The Police Doctor’s Secret

CHAPTER TWELVE

DAWN.

Dawn at Dolphin Cove. It was a strange time for a wedding, but here in the north where the searing heat took over in the middle of the day no one was complaining. No one was complaining at all.

Every man and his dog was here.

Larry was here, with so many police squad members-friends Sarah had hardly known she had. Max was best man. Claire was bridesmaid, beaming with proprietary joy.

Every person in the district seemed to be on the beach this morning.

And every dog.

Flotsam was here-of course. The little dog was busier than ever these days, with a new pup demanding his full attention. The black and white ball of cocker spaniel fluff was the town’s get-well gift to Azron. Appropriately or not, the town had voted his name as Jetsam.

They wore wonderful red ribbons-and why not? It was such an occasion. The fishermen had fashioned a guard of honour, using fishing nets as a gorgeous canopy instead of upraised swords. They’d provided the basis for the wedding breakfast laid on in marquees on the beach. Seafood to die for. Crays, bugs, oysters, prawns. And cakes and pastries that the district women had been planning for months. Every local was doing his utmost to see that this wedding was one that would last.

Well, why wouldn’t they? In Alistair they had a doctor in a million, and this new lady doctor met with general approval.

For Sarah had taken her third career step without a backward glance. First a paediatrician. Second a forensic pathologist. And now here she was, a country doctor with a little police work on the side, helping out the brand-new sergeant of police-one of Larry’s men, who’d fallen in love with the place and asked to stay.

It fitted beautifully. Sarah still had time to continue with the police work she’d grown to enjoy. And Dolphin Cove, once medically understaffed, now threatened to be a medical mecca for the north. Because there was another doctor here, too.

Amal was here, with his wife and his son. All fully recovered. Gloriously recovered. The Dolphin Cove community had offered to sponsor the little family, and it seemed everyone in town had wanted to take a hand in providing a safe and comfortable home for these people whose introduction to this country had been so harsh.

It was working out so well. Alistair was mentoring Amal as he did the retraining necessary to work as a doctor in this strange new country. Maybe when he qualified he would move to a bigger place, but for now Azron was at kindergarten here, and loving it, Noa had been taken under the wing of the local women, and the little family was blooming.

Azron was pageboy, beaming with pride at his responsibilities, and his parents beamed with joy at this, their first wedding in this wonderful new home. Sarah had asked Noa to be her matron of honour, but Noa had blushed and declined. She’d laid her hand on her tummy and smiled and smiled.

‘It is very early. Very early. I feel…sometimes a little sick. I would prefer not to spoil your day.’

How could she spoil it? There was so much happiness here for all of them. But Sarah wouldn’t push her. This little family who’d been through so much had found a home here in the most unexpected of places.

It seemed they were here to stay.

And Sarah? And Alistair?

They were here to stay, too. Of course they were.

They stood on the beach with their faces turned towards the rising sun, and they made their vows in voices that told every watching person that there was no mistaking their sincerity. Their love. Their joy.

No one who saw them could doubt that this man and this woman were meant for each other.

From this day forth.

For ever.