Logan stopped digging and wiped the back of his hand over his damp forehead. Why did he do that? It was diverting; it drew her gaze to his mud-smeared face. He looked exhausted and had done since first thing that morning, when she’d found him in the kitchen making porridge.
‘Something I remember from childhood. Gran’s oats covered in brown sugar and cream.’
When he’d smacked his lips she’d wanted to laugh, but the breath had hitched in her throat as his tongue had slid across his bottom lip. She’d had to turn away and look for the bread to make Mickey’s toast, otherwise she’d have reached across and traced the outline of his mouth. That would have been just great for ongoing relations.
As far as she knew he hadn’t had a nightmare last night. But judging by the shadows under his eyes he must have sat up all night trying to hold them in abeyance. He couldn’t keep doing that. She’d explain later that it was okay if he woke her. Not that he’d like that one little bit.
Logan caught her attention. ‘There’s a drainage problem that’s caused seepage. That in turn has undermined the driveway. We’re fixing it properly to prevent it happening again.’
What was wrong with it just being a hole that filled with water every time it rained?
‘It’s grown a bit bigger every time we’ve had heavy rain, but it’s not like it’s a huge problem.’ Yet.
‘Relax, Karina. Jonty and I’ll get it sorted. It’s not going to cost you a thing.’
So he knew where her real concern lay. Of course he did. Hadn’t her visit to the bank been the subject of their very first conversation? ‘Thanks.’ I think.
Then Jonty got in on the act. ‘When are you taking your car in for those tyres?’
Damn him for asking in front of Logan. Keep this up and Logan would be thinking she was too incompetent to be raising his nephew. If he didn’t already.
‘I’ll get around to it over the next few days. No hurry.’
Except she needed to get the groceries in, and there was a trailer-load of firewood to be collected from Becca’s brother’s place.
Logan folded his hands across the end of the shovel handle and dropped his chin on top. ‘You shouldn’t leave your car unroadworthy. What if something happens to Mickey? What if it’s raining when you take him to gym practice?’
‘Haven’t you got a vehicle somewhere we could use? Don’t tell me you came over by bus?’
‘Yes, I have a rental four-wheel drive. It’s parked outside the gate.’
She’d seen the vehicle by the kerbside for a few days but hadn’t thought anything of it. ‘Good. Have I got some chores for you!’
I’ll ignore that smile that’s got my knickers in a twist. What was it about this man that had her hormones sitting up and taking notice when she definitely didn’t want to be interested? Who was in charge of her body’s reactions anyway? Logan or her?
He shrugged and banged the shovel into the hole. ‘Sure. Any time.’
Nothing wrong with his hormones, then.
Jonty had been standing there listening to this conversation, his eyes flicking between her and Logan, a hint of mischief in his gaze. As he opened his mouth, Karina wanted to put her hand across it to stop whatever he was about to say. But he surprised her into silence.
‘Get your car along to the tyre shop on Greenwood Street tomorrow and my nephew will change the tyres.’
‘I’ll arrange a time later. Thanks, Jonty.’ After pay day next week.
Jonty was pulling his cell out of his pocket and punching some numbers. ‘Tomorrow,’ he growled at her. ‘Kevin—Karina’s car needs some tyres for her warrant. Do it tomorrow, will you? Yep. I’ll tell her. Put it on my account.’ Snap. The phone was off. ‘He’ll pick it up before he opens at eight.’
‘Jonty, you can’t go paying for my tyres.’ How embarrassing. Her eyes shifted sideways, locked with Logan’s steady grey gaze. There was no condemnation there, only understanding.
Jonty growled. ‘I’ll pay for whatever I like. Before eight o’clock. Don’t forget.’
‘I won’t.’ She reached over and wrapped her arms around the generous old man. ‘Thank you so much.’
Jonty pulled out of her hug. ‘Don’t get all silly, girl. It’s only so as you can get supplies in for our dinners.’
She laughed. ‘Then I’ll make your favourite pudding for tomorrow night.’
Logan paused with a shovelful of mud and stones. ‘Can I ask what that might be?’
‘Apple and raspberry pie with lashings of ice cream.’ She’d picked and frozen raspberries from the garden during summer, so that there would be a steady stream of pies over winter.
Logan winked at her. ‘Vanilla ice cream?’
‘If you’re lucky,’ she said. ‘I’d better get to work before they send out a search party. Jonty?’ She tapped her friend’s shoulder. ‘I really do appreciate what you’re doing for me.’
‘Get to work, girl, and stop your blathering.’
Jonty and Logan were laughing together as she crossed the lawn. Now that he’d retired Jonty must miss male companionship after years of employing many local men.
Mickey seemed to have hit on the male bonding thing too. It had been almost impossible to drag him away from the men and inside for lunch. And when it had come time to go to kindergarten he’d refused, thrown a rare tantrum. That had startled Karina into giving in far too easily. She was torn between being consistent in her parenting and letting him spend time with Uncle Logan. Tomorrow she’d get him back on track.
Karina sighed away a sense of being on the outside of things. The guys were happy doing man stuff. Nothing to get her knickers in a knot about.
Walking into the clinic, Karina made for the nurses’ room, only to pause at the door of David’s consulting room. ‘Hi. Are you all right?’
David was behind his desk, leaning with his forehead in his hands. The face he turned towards her was green. ‘Not really.’
Crossing to him, she was startled to see his rubbish bin placed strategically at his feet. ‘Want to throw up, do you?’
‘Yep.’
‘What else? A fever? Stomach cramps?’ Her hand touched his forehead. ‘You’ve got a temperature.’
‘My kids came home from school the day before yesterday with the Ds and Vs. Guess they’ve passed it on.’ He groaned and held his breath. Then said, ‘It was so sudden. I was fine before lunch.’
‘What did you have for lunch?’
‘Pumpkin soup and toast.’ He shook his head carefully. ‘Not the culprit.’
‘Guess not. You’d better go home and get into bed. If you stay here you’ll pass it on to patients and staff.’
What about the patients he’d seen earlier? Had they already caught the bug?
‘The waiting room’s full.’ David groaned again.
‘I’ll ask Logan to fill in for you. After I’ve phoned your wife to come get you.’
‘She can’t leave the kids home alone.’ He
reached for the bin and Karina stepped back as he heaved.
‘Then I’ll take you. Just stay in here until I get back.’ She placed a box of antiseptic-infused tissues on the desk at his elbow. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’
Back outside, she called, ‘Logan, we’ve got a problem. David’s been taken ill and the patients are backing up already. Can you help out?’
He was a partner in the clinic, after all.
‘Sure. Sorry, Jonty, we’ll have to leave this for now.’ Already Logan had placed the shovel on top of the wheelbarrow and was striding towards the house. ‘Karina, tell David I’ll be there in ten minutes. I need to clean up and change into something a little more presentable.’
‘Mickey, you’re going to have to go to kindy now. Uncle Logan’s going to work.’
‘No!’ Mickey screamed, and ran to hide in the garden shed.
‘What’s that about?’ Karina stared after him.
Logan shrugged. ‘I’d say he’s happier playing at home, that’s all.’
Jonty headed for the shed. ‘I’ll sort him. You get him some clean clothes.’
Karina followed Logan to the back door. ‘Can I use the four-wheel drive to take David home?’
‘Keys are on my bed.’ He sat on the top step at the back door to tug off the now filthy work boots that had used to belong to James. ‘What’s David’s problem?’ he asked as she stepped past him.
‘Probably a twenty-four-hour tummy bug. He says his children came home with it two days ago. I did hear about something doing the rounds yesterday, but this is the first I’ve seen of it. I hope Mickey hasn’t caught it from one of his playmates.’
‘Nothing wrong with his energy levels all morning.’ Logan stood up and went inside in his damp socks, leaving wet footprints on the clean vinyl of the laundry floor and all the way through the kitchen.
Karina pulled a face at his back. She’d washed the floors only that morning, before going to work, and now there was a trail of size-twelve outlines cutting across the middle of them. She guessed that was what having a man living in the house meant.