around, his quiet good humour making the house a home as nothing else could. He and Cady had become fast friends and she’d often found them fishing in the river beyond the house, or sitting on the big old settee on the front veranda discussing the ills of the world-or just strolling around the little town hand in hand, taking in the gorgeous autumn weather. Kicking up autumn leaves together. Graham was the grandpa Cady had never had-could never have-and it warmed Gemma’s heart to see them.
‘He and Cady have become such good friends-and it’s made a huge difference that Graham’s diabetic,’ she said softly, and Nate nodded.
‘It has. Cady’s already thinking that diabetes is normal.’ The child and the old man solemnly tested their blood sugars together before each meal and then discussed how much insulin they should use with the gravity of village elders deliberating over events of state.
‘It’s been great.’
‘So will you stay?’
Gemma looked doubtfully across the table and Nate thought, What? What?
‘I don’t know. I still have another week to make up my mind.’
‘So what’s stopping you making your mind up right now?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Is it the anaesthetics? Are you missing it?’
‘No,’ she said truthfully. ‘There’s enough call for my skills here to keep my hand in.’ That much had already been proved. The local palliative care team were using her already and Nate knew that her skills at pain relief were far greater than his.
‘So what, then?’ He was watching her face, trying to read it. ‘Is it me?’
‘No. You’re a good surgeon. A fine country doctor. It’s been a pleasure to work with you.’
He nodded, trying to hide the surge of pleasure her words gave him. ‘Thanks. But I don’t think it’s my surgery we’re talking about-is it?’
‘No.’
‘Then what?’
‘You’re Mia’s father,’ she said flatly, and he grimaced.
‘You’re still holding it against me-that your sister used me?’
‘It’s more than that,’ she confessed, staring into the dregs of her teacup instead of at him. ‘It’s being around Mia. She looks like you but there’s so much of Fiona in her.’
‘You’re afraid of loving her?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
‘Because how can I stay here for a year or two and then calmly walk away? Cady’s already fond of her now. To pull them apart after a couple of years would be cruel. And…I’m not sure I could walk away either.’
‘Then don’t.’
‘This isn’t a lifetime offer,’ she said flatly. ‘Anything could happen in a couple of years. Graham could die. Without your uncle tying you to the place you may well decide to return to the city.’
‘I won’t.’
‘There’s more women…of your type…back in the city.’
His face darkened with anger. ‘Hell, Gemma…’
She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. But you know what I mean. You’re a fish out of water here.’
‘Meaning…’
‘Meaning you love your social life. You love beautiful women. You’re not a true country doctor.’
‘How the hell would you know what a country doctor is? Who are you to judge me?’
‘I’m not…I can’t…’ She sighed and rose to clear the table. ‘I guess I don’t know you at all. But that’s just it. I don’t know you, and if I agree to stay I’m putting my trust in you for the long term.’
‘And you don’t trust me?’
‘No. I don’t. You kissed me and I don’t know why. I don’t think you know why either. And what I don’t understand I don’t trust. I don’t trust…people.’
He hesitated but then probed on. ‘Life’s been a disaster?’
‘Apart from Cady. He’s my one good thing.’
He sat and watched while she cleared away. He knew he should get up and help but he was watching her as she moved silently around the table. She looked like she’d been slapped, he thought. Over and over again. She looked like she was expecting it to continue into the future.
And his half-formed idea suddenly started to crystallise.
He thought about it as she stacked the plates. He thought about it as she started washing dishes-one plate, two, three, then the mugs…
And halfway through the crockery he could stand it no longer. She picked up the dishcloth, lifted a plate-and out it came.
‘Gemma, what about if you married me?’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Gemma stood stock still-and then she dropped the plate.
‘Excuse me?’ It was hardly a whisper. Her face had gone chalk white.
‘You heard.’
‘No.’
Nate rose then and picked up the plate she’d dropped. It had split into two perfect halves. He put them in the trash and then turned to face her. Damn, she still had that expression on her face. Like she was expecting pain.
‘I mean it.’ His hands caught her shoulders and held. ‘I’ve thought about this-’
‘You don’t know what you’re saying.’
‘I do. I’m asking you to marry me.’
‘You don’t even know me.’
‘I do.’ His eyes studied hers and what he saw there only served to confirm his views. ‘I know you’re loyal and true and caring. I know you love Cady to bits-and, despite everything she did to you, you loved your sister. I know you’re hurt and you’re tired and you’ve run out of places to run. So don’t run any more. Stay here with us. For ever.’
She let herself look at him-really see him-and what she saw in his eyes astounded her. His hands were holding her but she was scarcely aware of the touch. She was only aware of his words. ‘You’re serious!’
‘Never more so.’
‘But… What about Donna?’
‘Donna is…Donna was my girlfriend.’
‘But it’s normal…’ Her voice faltered and died. She swallowed and tried again. ‘It’s normal to ask your girlfriend to marry you. Not a total stranger.’
‘I thought about that. Donna won’t do.’
‘Won’t do?’
‘As a mother to my daughter.’ There. The thing was out. This aching need.
‘Is that what you want?’ she whispered. ‘A mother for Mia?’
‘I want what Cady has,’ he told her truthfully, knowing that nothing else but truth would do. ‘I want that for Mia. I’ve watched you with Cady. You love him so much… OK, Mia is my daughter and I intend to give this love caper the best shot I can. Whether I succeed is a different matter. But, succeed or not, Mia needs a mother-and I’d like that mother to be you.’
Anger flared at that. ‘You can’t persuade me to take her any other way-so you offer marriage?’
