Accidental Reunion (19 page)

On their last day they packed a picnic and returned to their favourite walk, climbing the small Piccaninny mountain, and once at the top they gazed down hand in hand, proud of their achievement, not just the walk but of making it together.

‘I love you, Lila, I always have.’

Tears filled her eyes as she drank in the view, and as magnificent as it was she pulled her gaze away to a better one. To Declan. To the eyes that would now greet her each morning, the eyes that would gently bid her goodnight.

‘I love you, too.’ They were only words, easily said but heartfelt. And they still managed to take Lila by surprise when she uttered them.

She had always loved him, always, but now there was no shame, no embarrassment in admitting it.

‘I don’t want to go back to work,’ she admitted. ‘I really wanted the job but now that I’ve got it, it doesn’t seem so important any more.’

‘It will,’ Declan said. ‘Once you’re back you’ll fall in love with it all over again. It’s just hard at the moment with all that you’ve been through. You couldn’t not do it. For one thing you’d miss all the gossip too much if you left. Hey, how about Mr Hinkley and Yvonne finally getting together? I still can’t get over that!’

Lila laughed. ‘He did seem a bit keen at the staff party. Of course, Yvonne only had eyes for you then, but I’m sure the ground was laid then. She’s not so bad really.’

Declan groaned. ‘I guess. Actually, that party’s got a lot to answer for: Yvonne and Mr Hinkley, Jez and Sue.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘Well, good luck to them, I hope they’re as happy as we are.’

Lila nodded. Slipping into his arms, she laid her head on his chest as she breathed in the fresh, still air.

‘I’m a bit worried about the Horse, though,’ Lila said thoughtfully. ‘How she’s going to take the news.’

A possum was climbing a tree just a few metres from them. The eternal townie, Declan was surprised how fascinating watching this tiny creature could be and he only half listened as Lila chatted away.

‘What news?’

‘You were right. The staff party does have a lot to answer for. Not only has the Horse blown fifty dollars from the budget by changing my name tags from
Bailey to Haversham, now the new associate charge nurse is going to be taking maternity leave after only five minutes in the job.’

Declan stiffened in her arms, his breath suddenly still. Even the possum seemed to understand the magnitude of what was taking place and froze on the tree, his brown eyes staring widely at Lila.

‘Say something,’ Lila grumbled. Her cheeks were burning as she awaited his response.

‘I know it’s a bit soon, but say something,’ she pleaded. ‘Anything.’

Pulling her down on the soft grass beside him, Declan ran a lazy hand through her long blonde hair. ‘What are you talking about—‘‘it’s a bit too soon’’?’ He kissed the hollows of her throat, wrapped his arms protectively around her. Pulling away, he gazed at her with love and adoration, the look in his eyes making Lila more dizzy than any multi-trauma ever could.

‘What I was going to say, Mrs Haversham, if you’ll ever let me get a word in edgeways, is, why on earth did we wait so long…?’

ISBN-13: 9781460376560

ACCIDENTAL REUNION

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