Harvey

The doors slid closed with a whoosh and she was gone. Harvey stood motionless, staring at the entrance trying to process what had happened. Why didn't I deny Shane's accusations? Why didn't I tell her it wasn't true?He closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. Why didn't he tell Jane that nothing was going on between him and Maru, and why hadn't he chased after her?

He heard a sound behind him and remembered Shane was still there. He turned to confront the Joja Mart employee. Shane had acquired a mop and was plunging it in to a bucket of hot soapy water, intending to clean up the large puddle of vomit. The smirk on his face caused Harvey's temper to rage.

He dropped the basketful of ready meals and lunged at Shane. 'What have you done?' He grabbed the Joja Mart employee by his shirt, slamming him back against the shelving unit. Various healthcare products including toothpaste and toothbrushes spilled from the shelf on to the floor. The boxes were crushed under their shoes.

'What the actual fuck man? Get off me, help!' Shane tried to get free of Harvey's hold. 'Security!' he shouted, a hint of panic in his voice.

'Why Shane? Why?' Harvey felt so angry, his jaw was clenched and he had to suppress the urge to thump Shane. He wasn't a violent man, but right then he was so angry.

'What the fuck is your problem? Let go of my shirt; you're gonna rip it!' Shane squirmed, trying to wriggle free from Harvey's grasp. He pretended to look confused but Harvey had heard what he'd told Jane, so Harvey wasn't going to put up with his bullshit.

Don't act like you don't know what you just did. Just because you aren't happy with your own miserable life doesn't mean you get to ruin mine!' Harvey knew he was going against everything he had learned at medical school. He was a doctor, and a good one at that, but at that moment he was just a man who was scared he might have lost the only woman he had ever truly loved.

Shane threw up his hands. 'Whoa Doc, don't go throwing the blame at me. You are the one who can't keep his dick in his pants and out of Maru's...' Shane grabbed his own crotch and laughed.

Harvey motioned to strike Shane but someone restrained him, and twisted his arm behind his back in to an arm lock. Shane breathed a sigh of relief and pushed himself off the shelf. The security guard's hold was tight but Harvey was a big man and held his ground, he hadn't finished talking to Shane and wasn't going to let some ass with a plastic badge stop him. Shane tried to smooth the creases out of his shirt. 'I never slept with her Shane!' Harvey yelled at him. 'Yes I was drunk and an idiot but I didn't sleep with her.' Another security guard had joined the first; who grabbed his other arm and together the two beefy guards forced Harvey to go with them.

'What are you telling me for? Jane is the one whose heart you just destroyed.' Shane was right, Harvey needed to tell her. He bucked trying to get out of the grip of the two men but one of them put the arm lock on tighter. He winced in pain and growled frustration.

'You have ruined everything!' Harvey yelled back in frustration as he was forced to walk away from Shane. 'Why would you do that?'

'No asshole, you have ruined everything!'

'Let go of me!' He didn't like being restrained; he needed to find Jane.

'Sir will you please calm down, we are just going to take you through to the back and have a little chat.'

'You have no right to do this!'

'That's what all the troublemakers say.'

Approximately forty minutes later the door opened and in walked Morris, the store manager, followed by Harvey's most favourite person in the entire town; Mayor Lewis. Harvey groaned, not looking forward to having yet another chat with the Mayor who sat in the chair opposite his. Lewis frowned disapprovingly at Harvey and shook his head.

Morris cleared his throat and said, 'You will need to pay for the toothpaste you damaged. I will need your full name and home address so I can put on record. I will also need your payment details.'

'Morris, really? It was toothpaste... Put it on my bill and leave us.' Lewis ordered and waved at the manager to leave the room.

The door clicked shut and for a moment there was an awkward silence. Harvey sat quietly and waited for the lecture; the only sounds were the disapproving grunts from Lewis and his own wheezy chest. He'd been left with nothing but his thoughts in a damp room with his hands cable-tied behind his back for what felt like hours. The room smelled of mould and the coldness had crawled on to his chest. Harvey had thought of nothing but Jane and how he planned to go after her once he was released. Women liked flowers... he'd get her a bunch of flowers. Hell, he'd buy her enough flowers to fill her farmhouse. He would do whatever she wanted, he would grovel at her feet until she took him back; and most of all he would tell her the truth.

The Mayor cleared his throat which got Harvey's attention. Harvey lifted his eyes from the floor and saw the irritation on the older man's face. He waited to be reprimanded; he seemed to be making a habit of that lately and wondered whether he'd be banned from shopping at the Joja Mart store. What a horrible thought; where else would he purchase his TV dinners? He locked eyes with Lewis. He couldn't show he was worried, so he tried to act nonchalant. He knew there would be no point denying his actions; the Joja Mart store had high-tech cameras.

Harvey felt light headed and couldn't really hear what Lewis was saying, although he could see his lips moving. 'Harvey are you listening to me?' The Mayor snapped his fingers in front of Harvey's face; who had slipped in to a trance. He was thinking about Jane again and found himself smiling; her beautiful freckles and her smile that lit up her face. 'Oh my goodness, are you tied to that chair? I had no idea, I'm so sorry – let me find some scissors.'

Harvey watched him go over to a desk that was piled high with boxes and covered in dog-eared folders. The Mayor returned with a box cutter and cut the plastic cable-tie; freeing his hands. Harvey rubbed at the red marks on his wrists and shot up from the chair. His hand was on the door about to push it open when the Mayor barked at him to sit back down. Reluctantly he did as was ordered, but slid the chair a few feet away from the Mayors chair before he sat down. He crossed his arms in front of him and sulked like petulant child. The wheeze in his chest grew louder but Harvey ignored it.

'For the sake of Yoba take your dammed medicine. You are a doctor – stop this nonsense now!' Harvey didn't need to be told twice; his hand shook as he reached in to his pocket for his inhaler. He felt the older man's eyes watching him as he brought the mouthpiece to his lips and inhaled. The Mayor waited for Harvey to return it to his pocket before continuing. 'I was engaged in something that needed to be taken care of urgently when Morris rather rudely hammered on my front door. I don't appreciate being dragged away from important mayoral work to deal silly incidents like this Harvey.

'Please be sure to send my apologies to Marnie, I did not mean to interrupt your urgent needs.' Harvey rolled his eyes and looked away in an attempt to hide the smirk that had crept on to his face.

The Mayor coughed nervously and turned a shade of pink. 'This cannot keep happening Doctor – you need to control your emotions. A Doctor is a highly respected member of the community and so you are expected to act in a professional manner. Your attitude needs to change, or you will need to find another practise in another town.'

Harvey felt his Adam's apple bob as he gulped. 'I... I...' he felt for his inhaler; he always took comfort from knowing it was close by when he felt anxious, 'I understand. Please accept my apology for the unprofessional way I behaved today. I will do my upmost to change my ways.' He looked down at his feet, feeling embarrassed. He did not want to be forced to leave Pelican Town; he loved it there. It was his home and the townsfolk, as peculiar as some of them were, they were like family.

'I'm glad to hear it, and I hope for your sake we do not have any further discussions on the matter.' The Mayor stood and held out his hand. Harvey looked at it cautiously and then slid his hand in to the older man's and shook it. 'Good, I'll straighten things out with Morris. I suggest you find another store to buy your unhealthy meals from.'

Harvey ignored the comment; he was just glad to be able to leave the dank storeroom. He watched as the Mayor approached the customer service desk and averted his gaze when he saw Morris glaring at him.

Outside the store the winter air was refreshing, and such a relief to breathe as opposed to the stuffy storeroom he had been confined to. He pulled on his gloves and trudged in to town.

As he crossed the little wooden bridge that took him past the Mayor's house he heard Willy the old fisher man say, 'I've seen many a maiden's heart broken in my time at sea but I'd never have thought I'd see the farmer in such a state.'

Harvey felt a fresh pang of guilt hit him in the chest. He didn't say a word to the fisherman; he looked the man in the eyes and felt dreadful for the pain he had caused Jane. He carried on past the graveyard, and then past the saloon but a familiar voice called to him. He ignored it and quickened his pace, but the owner of the voice grabbed him by the arm. Harvey flung the man's hand away and tried to walk on but the man grabbed hold of his sleeve.

'I haven't got time for this!' he growled.

'Can we talk?' Demetrius' grip was firm and Harvey thought his jacket might rip if he tried to pull free. 'Come on buddy, let me buy you a drink.'

Harvey looked at the saloon and nodded. He didn't think he had much choice, and to be honest it probably wasn't the best idea to go chasing after Jane right then.

Demetrius ordered two beers and then flicked his head towards a table located across from the bar. The two men sat, and Demetrius slid Harvey's beer across the table to him. Harvey brought the bottle to his lips and took a drink, and watched the other man cautiously. Am I really going to be reprimanded twice in one day? Can't I catch a fucking break!

'She's my baby girl... You gotta understand that, and when I saw her crying I assumed you were in the wrong.'

Harvey said nothing, and instead took another sip. He glanced around the bar; it was still early and most of the regulars wouldn't arrive until their work shift had finished. The saloon was practically empty.

Demetrius looked down at his hands as he spoke. 'She told me everything Harvey; and I can't say I'm happy because I'm not. I'm not angry either though... but I think it's for the best that she doesn't work at the clinic anymore.'

Harvey exhaled the breath he'd been holding. 'I think that's for the best Demetrius, for the both of us. How is she?'

'She's ok, or rather she will be with some time. Her pride is hurt but she'll get over it. Anyway, I've told her I want her to concentrate of her studies... and perhaps I'll take her away for a vacation. It's about time we spent some time together as a family. I've noticed she's actually getting on with Sebastian at the moment, or he's making more of an effort with her. They've been spending time together; talking which is good. I can't stand hostility but that boy really does try my patience at times.'

Harvey wasn't really listening; his hands were shaking and he couldn't stop the thoughts whirring around in his mind. 'That's great – I'm happy for you.'

'Harvey... is everything okay?' Demetrious placed a hand on his shoulder and Harvey's thoughts went back to the memory of being helped home by both Demetrious and Jane. He made a sound, and sniffed back the tears that were threatening to come. 'Harvey?'

'I've fucked up. I've ruined everything!'

Jane

Jane threw herself down on to her bed, her screams muffled by the pillows. She couldn't believe she'd been so foolish. She was a strong independent woman who had come to the valley for the quiet life, not for heartbreak. How could he do that to her? He told her he loved her, yet all that time he'd been screwing Maru behind her back. That bitch!

She should have known things were too good to be true, especially when the warning signs were right in front of her. The town's quirky doctor had pulled the wool over her eyes, and Maru had been right beside him doing only Yoba knew what! The thing that hurt the most was that she'd actually fallen in love with him. Since she was left at the altar by her ex-fiancé she told herself she would never give her heart away so easily again. She had been so foolish, and then there was the baby. Was it true what Shane had said – was Maru also carrying the not so sweet doctor's baby? How could I have been so stupid?

She sobbed in to the pillow, the blanket was screwed up tightly in both of her fists. She tossed and turned, and thrashed about on the bed unable to suppress her emotions. She felt both upset and angry. She punched the pillow several times and flung it at the wall. 'HARVEY YOU BASTARD!'

Bear whined concernedly, her giant shaggy head rested on the edge of the mattress trying to offer her master some comfort. Jane reached out a shaky hand and petted the animal's muzzle. The dog licked at her fingers and took that as permission to climb on to the bed. Jane welcomed the comfort and buried her face in to Bears fur. She eventually slipped in to a restless sleep from the exhaustion, with Bear snoring softly next to her. Her dreams were filled with memories of Harvey, but quickly changed to nightmares. In one dream she was a fly on the wall and witnessed Harvey giving Maru oral sex, his face obscured between her legs. Maru was laughing at her.

Jane woke up in a panic. The bed sheet and blanket were soaked with sweat, and the memory of the nightmare was still clear in her mind. She looked at her watch; it was ten in the morning; she'd overslept. She winced as she felt a sharp pain in her head. She squinted at the bright stream of light pouring in through the window; in her distress she had forgotten to draw the curtains. Bear licked her face excitedly and leapt off the bed to seek out breakfast.

She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. As her palms brushed her cheeks she felt moisture. She must have been crying in her sleep; her face was damp with tears. After wiping her face with the back of her sleeve she forced herself to get out of bed. Her legs were like jelly and when she tried to stand she felt giddy. Her head was hurting and she felt nauseous; she had a migraine. She hadn't had one for a while, but when she did get them they were usually stress induced so she wasn't surprised she had one.

She found some headache tablets and filled an empty glass at the faucet. She swallowed the pills and gulped the icy water.

In the shower she let the hot water wash over her as she stood with her head bowed; tears fell from her face in to the drain with the soapy suds. She knew her dreams were not been real, but she couldn't help wonder if Harvey really had done those things with Maru. She dry heaved, feeling crushed once more. She moved her hands over her tiny barely noticeable bump and bit her lip to stop it from trembling.

'Oh Harvey... how could you?' She dropped to her knees and sat at the bottom of the shower cubicle and cradled her stomach, her shoulders shook, and once again she let the water mask her tears.

Out on the farm, in her overalls and thick winter coat, she trudged through the snow to see to her animals. It was raining heavily; it had been all night, so some of the snow had been changed in to a muddy slush. She lost her footing on the way to the barn, but managed to correct her balance. Her livelihood didn't pause just because she was having a bad day, there was always work to be done. That was the life of a farmer – it was a harsh life with hardly any time to rest, but it was what she enjoyed. It was the distraction she needed.

In the barn the chickens were happy; the radiator was pumping out heat and the auto feeder was fully stocked. She was grateful to Marnie for sending her extra supplies for the winter; her supplies had been low and with Marnie's help she'd been able to keep the animals fed. Jane took a moment to pet each chicken before collecting their eggs in her basket.

She welcomed the tropical warmth of the greenhouse as she stepped through the glass doors. She unzipped her thick jacket and set about picking fruit from the trees. As she selected an orange she started sobbing again when her thoughts returned to the time she took a basket full to Harvey in his upstairs apartment. She had eaten so many oranges that day, she was surprised he never questioned her about her sudden obsession with them.

When she was done she headed back to the house and kicked off her boots. Despite her warm clothes she felt frozen to the bone. There was more work to be done, such as replacing some of the broken fences ready for the next season but that would have to wait for another day. She was done, and there was no way she was going back out in to that rain. She put away her basket of produce and sat in her armchair by the fireplace. The flames flickered and the wood popped and crackled. As she warmed up she took out her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. She saw Harvey's name at the top of her recent calls list. In fact the last four calls were made to him. Her finger hovered over his name for a moment but she clicked off the screen and tossed the phone on to her bed. She needed to stay strong; she needed to think about herself and her baby. She placed her hands across her stomach and wondered about the life she was creating. She would probably have to start thinking about baby names at some point; perhaps Gunther had a book in his library that would offer some ideas.

The baby! How much of the conversation with Shane had Harvey heard? The image of him standing there glaring at Shane entered her thoughts; she'd never seen Harvey look that intense... well not since his drunken brawl with Alex. She had been planning to tell Harvey, but with him being unwell she hadn't wanted to give him any undue stress. She also hadn't fully come to terms with it herself until recently. She had worried she wouldn't be a good mother, and had wondered how it would impact her working life; how would she cope on the farm with an infant? All of those worries had been pushed out of her mind when she'd attended her first scan at the hospital. She'd seen her baby on the monitor, and had fallen in love. It suddenly became very real, especially when the Sonographer referred to her as, 'Mom.' She couldn't wipe the smile from her face, and couldn't stop looking at the scan photos. She sighed. As much as she hated him right then, Harvey had a right to know he was going to be a dad.

She went in to the kitchen to make herself a hot chocolate and as she took a mug down from the cupboard she happened to glance at the calendar. She almost dropped the mug. There was a circle around December 14th; Harvey's birthday was the next day. She groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead; with all that had happened she'd forgotten about that. She had bought him a gift; she'd driven to the city and had encountered a lot of bother trying to find a parking spot. She hadn't been sure what to buy him and spent what seemed like hours traipsing back and forth between stores. She had been about to go home empty handed when she saw something and had an idea. She had smiled all the way back on the drive home, imagining his face lighting up when he saw it. The gift was in a drawer; neatly wrapped, with a cute little bow on top.

She considered throwing the gift in to the trash, but with the effort she had gone to she thought she should at least leave it on his doorstep with the rest of his things that he'd left at her house.