A Baby for the Flying Doctor Read Free Page B

each other. Literally.’
    ‘Ooh.’ Delight dripped from Melissa’s tone. ‘Do tell, girlfriend.’
    Phemie gave Melissa a quick recount of the past fifteen minutes. ‘I’m supposed to be concentrating on my paper, on getting everything sorted out in my head so I don’t make a fool of myself when I get up in front of thousands of people on Monday to do my presentation.’
    ‘And now you can’t concentrate because of him ?’
    ‘Of course I can concentrate. That’s why I called you. If I talk it all out, then I can put it aside and focus.’
    ‘Oh, piffle. You have hours and hours of doing nothing on that train.’
    ‘Anthony’s getting on—’
    ‘On Friday morning. It’s Wednesday, Phemie,’ Melissa pointed out. ‘Look, there’s more than enough time for you to go over the presentation, spend time with Anthony and have the occasional cup of tea with a medical genius. It’s a three-day journey from Perth and perhaps Professor Fitz-yummy is looking for a bit of company. Professional and platonic, of course. He is a gentleman after all.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘A gentleman who has already held you in his arms—twice!’
    Even though Melissa couldn’t see her, Phemie coloured a little at her friend’s words. ‘It was the train. It was lurching,’ she said defensively.
    ‘You believe that if you need to. Phemie?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Go and have a cup of tea with him. Talk about the latest medical breakthroughs or whatever it is that you find interesting but for goodness’ sake, relax a little. Let yourself go. Step outside that very comfortable comfort zone you’ve locked yourself inside. It’s all too easy to stay put.’ Melissa’s tone said she knew what she was talking about.
    ‘I’ve taken steps outside my zone,’ Phemie felt compelled to say, even though she knew her friend was right. ‘I’m working in the middle of nowhere, for goodness’ sake. I left Perth. I’m out in the wide brown land…well, ochre land at any rate, and I’m meeting new people. I think that qualifies as stepping outside my comfort zone.’
    ‘Or perhaps it’s simply doing the same moves inside a different shape. You’re the nurturing type as well as a workaholic. Going to Sydney on the train should force you to do one thing—slow down. You’re still taking care of everyone else’s needs except your own.’
    ‘And you think having a cup of tea with Professor Fitzwilliam will take care of my needs?’
    ‘It might.’
    ‘Must be pretty powerful tea, then.’
    Melissa laughed. ‘Just promise me you’ll try and be open to new experiences.’
    ‘Such as joining an esteemed English professor for tea?’
    ‘Exactly.’
    An hour later, Melissa’s words still ringing in her ears, Phemie gave up on the pretence of reading and searched for her shoes. All passengers had been warned by the train stewards to always wear closed shoes when walking about the train—especially between carriages.
    As she left her cabin, she realised the train was really rocking now and she wondered whether the drivers were trying to make up time. She made it to the next carriage, trying to ignore the blast of cool air as she’d stood on the gangplank that connected the two cars together. In just under a month, winter would be here. Not that that mattered much where she lived, about fifty kilometres outside Didja’s town centre at the RFDS base. Even in winter, the weather was still rather warm.
    She walked through the next carriage, then heaved open the heavy door at the end, crossing into another carriage which she realised was the lounge car. Several people were seated here and there, some talking quietly, some reading or doing work on their computers. She headed through, wanting to get to the dining carriage to at least get a warm drink, hoping that might help her to relax.
    ‘It’s full.’ A deep English accent washed over her and she turned to find Professor Gilbert Fitzwilliam sitting at one of the corner lounges, a Thermos on the