The Heart Thief: Allenby Romance Series, #3

By Vicki Connellan

In the space of three days, Campbell O’Connor’s world is thrown upside down.

Cam never pictured himself as a father, but when he opens the door to find a baby on his doorstep, and no mother in sight, he doesn't have a choice. His apartment is already packed, ready for his move back to his hometown of Allenby so he can care for his grandmother who is fighting a battle with dementia. The transfer to his new station is already in place, and now he has to factor a one year old into the mix. But the fact that he has zero experience with babies doesn't deter Cam. He’s a man of honour and he’ll care for his son without hesitation. It’s the same with his gran. She’d raised him from the age of four and now it was his turn to care for her, but will the disease that has ravaged her brain be more than he can handle? She’s not the same woman that she was when he last saw her, and that alone causes Cam to second-guess his ability to care for his family.

Marty hasn’t had much luck with men lately. She’s the only one of her friendship group to not have a husband or a long-term boyfriend, something that is starting to wear a bit thin with her. That doesn't mean that Marty will settle for second best. She’s after her Mr Right. Her upcoming holiday will be the perfect opportunity to find some love, and she’s hoping for a little bedroom action at the same time.

When Marty intervenes to stop Penny’s abusive home care nurse, her and Cam’s worlds are destined to collide, but at what cost? Can they both survive what life throws at them and remain friends, or could they be more?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vicki Connellan
• Release date: Nov 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9780995373075

Vicki Connellan

Vicki was born in Orange, NSW. When she was two years old her family moved to Dapto, a southern suburb of Wollongong. She was kicked out of pre-school at the age of four (for reasons that she will keep to herself).   When she was sixteen she moved with her parents and two sisters (Vicki is the typically misunderstood middle child) to the ACT where, ironically she studied Child Care so she could work in a pre-school. Now, at the age of 45 she still lives in Canberra with her husband and three adult/teenage children.   Vicki works full time (not in the child care industry!) and is an avid baker. She spends her time taxiing her kids around and baking cup cakes for all the kids who constantly fill the house.    Vicki has always enjoyed writing and is now taking the time to put her stories to print.  You can contact Vicki via email at [e-mail] with any questions or  feedback on her book.  If you enjoyed the book please take the time to leave a quick review. 

Book preview

About the Author

If you were looking for the facts then I would say that I’m a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunty and everything else in between. I live in Canberra and yep, you guessed it, I'm a public servant. Sigh. I’m not a public servant by choice. I'm a slave to the banks. Mortgages and kids are expensive things!

Prior to joining the public service I was a price auditor in one of Australia’s biggest hardware chains, where lowest prices are just the beginning! I did seven years in the red shirt and loved it. I’m a people person and I loved meeting the shoppers and having a laugh with them.

In my life prior to kids I worked in the child care industry, which is truly ironic given my history with the education system. I was kicked out of pre-school at the age of four, with the teacher telling my mother that I was never to return. To this day, 43 years later, I still don't know what I did to deserve this rep. Primary school wasn’t much better. The cane was still used back then and it and I became good friends, and the days roaming the streets of Koonawarra, one of Dapto’s less affluent suburbs feels like a lifetime ago.

I've always had a terrific imagination and I’ve always had stories in my head. Now that the kids are older and a lot more self sufficient, which one would hope for at the ages of 22, 18 and 16, I have time to do things that I love.

When I’m writing I find myself lost in the moment. My mind is constantly pondering the story, the characters, their lives, and their dramas. It’s in my head twenty four seven. I fall asleep thinking of story lines and I wake through the night with words and scenes in my head. Writing is my drug of choice, it’s an addiction that I can’t shake, and I don't want to. I love it.

I’ve written a few books that centre around the fictional country town of Allenby and the smaller towns that surround it, just as this one does. I hope you enjoy The Heart Thief. Thanks for reading my books.

Cheers, Vicki

Acknowledgement

There is no way that this book, or any of my others for that matter, would have been possible without the support of many wonderful people. The list is long, but first and foremost are my wonderful family. To my husband and my three children I am forever grateful for your support and your love.

To three of the best friends and editors a girl could want. Kim, Deb and Rozzy, you guys are awesome and I can never thank you enough for what you do for me. You’re all legends.

Chapter 1

Cam

I snuck out of the room and closed the door quietly behind me. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I had no idea who left the kid here, or if he was even mine, hopefully there was more information in the bag that came with him. The first piece of paper I pulled out was a birth certificate. It named me as the father but the mother’s name was covered over in permanent marker, making it impossible to read, and it almost looked like a child had done it. His mother, whoever she was, had given him my last name. Cooper Campbell O’Connor. So my son, or supposed son, was one year old yesterday. I sat back on the couch and tried to think of who I was with one year and nine months ago, but I came up blank. I’d been living here, I knew that much. I’d been in Sydney for the past eight years so it had to have been someone I met here, but as for who, it beat the hell out of me.

The next thing I found was a two-page note listing his favourite foods and things he liked to drink. I had to read the list twice, cola, she seriously had cola on the list. That wasn’t happening. Neither was the chocolate milk in his bottle at night, or the lollypops to calm him down. None of that was happening anymore. The kid’s teeth would be rotten before he even got any. Do one year olds have teeth? I wonder if he had any. I made a mental note to check that when he woke up. Man I had so much to learn. Tucked into the side of the baby bag was another hand written note.

Cam, I’ve done this mother thing for a year, plus the nine months I carried the kid, it’s your turn now. I never wanted a kid, still don’t. He’s nice enough, but the mother thing isn’t for me, I’m just not feeling it. Don't bother looking for me because I don't want him back. You’d make a better parent than me anyway. It’s better if he grows up with a parent that wants him, and that’s not me. Good luck, K.

Okay, so whoever she was, she clearly didn't love her son, my son, or so she says. K. I sat back and racked my brain again as I tried to think of a woman that I’d been with that started with that letter. It was driving me nuts. Mostly because I rarely did the one night stand thing, and I never did the unprotected sex thing. But I guess I must have done so at least once in the past, only I had no recollection of it at all.

I needed to make a call. I had no idea what I was doing. I had no experience at being a father, what the hell was I going to do when he woke up? Gary would know. He’d been a father for the last couple of years. I pulled out my phone and made the call. Hey man, I need some help.

I thought you were almost done packing, he laughed at me. I’d taken the past two days off work as personal days so I could finish up the packing ready for my move to Allenby. 

I am mate, only I have a little problem, well, a big problem actually, I stood and started pacing around the room as I told him about finding Cooper sitting in a pram, with a baby bag on the floor beside him, when I answered the door a little over three hours ago. Can you and Mel come over? I need some help man. I have no idea what I’m doing, and I need to go buy nappies and a car seat and milk or formula or what ever it is kids his age can drink, I’m sure as hell not giving him cola like it says on the list of drinks, I sat on the couch again and rubbed at my temple.

Cola? Gary let out a little laugh. Shit man, don't give him that, we’ll be there in half an hour.

I felt a little better after the call. At least help was on its way, but what then? They’d have to go home at some point, and I’d be left alone with the kid again. No, I’d be left alone with my son again. I had to stop calling him the kid. I dug out the remaining contents of the bag and spread it out on the coffee table. Some nappies, wipes, clothes and a bag that contained some baby food and some bottles. There were a couple of toys and a stuffed bear. I didn't know much about babies but even I could see that there weren’t enough clothes to last him three days. Along with the rest of the packing, and my last shift at work, I’d have to fit in some shopping now. Or maybe Mel could take my card and go do the shopping. She’d know what to get better than I would.

While I waited for Gary and Mel, I crossed out the list of things that I had to do, and made a new list. I was supposed to be moving to Allenby in two days before starting work there in two weeks time. I thought I’d take some time with Gran before starting work, and now I’d need to use that time to find a day care centre for Cooper, and to make a room in the house suitable for him. Right now I had him sleeping in the middle of my bed with a stack of pillows around him, but I knew that wasn’t a suitable long-term thing. Along with the list of things I needed to do I started a shopping list as well. There was no point in buying baby furniture here, I’d only have to pack it up and move it in two days. We’d make do until then.

When Gary knocked on the door I rushed to open it before the noise woke Cooper. I had no idea if he was a light sleeper or if he could sleep through a storm. I guess I’d find out soon enough. Hey, thanks for coming over, I stood back and let them both in. Gary was holding Evie, his two-year-old daughter, and she gave me a toothy smile.

So where is he? Mel looked at me with a huge smile too. I must say Cam, I never thought I’d see the day that you’d be a father and responsible for the care of someone other than yourself.

Yeah, me either, I’d always maintained that I’d be a bachelor forever, and a childless one at that. He’s asleep in my bed, I went to the coffee table and got the note that came with my son. Look at this.

They both read the note then handed it back to me. You should keep that somewhere safe. If she comes back in five years and tries to take him away from you you’ll need that note if you want to keep him.

I’d already thought of that. There was no way I was giving my son back to her. She clearly didn't want him, and if she was giving him cola and lollypops at the age of one then he was better off with me. I didn't know much about babies, but I knew that wasn’t right. I showed Mel the contents of the baby bag and asked her what else I needed. Together we made a list and I gave her my card to go shopping. What are you going to do with him? Gary looked at me as we sat down with a coffee.

I’ll take him with me, I shrugged. She say’s I'm his father and at this stage I have no choice other than to believe her. From the note she left she doesn't sound like much of a mother.

You’ll get the hang of it mate, it’s not that hard. As long as they’ve got a full belly and a clean nappy they’re usually pretty happy, Gary looked over at Evie who was playing with some toys. They can be pretty damn cute too. They worm their way into your heart and that’s it, before you know it their needs come first all of the time and you’re always second.

Isn’t that the way it should be? I looked from his daughter to him. I never had any intention of becoming a father, but I know one thing, if I'm the one responsible for caring for that little boy in there he’ll come first all the time. And he would. I’d make damn sure of that. I was going back to Allenby to care for my Gran. She’d raised me from the age of four, when my mother left me with Gran so she could go off tripping around the country following some two-bit pub band. She came back to see me when I was thirteen and all l remember was thinking that she looked like some washed up middle aged woman. She wore clothes that made her look like one of the cheap hookers that my friends and I had looked up on the internet, and I was embarrassed for her. There was no way I was abandoning my son, not when his mother had already done just that.

It is the way it should be, Gary got up and went to take one of my trophies off Evie. It’s funny how someone so little can mean so much to you. I’d be lost without Evie, he looked over at me. I can’t wait until we have another one.

I’d just finished my cuppa when I heard him. Cooper was crying and I wanted to get to him before he tried to crawl off the bed. When I opened the bedroom door he looked over at me, and even though he stopped crying, he still looked very unsure. Hey buddy, I reached out and picked him up. Oh man, you don't smell too good, I had to hold my breath as we walked back to the lounge room. I guess I was about to have my first ever experience at changing a nappy, and a dirty one at that. Still, I’d done many things in my line of work that weren’t that pleasant, so how bad could this be?

I got myself set, armed with a fresh nappy, some baby wipes and a bag for the offending nappy, or my puke, whichever happened first. Gary laughed at me as I started to gag, but Cooper wasn’t fazed. He was cooperative through the whole ordeal, for which I was grateful. As soon as I had him all cleaned up he was on all fours and crawling off towards Evie. That wasn’t too bad, I got to my feet and looked in the direction that my son had gone. He was sitting watching Evie as she played, alternating his focus from me to her. I still can’t believe that I have a kid.

It’ll probably take a while to sink in, most guys have nine months to get used to the idea of being a father, you had no lead up time at all, Gary motioned to the bag in my hand. You might want to get rid of that.

When I came back from my visit to the garbage chute Cooper was sitting at the door sobbing. I’d been gone all of a minute but as soon as I walked back in he had his arms outstretched wanting to be picked up. It’s okay little buddy, I’m back, I hoisted the little guy up into my arms and he stopped crying. He’d been with me for all of four and a bit hours, but he was already attached to me. I looked at him as he looked at me. His little blue eyes were so sad and unsure and it made me wonder what his life had been like up until today. If his mother truly felt the way her note indicated then maybe he was starved of affection. Maybe he was insecure and not sure who to trust. I knew that feeling all too well as a kid, and I’d be damned if my son was going to grow up the same. I got you, I kissed his forehead and held him as he snuggled into my chest. I got you.

***

Marty

Today had sucked big time. Maybe it was the full moon, or maybe it was just that I badly in need of a holiday. I hadn’t had a holiday in almost four years, and it was starting to show, but I’d never take my frustrations out on the people in my care. I couldn’t help being a little jaded lately and I didn't like that. I loved my job, and I loved the people that I cared for, but I just needed a break, a change of scenery for a few weeks. I made a mental note to get on the computer when I got home and look up some holiday places. Holidaying on my own wasn’t my preferred choice, but it was my only one. All of my friends had partners, and I didn't have any relatives that I could holiday with, so it was me, myself and I, the perfect holiday companion. Who knows, maybe I’d meet a handsome single man and end up having the holiday of a lifetime. Lord knows some hot sex wouldn’t go astray. It had only been two days since my run in with Eric, but it had been much longer since I’d let him into my bed, which was part of the reason I was sporting a lovely shiner right now. Bastard, he’d never get to do that again.  

As I was heading out the door I noticed Penny’s memory bag sitting on a chair in the common room. She’d be lost without that if she had a turn tonight. I loved the way she dealt with her illness. She was strong, and she was fighting this relentless disease so well. She was doing a lot better than some of our other dementia patients, which was partly the reason why she still lived in her own home. The other reason was the shortage of rooms here at the nursing home. Penny was on the list for a permanent room, but for now she had to be content with day care. Every morning the nursing home bus would do the rounds and pick up the elderly citizens that needed care through the day because they couldn’t be left alone. They’d spend the day at the home then be taken back to their own home of an evening. Penny was managing okay for now as her grandson had hired an in-home care nurse to be with her at night time, until he was able to move here and care for her himself that is. She’d told me all of this during one of her more lucid moments. I grabbed Penny’s memory bag and headed home. She only lived across the road so it was no trouble to drop it in to her.

On my drive home I thought about all the possible holiday destinations. I wanted an adventure, something fun and exciting. Maybe I should apply for a passport and then decide. Imagine going to another country, that would be so amazing. I’d never been on a real holiday, not one that I could remember anyway. Maybe I’d been on holidays with my parents when I was little, but I certainly hadn’t been on any since they died. In fact, I’d lived and stayed in or around Sydney from the time they died until my eighteenth birthday, and I’d been in Allenby since. Yep, I definitely needed a holiday and some time away. Some distance between Eric and I would be good too.

I parked in my driveway then ran across the road to drop off Penny’s memory bag. As soon as I got to the front steps I could hear someone yelling and Penny was crying. I looked in the window just in time to see the home care nurse slap Penny across the face. I started banging on the window and she turned to look at me as I motioned towards the door.

When she opened the door I shoved it so hard that it slammed into her. How dare you, get out, I was yelling at her as I went to Penny. Get out of here and don't bother coming back.

You can’t fire me, I don't work for you, the woman stood with her arms folded across her chest as she glared at me.

Fine, I’ll call the police then, I pulled my phone from my pocket as I consoled Penny. The woman grabbed her bag from the couch and stormed out. I could tell by the vacant look in Penny’s eyes that she was having a turn. Penny it’s okay, it’s Marty, I went around the chair and sat in front of her. I’ll stay with you tonight okay, I held her hand as I spoke softly to her. It took a few minutes to calm her and eventually that look came on her face that told me she knew who I was. Come for a walk with me to my house so I can pack a bag for the night, I helped her out of the chair and she took her memory bag from me.

We can’t leave Campbell, we can’t leave my boy, he’s too little to stay on his own, she was looking around the room, searching for her grandson.

It’s okay Penny, Campbell isn’t here just now. He’ll be back later, I held her hand as we headed out the door. We’ll just go get my pyjamas and toothbrush and we’ll come back.

Are you having a sleepover with Campbell? she looked at me and smiled. You two are such lovely friends, she patted my hand as we walked across the road. It broke my heart to see her like this. I’d been living across the road from Penny for the past seven years, and it was only in the last six months that she’d started to go downhill like this, with the last month being the worst. Her turns were becoming more and more frequent and they lasted longer than they previously had, and I wondered if her grandson knew the full extent of her condition.

I’m having a sleep over with you Penny, Campbell won’t be back for a couple of days remember, he’ll be here on Saturday, I ushered her into my house and closed the door. The last thing I needed was her wandering off on her own. Come help me pack, I headed for my bedroom and she followed. I couldn’t believe the way that woman was treating Penny. Who hits an old person? And who hits an old person who doesn't know what their name is or where they are? It’s wrong on so many levels. But the woman was right. She didn't work for me and I really had no right to fire her, but I’ll be buggered if I was going to let Penny stay in her care for one more minute. It was only two nights until her grandson would be here, I could look after her for two nights.

––––––––

On Friday morning Penny woke up lucid and fully aware of who she was and where she was. She was embarrassed when I told her what had happened last night, but I told her she needn’t be. Over breakfast we chatted about her grandson coming to live with her, and she told me some stories from when he was young. She spoke so very fondly of him and it made me wonder if I should look for my grandparents. I had no idea where they were or if they were still alive. But then again, did I really want to find them? What would I say to them? Hey, I’m your granddaughter, the one you didn't want when my parents died. I sucked in a deep breath and let it out. No, some things were better left alone, and my family was one of them. I offered to take her to the nursing home with me but she wanted to ride the bus with her friends. She said that maintaining her routine helped with keeping her mind focused so she didn't have another turn. After I waved her off on the bus I ran across the road and got ready for work.

Once Penny was asleep last night I got on the laptop and decided on a holiday destination. Now all I needed to do was get myself a passport and book in some holiday leave with work. Hopefully this wouldn’t be a problem. I know we’d been short staffed lately, but honestly, I was one of the more reliable workers, and I was due some time off.

We got through Friday without incident. I told my boss about the home care nurse hitting Penny and me firing her on the spot. She said there wasn’t anything they could do about it because it was Penny’s grandson who had hired the in-home care nurse. If he wanted to pursue it then it was up to him. I hoped he would, I’d be pushing him to report her that’s for sure.

Penny and I had a good evening for the most part. She was a little disorientated in the later evening, which wasn’t uncommon with dementia patients. It was known as Sundowning, they could become afraid of the dark and seek out protection and comfort. I took her around the house as we made sure all the doors and windows were locked, then she was happy to go to bed with the light on.

I cleaned up the house as best I could in preparation for her grandson’s arrival tomorrow. I had no idea what time he’d be here, or if he was coming alone or with his wife. I assumed she was coming with him. Penny had mentioned a few times that Campbell had a lovely wife who could bake a killer chocolate cake. But as it was with Penny, it may be true, it may not. Either way, I’d have to fill him in on the past month and make sure he knew the full extent of her condition. It wouldn’t be fair to her family to just walk out and leave them to care for her with no clue as to what they were dealing with.

I made up one of the spare rooms for them then cleaned the bathroom and kitchen. The rest they could do themselves. The house wasn’t in terrible condition, just needed a little TLC and a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Apart from that it was fine. Much like my own house had been when I moved here. I’d done a fair bit of work on it over the past seven years and it was looking just like I wanted it to, except for the spare room, it was the only one that needed painting. By the time I climbed into bed I was exhausted but I couldn’t sleep. My mind kept going to my holiday, then work, then my house and the little jobs I had left to do, then I thought about Eric. I’d wasted six months of my life with him. I knew he wasn’t the one for me