by Iris Blobel
“Dad, why did Mother take me with her?” He closed the photo album and leaned back into the chair. “I don’t want to complain, because I know she did the best she was able to, but we both know she wasn’t the mother of the year.”
The old man took a couple of moments to reply. His gaze lingering on the water, he leaned back as well. And then he closed his eyes, speaking quietly. “She was never happy here when it’d always been a matter of time for her to leave. But why she took you? Only God knows. She broke my heart that day. She broke a grown man.”
Connor blinked a couple of times, but didn’t fight the tears. “Why don’t you take the medicine, Dad?”
Jack took a deep breath. “I’m old and tired. I’ve got you here. It’s the last chapter, and the story needs to finish somewhere.” He opened his eyes and took Connor’s hand. “It’s the right way. I’ve told you many things I always wanted to tell you. I missed out on many, many days in my and your life I wanted to share with you. Medicine doesn’t bring that back. When I go, I go with the knowledge that after all these years I found you and you’re here with me.”
The conversation with Jack left Connor emotionally raw and exhausted. Ignoring the tears falling, he looked at his dad. All these years he’d had an empty part in him and had never realised it. His life in Fermosa Bay had been short compared to his thirty years on this earth, but he’d never known anything about it. God damn, he hadn’t even known it’d existed. He knew that blaming his mother or anybody wouldn’t make him feel better, wouldn’t bring back the lost time. It was what it was and he had to try to take it as that.
When he’d boarded the plane a few weeks earlier, he’d wondered about Jack, never expecting such an old father, especially not with a demanding mother like his. There’d been a few other odd thoughts tumbling around his head, like Jack asking for money, which he’d tossed aside very quickly because after all, he’d spent all this money finding him. He’d expected Jack to go on a rampage to discredit Connor’s mother. But most of all, he’d expected a bitter old man.
But Jack had surprised him in more than one way. He’d worked hard to build his business. Worked hard to help others, not letting close friends of any age fall through the gaps. But most of all, the rampage to shame Connor’s mother never came. He’d spoken of his love for her, his broken heart, and disappointment, but never said a bad word about her. If it had been close to bad, it had probably been close to the truth.
“Thanks for the Christmas present, Dad. I’d say it’s the best present I’ve ever received.”
Jack let out a little chuckle. “Except for the boogie board.” He shook his head. “Had to take it into the bath as well, pretending you were the biggest surfer on this earth.”
Connor’s mouth quirked as he brushed away his tears. “I’m really glad it’s in good hands nowadays.”
His father nodded. “It is. World champion surfer number two.”
Connor laughed as he imagined little Nick surfing the waves. He checked the time. “When are we supposed to be where?”
Jack nodded, his thoughts obviously still somewhere else. A smiled tugged on Connor’s lips as he pulled out his phone texted Ethan for information, leaving his father with his thoughts.
***
Emily gave her mother a hug. “Thanks for lunch.” Then she turned to her dad. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”
“Merry Christmas, darling. And thanks for your present. Are you going to have dinner at Sabrina’s?”
She nodded with a laugh. “I don’t think I’m going to do much eating, but more socialising.”
“Will Connor be there?” her mother asked.
“Of course, he’ll be there. Jack always comes to Sabrina’s Christmas Day dinners, so I’m sure Connor will be there as well.”
Her father placed a kiss on her forehead. “You’ll have fun. Say hello to Jack, and tell him I miss him at the bar.”
“You could go and visit him?”
Miles sucked his lips between his teeth and nodded. “Yes, I should.”
Emily took her bag and placed it on her shoulder. “I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve.”
Twenty minutes later, she arrived at Sabrina’s house. She recognised a few cars and knew Ethan and Niall’s parents were here already. The front door was open, so she went straight inside. The house smelled good from food being prepared in the kitchen. Sabrina had given up on the traditional roast years ago and nowadays it was a big barbeque in the backyard and a choice of many salads as well as some side dishes. A decorated Christmas tree was in the far corner of the living room with a generous amount of gifts beneath.
Emily said hello to everyone and gave Ethan and Nick a hug before she placed her presents next to all the others. Sabrina shouted hello from the kitchen, and Emily followed the voice to give her older friend a hug as well.
“Hello, darling. How are you?”
“Merry Christmas, Rina. I’m not the first one, am I?”
Sabrina shook her head. “No. Sean is outside entertaining his son and daughter-in-law—”
Emily let out a little snort. “Your son has a name, Rina.”
The elder woman rolled her eyes and with an exaggerated tone in her voice, she repeated, “My wonderful husband, Sean, is entertaining our son and father of Niall, Tony, and my daughter-in-law, Ann-Marie—”
Emily held up her hand. “I get the point. Niall’s not here, yet?”
With a slight laugh, Niall’s grandmother replied, “Niall? Nah. He’s always the last to arrive, you know that. But Jack and Connor aren’t here, yet, either.”
“Oh.”
Sabrina placed a hand on Emily’s cheek. “He’ll be here soon.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks and not because of Sabrina’s hand. She wasn’t sure why she’d let out a sound of disappointment. After all, Jack had never missed the Christmas dinner at Sabrina and Sean’s. It’d been a highlight of this season for everyone.
“Where’s Grandpa Jack?”
Emily shot around and almost bumped into Nick. “I don’t know.”
With his arms across his chest, the little boy said in a stern voice, “Uncle Niall’s late as well.”
She tried her hardest to hold back a smile. “How dare they?”
With a raised brow, the boy stared at her. “Are you mocking me?”
A soft gasp escaped her. “Me? I wouldn’t dare.”
Ethan stepped closer. “They’ll be here soon. How about we help Sabrina by setting the table outside?”
“Do I have to?”
Ethan smiled at his son. “No you don’t, but it’d be good manners to help.”
With a heavy sigh, Nick nodded. “Okay then. Let’s get it over and done with.”
Sabrina laughed as she grabbed the cutlery out of the drawer. “Like father, like son.”
Emily turned and saw Ethan roll his eyes. A comment lay on the tip of her tongue, but she thought better and swallowed it. Then she followed a few of Sabrina’s instructions and helped out.
While getting everything organised outside, she caught up with Ethan, but also Sean, and Niall’s parents.
It didn’t take long until the doorbell rang, and Nick raced to open it. Even at the other end of the house, Emily knew straight away who’d arrived. Jack’s deep voice boomed through the hall, and Nick’s excitement to see Connor echoed through the house as well. A small tingle went up her spine when she heard Connor’s voice. She looked forward to spending a Christmas with him. A smile tugged at her lips when she saw him. Heat rushed through her when he smiled back. And when he placed a kiss on her cheek wishing her a Merry Christmas, she had to lock her knees.
“Emmy, darling. Sorry, we’re late. But we had a wonderful afternoon looking at old photos and got a bit carried away.”
Sabrina’s voice out of the kitchen made them turn towards the door. “Oh, that sounds like a delightful way to spend Christmas Day.” Then she appeared in the door. “We should have both of you over one day. There are boxes of old photos in the stu
dy somewhere.”
Connor nodded. “Only if you’re prepared to see a grown man cry.”
Sabrina stepped closer and looped an arm through Jack’s. “Jack wouldn’t cry, would he?” she replied with a wink.
Connor choked back a laugh, but didn’t reply.
“As for you,” Sabrina added, pointing her finger at Connor. “I wiped your bum, I helped you getting potty trained, and did my hardest to make you eat with a knife and fork. A few tears won’t worry me.”
Everyone laughed, including Connor, who took it with good humour. “So I’ve heard. Apparently I owe you at least a dozen thank yous.”
“You can thank me by helping to get this crowd to the table outside so we can start eating.”
Connor nodded. “Consider it done.”
The afternoon and evening flew by fast. They all enjoyed their presents, the barbeque in the backyard, and the few carols they sang while Niall played the guitar. It was one of the best Christmases Emily had ever had and looking at Connor, she assumed the same applied for him as well. In the few weeks he’d been in Fermosa she hadn’t seen him so relaxed and chatty. And it couldn’t have been just the drinks, because what she’d noticed was that he wasn’t big on drinking alcohol. He stuck to his soft drinks or juices most of the time.
Little Nick was the centre of attention most of the afternoon, though, with all his fancy presents and another load of questions for Connor. His curiosity was limitless, but everybody else enjoyed finding out a little bit about their old friend as well.
“You do know we’ll beat you tomorrow at the cricket game, don’t you?” Nick said.
Connor raised a brow. “Mate,” he said, trying to put on the worst Australian accent. “I am Australian by birth, so I have and always will barrack for the Aussie team.”
Nick’s eyes were wide open and then he burst into laughter, leaving Connor with a more surprised expression on his face.
“That was about the worst Australian accent I’ve ever heard,” the boy said in-between his laughter. “Dad, go tell him how bad it was.”
Connor tried to look wounded, struggling hard to hold back his smile.
“Yeah, bad,” Ethan added.
“Worst ever,” Niall agreed.
Then they all stared at Emily waiting for her to say something as well. She looked at Connor, his eyes telling her she was walking on thin ice. “I thought it was cute.”
A combined aww by everyone made her blush as Connor placed his arm around her, pulled her closer, and placed a kiss on her forehead. “That’s my girl,” he said.
It was about the best present he could’ve given her. His show of their young relationship in front of everyone. She blinked a couple of times to hold back the tears of joy and for a moment the voices became distant as she turned to look at him. His eyes full of joy and happiness. A smile, so full of honesty and sincerity, spread across his face. Emily couldn’t believe how much she’d fallen for him, but moments like this made her want to spend the rest of her life with him and although she knew it might not be what the future held for them, she would most definitely make the most of it. And after all, perhaps she’d love him so much in twelve months, she might be prepared to move with him to London.
London? Did she seriously have that thought just then? Trying hard to catch her breath, she was so taken aback that she hardly noticed Connor’s quick kiss.
“Emily.”
Turning towards Jack, she stared at him, having missed the last part of their conversation.
“I said, he’s got you wrapped around his finger already,” Jack repeated.
Smiling, she shook her head. “Not even close.”
“So you’re going to be on his team or ours?” Niall asked as he picked up his beer for another sip.
Team? Oh boy, she must’ve been carried away with her thoughts completely, as she had no idea what he was talking about. “I have to think about that,” she said, hoping it would get her out of the deep water.
“Thinking about it?” Connor asked with a frown. “Emily’s on our team. Jack as well.”
“Me?” the old man asked with brows up into his forehead.
“Yes. The dream team against…”
Ethan laughed. “The real team?”
“We’ll show you how to play cricket.”
“No offense, mate. But you’ve got the best player on your team, who’s unfortunately a bit handicapped.” Niall nodded towards Jack. “And Emily who’s more or less useless with a cricket bat.”
“Hey!” Emily protested.
“You are,” Ethan agreed.
“I’ll play with Emily, and Sean will help Jack.”
Emily sat back with a smile, listening to the discussions and organisation of the beach cricket game the following day. The teams got bigger, along with the enthusiasm. Friends and neighbours were invited via phone and by the end of the night, they’d planned a game with two teams of six players. Although she was worried about making a fool of herself, Emily was looking forward to it.
Chapter Nine
Connor tried to focus. Emily’s back was right against his body, with his arm draped over her chest. A look over to the window told him that the sun was about to break on the horizon. It couldn’t have been later than five-thirty in the morning. A buzzing noise caught his attention, and he realised that was what had woken him. His phone was vibrating on the bedside table, and he cursed for not switching it off. He was tired after spending most of the previous day at the beach, trying his hardest to impress everyone with his cricket prowess, but there was a massive difference in playing cricket on the sports oval to playing on the beach, during the Australian summer, running in sand, and being distracted by Emily’s constant laughter. But most of all, her sexy body. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her as she did her best to play along in her tight shorts and tank top, her red curly hair done up in a ponytail.
The phone buzzed again, and he reached over to figure out the ID. It was an English number, and he decided he wasn’t in the mood to talk to anybody back home and rejected the call. Emily stirred, and he was quick to move her back into his arms. They’d made love a couple of times last night, touching and exploring each other’s bodies. He hadn’t been able to get enough of her. The sounds of the little moans, touching her soft skin, and seeing her smile.
Placing a small kiss on the top of her head, he closed his eyes when his phone went off again. He cursed as he reached over, grabbed it, and hissed, “What?”
“Connor?” a female voice asked hesitantly.
His eyes shot open at the sound of the voice. “Yes?”
“It’s Harriet here.”
Shit!
Emily stirred again, snuggling closer into him. He thought about leaving the room, but decided to stay.
Harriet was the last person he wanted to talk to now. Or ever for that matter.
They’d met a few years ago, walking past each other in the firm. It hadn’t taken long for her to make the first step and involve him in a conversation. He’d liked her. She looked sexy with her Indian background, beautiful olive skin, shiny black hair, dark brown eyes, and lips made to be kissed. They were a couple soon afterwards, and Harriet enjoyed their relationship more than he ever had. She loved the social circles Connor’s parents introduced her to. Thinking it was the ideal relationship, Connor was contemplating asking her to marry him. Although, thinking about it now, he wondered whether Duncan’s constant remarks influenced him more than he actually wanted to admit.
Her voice hauled her back from his thoughts. “Connor.”
“What do you want?” he asked through gritted teeth.
There was a moment of silence, and Connor wondered whether the line was disconnected, but he wasn’t that lucky.
“I need a lift,” she finally said.
“Are you drunk?” he asked, his voice louder than he intended to.
Emily woke and looked up at him, sleep still in her eyes. God, she looked sexy, naked in his bed. Her hair tousled f
rom sleep and her eyes still dreamy.
“Connor!”
Harriet’s shrill voice reminded him that she was still on the other end of the line.
“Still here,” he said, not able to hold back his annoyance.
“I’m in Melbourne. I need a lift to your place. I—”
“You what?” He nearly shouted. Emily flinched, and he mouthed sorry before sitting up, aware Emily hung on every word he was about to say.
Harriet let out a long sigh, which went right through him, leaving him with the urge to hang up.
“I’m in Melbourne,” she repeated. “I am tired and desperate for a shower.”
“I will give you one very good piece of advice, Harriet. Take the next flight back to London. Do I make myself clear?”
Emily sat up next to him, eyes filled with worry and curiosity. He took her hand and laced his fingers with hers.
“Honey, I’ve come all the way—”
“Don’t you honey me,” he said with some scorn in his voice.
And hung up. Closing his eyes, he took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. Without saying a word, Emily moved her hands up and down his back. He appreciated her gesture. He appreciated her. When her lips touched his, he opened his eyes.
“I love you,” he whispered, surprised by his own words, yet more surprised when she remained silent, but placed a finger on his lips.
“Where is she?” she finally asked.
He blinked a couple of times, blinking away his confusion. Confused by his sudden outburst of love, he hadn’t thought to say the words. They were simply spoken of their own accord. But to hear them, he realised that although unintentionally said, he knew they were true and straight from his heart. Focussing on her, he suddenly comprehended that he’d just told her he loved her, and she was more interested in Harriet.
“Beg yours?”
“That was your girl from back home, right?”
He nodded.
“Where is she?”
“Melbourne.”
“Is she coming here?”