by Lucy Clark
‘Oh. OK. See you tomorrow.’
‘Sleep sweet, Rosie.’
‘You, too,’ she responded. Rose turned away and walked to the front door but couldn’t resist turning to watch him drive away. He tooted the horn and stuck his arm out the open window to wave. She waved back, a silly schoolgirl grin on her face.
Rose opened the door and, out of curiosity, glanced over to Mrs Fredrick’s house. As she did, she saw the lace curtains fall back into place. She shook her head, surprised to find that she didn’t really mind all that much. Dave made her happy and that was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
The instant she stepped inside, the phone rang. She reached for the receiver, hoping it wasn’t the hospital with an emergency.
‘Hello, princess,’ her father’s deep voice boomed down the line. ‘How are things going?’
‘Oh, fine, Dad. Just fine—now.’
‘What’s been going on, Rosie?’ She told him about the possum and how Dave had taken care of the situation. ‘Just as well he was there, then,’ her father said, and she noted a strangeness in his tone.
‘Yes, it was.’
‘Has he…you know…stopped by before?’
Rose frowned. ‘Only when I had food poisoning, but I’ve already told you about that. Why do you want to know?’
‘I think young Dave has taken a shine to you,’ her father said.
Her frown changed to a smile. ‘You think so?’
‘Rosie.’ His tone was even more curious. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
‘A lot of things, Dad. How’s Beverley?’
‘Beautiful.’ Her father sighed like a man in love should. ‘Simply beautiful.’
Wanting to get him off the topic of Dave and herself, Rose asked, ‘So what have you been doing today? Lazing around a swimming pool, sipping cocktails?’
Reg chuckled. ‘Something like that.’ He then launched into a full-scale account of what they’d been doing since he’d last spoken to Rose, and while he was talking, she fixed herself some dinner, stretching the cord of the phone as far as she could. Over half an hour later, she rang off and sat down to eat her food. No sooner had she put the first forkful in her mouth than the phone rang again.
‘Dr Partridge.’
‘Rosie! Thank goodness.’ The sound of Dave’s voice warmed her right down to her toes and she forgot all about her dinner. ‘I was starting to get concerned when I couldn’t get through. Had you accidentally knocked the receiver off the hook?’
‘No. My father called.’
‘They’re enjoying themselves, I hope?’
‘Yes.’
‘Listen, I wanted to let you know that the possum in question is now safe and back in its natural habitat.’
‘And you made sure he was well hidden so he wouldn’t be attacked by a dingo or something?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Good.’
Dave laughed. ‘You really are a mixture, aren’t you?’
‘A mixture of what?’ she asked cautiously.
‘You aren’t the adventurous type at all yet your natural concern shows that you care.’
‘So?’ She was defensive now.
‘I’m not criticising you, Rosie. I’m saying I like it. My ex-wife didn’t like to venture out of her comfort zone and couldn’t care less about anyone who did.’
Rose didn’t miss the bitterness in his tone. ‘I know what you mean,’ she replied, thinking of Julian.
‘Been there, experienced that?’ he queried lightly.
‘Yes.’ Her voice was soft.
‘Did he hurt you?’
‘If you mean did he break my heart? I thought he had but now I’m not so sure.’ If Dave had asked her that question one month ago, she would have answered in the affirmative. After tonight, with Dave’s kind and caring attitude, Rose knew Julian hadn’t broken her heart as she was still able to feel. ‘I think he dented my ego more,’ she acknowledged honestly.
‘I know how that feels.’ He laughed without humour.
‘How about you? Did your ex-wife break your heart?’
‘She gutted me from the inside, twisted me into knots and discarded me without a thought.’
‘Really? When? Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, it’s just that you seem so…so…well, together.’
‘We divorced over six years ago, Rosie. Time is a great healer of wounds. I’m not so sure about anger but wounds—definitely.’
‘You don’t like her?’
‘No. I can’t say she’s one of my favourite people.’
‘Regrets?’
‘We all have them, sweetheart.’
‘Bitterness?’
‘No. I’ve forgiven Mags for hurting me and for the way she disrespected our marriage vows.’
Rose grasped his meaning quickly and as she knew Dave was bound to a life of chivalry, he’d also be bound to monogamy as well.
‘That doesn’t mean I like her or want to spend time with her,’ he added.
‘Do you see her often?’
‘No, but I speak to her a few times a year.’
‘Why?’ Rose wasn’t too sure whether she should have asked the question but felt if ever she was going to pry into Dave’s past, now was the time. He’d been the one to open the conversation of past relationships. Besides, if he didn’t want to answer, she was sure he’d say so.
‘Divorce is never easy when there’s a child involved.’ As Dave said the words, he held his breath. There, it was out. Rosie now knew he had a child. There was silence on the other end of the phone and he closed his eyes as he waited for her to speak. After seeing how she’d reacted with young Joe the other week, he wasn’t too sure how she’d receive this news. ‘Kids and I just don’t mix.’ That’s what she’d said.
‘You have a child?’ she said finally, unable to believe it. A divorced man with a family. Warning bells sounded. It was on her list—her list of what to avoid at all costs—yet she was finding it increasingly difficult to adhere to that list. Why hadn’t she heard anything about this at the hospital? Probably, she reminded herself, because she didn’t listen to gossip.
‘I have one child. Melody is her name and she’s six years old.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘SIX?’ Rose felt herself start to tremble a bit. Kids made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t good with them. She was just like her mother—hopeless with children. She pushed the thoughts aside roughly. ‘But I thought you’d been divorced for—’ She cut herself off. ‘I’m sorry, Dave. It’s really none of my business.’
‘I think it is, Rosie. I like you. I want to pursue a relationship with you. I don’t know where it will lead but there it is, nevertheless. So let’s get the past out into the open so we can move forward.’ She was silent again. ‘Rosie? I didn’t mean to dump all of this on you straight away but isn’t it better that we find things out now, rather than later? After you thinking I was involved with Penny, I don’t want any other misunderstandings to surface.’
Rose listened to what he said, agreeing with him. ‘Is this what you wanted to talk about tomorrow night?’
‘Something like that.’
‘Melody,’ she said softly. ‘Nice name.’
‘She’s a nice girl.’
She could tell Dave was smiling. He obviously thought the world of his daughter and it improved her opinion of him.
‘Mags chose the name. She’s the type of woman who has to have control over everything and thought a child would fit nicely into her new life. After all, a few of her friends had babies and they made it sound so special and unique. It was like a red flag to a bull and she couldn’t resist.
‘The conception happened during our last attempt to reconcile our marriage. Little did I know that she’d planned the entire thing.’ Dave shook his head as he remembered the way Mags had used him. ‘I woke up one morning and she was gone. No note. No phone call. No nothing. I contacted the solicitor, as that was the only number I had to track her down, and he informed
me that Margaret saw no further need to remain in the relationship and that divorce proceedings would commence once the proper procedures had been satisfied.’
‘But what about the baby?’
‘She told me I was the father—after Melody’s birth. I didn’t even see my daughter until she was eight weeks old. By then Mags had realised that motherhood wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. She hired a nanny, fought and won custody and that was that.’
‘Can you be sure…? What I mean is…Is she—?’
‘Is she mine? Yes. I had tests done to prove it and she’s mine all right.’
Rose didn’t miss the vehemence in his words. ‘How often do you see her?’
‘Quite a lot. I miss her like crazy but a broken marriage is just a part of our lives.’
‘Must be rough, being so far away from her.’
‘It is.’
‘I presume they’re in Sydney?’
‘That’s right.’
‘So do you go there or does your daughter come here?’
‘Both. It all depends. In fact…’ Dave paused for a moment and took a deep breath ‘…she’s coming on Thursday.’
‘Thursday? This Thursday?’
‘Yes.’
‘But that’s in two days’ time.’ Rose couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She pulled the receiver away from her ear and stared at it. Who was this man? It brought back the reality that she really knew nothing about him—except for the uncharacteristic physical attraction that had flared up between them.
‘I know. I was going to fly to Sydney and get her but Mags is sending her here with the current nanny.’
Rose had no idea what to say. He was divorced. He had a daughter—a daughter who was coming to town. She opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish—completely stunned by what he was saying.
‘Rosie?’ he said when she didn’t respond. ‘I know this is a lot but, as I said, I want it all out in the open.’
‘How…how long will she be here for?’
He cleared his throat. ‘For ever—hopefully.’
‘What?’
‘That is if Mags doesn’t change her mind.’
‘Dave, this is a lot for me to deal with.’
‘I know and, fair dinkum, Rosie, I’m sorry,’ he said softly, knowing he was only causing her more confusion. ‘I know this is a lot for you to handle, especially as we’ve only just started…whatever this is that’s sprung up between us. The best advice I could probably give you is to keep well away from me, but that’s not what I want.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re the first woman I’ve been remotely interested in for the last six years.’
Rose didn’t know what to say. This time, though, her silence was due to overwhelming surprise. He liked her. He really liked her. Rose felt her insides turn to mush. He’d seen her when she’d been tired and rude, sick, gripped with fear and he still liked her.
‘Rosie?’
‘Hmm? Uh…thank you. That’s really nice of you to say that but, um…that’s not what I meant when I asked why.’
‘What did you mean, then?’
‘Why will your daughter be staying for good?’
‘Because Mags is getting married again. Her wedding is this Saturday and she can’t be bothered having Mel around any longer.’
‘That’s horrible.’ Rose wasn’t overly confident with children but she knew this was a terrible thing to do to a child. ‘So you offered to take her, naturally.’
‘Actually, Mags was planning to put her into boarding school.’
‘What? She’s six years old.’
Dave smiled. Rosie really was on his wavelength. ‘My sentiments exactly.’
‘So you’re going to apply for full custody?’
‘Yes. When I told Mags I wanted custody of Mel, she told me she’d already started proceedings. The papers have been drawn up. They were supposed to have arrived tonight but obviously the courier got lost. Hopefully, I’ll get them tomorrow but the waiting is starting to tear me apart. I wasn’t planning on doing anything until Melody arrived but it appears Mags had other plans. Still, she has been known to change her mind in the past so until I get those papers it isn’t going to be an easy ride.’
‘How long are they planning to honeymoon?’
‘Julian—her new husband-to-be—is in the computer business and has plans to work overseas. This is all according to Mags, so who knows how much of it is true?’
Rose almost fell off her chair. Her dinner was completely forgotten as Dave’s words almost paralysed her. ‘Did…did you say Julian?’ Her voice was barely audible. She bit her lower lip, realising belatedly that it was trembling.
‘That’s right.’ He heard her gasp and the tone of her voice made him sit up straighter—aware that something wasn’t right. ‘What’s wrong? Rosie?’
‘Julian Moncrief?’ she whispered.
‘You know him?’
‘I was engaged to him three months ago.’
That certainly explained a lot. Dave replaced the receiver in the cradle after Rosie had quickly said she’d better go. Her tone had been full of distraught emotion and when he’d offered to come back around, she’d been adamant in her refusal. He didn’t blame her. No one wanted to have their soul bared to a relative stranger like himself.
No. He and Rosie weren’t strangers. Sure, there were things they didn’t know about each other but he refused to say they were strangers. Tonight had changed that for good.
Dave stalked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer, taking it out onto the verandah. He leaned against the rail. Knowing that Julian had been a part of Rosie’s past explained a lot about the woman herself. He wouldn’t blame her if she avoided him simply because he was divorced. Julian had been divorced—twice.
Dave raised the beer to his lips. Knowing the type of person Julian was, he could guess how that man had behaved towards Rosie, but he knew how to fix it. He needed to show her that he wasn’t like that two-timing swine. He might be divorced—just like Julian was. He might have one child—Julian had three. But, unlike Julian, he was trustworthy and wanted to be a part of his daughter’s life. Julian had written off his children years ago.
There was also the problem that Rosie felt uncomfortable around children. He frowned, unsure whether he should be concerned about that. There was obviously a reason why Rosie was like this.
How could Reg have let his daughter grow up without playing with other kids? And what had happened to her mother? All he knew about Reg was that he had been divorced, never spoke about his ex-wife and had one child. Perhaps Rose’s parents’ divorce had emotionally scarred her in some way.
There were too many unanswered questions and it intrigued him more. A primitive protective urge came over him when he thought about Rosie. He’d helped her through food poisoning—and she’d let him. He’d helped her with her mild claustrophobia—and she’d let him. He’d helped her with the possum—and she’d let him. Yet for all that, she was still a woman who could stand on her own two feet and she’d proved that by the way she’d come through each of those situations. Everyone needed help at some point in their lives and it was refreshing to find that Rosie wasn’t adverse to allowing others to help her.
Would she let him help her relax around children?
Rose finally threw back the bedcovers in disgust and headed to the shower as the clock ticked over to six a.m. What was the point of lying in bed any longer when she’d only been pretending to sleep?
She sighed as she stepped into the shower stall and turned her face up to the spray, hoping the soothing warm water would do something to relax her. ‘Not good, waking up this agitated,’ she mumbled to herself. She’d thought that after those wonderful kisses from Dave she might have managed a better night’s sleep. ‘And then he phoned.’ Rose shook her head.
She had mixed emotions about the news of Julian’s wedding. It was just so typical of him. He’d been married and divorced twice when she’d met him. Within t
wo months of them starting to date, he’d proposed and, like a complete idiot, she’d been swept away by his sophistication and charm and had instantly accepted.
Then she’d discovered the truth about him. He’d started criticising the way she’d dressed and the long hours she’d spent at the hospital. He’d also told her that once they were married, he expected her to give up her career and move if he needed to move.
Being in the computer business, he needed to be mobile, he’d told her. It was important to him to have a wife who’d make a good hostess, and with her classic looks and poise, he’d decided she fitted the bill.
‘He won’t be faithful to you,’ his first wife had told her and the second wife had confirmed. When Julian had made excuses about working late and cancelling their dinner reservations, she’d begun to suspect. Her suspicions had been confirmed when she’d followed him one evening and found he’d been meeting another woman—a woman she’d discovered was called Margaret.
When Rose had next spoken to his first wife, she’d confirmed that Margaret was a long-standing favourite of Julian’s and that, regardless of who he’d been married to, Margaret had always been in the wings.
Now Rose discovered that this Margaret woman was Dave’s ex-wife! He’d implied that she’d cheated on him—obviously with Julian. She shook her head, snapping herself out of the thoughts that had been spinning around all night long, and reached for the shampoo.
‘Work. Concentrate on work. Julian is out of your life. You’ve moved on. Dave is nice. Dave likes you and Dave appears to be honest.’ Rose washed her hair vigorously, speaking her thoughts out loud. ‘Dave is also divorced and the father of one. You shouldn’t get involved with him. He’s all wrong for you. Then again, what man is really honest? Do they even exist?’ She only knew one man who was honest and he’d been duped himself by a dishonest woman. ‘Seems to work both ways, Dad,’ she told the shower wall, and sighed heavily.
Dave had a child. This was something Rose hadn’t counted on. She’d always wondered whether she was like her mother deep down inside—her mother who’d abandoned her father and herself. Rose had been just over three years old when her mother had left and when she’d questioned her father about it later, he’d said that her mother’s excuse had been that she ‘wasn’t the maternal type’.