Picking up her top from the corner where she’d thrown it last night, she pounced, pressed the phone’s green button. ‘Morning, Ally Parker speaking.’
‘Morning, gorgeous,’ Flynn’s voice drawled in her ear. ‘Thought I’d make sure you’re wide-awake.’
‘And if I hadn’t been?’ The concern backed off a notch at the sound of his warm tone. ‘You’d have come around and hauled me out of bed?’
‘My oath I would.’
‘That does it. I’m sound asleep.’ What was wrong with her? Encouraging Flynn was not the way to go.
His laugh filled her with happiness. ‘Unfortunately I have a certain small individual with me this morning and I know he’d love nothing better than to try and pull you out of bed.’
‘So not a good look, considering I’m naked.’ She’d left her brain on the beach. Had to have.
Flynn growled. ‘I certainly wouldn’t be able to fault that.’
Then she saw the time. ‘Is it really eight o’clock? It can’t be. Got to go. I’m going to be late.’ She hung up before he could say anything else and ran for the bathroom. The left side of her left brain argued with the right side about what she was doing with Flynn.
‘Only five minutes late,’ she gasped, as she charged into the staffroom. A large coffee in a takeout mug stood on the table at the spot where she usually sat. ‘Black and strong,’ Flynn muttered, as he joined her.
‘You’re wonderful.’ She popped the lid off.
Jerome and Toby sauntered in. ‘What did you think of our local Italian?’ Jerome asked with a twinkle in his eye.
‘I’m hooked. Definitely going back there again.’ Her knee nudged Flynn’s under the table.
He pushed back as he continued to stare across at the other men. ‘She’s got Giuseppe eating out of her hand.’
I thought that was your hand. ‘He’s a sweetheart.’
‘Ally.’ Megan popped her head around the door. ‘You’ve got visitors. Chrissie and her mum.’
Back to earth with a thud. Reality kicked in. ‘Showtime.’ Ally stood up, sipped her coffee, found it cool enough to gulp some down. No way could she start her day without her fix, especially not this morning. Her stomach was complaining about the lack of breakfast, but it’d have to make do with caffeine. ‘Is it okay if I go and see Chrissie? Or would you prefer I stay for the meeting?’
‘Don’t worry about the meeting. One of us can fill you in later if there’s anything you need to know,’ Toby told her.
Flynn spoke up. ‘If you need me, just call. But I’m sure you’ll be fine.’
‘Chrissie’s mum would have to be dense not to know why her daughter has requested an appointment with a midwife, wouldn’t she?’
Flynn nodded. ‘And dense is not a word I’d use to describe Angela. She’s probably cottoned on but could be denying it.’
Angela didn’t deny it for any longer than it took for the three of them to be seated in Ally’s room with the door firmly shut. ‘You’re going to tell me Chrissie’s pregnant, aren’t you?’
‘Actually, I was hoping Chrissie might’ve told you.’ She looked at the girl and found nothing but despair blinking out at her. Dark shadows lined the skin beneath her sad eyes and her mouth was turned downwards, while her hands fidgeted on her thighs. ‘Chrissie, did you get any sleep last night?’
She shook her head. ‘I was thinking, you know? About everything.’ Her shoulders dropped even lower. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean it to happen.’
‘Now, that I can understand.’ Angela might have been expecting the news but she still looked shocked. ‘All too well.’ She breathed deeply, her chest rising. ‘How far along are you, do you know?’ Her gaze shifted from her daughter to Ally and then back to Chrissie.
‘Nearly twelve weeks.’ Chrissie’s voice was little more than a whisper. ‘You’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?’
Angela sat ramrod straight. Her hands were clenched together, but her eyes were soft and there was gentleness in her next words. ‘No, sweetheart, I think you’re the one who’s going to be disappointed. You had so many plans for your future and none of them included a baby.’
‘But you managed. You’ve got a good job. You’re the best mum ever.’
‘Chrissie, love.’ Angela sniffed, and reached for one of her daughter’s hands. ‘A good job, yes, but not the career I’d planned on.’
Ally stood up and crossed to the window to give them some space. They didn’t need her there. Yet. Flynn had been right. This woman was a good mum. Why didn’t I have one like her? Why didn’t I have one at all? One who loved me from the day I was born?
Behind her the conversation became erratic as Chrissie and Angela worked their way through the minefield they were facing. At least they were facing it together.
‘Do you regret having me?’ Chrissie squeaked.
‘Never.’ A chair scratched over the surface of the floor and when Ally took a quick peek she saw Angela holding her daughter in her arms. ‘Never, ever. Not for one minute.’
‘I’m keeping my baby, Mum.’
Ally held her breath. This was the moment when Angela might finally crack. She fully understood the pitfalls of single parenthood. And the joys. But she’d want more for Chrissie.
Angela was strong. ‘I thought you’d say that. I hope your child will love its grandmother as much as you loved your grandfather, my girl, because we’re in this together. Understand?’
As Chrissie burst into long-overdue tears, Ally sneaked out the door, closing it softly behind her. In the storeroom she wiped her own eyes. Did that girl understand how loved she was? How lucky?
‘Hey, don’t tell me it was that bad in there.’ Flynn stood before her, holding the box of tissues she’d been groping for.
‘It was beautiful.’ Blow. ‘What an amazing mother Angela is. Chrissie will be, too, if that’s the example she’s got to follow.’
‘Told you.’ Did he have to sound so pleased with himself? His finger tipped her chin up so she had to meet his kind gaze. ‘Come and finish that coffee I bought you. We can zap it in the microwave.’
He’d be thinking she was a right idiot, hiding in the cupboard, crying, because her patient had just told her mother she was pregnant. ‘I’ll give them five minutes and then go and discuss pregnancy care and health.’
‘Make it ten. You’ll be feeling better and they’ll have run out of things to say to each other for a while.’ His hand on her elbow felt so right. And for the first time it wasn’t about heat and desire but warmth and care.
More stupid tears spurted from her eyes. Her third day here and he was being gentle and kind to her. Right now she liked this new scenario. Thank goodness Flynn would think these fresh tears were more of the same—all about Chrissie and her mother, not about him. And her.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE MOMENT FLYNN saw the clinic’s car turn into the parking lot on Friday night he couldn’t hold back a smile. A smile for no other reason than he was glad to see Ally. Her image was pinned up in his skull like a photo on a noticeboard. More than one photo. There was the one of Ally in those leg-hugging, butt-defining jeans and the red jersey that accentuated her breasts. Then the other: a naked version showing those shapely legs, slim hips and delicious breasts.
There was a third: tearful Ally, hiding away and looking lost and lonely. What was that about?
The front door crashed against the wall as she elbowed it wide and carried her bag in. ‘Hi, Flynn, you’re working late. Had an emergency?’
Yep, two hours without laying eyes on you definitely constitutes an emergency. ‘Do you want to join Adam and me for dinner? There’s a chicken casserole cooking as we speak. Nothing flash, but it should be tasty.’
‘A casserole’s not flash?’ Her smile warmed him right down to his toes. ‘My mouth’s watering already.’
‘Is that a yes, then?’ His lungs stopped functioning as he waited for her reply.
‘Are you sure there’ll be enough?’ As
he was about to answer in the affirmative, she asked, ‘Shall I stop in at the supermarket and get some garlic bread to go with the meal? Some wine?’
‘Good idea. I left the Merlot behind the other night. On the beach,’ he added with a grin.
‘You’re too easily distracted, that’s your problem.’ Her mouth stretched into a return smile. ‘Someone probably got lucky when they went for a walk that morning.’