‘You’ve been married for years, Joseph, together for longer. It’s reasonable of me to want grandbabies.’
‘I’ve lost count of how many grandbabies you have,’ Joe scoffed.
‘You were such a beautiful baby, Joseph.’ Lucinda dared to peer around the wall and saw Rosa leaning forward and cupping Joe’s jaw in her hand. ‘Don’t tell me you don’t want children?’
Joe pulled away and Lucinda snapped back into her hiding place. ‘Of course I want children,’ he all but growled at his mother. ‘And so does Lucinda. But how do you think she feels every time you ask her if she’s pregnant yet or every time you buy us something for the nursery?’
‘I … um …’ Miracles did happen, Rosa appeared to be lost for words.
‘We are trying to have a family, Mamma—’ Joe’s tone was only slightly softer ‘—but it looks like we might have … fertility problems.’
‘Pah,’ Rosa spat. Lucinda should have known that nothing would make her back down. She didn’t have a heart after all. ‘Mannolinis have never had problems making babies. I’ve always said that Lucia is far too skinny. She doesn’t have child-bearing hips. If there’s a problem, I tell you it’ll be with her.’
Lucinda’s eyes prickled with tears and she gripped her stomach as if someone had kicked her there. The wet clothes in her arms tumbled onto the polished tiles. What if Rosa was right?
‘I love you, Mamma,’ Joe said, and now there was real anger in his voice, ‘but don’t you ever speak about my wife like that again. I mean it. If you hurt her, you’ll lose me because I will choose her over you every time. And it’s Lucinda, not Lucia.’
Lucinda gasped, shocked by his words, and then snapped her hand over her mouth, hoping neither of them had heard her. No such luck. She heard Joe’s bare feet slap across the tiles and seconds later he appeared around the corner. He opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
‘I’m sorry you had to hear that, baby.’
‘I’m not,’ she said, sniffling into his already wet t-shirt. ‘Thank you.’ It was the first time Lucinda could remember Joe standing up to his mother—standing up for her—and it made her feel closer to him than ever. She squeezed him tight, never wanting to let go.
He must have mistaken her clinginess for distress because he pulled back slightly and whispered, ‘Let’s go home. We’ll go get take-out and watch the sky show on the TV later.’
As appealing as curling up on the couch with Joe and her favourite Thai takeaway was, she wouldn’t allow Rosa to ruin her night. She wanted to hang out with the rest of Joe’s family and watch the fireworks over the Swan River from their vantage spot on his parents’ balcony. She wanted to see the expressions of glee on her nieces and nephews’ faces and for once just appreciate what she had, rather than dwell on what she wanted.
‘No, let’s stay,’ she said.
‘You sure?’
She nodded and took his hand. ‘But let’s get you out of those wet clothes first.’
Still holding his hand, she leant down to scoop her wet things up into her arms and led him back into the bathroom. Not caring that this was his mother’s place—or maybe because it was— she turned on the taps in the shower and stepped inside.
‘Come here big boy.’
Grinning, Joe tugged his t-shirt over his head, ripped off his shorts and jocks and joined her.
Chapter Twenty-two
Charlie was sitting in front of the computer and scrolling through online linen sites with Mrs Sampson when Mitch swaggered into the reception area and demanded the presence of her company for Australia Day lunch on his brother’s farm. She hadn’t even realised it was Australia Day. Since being back home at the motel and spending all her spare time painting, she barely knew one day from another.
‘Can’t you see I’m busy?’ She feigned annoyance as she gestured to the screen.
He leaned over the desk, so close she got an unnerving waft of whatever body wash he’d used that morning. ‘You’re going to turn down an afternoon out in the sun, hanging out with me, Kate and Macca for what? Online shopping?’
Mrs Sampson giggled. Although she was old enough to be Mitch’s mother, she wasn’t immune to his charm.
Charlie shot her a glare. ‘This is important. Now we’ve finished a few of the rooms, I want to at least replace the bedding and curtains.’
Looking blank, Mitch shook his head. ‘I’m happy to talk paint colours and what kind of fertiliser to use in the garden beds, but I draw the line at bedding. Next you’ll be asking me about throw cushions.’
Charlie tried not to smirk. ‘No one asked for your opinion, Mitchell.’
He straightened and then grinned his cocky, the-world-is-my-oyster smile. ‘That’s right, they didn’t. Well, phew.’ He theatrically wiped a hand across his brow. ‘You coming for a beer and a barbie, then?’
Charlie opened her mouth to object. As much as seeing Kate and Macca and hanging out with Mitch sounded fun, she didn’t want to leave her dad alone tonight. Australia Day could swing both ways; they might be run off their feet by folks wanting a drink out, or everyone could choose to party at home. As if reading her mind, Mrs Sampson spoke before Charlie had the chance.
‘Go, have fun,’ she said, standing and making shooing movements with her hands. ‘I’ll hang around here in case things get busy. I’ve haven’t got any plans. Between me, Brian and Rob we’ll manage, I’m sure.’
Charlie lifted an eyebrow—Mrs Sampson had already done her shift for the day—but her old friend crossed her arms and glared right back. ‘You deserve a break as much as the rest of us, missy.’
‘Okay, okay, I know when I’m beat.’ She glanced down at her hands and grimaced. Straight after the breakfast service she’d gotten stuck into the painting again and her fingers and nails were filthy. The least she could do was try and scrub off some of the paint before she went out. ‘Give me ten minutes to get ready and I’m yours.’
‘The timer’s on,’ Mitch called as she opened the door that led into the adjoining house. She rolled her eyes and flipped him the bird.
It took twenty minutes to drive out to Kate and Macca’s farm, which was off the Eyre Highway as you headed towards the Nullarbor. Charlie and Mitch spent the whole time chatting in the way of old friends who always have something or other to say to one another. They talked about meaningless things, such as the rumours there was going to be another series of Big Brother this year, and both proclaimed their disgust at this possibility.
‘It went downhill after Gretel Killeen left I tell you,’ Mitch said, tapping along to the Paul Kelly album playing softly in the background.
‘The new host not hot enough for you?’
‘I wouldn’t even know who she is.’ Mitch chuckled and then moved onto something not quite so meaningless. ‘Speaking of women, do you reckon there’s something going on between your dad and Mrs S?’
‘What?’ Charlie straightened in her seat and turned her head to look at him. ‘Where did you get that idea?’
He shrugged. ‘They seem to get along well and hang out a bit. She jumped at the excuse to help him out tonight.’
Charlie frowned. She’d thought she was responsible for the improvement in her dad’s health and mood but what if it was because something was going on with their housekeeper? She didn’t know how she’d feel about that. ‘I don’t know … Maybe.’
‘Would it bother you?’
‘What? Dad finding someone else?’
‘Yeah.’
Her mum had barely been gone six months, so … ‘I haven’t really given it any thought, but I suppose I wouldn’t mind as long as he was happy. He and Mum were such a perfect couple that it’s just something I never contemplated. Did your dad ever date anyone after your parents broke up?’
Mitch shook his head. ‘If he did he kept it quiet from Macca and me. I think Mum burnt him pretty bad, but I kind of wish he had found someone. Everyone deserves that, don’t you reckon
?’
Mitch glanced over at her and for a second Charlie wondered if he was trying to tell her something. Her stomach twisted and her heart skipped a beat but then he turned back to the road. ‘We’re here.’
Charlie swallowed as they bumped along Kate and Macca’s long gravel driveway. By the time the house appeared in front of them, her emotions were almost under control. Had Mitch been trying to tell her something? Was he developing feelings for her too? Or was spending so much time together wreaking havoc with her common sense?
There were three vehicles parked out the front of the old but recently renovated farmhouse. A number of scooters, bicycles and other kid clutter littered across the dry lawn, but it was the vehicles that piqued Charlie’s interest. She recognised Kate’s four-wheel drive from the few times they’d run into each other in town, and the ute had to belong to Macca. The other car—a Holden wagon—was Lisa’s. ‘What’s Lisa doing here?’ she asked as Mitch pulled up alongside it.
He tugged the key out of the ignition and grinned at her. ‘She and Kate know each other from the Toy Library or something and when Lisa said she’d not seen you as much as she’d hoped, Kate invited them over as well. It’ll do you good to relax a bit.’
‘Them’ had to include Lisa’s husband, Tim, who was a local mechanic, and her two adorable little boys. Charlie hadn’t met Tim yet but she’d be glad to see Lisa. They’d met a couple of times for coffee but neither time had seemed long enough.
‘Oh, that’s great,’ she said, opening the door and climbing out.
Mitch went to the back tray of his ute and retrieved an esky, his arm muscles doing that arousing flexing thing as he did so.
Charlie averted her gaze. ‘Do you need any help?’
‘Nope. All good. Lead the way.’
Following the noise of children playing, she headed around the house to the backyard and found the four adults sitting around the pool and four children splashing in it. Lisa’s preschool-aged son was wearing a flotation device and the baby was asleep in her arms. Kate and Macca’s three older kids looked to be pro-swimmers already, and their baby was fast asleep in a rocker beside the adults.
Kate, Macca, Lisa and a blond-haired man Charlie guessed to be Tim all raised their hands and offered greetings. She waved back as Kate rose from where she’d been sitting with her legs dangling in the pool and rushed over to open the pool gate. ‘Come on in.’
‘Thanks for inviting me.’ Charlie hugged Kate, noticing her bikini and colourful sarong. ‘Mitch didn’t tell me you had a pool.’
‘Men.’ Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t worry, I have hundreds of pairs of bathers you can borrow.’
Charlie wasn’t sure she’d fit into Kate’s bathers—and she certainly wouldn’t look as good—but she accepted gratefully. ‘Thanks. That would be good.’
‘What would be good?’ Mitch asked. Having delivered the esky onto the verandah, he now held up two beers and offered one to Charlie.
Taking it, she enjoyed a long, satisfying sip before replying. ‘Kate’s lending me some bathers since you forget to tell me to bring them.’
‘You’re a big girl, Charles,’ he said, tossing her a fake-reproving look. ‘I can’t do everything for you. Of course, you could always swim in your underwear. Or skinny dip.’
She glared at him. ‘Go and make yourself useful and play with the kids or something.’
Kate laughed as he waltzed into the pool area, greeted the adults, dumped his beer on a plastic table, yanked off his t-shirt and then plunged into the pool to hassle his niece and nephews. Of course they loved it and Charlie heard their squeals of joy behind her as she followed Kate into the house, trying not to ponder the sight of a shirtless Mitch.
‘You two seem to be getting along very well,’ Kate noted, as she led Charlie into the laundry and opened a cupboard that overflowed with towels and swimwear.
Charlie didn’t know how to respond. Kate’s tone told her she thought something was going on between them and she hoped it wasn’t vibes she was giving off. She and Mitch had the friendship thing down pat but over the last few weeks, the attraction she’d previously managed to ignore had grown stronger and stronger and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.
Of course this realisation terrified her and the last thing she wanted was to admit it to his sister-in-law. What if it got back to him and he didn’t feel the same way? ‘Mitch gets along with everyone,’ she said, pretending she hadn’t understood Kate’s undertone. Then she grabbed a pair of bathers from the plastic tub Kate had pulled out. ‘These look great.’
Leaving no room for further interrogation, she turned and escaped into the toilet off the laundry. She closed the door behind her and called, ‘I’ll see you back out there.’
‘Okay.’
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Kate’s footsteps moving away. She plonked herself down on the toilet seat, needing a moment to collect her thoughts and emotions. She laid her head in her hands and let out a little cry of frustration but she couldn’t hide away in here all day. Sooner or later someone would come along and ask her if she were okay. Taking a deep breath, she took off her clothes and tried on the bright red one-piece. She wasn’t sure red was her colour but it would do. Folding her clothes into a pile, she left them in the laundry and grabbed a towel from the cupboard, wrapping it around her before heading back outside.
She’d just stepped off the edge of the verandah when she felt a presence behind her. Before she could turn to see who it was Mitch launched himself at her, scooping her up and throwing her over his shoulder.
‘What are you doing?’ she squealed, pummelling his back as he jogged towards the pool area.
‘Mitch!’ Kate used her stern mum voice as they approached.
‘Put her down!’ Lisa ordered. At least that’s what Charlie thought she said, but she was laughing so hard who could tell?
And no one was leaping to her rescue. In fact Tim was holding the gate open and the kids in the pool were chanting, ‘Go Uncle Mitch! Go Uncle Mitch!’
Despite not liking where this was heading, Charlie couldn’t help but notice how nice his back was. Smooth, hard, tanned and fabulous. She feared her light-headedness wasn’t from being upside down, but rather from being this close to Mitch. So close she could open her mouth and lick him if she wanted to.
Just when she thought he was about to hurl her into the water, he stopped and put her down on the hot paving. Her heart racing, she swallowed, disappointed that he hadn’t followed through. She’d needed the water to cool her errant libido.
‘You are a bastard, Mitch McDonald,’ she hissed, lifting her hands and pushing them against the hard wall of his chest. She caught him unawares and he stumbled backwards into the pool, cheers of delight erupting all around them.
‘Hah! Serves you right, little brother,’ Macca called, clapping his hands as Mitch spluttered to the surface. Tim and the women roared with laughter.
Charlie couldn’t quite believe what she’d done. That shove hadn’t been simply about getting him back for being a larrikin; it had contained all her anger and irritation at how he made her feel. She summoned a smile, laughing along with the others to try and cover this up.
Emerging from the water and running a hand through his wet hair like some kind of sea god, Mitch shook his head as he looked up at her. ‘I can’t believe you just did that.’
‘Believe it, buster,’ she retorted, before turning, collecting her beer and heading over to sit with Kate, Lisa and the babies.
‘You two are a crack-up,’ Lisa said.
Charlie took a sip of her beer, not wanting to talk about Mitch right now.
‘Not sure I’m buying the “just friends” thing,’ Kate mused.
‘Me neither.’ Lisa shook her head. ‘Mitch does not look at you like he does one of the boys.’
Charlie blinked, torn between wanting to ask more about this so-called look and not wanting to risk Mitch hearing their conversation. If she’d been on her own wit
h Lisa, she might have confessed the less-than-platonic feelings she’d been having lately.
‘Your kids are all good swimmers,’ she said, in an aim to redirect the conversation.
Whether they guessed her plan or not, both women smiled proudly.
‘Logan could swim practically before he could walk,’ Kate said, gesturing to her oldest son who was diving into the deep end. ‘And Leo and Laura are also fish. I guess it helps having a pool at home. I’m sure this one will be the same,’ she added, pointing to the rocker.
And they were off. Charlie sat back and listened as her friends chatted about their kids. She enjoyed the conversation and kept having to rein in thoughts about what it would be like if she and Mitch ever got together and had a family. When the kids finally got fed up with swimming, the guys started the barbeque. Kate set a blanket under a tree for the kids to eat on and the adults gathered around the outdoor setting on the verandah.
‘Wow, this table is amazing,’ Charlie marvelled as she ran her hand over the smoothly finished wood. It didn’t look like the kind of thing you picked up at Bunnings.
‘Thanks.’ Kate beamed and glanced at her brother-in-law. ‘Mitch made it.’
Charlie looked to Mitch and an uncharacteristic flush spread up his neck and into his cheeks. He shrugged as if it was nothing.
She knew he did some cabinetmaking when he wasn’t driving trucks but she hadn’t seen any of his craftsmanship in years. ‘You’ve been holding out on me,’ she scolded. ‘Maybe we should hire you to make some new tables for the restaurant.’
‘You couldn’t afford me,’ he scoffed.
Sadly, he was probably right, but she rolled her eyes, happy that Mitch was still bantering with her and didn’t appear to have noticed her earlier annoyance.
The rest of the afternoon and evening went all too quickly. Charlie had fun kicking a football with Mitch, Macca, Tim and the kids and then sneaking off to have cuddles with the babies. Kate asked her about hula-hooping and both women expressed their hope that she’d considering running some exercise classes in Meadow Brook. Although Charlie didn’t know how she’d fit that in between her normal motel work and the makeover, she promised to give it some thought.
The Patterson Girls Page 21