The Midwife's Courage (Glenfallon) by Lilian Darcy

Author:Lilian Darcy
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SOMEHOW, Kit and Gian made it back to the house.

Holding Bonnie’s hand, Freddie wandered out from her vegetable garden, an expectant look ill-concealed on her face. ‘Have you invited her to stay for dinner, Gian?’

‘Not yet,’ he growled. ‘Do you want to stay for dinner, Kit?’

‘Um, no, I should get home. I might walk. Just to make sure the headache doesn’t come back.’

‘There you are, Mum,’ Gian said. ‘She does this to everyone, Kit. No one ever escapes without the offer of a meal. It’s an Italian thing.’

‘It’s nice,’ she answered truthfully. ‘But I can’t, Freddie.’

‘She sounds as if she means it, Mum, don’t you think?’ He had a dangerous look in his dark eyes, and a dangerous firmness to his mouth.

‘You don’t have to interpret me to your mother, Gian.’ Kit’s polite tone was strained. ‘I think we speak the same language.’

Under the guise of walking her in the direction of the road, he murmured, ‘Yes, but she’s going to ask me, as soon as you’ve gone, why you’re upset.’ He brushed his knuckles softly against her neck and she couldn’t help holding him, just gripping a fistful of his shirt fabric at the waist. His arm was warm against hers.

‘I’m not upset,’ she told him.

‘Your cheeks have two spots of colour on them like pink coins. Your eyes are burning. And your top is crooked and not pulled down properly at the bottom…’ He adjusted it as he spoke, his fingers lingering with deliberate intent. ‘Which suggests I’ve been doing more than just upsetting you. What should I say?’

‘That you made me angry, and I’m going home and she’s not to get ideas.’

‘I doubt that will be particularly effective.’

Bonnie was running after them, with Freddie coming up behind. Gian let Kit go and stepped back a pace. ‘Do drawings?’ the little girl asked Kit hopefully. ‘Pincesses?’

‘It’s a conspiracy,’ Kit muttered, adding aloud, ‘Not today, love.’

‘Kit’s tired, sweetheart,’ Freddie explained helpfully. ‘She wants to be by herself. And I know how she feels.’

‘Nonna draw pincesses?’

‘Yes, Nonna can draw you some princesses.’ Freddie sounded even wearier than Kit felt.

‘Take a break tonight, Mum,’ Gian said quietly. ‘Go out.’

Freddie laughed. ‘I’m too tired to go out. I want to stay home.’

‘Then I’ll take Bonnie to my place and we’ll have a nice evening together. She’ll stay the night. I’ll even bring her to the office in the morning. Barb and Margaret will look after her until you can get into town to pick her up. Take it easy for once, and sleep in.’

‘She’ll wake in the night.’

‘I know. But I’m used to disrupted nights. And you need a night when you can go to bed knowing you won’t be disturbed.’

Freddie turned to Kit with a hesitant, hopeful expression. ‘Kit, maybe—’

‘If you’re planning to ask Kit to help me, please don’t,’ Gian said firmly.

‘Well…’

‘You’re too old-fashioned, Mum. Just because I have a Y chromosome, that doesn’t mean I can’t handle a toddler on my own. Bonnie and I will be fine, and we’ll do this more often in future.

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