The Bush Doctor's Challenge. Carol Marinelli

like that, how could Matthew refuse?

      Somehow, in a matter of minutes Kell had them organised. A now over-excited Matthew turned back the sheets on the bed and plumped pillows as Kell guided a very wobbly Shelly to the main bedroom. Abby followed, carrying the newborn as carefully as if she were the crown jewels, staring down into that tiny wide-eyed face, unable to believe the feelings this ten-minute-old baby was unleashing.

      Oh, Abby had held babies before, well, sort of. She’d examined more tiny chests than most people had had cooked dinners, probed more little abdomens than she cared to remember, even bounced the odd baby or two on her knee during her time on the children’s ward.

      But to hold one so new, so close and for so long was doing the strangest things to her.

      To know that unaided by a huge team, she had brought this wanted, precious life into the world suddenly made that medical degree seem a touch more personal.

      ‘You were great.’ Kell was sitting on the bed and Abby did a double take when she stepped in the bedroom. ‘Shelly’s just in the loo,’ he explained, patting the bed beside him.

      ‘I only did great thanks to you,’ Abby admitted, not even bothering to look up. The face of the baby held far too much appeal.

      But then again…her eyes flicked up and they were met by Kell’s black, coal chips.

      ‘I was just giving myself a big pat on the back about how well I’d done, but I’m the first to admit that I nearly had a full-scale panic attack when I saw the baby was breech. Heaven only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.’

      ‘It would have been exactly the same,’ Kell said with the same assurance he had used with Shelly. ‘A couple of minutes of internal panic and it would have all clicked. You know that as well as I do.’

      ‘I hope so. Were you even a little bit worried?’

      ‘No, I never worry.’ Abby gave him a disbelieving look but Kell just stood up and rapped on the en suite door. ‘Are you all right, Shelly?’

      ‘A couple more minutes,’ came the distant reply, and Kell frowned.

      ‘Don’t you go fainting on me now, Shelly. Two more minutes or I’ll come in and fetch you myself.’ Smiling, he came back from the door. ‘Hey, Matty, why don’t you go and get a toy for the baby to put in her cot?’ As Matthew scampered off, Kell sat back down. ‘I hope she’s all right in there.’

      ‘This is the man who less than a minute ago told me he never worried.’

      Kell laughed, but just as he opened his mouth to speak the bedroom door was flung open and they both turned as a tall blond man burst in.

      ‘Where’s Shelly?’

      It was a strange way to meet your new colleague, strange but definitely not awkward or difficult. As Abby stood up Ross Bodey’s jaw literally dropped, an incredulous look on his face as his eyes locked on the baby Abby held.

      ‘Who’s this?’ he choked, as Abby stood there, speechless.

      ‘Are you talking about the gorgeous raven, or the ravishing redhead?’ Kell quipped, but his voice was thick with emotion as the bathroom door opened and a pale-looking Shelly tentatively stepped out.

      ‘I’m talking about the blonde,’ Ross said slowly, one arm pulling his wife towards him as he shakingly took the baby from Abby.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ Shelly sobbed, the emotion of the evening finally catching up. ‘I tried to hold on.’

      ‘There’s absolutely nothing to be sorry for.’ His eyes never left his daughter as he gently led his wife to the bed. ‘This is the best homecoming I’ve ever had.’

      ‘Wun.’ Matthew was at the door now. Charging in, he placed a battered book in the crib, his face splitting in two as he saw Ross sitting on the bed.

      ‘Hey, buddy, don’t I get a kiss?’

      ‘Daddy!’

      ‘I think we might have outstayed our welcome,’ Kell whispered to Abby. ‘How about you let me buy you that drink now?’

      ‘How about you show me where I can have a shower?’

      They said their goodbyes, an engrossed Ross attempting to apologise for landing Abby in it, but his mind was clearly on the latest addition to his family.

      ‘Abby will be fine.’ Kell grinned. ‘I’ll bring her luggage over and show her around. Don’t worry about a thing, just enjoy tonight.’

      ‘No problem there,’ Ross said, then turned to Abby. ‘Look, thank you, I really mean that.’

      ‘It was a pleasure,’ Abby said warmly. Stepping out into the now dark sky, a billion stars twinkling down, the warm hand of Kell guiding her along the dusty red soil, it hit her, a heady mixture of relief at what had transpired and utter fear at how different the scenario could have been.

      ‘You’re crying?’ His voice was questioning, concerned, but not for a second mocking.

      ‘I know.’ Abby sniffed loudly as she fished in her pockets for a handkerchief. ‘It’s never got to me like that—a birth, I mean. It’s always been nice, special.’ The words were buzzing in her head as Abby attempted to articulate the strange emotions that were assailing her. ‘But at the end of the day it’s been a job well done. Tonight it just got to me. Seeing Matthew, he was so cute, bringing the baby his book, and then Ross…’ Another tear splashed down her cheek and Abby wiped it away then gave in as a few more followed. ‘He was so thrilled, so delighted with his new daughter, yet he still managed to make Matthew feel number one.’

      As Abby started to walk again, Kell pulled her back. ‘You think that’s a tear-jerker?’ His eyes were searching hers as Abby’s returned his stare. ‘Wait till you hear this—Matthew isn’t Ross’s son.’

      He watched as Abby’s lips parted, as the tears started spilling again.

      ‘They’ve only been married a year, and you know what? He loves that little guy as if he was his own. That’s love for you.’

      ‘She’s a lucky woman,’ Abby said slowly, but Kell shook his head.

      ‘They’re all lucky.’ Taking her hand, he led her along the pathway. ‘They found each other.’

      ‘This is you.’

      Pushing open the unlocked door, Kell stood back and let Abby into her new home.

      Her luggage lay higgledy-piggledy on the dark wooden floor, no doubt courtesy of Bruce, and Abby stood a moment as Kell flicked on the light.

      ‘It’s pretty basic. Kitchen.’ He gestured ahead. ‘Lounge.’ Stomping along the hallway, he flicked on another light and Abby was somewhat surprised to find herself standing in a beautifully furnished room. A large wooden fan whirred away overhead bouncing a shadow off the white walls, broken by vast Aboriginal paintings, the native art so much more appropriate in its own setting than the museums Abby was used to seeing it in. The soft-cushioned cane furnishing looked inviting and the huge low table in the middle of the large room would be the perfect spot for her computer.

      ‘Oh.’

      ‘What’s wrong?’

      ‘I left my computer back at Ross and Shelly’s.’

      ‘Well, I’m not going back to get it,’ Kell said quickly. ‘That’s one little party I’m not breaking up.’

      ‘Of course not,’ Abby snapped, kicking herself for even mentioning it. ‘I was just saying.’

      ‘So we’re back where we started?’ Kell turned to her. ‘Arguing about a computer.’

      ‘Nobody’s arguing,’ Abby said defensively, but the closeness that had overtaken them since the delivery seemed to have gone,