‘Right. I’ll come and get her medicare card from you. Jot down the address of the clinic and I’ll be on my way.’
Kane jumped to his feet and reached for his suit jacket straight away. It could only have been thirty seconds before he’d made it to Jessie’s desk, where he was stunned to find her with tears running down her face.
‘Jessie. Darling. What’s up?’ he said as he hunched down beside her chair. ‘Why are you crying?’
She could not seem to speak, just buried her face in her hands.
‘Jessie, talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.’ He took her hands in his and lifted them to his lips.
She stared at him through soggy lashes. ‘I’ve never known anyone like you,’ she choked out. ‘You can’t be real.’
Relief zoomed through Kane, as well as the most ego-boosting pleasure. She wasn’t unhappy. She was actually complimenting him with her tears.
But how sad that she would feel disbelief that a man would do something nice for her and her daughter.
‘I’m real, all right,’ he said with a soft smile. ‘Just ask my mum. Now, stop being a silly billy, give me what I came for, then get back to work. You don’t want everyone saying I hired a nincompoop just because I fancied her, do you?’
He liked it when a smile broke through her tears. God, but she was beautiful when she smiled. Her eyes glittered and her whole face came alive.
‘We couldn’t have that, could we?’ she said, dashing the tears away with her fingers.
‘Absolutely not.’
‘OK. Here’s the medicare card and the clinic’s address. Now, what are you going to do with Emily after you’ve been to the doctor? They didn’t say she was actually sick, but perhaps she should go home. I could give you the keys to the granny flat if you wouldn’t mind staying with her. There’s plenty of food in the fridge and the cupboards. She usually has a sleep after lunch. If she gets bored or stroppy, she likes to watch videos. She has a whole pile of them in the cabinet under the TV.’
‘Sounds good to me. I’ll give you a call when I get there, and I’ll wait with her till you come home.’
‘I don’t know what to say, Kane,’ she said as she drew her keys out of her handbag. ‘Are you sure you can manage? I mean…you haven’t much experience looking after kids on your own.’
‘I happen to be an extremely devoted uncle, so you’re wrong there. What do you think I did on Saturday night when you wouldn’t let me come over? I minded the two terrors so that their parents could go out and relax together. Actually, I don’t know what their mother complains about. They were as good as gold. Of course, I plied them with junk food and lollies till they fell asleep on the sofa in front of the TV. Then I carried them up to bed. Works every time,’ he said with a quick grin.
‘Now, don’t you worry,’ he added. ‘I’m more than capable of looking after Emily. And I won’t feed her junk food, or lollies. To be honest, it’ll be a pleasant change from sitting at that damned desk, pretending to work. Things wind down leading up to Christmas. My entire workload this week is choosing what grog to buy for the Christmas party. Very challenging.’
He stood up, pocketing her keys and picking up the medicare card and piece of paper with the address. ‘I’ll call, OK? And don’t worry.’
‘I won’t,’ she said, looking much more composed. ‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am.’
Kane threw her one last smile and whirled on his heels.
Nothing made a man feel better, he decided as he strode manfully away, than being able to help the woman he loved.
Jessie worked hard and fast for the next few hours, not leaving her desk till the magazine layout looked perfect. To her, anyway.
Michele returned shortly after she’d finished, and only minutes after Kane had rung saying he was at the flat with Emily and that her conjunctivitis wasn’t too bad. He’d already put one lot of drops in, they’d shared Vegemite toast and a glass of milk, followed by a banana each. Now they were settling down to watch The Lion King.
With her worries about her daughter waylaid, Jessie could focus on Michele’s reaction to her work. When Michele started frowning, Jessie’s alarm grew. Maybe the layout wasn’t as good as she thought it was.
‘I would never have imagined doing it this way at all,’ Michele said at last, tipping her head from side to side as she studied the computer screen. ‘But yes, I like it! You are very creative, Jessie. Kane’s found a real gem in you. Harry’s going to be delighted at your joining his staff.’
Jessie sighed her relief. ‘Thank you. But…would you mind if I left now?’ she asked hurriedly. ‘I know it’s only two o’clock, but my little girl has conjunctivitis. The day-care centre rang and wanted me to go get her straight away, but I didn’t feel I could without finishing the layout first.’
‘That was very professional of you, Jessie. But honestly, I would have understood. That kind of thing happens to me all the time. And yes, of course you can go. I hope your little girl is OK.’
Jessie didn’t want to tell her about Kane coming to the rescue. That was her own personal business.
‘I’m sure she will be,’ Jessie said, standing up hurriedly and getting her things together. ‘Thanks, Michele. I did work through my lunch-hour. And I’m happy to do some extra work at home to make up for the extra hour and a half.’
‘Are you kidding me? You’ve achieved more here in less than a day than your predecessor would have done in a week!’
Jessie laughed and left.
The day outside wasn’t overly hot, but it was humid, Jessie’s blouse sticking to her back as she hurried to the train station. Sydney in December could be very sticky.
The train she caught was quite crowded, Jessie lucky to get a seat. But she was still pressed up against other people, and the air-conditioning didn’t seem to be working too well. Everywhere seemed crowded at the moment, even outside of peak hours. Lots of people doing Christmas shopping, she supposed.
Jessie was glad she’d finished hers. She had Emily’s Felicity Fairy doll and accessories all wrapped up and hidden on a high shelf in one of Dora’s wardrobes, along with a few little cheaper gifts she’d bought during the year. She’d long sent her mother’s card and gift to Ireland. A lovely set of linen serviettes and holders that her mother would probably put away and never use. Truly, she was a difficult woman to buy anything for.
For Dora, she’d bought some place mats and matching coasters in a blue and white willow pattern. She hadn’t spent as much money on her as her mother, but she knew Dora would appreciate the gift more, and actually use it. Dora loved that willow pattern. She had a tea set in it, a vase and a large serving plate.
It came to Jessie during the train ride home that she hadn’t bought Kane anything. In truth, his rather sudden intrusion into her life had driven Christmas from her mind, which was ironic given what she’d said to Dora that night before she’d gone to the bar. Hadn’t she wanted a man for Christmas, some gorgeous guy who’d give her a good time?
Kane had certainly done just that, and more. Much more.
Jessie still found it incredible that he loved her.
But he said he did and she had no real reason to doubt him. Frankly, she didn’t want to doubt him any more. She was tired of her cynicism, tired of trying to stop herself from falling in love with him. Dora was right. Life could be cruel but it could be wonderful.
Kane was a wonderful man, despite his not wanting children of his own. Why he didn’t she had no idea, but she would certainly ask him. Soon.
And if he still insists he doesn’t, Jessie, where can this relationship go?