You, Me and a Family

Sue MacKay

Returning to Nelson Harbour Hospital, Dr Alexandra Prendergast sees work as a distraction from the loss of the baby she’d always longed for. But working with single dad Mario Forelli, who’s bringing up his little girl Sophia, Alex sees a vulnerability beneath his proud fa?ade. Maybe a family for all three of them is closer than they think…

Dear Reader

I’m often asked where the ideas for my stories come from and I have to say I haven’t got a clue. They just arrive in my head. Yes, it’s chaos in there sometimes.

So where did Mario and Alexandra come from? In the sunshine by the marina at a restaurant in Nelson, celebrating a friend’s birthday earlier this year, I found my story. Sitting at another table was a very big, gorgeous, Italian-looking guy.

And that’s how it began. What if this man was a doctor? What if he were bringing up a child alone? Why? What kind of woman would take his heart? It was easy to visualise a tiny but strong woman with him. And how perfect it would be to make her his boss.

We had a great lunch that day, and I didn’t spend all my time on the story, preferring to enjoy the celebrations. But during the hour and a half drive home my mind worked overtime. I hope you like the result.

Cheers!

Sue MacKay

www.suemackay.co.nz

sue.mackay56@yahoo.com

Also by Sue MacKay:

EVERY BOY’S DREAM DAD

THE DANGERS OF DATING YOUR BOSS

SURGEON IN A WEDDING DRESS

RETURN OF THE MAVERICK

PLAYBOY DOCTOR TO DOTING DAD

THEIR MARRIAGE MIRACLE

These books are also available in eBook formatfrom www.millsandboon.co.uk

You, Me and a Family

Sue MacKay

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Dad and Mum. No matter what, you were always there for us as we grew from little hellions to adults. I miss you.

CHAPTER ONE

‘ALEXANDRA KATHERINE PRENDERGAST, how do you plead? Guilty …?’

The judge paused, drawing out the excruciating moment, forcing her heart to clench with pain.

Just when Alex thought she’d scream with frustration and humiliation, he added in a disbelieving taunt, ‘Or not guilty?’

Her mouth was drier than a hot summer’s day. Her tongue felt twice its normal size. Tears oozed from the corners of her eyes to track down her sallow cheeks. ‘Guilty,’ she tried to whisper. Guilty, guilty, guilty, cried her brain, agreed her knotted belly.

‘Speak up, Alexandra,’ the man standing on the opposite side of the operating theatre table growled. His eyes, staring out at her from under his cap, were cold, hard and demanding. Their hue matched the no-nonsense blue of the scrubs they both wore. ‘Did this child die in your care or not?’

‘I did everything within my power to keep him alive, your honour. The other doctors told me there was nothing I could’ve done, that I did nothing wrong. I wanted to believe them, but how could I? He was totally reliant on me and I failed him.’ The familiar, gut-twisting mantra spilled over her sore, cracked lips. The old pain and despair roiled up her throat. ‘I failed Jordan.’ The words flailed her brain.

‘Jordan died because of you. Have you done everything within your power to prevent the same thing happening again?’

‘Yes,’ she croaked. ‘Every day I try to save other babies.’

‘I sentence you to a lifetime of looking after other people’s ill children.’ Her judge’s eyes were icy, his voice a perfect match.

Alex gasped, shoved up from her pillow and clamped her hand over her mouth. Sweat soaked her nightgown, plastering it to her breasts and shoulders, making it pull tight against her skin as she moved in the bed. Moist strands of hair fell into her eyes, stuck to her wet cheeks. ‘I will not throw up. I will not.’ The words stuck in the back of her throat as she blinked her way back from the nightmare.

The all too familiar nightmare.

Her fingers shook as she reached for the bedside lamp switch and flooded her bedroom with soft yellow light. Tossing the covers aside she put her feet on the floor and pushed up. Despite the heat-pump being on, the winter air was chilly on her feverish skin. But cold was good. It focused her. Brought