Alison Roberts - The Doctor's Secret Family

‘Can I make a sandwich for Joe?’

‘Joe doesn’t need a sandwich, pet. He’s getting fat. Sandwiches should really only be special treats for donkeys.’

‘ We’re going to have a special treat later.’

Hannah smiled. ‘So we are. I’d almost forgotten about the butterfly cakes. OK, then. Joe can have a sandwich but just one slice of bread and not too much Marmite.’

Hannah kicked off her court shoes and unzipped her skirt, reaching for the faded denim jeans hanging over the end of the brass bedstead in her room. A soft, well-worn polo-necked jersey covered the shirt she had worn to work and she sat on the bed to pull on the warm socks she would need inside her gumboots. This was her favourite time of the day. She could stop being professional and sink into the comfort of being where she most loved to be with the person she most wanted to be with. It was bliss.

The fine woollen skirt needed some cat hair brushed off before being hung in the wardrobe but Hannah took the time to care for the garment. It had lasted for years now, as had many of her good-quality clothes. Flicking through the hangers in the wardrobe was no more than a random gesture. She couldn’t pretend she was looking to see if it was still there because she had known all along that it was. Why had she even kept that white gypsy blouse with its rainbow drawstring neck? She’d never worn it again and it was hardly likely to come back into fashion.

* * *

It had been a relief to get changed that day as well. To escape the restrictions of that tailored suit and head out for a walk to celebrate a successful end to a stressful day and to explore this exciting city. As usual, Hannah had been wearing a favourite pair of jeans and the pretty gypsy top had been perfect for the glorious summer weather Auckland had turned on. The motel she’d been staying in near the hospital had been central enough for the vibrancy of New Zealand’s largest city to surround it and high enough to give tantalising glimpses of the Waitemata Harbour with its spectacular bridge and the holiday atmosphere the yachting activity provided. Auckland had been a totally new city for Hannah and she’d known she would love it if she was lucky enough to get the job and come there to live. The fact that her interview had gone so well made the possibility of starting a new life very real and the excitement the prospect generated made Hannah feel happier than she had in a very long time.

The coffee was great, too. A hot, creamy, strong latté in an outdoor café that had an unobstructed view of a large patch of harbour. Hannah was more than happy to sit by herself and enjoy the last part of the afternoon. She was even happier, however, at the interruption.

‘Excuse me, but I’m wondering if you might be able to help me?’

Hannah was laughing even before she turned towards the source of the instantly recognisable voice.

‘I’m looking for a good cup of coffee.’ Jack kept his face straight for a few seconds longer. ‘Can you recommend this establishment?’

The coffee was so good that Hannah had another one. It shouldn’t really have seemed like fate stepping in that Jack was staying at the same nearby motel. It was, after all, the closest one to the hospital and had been top of the recommended list. It was also coincidental that Jack’s interview had gone well and that, like Hannah, he was now on the shortlist for a coveted position; and it was hardly a surprise that they were both visiting Auckland for the first time. It seemed only polite to share the celebration of a satisfying day and completely logical to join forces and spend the evening exploring a little of the city.

‘After all,’ Jack pointed out, ‘we wouldn’t want to get lost, would we?’

They shouldn’t really have stayed out so late when they both had a second round of interviews the next day. And they probably shouldn’t have visited the Stardome Observatory on One Tree Hill as they finally headed back towards their motel. If they hadn’t already identified the constellations through the giant telescope inside, they wouldn’t have lain on a deserted, grassy slope later, trying to find them again.

And Jack wouldn’t have kissed her. Or had she kissed him? It didn’t matter. The attraction between them was so mutual and so strong that Hannah barely registered the breaking of so many of her private rules regarding men. She was about to start a new life here. Everything was new and exciting and tinged with a magic she had never encountered before. What better way to make it memorable for ever than to spend a night with the most wonderful man she had ever met? Reckless? Yes. Memorable?

Oh, very definitely, yes. Far too memorable. Hannah pushed the wardrobe door shut and made sure the latch clicked. Maybe she couldn’t stem the flow but she could shut these disturbing memories away again just as quickly. They just needed airing. A quick shake and then they could go back where they had come from and lie undisturbed, hopefully for good this time.

* * *

Olivia’s fluorescent pink gumboots looked positively lurid as they caught the last of the sunshine. Joseph, the grey donkey, was duly appreciative of the mangled piece of bread and Marmite. Velvety lips carefully plucked the offering from the tiny hand Hannah held flat on top of her own. She rubbed inside the length of the shaggy ear and Joseph closed his eyes and lowered his head in ecstasy. Olivia planted a noisy kiss on his nose.

‘We have to go now, Joe,’ she told their largest pet. ‘We have to see if the eggs have cracked.’

Arthur, the Chinese Silky bantam rooster, was strutting proudly in front of the henhouse with Bianca, Carla and Elsa close by. Deirdre was inside, as she had been for over a week now, keeping her clutch of six eggs warm. She appeared as Hannah scattered handfuls of grain and Olivia’s blond curls almost disappeared as she poked her head into the nesting box for a closer look.

‘There’s no cracks yet, Mummy.’

‘I think it takes a bit longer than a week for them to hatch.’

‘Maybe tomorrow?’

‘Maybe.’ Hannah squeezed the small hand that slid into hers as they headed back to the house via a quick visit to shift Horace the goat’s tethering pole. ‘We’ll have to think up some names for the chickens when they hatch, won’t we? What’s the next letter after ‘‘E’’?’

Olivia had to think hard about that. She sang her way through the alphabet song as she pulled off the pink gumboots.

‘F,’ she declared finally.

‘Good girl! What sound does ‘‘F’’ make?’

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