Evidence of Love

by Elisabeth Rose

  She didn’t like him very much. Put simply he was a bore plus he obviously thought nothing of lying to the woman he presumably loved. She gave Petey more attention than he needed in an effort to distract herself and fill in the time before she could politely end the lunch date. One question needed an answer only he could give, however.

  When he next drew breath she said, ‘Have you any idea why Ivan tipped you off? Did you know he knew who you were?’

  ‘I didn’t at the time but afterwards I found out he’d started giving the police information.’

  ‘Ivan was an informant?’

  ‘Towards the end, yes.’ He finished his wine. ‘How do you think he got away without a stain on his character and was able to start up here?’

  Lara stared. What an incomprehensible piece of information. ‘I don’t know. I didn’t know he was in Sydney until a few months ago. I just ran and left them all behind.’

  ‘I think he knew Tony’s empire was crumbling and wanted to be on the right side at the end of it. He’s not stupid.’

  ‘No, he’s not.’ It made sense. Ivan looking out for Ivan wasn’t a new concept. And if he’d already been preparing a new path for himself, meeting Susanna would have been the final push he needed to go straight. And just maybe he’d been trying to do something for his little sister by saving the man she loved. Maybe he hoped he’d take her with him when he left. It wasn’t his fault Adrian wasn’t the man she thought he was.

  ***

  Nick went in to work on Saturday and plunged himself into the cases at hand to distract himself from the burning question. Had Lara contacted Temby? He’d tried to call her but had to leave a message. Not that he was game to ask her outright, she’d be furious at him for checking up on her. The subject was already prickly enough.

  Was she meeting him already? Was that why her phone wasn’t answering? Had she flown to Geelong for the weekend? Had Temby come to Sydney?

  He looked at his watch. One thirty. He’d put in another hour then go home via the supermarket. His phone rang. He snatched it up. Lara?

  ‘Hi, Nick.’ His sister.

  ‘Hello. How’s the tribe?’

  ‘Fighting fit. Like to come over tomorrow for lunch?’

  He had hoped to spend time with Lara but… ‘Love to. Does it involve building something?’

  She laughed. ‘No. Joe’s bought a new barbecue and he wants to test it.’

  ‘So I’m a guinea pig this time.’

  ‘That’s right. We’ve invited the neighbours as well.’

  ‘What time?’

  ‘Twelve?’

  ‘Fine. Thanks.’ He said quickly before the thought blossomed and was discarded, ‘Is it all right if I bring someone? Two someones?’

  ‘A girlfriend?’ No mistaking the intense curiosity. No way would Linda say no.

  ‘Yes, she has a little boy. He’s about three.’

  ‘We’d love to meet her.’

  ‘She may not be able to come. I’ll let you know.’ Backpedalling — fast.

  ‘No need. Just turn up with or without her.’

  ‘Thanks, Linda. See you tomorrow.’

  He replaced the phone, stomach churning. Lara may not even be in Sydney. Lara might be in Sydney but with Temby.

  He snorted to himself. She might not have contacted him at all. What sort of an idiot was he being? All he needed to do was ask her. Just before three, on the way to his car, Nick tried her number again. This time she answered.

  ‘I’m glad you phoned. I was going to call you,’ she said before he could say anything beyond his name. She was nervous, her voice shook slightly, breathless.

  ‘What about?’

  ‘I’d rather…can you call in sometime, please? I’d rather talk to you face to face.’

  ‘All right. I’m on my way home now. I can be there soon.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks. I’ll make some tea.’

  Nick’s fingers shook as he disconnected. If she was about to tell him she’d met Temby and was as much in love with the guy as before he hoped he wouldn’t break down in front of her. He’d have to get out of there as fast as he could. Maybe he should have insisted she tell him whatever it was on the phone. But he couldn’t bear not to see her one more time even if it was only to hear her say goodbye. How pathetic. That’s what love did to a man, turned him to mud.

  He rang the doorbell this time instead of knocking.

  She must have been watching out for him because she opened it immediately. Petey ran down the hallway and stopped with a big grin.

  ‘Hello, Nick,’ he shouted and raced away, giggling, little bare feet thudding on the floorboards.

  ‘Hello, Petey,’ Nick called after him. He smiled at Lara. ‘Hello. What’s got into him?’

  ‘No idea.’

  She led him through to the rear of the house where Petey was bouncing up and down on a cushion on the floor and trying to slide it along at the same time.

  ‘Don’t do that darling,’ she said.

  ‘It’s my car.’

  ‘Why don’t you go outside and play? Ride your trike.’

  ‘Come outside too.’

  ‘In a minute. I want to talk to Nick.’

  ‘Talk outside.’

  Lara sent Nick an unusually flustered look as she bundled Petey out the back door. She had the tea things ready so he flicked the electric jug on and waited, heart thumping. Whatever she was planning to tell him was giving her the jitters. The jug clicked off. His hand shook as he poured water into the pot.

  She came back inside.

  ‘I saw Adrian Temby today. We had lunch.’ It came out in a breathless rush.

  He managed to set the jug down and put the lid on the teapot without dropping anything but he couldn’t face her. Didn’t dare look into her eyes and see his love all smashed to bits.

  ‘How did it go?’ His voice sounded amazingly normal.

  ‘Fine. He looks different. Fatter and his hair is very short. It used to be quite long.’

  Nick turned. She was leaning against the bench with a slight frown creasing her forehead. Suddenly she stepped across and grabbed the tin she stored the biscuits in. She arranged half a dozen on the plate ready on the bench.

  ‘What did you want to tell me?’ he said.

  ‘Are you in a hurry? Sorry.’ She poured the tea quickly, slopping some onto the sink.

  ‘No, no hurry. I just thought… Are you seeing him again?’ The words popped out. ‘Sorry. That’s none of my business.’

  ‘It is your business, Nick. You wanted me to meet him and you were right. I needed to. I didn’t think so but I did.’ Her eyes fixed on his but he had no idea what she was thinking, what she was trying to tell him.

  ‘And?’ he croaked.

  A smile started then stopped. ‘He’s awful.’

  ‘What?’ The laugh choked in his throat.

  ‘He’s boring and he lied to his girlfriend about why he was coming to Sydney.’

  Nick laughed. Hope surged like a tidal wave threatening to swamp his senses and render him speechless.

  Lara stepped closer and lifted her hand. She wiped moisture from his cheek he had no idea was there. ‘I love you, Nick. I know now. Seeing him made me realise just how much. And what a…a wonderful man you are. You’d never lie to me like that.’

  ‘No.’ His arms pulled her close, her lips were on his and time stopped.

  Sometime later she said, ‘Do you still want to marry me?’ The uncertainty in her tone made him kiss her again to prove how much he wanted to do just that.

  ‘Yes,’ he said eventually. ‘But no rush.’

  ‘Good. I was a bit worried you’d changed your mind because of my relatives.’

  ‘I’ll never change my mind. And I like Ivan.’

  The little frown returned. ‘Adrian said Ivan tipped him off, that he’d started giving the police information. I was amazed.’

  ‘Ivan’s a smart man.’ She opened her mouth to ask something else but he kissed her instead. ‘Come to my
sister’s tomorrow for lunch.’

  ‘Okay.’

  Petey yelled from outside, ‘Mummmmeeee. Niiiiiick. Come and watch meeeee.’

  Lara extricated herself but kept hold of Nick’s hand. ‘Come on. You’ll need to get used to being a parent.’

  ‘I’ll bring the tea and biscuits.’

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  ISBN: 9780857991546

  Title: Evidence of Love

  Copyright © 2014 by Elisabeth Rose

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  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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