Always There

by Tiara Inserto

  Liana stared at Phil. She didn’t think she had ever heard him say these many words in one breath before. He was also one of the few people who knew she was living in Mitch’s condo but never once mentioned he followed Mitch’s career. Well, well, well. Watch out for the quiet ones.

  “Please, it’s Mitch. ‘Mr. Molloy’ is my father,” Mitch said, as he shook Phil’s hand.

  “If you don’t mind, sir, I think I’ll stick to Mr. Molloy. My mother has three pictures hanging in the kitchen: Jesus, my late father, and you. She always told us kids that between the three of you, we would always be in good hands. It’d feel almost sacrilegious to call you by your first name.”

  Mitch looked at Liana. “I’m on their wall. Sounds like a better place than the National Gallery in London.”

  “You, Phil’s father, and Jesus? Yes, I’d say you’re in better company than my portrait.”

  They were finishing dinner in Liana’s townhouse when Mitch suggested they invite Phil and his family over for a meal when he was next in Auckland. “And maybe Jacintha?”

  Liana nodded. “Yes. I’ve meant to. I’ll check with them on dates, and we’ll coordinate. Are you still interested in going up to see Jay’s baby in January?”

  “Yes. Have they decided on a name already?”

  “Just today: Maile Ann Morrison. Isn’t that lovely?”

  Mitch nodded. He looked over at Liana’s computer to see a photo of Jay holding his new daughter. “I’ve never seen him so happy. He’s asked me to be godfather. Baptism will be the weekend after Cat’s baby shower.”

  “We’re keeping ourselves busy, aren’t we?” Liana said with a sigh. At this rate, she might need to hire another assistant to keep her personal life in order.

  “We’ve always been busy, but now we're busy together,” Mitch said.

  Liana nodded. It was nice to be part of a “together.”

  * * *

  The ease in which they coordinated their professional commitments and personal lives surprised them both. Neither questioned it. Liana felt equally comfortable when she joined the Molloys on their farm for family dinner. She met Felicity’s fiancé, a tall, intelligent man who barely said a word all through dinner. Mitch later told her that was normal as Felicity spoke enough for both of them.

  Their first official appearance as a couple made front-page news nationally and in several British papers. But they decided to minimize those appearances as much as possible and continued to appear separately at many events. It was one way they felt they could separate work from their private lives.

  As promised, Liana spent Christmas in Christchurch. She arrived a few days before and found very few decorations in Mitch’s house. When she learned the only Christmas tree in Mitch’s life was “at the Farm,” she drove them to the closest shops. They spent the rest of the day decorating the tree, the mantelpiece, the dining table, and even the bed received some Christmas cheer in the form of reindeer pillows that she had fallen in love with.

  After Midnight Mass, they exchanged presents in the soft glow of newly purchased Christmas lights. Liana gave Mitch an autographed copy of a spy-thriller by his favorite author that was yet to be released to the general public. Mitch accused her of using her celebrity clout to get it. She denied the accusation, saying she’d used Mark’s name instead. Her second present to him was the latest kit for New Zealand football. He laughed when he saw it and admitted he had only ever worn rugby kits before. She responded similarly when she opened his present to her—his Club’s shirt.

  She laughed. “We’re NOT going to be those couples that start dressing alike, Mitch.”

  “Well, we won’t be,” Mitch said, grinning. “I’ll wear the football shirt; you wear the rugby shirt. We definitely won’t be dressed alike.”

  Mitch’s second present elicited a more subdued response. Liana raised the delicate necklace from its box, the tiny diamonds sparkling brightly. “A daisy? Oh, Mitch, it’s beautiful.”

  “Would you like me to put it on?” he asked. She nodded, handing the necklace to him. She pulled her hair up, and he placed the necklace on her, kissing her neck after he closed the clasp. She turned to face him. “It’s the most perfect gift anyone has ever given me, Mitch. Thank you.”

  She wore his rugby shirt to bed. It didn’t stay on for long.

  * * *

  A few weeks later, Liana was back on the South Island for a trial session with potential players. Mitch was to pick her up from the football field, and they were to head straight to Molloy Farm for dinner.

  She had barely slid into the car when Mitch spoke in a tight voice. “Mum rang just before I left. Felicity had called her from the airport. She broke off her engagement with Rick and is flying to Sydney to spend a week with her best friend.”

  “What?”

  “Did you talk to her about having a prenup drawn up?”

  Liana slumped back in her seat as she thought back to when she and Felicity had last spent time together. She looked at Mitch again. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were dark—and cold.

  Liana nodded.

  “Why?”

  “She brought it up. She asked for an opinion about prenups, and I gave it to her. That’s all. It was a three-or-four-sentence conversation about the topic. I had no idea she was asking for herself.”

  Mitch’s knuckles on the steering wheel were turning white.

  “Mitch?”

  Mitch exhaled. “We better go.”

  Liana replayed her conversation with Felicity in her mind during their silent drive to the Molloy Farm. No, there was nothing in Felicity’s words or manner that hinted she was considering a prenup between Rick and herself.

  They entered a quiet house. Liana followed Mitch into the kitchen where they found Helen tossing a salad. She smiled when Mitch bent to give her a kiss on the cheek. Liana hesitated, unsure whether she should approach Helen. If Mitch’s reaction was anything to gauge by, the Molloys might also feel she was a factor in Felicity’s decision.

  Helen smiled at Liana. “Caught the segment on TV of you working out with Henry Reid. That was a great piece. Young Henry is a promising young man, isn’t he? Has a bit of a temper but you’ll be able to work with him. He’ll listen to you.”

  Liana returned Helen’s smile with relief, and upon reaching her, put her arm around the older woman’s shoulder. Helen’s brave façade cracked a little at the gentle touch. She quickly composed herself. “Will you help set the table? It’s usually Felicity’s job, so we’re a little behind schedule.”

  Paul and Timothy came in shortly. Paul said he’d managed to talk to Rick a few minutes ago. Rick confirmed that they had broken up but hadn’t realized Felicity would be flying to Sydney.

  “She’ll be fine, Helen,” Paul said as everyone sat at the dining table. “She’s a grown woman. You’ve already spoken to Becky. We’ll hear from her as soon as Felicity arrives.”

  Helen put her forehead in her hand, massaging her temples. “You’re right. It’s just quite a shock.”

  “She’ll talk to us when she’s ready,” Mitch said. “She needs to cool off for a bit. Becky’s a good friend. She’s always had a sensible head on her shoulders.”

  “A practical head...” muttered Timothy. “At least she won’t be filling Felicity with false expectations.”

  “Don’t, Timothy. We don’t know the full story,” Helen said, urging him to be cautious.

  “Someone here does.” Timothy stared at Liana.

  Liana returned his stare, resting her hands on her lap, her back straight. “Ask me the question you want to ask, Timothy.” She ignored the anxiety that was welling up in her stomach. She hadn’t done anything wrong. “Don’t suggest things that have nothing to do with what you really want to know. Ask the question.”

  Timothy leaned back in his chair, his arms folded. “Why the hell are you asking my brother for a prenup? He’s not after your money. The Molloys don’t need your money.”

  The table was silent.

 
; “First,” Liana began slowly. “I haven’t talked to Mitch about doing a prenup because we haven’t talked about getting married.”

  Liana could tell her answer surprised Timothy. He looked unsure of himself—and young. But he had begun this discussion by aggressively voicing his assumptions. He was old enough to know the consequences of attacking without a plan. Besides, she was furious at being put on the spot. No one did that to her anymore. “Second, do you know how much I’m worth, Timothy?”

  “No.”

  “Several million pounds.”

  “Who cares?” His attempt at flippancy failed.

  “But most of it isn’t liquid. There are several people whose livelihoods depend on my continued success. Not to mention the charities where I’m the primary donor. I’d be irresponsible to all of them if I didn’t take legal steps to protect their future. Not mine. Theirs.” Liana paused, hoping that Timothy was hearing what she was trying to tell him. “Why don’t you ask me the next logical question to your first one?”

  “What’s that?”

  “What makes you think I wouldn’t go after Mitch’s money?”

  “What?”

  “A prenup will protect everything that your very famous brother is invested in, and if I’m correct, that includes part of this house and the land that has been part of your family for generations.” Liana leaned forward so Timothy saw her and only her.

  “Right now, I’m making half of what your brother is making in New Zealand. Any endorsements I do here go straight into my team’s fund for Brazil. I’m the biggest moneymaker they have right now. But I need a lot to have a real shot in going deep in the rounds. In truth, I could use some of your brother’s money to do what I need to do. And if I were to marry him, without a prenup, I would have access to everything he has spent decades working for. He’s a pretty wealthy bloke, your brother.”

  Timothy looked at Mitch, who stared at him stone-faced.

  Liana leaned back in her chair and looked at Helen, at Paul, and then at Felicity’s empty chair. Suddenly, all her anger and anxiety drained.

  She sighed. “Look, I’m sorry that things have gone badly between Rick and Felicity. When she asked my opinion about prenups—months ago—I didn’t think she was talking about herself. That’s the truth. I’ve seen too many people get married with the best of intentions. If the marriage falls apart, they seem to lose much of what they worked for because they didn’t have a prenup—both men and women. If Mitch and I ever plan on being married, it’s something we would need to talk about first.”

  “Right,” Paul said, his voice unusually firm. “Enough said. Let’s have dinner, shall we? Has Liana answered all your questions, Timothy?”

  Timothy nodded. He kept his face down throughout dinner. Helen didn’t say anything either. They were each lost in their own thoughts; the occasional sound of cutlery scraping against china emphasized the absence of voices.

  When Mitch and Liana prepared to leave, Helen held out her arms for a hug. Liana was grateful for such a gesture. She wasn’t sure if what had happened today between Felicity and Rick or if what she had said at dinner would change the Molloys’ feelings for her. She liked them and valued their opinion of her. She wanted it to be a positive one.

  “Thank you for dinner,” Liana said quietly.

  Paul came up to stand next to his wife. “We look forward to seeing you again, Liana, with or without Mitch.”

  “Thank you. I hope to see you both again soon.”

  Mitch said goodbye to his parents and shook his brother’s hand. Liana moved to where Timothy was standing.

  “See you,” he said. His eyes searched hers. Liana nodded and held her hand out for a handshake. He took it. She didn’t read any sign of remorse in Timothy’s eyes, but she didn’t expect it. She knew he spoke out of concern for his brother’s welfare and was no doubt shaken, like everyone else, by Felicity’s canceled engagement.

  Mitch held the passenger side door open for Liana. She entered his car, unsure if they were going to speak further. They didn’t, and it wasn’t until they reached the freeway that Liana noticed they weren’t driving straight to his house.

  “Where are we going?” asked Liana.

  “To the beach. You said you liked to clear your mind by the water. I know a place that’s always quiet. We need to talk. This evening didn’t go as anybody planned. I’m sorry about that.” He reached for her hand, squeezing it when she placed it in his.

  In twenty minutes, Mitch pulled into an unmarked street that dead-ended at a small carpark that overlooked the ocean. The sun was just setting behind them, the sea calm. Mitch led Liana to a trail. He kept her hand in his as they walked silently down toward the small cove, its sand virtually untouched. Mitch finally stopped and took off his jacket, laying it on the beach for them to sit on.

  She sat down first, untied her sandals, and buried her feet in the still warm sand. She breathed in the salty air, willing calm to replace the tension from earlier that evening. Mitch had just sat down next to her when his phone rang.

  “Felicity? Are you all right?” He kept silent, but his eyes were on Liana. He nodded. “Okay. As long as you’re all right.” He paused. “She’s right here.” Mitch handed Liana the phone.

  “Hello? Liana?” Felicity’s voice was subdued.

  “Yes. How are you, Felicity?” Liana asked.

  “I’ve had better days,” she replied with a hollow laugh. “But I want to apologize to you. I spoke to Mum, and she told me how dinner went. I’m sorry. Nothing we had talked about led to this.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “He wouldn’t even discuss it with me. That’s all I wanted from him—to have a talk about it. But he wouldn’t. It was all or nothing. How do you have a marriage with that kind of attitude?”

  Liana looked up to see that Mitch still had his eyes on her. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I agree. You can’t have a relationship without compromise.”

  They spoke for a few more minutes before Liana handed Mitch his phone.

  “You okay?” he asked. He put his arm around Liana’s shoulders and drew her close. She didn’t resist. She turned and wrapped her arms around Mitch’s waist.

  “I am now. I feel I should apologize for how everything went. But...”

  “No, don’t apologize. I don’t think anyone needs to say ‘sorry’ for what was said. It was just a weird thing that happened,” he said. “But it did open up topics that maybe we should talk about now.”

  “Like what?”

  “Your thoughts about marriage, for one. Is this something you’d like to have one day?”

  Liana was silent. She had decided long ago to not think about the subject. It wasn’t something she needed to be happy. Would she like to be married?

  “Yes,” she said. “But it’s not something I’m planning for.”

  “Why not?”

  “There’s never been a reason to.”

  “Could I be a reason?” Mitch asked, his tone carefully moderated. But she knew him now.

  She turned to face him. “Mitchell Andrew Molloy, are you asking me to marry you?”

  He smiled as he moved some loose hair away from her face.

  “No,” he said. “I don’t think either of us is ready for me to ask you that question. But could I be a reason for you to start thinking of it as a possibility? Does this... relationship... have a future? Would you want us to have a future?”

  He wasn’t looking at her with fear or hope or expectation. It was only a question. Not a commitment. She thought back over the last month. She thought about what lay ahead. Was it practical? Would it be possible? Could they make it work?

  Her eyes never left his as the questions raced through her mind.

  He didn’t press. He just waited.

  She nodded slowly. “Yes. I think if we continue as we have, we could have a future together. But you do know, Mitch, the next two years is going to be really, really busy for me. My job is going to take a lot of time and at
tention from us.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you?”

  “I’ve been to two World Championships, Liana. I know it’s going to get obsessive at some point. It has to be. I can handle it.”

  “But you’re not part of this team, Mitch. This is my team, my journey. You’re on the sidelines. Are you going to be okay with that? You’re not going to be at the center of this. I am.”

  Before Mitch could answer, she continued. “There’s also the fact that because of the accident and because I’m almost forty years old, I may have difficulty having children. I believe you’re the type of man who’d want a family. What if I’m unable to have children?”

  Mitch turned his head to the sea. “There’s always adoption.”

  Liana didn’t hide her surprise. “You’re open to that?”

  “Sure. Why not? Are you? Timothy was adopted.”

  “That wasn’t on the internet.”

  Mitch laughed. “See. Sometimes you just have to talk to people.”

  “He was adopted? But he looks so much like your mum.”

  Mitch nodded. “He does, doesn’t he? And he acts more like my father than either Felicity or me. But, yeah, my parents took care of him from the day he was born. His birthmother was one of Mum’s students. Her parents kicked her out of the house when they found out she was pregnant. She stayed with us until Timothy arrived. She asked my parents if they would adopt him.”

  Mitch drew Liana closer to him. The bottom of his chin rested on the top of her head. Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Liana felt calm and at peace. She was talking to someone about the possibility of a shared future. It was something she’d never done before.

  “But to answer your earlier question, I am okay with the idea of being on the sidelines. I didn’t go into rugby to be famous. I don’t need to be known. I’ll take whatever comes with us being together,” he said.

  He believes that. She took a deep breath before asking the dreaded question. It had caused enough chaos today, but she had to ask. “What are your thoughts about a prenup?”

  Mitch didn’t hesitate. “I don’t like it. But if it’s important to you, I’m willing to sign one with the caveat that once we’re married, anything we build together is shared. If my wife is going to be in her underwear on a billboard somewhere for every man to ogle her, then I want compensation.”