Prossers Bay Series

by Cheryl Phipps

  Naturally, they were late getting to the Christmas lunch and Abby was grateful to have had the good sense to pack the van the night before with everything but the food. She’d managed to finish the cooking by roping Max in to help, since it was partly his fault that they were behind schedule. They would have been a heck of a lot later, too, if she had allowed him to join her in the shower like he wanted. And, thinking about it now, she imagined it just may have been worth it. Who was she kidding? It would have been great if it had been half as good as what had happened earlier.

  Goodness, she was getting hot and bothered just thinking about him, and this was neither the time nor the place to be having thoughts of that nature. Seeing Max carrying the cooler, his muscles bulging, did make her feel particularly warm - in places that were still very tender.

  He put it down to take a call, his face suddenly full of concern. He called Allan and a few of the men over. She wondered what that was about, but she had a million things to do. True to his word, Jordan had dropped off the tables and chairs from the resort. She’d given him a total of the people they were expecting, but she’d had a lot of phone calls in the last day from people who wanted to be involved, so she’d been a little worried. Now, looking at how many were stacked there, she thought with relief they’d have more than enough.

  Soon tables were set up, and groaning under the weight of food. People had out-done themselves, and she’d bet there were a few secret recipes on display.

  Abby looked over to Liam who was playing a game of baseball. He’d just hit the ball as hard as his little arms could and was in the process of running around the bases. The bigger kids were doing a great show of overthrowing the ball and falling over themselves.

  Everyone was cheering him on as he hit second base when, just behind him, a sight so awful wiped the laughter bubbling from Abby’s mouth.

  The shock Abby felt as she saw Grainger marching towards them, a gun in his hands, and a look of pure evil on his face like a gruesome Halloween mask, made her nauseous. He’d said he would come back; he wanted revenge for a perceived wrong, and he was bent on exacting it. No matter that it was Christmas day, no matter that there were innocent children spread out before him.

  “Liam!”

  Above the excited laughter and yelling, her shrieking voice carried the horror. People stopped what they were doing to stare at her then at the small boy still running, blissfully unaware of what was happening. Then, within a few seconds, everyone reacted. Parents ran to their bewildered children and pulled them away, while some of the older children screamed.

  Grainger never faltered. He moved through the other children as if they didn’t exist, his eyes fixed only on one boy. Finally, Liam saw him. Shock held him in check as Grainger bore down on him. When he was within reach, he lifted the gun.

  “You better give me that key…”

  Before another word left his mouth, Max ploughed into him, his arm pushing the gun upward just as it went off. Max grunted as the bullet hit his arm and blood began to seep through his shirt.

  Abby screamed, but the men Max had been speaking to were already there. Allan kicked the gun out of Grainger’s hand and several others wrestled him to the ground.

  Dan arrived next and with his knee in Grainger’s back, he wrenched first one arm and then the other behind him, snapping the handcuffs on. Shannon helped him up and between the two of them, with no gentleness they yanked him to his feet.

  “Your sorry ass is mine. After I read you your rights, of course,” Dan reddened, as he remembered he had an audience. “Sorry, folks. We had a mix up when we were transporting him out of town and he gave us the slip. You can carry on with your day now. Everything’s just fine.”

  Sitting on the grass beside Max, Abby pulled off her light cardigan and pushed it on to Max’s arm. “Are you okay?”

  Tears rolled down her face but Max gave her a gentle squeeze with his good arm.

  “I’ll be fine. Check on Liam, he’ll be scared.”

  Max was right. Liam stood a few feet away, white-faced and anxiously waiting to see how Max was, as he kept an eye on Dan taking a thankfully more subdued Grainger away.

  Abby stood so she blocked his view of the man and pulled Liam close. “Max will be fine, sweety. The doctor’s coming now.”

  Cliff had retrieved his bag from his house, which was across the road from the common, and knelt down, pulling her cardigan from the wound. He ripped Max’s sleeve and cleaned the area.

  “It’s all good, folks,” he addressed his large audience. “Just a scratch, really. Max will be good as new in no time.” He winked at Liam who came to sit beside Max.

  “Are you sure, doctor?” The boy said seriously.

  “I’d bet a plate of Abby’s brownies on it.”

  Liam looked at him in wonder, then gave a tearful smile.

  Max, who was sitting now, wrapped his good arm around Liam’s shoulder. “That was scary, wasn’t it?”

  Liam nodded. “I thought he’d killed you. He was supposed to be in jail.”

  “He will be now.”

  “How did this happen?” Abby had to know.

  “Dan called me earlier to say that Grainger had taken a gun off one of the rookie officers when they were transporting him back to the city for his trial.” He turned to Liam. “It was a mistake and now the sergeant will make sure he stays behind bars. You’re safe and that’s what matters.”

  Abby knelt behind them and cuddled them both. “Everyone’s safe, thanks to you. You’re my hero.” She smiled, despite the urge to cry some more.

  “You are, Max. You’re a freaking hero.” Allan, had come back after making sure his family was okay, and now he slapped Max on the back.

  “There’s a lot of blood. Does it hurt bad?” Liam held Max’s good arm tightly.

  “I’m fine, buddy. Everyone’s fine. Look, all your friends are worried about you.”

  Liam lifted his tear-stained face to see the crowd of people around them.

  “Hey, Liam. Shall we have a game of football before dinner?” Allan suggested.

  “I want to stay with Max.”

  “I’m fine son. Don’t let this spoil your day.”

  “Liam, come and play with us,” Mia called to him.

  “I don’t feel like it.”

  “But it’s Christmas. We have to play,” Cody said forcefully.

  Several people laughed which helped to lighten the mood.

  Liam stopped mid-sniffle to look at them, then at Max and Abby.

  “It’s up to you. We’re all good, so you go and play whenever you’re ready. Or we could go home, but that seems like a waste of every bodies hard work, don’t you think?” Max ruffled his hair.

  Liam looked from one to the other, as if making sure they really were okay, and then he slid off Abby’s lap.

  “Maybe I could play some football if Grainger really is gone.”

  And just like that, with a lot of reassurance, the horrific moment was downplayed by a loving community. They’d all had every reason to pack up and leave, but everyone seemed determined to give Liam the best Christmas ever. Just like Abby had dreamed for him.

  “Excuse me. You are Max and Abby Forth?”

  A matronly woman had come up beside them as they stood up, holding hands, to watch Liam.

  “Yes. I’m sorry, do we know you?” Abby asked.

  “Not really. My name is June Lee. We’ve spoken on the phone.”

  “The counselor from child services?”

  “That’s me. I oversee the cases for the area.”

  “What happened to Ms. Bain? And what on earth are you doing here on Christmas Day?”

  “Ms. Bain is away on vacation and my family lives in the next town. I heard what you were planning for today, so I thought I’d take a look. I was here when Pete Grainger arrived.”

  “Oh, my, gosh. Let me explain.” Abby knew this couldn’t be good.

  “I don’t think you need to. I’ve already spoken to the Sergeant and
his Officer. Let me say that I don’t advocate trying to take a gun from a madman. However, I do applaud the fact that you did so to save a child. Liam is a lucky boy to have someone looking out for him the way that you just did. I’ve done a lot of extensive research on your backgrounds, some of which did give us pause for concern. However, the references from Jeanne, Allan, and the police, went a long way to promoting you as foster parents.”

  “We don’t want to be foster parents,” Max said, firmly.

  Abby gasped. “Max, are you sure?” She bit her lip, against her sorrow. She’d thought she and Max were on the same page. But, if they weren’t then she’d accept his decision. She wouldn’t risk what they had found again. This time Max had to come first.

  “I’m very sure. We don’t want Liam on a temporary basis. It would kill Abby to lose him if she got to love him any more than she does already. I can’t let that happen. We want Liam as our son. We love him and we want to adopt him. If that’s not going to happen then we need to know.”

  “I like your honesty, Mr Forth. Unfortunately, I did not come here prepared to offer Liam for adoption. However, …” She raised her hand to stall Max’s response. “From what I’ve witnessed, not only with your bravery but the way the town has rallied around you, I think it’s going to be a no-brainer for myself or the courts. If you can handle the wait, I would suggest that you take Liam for the holidays and I’ll be in touch in the New Year, with the paperwork and a court date.”

  Abby was stunned. “We can keep him? As our son?”

  “You won’t change your mind?” Max didn’t look convinced either.

  “I can’t promise you anything, but I also don’t make these claims easily, or as frequently as I’d like. You fit the criteria and obviously love Liam very much. The conversations I’ve had with him suggest that Liam reciprocates your feelings. I can’t think of a reason why an adoption wouldn’t go through.”

  Abby had to hug her, and then Max. It was a lot to take in and, as they watched her leave, they looked at each other with stupid smiles on their faces. What the heck did they do now?

  A while later everyone took a seat at the long tables, which groaned under a sea of food. Mashed potatoes, fried chicken, salads, corn cobs and fresh bread. The smell was heavenly and everyone agreed that they were starving.

  The doctor said grace and they all took their seats. As faces beamed at each other, Abby thought that the day had been a monumental success despite what had happened earlier.

  Abby had explained things to Jeanette and Allan and now Liam sat between Abby and Max. Crackers, the paper kind with little trinkets inside, were pulled, and Merry Christmas wishes were passed backwards and forwards across the table.

  Max stopped Liam from grabbing a piece of chicken. “Before we eat, we have a present for you, Liam.”

  “But, you gave me that big digger truck this morning.”

  “This is something bigger than a truck. Something we hope you’ll like even more.”

  “Even more than a truck? What is it? Where is it?”

  Liam looked all around them, and was about to get up when Max put his hand gently on the boy’s arm.

  “How would you like to come and live with us and be a part of our family?”

  He looked at both off them. The seriousness intense on his young face.

  “Can I? That would be cool. Would I be your boy, then? Forever?”

  “We don’t know that for sure, but we’re working on it, buddy,” Max said with feeling.

  Liam jumped up and threw himself into Max’s lap, mindful of his bandaged arm. “That would be the best present ever.” He swung back to Abby and kissed her cheek.

  Then, like the child he was, he dug into his Christmas lunch, like it had all been a foregone conclusion.

  Max leaned over his new son’s head and kissed Abby.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Forth, for the best Christmas ever.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Forth, for never giving up on me.”

  “I had no choice. There’s never been another woman for me and there never will be. You give me everything I want and some things I was never sure of.”

  He bent over Liam and kissed his head. “Merry Christmas, family.”

  Abby looked at them and around the table, at friends and some who were little more than strangers. At a community that supported each other and cared about each member. She felt a peace settle across her. Prossers Bay was their home, and its latest resident would fit in perfectly.

  Epilogue

  The day after Christmas, Dan came by to have a drink with them. He was off duty and dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, making him look much younger than his sixty years.

  Max answered the door and, after shaking hands, brought him out onto the patio.

  “Merry Christmas, everyone.”

  Merry Christmas, Dan,” Abby kissed him on the cheek and handed him a beer.

  Liam waved from where he was engrossed in digging up a piece of garden with his new truck.

  Dan took a long sip and settled into his chair, his feet tapping on the ground.

  Max eyed him thoughtfully. “Looks like you have something to say.”

  “I don’t want to make a big deal of this but thought you’d like to know that the key Liam was looking after was for a safe deposit box at the Georgetown Post Office.”

  “I had wondered if anyone was going to tell us anything about it, but to be honest, it didn’t seem to matter to us anymore.” Max picked up his bottle and took a sip.

  Abby sat on the arm of his chair. “What was inside that was so special?”

  “Papers, mainly. One of them was the deed to Marie’s house. Another was a letter from Marie explaining things. I should imagine it’ll be very helpful in convicting Grainger. trying to get his hands on her property seems to be at the crux of everything he did. He was a gambler and in some deep trouble with loan sharks. Apparently, Marie didn’t know this about him when she meet him. She thought he was a regular guy until he cleaned out all her bank accounts, which included money she’d been left by her parents. It turns out she’d only been with him a few months when he turned bad and then she couldn’t get away from him.”

  “I guess we knew it would be something like that. Liam’s manners and his caring must have come from a time when Grainger wasn’t around. Marie did a good job with Liam despite having a man like that around,” Max said emotionally.

  “And you two will do just as well I believe. Your mom and dad would be proud of you, Abby.”

  “Thanks, Dan. It means a lot coming from you. Will you stay and share some dinner with us?” Abby asked.

  “No, thanks. As soon as I finish this, I’m going to leave you to your day and your lovely family.”

  True to his word he finished his drink and Max, with his arm around Abby, walked Dan to his car. As they stood waving goodbye Liam wriggled between them. Abby and he shared a special smile. They’d been a family of two, but now they had Liam it made him realize that this was what made Christmas special and Max struggled to remember a better one.

  Book 2

  Seducing Megan is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  * * *

  Seducing Megan published by Cheryl Phipps

  Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Phipps

  Dedication

  There are many people who I have thanked in my earlier works, and they continue to support me by helping me see sense when sometimes I over think things or, conversely, don’t see the big picture.

  I feel so lucky to be able to do something that I love and to maybe give others a small respite from their daily lives as they read about people who have relevant issues in my made-up town.

  In many ways Prossers Bay reminds me of my mum and dad, who I continue to miss every day, so it feels like home every time I go back there in my character’s stories.

  I love New Zealand, the land of the big white cloud, and I hope that you w
ill too.

  Thanks to all my readers for your support. May your lives all have a happy ever after.

  * * *

  Cheryl

  Seducing Megan

  Trusting yourself is sometimes harder than trusting someone else.

  * * *

  Megan has fought hard for her independence, and raising her twin daughters alone means she has no time for men. Especially when they come in a handsome package like millionaire, Jordan Lambert. Charming, rich, he’s everything she's vowed to stay away from, so why then is she finding him so hard to resist?

  Used to getting his own way, Jordan can't understand why Megan refuses his job offer, why she intrigues him, or why he cares so much. Could it be that he’s seen the real woman she hides beneath her independent coolness and bravado?

  Chapter 1

  ‘Final notice’

  Megan slapped the power bill down on the table, instantly regretting having opened the damn thing, and yet knowing she would have had to do it eventually. It was payday, therefore bill-juggling day, as she only permitted herself one day of anxiety per week.

  The size of this particular bill made her feel a little ill. She’d been making attempts to pay some of it regularly, but hadn’t made much of a dent in the rising total. Then, last week, she’d had to get a couple of new tires for her banged-up Honda Civic Coupe. Driving the girls safely was imperative. Unfortunately, so was electricity.

  She slumped into a chair, dragging the pile of the most urgent bills towards her. She hated owing money, so she juggled each paycheck, paying a little here and there – but there was a limit, and she feared she’d reached it.

  The twins’ voices reached an unbearable crescendo from only a few feet away. She’d picked them up from school half an hour ago and they’d been chattering, as they always did, ever since. Now Mia and Cody were bickering over some colored pencils and Megan needed a bit of peace to think about her finances, or lack of them.