by Mandy Magro
‘Oh, of course not, I love that you did.’ Nina smiled through her tears. ‘It means the absolute world, Brianna.’
William finally stepped in beside Nina, placing a hand on both her and Brianna’s back. ‘Is Logan still being operated on?’
‘Yes …’ Nina’s voice choked up.
William placed a protective arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. ‘We bumped into Officer Robinson in the car park and he said your attacker is dead, so you’ve no need to worry about him ever again.’
‘Uh-huh, he already told me.’ She trembled from head to toe. ‘The wait to find out how Logan is doing is killing me.’
‘Well, we can all wait together now and be here for one another,’ Brianna said, slumping into a chair and pulling out her mobile phone. ‘I’m just going to call Mum and Dad …’ She half smiled, half grimaced. ‘… My other mum and dad, and fill them in on what’s happening.’
‘Okay, love.’ In awe of how comfortable she and Brianna were being around one another, Nina’s aching heart melted – what a beautiful, forgiving, understanding soul her daughter had grown to be. She certainly had a lot to live up to, and yet, she was the elder.
With Brianna distracted, William gazed at Nina sombrely. ‘Had you seen the man that tried to hurt you before?’
‘Yes, when I was sixteen he tried to talk me into taking a lift from him, but then Logan came along and saved me – he has a habit of doing that.’
William’s brows creased. ‘Did you ever tell Beatrice about this?’
‘No, I just put it down to him being a bit of a weirdo – and I wasn’t meant to be out that night because I was grounded, so I was scared to tell her I’d snuck out the window.’ A shiver ran down Nina’s spine. ‘Why’s that?’
‘Because I knew him, a very long time ago, and yes, he was a very strange man. Beatrice dated him for a couple of months, but then decided they were more or less just friends. Grant agreed, and appeared to have moved on with another girl he seemed fond of, until one night when he got very drunk and tried to pick a fight with Bert, saying that Bert had stolen his girlfriend and his child.’
Riveted to the spot, Nina nodded, remaining silent.
William drew a breath and continued. ‘Bert was always the father of their little boy, without a doubt, but Grant wouldn’t let it go, which is why Beatrice got to the point where she told Grant to stay the hell away from her and her baby, Albert, all those years ago.’ William slowly shook his head and closed his eyes momentarily. ‘We all thought Grant had taken off somewhere, never to be seen again, but obviously we were wrong.’
Nina’s mind was spinning. ‘Now it all makes sense.’
‘What does, Nina?’
‘He told me something extremely upsetting when he had me pinned to the ground.’ She stalled, gathered her breath, and then lowered her voice so Brianna didn’t overhear them. ‘He said he was the one who killed Bea’s baby boy and then buried him in the shallow grave. Apparently it was an accident. He left him in a hot car because he forgot about him. He said he wanted to kill me because Bea considered me her child.’
All the colour draining from his face, William covered his mouth with both hands. Worried he was about to faint, Nina reached out to steady him. ‘Do you need to sit down?’
William nodded. ‘I think that might be best.’
He sat beside Brianna, who was still on the phone to Ruby and Ron. ‘I told Beatrice it could have been him who took Albert, but she told me to stop being so stupid.’ He shuddered and drew in a breath. ‘Poor Bea lived with not knowing her entire life, and the pain of their loss tore Bert and Beatrice apart for almost forty years. I just thank goodness Bert came back into her life before she passed. They never stopped loving each other.’
A tragic love story if she’d ever heard one, Nina’s heart squeezed tight. ‘At the very least, that monster is no longer free to walk this earth or hurt anyone else.’ She settled herself between William and Brianna and placed a tender hand on his bouncing leg, calming it, her other hand linking fingers with Brianna’s who was still softly talking on her mobile phone.
‘Thank goodness he’s gone for good, Nina, because I couldn’t bear the thought of anything ever happening to you.’ William turned to her and they shared a meaningful moment of contemplation, filled with the promise of what was to come, between father and daughter.
Despite the turmoil of what was going on around her, Nina took comfort in the fact she now had her father in her life, and he was a man she was proud to say was her dad. How could she hold anything against him, when she had done the exact same thing with Brianna?
Deep in thought, she started when a doctor in blood-splattered scrubs burst from the swinging doors and hurried towards them, his expression solemn.
‘Please, god, no.’ Her heart in her throat, Nina stood on shaky legs as Brianna and William huddled into either side of her, the three of them holding each other up.
She held her breath as the doctor reached them. ‘He’s a fighter, that’s for sure.’ With Nina’s relieved whoosh of breath, he broke a small smile. ‘The bullet punctured his kidney, but we’ve caught the injury just in time and have managed to stop the internal bleeding. He’s in a stable condition, but will be relying on one kidney from now on, which isn’t a major concern – most people go on to live full and normal lives with only one.’ He straightened, his hand going to his lower back.
Relief flooding her, Nina nodded, trying to take it all in. ‘Can we see him?’
‘He’s in recovery at the moment, but in about half an hour, yes, you can, but please bear in mind he’s on very strong pain medication and he needs total rest.’ He raised bushy black brows. ‘He’ll be calling this place home for the next week or so, depending on how quickly he begins to heal.’
‘We’ll make sure we don’t disturb him.’ Hope sparked in Nina’s chest and spread through her like wildfire. ‘I just want him to know I’m here for him.’ She glanced from William to Brianna. ‘That we’re all here for him.’
‘Yes, of course.’ The doctor gestured to the row of seats along the wall. ‘Please, have a seat, and a nurse will be back to get you all soon.’
Nina gently grabbed the doctor’s arm, stopping him before he walked away. ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving him.’
The doctor eyed her for a few short moments and then smiled warmly. ‘It was you who saved him by getting him here so quickly. Things could have gone in a very different direction otherwise. He’s a very lucky man to have you.’ And with that, he strode off.
‘I’m the lucky one,’ Nina whispered to herself.
After what felt like an absolute lifetime, but was actually only twenty-five minutes, she was sitting by Logan’s bedside, his hand held gently in hers. Shell-shocked, she stared at the cuts and dark bruises all over his face, still trying to piece together the moments that had led to this, as Logan, connected to an assortment of beeping machines and tubes, floated in and out of consciousness. Brianna sat beside her, unable to take her eyes from her father, and William had taken up position on the opposite side. They were all doing their very best to stay quiet. All around her, Nina felt pure, unconditional love. This was what family was all about, being there for one another, through life’s ups and downs. Only a month ago, she thought she’d lost everything when William had rung with the news of Bea’s death, but now she had more than she’d ever imagined. She was one very lucky woman.
CHAPTER
24
Six Weeks Later
Wings thrumming, iridescent blue and red dragonflies flittered above the glistening dam surrounded by swaying palm trees, the mesmerising scene backdropped by the sundrenched landscape – her sundrenched landscape. For Nina, this was a scene only possible in her wildest of dreams, but now, it was her reality.
Sprawled out on a picnic blanket beneath the cool shade of a towering paperbark, her head resting upon Logan’s strong chest while his fingers tenderly caressed her hair and back, and with
her beautiful daughter right beside her, she was right at home.
‘Talk about all of us being in a food coma.’ Logan’s voice was soft, husky with sleepiness.
Nina groaned, tapping her belly. ‘Uh-huh, my eyes are bigger than my belly.’
‘Me too, it reminds me of Christmas Day, when all of us couldn’t move – even Bert had to have a nanna nap underneath the trees before he could drive back home.’ Her bikini showing off her sporty figure as well as a butterfly tattoo on her hip, Brianna rolled onto her side and grinned at Nina.
‘Yes, Bert sure as heck ate his fair share, and then some. It was as if he hadn’t eaten for the entire year.’ She chuckled lightly. ‘Between him and your grandad William, they almost ate us out of house and home.’
‘Oh, Neens,’ Logan laughed, ‘we had enough food to feed an army after you and Ruby cooked for two days straight.’
Nina looked up at him. ‘Yeah, well, you and Ron did a good job barbequing all that meat, too.’
‘Oh my goodness, you two, I seriously can’t speak of food any longer. My belly is hurting,’ Brianna said, groaning playfully. ‘I’m going to head back in for another dip before you have to take me home for work.’ She reached out and grabbed Nina by the hand. ‘Would you like to try and brave it with me this time?’
Seriously considering Brianna’s thoughtful offer, Nina’s forehead puckered. ‘I really want to, love, but …’ Her gaze darted from Brianna to the dam and back again as she grappled to find the right words. She felt stupid, but couldn’t help it.
Brianna allowed her a reprieve with a gentle shake of her head. ‘It’s okay, Mum, you will when you’re good and ready.’ She turned to her side and ruffled Maxwell and Digger, both dogs snoozing beside her. ‘Come on, you two lazy bones, let’s hit it.’ And up she jumped, racing for the water’s edge with her doggy friends in tow.
‘They both love her so much,’ Nina said with a chuckle.
‘How could they not?’ Logan replied sleepily. ‘She spoils the pair of them rotten.’
‘Yeah, she sure does.’ Nina snuggled in closer to Logan. ‘Are you sure you’re happy moving here to Riverstone Ridge?’
‘I’ve never been so sure of anything in all my life.’ He released a small, contented sigh. ‘And it’ll be good for Bert to have a purpose as the caretaker at Willowbrook, and to also have somewhere out of the main part of town to call home. I know he’ll take real good care of the place.’
Nina nodded. ‘He sure will.’
‘And when he goes through the pearly gates one day, who knows, maybe Brianna will be back from university, and she’ll want to make it her forever home, like you have here at Riverstone Ridge.’
‘Like we have, you mean,’ Nina said with a smile. ‘I hope you’re right and Brianna comes back here with her veterinary degree. It’ll be nice to have her living right next door.’
‘It sure will, my beautiful,’ Logan said, giving Nina a little squeeze. ‘Have you decided where you’d like to spread Bea’s ashes?’
‘Not yet – I like keeping her in the homestead, with us.’ She sighed. ‘Do you think that’s wrong of me?’
‘No way, Neens, I reckon Bea would like hanging in the homestead, now we’ve made it our forever home.’
‘Yeah, me too.’ Nina closed her eyes, full of gratitude for her life.
The late-afternoon sunshine was still as hot as ever, making the thin cotton of her boho dress stick to her. She craved to take it off and slip into the coolness of the dam, so she could spend some time with Brianna in there, but the all-too-familiar fear stopped her. She knew she needed to face up to it to be able to move past it, especially now she understood what her anxiety stemmed from, but she was yet to gather enough courage to do so.
Flickering her heavy eyelids open, she looked to where Brianna now drifted upon an inflatable sunbed, eyes closed and her legs dangling over the edges. ‘Isn’t she just so beautiful?’ she said dreamily.
‘She sure is …’ Logan followed her gaze, smiling proudly. ‘… Just like her mumma.’
Tilting her head, Nina looked up at the love of her life from beneath heavy lashes. ‘Aw, you’re so sweet, thanks, baby.’
‘Just speaking the god’s honest truth,’ he replied with a loving smile.
A wave of emotion overcame her and she blinked faster. ‘I just can’t believe how easily we’ve all fitted into place with one another. Even Ruby and Ron feel like part of my family now.’
‘They’re special people, and they’ve raised Brianna with a good heart and morals.’ His voice broke and he sucked in a breath before clearing his throat. ‘I’ll be forever grateful for them, raising our daughter to be a strong, confident, kind-hearted girl.’
Nina looked towards Brianna again, her heart welling beyond anything she’d ever imagined. ‘Yeah, me too.’ She sniffled and choked back a sob.
Logan pulled her closer still and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Part of you died when you gave her away, just like part of me died when Violet and Jessica did, but we have a second chance now, you and I, and Brianna, to live and love and make things right.’
Nina brushed a kiss over his lips. ‘Oh, Logan, you’re an amazingly beautiful man. I’m so very lucky to have you love me the way you do.’
‘Oh, trust me, it’s very easy to love you, Nina Jones.’ He smiled and shrugged softly. ‘I just want something wonderful in my life, and that wonderful is you and Brianna.’ He twined their hands together, his affection reassuring and his eyes gleaming with tears of joy. ‘You’re both my absolute everything.’
Nina felt as if the whole world was on their side.
He dropped his gaze from her eyes to her lips, then without a word, claimed them. Momentarily teasing her, he pulled back. ‘How about you and I head into the water?’
‘Oh, Logan, I don’t know …’
‘You never will, until you try.’
‘True.’ She nodded.
‘You’re a super strong woman, Neens, I know you can do this.’ He eased away from her, stood, and held out his hand. ‘Come on, there’s no time like the present to say stuff the fear.’
‘Well, when you put it that way …’ Smirking, she darted her hand out and he helped her to her feet.
‘Now get that dress off and let’s do this.’
‘Yes, sir.’ She slipped it over her head and dropped it to the ground.
Logan’s eyes widened. ‘Wow, that bikini is smoking hot.’
‘It is?’ Nina looked down at her new turquoise bikini.
Logan reached out and ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. ‘You’re shaking like a leaf.’
She nodded, feeling as though the ground was about to give way. ‘I can’t help it; it’s all coming back to me.’ She could see her mother, facedown, her lifeless body floating in the middle of the dam. She remembered calling out to her, ‘Mummy, wake up,’ and the feeling of the water rising up her little legs as she took steps towards her mother, sobbing, terrified and cold. She shivered, as though she was back there.
‘We don’t have to, if it’s too much.’ Logan’s gentle voice pulled her from the haunting images swirling in her mind.
She stole a glance at Brianna, floating atop her blow-up bed, sunglasses on and can of Coke in hand – it gave her a huge sense of normalcy, of safety. ‘No, I want to.’
Gravity shifted as she took her first step.
‘You got this, Neens, and I’m right here beside you if you don’t. Okay?’
Logan’s support, encouragement and understanding moved her beyond words. ‘Thanks.’ He was so big, so strong, her courage increased as Logan took her by the hand and gently edged her forward.
She hesitated, sucking in fraught breaths.
‘I’ve got you.’ Logan held tightly to her hand, slowly pulling her towards the water’s edge, and then in.
Her breath hitching in her throat, Nina gasped.
Logan gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Keep your eyes on mine and it’ll all be okay, I promise.’
She nodded. Her heart swelled. He was a rare breed, this man before her. Strong. Honourable. Decent. Hers.
With each step, the water slowly rose around her legs. Bit by bit, ever so slowly, they edged in, until it was up to her belly button. She was so scared, she forgot to breathe.
‘All good?’ Logan said, grabbing her wavering attention.
‘I think so.’ She sucked in a breath and then bit her lip to stop it from trembling. The intensity of the moment crept into her heart and soul and spread like wildfire. Tears sprung to her eyes and she allowed them to fall. ‘Oh my god, I did it.’
‘Yes, you did. I told you you could.’ Logan’s arms wrapped around her waist and she melted into him, sobbing into his shoulder.
Minutes passed, and they remained together. Comforted, calmer, her heart and soul finally at peace, Nina pulled back and gently brushed her lips against his. ‘I can’t believe I’m in here, in your arms, with our beautiful daughter right by us.’
‘It’s the best, isn’t it?’
Nina grinned now. ‘Oh hell yes.’
‘I’m a very happy man, thanks to you.’
‘And you make me a very happy woman, Officer Logan Steele.’
‘Oh my goodness, you did it!’ Brianna’s excited voice carried from the other side of the dam. Her smile from ear to ear, she flipped off the sunbed and splashed towards them. And once she reached them, the three of them embraced.
‘Now we can hang out in here together,’ Brianna squealed delightedly.
Nina kissed Brianna’s cheek. ‘Yes, we most certainly can.’
Brianna’s smile was contagious. ‘We’ll have to get her a floaty bed, too, Dad.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’ Brianna looked to her watch. ‘Far out, time flies.’ She rolled her eyes and groaned. ‘I better get out and get ready to head home. I have to start work in less than two hours.’
Nina nodded. ‘Okay, love, we’ll jump out in a sec.’
‘Good job, pushing through your fear.’ Brianna gave her the thumbs-up. ‘Love you.’
