by Anne Fraser
Without knowing how it happened, they were lying on the sofa, their bodies pressed along the length of each other.
‘Abby,’ Mac whispered into her hair. ‘Beautiful, sweet Abby.’
What was she doing? What were they doing? Apart from anything else, Emma would be back any moment. Reluctantly, Abby disentangled herself from Mac’s arms and slid out of his grasp. Her heart was beating like a train and her breath was coming in short gasps. Mac reached for her again but she stepped away from his outstretched arm.
‘This is so not a good idea,’ she said.
‘Why not? I think it’s a very good idea.’ His eyes darkened like the sea before a storm.
‘Emma could come back any minute. I don’t want her finding us in a clinch.’
‘In a clinch?’ The smile was back. ‘Is that what you call it?’ Laughter rippled under his words.
‘Whatever.’ Abby smoothed her hair with her hands. ‘Nevertheless, if Emma walked in now.’
‘Call it what you will, I think it’s a very good idea.’ He sat up and before she could move, his hand shot out lightning fast and caught her by the wrist, pulling her down on his lap. He buried his face in her neck, his lips touching her in places she hadn’t even known, until now, had nerve endings.
She moaned softly. Being here with him felt so right. It had been so long since she’d been held. But she forced herself to push him away. There was no way she could think with him nibbling her neck.
‘No, Mac. We can’t. We have Emma to think about.’
Mac frowned at her. ‘Emma?’
‘Yes. Can’t you see? If we start something, it’ll give Emma all the wrong ideas. Besides, what if we fall out?’ She held up her hand to stop the words he was about to say. ‘It could happen, you know it could. How will it be for Emma then?’
Mac’s frown deepened. ‘I wasn’t really thinking of a relationship. Hell, Abby, I wasn’t really thinking at all. You must know I find you attractive. What’s wrong with two adults … er … enjoying each other’s company?’
Abby had to laugh. He was doing such a good impersonation of a well-known, ageing movie star. ‘Seriously. Mac. Think about it. Don’t we have enough to be getting on with? Trying to work out a way to co-parent Emma?’
Mac drew his hand across his face in a gesture Abby was beginning to know well. He looked so disappointed Abby almost changed her mind. Almost.
Mac stood up. ‘Perhaps you’re right,’ he said, reaching for his jacket. He stopped and looked at her intently. ‘Right now, Abby, you’re holding all the cards.’
And before she could ask him what he meant, the door closed behind him with a gentle click.
CHAPTER TWELVE
BACK at his own house, Mac paced the floor. He still couldn’t believe how much his life had changed in the last few weeks. It had been a shock finding out that he had a daughter, and the last thing he had expected was to feel the way he did about Emma. He found he was looking forward to spending time with her. She was so like him with her love of adventure.
And like Abby, too.
Over the last few weeks he had found himself drawn to Abby in a way that he had never been drawn to a woman before. It wasn’t just that she was sexy, in that way that only a woman who had no idea of her own beauty could be, but it was her loyalty, her strength of character, her kindness that drew him. It couldn’t have been easy bringing up a child—his child—on her own, but she had done it without a second thought. And she had made a good job of it.
But it was different now; he could help. Be there for Emma and Abby. Help financially. He thought about the little house they were renting. It was barely big enough for one, let alone two of them. And here he was in this spacious flat with more space than he knew what to do with. Perhaps he should ask them to move in with him?
Immediately he dismissed the idea. It was crazy. Abby would never agree. The thought of sharing his home with Abby made the blood rush to his head. Seeing her every day. Her sleeping just a short distance away would drive him crazy. He’d never be able to keep his hands off her. And that way lay madness. She was right. What if they started something and it didn’t work out? Having a child was one thing, but having a permanent relationship with a woman quite another. He didn’t do relationships. If he started something with Abby it would, like all his other relationships, end sooner or later. And when it did there would be hard feelings and recriminations. There always were. No matter how often he warned the women in his life that he wasn’t in it for the long haul, they never really believed him. They always thought they would be the one to change him. And if he gave in to his need to have Abby, what then? When it came to an end she might stop him from seeing Emma. He was surprised at how much the prospect alarmed him. Now he had got to know his daughter, he couldn’t imagine a life without her.
And what if Abby met someone else? He didn’t want that either. The thought of her in another man’s arms made his blood boil. But if she did, what if she moved away and took Emma away from him? As it stood, he could do nothing to stop her. And what if that man treated Emma like his mother’s boyfriends had treated him? As if she was a nuisance they could do without?
He pulled a hand through his hair. Now he had found Emma he was damned if he was going to let anyone take her away from him again.
The days sped by as winter approached. Abby kept her eyes open for a house for Emma and herself, but so far nothing remotely affordable had come onto the market. Abby knew the only realistic option for her and Emma would be to buy something in serious need of refurbishment, and she didn’t have the time for that, or a small modern flat, and she didn’t have the heart for that.
Emma and Mac continued to spend time together and had developed an easy teasing camaraderie. Often they would gang up on Abby, once forcing her to join them mountain biking. Although she had gone along with them, one experience of being soaked to the skin and terrified out of her mind had been enough. She had refused point blank to go again. Some evenings Mac would drop in and they would play Scrabble or play games on Emma’s computer console, the latter usually causing Mac and Emma to share a laugh at Abby’s expense. Abby didn’t care. She treasured those evenings. It was the family life she had never known.
One Saturday, Mac turned up at the cottage with a big smile on his face. Although it was cold, the rain had stopped and the sun was doing its best to cast some sunshine their way.
‘You’re looking pleased with yourself,’ Abby said as she stood aside to let him in. ‘But if you’re looking for Emma, I’m afraid she’s gone into the town with some friends from school.’
‘It’s not Emma I’m looking for. I have something I want you to see.’ His eyes were sparkling with barely suppressed excitement.
‘Oh, and what could that be?’
‘I’m not saying. You have to come with me. Go on, grab a jacket.’
Mystified, Abby did as she was told. Mac was waiting for her in his Jeep.
‘Where are we going? Come on, give me a clue.’
‘No way. You’re going to have to wait and see.’
They followed the road out of Penhally, heading in the general direction of St Piran’s. But then Mac turned off and headed inland. A little while later, still refusing to answer Abby’s questions, he turned up a steep track and came to a halt.
‘We’re here,’ he said.
‘Here? And where’s here? ‘ From where they were standing, Abby could see the coastline in the distance. Otherwise they were on a small bit of land surrounded by trees on the sides facing away from the sea.
‘This little piece of land I’m standing on is for sale. Remember the boy we rescued from the bottom of the cliff? Dave, his father, came to see me. He wanted to thank us all personally. Anyway, to cut a long story short, it turns out he owns an estate agency here in Cornwall. I told him that I was looking for a small piece of land to buy and he mentioned that he knew of one that hadn’t gone on the market yet. This one. Well, what do you think?’
‘
Think of what, exactly?’
‘Of this as a place to build a house. As a home for you and Emma. You can’t continue living where you are right now. And I know you haven’t found somewhere to buy. So what about here? It’s the perfect place to build a house.’
Abby touched him on the shoulder. She almost couldn’t bear to destroy his excitement, but she had no choice.
‘Mac, I couldn’t possibly afford to buy this land, let alone build a house. It’s a lovely idea, but completely out of the question.’
‘I would bear the costs. After all, Emma is my daughter. You’ve met the financial costs of bringing her up on her own for years. Now it’s my turn.’
Abby shook her head regretfully. ‘I’m sorry, Mac. I couldn’t possibly agree to it.’
His mouth tightened. ‘Why not?’
‘Don’t you see? It’s a wonderful, generous gesture, but I couldn’t let us be beholden to you like that. It wouldn’t be right.’
Mac’s frown deepened. ‘Beholden? Not right? Why don’t you just come out with whatever it is you’re trying to say?’
‘Please understand, Mac. I’ve been independent all my life. I don’t want to have to rely on anybody else. What happens if you meet someone you want to be with? Move away? Have a new family? What happens to us then? I’d never be able to meet the repayments on my own.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t risk it.’
If it were possible, Mac’s eyes turned an even darker blue. ‘I have the right to make sure my daughter has as good a life as possible. You have no right to deny her because of some misplaced sense of pride. And what’s more, I promise you, regardless of what happens in the future, I’ll never abandon my child the way my father abandoned me.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘It is far more likely to be the other way around. You can up and leave with Emma any time you like, and I won’t be able to stop you. How do you think that feels?’
Abby took a step towards him and touched him lightly on the arm. ‘I wouldn’t do that to Emma, or to you, Mac,’ she said softly. ‘Remember, I also know what it’s like to grow up without a father. I would never deprive Emma of hers.’
Mac turned away and stood looking out to the horizon. This was a different side to Mac and her heart ached for him. But neither was she going to budge. He could be involved, she wanted him to be involved, but Emma was her responsibility and he had to understand that.
Mac swung around to face Abby. ‘I want a DNA test,’ he said abruptly.
Abby reeled. ‘Why? I thought you believed me when I said you were Emma’s father? Good grief, Mac, do you think I’m playing some kind of game here?’
He rubbed his face. ‘I know you say now that you’ll never take Em away from me, and I believe you mean it. But things change in life, Abby. I know that to my cost. People might mean to stick around, but in the end they don’t.’
Abby started to protest but he cut her off. ‘Besides, God forbid, what if something happened to you? What rights would I have then? At the moment, legally, you are her only blood relative. I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. A DNA test would prove I was the father to any court.’
What he was saying made sense, Abby admitted grudgingly. If she were in his shoes, would she take a chance that one day she might lose Emma? Absolutely not. She nodded.
‘Okay. If, and only if, Emma agrees. The last thing I want is for her to think that you want the test for the wrong reasons. If you can persuade her, and if she’s happy to have the test, I’ll agree.’
The furrows between Mac’s brow disappeared and he smiled. ‘Thank you, Abby. That means a lot to me.’
They stood looking at each other for a long time. Mac took a step towards Abby, but before he could touch her, she turned away.
‘Let’s go home,’ she said.
* * *
On the way back to her house, Abby thought about what Mac had said. Although she wanted Emma to have a relationship with a father who would be a permanent feature in her life, it felt as though everything was moving too fast. Mac wanted to be part of Emma’s life and that was good. It would have broken Emma’s heart if Mac had rejected her, but this. Wanting to have legal rights, wanting to contribute financially, it was more than Abby had anticipated. When she had told Mac about Emma, she had imagined a more casual relationship between father and daughter.
But now? He wanted more. And she couldn’t blame him. And then there was this thing between her and Mac. Back then, she’d thought he was going to kiss her. And she’d wanted him to. But that would only make everything more complicated than it already was.
‘Do you want to suggest the DNA test or shall I?’ Mac asked.
‘I think we should talk to her about it together,’ Abby said. ‘As soon as we get home.’ She glanced across at him. ‘She needs to know we’re united about this, Mac.’
‘At least we’re agreed on something.’ His expression was unreadable.
When they got back to the house, Mac suggested that they take a walk along the beach. Emma, as usual, was delighted to have any opportunity to spend time with her father. She particularly liked it when the three of them spent time together.
They stopped near some rocks and Abby poured hot chocolate from a flask she had brought.
‘Em,’ she started hesitantly. ‘Mac and I have been talking.’
Emma looked at her warily. ‘What about?’
‘I think it’s great that I’ve found you,’ Mac said. ‘As you know, I had no idea you existed until Abby told me. But now I want to make things more official.’ He paused. ‘I’ve got to kind of like having you as my daughter.’
A smile spread over Emma’s face. ‘And I kind of like having you as my father.’ She threw herself at him and, wrapping her arms around him, squeezed him tightly.
The look in Mac’s eyes made Abby catch her breath. The love for his daughter was there for anyone to see.
After a few minutes Emma released him and screwed up her eyes. ‘How are things going to be more official? What do you mean?’ She looked at Abby then at Mac. Her eyes lit up. ‘Do you mean you two—?’
‘No, Emma. You’re way off there,’ Abby interrupted quickly. Where on earth had Emma got that idea?
‘I know it’s not at all likely,’ Mac said cautiously, ‘but say anything happened to Abby, I’d want to have a legal claim on you. You know, make sure no one could take you away from me.’
Alarm flashed in Emma’s eyes. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you, Mum, is there?’ she said. ‘You’re not going to die or anything?’
Abby laughed. ‘I have no intention of dying. At least, not for years and years. But, Emma, accidents do happen. What Mac is saying is that he’s become very fond of you, and he wants everyone, particularly the courts, to recognise you as his daughter. Or rather him as your father. To do that you would both have to do a DNA test. Then if, and this is a big if, something happens to me, both Mac and I want to make sure you would get to stay with someone who loves you.’
Emma still looked anxious. Abby slid a glance at Mac. This was the last thing she wanted, Emma thinking they were hiding something from her.
Abby took Emma’s hand in hers. ‘I promise you, there is nothing wrong with me. If you don’t want to have the test, that’s fine. We’ll find another way.’
‘This test, is it like those they do in CSI?’ Emma asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Will it hurt?’
‘Not in the slightest. They’ll take a swab from the inside of your mouth and do the same for Mac.’
Emma sat in silence for a little while.
‘I don’t mind, then. If you both think it’s for the best.’ She got to her feet and, finding a flat stone, turned to Mac. ‘Can you make this skip on the water?’ she asked. ‘I can make it skip three times. Mum’s record is four. Can you beat us?’
Abby and Mac shared a look of relief. Emma seemed reassured and what was even better, she was totally unconcerned about the test.
Mac took the stone from her hands. ‘Four tim
es, huh?’ he said, grinning. ‘I think I can do better than that.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A FEW days later, Abby opened the door of her cottage to find Mac standing there. Her pulse stuttered disconcertingly. He was so damn good looking it just wasn’t fair. But for once his easy confidence was absent. Instead, he looked ill at ease, almost embarrassed.
‘Emma’s out, I’m afraid,’ she said. Anxiety rippled through her. He looked so serious. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No,’ Mac rushed to reassure her. ‘It’s just that I had an idea I wanted to run past you.’
Mac wanting to run something past her? That was a turn-up for the books.
‘You’d better come in,’ she said, standing aside to let him enter.
She signalled to him that he should sit, but Mac shook his head.
‘Look, whatever it is, you’d better tell me.’ Was this where he told her that the novelty of having a daughter was wearing off? Her heart rate upped another notch. If he let Emma down now, she’d throttle him.
‘Remember you told me that Emma’s birthday party had to be cancelled when nobody would come? ‘
Abby nodded. It had been almost the worst day of her life. It had been so cruel and so unbearable watching Emma pretend it didn’t matter. But Emma hadn’t been able to hide the sobs coming from her bedroom later that evening. Abby had crept into bed with her daughter, holding her until the tears had subsided. That was when she had decided to leave London. She would never let her child be hurt like that again. Not as long as she had breath in her body.
‘Well, I thought we should give her another party. Here. She’s made friends now and perhaps it will take away some of the bad memories of London.’
Abby was so surprised she felt her jaw drop. It was the last thing she’d expected Mac to say. But she was touched and delighted and not a little ashamed. Once again, she had underestimated this man. As she looked at him her heart melted. He was a better man than he gave himself credit for.