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

adrenaline pumping. I need a break from all this domestic stuff."
    His mother sighed and patted his arm. "I guess we have rather taken over your life. But you've done wonderfully, hasn't he, Olivia?"
    Olivia nodded numbly. Did Radley really need a break from her and George?
    "You'd better take George back inside. The wind's bitter," Radley said.
    "You go carefully on that wretched machine." Sandra gave the motorcycle an evil glare, then rushed back inside with George cuddled close.
    Olivia wasn't happy about Radley riding the motorcycle either, but he insisted on leaving his car so she and Cameron could use it over the weekend.
    Radley secured his bag to the back of his bike and turned. He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her so tightly she could barely breathe. "I miss you already," he whispered.
    "Then don't go."
    His lips thinned in a tight line. "It's for the best."
    "Where exactly are you going?"
    "Mum knows. It's a place in Wales where I've been climbing before."
    Olivia didn't like the idea of him climbing. It was bitterly cold and probably snowing in Wales. He might slip or get frostbite. She felt sick at the thought of him being in danger. She had no idea how she would cope when he was posted to another war zone.
    At least he wasn't climbing on his own. He was meeting another army doctor there. Someone called Julia. Olivia wasn't over the moon about that either. Apparently Julia was a friend and that's all Radley had to say on the matter.
    "I love you," Olivia said, hanging on to him when he tried to step back.
    He hugged her tightly again and kissed her neck. "I love you too." He raised his head and gazed into her eyes. "I will be back soon. You need time with Cameron. I need to blow away the cobwebs and get some perspective on things."
    "Okay."
    Radley tensed to step back, and Olivia reluctantly let him go.
    "Look after my nephew."
    "I will." It troubled her that this was the first time Radley had referred to George that way. Had he distanced himself from her baby as well?
    He pushed on his helmet and fastened the chin strap. Then he straddled his bike and started the engine. It roared to life, effectively ruling out further conversation. That was it. He was going away.
    He gunned the engine and the bike sped away, spitting gravel in its wake. Olivia wrapped her arms around her middle, shivering as the winter wind hummed in the trees.
    It was Friday afternoon and Radley would be home on Monday. So why did she feel like she was losing him forever?
    ***
    The sound of the front door banging echoed through the house and reached Olivia where she helped Sandra prepare dinner in the kitchen. Her heart leaped, hoping Radley had changed his mind and returned.
    She and Sandra both turned to the door as a burst of music sounded, then abruptly cut off. "Hi," a male voice said. Cameron appeared in the doorway, his phone to his ear. "Yeah, I've just arrived." His gaze swept over them. He switched to German for another couple of sentences, then ended the call.
    "Sorry about that," Cameron said, pocketing his phone.
    Sandra rushed over and hugged him. "It's so good to see you. I've missed you, darling."
    "You too, Mum." Cameron hugged her back.
    "You've been away too long. I hope you've booked leave for Christmas."
    "Yeah, I'll try to get home, Mum."
    "You won't try. You'll be here. Where else would you want to go at Christmas?"
    Cameron pulled a face that Olivia couldn't interpret.
    Olivia examined the lanky young man she'd once known so well and felt…nothing. He was still good-looking with similar dark hair and eyes to Radley, yet she wasn't attracted to him anymore. The spark was gone.
    "Hello, Cam," she said, folding her arms and leaning back on the kitchen counter. A few months ago she would have been angry with him for staying away so long. The anger had faded, but she certainly wasn't going to give him a welcoming embrace after he'd ignored her for months.
    "Livi." Cameron's expression tensed, lines bracketing his mouth