“That too,” Colin agree casually, before the two of them burst into laughter. It died down after a little while and the two were left in silence, facing one another.
“So, uh. I guess this is it then.” Mack tried to be casual about it, she really did. But her constantly shifting feet and nervous finger twiddling gave her away. She wanted to say the three words, she did. But they got stuck in her throat, wedged like a hard block of dry sawdust.
“You’d think I’d get better at this over time,” she laughed miserably at herself. “Figured after having said goodbye so many times this one would be a little less painful.” Mack looked up at Colin, shrugging with a watery smile.
“Wish it did,” he said affectionately, tenderly. “But it doesn’t have to be goodbye. Not if you don’t want it to be.”
Now Mack looked at him in earnest, bewildered expression on her face. “What do you mean?”
Colin laughed a little at her expression. “I’m not leaving.”
“You’re not… you’re not?” Mack was struggling to piece together this information, staring at him with stunned eyes and a confused look. She furrowed her brows. “But your parents? And moving back to Europe? And your–” She choked on her word, but managed to get it out. “Your fiancée?”
Colin twisted his lips into a bittersweet smile. “I’m not going back. At least, not for now,” he admitted, bringing a hand up to rub the back of his neck. “I told my parents I wanted to stay out here for a little while more, see how things pan out in the long run.”
Mack nodded, but clearly couldn’t quite follow him. “And,” he heaved a large sigh, “Brianna.” Her attention was on him now; she hung onto his every word.
“Brianna,” he started again, much slower this time, “is a wonderful woman. But she’s not the woman for me.”
Mack raised a brow at his words. “And your parents?”
“They weren’t happy,” he confessed with a short, dry laugh. “But I think some part of them understood.”
She nodded again at his words, and though she kept her customary solemn face, he could see the twinkle of happiness dancing around in her eyes. “So they let me stay,” he shrugged his shoulders. “The stock they packed up is being returned, and there is some new stock arriving soon too. What more do you want to know?”
“You’re allowed to stay? And to keep up your parents’ trade shop?”
Colin nodded in response to her questions.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know; I’ll have to see how business goes,” Colin told her. “But,” he added, “I can always find something new to pick up.”
Mack nodded slowly, still digesting the information she’d just received. “So you’re planning on staying around for a bit longer, then?” she said, reiterating. The words were drawn out and slow, each one of them emphasized.
“Yes.” Colin threw his hands up in exasperation. “How many times are you going to ask?”
Mack laughed at his impatience. “Enough times to make sure you’re actually going to stay.” Colin planted his hands firmly on her shoulders, drawing her closer to him as he did so.
He gazed earnestly into her eyes, brown eyes meeting gray. “Moonshine Mackenzie, I am here to stay.”
She laughed delightedly at his statement, particularly at his use of her name, and tilted her head slightly to the side. “Are you, Colin? Are you?”
“Yes,” he repeated.
She moved in closer to him, bringing her hand up to rest over his bullet wound, eyes flitting briefly to rest on it. Colin watched her, saying nothing before Mack tiptoed up to wrap her arms around his neck and draw him in even closer. She looked him straight in the eye before pressing her lips to his for the briefest of kisses.
“That’s a promise, Colin Hayes.”
“I promise.”
THE END
Bonus Story 7 of 20
Escape to Paradise
Victoria Martin was deep in thought as she arranged a colorful array of assorted flowers into a tall cylinder glass vase. This beautiful bunch of fragrant floral stems had just been hand delivered by the local shop. There was a card attached to them with a hand written note inside saying, Happy Anniversary, my sweetheart. I have booked dinner at Alberto’s Restaurant tonight. Be ready by eight.
Your ever-loving husband, Tom.
Victoria smiled, thinking back on her fifteen-year marriage. She and Tom had always been blissfully happy. They were the envy of all their friends, who teased them about having a marriage made in heaven, and who also wondered what their secret was.
“I think it’s because we were madly in love when we met, and we have worked hard at keeping the romance alive. I feel like we’re still dating,” Victoria had told their best friends, Dan and Natasha Kingsley at dinner one night. “And of course, we’ve been blessed with Katie.”
Katie was Tom and Victoria’s delightful eight-year-old daughter who was conceived after years of trying to start a family. Unfortunately, Victoria was told by her doctor that it was unlikely she would ever conceive again due to a condition called adenomyosis. And she never did manage to fall pregnant after Katie was born.
Today was their fifteenth wedding anniversary. Yet it felt like only yesterday that Victoria had walked down the aisle of that quaint, country church six kilometers out of their home town of Waycross, Georgia. The old Ruskin Church was built in 1895 in the Victorian style of architecture, complete with ornate and intricate details. The interior of the church had a curved ceiling giving it a sense of openness, and internal columns to help support the huge steeple and belfry.
Victoria remembered with nostalgia the cream lace dress she had worn that day with a long, netted veil, adorned with flower petals. How time had flown since then, and right now it was time to move on and shower and dress for the anniversary dinner. Katie was being picked up by the Kingsleys for a weekend sleepover at their house. Dan and Natasha Kingsley were lucky to have had four children, the youngest of who was Katie’s best friend, Miranda.
Tom arrive home at seven thirty leaving himself barely enough time to shower and dress into a freshly ironed blue and white checked shirt and stylish denim trousers. Although it was casual dress and dining at Alberto’s, Victoria had decided to wear a very well-fitting black dress with diamante studded straps over the shoulders, and silver sandals to complete the look. She swept her long, jet black hair up into a smart up-style fastened at the back with a silver studded black comb. Her slim figure was accentuated by the clingy dress, which was knee-length, allowing her to show off her toned calves and slim ankles.
“You look beautiful, Victoria,” Tom said, as they made their way to Tom’s sleek sports car parked out the front.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Tom,” Victoria replied as he placed a sweet and gentle kiss on her forehead. Tom had aged well, and at thirty-five looked almost as young as he did when he was twenty and getting married.
The restaurant was a twenty minute drove from their house and already at eight o’clock the parking lot was almost full. Alberto’s was always busy as it was considered to be one of the best Italian Restaurants in the area, famous for its homemade pastas and traditional, authentic sauces.
“Thank goodness you made a reservation, Tom. Otherwise we may not have been able to get a table.”
“You know I always think of everything, my love. Especially on a day as special as this one.”
Tom looked at her with adoration in his eyes. The minute he had laid eyes on her sixteen years ago, he’d never stopped loving her. Taking her hand tenderly in his, he led her inside to where the atmosphere was bustling with activity. People were chatting and eating and being attended by waiters in white shirts and black trousers and red cotton towels over their arm.
“Welcome to Alberto’s,” said Sammy, the owner. “So nice to have you visit us again, and so soon.”
“You know we love this place, Sammy,” Tom said shaking his hand vigorously.
“Right, come this
way. I have reserved Table eight for you, right by the window.”
“Thank you,” said Tom. “Can we start with two mocktails and water? Oh, and some of that amazing garlic bread of yours.”
“Of course, pronto,” he said as he seated them and handed them the menu.
“We have a few specials tonight, such as Chicken Cacciatore and Braised Rabbit Parpadelle, and there are some new pasta dishes on the menu.”
“Thanks, Sammy, we’ll check that out,” said Tom, leaning more towards the rabbit than a pasta dish.
“I think I’ll be happy with a chicken cacciatore, and maybe followed by a chocolate, nougat and pistachio ice-cream after. No, hang on, I’ve just changed my mind. I just noticed a new dish here …a fig and prosciutto pizza. How amazing is that?”
“Women! You can never make up your mind, can you?” Tom said, laughing. “And, yes, that pizza does sound amazing. I’ll have to try a little bite of yours.”
“Only if I can try a little of your rabbit pappardelle, whatever that is,” Victoria responded. “And by the way, I don’t always change my mind. I married you, remember?”
“From memory, I don’t think there was much to choose from in those days. And besides I was the best-looking bloke around for miles!”
“And the most cocky!” Victoria teased.
“Yes, well confidence can be a blessing. And I believe that you’re not lacking in the confidence department either.”
It turned out to be an enjoyable night, complete with a serenade from the Italian trio of entertainers who sang The Anniversary Song, especially for them. But even the excellent food and the music could not surpass the surprise that Tom had planned for Victoria that night. As she finished off her last mouthful of dessert, Tom put his hands in his pocket and placed a gift wrapped box on the table.
“Fifteen years of marriage has only made me fall more and more in love with you Victoria. I saw this in Bensen’s Jewelry Store last week, and I just knew I had to give it to you.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears as she opened the gift so beautifully wrapped and tied with pink silk ribbons.
Inside was a twenty two carat gold chain holding a small gold cross embedded with tiny diamonds. Victoria immediately put it on.
“Oh, Tom,” she gasped. “It’s beautiful. I’ll never take this off, Tom, never,” she swore as they left the restaurant.
A light rain had started to fall as they drove out of the parking lot. The road home was full of traffic rushing to get home before a possible storm hit.
Suddenly there was a screeching of brakes. Tom tried to avoid an oncoming truck. What was it doing in their lane? The last thing Victoria remembered was the sound of her own screaming!
*****
Victoria was struggling to escape from the fogginess enveloping her brain. “Where am I?” she muttered. Her voice sounded hoarse and weak. “Tom, Tom, where are you?”
An unfamiliar voice said, “It’s alright, dear, you’re in the hospital. Try to relax. You need to rest.”
As she finally managed to open her eyes, Victoria met the gaze of a kind, middle-aged woman in a nurse’s uniform.
“You’re at the hospital,” the nurse said. “You’ve been asleep for a few days. Now try to be still. You have a few injuries. Do you have any pain?”
As Victoria gradually regained awareness and consciousness, she began to feel sharp stabs of pain running throughout her entire body.
“My head hurts. And my legs, oh my legs,” she groaned.
“Okay, so that means we’ll have to increase the dose of painkillers in your drip. Just to make you more comfortable.”
“What happened? Where’s Tom?” Victoria whimpered, trying to remember why she was here in hospital.
“There was a car accident. I’m afraid you sustained a nasty head injury and your left leg was fractured in two places. You also have a lot of bruising and a few cuts to your lower back.”
“But where’s Tom?” Victoria repeated, feeling as though she wanted to scream, but couldn’t.
“Doctor is on his way. He’ll tell you what happened to Tom. In the meantime we need to keep you still and relaxed. We also have some visitors waiting in the hall to see you as soon as you’re able to cope with that.”
“Who is it?” asked Victoria, suddenly realizing that Katie had been staying at Dan and Natasha’s home on the night of the accident.
“It’s your friends, Dan Kingsley and his wife, and your daughter Katie. They are very eager to see you, but first here’s the doctor to see you.”
Victoria saw a clean-cut elderly man approach her with a few more nurses accompanying him. From the look on his face, she already knew what he was going to say.
“I’m afraid that we lost your husband. He died on impact. There was no pain. . I’m so sorry.”
And then she sank into the blackness once more.
***
When she awoke it was morning, and the breakfast trays were being handed out in the ward. The smell of toast and coffee permeated the air, but the last thing Victoria wanted was breakfast. All she wanted was Tom. Tom, Tom, oh God, Tom. Please God, please let this be a bad dream.
But on seeing Natasha and Katie arrive by her bedside, it dawned on Victoria that this was not a bad dream. It was very real.
“Mommy, Mommy,” Katie was crying, as she tried to hug Victoria gently without making her groan in pain. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, Katie,” Victoria whispered, still weak with underlying pain and the impact of the accident. “There, there, don’t cry. Mommy will get better soon.”
She stroked Katie’s hair as Natasha tried to suppress her own tears of grief. “I’m so sorry about Tom, Victoria. Dan has been beside himself with worry. He’s called your parents, and they should be here later today to see you. They are coming as soon as they can get a flight from Florida.”
“Thank you so much, Tash. I really need my Mom right now.”
“Here, you should try to eat something,” Natasha said, moving the breakfast tray over her bed. “Look, just have a nibble of this toast. Would you like some jam on it?”
“I can’t eat, Tash. But I will try some of that coffee.”
It was lunchtime by the time that Victoria’s parents arrived. Natasha and Katie had stayed by Victoria’s bedside, watching her peacefully sleep for a few hours during the morning.
“Grandpa! Grandma!” Katie exclaimed excitedly as Grandpa picked her up in his strong arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Victoria awoke from all the commotion. It suddenly dawned on her that Tom was really gone, and that nothing could bring him back. Tears of grief and anger overwhelmed her as her mother sat down on the bed to comfort her.
“Oh, Mom, Mom, Tom’s gone forever. I’ll never see him again.” Large sobs racked her body at the thought of what lay ahead for her and Katie.
Her mother stroked her hair as she quietly said, “Don’t worry about anything, Victoria. You have all of us here to love you and take care of you and Katie.”
“When can I go home?” Victoria wailed, wanting nothing more than the comfort of her own bed, rather than the sterile atmosphere of the hospital ward.
“Well, we spoke to the doctor, and he said you would have to stay another week. And then you’ll need crutches to walk on until they take that plaster off in about six weeks’ time. Dad and I will stay with you until then, or longer if you need us.”
“Thanks, Mom. I do need you, all of you. But what about Tom’s funeral? When is the funeral? I need to say goodbye.”
“We’ve organized all of that. The funeral is in a few days. We’ll come and pick you up for the service, and then you need to come back here for a little longer after that.”
Victoria nodded allowing the reality of Tom’s death to sink in. It was then that she remembered the cross he had given her, the one she had promised to never take off. Reaching for her neck, she felt it in her hands. It was the last gift he had ever given her. I will never ever t
ake this off Tom, never ever.
*****
It took Victoria almost five years to work through the grief, pain, and loss of losing Tom. Katie grieved with her, but together they became more closely connected through their pain. The church that they had belonged to when Tom was alive rallied around to support them, and Victoria found comfort in doing some voluntary work in the church Op Shop.
Life had changed dramatically during those years. Victoria’s parents had stayed with them for six months after Tom’s death. And then a few months ago, the Kingsleys had moved to Australia to live in a place called Surfers Paradise in Queensland. Natasha had written to say how beautiful it was living in the Sunshine State, and that she would love for her and Katie to visit. Come and escape to Paradise, she had teased in her last letter.
“What do you think about going for a holiday to Australia?” Victoria asked Katie one day in winter, thinking of how warm and sunny it would be over there right now.
Katie’s eyes said it all. At thirteen, she had grown into a very adventurous spirit, full of curiosity about the world and her place in it. “Oh, Mom, that would be so awesome. Miranda loves it over there, and she’s almost been begging me to come and visit. She said the beaches are just out of this world with big waves, and she’s even learning how to ride a surfboard.”
“Hmm, that sounds like fun. Maybe we should get out of this cold weather and go for a holiday. You know, we haven’t really been anywhere since Tom died.”
“I know, Mom, but you’ve been too sad to do anything.”
“I know, Katie. We’ve both been sad. But I think it’s time we got happy. Tom would have wanted us to be happy.”
Katie nodded, remembering her fun loving father with affection. “Dad loved being happy, Mom. Remember how he was always joking around and playing tricks on us. He was so funny, Mom.”
Victoria remembered Tom and his infectious laughter, and his great looks which Katie had inherited. Tom had light sandy colored hair and bright blue eyes, just like Katie. Every time she looked at her daughter, Victoria saw Tom. They were so alike in many ways.
Sunlight and Shadows Page 22