing else could.
‘Better?’ He smiled down at her and she glared back through unshed tears.
‘Yes. No. I told you, I have hay fever and hay fever doesn’t cure itself with one nose blow.’
‘Of course it doesn’t. But if I upset you-on top of your hay fever…’
‘You have no power to upset me.’
‘No. But if I did then I’m sorry.’
‘You don’t have to be sorry. You’re going out, remember. Just take your lady and your baby and go.’
‘I’m not going anywhere.’
‘Donna won’t take the baby?’
Donna certainly wouldn’t. ‘Um…no.’
‘Well, don’t expect me to apologise because your love life has been interrupted. It’s not my fault. Mia is your daughter and she has nothing to do with me.’
‘I know that.’
‘So I’m leaving.’
‘Gemma, I want you to stay. I really, really want you to stay.’
There was silence while she took that on board. Silence, silence and more silence.
‘I don’t want…’ she started finally, but her voice was unsure and he shook his head. Once more his hands came out to grasp her shoulders. Damn, she was so thin. There was nothing of her. She’d have to stay so Mrs McCurdle could build her up. Make her curvy…
She’d look good curvy.
She looked good now.
‘You do want,’ he said, his tone gentling. ‘You want very much to stay. From your perspective this place has everything going for it-except me. Except a doctor who’s ready to face his responsibilities.’
‘Yes, but-’
‘But if I’m prepared to try then will you give us a try? Will you give me another chance, Gemma?’
She sniffed and tried to glare but it didn’t quite come off. ‘I’m not looking after Mia.’
‘I’m not asking you to.’
