Chapter 9

Harvey

He woke up in Jane's bed with her body sprawled across him. Her head was on his shoulder. He was both amused and disgusted that there was cold blob of drool on his chest. He knew she would be mortified when she woke up, and that made him chuckle.

The bed sheet was wrinkled from their night of activity, and the blanket only partly covered them. Harvey felt slightly chesty and reached across to his bedside cabinet for his inhaler but remembered he wasn't in his apartment. Jane's body weight pinned him to the bed, and as he tried to gently free himself without disturbing her she woke up with a jolt. A long string of saliva connected her mouth to his chest. Harvey guffawed.

'What's going on?' Jane sat upright, her eyes were half closed, and her hair messy from sleep.

'You've ... erm... got something on your face.' Harvey pointed and laughed some more.

'Oh shit,' she exclaimed as she grabbed one corner of the blanket and wiped her mouth, and then his chest when she'd spotted the glistening blob of dribble. 'Found that funny did you specky-four-eyes? I'm surprised you could even see that without your glasses on!' She looked half amused, but then pulled a grumpy face.

'I thought farmers were morning people; I guess you must be the exception. And by the way, I'm not blind, I can see... just not very well in the dark.'

'Then perhaps you should eat more carrots! I'd grow you some but I don't think Pierre sells the seeds at his store.' Jane laughed and then hit him in the head with a pillow.

'Hey! That's assault, I'm calling the Mayor!' he laughed and rolled over. He tickled her, until she squealed and begged him to stop.

He planted a kiss on her lips and she smiled up at him. 'Go and put your stethoscope on.'

'Excuse me?' Harvey swallowed nervously.

'Go on, please it'll be fun.' She giggled.

'Fun for who? You want me to pretend I'm at work?' He asked feeling perplexed. When he saw her smile change to a sulk he said, 'I can't believe I'm actually going to do this.' He shook his head and let out a laugh. He got off the bed, and rummaged through his bag. He found his inhaler and took two deep puffs, and let the medicine fill his lungs.

'Do you usually get this nervous around your patients?' Jane asked with a big grin on her face. She really did enjoy teasing him, and the truth was he kind of enjoyed it.

'No, only the mischievous ones,' he rolled his eyes and hung his stethoscope around his neck. Jane motioned for him to come to her, and he did. He climbed back on to the bed and made his way over to her on his hands and knees. He leaned down and kissed her lips, and then moved to her neck. From her neck he kissed his way down to her breasts, where he took one of her nipples in to his mouth and flicked his tongue across it. He looked up to see Jane biting her lip, and moved back up the bed towards her. He kissed her again, and gasped when he felt her fingers reaching for his penis. She moved her hand up and down, stroking him gently. He could feel her breath against his cheek and he nodded when she asked him to roll on to his back. Jane straddled him, taking all of him inside her.

Jane leaned in for a deep kiss. He ran his hands down her thighs feeling her smooth skin, and brushed his fingers across her short pubic hair. He stared in to her eyes as she started to move her hips, feeling like he was the luckiest man on the planet to be able to share the moment with her. She brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled down at him, whilst she bounced in his lap. He held on to her backside and pulled her in closer not wanting the moment to end, but it did when he felt her vaginal muscles clench around him. She beat him to the climax, but her orgasm tipped him over the edge. His body shuddered and he erupted in to her.

Harvey reached for his inhaler again. Jane kissed his chest and ran a fingernail across his nipple which made him gasp. 'Wow, who knew the geeky doctor had all that energy in him! Time for a shower, and then I'll make you some breakfast.' Jane smiled as she got up and walked in to the bathroom. Harvey could see his seed trickling down her leg, glinting in the light. He smiled feeling happy.

After their steamy shower Jane made him a cooked breakfast. Harvey wolfed the eggs down because he was ravenous. Whilst he chewed on a piece of buttery toast he listened to Jane telling him about a trip she planned to make to the city. 'I'll be gone most of the day, but I thought I could meet you for drinks at the saloon later this evening.'

Harvey swallowed the toast he was chewing and took a drink from his coffee cup when it got lodged in his throat. He coughed which cleared it. 'Yes, that sounds good – it's a date.'

Jane took their plates and added them to the pile of dishes in the sink. 'Come on, I'd better walk you home.'

Jane grabbed her jacket from the back of the front door and put it on. Harvey collected up his things and they took the shortest route to town, past the bus stop. As they walked next to one another their fingers touched and Harvey entwined his long fingers in hers. Harvey lifted her hand to his lips and planted a kiss on it. He stopped momentarily and kissed her on the mouth, but then pulled away and they continued down the path.

When they reached the clinic and he dropped her hand.'I guess this is me,' he said smiling down at her. He noticed her expression had change, she looked sad.

Pelican town was buzzing with people. There were shoppers coming and going from Pierre's store. Two children were running along giggling, followed by an attractive slim woman who was calling for them to slow down. Kent, the ex-soldier, was walking along with a newspaper tucked under his arm. One of the children, Vincent his son, ran over to him and asked for some money to buy candy. Jane brought Harvey's attention back to her when she spoke. 'Well, I'll see you later then.' She smiled at him, waiting for him to respond. Harvey glanced about nervously, and wondered if anyone had noticed the doctor was out and about wearing his pyjamas.

'Thank you for erm... for walking me home. I'll uhh... see you later then.' He pushed open the door to the clinic and went in doors. Jane stood there for a moment staring at the sign on the door that read, 'OPEN', perhaps in disbelief that he'd dashed in doors without a kiss goodbye.

Harvey closed the door and rested his back against the glass. You should have kissed her! What's wrong with you? He had seen the townsfolk and lost his nerve. He felt their eyes on him, waiting for him to give them something to gossip about. He pushed himself off the door and headed up to his apartment. He stopped when he saw Maru sitting behind the reception desk.

'Oh, Maru! I wasn't expecting to see you this morning. How are you feeling?' he asked her.

She smiled and said, 'I'm feeling fine.' She looked him up and down and asked, 'What's with the Pyjamas Doc?'

He suddenly felt self conscious, 'Oh uh, I'd better get changed.' He dashed up the stairs to his apartment without offering Maru an explanation. He grabbed his spare glasses from his bedside cabinet and popped them on, relieved to see clearly again. He pulled on a pair of clean chinos and a fresh shirt, put on his white doctor's coat and went down to his office to check his scheduled appointments. He had three people to see, Clint the blacksmith, Abigail, and Mayor Lewis. He gritted his teeth when he read the last name. He wasn't in the mood for seeing Lewis, especially since their last meeting led to the Mayor imposing a drinking ban on him.

Maru popped her head around the door. 'You're first appointment is here Dr Harvey.' Harvey thanked her and asked her to send them in.

The door opened and Clint hobbled over and took a seat in the only other chair in the room.

'Good morning Clint,' Harvey smiled pleasantly, 'how can I help you today? I see you have a bit of a limp. What have you done?'

Clint groaned as he took his shoe off, and then hissed through his teeth as he pulled his sock which was stuck to his skin. He managed to pull it away and beneath it Harvey could see a shallow wound. 'I dropped a hammer on my foot, and as you can see it's gone bad.'

Harvey pulled a face, 'Oooh, that does look sore.' He manipulated the bones, 'It's not broken. I'll give you some antibiotics for it. Keep the wound clean and try to air it as much as possible.' He selected a box of pills and handed them to the blacksmith. 'Ensure you complete the full course and come back and see me in a week if it's not healed.'

Harvey helped Clint to put his sock and then shoe back on. Clint was grateful and thanked Harvey as he limped back out of his office. He updated his notes, and then heard the door open. He looked up to see Maru enter with a cup of steaming coffee. The aroma filled his nostrils and he breathed it in.

'I thought you'd be thirsty so I made you a coffee.' Maru walked over and sat on the edge of Harvey's desk. She pushed the cup in to his hands and smiled at him sweetly. He took a sip and felt the hot liquid warm his body as it washed down his throat.

'That's really kind of you Maru, it's delicious.' He took another sip and found himself staring at her legs. He noticed her uniform dress seemed shorter than usual, as if she had taken the hem up two or three inches. He could see her thighs. Distracted he tipped his cup and split coffee down himself. Maru tore a wad of hand towel from the roll on the wall and started to dab at his chest where the coffee had sloshed down his shirt. Harvey grabbed the towel from her hands. 'Thanks Maru, I've got it. Can you send my next patient in please?'

As Abigail walked in to his office, her purple hair swished behind her. She chewed on a piece of gum and the bubble she'd blown popped across her lips. She didn't seem embarrassed and used her tongue to pull the web of gum back in to her mouth. She chewed whilst she talked and Harvey could see the blob of pink gum rolling around in her mouth. Lovely, he thought.

She sat down and looked at Harvey nervously, and made a weird face as if contemplating how to word what she wanted to say. Harvey rolled his eyes and asked, 'Do you need condoms?'

Abigail looked embarrassed and Harvey noticed she had started tapping her foot nervously. I actually need a pre... pregnancy test.'

Harvey nodded and grabbed a sample pot from a box on his shelf. 'I need you to pee in this. You can use the ladies toilet.'

'No no no... I bought a sample. Can you use this?' Abigail lifted a huge pickle jar out of her bag and Harvey let out a laugh.

'That's a lot of urine.' He took the jar from her and placed it on his desk. He got a pregnancy test from another box and tested her urine. Abigail watched him intensely. He looked at the reading, comparing it to the picture on the back of the packet. 'It's negative.'

Abigail let out a huge sigh. 'Yes! I have been worrying for days. I kept thinking my mom was gonna kill me if she found out I was pregnant.' She grabbed her bag and got up to leave. 'Thank you so much Doc!'

Harvey smiled and offered her the condoms again. 'See Maru in reception. Ask her for some condoms.'

As she was leaving she stopped at the door with her hand on the wood. 'I'd appreciate it if this could stay between the two of us. I don't want my mom to find out.' She blew another chewing gum bubble and again it popped across her lips.

'What we discuss here in my office is strictly confidential,' he said as he cleared away the pregnancy test and wiped his desk down.

'Thanks Doc. You know, you are a pretty nice guy.' She thought for a moment, licking the gum off her lips. 'But what you did to Alex... Not cool man! Not cool at all.' She left, and Harvey dropped the jar of urine in to the trash and washed his hands.

Maru popped her head around the door again, informing Harvey that his last appointment had arrived. Harvey sighed heavily not looking forward to seeing the Mayor but said, 'Please send him in.'

The Mayor limped over to the vacant chair and sat down. Two patients with a limp, it must be contagious he thought. 'What have you done Lewis? Dropped a hammer on your foot?' He asked amused at his own joke.

The older man frowned and said, 'No, I woke up in the middle of the night with a horrendous pain in my toe. You do not understand the agony I have endured.'

'Let me take a look. Can you please remove your shoe?' Harvey removed his glasses, gave them a wipe, and then popped them back on his face.

Mayor Lewis puffed and panted as he bent down to undo his shoe laces. He slipped his foot out and groaned when he pulled his sock off. Harvey asked him to raise his foot, and as he did he leaned in for a closer look. He noted the swelling around the large toe and the redness of the skin.

Harvey sat back in his chair. 'It's Gout. I'll give you some anti-inflammatory medicine for it. If it doesn't clear up in three days, make another appointment with Maru.' Harvey unlocked his medicine cabinet and gave the Mayor a pack of pills. 'Follow the instructions on the back of the packet.'

'As he put his sock and shoe back on the Mayor thanked Harvey for his time. 'I'll speak to Gus,' he paused and Harvey waited for him to say the rest, 'Perhaps I was a bit too quick to pass judgement. The outstanding medical work you've done recently... helping Marnie and then Shane has more than demonstrated that you are a good man. I'm lifting your alcohol ban. Just go easy, we don't want any repeat incidents.'

Harvey nodded, 'It's my job Lewis, and it's what I'm good at.' He thought for a second, and then decided the correct answer was, 'Thank you.'

The Mayor smiled, and then stood up and held his hand out to Harvey. Harvey shook it and then the Mayor left. Harvey leaned back in his chair glad that that was his last appointment.

He opened his desk drawer and found a bag of mixed candy. Thinking Maru might like one he took the bag to the reception desk. He held the open bag out to her. 'See anything you fancy?' he smiled and tossed a jelly baby in to his mouth.

Maru's face lit up. 'Yes, I do.' She pulled a lolly pop out of the bag, removed the wrapper and popped it in to her mouth. 'Have you got any plans for this evening Dr Harvey?' she asked.

'Actually yes, I'm heading over to the saloon after I've had a quick shower.'

'Oh really? I might see you there!' she squealed sucking on her lolly. Harvey chuckled and ate another jelly baby.

After his shower, he pulled on his jeans and one of the many aeroplane related t-shirts he owned and headed over to the saloon. He must have been early because there was no sign of Jane. He ordered a beer, hassle free, from Gus and sat on a barstool waiting for Jane.

The jukebox kicked in to life and rock music played loudly out of the speakers. From the games room Harvey could hear billiard balls being clacked against one another as a group of teenagers played a game of pool. Harvey took a long pull on his beer and felt someone tap him on his shoulder. He smiled thinking it was Jane and spun round on the stool to see Maru smiling back at him.

'Hello,' she jumped up on to the stool next to him and waved to the barman. Gus came over and took her order for a glass of rose wine. Harvey kept his eye on the door in anticipation of Jane's arrival. 'Are you gonna get something to eat? I'm hungry, I might order a cheeseburger.'

Harvey shook his head, 'No, umm... I don't know,' he said not really listening. He stood up when he saw Jane enter the bar. He waved to get her attention. 'Over here.' Jane spotted him, and made her way over to him. She was wearing her usual farm attire, her dungarees and work boots. She looked so cute with her hair tied in to pigtails.

'Hello Dr Harvey,' she giggled. 'How has your day been?'

Harvey grinned. 'I had quite an early start to the day, but ate a wholesome breakfast, and then I was rather busy with appointments at the clinic. How was your day, and can I get you a beer?' he chuckled.

'I could kill for a beer, I'm so thirsty. I've come straight from working on the farm; I'd have changed but I didn't want to keep you waiting. I'm trying to harvest the last of my crops before winter. Oh you are drinking beer? I deduce that either you have become rebellious or the Mayor has seen sense and given you a full pardon.'

'The latter,' Harvey answered and then turned to Gus as he walked by, 'Could I have two beers please.'

'Certainly,' he said and handed two cold ones to Harvey. Harvey slid his empty bottle across the bar, and Gus tossed it in to the glass recycling box. The bottle clattered against the other empties.

Harvey passed Jane her drink and suggested they find a table. Maru piped up and said, 'That's a great idea, then we can order something to eat.'

Harvey smiled awkwardly, and Jane gave him daggers.