Free The Surgeon's Doorstep Baby by Marion Lennox Page B

you?’
    ‘He’ll need to come with me,’ Maggie said doubtfully. ‘Mum won’t keep him quiet.’
    ‘Then you’ll need Liselle,’ Ronnie decreed. She eyed Blake thoughtfully while she spoke, obviously planning ahead. ‘At seventeen Liselle’s more than competent to do some babysitting,’ she told Blake. ‘And she’ll love getting away from her mother’s weird music so she can do some serious study. Unless you’re happy to stay home all the time.’ She arched her eyebrows at Blake, and grinned.
    ‘That’s exactly what Blake should be doing,’ Maggie retorted. ‘He’s recovering from appendicitis.’
    ‘Really?’ Ronnie was bug-eyed. ‘You’ve come home to recover? Isn’t that nice.’
    ‘I’ve come home... I’ve come back to put the farm on the market,’ he growled, and she grinned.
    ‘That sounds more like your dad. But you’re going to be useful while you do it, which isn’t like your dad at all. So... Christopher and Liselle...they won’t fit in that tiny apartment of yours, Maggie.’
    ‘Christopher can share my bed. You know we do that when any of them are ill. Liselle can sleep on the sofa.’
    ‘I’ve seen your sofa,’ Ronnie said darkly. ‘Charity-shop reject if ever I saw one. Poor Liselle.’ Then she looked—archly—at Blake. ‘Your house, though, has more bedrooms—and more beds—than you can poke a stick at. If you’re going to be useful, why not be properly useful? Let Liselle and Christopher stay in your part of the house. Maggie won’t even go through your door except to dust, and it’s always seemed such a waste.’
    ‘Ronnie,’ Maggie snapped. ‘You know—’
    ‘I know you’ve made a huge effort to get away from your family and I know why,’ Ronnie said. ‘But this wouldn’t be you taking them in. It’d be Dr Blake taking them in, in exchange for Liselle occasionally looking after his baby. She can’t get to school but she needs to study. I suspect she’ll get more study done at your place than at your mother’s.’ Then, as Maggie looked doubtful, she said, more gently, ‘Surely your mum can cope with just Peter and Susie?’
    ‘I guess...’ Maggie said slowly. ‘I worry about Pete—those mates of his are wild but he has two new computer games he’s obsessed with, and he’s promised... And Susie’ll be fine. She spends her time with the little girl next door. But—’
    ‘Then there you are,’ Ronnie said, beaming, refusing to listen to buts. ‘Problem solved. Corella Homestead will have two adults and three kids. It’s built for more but it’s a start.’
    ‘Ronnie, it’s Blake’s house.’
    ‘But he’s helping,’ Ronnie said, pseudo innocent. ‘It’s a flood. Everyone helps in a flood. Isn’t that right, Dr Samford?’
    Open his house up, Blake thought, floundering. To three kids and one nurse? This hadn’t been in the contract when he’d taken Maggie in as a tenant.
    The house was built for more.
    He thought of the house as he remembered it, exquisitely furnished by his mother. It still was, even though the furnishings were long faded. She’d set up all the bedrooms for guests who’d never come—one hint of his father’s temper had been enough to drive them away.
    He had five bedrooms, plus the tiny apartment that was Maggie’s.
    What harm in letting them be used?
    Letting a family into his life...
    Don’t be dramatic, he told himself harshly, and another voice in his head said it would diffuse the situation. He wouldn’t be stuck with one baby. He didn’t need to bond. With a house full of people Ruby would be just one more.
    ‘She’s starting to fret,’ Ronnie told him, and before he could demur she’d handed Ruby over, an armful of needy baby. ‘Get out of here. Go home and feed your baby. Maggie, your wagon’s full. You want me to go and fetch Liselle and bring the kids’ gear over?’
    ‘Blake hasn’t even said yes yet,’ Maggie said, a trifle desperately, and Ronnie put her hands on her hips and