Innocent Tears

by Iris Blobel

  “Flynn!” she shouted after him, but he lifted his hand as if to say, “Have a good life,” got in his car and sped off.

  She stood frozen in the doorway with an inexplicable feeling of emptiness. It was all she wanted, yet why wasn’t she happy?

  34

  Emma had stood in front of the door for at least twenty minutes, experiencing cold feet and about to turn and go back. Her heart sank even lower when she heard the footsteps inside. No turning back now! Her hands were sweaty and her heart racing like she had just completed a marathon.

  It had taken her much longer to get to Flynn’s apartment than it should have. Earlier in the day she had written down in detail which tram to take, but in the end she still ended up halfway north of Melbourne instead of south. She would never learn.

  She had missed them so much. Nadine had been on her mind almost daily, and as much as she tried to ignore it, Flynn had been a constant guest in her dreams. Trying to find a job and stay sane was close to impossible.

  “Hi…” It was a whisper. And it was all she could say when Flynn opened the door.

  “Hi,” he responded quietly.

  “Can I come in?”

  He opened the door and let her in. She walked down the familiar hall into the lounge room and stood still as she took everything in. Then she looked at Flynn. “What happened?”

  “Nothing.” His nonchalant reply annoyed her and a warning voice whispered in her head. It was none of her business, anyway.

  She looked around again. Most of the furniture was gone and everything else packed in boxes. There were boxes everywhere, from small to big, and neatly stacked. Heart racing, she tried to read the labels on the boxes, but the print was so small she couldn’t read what was written on them. What had happened?

  “Nadine’s in the park with her grandparents. I suppose you wanted to talk to her.”

  She turned back to him and tears stung her eyes. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “I wanted to ask you both to my birthday barbeque. Nothing fancy.”

  He arched his eyebrow and just looked at her. “Both of us?”

  She nodded slowly, and as casually as she could manage she said, “It’s BYO, though. I quit the job at the hotel and haven’t found anything yet. I’m a bit short on cash,” she bit back a laugh. “I’m still with my auntie.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Quit your job?”

  She looked away and made a step towards the windows, but Flynn held her arm. “What happened?”

  She took a deep breath, but her voice was shakier than she would have liked. “It’s okay. It’s all in the past now.”

  He narrowed his eyebrows and came closer. “What happened?” he asked with more force. “Did Jack have anything to do with it?”

  And that was the keyword – as tears slowly found their way down her cheeks. How on earth did this simple invitation turn out so complicated? And why was everything packed? “I’m too late, aren’t I?”

  “Depends in regard to what.”

  She didn’t know either. Too late for what? Invitation? Anything? “I don’t know either, I suppose. I guess in some awkward way, I wanted to ask whether I can look after Nadine so you can go back to work. Like, you know, a nanny or such.”

  He expressed some amusement and a twinge of disappointment spread through her body.

  “You’ve changed your mind. You’re really sending her north with your parents, aren’t you?”

  “Sweetheart. Have a look around.” He looked at her. “I’m packing up everything. Naddie and I are moving back to Launceston. She can go back to her old school and I’ve found a decent job with a company in town.”

  She flashed a smile at him. “Are you, Mr. Flynn McCormack, businessman of the year, telling me that you’ve changed from not wanting her at all, to jumping to the extreme of giving up everything, and moving back to Tassie?”

  He raised both his eyebrows. “Pretty impressive, isn’t it?”

  “I need a chair.” She sat on a box next to the window and looked outside. The boats were coming in, and the water reflected the afternoon sun like a mirror.

  With his long legs he strode over to her and took a box as well to sit down. “Em? Why don’t you tell me why you quit your job?”

  She bit her lip when his thumb traced the curve of her jaw. “Hey,” he said quietly. “I vaguely remember telling you that’s not what those lips are made for.”

  He lifted her chin and looked her right in the eyes. Emma almost exploded inside, and goose-bumps slowly travelled up her arms.

  “Yes, it’s Jack. He’s been literally stalking me and getting me into trouble. I had to move on. Everyone’s told me I’m crazy to leave, but I needed a break. I needed to get out. Probably doesn’t make sense, but–”

  “How short on cash are you?”

  She looked away. That was none of his business. “It doesn’t matter, really.” She took a deep breath and stood up. “Will you let Nadine know I said hello, and perhaps she’d like to give me a call once in a while to tell me how she’s going.”

  “Why don’t you tell her yourself?”

  She shook her head, not trusting herself to talk. She heaved an embarrassed sigh. “There’s no barbeque. It was just an excuse to come here.” She turned to leave, but was slightly surprised by what he said.

  “A very clever girl told me once that running away is not always the best solution. I might be a can of cola, but hey, I’m going to Tassie. I could turn into lemonade.”

  She laughed, but then met his eyes. “It does sound very good in theory, but reality is different sometimes.”

  “I know.”

  She gazed around and stared at all the boxes. “I can only imagine how excited Nadine is.”

  He nodded. “Somewhat. But I think once she’s back in her school and amongst the few friends she’s got, she’ll settle with me as her dad.”

  She nodded, then said, “I’d better go. When will you leave? I don’t really have the cash–” She took a deep breath. “Never mind.”

  Flynn stepped closer to her. “Why don’t you stay the afternoon and wait for Naddie?”

  She shook her head and looked away. “No, I really think it’s better if I leave before I make a complete mess of my life.”

  With a gentle movement, he slid his hand over her shoulder and up her throat, his thumb skimming over her jaw. Flynn touched her lips with his, and with barely a whisper he said, “I’d really like you to stay.”

  Emma placed her hand over his. A thousand thoughts raced through her head. She had not only just lost her job, but the scars of the relationship with Jack, however short it might have been, were still hurting. The mess that had nestled in her life scared her more than she would admit to herself, and now she was standing close to the man she had tried so hard to dislike. Dislike him for his initial attitude towards living a life with Nadine. Dislike him for leaving Nadine’s mother. Dislike him for looking so good, and for being such a good kisser. But he was doing the right thing, after all, and there was no way she could really dislike him.

  “Flynn?” She made a step back. “This is not right. My life’s out of control, and I couldn’t afford to have an aching heart on top of it all.”

  He took her hand and kissed the inside of it. “Let me see.” He kissed the tip of her index finger. “You’ve got no job.” Then moved on to the next finger and kissed it as well. “You live with your auntie.” Next finger, and she wasn’t appreciating that he listed her current misfortune. “No cash.”

  “Flynn. Thanks for the list of–”

  “No car.” He interrupted her.

  She took a deep breath. “I still have my pride.”

  “That’s a girl.” He grinned and kissed the remaining fingers. “How about I offer you a job, but you’ll have to move with us to Launceston?”

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  Smiling, he placed his finger underneath her jaw and gently pushed it closed. He leaned forward and covered her lips
with his in a gentle kiss.

  “You don’t really know me,” she said quietly when he moved away – though just for that tiny little bit.

  “Four weeks’ trial. I’m sure your auntie will take you back if all fails. I’ll pay for the airfare.”

  Emma moved her head to look into his eyes. “You’re shrewd.”

  He grinned mischievously. “I’m a lawyer. What do you expect?”

  She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. With her finger poking into his chest she said, “Now, listen Mr. Hotshot Lawyer. You can’t just expect me to drop everything–”

  “Now, there’s an idea,” he interrupted her and slowly gazed down her body.

  Emma cursed when heat crept up her cheeks. “I meant, you know–”

  He shook his head.

  “I don’t like you. I don’t like your attitude and your… your… arrogance!”

  And that grin again. He slowly moved closer to her, and cursing herself again, Emma couldn’t move. Her feet seemed to be glued to the floor. Shoot! His lips brushed just beneath her ear and now some jelly knees were added to the glued feet.

  “You’re biting your lips again.” She heard him saying with a husky voice.

  “The least of my problems at the moment,” she confessed.

  With his hands cupping her face, he moved back slightly and stared at her. “Problems?”

  “Jelly legs and glued feet.”

  He laughed out loud, shook his head, and then gazed at her. “You do know I don’t just want you to come with us to look after Nadine?” He took her hand and pulled her closer again. “I think I must’ve said it now a hundred times, that I really like you.”

  Oh boy! His muscular chest pressed against hers and her thoughts spun in all directions. He cupped her neck and with a little pressure applied by his thumb at the base of her head, tilted her face up. She looked into his eyes and smiled at the thought that she had always dreamt about someone sweeping her up in the air. Love at first sight. Sexy, intelligent, and – yes! – successful. So, why was she hesitant?

  “Flynn?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m scared. I’m really scared.”

  Moving his hands up and down her back, she heard him whisper. “Never, ever, and I promise this on my life, will I ever hurt you. Not physically or emotionally, Emma! I can promise you that!”

  Epilogue

  “Are you sure?” Emma asked, still not believing what she was hearing, let alone seeing. The last few months had been a rollercoaster ride for Emma, to say the least.

  “Yes, quite sure,” was what he gave for an answer.

  She hesitated and looked up towards the ceiling.

  He sat back, patiently waiting for a reply. “Emma?”

  Emma’s thoughts raced.

  She vividly remembered the afternoon she had stayed with Flynn. A smile curved across her face as she thought of his gentle touch, and his soft embrace that gave her tingles up and down her spine. Even though they had been interrupted by the return of Naddie and his parents, she’d found out his kisses were a powerful aphrodisiac. He was a kisser par excellence.

  “I need you to love me back,” he had said that afternoon, and she considered him crazy for using the big words already. But deep down inside, she thought she was the crazy one for going with him.

  Needless to mention that Nadine had nearly jumped out of her skin, she had been so happy. However, she hadn’t been impressed at all that she and Emma didn’t share a room, but Emma had her own bedroom across the hall.

  Life was good. Life was going very well for all of them. Nadine settled back into school and back with her friends. Flynn’s new job still wasn’t nine-to-five hours, but he was able to spend a lot more time with Nadine than he’d initially anticipated and loved every minute of it. Sarah’s memories were a constant in the household, and though initially somewhat jealous, Emma accepted the importance of her role in Nadine and Flynn’s life.

  So, with Flynn sitting in front of her now, holding the beautiful velvety box in his hand, she placed her hand over her mouth to stop herself from gasping.

  “Yes,” she answered quietly, but ever so happily.

  About the Author

  Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and immigrated to Australia only in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland and London, as well as in Canada, where she actually had met her future husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only recently emerged, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

  Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters, as well as her two dogs. In addition to her job at a private school she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

  Iris loves to hear from her readers!

  @_iris_b

  irisblobel

  www.iris-b.blogspot.com