His Best Friend's Baby

Her gaze lifted, meeting his. Her cheekbones were high and a touch of pink from the cold made the fairness of her skin more noticeable. Her chin trembled. The sudden fear that she might start crying again went through him. He cleared his throat. “I’ll get you that tea.”

Phoebe watched as the rather stoic American man walked out of the room. Why had he looked at her that way? Where was all that compassion and caring that Joshua had written about in his letter? Ryan obviously wanted her gone as soon as possible. He wasn’t at all what she’d expected. Nothing like Joshua had described him. She shivered, the cold and damp seeping through her jacket. What had she been thinking? This wasn’t the warm and welcoming guy that Joshua had said he would be. He hadn’t even reacted to her mentioning Joshua.

He was tall, extremely tall. He ducked slightly to go through the doorway. Joshua had been five feet eleven. Ryan Matthews was far taller, with shoulders that went with that height.

Though he was an attractive man with high cheekbones and a straight nose, his eyes held a melancholy gaze. As if he’d seen things and had had to do things he never wanted to remember, much less talk about.

A few minutes later Ryan handed her a mug with a teabag string hanging over the side. He hadn’t even bothered to ask her what she wanted to drink. Did he treat everybody he met with such disinterest?

“I’m a coffee drinker myself. An associate left the tea here or I wouldn’t have had it.”

She bet it was a female friend. He struck her as the type of man who had women around him all the time. “You are an American.”

“Yes.”

“Joshua never said that you weren’t Australian.”

He took a seat in the lone chair in the room. “I guess he didn’t notice after a while.”

She looked around. Whatever women he brought here didn’t stay around long. His place showed nothing of the feminine touch. In fact, it was only just a step above unlivable. If she had to guess, there was nothing but a bed and a carton for a table in the bedroom.

Phoebe watched him drink the coffee, the smell of which wafted her way as she took a sip of her tea.

Quiet minutes later he asked, “How long were you on my doorstep?’

“I don’t know. I left home around four.”

“It’s after seven now.” His tone was incredulous. “You’ve been waiting that long?”

“I fell asleep.”

The tension left his face. “That’s pretty easy to do in your condition.”

“I can’t seem to make it without a nap after teaching all day.”

“Teaching?”

“I teach at Fillmore Primary School. Grade Five.”

He seemed as if he was trying to remember something. “That’s right. JT said you were going to school to be a teacher.”

At the mention of Joshua they both looked away.

He spoke more to his coffee cup than to her. “I was sorry to hear about Joshua.”

“Me, too.” He and Joshua were supposed to have been best buddies and that was all he had to say. This guy was so distant he acted as if he’d barely known Joshua. She wouldn’t be getting any help or friendship from him.

He looked at her then as if he was unsure about what he might have heard. “Is there something you need from me?”

Phoebe flinched at his directness. Not anymore. She needed to look elsewhere. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from him but this wasn’t it. Joshua’s letter had assured her that Ryan Matthews would do anything to help her but this man’s attitude indicated he wasn’t interested in getting involved.

“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure. You were a friend of Joshua’s and I just thought …”

“And what did you think? Do you need money?”

“Mr. Matthews, I don’t need your money. I have a good job and Joshua’s widow and orphans’ pension.”

“Then I can’t imagine what I can do for you, unless you need someone to deliver your baby?”

“Why would I come to you for that?”

“Because I’m a midwife.”

“I thought he said you were a medic.”

“I was in the army but now I work as a midwife. I still don’t understand why you’re here. If you need someone to deliver your baby you need to come to the Prenatal Clinic during office hours.”

“I already have one. Sophia Toulson.”

His brows drew together. “She’s leaving soon. Did she send you here?”

She lowered her head.

Had he heard her say, “I just needed a friend, I guess.” A friend?

He couldn’t believe that statement. What kind of person showed up at a stranger’s house, asking them to be their friend? Surely she had family and friends in town. Why would she come looking for him now? After all this time. She said she didn’t need money so what did she want from him?

“Where’s the father of the baby?”

Phoebe sat straighter and looked him directly in the eyes. “Joshua is the father of the baby.”

“When …?”

“When he was last home on leave. I wrote to him about the baby but he was …” she swallowed hard “… gone by then.” She placed the cup in the crack between the cushions, unable to bend down far enough to put it on the floor. Pushing herself to a standing position, she said, “I think I’d better go.”

He glanced out the window. The rain had picked up and the wind was blowing stronger. He huffed as he unfolded from the chair. “I’ll drive you home.”

“That’s not necessary. I can catch the tram.”

“Yeah, but you’ll get wet getting there and from it to your house. I’ll drive you. Where’s home?”

Despite his tough exterior, she liked his voice. It was slow, deep and rich. Maybe a Texan or Georgian drawl. “I live in Box Hill.”

“That’s out toward Ferntree Gully, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”