Parker tiptoed into his mum's bedroom early on Sunday morning with toast and coffee for her. He was impatient for her to wake up.

'Good morning. Where's yours,' she smiled sleepily.

'Morning mum. I had the leftover chicken from last night,' he hopped onto her bed.

'Thank you Parker,' she hugged him.

Parker watched as his mum nibbled on her toast. He looked downcast.

'What's wrong darling,' she gently applied pressure on his shoulder.

Parker studied his hands. His thick lashes furrowed over his cheekbones. 'I know Sunday is your only day off mum, but Sammy's dad is taking her to the park.'

Macy stopped chewing on her toast. 'Hey come in here,' she lifted the duvet.

'Mum,' he groaned, ' I'm too big to get in your bed.'

'I know,' she laughed softly, 'but just this once, please.'

'Okay,' he sighed, removed his slippers and hopped in. 'And don't complain my feet are cold,' he warned.

'I won't,' she grinned impishly. 'So why can't we go to the park today?' She draped an arm around his neck smotheringly.

'You're tired and you need to rest.'

'It's not like I'm going to sleep the whole day away,' she dusted crumbs of toast from her night dress.

'All right,' he smacked a high five with his mum. 'So you will play baseball with me.'

'Okay, but you always hit the ball so hard,' she complimented subtly, 'and I have to run so far to get it,' she laughed.

'I'll go easy on you today mum,' he smiled, feeling proud at his adeptness with the bat.

'You ready Parker?' Macy prepared to throw the ball.

'Ready mum,' Parker grinned. He swung the bat about as he timed the ball. Macy took her time positioning her throw so it would land smack on the bat. They had been playing for about half an hour when Macy picked up the bat to have her turn, when she looked up, could not find Parker.

Parker had run to a little boy whose nose was bleeding after being accidently hit by a soccer ball from his own father.

'My mum's a doctor,' Parker proudly boasted.

'Parker! Where are you?' Macy looked around when Parker was not at the spot she expected him to bowl from.

'Mum, here ___ help!'

Macy dropped the bat. She rushed to Parker. 'What's the matter?'

'It was an accident,' the father spoke anxiously. 'I ___ was trying to hit it just over his head.'

'Parker, grab my bag from the boot.'

Macy dropped down on her knees. 'Will you lean forward for me?' Macy smiled.

'I will mess my shirt,' the boy protested.

'Your shirt can get washed out,' Macy spoke softly.'

Nervously, the boy came forward.

Macy's gentle fingers very carefully examined the little boy's head and face. There were no serious injuries to the head. 'This won't hurt,' Macy smiled encouragingly. 'I'm just going to apply pressure for five minutes between the tissue and the bridge of your nose to stop the bleeding.'

The boy nodded sceptically.

'It's just a mild nose bleed,' Macy looked up at the apprehensive father. 'Nothing broken. He should be fine.'

'Thank heavens,' the father's face relaxed. 'His mother will skin me alive.'

'Excuse me?' Macy was confused.

The man looked uncomfortable. 'I'm divorced.' He murmured. My weekend with my boy,' he patted the boy's head affectionately.

'Oh,' Macy did not know what else to say.

'Here's your bag mum,' Parker dropped Macy's bag next to her feet.

'There's a cold pack in there Parker. Hand it to me please.'

Parker dug into the bag, retrieved it and handed it to his mum. Macy placed it over the little boy's nose.

'Hold onto this for the next five minutes,' Macy smiled encouragingly. 'This is going to constrict the blood vessels. Please don't blow your nose,' Macy urged. 'That will release clots and start the bleeding all over again.'

The boy nodded again.

Macy watched as her son took some anti bacterial wipes from her bag and cleaned the boy's cheeks and throat. A little blood had trickled there.

'Thank you sweetheart,' she smiled adoringly at her son.

'Pleasure mum,' Parker smiled at the boy, who was about two years younger than him.

He will be right as rain before you get home.' Macy informed the father.

Thank you Dr. ___?'

'Skye,' Macy supplied. The bleeding had stopped. She picked up her bag. 'Just allow your son to keep the ice pack in place for a few minutes. Take care,' Macy touched the little boy's cheek and included the father in her farewell greeting.

Macy and Parker spent another two hours at the park, playing baseball, having cool drinks and sandwiches. When Macy had tired Parker sufficiently for the day, they returned home.

Twain sat at home, his thoughts on Macy. He realized he was still madly attracted to her. He wondered if she was still single. Would she consider dating him?

He could not get her out of his mind. How was it that he'd survived without her for ten years and suddenly he was thinking about her non-stop...those piercing eyes; luscious lips, beautiful breasts and shapely legs? Was it because he had expected her to fawn over him and she'd given him a cold brush of?

Twain was annoyed with himself. His family had invited him to a lunch time braai. Instead he had opted to spend his entire Sunday at home, totally distracted. Not even intruding hunger pangs were distraction enough to stop his wayward, lustful thoughts. Yes he'd survived for ten years without her, but he had not forgotten her and was now craving the tempting curvaceous body of Macy Skye. He would seek her out tomorrow and get answers.

The following morning, Macy was about to drink her delicious take out coffee when she was rudely denied the pleasure.

'Ah Wimpy Coffee! That was definitely one of the things I missed in Sudan,' Twain sighed pleasurably. He picked up her cup of delicious frothy coffee that she'd just placed on her desk with evident intent.

Macy just stared shocked, holding her breath. She was both irritated and annoyed by her misguided excitement to suddenly see him so early this morning. Her breathing was all over the place. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be avoiding the paediatrics' ward, like the plague.

'You drank my coffee!' Her eyes darkened wildly. She felt her heart leaping like a bullfrog. He was so good-looking; so tall, lean, oozing sex appeal. She tried not to feast her eyes on him.

Twain caught her staring. Her grey eyes looked so much more smokier. Her lips trembled involuntarily. Twain hid a satisfied smile, liking the colour that suddenly stole into her cheeks. 'I needed it more than you,' he discarded the empty cup into the bin and placed a crisp note on her table. She could buy about ten coffees with that.  Macy grabbed the money and shoved it into his pocket. 'You owe me a coffee,' she hissed and stormed out of the staff room.

'Whoa! Where's the fire?' The day sister in charge, laughed, gripping Macy's arm.

'I want to strangle Dr. Crawford.' She should not have said that aloud.

'Give the boy a break,' Sister Abbey Moss smiled.

'Why?' Macy sighed, tired of every staff member pandering to the dubious charms of Dr. Twain Crawford.

'He's been in theatre for the last five hours.'

'What!'

'Motor vehicle accident,' Sister Abbey sighed, 'so tragic, a little boy, six years old, two broken legs and a fractured arm.'

'Oh. He didn't say anything.'

Macy felt guilty. Eager anticipation mounted within her. Will Twain come to her and give her a post surgery hand over? In most cases, the senior nursing sister on duty did the hand over...One can hope.

'Did you give him a chance? You're always having a go at the boy and he works so hard.'

'Well he plays hard with every nurse here! How can I take him seriously?'

'Jealous?' Sister Abbey teased.

'What?'

'You're the only one who does not have the hots for him. I wonder why?'

Macy could feel her face warming up. 'You don't seem to be smitten either,' Macy mumbled.

Sister Abbey threw her head back and laughed. 'I'm old enough to be his mother.'

'Well that has not stopped others in your age group,' Macy pointed out.

'Let's do our rounds,' Sister Abbey picked up the files meaningfully and disappointingly, Macy knew she would not have the pleasure of Twain bragging about his early morning stint in theatre. Somehow Macy managed to get through the busy day.

'Hey beautiful,' Dr. Alec Stuart, a GP, flirted with Macy.

'Hi,' she smiled, removing her coat.

'Are we going home?' he winked.

Macy laughed. 'I am going home to my son. I don't know where you are going.'

'Let's go out and have a drink,' he urged. 'You mom is with Parker right?'

'Alec,' Macy rolled her eyes skywards. 'Why don't you start dating somebody? You're young, damn attractive, and so eligible!'

'So what's your excuse?' He questioned in a sober tone.

She knew he was serious. He'd been coming on to her long enough.

'Alec,' she murmured. 'I have a child.'

'You're not dead Macy. In fact you're a very beautiful woman. Why can't you go out with me?'

Macy groaned silently. 'I'm older than you,' she shoved her handbag on the counter. I have a nine year old son!'

'You're only two years older than me, and I don't see how Parker is an issue.'

'Alec___ please, we've had this discussion previously,' she picked up her handbag again.

'Who is the bastard?'

'What?'

'Parker's father, Macy. Who the hell is he?'

She looked away, feeling the heat rushing to her neck and her cheeks. Macy looked at her watch. 'Fine, I will have one drink with you,' she relented.

'You always do this Mace,' he drew closer to her. His hand circled her tiny wrist. 'Why do you always protect the bastard? He's not even acknowledged the child he fathered!'

'Alec you want to have that drink or not?' She shifted uncomfortably.

Alec breathed heavily. He nodded. 'Yes, I want that drink,' he smiled concedingly.

The next afternoon, Macy was treating a very un-cooperative young girl. 'What happened sweetheart? How did your stitches come apart?'

Macy asked the questioned gently, yet she knew the answer. Sarah Crewe, the little girl seemed to have angrily ripped at the stitches, indifferent to the damage she was causing to the wound on her wrist. Macy waited patiently for an answer, but the little girl stubbornly refused to answer. Macy looked at the mother, Beth Crewe, who shrugged helplessly.

'When I came home from work, and checked on Sarah, I found the wound bleeding and rushed her back here, Dr Macy.'

'Sarah,' Dr. Skye knelt down and spoke to the little girl patiently. 'You have to let the wound heal. If you tear at the stitches, it's not going to heal. It can turn septic and then we will have more serious problems.'

'Dr. Skye, Dr. Crawford has called a meeting at fifteen hundred hours,' Nurse Abbey interrupted Macy, who looked at her watch.

'That's in five minutes Nurse Abbey!'

Nurse Abbey shrugged her shoulders apologetically as if indicating "boss's orders."

'I'm still busy with a patient Nurse Abbey, please inform him, I will be late into the meeting.'

'But he said to make sure, everybody is present,' Nurse Abbey insisted.

'Excuse me a second Sarah,' Macy dragged Nurse Abbey out of her surgery.

'Dr. Crawford will understand patients come first,' Macy's eyes narrowed angrily. ' I have a little girl who has post surgery trauma and I am treating a bleeding wound that cannot wait!'

'Every other staff member in our ward has left their station and is in the staff room,' Nurse Abbey sighed.

'Clearly their priorities are in order,' Macy replied acerbically, considering more that ninety percent of the staff in the paediatric ward were female. 'I need to treat and re-stitch Sarah's wound,' Macy stormed back into her surgery.

'Okay Sarah,' Macy returned with antiseptic swabs, suture and local anesthetic. 'Are you going to be a brave girl? I'm going to spray this anesthetic on the wound, you won't feel any pain. It's just a little cold,' Macy tipped the can to a spot on her good arm, so Sarah could feel the coolness, but got no reaction from the little girl.

'Here we go then,' Macy carefully lifted the arm and sprayed around the wound. Sarah shut her eyes but otherwise no other reaction reflected on her face.

Macy used the antiseptic and swab to gently dab at the wound and inhaled heavily as she picked up the needle and suture. She was about to stitch the wound again when Sarah screamed out refusing to allow Macy to stitch the wound.

'I don't want you to___ I don't want you to,' Sarah yelled.

Macy was at her wits end, for she had no staff present to assist her.

'Sarah,' Macy began, it's very dangerous to leave the wound opened. It will become exposed to bacteria.'

'Don't touch me! Don't touch me!' Sarah shouted.

'Need some help, Dr. Skye?' Twain strode in unexpectedly. Macy's eyes widened. She was shocked to see him in her surgery. Secondly, he gave children a very wide berth! Macy remained quiet as Twain squatted down next to her.

'What's your name?' Twain casually questioned?

'Sarah.'

The response was immediate. The ranting stopped. The young girl studied Twain curiously.

'That's a nasty cut. What happened?' Twain enquired conversationally, taking antibacterial liquid and wiped his hands. He took a swab from Macy's tray and very carefully dabbed around the wound.

'I tried to open my bedroom window, it was jammed. I punched at the lever, but I broke the glass instead and it pierced my wrist.'

'You were very lucky Sarah,' he smiled at her. 'You missed the main artery.'

Sarah's eyes sought Macy's, who had told her just that, when Macy had initially attended to her in the emergency room.

'Dr. Skye has done an excellent job on the fixing the wound,' Twain smiled.

Sarah studied her wrist intently. Twain reached out to Macy's hand and took the suture and needle from her. Macy felt a heated sensation as their fingers touched. Goosebumps feathered her skin. She knew her cheeks must look flustered. She focused instead on Sarah's hand.  Not surprisingly Sarah allowed Twain to re-stitch the wound, intently watching as he expertly closed the wound.

'Thank you,' Macy murmured.

For the first time, Twain looked into Macy's eyes. 'Pleasure,' he smiled and stood up.

'Thank you,' Beth Crewe took Sarah's good hand.

'Dr. Skye would want to see you in a week's time Sarah,' Twain instructed.

The little girl nodded. 'Thank you,' she reluctantly mumbled to Macy.

'See you next week,' Macy smiled as the mother and daughter left her surgery.

Macy's eyes lifted to Twain's when they were alone. He was always so gentle with patients, but it was the first time she'd seen him treat a child. She had to concede he was as gentle as a lamb no matter who the patient was.

'And here I was thinking you were deliberately boycotting my meeting,' he grinned.

Macy half rolled her eyes as she discarded all the used material into the 'chemical waste only' bin.

'Now why would I deny myself the opportunity of your scintillating company?' She questioned caustically.

'That's what I was trying to find out and came to collect you,' he gave her the once familiar megawatt smile before opening the door for her to precede him.

'There's just about every female staff vying for your attention, you should have just continued without me,' Macy hissed.

'Jealous Dr. Skye,' he teased.

'Don't let your ego get carried away with you,' she snapped at him.

His rich laughter filled the air just as he opened the door to the meeting room.

Twain was doing a good job holding the reins of the luxurious and expensive medical hospital. His meeting was to establish if the hospital was meeting the medical practitioners' needs and that of the growing patient list. The hospital was highly regarded. Patients spoke excellently of the care they received. The hospital's medical and nursing staff were of the highest calibre.

The following weekend Parker was going to a cricket game with his doting uncle Donald.

'Parker, carry a jacket.'

'Mum, it's like thirty degrees outside and it's summer.'

'Summer is also the rainfall season,' his mother reminded him.'

'But mum ___.'

'Listen to your mum,' Donald gently shoved his nephew towards his room. 'Go grab your jacket.'

'Why don't you come with?' Donald smiled, placing his arm on Macy's shoulder. 'It's your day off.'

'A whole day watching a cricket match,' Macy groaned. 'No thanks Don, besides Nicky and I are doing lunch. I haven't seen her for ages.'

'You girls still see each other?' He laughed.

'No as much as when we were in Uni,' Macy smiled fondly, thinking of her best friend.

'Is this fine?' Parker dragged his feet, scowling.

'Yeah,' Macy smiled. 'Give me a kiss before you go,' she opened her arms.

'I'm too big for that mum,' he groaned.

'You're such a grown up young man,' she laughed softly, pulling her son into her arms. 'Enjoy your day,' she slipped some money into his jeans pocket for biltong and a Boerwors roll.

'Thank you mum. Love you mum,' he beamed.

'Mmm, I wonder why?' she grinned teasingly, ruffling his hair.

'Okay,' Don waved their tickets in the air. 'Let's get going.'

'Bye mum,' Parker waved, as he hopped into the passenger seat.

Macy waved, holding her breath. When Parker smiled, he reminded her so much of Twain and his expressive eyes were so much like his father's. How could she ever forget Twain when her son was a constant reminder every day. Slowly releasing her breath, she walked back into her house.

Macy and Nicky Stone were having lunch at a quaint little restaurant in Greenside, on Gleneagles Road. It was the village high street in Greenside, another suburb of Johannesburg known for its tree lined avenues and picturesque gardens. The area was also known for its lush forest environs. Macy and Nicky were lunching in a cafe, strangely called, Odd Cafe. It was a restaurant that doubled as an art gallery. Its graffiti art exterior and unconventional interior a mixture of industrial yet arty, showing adaptive reuse, where light fittings are suspended from old disused cargo palettes. The chairs were upholstered with coffee bean sacks. Needless to say the cafe served the most aromatic freshly brewed coffee and the most sumptuous meals.

'Nicky,' Macy hugged her friend affectionately.

'Hey Mace,' her friend laughed infectiously.

'It's been so long,' Macy smiled.

'I know, you're the busy one.'

'It's make up time,' Macy laughed guiltily.

'Remember in school when we were inseparable for entire weekends?'

'Getting into each others' jeans and living on coke and popcorn,' Macy reminisced.

'Well all that's changed now,' Nicky grinned, patting her mid drift. 'I could never fit into anything of yours now,' she sighed.

'You don't look all that bad as you make out Nicks,' Macy smiled consolingly.

'You should be the one with the baby fat after that ___ mysterious baby bump,' Nicky teased.

Nobody, but nobody knew who Parker's father was, not even her best friend Nicky Stone.

Macy laughed. 'There's nothing mysterious about the bump. You've seen Parker many times.' Macy knew her friend was too respectful to pry.

'Mmm...,' Nicky smiled. 'He's going to be a heart breaker, that one,' Nicky grinned. 'Five more years and you're going to be fielding all the female fan calls.'

It was almost time for the supper patrons when Macy and Nicky reluctantly parted company, with Nicky promising to come spend an evening with Macy soon.

The following afternoon, Macy needed to replenish the kitchen cupboards with groceries. She and Parker were pushing a trolley down one of the aisles at the Woolworths store in the Sandton mall. Parker loved getting groceries with his mum.

'I need cereal mum.'

'Okay grab a box,' Macy ticked something off her shopping list.

'I want coco-pops and fruit loops mum.' Holding both boxes against his chest, he looked up at his mum adoringly. Macy smiled and nodded.

'I'm going to get some vegetables, Parker. You pick some fruit,' she suggested. Fruit and vegetable were not on Parker's list of preferred foods. Typical child! Macy had read somewhere if you empowered children... gave them choices, they were more apt to follow what you wanted them to do. It was a win-win situation as far as Macy was concerned. Parker got to choose and she got him eating fruit.

As Macy placed the vegetables into her trolley, sharp intuition compelled her to look to her right. Shock numbed her to paralysis. Twain was standing there, staring at her. Macy could not move or speak. They stood there transfixed gawping at each other.

'I've got my fruit, mum.'

Both Twain and Macy looked up sharply in Parker's direction. He was holding a punnet of strawberries, some juicy yellow peaches and a pack of bananas.

Jolted back into action, her eyes flew to Twain to gauge his reaction. Twain was evidently stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief.

So she had been pregnant! The kid must be what eight or nine?

Twain studied Parker curiously. He's not mine ___ no resemblance to me, whatsoever. Not my eyes, or facial features. Well the hair was brown, but any number of a million men had brown hair!

'Let's go,' Macy whispered, grabbing Parker's arm and hastened to the teller. She left a curious Twain standing where they'd met.

'But we did not get everything,' Parker protested.

'We'll come back tomorrow sweetheart.'

Macy dare not look over her shoulder. She prayed Twain would not follow her.

'That man is watching us mum.'

'Turn around Parker,' she murmured. 'Don't stare,' she urged as she smiled politely at the teller. Parker sneaked a chocolate bar onto the counter. Macy smiled. She lowered her head, kissed his cheek and paid for their groceries.

Parker picked up one of the shopping bags. Macy held tightly onto his free hand and rushed to her car

               -end chapter three-

A/N: You may during the course of the story find some unfamiliar words now and again. Here's a glossary :)

GLOSSARY:

Boot : Trunk

Braai: Barbeque

Petrol: Gas

Biltong: Jerky

Boerwors Roll: Sausage Roll

Robot: Traffic Light