Always There

by Tiara Inserto

  Moira pursed her lips and crossed her arms. Chin raised, she stared at Liana, silently demanding more information.

  “I promise,” Liana said. “Please trust me. I’m going to tell you everything that I’ve been through these last couple of months. At dinner. I promise.”

  Moira reached for a knife. “Okay. Just because it’s your birthday, I’m not going to push. Let’s start cooking.”

  * * *

  Mitch reached for his car keys as he walked to his truck. He looked at Mark. “Get in.”

  Mark didn’t move. Mitch revved the engine. “Just get your arse in my truck, Mark! Today, what Liana wants, Liana gets. She wants us out of here for a couple of hours; we get out of here for a couple of hours.”

  Mark slid into the passenger seat, still wet. He didn’t look at Mitch, but his jaw still clenched.

  Mitch drove them to the pub around the corner. They got out of the truck in silence. He caught sight of his reflection in one of the windows. He glanced at Mark. Yeah, they both looked like they’ve been in a fight, with each other. He shook his head and blew through his mouth. He was a husband and a father, and maybe, maybe he shouldn’t have hit Mark in front of the children. But he wasn’t going to be sorry he did it. No way in hell. No one came into his house and implied he wasn’t taking care of his wife. No one... least of all an English actor.

  The pub was mostly empty, and the entrance of the two disheveled men didn’t go unnoticed. But Mitch was a local, and despite their curiosity, no one stopped either man as they made their way to an empty table at the back, drinks in hand.

  Mark drank his pint of beer in one go. He was rattled. Staring at his empty glass, Mark asked, “Is she okay?”

  “Yes.” Mitch didn’t want to share more.

  Mark turned to face Mitch. His nostrils flared, but the rest of his face was tight. He was trying to regain some semblance of self-control. Mitch tilted his head and studied the face opposite him. He felt he was seeing Mark—the real Mark—for the first time, the man, not the movie star.

  “She saved my life, you know.” Mark rushed his fingers through his hair, his eyes wild. “I was in a bad way when we were teenagers. My mum died when I was a baby. It was just dad and me. He used to beat me a lot. He was a drinker, and to escape all of that, I started experimenting with drugs. None of the hard stuff, but it could have easily led to that. Liana never gave up on me. She kept looking for me at school and sat with me when no one else would. She brought me back to her house when it was bad at mine. She was the one who encouraged me to try acting, anything to keep me busy.

  “The day of the accident, I thought she was going to die. I suddenly realized the only person who had ever loved me was going to leave me. But she fought, and when I knew she was going to be okay, I promised myself that I will always be there for her like she was for me.”

  “Mark—”

  “No, let me finish,” Mark said. “I know she’s your wife. I know you both love each other. I’m glad she found you. I really am. Any fool can see you love her. I won’t get between the two of you, but I won’t forget that promise either, Mitch. I can’t forget it.”

  Mitch sighed. He really wanted to not like Mark. But Mitch couldn’t dislike him for loving Liana, for wanting to make sure she was okay. For better or worse, Mark was part of Liana’s life, and he had known it when he married her.

  “She’s better,” Mitch said. He searched for the right words, the words that could explain the rollercoaster of emotions he’d been through. There were none. “She’s laughing again. There was a point a few months ago when I didn’t know if I would hear that sound from her again. A real laugh.”

  They headed back to the house an hour later to find Liana and Natasha outside waiting.

  “A fight, Mark? On Liana’s birthday? Really?” Natasha asked.

  “He threw the first punch.”

  Natasha turned to look at Mitch for confirmation. Mitch nodded. “I’m not sorry. He deserved it.”

  “I believe it,” Natasha said. “Come on in, ‘Mr. Sexiest Man in the World.’ I brought you a change of clothes. Let me check you out. Let’s see if you broke anything.”

  “You’re a vet, Nat.”

  “Bones are bones. I leave you for half a day, and you get into a fight with a rugby player. What is it with you and rugby players? First you fight Guy and now Mitch?” Natasha asked as she pulled on her boyfriend’s hand. “You know you never come out of these things well. Honestly...”

  Now alone, Liana looked at Mitch. “Are you all right? You don’t have anything broken, do you?”

  Mitch took a step toward his wife, his voice defiant. “I’m not sorry, Liana. He can’t say those things in my house. I don’t care how good a friend he is to you. I won’t allow it.”

  “Okay.”

  Mitch stared at Liana. She stared back. “That’s it?” he asked. “Aren’t you going to say more?”

  “Do you want me to say more?”

  “No. But you must be angry.”

  “I’m angry that you two were fighting in front of the children.” Liana shrugged. “You two were eventually going to do this. We all saw it coming. And it is my fault.”

  “Liana...”

  Liana placed her hand on Mitch’s chest. Her eyes met his. “It is my fault. I should have told him before he arrived. He and I—we’ve never kept secrets, and he’s hurt.”

  Mitch covered her hand with his, then drew it to his lips, kissing it. He then moved her hand to his cheek, her palm now resting on his face. His eyes met hers. “Why don’t you talk to him first? I’ll get everyone else sorted.”

  Liana smiled and reached up for a kiss, grateful for his understanding.

  She walked into the house and headed to the guest bedroom. After knocking on the door, she entered when she heard Natasha’s voice answer. Natasha was on the bed, legs folded under her, and nodded to the bathroom. “He’s washing up. No broken bones. Too bad. Maybe he’d finally learn his lesson about picking fights with professional athletes,” said Natasha with a smile. “Would you like a moment with him?”

  “If you don’t mind?”

  Natasha shook her head. She gave Liana a hug before leaving the room. Liana walked to the window. Mitch was talking to Guy and Connor in their backyard; children were running around them, oblivious to the serious atmosphere of the afternoon. Liana noticed the plastic playhouse was reassembled. She smiled. Life continued.

  She heard the door open and turned. Mark was rubbing his hair with a towel, another tied around his hip. He paused when he saw her.

  “Okay?” Liana asked.

  Mark went to the bed where his clothes were lying and reached for a shirt with a collar. “I’ll survive.”

  Liana crossed her arms. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t ready.”

  “He could have,” Mark said.

  “He wouldn’t.”

  “He should have.”

  “He respects me enough to know that I decide what I want to be said about me, Mark.”

  Liana sat on the bed and rubbed her hands, a little for warmth, more out of nervousness. She clasped them together. “Mitch doesn’t speak for me. And I don’t for him. Please trust me when I say I was going to tell you, Natasha, Guy, and Moira tonight. I’m going to speak to Veronica and Steve tomorrow.”

  The bed sagged as Mark sat down, his back to hers. “Were you in any serious danger?” His voice was low and cautious.

  Liana thought about how she wanted to explain her experience. “I was in a dark, dark place. I won’t lie. I felt so alone and so overwhelmed. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get out of that... pit. I was hanging on by a thread, but I hung on because I knew I was loved, and that I have a little girl who deserves to have her mum around.” Liana’s voice broke.

  Without turning to face her, Mark reached behind him, instinctively finding the hand Liana had placed on the bed. He squeezed it. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too.”

&n
bsp; They held hands for a few minutes, the silent request for forgiveness given.

  “I better get ready then,” Mark said.

  Liana nodded, relief flooding her. She knew her relationship with Mark was going to be fine. He just needed the truth.

  She left Mark and headed to her bedroom. She should have spoken to him sooner, but she hadn’t known how to have this conversation over the phone. She was in a good place right now, but had she fully recovered? Maybe she never would. It didn’t matter; the past was the past. She had made her decision to keep quiet until now.

  Mitch walked into the bedroom moments later with Jayne, who immediately reached out for her mum. Liana took her, angling her head so Jayne could get comfortable in the curve of her neck. Jayne entangled her fingers in Liana’s hair, twirling it. Liana closed her eyes briefly, her body swaying in the universal rhythm of all parents when their babies are in their arms, comforting and being comforted.

  “I’ve fed her already. Mrs. Wong will be here soon to watch the children while we have dinner,” Mitch said.

  “Why don’t you take a shower first?”

  “Okay, but I’m supposed to keep you out of the dining area for at least an hour, so Cat can work her magic.”

  “A whole hour?”

  Mitch stepped closer to Liana, his long arms encompassing his wife and daughter. “Hmm... a whole hour in the bedroom...”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Just hopeful.”

  “Your eye’s turning black.”

  Mitch grinned. “Well worth it. When I like him again, I’ll tell him he gives a good left.”

  Liana laughed softly as Mitch placed a kiss on her cheek.

  When they both were allowed to return to the dining room, Liana gasped at the transformation. Their simple dining table was now covered with a maroon tablecloth. On the gold runner were small bouquets of white and yellow peonies and roses spread between large hurricane candleholders, each base cradled in a nest of silver branches. Fairy lights were suspended over the table. But it was the sight of her guests—her closest friends standing side by side, in a semicircle, facing her—which caused her to catch her breath.

  Mark stepped forward to hand Liana and Mitch their glasses of champagne. He held his up. “We know you have something to tell us, Liana. But we wanted to start tonight properly. We love you and are honored to have you as our friend. Happy birthday!”

  Everyone raised their glasses and echoed Mark’s wishes. They took turns hugging her. She returned each embrace, more aware than ever of how precious each person was to her.

  They followed Mark’s lead and kept the conversation over dinner jovial. They reminisced and teased. The newer people in her life—mainly all the Kiwis at the table—were drawn into the stories Guy and Mark shared. Then they added their own “Liana anecdotes.” Liana laughed until she cried. At one point, she noticed Mark glancing quickly at Mitch. There was a look shared between them, an acknowledgment. She told herself to ask them about it one day, but not tonight.

  While the dads put the children to bed, Cat brought out a three-layer chocolate cake made from a recipe Anusha had sent. “Is it true? She said it’s the only chocolate cake recipe your family uses?” Cat asked.

  Liana savored that first taste, her eyes closing as she deciphered the flavors. She sighed. “You baked this beautifully, Cat. How do you manage to do this, work, and raise Fred?”

  Cat winked. “I have help. A lot of help.”

  “It’s still a lot of work. Thank you very much. And it is the only chocolate cake the Kapoors have ever baked for birthdays.”

  Coffee, tea, cake: life’s simple pleasures that she could finally appreciate again. Mitch reached over to caress the back of her neck, sending tingles down her spine.

  “Are you happy?” he asked.

  It was a loaded question. Something Mitch had avoided asking lately. Liana met his eyes; they were honest, hopeful, and a little scared. She hoped he saw what she was feeling. “I am, Mitch,” she said. “I’m happy.”

  Their lips met, a tender but heartfelt kiss. She touched her husband’s cheek when their lips parted. He covered her hand and moved it to his lips, kissing her palm.

  She turned to face the rest of the table. Everyone was looking satisfied, indulging in idle conversation. It was time.

  “I’d like to share with you what I’ve been through...” Liana paused. She looked at Mitch and squeezed the hand that still held hers. “... what we’ve been through the last few months.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Auckland, June 2014

  “Aww... man... Mitch, you’re supposed to be retired,” Blake moaned as he dropped to his knees.

  Mitch grinned. “I haven’t stopped working out.”

  “Why not?”

  “Hard to break a habit after twenty years.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Get up. You need to walk it off.”

  Connor came up behind them. “Keep moving, Blake, or you’ll cramp up. Walk it off.”

  Blake held his hands over his head. “I’m getting up. You two are machines, you know.” The young halfback sighed dramatically, rose to his feet, and walked tentatively toward the sideline. Connor turned to Mitch, “Thanks for all your help, mate. You got the coaches scratching their heads over some of the flaws you’re exposing by being here.”

  “Whatever I can do to help the team,” Mitch said, returning Connor’s grin. He looked at the stadium clock. “I’ll catch you later. I’m making chicken. Don’t be late.” He thrust the ball into Connor’s chest.

  Connor threw it back at Mitch. “You know I’m going to have to say something.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re still good enough to play at this level, Mitch.”

  “Con...”

  “I have to bring it up. That’s my job. What kind of captain would I be if I don’t mention that a retired rugby player outlasted some of the best players in the world?”

  “Do what you need to do, Captain,” Mitch said and tossed the white ball back at his best friend.

  Mitch made his way back to the other side of New Harbor, mentally replaying parts of today’s practice. He enjoyed the workout with the National Team more than he expected. It was satisfying to have the ball back in his hands, to run hard, to tackle hard—and his body was holding up. He would welcome the soreness that would come later today; it meant he had pushed and was pushed.

  They’d been living full time at the Meriton for a month. Jayne seemed happy in the playgroup that Mrs. Wong brought her to every day. He hoped she wasn’t biting anyone. Mrs. Wong was happy. In the afternoons, after Mitch came home, she could spend time with her own family. In the evenings, like clockwork, Liana would be home by dinner. No more late nights at the stadium while Mitch and Jayne were in Auckland with her.

  Mitch entered the football stadium just in time to see his wife walking onto the field. As if sensing his arrival, Liana looked up, caught his eye, and waved. She quickly returned her attention back to the team, exchanging clipboards with Phil as she did so. When she was close to the congregating players, one by one, they all kneeled. They kept their eyes on her, listening intently.

  Mitch came up to Phil who was recording numbers onto a spreadsheet. “All right?”

  Phil nodded. “Yeah. Good practice. The team is looking real good, Mr. Molloy. I think we’re going to surprise a few folks in Brazil.”

  “Wasn’t that always the plan?”

  “Yeah, I guess. But now that we’re getting ready to go, I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure we could reach the level she wanted us to.”

  “Tell me something, Phil. Why do they do that? Why do they kneel around her?”

  “Oh that. Hothead Henry started it at his first practice. He noticed Liana would step back whenever she came over to talk to them. He asked why and she said it was because she wanted to see their faces when she talked. He took a knee, and everyone else did the same. It’s been the way they
do it ever since. Marketing loves how it looks. I think they’re including it in the TV campaign.”

  Mitch smiled. “Appropriate, eh?”

  “Yeah. Hothead actually had a good idea with that one.”

  “Who’s the player kneeling next to Pillane?”

  Phil looked up briefly. “Curtis Wallace. New fella. Midfielder. He’s been playing in America. Last minute call-up, but Liana got it right as usual. He’s a good fit for what we need in the group rounds.”

  Mitch narrowed his eyes and studied the player. Then he spoke, his voice void of emotion. “I’ll give him a pass this time around, but you tell him that he needs to keep his eyes off my wife’s legs, or I’ll break his.”

  Phil looked up from his clipboard again. He followed Mitch’s stare to the young player in question. He nodded slowly. “You got it.”

  “You’re going to be my eyes and ears in Brazil. I’m counting on you while I’m here, and you’re there with her.”

  Phil nodded. “Eyes and ears, Mr. Molloy. Got it.”

  “On everything.”

  “On everything.”

  Mitch slapped Phil’s back affectionately. He pretended he didn’t see the grimace on the taller man’s face. “I knew I liked you the first time we met. Are you joining us for dinner tonight?”

  “Thanks, but no. I’m babysitting my nephew.”

  “You can bring him. He can play with Jayne.”

  “No offense, but your daughter plays rough.”

  “She’s her mother’s daughter.”

  Phil laughed. “That is true.”

  * * *

  Liana heard Phil’s laughter and smiled. Mitch was the only person she knew who could elicit that from her head coach. She didn’t know if she could have reached half her goals without Phil’s support. As opposite as they were in personalities, theirs was a smooth partnership. Almost from day one, he didn’t question that this was her team, and he was a part of it.

  She mentally went through the last-minute instructions she had for the players. They were going to do this. They were going to show the world that a multimillion-dollar roster didn’t necessarily equate success at the international level. She liked the dynamics she saw on the field. Even more, she liked the camaraderie that had been built over the last couple of years by a core group of players led by Jerome. The bonds were tight. Whatever happened, Liana knew these players were going to do it together. She couldn’t ask for more.