"Part of the process my dear. You need to listen to your body. If you want food just let me know and take care of yourself. Jane will have a major fit if you do too much. We've both taken you under our wings so don't think we are being nosy. We are family now and will look out for you."
Tears filled her eyes and she reached for the next plate of toast. Wiping her cheeks with the heel of her hand Stacey sniffed loudly. "I'm so lucky with you guys and I appreciate it so much. It's hard being out her in the middle of the desert with no family close by. I'm lucky I have Sid and Doc." She gave a small laugh. "And now you and Jane. Feel free to treat me like your family Nigel, I will do the same to you guys."
"Oh honey, you are a sweet thing, seriously. Now, since you say that," Nigel wiggled in his seat and leaned closer, "your babies daddy. Tell me about him."
"What's to tell. He's a sneaky conniving lying bastard who is intent on ruining this town."
"But surely having the mines here should bring in more business?" He sat sipping his tea while listening with rapt attention.
"Maybe in the short term for the pub yes. But once their temporary accommodation arrives they'll all move out into that and we will be back to normal again, only seeing the men for a drink on their cross shift."
"What makes you think he'll ruin the town?" Nigel crossed his legs and pouted his lips at her.
"The new lease for the gold mine, which is the ground they are breaking now not the other mine, covers some of the most beautiful scenery in Queensland. The waterfalls is one of my favorite places and with the way they mine gold, it will become polluted and ruined. I wanted to save it and set up a caravan park and tourist site. That's all gone out the window now they have approval."
"Such a shame. But things seem to have a way of working themselves out in the end." He drained his cup and stood up. "You go and put your feet up for a while and I will organize this mess."
Stacey stood and placed her cup and plate on the bench before dropping a quick kiss on the older man's cheek. "Thanks, I'll be in the office if you need me."
When she powered up the computer the first thing she did was check the bank balances. More stock had to be ordered and running on a tight budget made things difficult to say the least.
Holy heck. They have paid already. Stacey checked the balance against her invoices and shook her head. Nobody paid that quick, nobody. But she had to give it to Morgan. His bill was paid up for the next month in advance and now they were well and truly in the black. If she could put up with him for the next couple of months, the money would see them through the next slow period. It would give her time to figure out alternatives to bring in tourists ready for coming season.
Lost in her office work she was startled when the door opened. Nigel walked in with a plate of sandwiches and a cup of coffee for her.
"You will starve that baby at this rate. You've been locked in here for hours."
"Sorry, the time just got away on me. Thanks for this but I'll come and eat with you." She picked up her plate and reached for the coffee when a pain hit her in the chest. The breath was knocked out of her and she sunk back down into the chair.
"What is it?" Nigel ran to the door and yelled out. "Jane, get in here quickly."
He ran back to Stacey who was sitting with her eyes closed and her palm against her chest.
"Just breath slowly honey, you will be okay."
"What is it? Stacey," Jane ran into the office and hurried to her side, "what's wrong, tell me."
"I don't know. My chest hurts like all hell, same last night."
Jane picked up the phone and called Doc, keeping her eyes on Stacey.
With the slow breathing and Nigel speaking soft soothing words to her, the pain was easing.
"Doc will be here in a minute. What exactly were you doing when this happened?" She pushed a stray hair from Stacey's clammy cheeks and looked down with a worried expression wrinkling her forehead.
"Nothing, I was doing the books and I felt fine. Then when I went to get up my chest tightened and I couldn't breathe properly. I feel much better now, honestly."
"And last night?"
"Closing up before I went to bed. A soak in the shower seemed to make me feel better."
Stacey looked up when she heard footfalls thumping toward her office and Doc ran into the room.
"What seems to be the problem?" He looked at Jane for an answer and she relayed what had already been said.
"Hmm, let's see shall we. Give me some room you two."
He nudged them out of the way and took his stethoscope from his bag.
"Okay little mother, what have you been up to then? Breath in and out for me please."
Doc listened to her chest and checked her pulse and anything else he could think of before sitting back on the edge of her desk.
"You know, I think you are just too stressed. Stress mimics some of the symptoms of a heart attack. Chest pains, sweaty, breathless. All of the things you are experiencing." He held his hand up when she tried to speak. "I know you and as usual you are probably doing too much even if you have staff to help you. What time did you get to bed last night?"
"About ten thirty. Usual for me but I slept well."
Nigel raised his eyes and
