In the End (Lifetime #3)

by Ariadne Wayne

  I smiled back at her. “I understand that too. Paige’s father dragged me through the courts. The whole thing was insane. He got a slap on the hand for beating me up and then I had to fight him to make sure my daughter was safe.”

  Her eyes were filled with empathy. “I understand. I’d have done the same if Sam had fought me for Finn. This whole situation is hard on everybody. I’m glad you won your court battle.”

  I nodded. “Me too. The thought of her being in that toxic environment was what did it for me. He never laid a hand on her, but who’s to say he wouldn’t hit her at some point? I had to stop any chance of that happening. She had to be with me.”

  “Well, you’re raising a beautiful, smart, witty little girl. She had the others laughing last night with some terrible jokes.”

  “She usually gets those from Sam. They tell the worst jokes to each other.”

  Ella grinned. “Matt’s the same with our kids. I think it’s a dad thing.”

  I swallowed. “Thanks for listening to me, Ella. You didn’t have to.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. It was obvious you needed some support, and I’m happy to provide it. However awkward the situation.”

  Whatever happened now, in some warped way I felt I’d made a friend.

  Right when I needed it.

  THE JOURNEY HOME was full of chatter from Paige in the back seat about her new friends. She liked Finn, adored Georgia and Molly, thought Zach was a bit of a pain, and talked a lot about the baby, who I came to realise was Isabella.

  I didn’t have the heart to engage. Sam talked to her, asking her what they did and how much fun she’d had, but I just couldn’t do it. I wanted to be home and away from him so I could think about what had happened, and everything Ella had said.

  It was early afternoon when we pulled up outside our flat. Sam had stayed the last couple of Sunday nights that he’d been with us, but I wanted him gone, giving me the space I needed.

  He unpacked Paige’s things while I got mine and took them into the living room, leaving them where I pointed. I’d tidy afterward, when I could take a breath again.

  Standing on the doorstep, I gave him a thin smile. “Thanks for the weekend.”

  “Can we talk?” He pleaded with his eyes.

  I closed mine rather than look. “I need time, Sam.”

  “It can’t be over, Natasha. I love you so much.”

  My eyes flicked open. “You held back from me. I thought I was worth more than that to you.”

  He reached for my arm, but I pulled it away. “You are worth more. I screwed up.”

  “Is that what you told Ella?”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he looked down at the ground.

  “Just go, Sam.”

  He didn’t argue, turning away and walking toward his car.

  “Sam.” Paige came back out of the house, sprinted down the path, and flung herself at him. He bent, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of his head. “Are you leaving?”

  He looked up at me with a pained expression. “I’m gonna let you and Mum rest up after our trip.”

  “Aren’t you going to stay?” Her tone broke my heart. She’d watched her father come and go enough when we were together, had seen how things went bad. I’d vowed to never let her go through that again. I’d failed.

  “Not tonight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.” He let her go.

  “Paige,” I said.

  He walked out to the street and around the car, pausing as he opened the door. My daughter stood frozen on the path, watching as the man I’d let her get close to left us. Because I was making him go.

  She gave him a little wave as he drove off, waiting until his car had disappeared.

  “Can we visit Finn and Georgia again?” she asked.

  My heart sunk. This was more than just Sam out of the picture—it was the new friends she’d made. I’d made such a mess, and with no idea how to get past the shock of Sam’s revelation, all I could do was beckon her to me. I bent, just as he had, wrapping my arms around her and breathing her in. She was the most important person in my life. Nothing would ever change that.

  “We’ll have to see. It’s a long trip to get to the farm.”

  “Sam can take us.”

  This was going to do my head in.

  Chapter 15

  MATT

  It had been a tough day on the farm. The farmhand we’d hired wasn’t the most reliable it seemed, and I’d done much more work than normal. The day wasn’t over. I’d have to spend a few hours coding tonight to meet my current deadline.

  Finn sat on the doorstep. He frowned, cupping his face in his hands as his eyes met mine.

  “Hey, bud. You okay?”

  He rolled his eyes. There was so much Vanessa in that move, it always made me smile.

  “I wanted to play my game, but Mummy’s on the computer. She’s been on it for ages.”

  “What’s Mummy doing?”

  He shrugged.

  “I’ll go and check it out, bud.” Ruffling his hair, I walked up the steps beside him.

  I wandered inside and up the hallway. From outside Finn’s room, I could hear the frantic tapping of keys. The sound of a woman on a mission.

  Ella sat at the computer desk, clicking and looking at webpages.

  “Finn’s complaining you’re using up too much computer time.” I bent, planting a kiss on her neck before sitting on Finn’s bed behind her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I couldn’t remember the password to your laptop, and I wanted to look some stuff up.”

  I chuckled. “I’ve only told you about fifty thousand times.”

  She turned, her lips twisted into a smirk. “You need to make it fifty thousand and one.”

  “I should just take the password off it. It’s only on there because it was set up like that, and it’s only you and me who use it anyway. Although if you’ve been on the computer for ages, maybe we should get you one.”

  Ella licked her lips. “Might have to anyway.”

  “Now you’ve got my curiosity roused, Mrs Carver. What are you up to?” I waggled my eyebrows.

  She laughed. “I’ve been looking up online courses. I thought about what you said about me needing something more.”

  “What did you come up with?”

  Her nose twitched. “What do you think of web design?”

  “Something computer related.” I smiled.

  She shrugged. “I figured I liked designing and decorating the interior of the house. I used to be decent with computers, and I think I’ve got a handle on colours and what looks good.”

  I reached for her hand, grasping it, and squeezed. “Good for you. For what it’s worth, I think you’d be wonderful at it.”

  “Not too much competition for the household geek?”

  Chuckling, I tugged at her fingers, and she stood, moving toward me. She squealed as I pulled her down onto Finn’s bed, leaning over for a gentle kiss. “I think I can handle some competition.”

  As I kissed her again, an annoyed groan came from the doorway. “Are you two kissing again?”

  “I better go see what our son wants,” Ella said.

  “I’m betting he just wants to use his computer. I heard you were hogging it.”

  Ella laughed. “I guess I was. Sorry, Finn.”

  “Next time I’m in the city I’ll find you one of your own. Did you want a desktop or a laptop?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll leave that up to you.”

  “Glad I’m still good for something.” I poked my tongue out at her, and she lunged, rubbing her own against mine.

  “Ewww.”

  “Finn. The computer’s all yours.” Ella laughed, and snuggled against me.

  My girl was happy again, and that was all that mattered to me.

  AFTER DINNER with the kids in bed, I smiled as Ella walked back into the living room, sitting on the couch beside me.

  “Tired?” I asked.

&n
bsp; “Happy. I’ve been thinking too that maybe we should sell the house in Auckland to Vanessa. She’s rented it for long enough.”

  I slid my arm around Ella’s shoulder. “I thought we were hanging onto it just in case we moved back.”

  Ella shook her head. “This is our home. I know I’ve been a bit down, but I love it here. The kids love it here, and they’ve never known anything else.”

  I pressed my lips to her temple. “As long as you’re happy.”

  “As long as you’re happy too.”

  I took a deep breath, letting out a contented sigh. “Anywhere we all are, I’m content. We should celebrate all these big decisions. Is there any wine in the fridge?”

  Ella shook her head. “No.”

  “How about I nip down to the shops and grab a bottle?”

  She looked up at the clock on the wall. “It might be a bit late. Rachel might sell you one, though.”

  “Lucky I married such a smart lady.” I pecked Ella on the lips and stood. “Be back soon.”

  “You’d better be.”

  “Keep looking at me like that and I’m not going anywhere.” I leaned down and gave her a kiss, lingering this time. “Love you, beautiful.”

  “Love you too. Now get cracking and bring me my wine.” She raised her hand, slapping me on the arse with a laugh. It was so good to see her animated again, as if she’d rediscovered some part of her that had gone to sleep.

  “Yes, boss.”

  With a salute, I grabbed the car keys and headed out the door.

  SURE ENOUGH, the store was closed, but the pub was open. I walked inside, and smiled at Rachel behind the bar.

  “Hey, you couldn’t sell me a bottle of wine, could you?”

  She smiled. “Sure thing. For Ella?”

  “For both of us.”

  Her eyebrows raised. “I thought you were more of a beer guy.”

  I grinned. “Normally, but tonight’s a special night, and I’m pampering my wife.”

  “Good for you. Back in a second.” She walked down the other end of the bar and retrieved a bottle from a fridge. “Here you go. Last full bottle, but I’ve got more coming tomorrow.” Rachel handed me the bottle.

  “Thanks, Rach. I owe you one.” I handed over the money.

  “Pretty sure you owe me lots by now.” She laughed.

  “Probably.” I waggled my eyebrows.

  “Your stalker was in here earlier. Must have known you’d be in here sometime.” She grinned as she handed over my change, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Stop it.”

  “You need to lay the smackdown.”

  “I haven’t done anything.”

  She grinned. “No, Mr Flirty Flirt.”

  That was it. I was over this. “I love my wife, and I don’t flirt. Not on purpose.”

  Rachel’s eyes were so wounded. “I’m sorry. I was just teasing. I’ve just known Ella and Vanessa a long time. I thought Ella would have sorted her out by now.”

  My lips twitched in irritation. “She’s been a bit preoccupied. But she has noticed, and she’s said something. I didn’t take it that seriously. Ella’s easily hurt and that’s the last thing I want to do.”

  She nodded. “It’s understandable.” Her expression changed, like the most amazing thing had happened, and she lit up like a Christmas tree.

  I turned. Liam stood behind me with a big grin on his face.

  “Uh, I might leave you to it. Good to see you, Liam.”

  “Good to see you too.”

  Leaving them behind, I headed toward the door. The sky had darkened a little more, and the sounds of someone vomiting filled the air.

  Wrinkling my nose, I headed in the direction of the sound to find Kate leaning against the wall of the pub, much the worse for wear. She looked up at me with glazed eyes and a hazy smile.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. Talking to her might not have been the best idea, but at the same time I wasn’t about to drive off and leave her there in the dark.

  “Yeah. I went for a few drinks after work, and now I have to figure out how to get home.” Her tone suggested she was tired, and drunk. I couldn’t leave her here alone like this.

  “Have you called a taxi?”

  She nodded. “There’s a half hour wait.”

  I paused. Leaving her here was an option, but not a particularly responsible one. And if Rachel and Liam were reuniting, the last thing Rachel would need was to deal with a drunken patron.

  “Get in the car, and I’ll give you a lift.”

  There were spare plastic bags in the glovebox of the car. Ella had put them in there for the kids when we travelled, just in case one of them was sick. At least I was prepared.

  “Are you sure?” She slurred the words.

  “You’ll have to tell me where you live, but I think you really need to get home.” I nodded. One day my kids would grow up, and we might have to deal with this. It left me wanting to shut them in their rooms until they were at least forty.

  “Thank you.”

  I opened the passenger door, and she climbed in. Alarm bells rang that I was doing the wrong thing, but there was also no way I was leaving her drunk and vulnerable, alone late at night.

  “What’s your address?” I asked as I sat in the driver’s seat, nodding as she slurred it. “That’s not far from the turn-off to our road.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” The sooner this was over, the better. In the back of my head was a memory of another night I tried to help a drunken girl and how that had backfired on me. Ella and Sam had hooked up in my absence, and the rest was nearly history.

  It was a short drive, and silent, but I could feel Kate’s eyes on me the whole time. It was uncomfortable, but it’d be over soon.

  “Umm, it’s just over here.” She pointed down the road a bit, at a house with a light on outside.

  “Got it.”

  I pulled over at the side of the road and watched for traffic before signalling and performing a U-turn. “Here we are. Right to the door.”

  “Thanks, Matt.” She was breathless, like she was excited. Alarm bells rang louder, but I needed to get her out of the car and into the building.

  I turned and nodded. “I’ll watch until you’re inside to make sure you’re okay.”

  Her lips pressed against mine, and it took a second to register what she was doing. I grasped her arms and pushed her away. “What are you doing?”

  She sucked her lower lip through her teeth. “I thought …”

  “You thought wrong.”

  Her face fell.

  “Kate, I’m very happily married and in love with my wife. I’m sorry if you got any other impression, but that’s the truth.”

  She let out a loud breath. “She doesn’t pay any attention to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Every time you’re in the store, she practically ignores you. You’re so nice to me.”

  My lips twitched. “We usually have the kids with us, so yeah, her focus is on making sure they don’t destroy the building. But I can assure you, you’ve got the wrong idea about us. I’m nice to everybody.”

  She looked up at me through her eyelashes. “We could just …”

  “I’m not going to do anything. I think you need to get out and get inside the house. I’ll stay and watch to make sure you’re inside safe.”

  “But …” From the hurt look in her eyes, this was clearly something she’d thought through. I guess after a couple of drinks, it made perfect sense to her, but nausea swept over me at the thought.

  “I’ve loved Ella for more than ten years. She’s it for me—has been since the day I first saw her. And I’m it for her. End of story.”

  Kate looked down. “I’m sorry. I guess I got it wrong.”

  “Very wrong.”

  She opened the door and slid out. Giving me one last look, she walked toward the house with slumped shoulders. Once she was inside, I sat back in my seat and put the car into gear.

/>   Now to get home to the woman I loved.

  THE HOUSE WAS dark when I got home, but for the light glowing in the living room. Ella would be waiting inside with the television keeping her company.

  I loved this house. It was ours— not like the place in Auckland had been. This was the home we’d planned, built, lived in, and loved in. Our own little empire.

  Something had been missing. Ella was right. We had all been spoilt by her for so long, and now it was our turn to take care of her. She’d given everything to our children and to me these past few years. I wanted more for her.

  She was smart, and had done better at uni than either Sam or myself. Now she could have her time to shine. It was the least she deserved.

  I let out a loud breath as I placed the bottle of wine on the bench. Ella appeared in the doorway, a loving smile on her face.

  “I’m ready for some Matt and Ella time.” She waggled her eyebrows, bringing a smile to my face.

  “The more of that I can get, the better.” I opened my arms as she came toward me, and I drew her close. I loved this woman. She was my life. I could stand here and close my eyes, breathing in her familiar scent forever.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She also knew me better than anyone. I slipped my fingers into her hair, running my thumb down her cheek. “I tried to do the right thing …”

  Her brows dipped as she frowned. All I could think about was the night I first saw her, across that room. We hadn’t met because I ended up doing a good deed for someone else. If we’d met, it might have changed everything.

  “What did you do? Is that why you took ages just to go to the pub?”

  I nodded. “Kate was outside. Alone.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “I couldn’t just leave her there, Ella. She’d had too much to drink and no way to get home.”

  Ella’s mouth twisted. “You’re a good man. And you’re right—you couldn’t leave her there.”

  “Anyway, I gave her a lift because it was on the way, and she kissed me.”

  Ella’s eyes grew wide. “What?”

  “I pushed her away, and told her that I’m happily married. She’s got the wrong idea about us. God only knows how.”