Healed by Their Unexpected Family Read online

  Jamie inserted the flexible plastic tube into the baby’s windpipe through his mouth to suction his airways. He continued clearing until there were no visible signs of the meconium in the suctioned fluids, working so calmly and efficiently one would have thought this was his area of expertise.

  The paramedics arrived then and took over, administering oxygen as they ushered mother and baby to the waiting ambulance. Kayla and Jamie exchanged relieved smiles across the room strewn with debris from the emergency delivery that had thankfully ended well.

  They made a good team. Twice now they’d worked together through possible birth complications. It made her think about the future and the possibilities out there for the two of them. Especially now when she was reminded how much good she could still do as a midwife helping to bring children into the world.

  * * *

  ‘Oh, you like that, don’t you?’ As Jamie held his slippery son still in the bath, Kayla scooped water over his scalp and body to rinse off the soap suds. Bath time was fast becoming a highlight as they spent this quality time together with Luke.

  ‘It won’t be long before we’re reading him bedtime stories too.’ There wasn’t a sound out of Luke except for contented gurgling as Kayla lifted him out to wrap him in a fluffy towel.

  It was a domestic scene he’d never imagined he’d be part of again. Yet it was a much-needed slice of normal life after the fraught afternoon. He imagined it would be the same after a full day treating his patients at the clinic. Something worth coming home for.

  ‘I’ll look forward to that. I know I was only supposed to be staying in the interim, but I’d like to be around to do more of this kind of stuff.’ He’d resisted the idea of family until he’d nearly lost it all. Thanks to Kayla and Luke, this was a chance to be part of one again. To belong somewhere other than work was as though a whole new world was opening up to him.

  ‘Sure. We don’t have to put anything formal in place. I think we’re doing okay the way we are.’ She kissed him full on the lips as she passed him on the way to the bedroom, but it didn’t put his mind fully to rest.

  They might have made roads towards a relationship, but it was early days. He wasn’t expecting any commitment there yet, but he was keen to know where he stood in terms of being Luke’s father.

  Once the baby was settled into his night’s sleep Jamie dropped a gentle kiss on his forehead. ‘Goodnight, son.’

  Being able to do that, to say those words, brought a lump to his throat. With every passing day as a dad he found it more difficult to understand his own father’s behaviour. Family life had never been enough for him. Whereas Jamie found pleasure in every moment with his son and wouldn’t voluntarily be deprived of a second of it. Sorrow balled in his gut too when he remembered how much his brother had wanted this baby and would never get to experience the joy of fatherhood for himself. It was something Jamie would never take for granted when he knew how privileged he was to have been given this gift.

  Today had been a reminder of how precious, and fragile, life was. Neither he, nor Kayla, had been able to save their brothers but if they could prevent one more unnecessary death all the training and hard work had been worth it.

  ‘I wish Tom and Liam could have been here to see this,’ he said, uncharacteristically sentimental as he watched his sleeping son.

  ‘Me too,’ Kayla said before giving him a much-needed hug.

  When she let go, much too quickly for his liking, she went to check the baby monitor was switched on and gave their son one last kiss. ‘‘Night, sweetheart.’

  Once they’d tiptoed out of the room and closed the door she let out a long sigh as though she was finally allowing herself to relax.

  ‘Come on. I think we’re due some down time.’ Jamie took her hand and led her down to the living room, sat her down on the sofa and took off her shoes. He kicked off his own before lying lengthways on the settee, bringing her with him so she was lying in his arms.

  ‘This is nice,’ she mumbled and snuggled into him. It didn’t matter to Jamie how cramped it was with both of them lying here when her body was packed so pleasantly against his.

  ‘We had a busy day. It’s nice to be able to come home and do this.’ If he had his way he’d be able to do it every day. He didn’t want to rush her, but he didn’t see the point in wasting time. They wanted to be with each other, to be there for their son.

  Tom and Liam’s accident had shown him he shouldn’t take anything for granted and he wanted to be the best partner for Kayla, the greatest dad to Luke. He believed the best way to achieve that was by moving in with them permanently.

  ‘I’ll admit, it wasn’t the return to work I’d planned.’ She rotated her position until she was face to face with him.

  ‘No, but I’m glad you were there.’

  ‘Likewise.’

  ‘You were great putting Erin’s mind at ease that we knew what we were doing, and the baby was going to be all right. It’s impressive watching you work.’

  She batted his shoulder, deflecting the compliment when he’d been the one who’d saved the baby’s life. ‘You’re just saying that because you think I’m the type of girl who’ll swoon if a doctor praises her.’

  ‘And you’re not?’ He leaned in closer, his eyes trained on her lips as he locked onto his target.

  ‘It depends on the doctor.’

  ‘Kayla, I want you to know I will never tell you something simply because I think it’s what you want to hear. I’ll always be honest with you.’ He couldn’t imagine ever feeling the need to lie to Kayla when it was the one thing guaranteed to lose her for ever now she’d started to trust him. After everything she’d been through he was privileged even to be with her here. A position he was not about to abuse.

  ‘I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.’ She looked up at him, the teasing putting a twinkle in her eye and tilting her lips up towards him.

  ‘Uh-huh. Well, here’s another one for you. I’ve never been as happy as I have been with you and Luke these past days.’ Despite her attempts to lighten the mood he wanted her to know he was serious in his commitment.

  Jamie understood her need to protect herself and Luke. By swearing off long-term relationships he’d erected those same barriers around his heart. Yet there was no denying they were beginning to crumble. He’d fallen for Kayla and that wasn’t going to change simply because he was afraid of being tied down again. That had happened the moment he’d decided to step up and be the father his son needed. If anything, that should have made him warier of getting into a relationship with Luke’s mother.

  Her eyes misted with tears and he watched her throat bob as she swallowed them back. ‘Shut up and kiss me.’

  He smiled at her directness and knew it was her way of telling him she felt the same without saying the words. If she didn’t reciprocate the sentiment she would’ve told him rather than force either of them to live a lie.

  It was nice to be with someone who told it as it was instead of leaving him to guess what she wanted from him. Kayla was a strong, decisive woman who wouldn’t put up with any nonsense or be wishy-washy about being with him. She was an all-or-nothing girl, which suited him because he wanted everything she had to give.

  He took possession of her mouth with his, her body sighing against him as they joined together. With his hand splayed on her lower back under her shirt, she quivered at his touch. In turn, she rested her hand on his chest, his heart trying to burst free at the simple contact.

  With every kiss, every caress of her lips, his body grew harder, wanting more, yet he was content with what they had here. A kiss between two single adults shouldn’t be a big deal, but in some ways it was everything. Jamie had enjoyed one-night stands in the past to relieve sexual tension, but somehow this seemed more intimate. Sex could mean nothing other than a physical release at times, but lying here, kissing the mother of his
baby, was a whole new ball game.

  They hadn’t even taken their clothes off yet and he was picturing their future together as a family. He intended to take things slowly with Kayla from here on in so he didn’t ruin things. Something told him once they consummated this relationship it would be for ever. The timing had to be perfect and they had to be together for the right reasons. Not simply down to convenience or confused emotions. He didn’t want to ruin what they had, or what they could have, together.

  Slowly, frustratingly, he eased back on the intensity of the kiss. Kayla too seemed to realise they couldn’t carry on without burning each other out with this sudden flare of passion. She huffed out another sigh and rested her head on his chest.

  He stroked her hair until her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing was deep and even. She was exhausted. He was too, trying to work through these new emotions. One thing was for sure. He’d rather be here, wide awake with Kayla in his arms, than go to bed alone. That single life he’d wanted for so long was now a thing of the past. Everything he wanted was right here.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ‘I’LL BE HOME as soon as I can get away.’ Jamie leaned over the sofa and gave Kayla a peck on the lips.

  They’d fallen asleep here last night and he’d almost slept in. Luke too had chosen to have a lie-in this morning. With two of them squashed onto the settee it should’ve been the most uncomfortable sleep ever, but it had been quite the opposite. Wrapped up in Jamie, she’d had the best slumber she’d had in a long time. Now Jamie was referring to the place as home she was hoping it was the first of many nights together to come.

  ‘Good. I’ll be here, waiting.’ Not right here, she had to get washed and dressed and sort Luke out, but she would be looking forward to Jamie’s return. His kisses were worth hanging around for. He made her feel free again, liberated from her hang-ups. She’d trusted him and, so far, he was doing everything right. He wasn’t even pressuring her for more than a kiss and a cuddle when it was evident they both wanted more. Instead of leaving for work, Jamie bent down again to kiss her more thoroughly. Then he deliberately toppled over the couch, careful not to hurt her as he covered her with his body. Her giggling was halted as he kissed her longer and deeper.

  ‘As much as I could do this all day, one of us has work to go to.’ If they did much more canoodling they’d end up going further than she was ready for physically or mentally. She didn’t want to rush into anything. Since they were already living together and had a child, she thought they could take their time with the physical side of the relationship. She could do without the pressure on her to be anyone but herself. There’d been too much of her life spent being Kayla the perfect daughter, the grieving sister, and overwhelmed mum. She didn’t want to dive right into being Kayla the girlfriend and losing her identity all over again. It would be nice just to be herself and not worrying if that was enough.

  Jamie groaned and, with one last hard smooch, climbed off her again.

  ‘Later,’ he said, his voice huskier than she’d ever heard and sending her insides into raptures. That promise of an extended couch cuddle gave her shivers. When one word and a few kisses had become the most erotic moment of her life, she knew she was investing too much into one man. Her imagination and libido were running away with thoughts about the effect the next stage of their relationship could have on her, but at what cost?

  There were more than her feelings to consider. She had a son now. If it all went wrong, and she lost herself again, she couldn’t simply start over the way she had the last time. Liam wasn’t here to pick her up and put her back together and, as Luke’s father, Jamie was always going to be a part of her life. He’d told her his relationship history and hadn’t made any promises that he could commit to her any more than he had to any other woman. She had to ask herself if the growing feelings she had for him were worth acting on after all, if heartbreak was inevitable.

  * * *

  ‘You’ve had a busy few days, then?’ Cherry sat down with two mugs of herbal tea. Although a visitor in the house on this occasion, she’d made the tea, leaving Kayla free to nurse Luke.

  She’d filled her in on the events at Jamie’s clinic after their walk in the park. Neglecting to share the developments between them on a romantic level.

  ‘Yes. I’d forgotten what that adrenaline rush was like to be involved in those emergency cases. It’s so good knowing you’ve helped a mother and baby during difficult times.’ Her role recently had become sedate, more of a counselling basis than being an active participant in the birth. Whilst rewarding in itself, her involvement yesterday had her thinking about where she would do the most good.

  The speed with which her relationship with Jamie was moving had also given her pause for thought. She was beginning to think she needed some space from him before things progressed any further.

  ‘Sounds to me as though someone’s missing work.’ Cherry eyed her over the cup as she sipped, knowing Kayla wasn’t one to sit still for long. She might have struggled with motherhood initially but now she was thinking about getting the rest of her life back on track too.

  ‘It’s more than that. In some ways, now that I’m a mother myself I want to do something for those who aren’t as fortunate as I’ve been. I mean, I had you and Jamie to support me during a relatively straightforward birth. There are so many people I could help with my qualifications and experience.’ Yesterday had given her a taste of what could be achieved if she was in the right place at the right time. Although she was savouring the wonders of motherhood, she couldn’t, and didn’t want to be at home for ever. There was a big world outside Jamie Garrett and she’d do well to remember that.

  Since leaving home she’d always worked to support herself, not relying on anyone else and she wasn’t about to start now. Sharing a house and a child with Jamie didn’t mean she was going to hand over control of her life in a package with her heart.

  ‘What are you thinking about? Are there big changes afoot?’ As ever, she could count on Cherry being supportive, never being critical, or telling her what she should do. In these circumstances she knew her parents would insist she stayed at home devoted to her baby. Hypocritical, but that was who they were. They would never have admitted to being bad parents, only of having bad children.

  Mind you, they would have keeled over at the notion of her being an unmarried mother shacked up with the man who got her pregnant. The thought did secretly make her smile and she imagined telling them the circumstances behind Luke’s birth to see the looks on their faces. The sort of thing Liam would’ve done purely to spite their tyrannical doctrine. Except Luke was hers and they had absolutely no right to taint him with their vile ways.

  ‘It did get me thinking about Liam and Tom’s project in Vietnam. They worked so hard to fund that community and set up a clinic there. I wondered about going out there to help for a while and get a real idea of what they achieved.’ It would bring her closer to them and she could even visit their graves and say her goodbyes properly. She knew they would’ve approved her plans. Even more so if she brought Luke with her to be a part of it all.

  ‘I’m sure there would always be a need for qualified medical staff. Have you thought about what you would do with Buster, here?’ Cherry lifted the end of Luke’s bib to wipe away some of the milk he’d brought up when he’d been winded.

  ‘I don’t think there’d be a problem taking him with me. I’d still be feeding him myself, so it makes sense.’ It wouldn’t be a normal working environment where it would be frowned upon to bring her baby with her. Besides, it would encourage other mothers to see him there and realise she knew what she was doing.

  ‘What does Jamie think about that?’ It was Cherry’s not so subtle way of reminding her there were two parents to consider but she wasn’t about to abscond with their baby for ever.

  ‘I haven’t told him yet.’ Seeing Cherry’s raised eyebrow, she added, ‘I’m going to te
ll him tonight.’

  ‘Uh huh. You let me know how that goes.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Kayla found herself getting defensive at Cherry’s sarcastic tone.

  ‘I mean, Jamie doesn’t strike me as the kind of dad who’ll sit back and let you take his son halfway around the world without a say.’

  There was that word let again. Why did everyone think she needed permission to run her own life?

  ‘Maybe you don’t know him the way I do.’

  ‘Yes, I doubt I do. The glow about you these days has nothing to do with post-pregnancy hormones and everything, I suspect, to do with your new housemate.’ If Cherry was trying to avoid an argument and fish for gossip at the same time, she’d hooked herself a whopper.

  There was no way Kayla could keep her secret for ever. ‘Things have...evolved over these past days.’

  ‘I knew it!’ Eyes wide, mouth open, Cherry leaned in, waiting for her to spill the details.

  ‘We’ve only kissed but I think it could lead to something more serious.’ They hadn’t discussed what they wanted to come from this new development, but neither of them would want to jeopardise Luke’s future for a mere fling.

  ‘That’s great. I’m so happy for you and I’m sure Liam and Tom would be too.’ The touch of Cherry’s hand on hers and the reminder of her brother brought tears to Kayla’s eyes.

  This situation would’ve appealed to Liam’s warped sense of humour and Tom’s romantic nature. They would’ve taken credit for the matchmaking too. If not for them or Luke, she would never have realised what a great man Jamie was or how great a father he’d make. Except she wanted to take his son, his only family, to the very place that had claimed his brother’s life to escape her feelings for him.

  ‘I wouldn’t start celebrating just yet. I don’t think I’m ready to get into a relationship with someone who has made it very clear he doesn’t do commitment. He hasn’t even suggested moving in permanently, for goodness’ sake.’ If he’d shown her any sign she meant anything more than Natalie, or his other past conquests, she might have considered it worth the risk of making a go of things. There was too much to lose based on a case of wishful thinking.