CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

“Can you believe today?” I ask Hamish, still in awe as we curl up on his couch.

“They sure pulled it off.  Your parents, Aubree, and Brooklyn have been planning for weeks,” he tells me.

“And you knew?” I gasp.

“Of course.”

“You shithead!”

“But you love me,” he teases.

“Lucky,” I grumble with faux hostility.

 

The next morning, I dress in a pretty maternity blouse and a pair of leggings to go and meet Tom.  The building that will become Pine Creek Radiology is only a ten-minute walk from Hamish’s, so after he leaves for work, I walk down the main street.  I stop by the Coffee House that my mum and aunts own, order a coffee and a ham and cheese croissant, and then make my way down further to the new clinic.

The building is large and very professional-looking from the outside, with tinted windows and an appealing wooden panelling.  I walk in through the large glass door and notice the front looks almost finished.  The pine on the reception desk that stretches in an arc matches the panelling on the exterior of the building, and the walls are painted a calming cornflour blue.   I can hear machinery in the back, so they must still be under construction in some places.

“Olive?”  A tall, slim, middle-aged man strides toward me, a smile on his face and his hand outstretched.

“Yes.  You must be Tom?”

“Lovely to meet you,” he states with a nod and a firm shake of his hand on mine.  “Come sit.”  He leads me behind the front desk to where two plastic outdoor chairs are, and he waves for me to take one.  “As you’re aware, Eligh recommended you for the head radiologist position, and with his glowing referral, and your impressive résumé, I’d love to extend the position to you.”

“Absolutely.  I’m very interested.  Obviously, I’m heavily pregnant. My first baby. Is that going to be an issue?”

“No, I think it will work out perfectly.  With all things going to plan, and no delays in our path, we expect the clinic will be opening in December.  I’d be happy for you to start slowly in the beginning, given you’ll be a first time mum.  Maybe two days a week, and then build that up after the new year.  That’s definitely something we can work through later, though,”

“Okay, that sounds reasonable,” I say.

“Good.  Now would you like to look over the plans for the clinic?  It’s going to be quite impressive,” he states with a proud grin.

“Yes, please!”

He shows me through the large, colour printed plans for the clinic and he’s right—it is going to be impressive.  State-of-the-art, clean lines, high-tech equipment, and a functional layout.  It’s going to be the best clinic in the state and I’m already excited to have the opportunity to work at such an amazing establishment.  Not only that, I’m excited for Pine Creek. Never, in a million years, would I have thought my little country hometown would be housing a facility to rival those in cities like Darwin and Sydney.  But the proof is on the blueprint in front of me, and I’m pumped for my town.

 

After my meeting with Tom, I stop by the school to see Hamish.  He’s on his lunch break, and I hand him a salad roll I picked up on my way past the Coffee House. 

“Thanks, babe,” he murmurs, kissing my lips swiftly.

“No problem.  I wanted to stop by for a kiss before I drove back to Katherine.”

“Mm, anytime,” he growls against my mouth.

I giggle. “Don’t get carried away now, Mister Tyler,” I sass.

“I love the way that sounds coming from your mouth.  Maybe I’ll make you call me that from now on,” he teases.

“I wouldn’t mind.” I wink.

“You’re a bad girl.” He presses against me and I feel his hard length.  A flood of warmth moves through my body, but I quickly swallow my arousal.  We’re in a school—his place of work—we don’t need to be turned on right now.

I place my hand on his solid chest.  “I’ll see you on the weekend?”

“Maybe sooner if I can’t stay away,” he replies.

“I love you… Mister Tyler.”

He grins.  “I love you, too, baby.  Drive safe.”

“Always.”  I blow him another kiss, even though I wish he could claim my mouth in a desperately passionate kiss.  I know we can’t do that here, though, so I’ll wait until I see him again in a few days.

 

My final two weeks before I go on maternity leave pass really quickly, and on my last day, my co-workers celebrate my time at the clinic with a cake a bunch of gorgeous Australian wildflowers.  I’m sad to be leaving, but I’m excited for my next adventures. 

I spend the night packing up my unit into boxes, ready for my dad and uncles to move me back home to Pine Creek.  I’ve spent most nights this week staying up late and wrapping breakables in newspaper.  With just three weeks to go until my due date, I’m feeling more and more tired.  I can’t wait to get unpacked at the cottage so I can nap all day.

 

Hamish: How did the move go, beautiful?

Olive: Tiring. I’m glad dad and the guys did everything.  I hardly did anything and I’m still exhausted.

Hamish: Give me an hour and I’ll be there to rub your feet… and anything else you need rubbed ;)

Olive: Anything else??

Hamish: Absolutely anything

Olive: I have a humungous plantar wart on the side of my big toe.  I’d love for you to massage the ache away.

It takes him five minutes to reply and I use the silence to giggle myself into an exhausted stupor.  I’m lying about the plantar wart and I’m pretty sure he knows this, however, judging by his silence I’m also guessing he’s searching his brain for a memory of said wart. 

Hamish: I just Googled plantar warts.  Don’t do it. I had to go outside for fresh air so I didn’t hurl.

Olive: bahahahahaha I’m dying right now.

Hamish: You don’t really have one, do you?  I would’ve noticed when I sucked the chocolate off your toes the other night.

The memory of him doing delicious things to my body sends an even more delicious tingle straight between my thighs.

Olive: I don’t know what you’re talking about… perhaps you’ll have to refresh my memory :P

Hamish: I’ll spank your arse.  You deserve some punishment for the plantar wart joke

Olive: I love it when you talk dirty, Mister Tyler

Hamish: I love it when I sink inside your tight pussy.  That first thrust, when your eyes roll back in your head.  Almost makes me blow my load right then and there.

Olive: Oh

Hamish: though, I’ll miss seeing that tonight, since you’ll be on all fours, taking me from behind, while I turn your arse pink.

Olive: Jesus.  You’re really good at this…

Hamish: only with you, baby

Olive: Now I’m all wet and achy

Hamish: I’ll lick that ache away, darlin’.

Olive: Gah! You’re driving me crazy.

Hamish: Payback’s a bitch ;)  See you in an hour, babe.  Don’t be wearin’ panties.

 

I clench my thighs together and let out a groan.  Hamish had planned on helping out with the move today, but he had to help the principal put together a fitness plan for a group of students who wanted to implement some kind of new program.  To be honest, he told me late at night, and anything after seven-thirty p.m. may as well be two a.m. for me.  I’m just so tired these days.  Speaking of tired, I yawn loudly right as my phone rings in my lap, making me startle.

“Hey, Mum,” I answer, yawning once again.

“Hi, sweetie.  You sound exhausted.  Do you feel okay?  I hope you didn’t outdo yourself today.  I told your father not to let you do anything.”

“I’m fine, just tired.”

“How are your ankles?  I was worried they’d swell.”

I look down at what used to be my slim, well-defined ankles.  “No more fluid-filled than usual,” I grumble.

“They’ll snap back once bubby is born,” she assures me.  “Now, I just wanted to check how you’re feeling and to remind you there’s food in the freezer.  You should be right for at least a year,” she tells me on a laugh.  “Your aunts and I went a little overboard.”

“I saw,” I reply, grinning.  They have loaded up my freezer to the top with containers filled and labelled with an assortment of food that should last me well into the next century. “I’m going to heat up some curried chicken and watch TV until Hamish gets here.  Then I’m planning on sleeping until the baby arrives.”

Mum chuckles.  “Good luck with that, darling.  I’ll make sure to keep everyone away so you can sleep all day tomorrow.  You’ll probably start having visitors from Monday, so be prepared.”

She’s right, and to be honest, it doesn’t bother me in the least.  I grew up with a huge family and it meant someone was always close by.  More often than not, our house was filled with at least ten extra people on any given day.  I thought I’d love the peace and quiet when I moved out, and I did love it for the first five minutes, but then it got real old, real quick.  I enjoy having my family and friends around.  Just another plus of moving back to Pine Creek.

“Thanks, Mum.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow sometime.”

“Okay, Oli. Love you. Get some rest.”

“Love you, too.”

I end the call and my head falls back against the couch. I’m hungry for food, but my eyes feel heavy.  I let them close slowly, and before I know it, I’ve dozed off.