Frankie gaped. ‘Well, you don’t have to be so rude about it.’
Patrick stood up too. ‘You always go too far.’
‘Hey, you’re the one that gets the degree and all the glory.’
‘You’re getting a free education out of it,’ he pointed out.
‘… that no-one will ever recognise!’
‘That’s not my bloody fault!’
‘Stop bloody swearing at me!’
‘You stop swearing at me!’
He glared at her and she glared back, both of them breathing hard and both of them furious. Suddenly, before he even knew what he was doing, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She pulled back with a gasp and he thought she might slap him but then she fell straight back in and started kissing him too. Patrick felt a white-hot rush of desire shoot through him. There was nothing merely pleasant or explorative about this experience, it was pure, all-consuming lust and he could feel every inch of her womanly body pressed against him, until all of a sudden she pushed away.
‘No, no, we can’t … oh God … we can’t …’
She held her fingers to her mouth and the movement drew his stare to her lips, wanting them back on his desperately, but sense was slowly returning now as she backed along the wall.
‘We can’t do this … my God, what were we thinking … Ivy …’
She shook her head, tears in her eyes, before running from the room. He stared at the flung-open door as she exited, wanting to go after her. Knowing he shouldn’t. Then his mother walked past in the hallway, registering the sound of the front door slamming before meeting Patrick’s eyes with raised, disapproving eyebrows.
‘Finishing early?’
Patrick nodded as his mother walked on, thinking his marriage may well now be finished too, before it had even begun.
Thirty-Two
Aggie sat in her parents’ bay window, staring out at the gardens below where the twins raced about and her father strolled with his notebook. It had only been six months since she’d she sat there with her sisters on Christmas Eve, thinking she’d never have a child. Never feel that depth of love other lucky women got to feel. Looking down at baby Ivy, her heart swelled with that precious maternal love, so powerful it felt like it could burst, as the infant kicked her chubby legs and smiled at her. She was such a pretty little thing. In fact Ivy and the twins were the most beautiful children in the world, as far as Aggie was concerned, but her protective instinct filled her with fear too, for what if Riley Logan took the girls away from them?
Surely he wouldn’t, he couldn’t do such a thing. They were her children now, hers and Robert’s. Ivy knew it, she could see it in her sister’s understanding expression as she let them look after the three girls here at Kuranda full time. Aggie and Robert had moved in from the moment baby Ivy and the twins had arrived, the idea of separating the children from Ivy unthinkable until Riley returned and the official decision regarding custody was made. But what if Riley wanted to raise them himself, up on that river? Worse still, what if George somehow got away with murder and came back to claim his children?
It kept her awake at night, even though she should be exhausted after caring for them all day long and getting up to feed the baby in the wee hours. Yet nothing on earth felt as powerful as this need for her and Robert to keep these children and make them their daughters.
There was a knock on the door and Ivy poked her head through.
‘Is she asleep?’
‘No, wide awake and in a very happy mood,’ Aggie said, looking down at her lovingly as Ivy came over to do the same.
‘Look at that face. Aren’t you just the sweetest? Yes, you are,’ she cooed. Baby Ivy gurgled and smiled and looked altogether so gorgeous both women laughed.
‘She agrees, as well she should,’ Ivy said, lowering herself onto the other side of the seat. ‘I could sit and watch her day.’
‘I pretty much do when I’m not running after her scallywag sisters,’ Aggie admitted. ‘Magnificent time-wasters, babies. I’ve hardly left the house for weeks.’
‘What has Sister Ursula to say about things?’
Aggie shrugged. ‘She expected me to stop work anyway. Robert told me she simply said “God works in mysterious ways” and left it at that.’
Ivy nodded, watching her thoughtfully for a moment. ‘He does indeed. Aggie … Aggie, I hope you get to keep her. I mean, when Riley comes, we’d have to agree, but I’ll do everything I can to hand over my guardianship and have you adopt them.’
Aggie looked at her, her heart filled with gratitude. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered as the baby curled her hand around her finger. ‘I know you will.’
They gazed at her a while longer then Ivy spoke again. ‘I would still want to see them all the time, and Riley too, as Fiona wanted; I’m thinking the twins could spend lots of nights with me, or him, especially at this age. They’re such social little souls and I think it would make everyone happy, and the girls, to share them around a bit.’
‘Yes, that would certainly be important, that you both remain a big part of their lives,’ Aggie agreed, although fearfully.
‘Riley is a good man and he’ll want what’s best for them,’ Ivy reassured her, ‘but we’ll have to wait and see.’
‘Yes,’ Aggie said, ‘I guess we will.’ There was nothing else to say about it, but as Aggie looked at her much-loved sister she couldn’t help but reach over and squeeze Ivy’s hand. ‘Thank you again for doing this for us. It’s … everything, as you know.’
Ivy smiled. ‘It just seems so natural and right that it be you. I mean, you know I’d take them full time with Patrick if you didn’t. He said he’d be willing. But I’ll see them all the time anyway … and we’ll hopefully be starting a family soon,’ she added, looking guilty. ‘You know, if that’s how it happens for us.’
‘I can’t see why it wouldn’t,’ Aggie said. ‘You’ve never had the problems I’ve had in that … area.’
‘Yes, I know, but …’ She trailed off, blushing, and Aggie frowned, realising there was more to it.
‘What is it?’
‘Oh, nothing …’
She looked embarrassed and Aggie understood.
‘You’re worried about the bedroom, aren’t you, on your wedding night?’
Ivy’s eyes flew to Aggie’s and she gaped at her but then nodded. ‘Yes … yes, I am a bit.’
‘What is it you’re worried about?’
‘Well, I mean, I don’t know, it’s just that Patrick and I, we started off … wonderfully on my birthday. I mean, just kissing, and it felt so incredible, but since then …’
Aggie considered that. ‘I suppose he’s had a lot on his mind,’ she said, picking up the yawning baby and wrapping her in her blanket to cradle her close. ‘Especially when all the drama occurred and he was so worried about you. He probably felt like you needed to be handled with kid gloves for a long while.’
‘Yes, I thought that too, only …’
‘Only what?’ Aggie prompted, absently stroking the baby’s back as her eyes began to close.
‘Only today he … he started kissing me again and I don’t know, it didn’t feel the same.’
Aggie frowned, slightly worried about that. ‘Well, I guess on your birthday you’d had quite a bit of champagne. Maybe you need some Dutch courage to get things going once more? I know we always get a bit amorous when we have a tipple or two,’ she confided and Ivy blushed again, then nodded.
‘Oh,’ she said. ‘That’s an idea.’
‘You’ve got Nick Johnson’s party tomorrow night before the big day. Why don’t you have a few glasses and see if you don’t enjoy a goodnight kiss after that? I’m betting anything you will. Patrick’s a very handsome man, after all,’ she added.
‘Yes, he is.’
‘We really do like him, Robert and I,’ Aggie added. ‘He’ll be a wonderful brother-in-law.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ Ivy said, sighing. ‘I just wish Frankie thought that too. She says
she likes him but I don’t think she does, the way she always gets annoyed at him all the time. Haven’t you noticed?’
Aggie chose her words carefully. ‘I think worrying about Frankie not liking Patrick is the last thing you should concern yourself with.’
‘You really think so?’ she said doubtfully.
‘I really do.’
He’d washed and shaved and wore a new shirt and breeches but Riley Logan still felt very nervous as he sat on his borrowed horse outside Ivy Merriweather’s home. It was impressive and intimidating, as were most houses along here, but hers was the most beautiful. As it bloody would be, he thought with a sigh, feeling unworthy of visiting her. She seemed like a princess living in a castle and he just a commoner, gazing at her from afar. Yet he wasn’t here to court her, he reminded himself, he was here to see his nieces and decide what was best for them, although the idea of Ivy raising them with Patrick was a difficult one to conceive.
It had to be sorted out, however, and he was looking forward to seeing them. This was the longest he’d ever gone without visiting the twins and he supposed the baby would look very different now. Suddenly he couldn’t wait, and he dismounted and tied the horse to the front post, going through the gate to knock on the door.
Riley wiped his palms on his trousers nervously as the sound of footsteps approached and children’s voices could be heard. The door opened and an older man wearing spectacles looked out.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Yes, I wonder if Ivy is home at all? I’m …’
‘Uncle Riley!’ Tricia cried and Annie came running too. They nearly bowled him over, climbing up for hugs, and he held them tight.
‘There now,’ he said as they both buried their heads against him and began to cry.
‘We missed you,’ Annie said, clinging hard.
‘I missed you too, little poppets,’ he said, kissing the tops of their heads. He lowered them down and each twin held one of his legs as he introduced himself to the man.
‘I’m Riley Logan,’ he said, stretching out his hand.
‘Albert Merriweather,’ the man said, tears in his eyes too. ‘And I must start by saying thank you … thank you for saving my daughter. We owe you the biggest debt of gratitude …’ He took off his spectacles to dab at his eyes with his handkerchief.
‘It was my greatest pleasure,’ Riley replied sincerely. The greatest of his life, in fact. ‘Is she …?’
‘Of course, of course,’ he said. ‘Do come in. Ivy!’ he called. ‘Oh, and you’ll want to see the baby but Aggie and my wife have just taken her out for a walk. Let me go tell them you’re here.’
‘I can wait …’
‘No, no, they won’t be far away,’ Albert said, grabbing his coat. ‘Back in a moment.’
He left and Riley heard the tread of footsteps, looking up to see Ivy come into view, slowly descending the staircase. He gazed at her, entranced by the vision she made. The window behind made an ethereal backdrop as the light caught her glorious red hair, and she looked like an angel, silhouetted by the glow and dressed in yellow, eyes widening in her beautiful face as she spied him.
‘Riley,’ she said softly, pausing momentarily before doing something most unexpected and running down the stairs to embrace him.
He put his arms around her, stunned to be doing so, holding her soft form against his chest for the briefest of sweet seconds before she drew away, too soon.
‘Oh, oh, I’m so sorry,’ she said, beginning to cry. ‘I just haven’t seen you since … since …’ She looked down at the twins who were still clinging to Riley’s legs and didn’t finish but he understood. ‘Did you … are those men …’
‘She’s been avenged,’ he told her quietly. ‘By each other in the end, but I saw it with my own eyes.’
‘Is Daddy coming here too?’ Tricia asked, perhaps picking up more than Riley had supposed she would. Riley looked down at her then back at Ivy, who simply shrugged. He thought now was as good a time as any.
Riley knelt down in front of them. They stood together, holding each other’s hands, and Ivy rested her own on each of their shoulders.
‘Has Daddy gone to the angels too?’ Annie asked.
‘No, he’s a bad man,’ Tricia said, ‘he’d go to the other horrible place.’
It shocked Riley to hear such a thing come out of his four-year-old niece’s mouth and it made him phrase what he said about George carefully.
‘I didn’t realise you felt that way … and I didn’t know Mummy was so unhappy,’ he said, ‘and I’m sorry for that. But Daddy has gone away now, to wherever God has decided to take him, and Ivy and I are going to help look after you.’
‘Are you gonna get married?’ Annie asked hopefully, and he wished more than anything on earth right now that he could say yes.
‘Nuh, Ivy’s marrying Patrick on Saturday, remember? We’re flower girls,’ Tricia said, and the news cut at Riley’s heart. He forced himself to continue.
‘That’s right. We will work it all out for you, though, and the most important thing to know is that we love you, with all our hearts,’ Riley told them. ‘And we are going to make your lives very, very happy.’
‘We like it here with Aggie and Robert,’ Tricia told him. ‘They let us make cakes all the time and we have a pop and a nanny.’
‘And a Frankie,’ Annie added.
‘Do you now?’ Riley said, glancing up at Ivy with a smile. ‘Well, that’s very special, isn’t it?’
‘Come and see our room,’ Annie said, tugging at his hand. ‘We’ve got lots of toys and it’s like being princesses, only we don’t sleep for a hundred years. Pop says we’re early birds.’
‘Without worms though,’ Tricia added and Riley chuckled, patting her head and standing.
‘I’ll come see in a minute. I just want to have a word with Ivy first.’
‘All right, we’ll make you a cake. A blue one,’ Annie decided.
‘Why blue?’ he asked but they’d run off.
He looked questioningly at Ivy but she just smiled at him, still with tears in her lovely eyes. ‘You handled that very well.’
Riley sighed, rubbing his neck. ‘I can’t believe how little they cared, but then again …’ He paused, still staring at her and unable to halt the next words. ‘You’re looking very well.’
Her dimples darted as she replied softly. ‘So are you.’
Something shifted inside him and he reached up one finger to graze her cheek, despite the news of her impending marriage, and the dimple faded beneath his touch. Another emotion passed across her face and Riley recognised it, feeling it too. Unbelievably, it was longing.
But the sound of footsteps approaching interrupted the moment and Riley turned to see Aggie arrive, holding the baby, her parents behind her with the pram. And, as his eyes caught Ivy’s sister’s, he witnessed another reaction on this emotionally charged afternoon. One of pure fear.
He was here. He was here and he could take her children away. Aggie truly liked Riley Logan but right now he was the last person she could ever wish to see. Her hold tightened on baby Ivy as she nodded and made herself greet him.
‘Hello, Riley.’
‘Aggie,’ he said with a smile. ‘Good to see you again.’ He looked a bit confused though and she supposed her true feelings at seeing him there showed.
‘This is my wife, Harriet,’ her father said and her mother’s reaction to meeting Riley was transparently worshipful.
‘You saved our girl,’ she said, clasping his hands in her own. ‘I can never, ever thank you enough.’ Then she hugged him and Riley looked over at Ivy, rather embarrassed.
‘Anyone would have done the same,’ he said.
‘Not necessarily,’ Albert said. ‘We thank God every day it was a decent man like you.’
Ivy was looking rather shame-faced now but Riley merely praised her as Harriet let him go, wiping her cheeks.
‘Ivy deserved no less and was a very brave patient. It was an honour to care for her.
’
He said it with tenderness and Ivy gave him a look that made Aggie wonder, but there was too much terror coursing through her to think about what it meant. She clutched the baby with trembling hands, knowing she needed to show her to him and wishing little Ivy wasn’t quite so adorable now that her uncle had arrived with the power to take her away.
‘Hey,’ he said gently as Aggie regretfully handed her over. The baby blinked up at him and he held her with care. ‘How’s our little one been?’ Then he reached up and took her tiny hand in his and she smiled at him. Tears filled his eyes as he half-laughed, half-cried at the sight. ‘You’ve got your mother’s smile,’ he told her and Aggie realised that she did. The family resemblance felt like a threat, however, and Aggie resisted the urge to take the baby from him and run a hundred miles.
‘She’s such a good baby,’ Harriet told him. ‘Never a moment’s bother. Mine cried half the night, especially Frankie.’
No, Aggie wanted to say. Tell him she’s difficult, that she wails all night long and he’d never get a minute’s peace.
‘She was an easy baby right from the start, Fiona said,’ Riley told them, still gazing at her. ‘Fortunately.’
There was so much sadness in his voice that Aggie felt for him but she still itched to take the baby out of his arms as the twins came running back in.
‘Uncle Riley’s here, Nanny,’ Tricia told Harriet, hugging his leg. ‘We’re making a blue cake.’
‘Well, that sounds a treat,’ she said. ‘Come on in and sit down, Riley. Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘I’d love one,’ he said, still holding the baby and looking about awkwardly.
‘Allow me,’ Aggie said, putting out her arms quickly, and it felt like heaven as he handed baby Ivy back and she held her close.
They all moved into the lounge room where Pretty Boy sat on his tree. He looked at Riley curiously. ‘Pretty Boy,’ he said and Riley looked taken aback but then he started to chuckle.
‘Well, I’ve been called many things but never that.’
The others laughed too but Aggie seemed incapable of it, as she sat with the baby, rigid on the edge of her chair.
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