“No, I—” Nate looked between the reporter and Jess. “You’ve got the wrong idea,” he repeated, his eyes pleading with Jess. He stepped closer and Jess worried he might reach for her arm again. Did he think she’d hang around listening to his excuses?
“I don’t think so.” She turned and hurried down the steps as fast as her heels would let her. She knew what she deserved now, and it wasn’t Nate Mitchell.
22
“NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, June. Take a seat. Hi kids, come in.”
Nate smiled at the rowdy family of four entering his office and turned his chair to face them. June, heavily pregnant, left the huge pram next to the door, lifting out each toddler and balancing one on her hip. She sat slowly, settling her young children around her.
“How’s everything going?” he asked, pulling a small toy basket out from under his desk and offering it to the three identical preschoolers.
“I’m just glad it’s not another set of triplets,” June said, laughing in what sounded like exhausted defeat.
Nate had been the one to break the news that June was having a set of twins a few months earlier. Women who had multiples had higher chances of having multiples again. He knew June and her husband wanted a big family, but he wondered how people coped with so many little ones. June pulled a colour-coded notebook from her large baby bag and answered his question. From what he’d seen, she was an incredibly organised person.
“I have another scan on the 15th,” June continued. “But I’m still worried about their movement. I know there’s two of themin there, but I’m not feeling them kick as much as I’d expect. Also, I’ve been having terrible reflux.”
“Okay, let’s get you up on the bed and I’ll have a listen. We can get you an ultrasound today too and see what’s happening in there.”
“Thanks, Doctor Mitchell. It’s probably fine.”
Nate smiled at her reassuringly and helped her onto the bed. “Always best to be safe with multiples. I’m glad you came in.”
He gently pressed on June’s stomach, feeling for one twin and then the other. From his estimates, they were large for twins and, June being a smaller woman, probably didn’t have much room for wiggling around. “I’ll have a listen to their hearts while we’re here, if that’s okay?”
June nodded and he applied gel to her stomach, pressing the doppler probe against it and moving it slowly to find the distinctive whoosh of the babies’ heartbeats.
“Everything sounds good. I’ll order that ultrasound now. You shouldn’t have to wait long.”
He offered June a wipe for her stomach and helped her up off the bed.
“I’ll write you a prescription for antacids too for your reflux. Hopefully that will help. Not long to go now.”
“Can you believe it?” June said, taking the prescription from Nate and tucking it into her bag. He helped her clip the triplets back into their seats and negotiate the pram through the doorway.
A lunch break was scheduled next and, after wrapping up his notes, he headed for the new cafeteria. The maternity unit was still a building site, full of contractors and ladders and the constant noise of drills, but it didn’t bother him. The small townhospital was exactly what he’d been hoping it would be. It gave him a closer connection with his patients and plenty of time to enjoy his evenings and weekends. It was the work-life balance he’d been craving.
At the interview the week after the premiere, he’d had to convince them the media wasn’t accurate. He wasn’t relaunching his acting career. The miniseries would be a one-off. It had taken a bit of convincing, but thankfully, they’d offered him the position.
During filming, he’d not only fallen for Jess; he’d fallen for the little rural township of Rangiora. His friends couldn’t understand it, but sometimes love didn’t make sense. He knew in his heart this was where he needed to be.
Things were settling into place. His parents were coming to visit next month and even considering joining him in New Zealand when they retired. His dad talked nonstop about all the fishing he could do, filling his online history with boats for sale, and researching outboard motors.
Nate selected a chicken wrap with avocado and placed it on the cafeteria counter. “Afternoon, Marilyn. Flat white, one sugar, thanks,” he said, greeting the grey-haired woman behind the counter.
“Busy day, hun?” she asked, taking his card and processing the payment.
“Like always.”
“Did you see they opened the west wing today? Placed a courtyard right in the middle.”
“No, I didn’t. I’ll have to go for a wander and check it out.”
“You should,” Marilyn said, handing him a takeaway cup. “Careful, it’s hot.”
“Thanks, Marilyn. What would I do without you?”
She chuckled. “You’d be drinking lukewarm instant in the staff room, I imagine.”
