"Thanks, Doctor Williams." Jack’s mother looked tired.
"He’ll be fine. It's a clean break and shouldn't give him much pain but let me know if anything about it worries you."
"Thanks." She smiled as Russ left the room and he could hear her talking in hushed tones to her son.
"Doctor, there is a lady in the waiting room who insists on seeing you." Lizzie stood at the door, her mouth pinched tight and a haunted look in her eyes.
"What's wrong, Lizzie?" Russ reached out to grip her arms but she stepped away from him, a world of hurt in her eyes.
"Your wife is here, Doctor." She turned and tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm holding her back.
"I'm divorced. I don't have a wife."
"Russ, oh Russ, thank goodness I found you." He looked up as Paula came running toward him with her arms out. Lizzie wrenched free and walked away, her back stiff and Russ felt as though he’d been punched in the gut.
"What are you doing here, Paula?" He held his hands out stopping her before she could wrap her arms around him. "You are not my wife. I signed the divorce papers, remember?"
"Yes, darling, you did." She pouted at him and batted her eyelashes. "It's like this, Russ, I didn't sign. I've been having second thoughts and besides, I have news for you which changes everything."
"I don't need to hear it, Paula. Whatever you’ve come up with now, I don't want to know. As far as I'm concerned we are over." He turned to walk after Lizzie.
"I'm pregnant."
Russ stopped and closed his eyes. This can't be happening. He took a deep breath and lifted his head before turning back to Paula just in time to see Lizzie's back as she raced away.
"What did you say?" He walked toward her and the smile slipped from her face.
"You heard, baby, I'm pregnant."
Russ took her arm and led her into his office, slamming the door behind them. "Why don't I believe you, Paula? Is this your idea to get more from me?" He gave a bitter laugh and lifted his hands in the air. "Guess what, there is nothing else. I gave you everything except my car and personal belongings. You have everything I owned."
She pouted and took a seat, making sure to cross her legs and let her skirt slide up her thigh before looking back at him. "But honey, I want more. I want our child to grow up in the fabulous old home you now part own, according to my lawyer, surrounded by family and with everything you had, servants and house parties. Don't you think our child deserves that?" Paula leaned back in the chair and looked around his office, a frown on her face. "I really think that as head doctor of the hospital, Russ, they could have given you a much fancier office than this."
He stood looking at the woman who’d made his life hell for the last twelve months and wondered why she thought she could get away with this. "You and I haven't had sex for months, Paula. That child can't be mine."
She smiled sweetly at him and shrugged. "Well, that may be the case Russ but you have to prove it, and in the meantime your reputation will be ruined. I'm sure you don't want that being the new doctor in town. I mean, really, don't you have a certain standard you should be adhering to?"
He opened the door. "Leave now, Paula, before I throw you out. This isn't going to work."
She lifted her head and gave a small, tight smile. "Really? I think it will, darling. I'm staying in town at the Regent. It might be a good idea if you dropped by tonight and we had a proper little chat about this problem. I'll expect you for dinner, Russ."
"I won't be there. This is over between us and any child of yours is not my problem."
"That is where you are wrong, darling. I'll make it your problem. Don't let me down, Russ. Seven o'clock, ciao baby." She got up and kissed his cheek in passing, her laughter hanging in the hallway as she walked out.
Russ stood frozen at the doorway. This was the last thing he expected would happen. You fool. You should have checked to make sure the divorce had gone through properly. He started when a cough sounded behind him.
"Doctor, your next patient is waiting in treatment room four." The nurse gazed at his face before turning and walking away.
Russ followed her and took care of his patient, his mind far from the job at hand. When he was finished, he walked out to the nurse's station. "Where is Nurse Stanley?"
"She is on lunch break, Doctor Williams. Can I help with anything?" The young nurse looked at him hopefully, her smile seductive.
Russ shook his head and walked to the canteen looking for Lizzie. When he couldn't find her there, he tried her office. The door was shut and he tapped before opening it.
She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and her nose shiny.
"Lizzie..."
"Get out."
"I have to talk to you."
"No. You've had your fun, Doctor Williams, now you can go back to your wife."
Russ stepped in and shut the door, ignoring her. "I told you the truth, Lizzie. She is not my wife."
She stood up, pushing her chair back into the wall in a temper. Leaning on the edge of desk, she glared at him. "From what I heard, she is. And pregnant to boot, what a bonus. Get out of my office, Doctor, before I call security." She stood straight now, her mouth tight as the tears welled in her eyes again.
Lost for words, Russ walked out, closing the door behind him. He headed for his office to make a call.
"Tory, I need help."
Chapter 20
The drive back to the farm was a mix of emotions for Cade. He had two more weeks to do the best he
