Stacey frowned at him but he ignored her and laughed.
"I knew it. With the stress of your, um present situation and being pregnant on top of it, you are doing too much. You have to slow down or you will end up in hospital where I can keep an eye on you."
"I can do this Doc. God, I'm not the first women to fall pregnant and go it alone am I?"
"No you're not but, you also run a pub seven days a week and put in long hours. If you don't slow down your blood pressure will be the next thing to go over the top. Then you will be in trouble. I suggest you get more help."
"I can't afford it. The miners will only be here for two months. The pub needs the money to keep going through to the next tourist season. I'm trying to figure a way out to get more through traffic to stop here and I need funds to do that. Can't you see what I'm doing Doc?" She shook her head and sighed. "If I spend the money on wages, we would have to close the doors earlier and I won't do that to Pop. I just won't."
He cursed under his breath. "You always were stubborn, even as a youngster. I'm sorry but that is my professional opinion Stacey. You put yourself and your baby at risk by working so hard. You are twenty four weeks now, a viable age for a fetus if you lived in the city. Out here it isn't. I just don't have the equipment and you may not make it to Sydney if you go into labor. Please take it easy."
He put his stethoscope away and snapped his bag shut. Looking at her once more Doc walked out the door.
The silence was almost deafening and Stacey vainly tried to find something to say.
"No point trying to pull the wool over our eyes girl, we heard every word." Nigel eased himself into a chair opposite her desk and motioned Jane to join them. "I think we need to sort this out once and for all, don't you agree?"
"There is nothing to sort out. You heard me, we can't afford it."
"Wait, Stacey and listen will you. We can take a pay cut, seriously I don't mind. You give me free room and board and that saves me a heap." Jane looked over at Nigel.
"Me too and I don't care what you say lovely, we are doing it. Now there must be somebody in town needing a part time job."
Stacey sat while her friends sorted out her life. Her baby must come first but she still had an obligation to Pop and she would not let him down.
"I will give Loretta a call. She knows just about everyone in town." Jane looked over at her. "You my dear girl are relegated to the office and light duties from now on. I do not relish the idea of ringing your parents to inform them of your stubborn attitude or ill health."
"Don't you dare or so help me..."
"What, you'll fire me. Oh please. If you want to threaten me, use something that will hurt okay. I've got thick skin. If you fire me I'll work for nothing, now there's an idea." She winked at Nigel and laughed when Stacey shook her head at the pair of them.
"Thank you, both of you. It means the world to me that I've got such great support."
"Let me get you a hot cup of tea my girl. That one has gone cold with all the fuss and everything." Nigel swooped on the cup and almost ran from the room.
"What have I done now?"
"Poor thing. His family have disowned him because he is gay and having someone to fuss over is doing him the world of good. I'm glad he could move out here. But don't get sidetracked. You have to slow down and look after this baby. If the money wasn't so important to you I would run that mongrel baby father out of town. Him and his bloody mine are going to be the death of you."
"I don't want to deal with him any more than I have to, thanks. My mistake so I will wear the consequences."
"Still, he should be held accountable in my books." Jane screwed her face up making Stacey laugh.
"It's okay. I just don't want to be put in the same box as other women he has dated who only have their eyes on the bank balance. His words not mine."
"If he is as rich as I think he is, he can throw a bit of cash your way, if only for the baby's sake."
"No. I want nothing from him. I can do this on my own. Now I've you and Nigel to help me here, I can do this, I know I can."
Nigel bustled in with a fresh cup of tea placing it in front of Stacey. "You just stay there honey. I'll bring you snacks as you need them. Holler if you feel you are starving."
He brushed his hand over her hair and sniffed before walking out.
"Oh, how sweet. His is the best friend, seriously." Jane watched him walk out and turned to Stacey. "And he is a brilliant cook. Get ready for some fantastic food. I think he wants to spoil you and he will go out of his way to fatten you up now."
"Spoil me yes, fatten me up though, I would rather not if you don't mind."
Stacey sipped the hot tea and sighed with relief. "I am so glad it's just stress. Last night I was so worried there was something wrong."
"Why didn't you call me then? I was downstairs. I don't understand Stacey. I want to help you."
"I know you do and I understand but for so long I've been the one doing the looking after and it goes against the grain
