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

child. She wanted the man she loved by her side, sharing things. Not halfway around the world.
    ***
    It was just after midnight when Olivia let herself quietly into Willow House after a shift at work, and headed for the stairs. The sound of a sob from the sitting room pulled her up, and she frowned for a moment before changing direction.
    She pushed open the sitting room door to reveal the softly lit room. The log fire had died down. In the glowing light from the embers, she could see Sandra kneeling beside a Christmas tree that hadn't been there when Olivia left.
    The tree was partially decorated, the lights in place and some baubles on the lower branches. As Olivia moved closer, she saw boxes of decorations on the floor.
    Sandra was rocking George in her arms. It was only when Olivia reached her that she realized Radley's mother was crying.
    A shock of fear raced through her and she crouched beside the older woman. "What's wrong?"
    "Oh, nothing, just me being silly." Sandra wiped her cheeks with the back of a hand. "My husband was meant to call tonight. I've been waiting for hours, watching the clock, but no call." She gave a hollow laugh. "After all this time, I know it doesn't mean anything. I must be hormonal or something. Maybe I'm missing him more than usual because I was decorating the tree."
    Olivia pulled over a footstool and sat at Sandra's side. After being on her feet for so many hours, she needed to sit down. Sandra passed George across to her and he nuzzled her shirtfront. "Are you hungry, little man? Just for a change."
    Sandra gave a watery laugh and stroked George's hair. "He's such a good little boy. He reminds me so much of Radley."
    "Not Cameron?" Olivia said in surprise. After all, Cameron was the dad.
    "Lord, no. Cameron was a handful, very noisy and very demanding. He needed to be constantly entertained. Radley was happy with his own company like George."
    "I'm sorry Brigadier Knight didn't call," Olivia said. "I suppose he's too busy or not near a phone."
    Sandra sighed deeply and rose to her feet. "You're right. I'm sure." She stooped and gathered up some baubles, then hung them on the tree. "I hoped he'd be home for Christmas, but he didn't know last time we spoke. With the current troubles, there's a strong possibility it will be just you, me, and little George for Christmas this year."
    She wiped away another tear and added more baubles to the tree. Her melancholy mood was catching. Olivia's own worries about Radley welled up and her eyes filled, but she swallowed back the need to cry. "Aren't you used to this?"
    "Gosh, yes. When we were first married, my husband was only a captain. He had no say if he got home for Christmas. But in those days the boys were little, and Christmas is so much about children. We lived in army married quarters, and the holiday season was filled with events for the children. Then just before Christmas I'd bundle up the two boys and drive down to my parents' house in Hampshire. They had a beautiful place in the New Forest."
    "That sounds nice." Olivia remembered her own Christmases, just her and her mum, her dad rarely making it home from wherever in the world he was working. But he hadn't been kept away by orders, just by his own indifference.
    "I thought it would get easier as the years went on, but with the boys gone too…" Sandra's words trailed away, and she cleared her throat.
    "A brigadier has choice over when he takes leave, but with the recent flare-up of hostilities in Afghanistan, I don't know if he'll make it back. He has a strong sense of duty and Radley takes after his father. This might be the first year ever that I don't have any of them home."
    "Well, you have us," Olivia said.
    "Yes. Thank heaven for you two." Sandra stopped and folded her arms around Olivia and her baby, hugging them tight. "You don't know how pleased I am to have you here, love. Don't ever think you're imposing. You're not. You and this little darling are a godsend to me."
    The tears