They’d been married eight years but had spent maybe a year together in total. That had been a week or two here, or a month there. They had always laughed that their marriage was like being on vacation instead of the day in, day out experience of living together. Even their jobs had been vastly different. Joshua had found his place in the service more than with her. She’d found contentment in teaching. It had given her the normalcy and stability that being married to a husband who popped in and out hadn’t.
Each time Joshua had come home it had been like the first heart-pounding, whirlwind and all-consuming first love that had soon died out and become the regular thud of everyday life. They’d had to relearn each other and getting in the groove had seemed harder to achieve. As they’d grown older they’d both seemed to pull away. She’d had her set life and routine and Joshua had invaded it when he’d returned.
Removing her clothes, she laid them over a chair and pulled her pj’s out of the chest of drawers. She groaned. The large T-shirt reminded her of a tent that she and Joshua had camped in just after they’d married. The shirt was huge and still she almost filled it.
Pulling it over her head, she rubbed her belly. The baby had been a complete surprise. She’d given up on ever having children. She and Joshua had decided not to have them since he hadn’t been home often enough. She wasn’t sure whether or not she’d cared when they’d married or if she’d believed he would leave the army and come home to stay. The idea of having a family had been pushed far into the future. It had become easier just not to consider it. So when she’d come up pregnant it had been a shock.
Her fingers went to her middle, then to her eye, pushing the moisture away. She’d grown up with the dream of having a family one day. Now she was starting a family but with half of it missing.
She pulled the covers back on the bed and climbed in between the cool sheets. Bringing the blanket up around her, she turned on her side, stuffing an extra pillow between the mattress and her tummy. The baby kicked. She laid her hand over the area, feeling the tiny heel that pushed against her side.
The last time Joshua had been home they’d even talked of separating. They’d spent so little time together she’d felt like she hadn’t even known her husband anymore. She not only carried Joshua’s baby but the guilt that he’d died believing she no longer cared. Friendship had been there but not the intense love that she should have had for a husband.
THE NEXT MORNING Ryan flipped on the light switch that lit the stairs that led down to his workshop. He’d picked out this town house because of this particular space. Because it was underground it helped block the noise of the saws from the neighbors. The area was also close to the hospital, which made it nice when he had to be there quickly.
Going down the stairs, he scanned the area. A band saw filled one corner, while stationed in the center of the room was a table saw. The area Ryan was most interested in right now was the workbench against the far wall. There lay the half-made chair that he had every intention of finishing today. He would still have to spend another few days staining it.
Picking up a square piece of sandpaper, he began running it up and down one of the curved rockers. He’d made a couple of rockers when the nursery of the hospital had needed new ones. A number of the nurses had been so impressed they’d wanted one of their own. Since then he’d been busy filling orders in his spare time.
Outside the moments when a baby was born and offered its first spirited view of the new world with a shout, being in his shop was the place he was the most happy. Far better than his life in the military.
When he could stand it no longer, he’d resigned his commission. He’d had enough of torn bodies. He ran his hand along the expanse of the wood. It was level but not quite smooth enough. Now he was doing something he loved. But thoughts of Phoebe kept intruding.
He couldn’t believe that had been Joshua’s wife at his home the night before. Ryan had been living in Melbourne for five years. Joshua had always let him know when he was home, but in all that time he’d never met his wife. It had seemed like his friend’s visits had come at the busiest times, and even though the two of them had managed to have a drink together, Ryan had never seen her. Now all of a sudden she had turned up on his doorstep.
Even after he’d gotten her calmed down he hadn’t been sure what she’d wanted. It didn’t matter. Still, he owed Joshua. He should check on her. But first he’d see what Sophia could tell him.
The next morning, at the clinic, Ryan flipped through his schedule for the day. He had a number of patients to see but none had babies due any time soon. Maybe he would get a few days’ reprieve before things got wild again.
“You look deep in thought.”
He recognized Sophia’s voice and looked up. “Not that deep. You’re just the person I wanted to talk to.”
The slim woman took one of the functional office chairs in front of his desk. “What can I do for you?”
“I was just wondering what you know about Phoebe Taylor.”
“Trying to steal my patients now?” Her eyes twinkled as she asked.
Ryan gave her a dubious look.
She grinned. “She’s due in about five weeks. What’s happened?”
“She was waiting for me when I got home yesterday. At first I thought she’d gotten my name and address from you. That you were sending her to me because you would be on your honeymoon when it was time to deliver.”
Sophia shook her dark-haired head. “Oh, no, it wasn’t me. But I remember she mentioned you at one of her appointments and said she had your address.”
“I thought maybe she was looking for a midwife. She later told me she was the wife of an army buddy of mine.”
“Yes, she told me that you were good friends with her husband. Did she seem okay?”
“Not really. It was all rather confusing and she was quite emotional. I let her get warm, gave her something to drink and took her home.”
“She’s usually steady as a rock. I’ll find out what’s going on at her next appointment.”
“Thanks, Sophia. I owe her husband.”
“I understand. You are coming to my wedding, aren’t you?”
Sophia was marrying Aiden Harrison in a few weeks and she wanted everyone there for the event. Ryan wasn’t into weddings. He’d never been so close to someone he’d felt like marrying them. After his years in the military he was well aware of how short life could be. Too young to really understand that kind of love when he’d entered the army, he’d soon realized he didn’t want to put someone through what Phoebe Taylor had been experiencing.
He didn’t understand that type of love. Knew how fleeting it could be. His parents sure hadn’t known how to show love. His foster-parents had been poor examples of that also. They had taken care of his physical needs but he’d always been aware that they hadn’t really cared about him. The army had given him purpose that had filled that void, for a while. That had lasted for years until the hundreds of faces of death had become heavier with every day. He well understood that losses lasted a lifetime. Even delivering babies and seeing the happiness on families’ faces didn’t change that. Those men he’d served with were gone. Yet, like JT, they were always with him.
He smiled at Sophia. “I plan to be there. I’ll even dust off my suit for the occasion.”
“That’s great. See you later.”
Ryan had seen his last patient for the day and was headed out the glass doors of the Prenatal Clinic in the hospital. A woman was coming in. He stopped to hold the door for her, then glanced up. It was Phoebe Taylor.
“Ah, hey.”
“Hello.” Her gaze