The Army Doctor's Baby (Romance Novella) by Helen Scott Taylor

asked about the weekend Cameron came home, even after she mentioned that Cameron was now giving her money for George.
    Radley said he loved her, but it was meaningless if she never saw him. Her father still tossed out "I love you" when he called her, but he didn't or he would make the effort to see her occasionally.
    Glancing at her watch, she hurried towards the realtor's office. She'd started doing a couple of shifts a week at an old people's residential home, a similar job to one she'd done before to supplement her student loan. It was only twenty minutes until her shift started so she had to be quick.
    Christmas lights hung from the street lamps and spanned the road, lighting up the area as darkness fell. Olivia paused outside a toy store to examine the display of cuddly animals. She hadn't bought any presents yet. At least now she had some earnings, so she could purchase small gifts for the Knights and George.
    A few moments later, she pushed open the glass door to the realtor's office and glanced around. The woman who had met her and Radley at Brook View Cottage was seated near the back. Olivia approached and smiled, noting the woman's name on her desk.
    "Hello, Lindsey, I need to talk to you about Brook View Cottage. The one Radley Knight is buying."
    The woman looked up, recognition in her eyes. "Of course. How can I help? There isn't a problem with the purchase, is there?"
    "Not a problem, just a delay."
    Olivia explained that the contract had arrived from the lawyers but Radley couldn't sign yet as he was in Afghanistan. Sandra had called the lawyers' office but they wouldn't discuss the transaction with her because of the Data Protection Act. They would only talk to Radley and that was obviously impossible right now. Olivia hoped the realtor might be more helpful.
    "Is it possible for you to contact the seller to explain why there's a delay? We don't want him to think that Radley's lost interest."
    "That shouldn't be a problem. Sit down for a moment. I'll call him now."
    Olivia sat and laced her fingers together over her tummy, still aware of the tenderness where the C-section scar was. A small silver Christmas tree sat on a filing cabinet, and glittery baubles hung from the ceiling. Signs of Christmas were everywhere, yet Olivia had never felt less like celebrating. The only good thing about Christmas was that by the time it arrived, she would have her exam results.
    When the realtor's call was answered, Olivia listened carefully to the side of the conversation she could hear. It didn't seem to be going well. Lines appeared on the young woman's forehead and she apologized a few times.
    When she put down the phone, she sighed. "It's not good news, I'm afraid. Mr. Knight promised the sale would be completed by Christmas and the seller is depending on that. He needs the money for his own purchase."
    "It's not Radley's fault. His leave was canceled unexpectedly. He was recalled to Afghanistan."
    The woman nodded. "My cousin's in the army, so I sympathize. The trouble is there's another couple interested in Brook View who offered cash. The seller says if they can rush through the deal before Christmas, he'll sell to them instead. I'm sorry."
    Olivia gasped as though she had been punched in the chest. Radley had set his heart on Brook View and she loved it too. This was so unfair. Everything was going wrong.
    She pressed her lips together and nodded. "Thank you for finding out for me. At least we know."
    Olivia trudged out into the bitter evening air. She felt so helpless and frustrated. If only she or Sandra could act on Radley's behalf, the cottage would be his. If she stayed with Radley, would it always be like this—him away, her struggling to deal with things on her own?
    She'd managed on her own ever since her mother died. But now she had George. She really didn't want to handle everything alone, and she wanted George to have a proper family with a mum and dad around, the life she had missed out on when she was a