Secrets (Hope Bay)

by Angela Verdenius

  That was a little freaky.

  Shane’s arm slid around her waist to draw her into his side in a move that made her feel safe.

  “It was a fake,” Aaron repeated. “The real one went on sale within several weeks of the mother dying.”

  Emma hadn’t even known that Mrs Standwick had died, but then why would she? Once she left the state, that was it. She’d cut all ties, didn’t want to know anything. “Who sold it?”

  “The daughter, Karen Barlow. The woman who threatened you.” Aaron was completely unfazed when CK jumped from the armrest of the sofa to the armchair. Without batting an eyelid he reached out and stroked her back, making her purr. “We tracked the sale overseas. Basically, Karen stole the brooch, threatened you to keep you from asking questions or seeing her mother, then sold the brooch once Mrs Standwick died.”

  The information soaked in, eliciting several emotions at once - anger, relief, frustration. “I can’t believe it.” Emma looked from Aaron to Shane. “All this time the bloody brooch was in her possession. She lied to me, threatened me. I went through hell because of her.” Her teeth clenched.

  Shane’s hand ran soothingly up and down her back. “Like I said, the woman is a bitch.”

  CK stared at her as though sensing the change in her emotions.

  “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.” Emma shook her head.

  “It’s been a bloody nightmare for you.” Both anger and concern were reflected in his eyes.

  “As for the Nurse Manager,” Aaron continued, “she was a friend of Karen’s. Did you know?”

  “No.”

  “She kept the rumours up about you, little hints here and there. It’s why you were always under a cloud of suspicion regardless of your innocence. It doesn’t take much to slant the opinion of many with a few choice words here and there, especially when you were new to the hospital.”

  Stunned, Emma looked at Shane. “I had no idea.”

  “Bitch number two,” he growled.

  “She’s under investigation by the hospital board for a number of things she wasn’t honest about during her time there.” Aaron smiled slightly at Emma’s astonished expression. “It’s surprising what things turn up during investigations. Suffice it to say that this woman will not get another job in a hospital anywhere.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Shane was still scowling.

  “I know.”

  It was perfectly obvious that he wasn’t going to enlarge upon that, so Shane nodded. “Okay. But what about Karen Barlow? What are the police doing about her part in all this?”

  “Rest assured, this woman is not getting away with anything,” Aaron replied with quiet confidence.

  “You mean the police will charge her? Will they take it that far?” Emma wasn’t convinced. “Just for a brooch and a false accusation?”

  “Oh, it’s not just the brooch, Emma. We found out some very interesting things about Karen. Interesting things involving thefts to do with a lot of other things besides jewellery.”

  That was a shock. “You mean she’s stolen other things?”

  “Let’s just say she’s facing the law, both nationally and internationally, and the outcome is not going to be pretty for her.” Aaron stood in one smooth motion.

  CK jumped back onto the sofa armrest then up onto the back of the sofa where she laid down, tail swishing as she regarded them all through half closed eyes.

  Still feeling as though it was so unreal, Emma stood, Shane keeping her tucked close into his side.

  Aaron reached out and shook Shane’s hand. “Pleasure doing business with you, Shane.”

  “Thank you,” Shane replied sincerely. “For everything.”

  Aaron took Emma’s hand, his grip firm, his smile reassuring. “You don’t need to worry about this woman or her threats ever again, Emma, nor your old Nurse Manager. Get on with your life and don’t look back.”

  She looked down at his hand, up into his face, saw the kindness in his eyes, and impulsively she stepped forward and hugged him.

  As though he had strange women do the same every day, Aaron accepted her hug and waited composedly until she’d finished.

  Stepping back to Shane’s side, Emma flushed. “Sorry. It’s just…” She looked at Shane’s smiling face, the happiness in his eyes, and that ignited her own happiness, an almost giddiness that had her giving Aaron a big grin. “You just made our day!”

  He laughed quietly. “That’s all I need.” He glanced at his wrist watch. “Now I must go.”

  “I’ll see you out.” Shane kissed her cheek. “Be back in a minute, Em.”

  As they left the room, she called out, “Aaron?”

  In the doorway he stopped to watch her.

  “Thank you.” She wanted to let him know how much she appreciated it, how much what he’d said and done had swept away the lingering clouds from her life. “I don’t know how to say it. I just… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

  “My pleasure.” He nodded to Shane. “And it’s I who owed your fiancée, so helping him help you helped me.”

  “Oh, you didn’t owe me-” Shane began.

  “He’s a good man.” Aaron smiled at Emma. “You’re a good woman. You’ll do well together.” With that surprising announcement, he left the lounge room while Emma stared after him in astonishment.

  Shane gave her a wink and followed him.

  Their voices drifted back to her as she walked around the sofa to lay a hand on CK’s back.

  “I don’t believe it, CK,” she whispered. “The nightmare. It’s over. It’s really over.” She stared at the painting over the TV, not really seeing it, her thoughts still churning. “It’s so unreal. I can’t believe it’s really over. Just like that.”

  But she knew it wasn’t just like that. When had she revealed her secret to Shane? Several months ago? And in that time he’d asked a security firm to look into things, to dig deep.

  Because he believed in her.

  Because he wanted her past not to overshadow her.

  Because he protected her.

  Because he loved her.

  Her love for him, her gratitude for what he’d done, for his faith in her, was overwhelming, surging upward, filling her, mixing with happiness as the future suddenly seemed to burst upon her in promise, full of hope, the road she was travelling with Shane now unencumbered by the past.

  Knowing he’d always be there for her no matter what.

  When she heard his footsteps in the hallway, she turned to face the doorway.

  Entering the lounge room, Shane took one look at her face and stopped. “Are you crying?” He was genuinely distressed. “Oh, baby-”

  She flew across the room to fling herself into his arms.

  He caught her, held her tight, rained kisses on her face before pressing his cheek to hers.

  “I love you.” She hugged him tightly. “Oh, Shane, I love you so much!”

  “Oh thank God,” he said in relief. “I thought you were upset!”

  “Me? How could you think that?” She pushed away enough to see his face.

  “Because of the tears in your eyes and-”

  “They’re tears of happiness, you twit!”

  “Oh.” He started to laugh.

  “Thank you.” She hugged him tightly. “Thank you thank you thank you!”

  “I’ll accept it.” Hs voice was muffled as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “Though it’s Aaron you should thank.”

  “Are you serious?” She pulled back again. “Shane, look at me.”

  He met her gaze.

  “Shane.” Gently, she cupped his cheeks in her hands, and then lightly, softly, kissed his lips before locking their gazes once more. Seeing the love in his eyes even as he smiled quizzically. “You believed in me, you trusted me. You sought help for me. Yes, Aaron did the work, but it was you who put it in motion. It was all you.” She pulled his head down to touch their foreheads together, bringing them so close that the only things filling their vision were
each other. “The day you walked into my life was the day my life really began again. I love you, Shane.”

  The tenderness in his expression, the sheer devotion reflected in his eyes, touched her to her soul.

  But his words, the simplest of words, nestled deep within her heart.

  “I love you, Emma. I can’t even tell you how much, it’s infinite. But know I’ll always be here for you, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. Time will have no meaning. We’re together, forever. For eternity.”

  “For eternity,” she echoed.

  They smiled, the atmosphere between them so full of emotions neither could speak.

  At least for several heart-filled seconds.

  Shane suddenly jerked upwards with an “Arghhhh!”

  Emma looked down to see CK standing on her hind legs, paws firmly gripping Shane’s thigh through his pants. “Oh dear.”

  “Cripes, CK!” Picking her up, Shane held her to eye level.

  CK patted his nose with a soft paw pad and meowed.

  Emma couldn’t help a little giggle escaping.

  “You girls.” Giving a mock frown, Shane held CK against his chest with one hand while tugging Emma close with his other hand, effectively pinning the lanky ginger cat between them.

  CK purred and butted the top of her head against Emma’s chin.

  “You girls,” Shane said again, “are my girls. And no one touches my girls.”

  “You’re so sweet.” Going up on tip-toe, Emma kissed his chin.

  CK head butted his chin.

  “Luckily,” he said, “I like package deals. And this package deal,” he nuzzled CK’s head between her ears then kissed the tip of Emma’s nose, “is all mine.”

  Epilogue

  The wedding had been beautiful.

  The honeymoon had been romantic, relaxing and fun.

  But Emma was happy to be home again.

  Coming up onto the veranda, she waited as Shane unlocked the door. He pushed it open, but before she could step past he said, “Hang on there, Mrs Armand.”

  Before she knew it, he’d swept her up into his arms. “Shane!”

  “C’mon, CA.” He winked at her shocked face. “It’s tradition.”

  Having given up on trying to get him to tell her what the ‘CA’ stood for, she focussed on her current concern. “It’s a herniated disc, you idiot!”

  “Pfft.” He moved to the door. “Watch your head, I don’t want to ruin this perfectly romantic moment by knocking my new bride senseless.”

  Quickly wrapping her arms around his neck, Emma held her breath, waiting for him to falter and drop her.

  “Geez, Em,” he complained. “Have a little faith!”

  “I’m trying, I’m trying!”

  Without a wheeze, a wince, or a faltering of anything, Shane walked her across the threshold. Stopping in the hallway, he grinned. “Impressed?”

  “Yep.” She waited. When he simply stood there looking around with an utterly contented expression, she cleared her throat.

  “Hmmm?”

  “I think you should put me down before you do yourself an injury.”

  “Really?” He jiggled her in his arms, laughing when she squealed and grabbed him tighter.

  “I did not see you weight lifting on our honeymoon,” she declared breathlessly.

  “Honey, you’re an armful of love I never want to let go.”

  Shane had the most delightful way of making her feel delicate and protected. It never failed to make her tingle inside.

  A loud meowing caught their attention and they both looked up to see CK trotting along the hallway.

  “Ah,” Shane said. “The furry kid.” He lowered Emma’s feet to the floor, steadying her as she stood.

  Ck started to trot faster so that by the time she got near them, she was at a run. With a delighted burst of meowing, she wound around their legs, flopping onto her back as Emma knelt down to rub her belly.

  “Oh, I missed you, my sweet little pumpkin,” Emma cooed. “Did Doc and Mrs A take good care of you?” She playfully tapped her finger on CK’s furry belly. “Oh yeah, I can feel a tubby-tummy!”

  Bending down, Shane scratched behind CK’s eyes, making her go all dreamy-eyed. “I bet she was spoiled rotten.”

  “Yeah, because she isn’t already.”

  He laughed. After a couple more scratches, he straightened. “I’ll get the suitcases out of the car.”

  “I’ll help.” She stood.

  “No, I’ll do it. You make the Pav.”

  She gave his innocent face a dry look. “You’d be wishing.”

  “I wish for a lot of things.” He winked wickedly. “Quite a few of them came true on the honeymoon, you naughty minx, you.”

  Blushing, she smacked his arm.

  Chuckling, he went back outside for the suitcases. “Put the kettle on and make us a cuppa, Em, I’m parched.”

  Picking CK up, Emma cradled her in her arms as she went into the kitchen. Placing her on the stool, Emma filled the kettle, plugged it in and stood there, breathing in the air, listening to the soft hum of the ‘fridge and freezer, taking in the vase of fresh roses on the table, the lack of dust, the fresh scent of polish.

  Mrs A and Doc had taken care of CK and the garden while Shane and Emma were on honeymoon, and they’d obviously done a quick freshen up of the house before their return.

  Sweet people, her in-laws.

  Going to the ‘fridge to get the milk, she saw an envelope stuck to it with a magnet. Curiously, she took it down and turned it over. It was sealed, but addressed to both her and Shane.

  Opening it, she took out the papers. Read the note. Re-read the note. Looked at the other papers. Read the note once more.

  She was still standing unbelievingly staring at the papers when Shane walked in.

  “Hey,” he said, “do we have any Anzac biccies left or did Dad eat them all while we were away?” Taking in her stunned expression, he hurried across the kitchen, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to tug her into him as he glanced at the papers in her hand. “Honey? Em? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t believe it.” Dazed, she handed the papers to him. “Read it.”

  Both puzzled and concerned, Shane took the papers and read the top note.

  ‘Dear Love Birds.

  Every pair of birds needs a nest to start their life. We know you like this nest. We know you both want to buy it. We know you both thought about buying it when you were both single before you knew each another. We know that this nest is perfect for you to start your nest together. So accept this nest as our wedding present.

  With all our love (and no arguments, ‘cause we’re not listening and never will)

  The Old Birds’

  Still disbelieving, Emma watched Shane slowly re-read the note, the shock on his face mirroring hers of just minutes ago. He looked at the land deeds now transferred into their names.

  Slowly, he looked up from the papers to meet her eyes. “Mum and Dad gave us this house.”

  She nodded.

  “They really gave us this house.”

  “Yes.” She bit her lip. “It’s too much, we can’t accept it.”

  “No, you’re right. We can’t.” He took a deep breath. “It’s a beautiful present, but we can’t-”

  The mobile in his pocket rang, the ring tone that of the very ones they were discussing.

  Taking it from his pocket, Shane held Emma’s gaze as he put it on speaker. “Dad?”

  “Yep,” Doc replied. “And your Mum is here, too.”

  “Hey Shane, Emma,” Mrs A called brightly.

  “Dad,” Shane began, “the house-”

  “How was the honeymoon?” Mrs A asked.

  “Mum, we can’t accept-”

  “I want to see all the photos when you come around!”

  “Mrs A,” Emma tried. “It’s too much, we-”

  “Better enjoy the rest of your holidays, kids,” Doc said happily. “The clinic is busier than ever.”

  “Doc,
listen, we never expected-”

  “Harriet is champing at the bit to see you both, so you better have some juicy gossip for her and-”

  “Dad,” Shane interrupted. “Stop.”

  There was silence.

  “Dad, Mum,” Shane began firmly, “you have no idea what your gift means to us, but we can’t accept it. We can’t-”

  “Now listen here, young man,” Mrs A said briskly. “And you too, young lady.”

  Emma’s mouth dropped open.

  “I’m only saying this once. You love the house?”

  “You know we do,” Shane replied. “But that’s beside the point-”

  “It’s a rental,” Mrs A said firmly. “It’s not our home. It’s been Emma’s home. We know you always hoped to buy it. It’s now your home, too. It’s our gift to you. End of story.”

  “Mum, it’s not the end-”

  “I’m not listening. Doc, you’re on.”

  “Doc-” Emma began helplessly.

  “Listen, kids,” Doc said. “Do as you’re told and don’t upset your mother. And I’m including you in that, Emma. We love you both and if we decide to give you a good start in life, then we’ll do it. And we did it. End of story.”

  Shane looked at Emma. “Dad-”

  “La-lal-lal-lal-lal!” Doc sang.

  “Cripes,” Shane said. “Really, Dad?” His lips started to quiver.

  “Can’t hear you!” Doc sang. “Whoooo!” And hung up.

  But not before they heard Mrs A laughing in the background.

  Shane turned off the mobile and looked at Emma. “Well…”

  She looked from the mobile to his eyes. “What do we do?”

  They looked at the papers in Shane’s hand, looked around the kitchen. Looked back at each other.

  Shane started to smile.

  Slowly, Emma smiled back. Glanced around again. At the gingham curtains, the bench tops, the roses on the table, CK lapping water from the water bowl in the corner. The table and chairs. The back door. Back to Shane.

  “Well,” Shane repeated. “It appears…”

  “We have a house.” Delight filtered through Emma.

  “A home,” he corrected.