The Army Doctor's Wedding by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

what he told himself, anyway.
    "Heck, no." Cameron
laughed. "My mother will be over the moon to meet him. You should have
seen her with her first grandchild. She wouldn't put George down."
    "Is George your brother's
son?"
    "Yes." Cameron clamped
his lips together. Why had he mentioned George? He didn't want to discuss him.
He'd only end up revealing how he'd given up his own son to his brother. He
didn't need to be a mind reader to know Alice wouldn't approve.

Chapter Six
     
    With nothing but the clothes on her back and her passport,
Alice felt almost naked in the arrivals hall at Brize Norton military airport.
At the field hospital, it hadn't mattered that she had nothing. Everything was
so primitive there. Back here in England, in the heart of civilization,
everything was different.
    She brushed at the dust on her
clothes, self-conscious when she noticed the women in colorful summer dresses
there to welcome home their husbands.
    "Everyone else has a bag. I
feel weird with nothing."
    "Don't worry," Cameron
said. "We'll make sure you have everything you need when we get to my brother's
place."
    She hadn't taken much with her to
Africa. Her important belongings like her bank cards were stashed at the
women's refuge in London where she had volunteered while she was at college. As
soon as she could, she planned to visit her old friend Maeve who ran the
refuge, collect her stuff, and introduce Cameron, if he were interested in
coming.
    More of her things remained in
her old bedroom at her parents' house, but she had no intention of going there,
even though she would like her mother to see Sami. It wasn't worth the risk.
Her mother could never keep a secret from her father. If he found out Alice was
trying to adopt a baby, he would interfere.
    A tearful woman ran forward and
hugged a soldier they had traveled with. He picked up his little girl and swung
her around, making her giggle. What must it be like to have a real marriage
with a man who loved you and his children? Alice couldn't even imagine.
    "I'll call my brother and
see where he is." Cameron had his bag in one hand and Sami's carrier in
the other. He put them down on the floor next to a seat so Alice could sit
beside Sami. Then he pressed his mobile phone to his ear, wandering back and
forth, absently rubbing his chin.
    "Rad, we've landed," he
said.
    A long sigh of relief whispered between
Alice's lips. She gently rubbed her sleeping baby, who was oblivious to the
fact he was now on British soil. She had been so fearful for Sami's safety. If
the authorities in his homeland had taken him from her, he likely wouldn't have
survived.
    "My brother will be here in
five. He's just entered the gates." Cameron sat beside her and leaned over
to peer at Sami. "Is the little guy okay?"
    "Still asleep." She
held aside the edge of the bag to give Cameron a view of Sami.
    "How about you?"
Cameron raised a hand and stroked some loose strands of hair back from her
face.
    Her pulse leaped. Every time he
touched her she couldn't think straight. A strange woolly sensation filled her
head, and she went all tingly. Part of her longed for his touch, yet another part
of her wished he would keep his distance and stop confusing her. This wasn't
real. Their supposed relationship was all pretense. Yet she had difficulty
remembering that when he appeared to be so caring.
    "Ah, there's Radley."
Cameron jumped up and strode towards a man in army uniform. They embraced, both
laughing and thumping each other on the back.
    "Glad to see you home in one
piece," Radley said, throwing an arm around Cameron's shoulders. The
likeness between the two men was amazing. Radley was an inch or two taller than
Cameron, with the same dark hair, brown eyes, and easy smile.
    Alice rose as they approached, a
tentative smile on her lips.
    "You must be Alice."
Radley extended a hand and shook hers firmly. "Nice to meet you." His
gaze flicked to her arm before returning to her face. "I gather you had a
close shave with the