The Family He Needs Read online

  ‘Ready for a check X-ray,’ Zac said some five hours later. While he waited for the radiographer to perform her task, he walked over to take another look at the three-dimensional scans up on the viewing box. Julia came up beside him.

  ‘I think the X-ray will show everything to be fine,’ she told him, and he turned to look at her.

  ‘A job well done,’ he agreed. The time in surgery had helped the annoyance—on both sides—to disappear.

  Once the radiograph was processed, they both peered at the film. ‘Excellent,’ Zac announced. ‘Let’s get ready to close.’

  They closed in layers of number one Vicryl, then double zero Vicryl before stapling the wound closed. It had been almost one-thirty in the afternoon when they’d started the operation and, as Julia had predicted to her mother, it was almost eight o’clock as she changed out of her theatre garb back into her clothes.

  She returned to her office, only to remember she needed a hospital identification badge to swipe through the slot to enter the admin area. She’d have to wait for Zac but he might not come back this way before heading home. So Julia headed back towards Theatres in search of him. She’d left him writing up the operation notes but knew he still needed to change.

  As she rounded a corner in the corridor towards the theatre block, she saw a man down the other end, coming towards her. Her heart pounded with delight and she knew that even if the corridor had been crowded, she still would have been able to pick Zac’s military precision walk anywhere. She stopped and waited for him to catch up, a smile on his face.

  ‘Going my way?’ he asked as she fell into step beside him. He didn’t seem at all surprised to see her, and she realised that he’d known she’d be waiting.

  ‘I can’t get into the department,’ she replied.

  ‘I know,’ he said, and waved his hospital badge under her nose. ‘We’ll rectify it first thing in the morning.’ Zac stopped at the door and swiped his card through. ‘You’d best keep the key to your office as well,’ he said after he’d unlocked her door. He took the key off the ring while he waited for her to collect her bag.

  ‘Here.’ He pressed it into her palm, his fingers enveloping her hand for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. ‘Can I offer you a lift?’

  Julia smiled, remembering her mother’s words. ‘Thanks, Zac. I’d appreciate it.’

  He made no other attempt to touch her as they walked through the quietened hospital out to the doctors’ car park. The roof of his Jag was up to protect the inside of the car from the warm January sun. Now that the sun had set, she wondered whether he’d put it down again. Like the gentleman he’d always been, Zac unlocked and held the door for her.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said as she sat and did up her seat belt. He walked around the rear of the car and seated himself beside her.

  ‘This is getting to be a habit, Dr Bolton,’ he said.

  ‘What? Driving me home?’ When he nodded, she continued, ‘I doubt I’d call twice a habit, Zachary.’

  He merely smiled at her and started the car. ‘Don’t you have a car yet?’ he asked as they drove out of the hospital grounds.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I thought you might have sold your car in Perth and not managed to buy one here, and that’s why you walked to work this morning.’

  ‘No. I have a car.’

  ‘Does it work?’

  She laughed. ‘Yes, Zac, it works. I just felt like walking this morning and I might even feel like walking tomorrow morning.’

  ‘From what I can recall,’ he said, his brow furrowing a bit, ‘you never used to be a morning person, yet here you’re up and ready for work with enough time to spare to enjoy a leisurely walk. I remember you struggling to make a nine o’clock lecture!’

  She smiled and nodded. ‘There are a lot of things about me that have changed since you saw me last.’

  ‘So I’m noticing.’

  She knew he was referring to Edward by the tone of his voice, but once again she refused to apologise for having a child. He turned the car into her street and slowed as they neared her house. As he’d done the other evening, he stopped the car and climbed out to open her door.

  ‘I’ll bet there are a lot of differences in you,’ Julia said as he walked her to the door. ‘It’s been twelve years since you moved from Brisbane to Sydney and two years after that was the last time I saw you, until the other night. That’s ten years we’ve not physically seen each other, Zac, and during that time a lot of things have happened to change the idealistic people we were back then.’

  ‘The chemistry is still alive, though,’ he said softly, keeping his distance.

  Julia nodded. ‘Yeah, there’s that but, honestly, Zac, is it going to be enough? I think you were right today when you said we should just be friends. There may be this physical attraction between us but during the past ten years we’ve met different people who have changed our views, our perceptions and ultimately, for better or worse, changed who we used to be.’

  ‘Your ex-husband, for instance.’

  ‘Exactly. Ian has changed me in so many ways, not because he was a nice man—he wasn’t—but it’s made me come out of my shell. To stand up for myself, not only at work but within my private life as well.’

  ‘Did he abuse you?’

  Julia thought for a moment before shaking her head. ‘Not in the physical sense of the word, nor was it verbal abuse. He just…insulted my intelligence by thinking I’d put up with his affairs and keep quiet, but Ian isn’t the point here. Surely you’ve had relationships that have changed who you used to be. They may have even changed some strong opinions you used to hold.’

  His face was like a mask and for all she knew about him, Julia couldn’t read his expression at all. He did nod, however, acknowledging her words.

  ‘I know you’ve never wanted marriage or a family, Zac,’ she said softly. ‘And the fact that I have a son means we can never…’ She trailed off. She looked down at her hands and then back to him. ‘Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow.’

  Before she succumbed to the temptation to press her mouth to his, Julia quickly unlocked her front door and slipped inside.

  Zac stared at the closed door for a full minute before slowly turning and walking back to his car. He drove home on autopilot and rode the lift up to his apartment. Julia represented everything he didn’t want. A wife, a family. It was all too hard. Losing Cara had been so devastating that Zac had sworn to never again set himself up for that kind of misery.

  Yet Julia made him think. The physical attraction between them made him think—and at the moment the last thing he wanted to do was think. Then there was the problem of her son. A son! Julia had a son!

  As Zac checked the contents of his refrigerator, staring unseeingly at the food inside, he realised he shouldn’t have been so surprised that she’d had a child. She’d always said she’d wanted to start a family one day. He shut the fridge and leaned against the bench.

  It was the reason they’d broken up in the first place. Julia had wanted a more permanent commitment and he’d been unable to give it to her. She had been absolutely right to ask him straight out what his future plans were. The problem had been that they hadn’t matched hers.

  His ambition had been too great. He’d wanted to be the best he could be and damn the consequences. He’d realised that a wife with ambition had had no place in his life and as he hadn’t been able to stand women who didn’t have ambition, that had left him at an impasse. What a fool he’d been!

  During the two years that he’d been in Sydney and Julia in Brisbane, they’d changed and grown apart a little. If she had taken the job on offer in Sydney, he had no doubt they would have settled their differences and stayed together—except that Julia had planned to one day start a family.

  Zac looked at his answering machine and saw the flashing light. Knowing it couldn’t be too urgent, otherwise the caller would have phoned his mobile, Zac pressed the button and waited for the tape to rewind.


  ‘Zac, it’s Jeffrey. Call me at home when you get in.’

  Grabbing his cordless phone and sinking into the comfortable lounge, Zac kicked off his shoes as he pressed the speed dial for Jeffrey’s home number.

  ‘Jeffrey McArthur.’

  ‘It’s Zac.’ He wearily took off his tie and undid the top few buttons of his shirt. Leaning back on the lounge, he stuffed a few pillows behind his head and put his feet up on the arm rest.

  ‘Busy day?’

  ‘Yep. What’s up?’

  ‘Nothing major. Just wanted to see how things went with Julia. You know, Cupid giving a follow-up call.’

  ‘I’ve got to give you credit for taking me by surprise.’

  ‘So, how are things going?’

  ‘Good. We work well together but, then, I’m not surprised. Julia’s a very smart woman.’

  ‘Do you have any idea of what she’s been through in the past few years?’

  ‘Divorce? Pregnancy?’

  ‘Ah. So you know about Edward?’

  ‘Yep. Met him yesterday morning—only briefly. Cute kid.’

  ‘Julia married my cousin, Ian. I warned her about him, almost ruined our friendship, but she was blinded by his lies. Then when she discovers him sleeping around once again, she kicks him out. Then she finds herself pregnant with a child Ian wants nothing to do with. He told her to get an abortion—can you believe that?’ Jeffrey’s tone was filled with disgust. ‘He even had the audacity to try to deny paternity. She receives no support from him and he wants nothing to do with Edward.’

  ‘Why are you telling me this?’ Zac closed his eyes, trying to relax, but what Jeffrey was saying made him think even more.

  ‘Because she won’t. I have so much respect for that woman, Zac, that I want you to cut her a break. I know you’ve vowed never to marry again, not to let yourself get hurt, but just be there for her, mate. Coming back to Queensland was just what she needed and I want it to work out.’ Jeffrey paused. ‘Did you know she was offered head of department at Perth General?’

  ‘Yes, actually, I did. She mentioned it in Theatre today and I thought it odd she should have been offered such a position in such a large teaching hospital.’

  ‘It’s because she’s brilliant. When she realised she’d be raising her child by herself, she applied for and was successful in obtaining a research grant. She worked from home but still managed to keep up one clinic and operating session a week and wrote up her Ph.D. Last year, she won the prize for best overall paper at the American conference.’

  Zac opened his eyes in astonishment. ‘That was her? I read that paper. It was amazing.’ He paused. ‘I didn’t take note of the primary author. What an oversight!’

  ‘I’ll say. Zac, her son is equally amazing. Edward has been raised in a loving and caring environment by his mother and grandmother and at not one stage along the way has he suffered from emotional neglect. Give him a chance, too. Get to know him, Zac. He’s just a child. Nothing to be afraid of.’

  Zac closed his eyes again, blocking out the memories, the pain. ‘I’ll think about it,’ he said eventually.

  ‘It’s time for you to move on. Trust me, mate. Remember, I’m always right!’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘I’S MORNING, Mummy,’ Edward said the following Saturday morning, and Julia reached out and pulled him into bed with her.

  ‘Morning, darling,’ she said, her eyes still closed. He wriggled and squirmed into a comfortable position as Julia kissed his head and neck. ‘Mmm, you’re delicious, Edward.’

  ‘No, I not. You ’licious, Mummy,’ he said as he smothered her face with sloppy kisses.

  She opened her eyes and peered at the clock. ‘Six-thirty. Right on time. You’re the best alarm clock and so cuddly to wake up to.’

  He was still for a whole two seconds before wriggling again, sitting up and asking for a pillow fight.

  Julia smiled at him and summoned some energy. She’d been called into Theatre just after one o’clock in the morning with a car accident victim. The patient would require extensive knee reconstruction but last night she’d merely cleaned up the wound and stabilised the fracture until she could book him onto her operating list for Tuesday.

  She’d arrived home just before five and now that she had her sweet alarm clock hovering over her, pillow held firmly in his little arms, she knew there wasn’t any hope of going back to sleep. At least, not now! She clutched the pillow behind her head and yanked it out, gently aiming it in his direction.

  ‘Ugh. You dot me, Mum.’ He fell onto the bed and giggled. ‘I get you now, Mummy. I get you.’ Edward brought his pillow down on top of her head and Julia laughed. ‘I dot you, Mum.’

  Julia aimed again and knocked him on the arm and then the leg. He came crashing down onto her, his knee going into her stomach. ‘Ugh. Careful, mate. How did you get to be so bony?’ she mumbled before his pillow came down on her again.

  They played until Edward’s attention wandered and he thought of something else to do.

  ‘Go back to bed,’ her mother said when she shuffled into the kitchen fifteen minutes later.

  Julia smiled. ‘I’m fine. It’ll catch up with me later today.’

  ‘Then make sure you rest. Are you still going out with Zac tonight?’

  ‘He hasn’t said anything but after his let’s-be-friends speech earlier on in the week, I sincerely doubt it. Besides, we’re both on call so who knows? We may end up spending the night together in Theatre.’

  ‘I heard you come in not that long ago.’ Cassandra made tea and handed Julia a cup.

  ‘Perfect,’ Julia said, and closed her eyes as she sipped the brew.

  ‘What was it?’

  Julia frowned and concentrated on her mother’s words. ‘Oh, the emergency?’

  Her mother nodded. A retired nurse, Cassandra Bolton loved to talk about the medical side of her daughter’s work.

  ‘Comminuted fracture to the right patella. I just cleaned it up but it’ll need reconstruction next week.’

  ‘Any need to call Zac in?’

  ‘No. Rodney, the registrar, and I coped quite well, thank you very much.’

  ‘I wasn’t implying that you couldn’t, dear.’

  ‘I know,’ Julia said with a smile. ‘It’s just been one very busy week. I sincerely hope things settle down.’

  ‘You just need to become comfortable with your new schedule, dear, then you’ll be able to cope better.’ Cassandra placed some jam and toast in front of Julia. ‘Where’s Edward?’

  ‘Playing cars. Where else?’

  ‘All boys like to play with cars.’

  ‘And it doesn’t change when they get older.’

  ‘Yes, I saw Zac’s car when he dropped you home on Thursday night after that surprise thunderstorm.’

  ‘Boys and their toys,’ Julia murmured as she ate her toast. She’d told him that she was quite willing to take a taxi but he’d insisted and as they were ‘friends’, she’d decided it couldn’t do any harm.

  ‘Did I tell you that Mona called last night?’ Cassandra asked. Julia shook her head. ‘Sorry. She and Jeffrey are coming around for lunch today so try and have your rest before then.’

  ‘Yes, Mum,’ Julia said in a soldier tone, and saluted.

  ‘Don’t get cheeky.’

  ‘No, Mum,’ she said in the same tone, and they both smiled.

  For the rest of the morning, Julia relaxed and rested, dozing as she lay on the floor beside Edward who was playing with his building blocks.

  They had a wonderful time with Mona and Jeffrey who brought a battery-operated car for Edward. Jeffrey and Edward proceeded to play with it for the next few hours, both ‘boys’ thoroughly enjoying themselves.

  ‘You shouldn’t spoil him so much,’ Julia said to Mona.

  ‘Oh, nonsense. We don’t have any grandchildren yet and he’s just so adorable, he simply begs to be spoilt. You know we count you as family. Besides, it gives Jeffrey a good excuse to revisit his chil
dhood.’

  Shortly after five o’clock, as they were saying goodbye to the McArthurs, Julia’s mobile phone rang. ‘Uh-oh. That’s going to be the hospital, I can just feel it,’ she said as she rushed inside to answer it.

  ‘Dr Bolton.’

  ‘Julia.’ Zac’s deep voice came through and Julia closed her eyes. She sank down into a chair. Friends or not, he still had the ability to affect her just by saying her name.

  ‘Problem?’ she asked.

  ‘What gave you that idea?’ he said with an ironic laugh, but went on before she could answer. ‘Yes, as a matter of fact. Two hotshots from a karate competition have both sustained injuries to their hands. They’re in X-Ray at the moment, but if you come in then we can get them both sorted out tonight.’

  ‘OK. I’ll leave now. See you soon.’

  While Zac waited for Julia to arrive, he walked up to his office in the department and started to sort through some paperwork. The top sheet on his ‘to be done’ pile was a request from one of his registrars asking Zac to give a reference for his application to a hospital in a Third World country.

  ‘No.’ Zac shook his head and put the piece of paper aside, deciding to think about the request later. He picked up another piece of paper and dictated a reply, but his gaze kept returning to the first piece. ‘Don’t do it, mate,’ he said softly. After Zac’s own time spent in the Third World, years ago, he wondered whether these doctors really knew what they were letting themselves in for.

  He dictated another letter and once more came back to the first request. He placed his elbows onto the desk and buried his head in his hands as the memories started to swamp him again.

  His time overseas had been good to start with. Until he’d been moved to an emergency hospital that had been overcrowded and desperately needed his services. There he’d met Cara. It had been over three years since her death and an image of her beautiful smiling face appeared in his mind.

  ‘No,’ he said again, his jaw clenched. The hurt, the anxiety and the pain all came flooding back, and hard on its heels were the memories of Zoe. His darling daughter, Zoe. So small and so fragile. She’d fitted into the palm of his hand, the hand that now held his head in anguish.