A ripple of laughter ran round the room. Flynn looked at her then. She paused, waiting for the laughter to die down. ‘I said we couldn’t do that. But we want to stay here in Flynn’s Crossing and we want Flynn to find us a new house to make our home … and who knows … what might happen … later.’
What was she saying? Her lovely brown eyes swam with tears but there was also something else there. Hope mixed with fear. Fear he might say that wasn’t enough, that he’d want what she wasn’t ready to give, that he wouldn’t wait. And above all, love was there, in her face, her eyes and her voice.
Suddenly he was on his feet, arms extended, incapable of speech. She dropped the microphone and walked into his embrace.
‘Can I have that second kiss?’ he whispered but he knew the answer even before she pressed her lips on his.
Margie’s voice came through the haze of emotion, saying they’d have a break before the meeting continued. ‘You two should go somewhere private.’ She was grinning. ‘I can handle this.’
Flynn took Antonia’s hand and pulled her through the throng to his office, ignoring the slaps on the back and congratulations as he went. She stumbled after him, conscious only of the warmth of his hand in hers while a delirious swirl of excitement turned her body to mush.
‘What about the twins?’ she asked when he closed the door on the racket and faced her. The colour had returned to his face and the blue of his eyes seemed deeper, drawing her in, enthralling her.
‘Simon’s with them. Did you really mean what you said? About staying?’
She nodded. ‘This is our home now. We don’t want to leave. Can you find us somewhere to live?’
‘You could do what Jacob said,’ he suggested, but he sounded more hopeful than demanding.
‘No, I’m not ready for … that. Are you? Really? It’s too much.’
‘Probably not.’ He stole a quick kiss. ‘I understand. It was worth a shot. But one day?’
She touched her fingers gently to his face, tracing the line of his cheek. ‘I love you, Flynn. I only just realised how much, this afternoon. I think I’ve loved you for a while but … I’m sorry I’m so … I don’t know how long …’ She stopped, brow creased, searching for the right words but he kissed her and she forgot what she was trying to say and it didn’t seem to matter.
Holding her tight in his arms, he whispered, ‘You don’t need to apologise for anything. Not to me. I’m happy just hearing you say you love me and letting me hold you like this. When you’re ready for the next step, we’ll work it out together. I don’t care when that is.’
‘You’re an extraordinary man.’
‘You’re an extraordinary woman. Remember, too, that a family is something I never thought I’d have so this is a massive change for me. I love those two but being a second father to them … wow.’ He shook his head. ‘That’ll take a bit of getting used to.’
‘They’re used to you already. I told you they’d accept you after they got to know you.’
‘You did. I just wasn’t sure you’d be as easy to win over. A few “knock, knock” jokes wouldn’t do it.’
She laughed. ‘You’ll regret teaching Sarah those jokes.’
‘Maybe we should go back or God knows what they’ll think we’re up to.’ Flynn reluctantly released his hold even though hugging her increased the pain in his ribs, but kept her hand in his as he opened the door. ‘What do you think Simon will do now?’
‘No idea, but he should realise that nothing much will change for the co-op. Not sure about Lauren.’
‘I meant about you and the twins. Us.’ Facing more insults from Simon wasn’t the best way to finish off such a momentous occasion.
‘He knows how I feel so he’ll have to accept that this is how it is,’ Antonia said with a firmness he couldn’t have imagined she possessed when he first set eyes on her that hot summer’s day.
He smiled and squeezed her fingers. ‘I like that.’
The meeting had collapsed into a babble of talk and the bar was going full bore as groups settled down to discuss the events and the likely ramifications. As he led Antonia to the table where Simon and the twins waited, hands slapped him on the back and a ragged cheer went up amid the applause and good-natured laughter and wisecracks. He turned to see Antonia blushing crimson but with her head high, her hand still firmly in his.
His ankle hurt like hell and he sagged onto one of the chairs recently vacated by Bron and Kev who were now celebrating a few tables away. Antonia took the other chair, next to Sarah. Lauren was sitting next to Simon but her expression was difficult to interpret and Flynn had neither the energy nor the interest to try.
‘Mummy said we can’t live in your house when ours gets knocked down, Flynn,’ said Sarah. She and Jacob had half-finished glasses of orange juice in front of them and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Flynn winced at the bald word choice but he smiled at the resilience. ‘I’ll find you a new house to live in,’ he said.
‘With a mango tree?’ asked Jacob.
‘Maybe.’
‘We could plant your own new one if there isn’t,’ said Simon from across the table. He avoided Flynn’s eye but his tone was mild.
Sarah clapped her hands and immediately started nattering to Jacob about what else they could plant in their new garden.
‘So, are you staying on at the co-op?’ asked Antonia.
‘For a while.’ Simon glanced at Lauren, still with her inscrutable face. ‘I’ll see how things turn out. Nothing much will happen for months, I reckon. Anyway, I want to be near my kids.’
‘Good. I’m glad.’
‘Are you? I didn’t think you’d care much one way or the other.’
‘Simon.’ Lauren suddenly came to life. ‘Don’t.’ She turned to Antonia with a grin. ‘I’m glad you two got it together. You have a very good effect on Flynn. He’s much more human now.’
Antonia returned the smile in a sisterhood secret knowledge sort of way.
‘Thanks, I think,’ Flynn said. With any luck, she’d have a good effect on Simon. Some sort of effect anyway. Maybe a strong woman was what he needed, and Lauren was nothing if not strong.
‘Simon, of course, you want to be near the twins and they want to be near you, that won’t change whatever happens between me and Flynn,’ Antonia said, losing the smile.
‘They’re your kids, mate,’ said Flynn. ‘But we all have our own lives to lead and we’re all finding our way in the dark. It hasn’t been easy for any of us, believe me.’
Simon toyed with his empty beer glass. ‘I know. It’s been a pretty weird time lately. Lot of changes coming out of nowhere. It’s hard to adjust.’
‘Sometimes there’s no choice,’ said Antonia softly. ‘It’s either sink or swim.’
Simon suddenly extended his hand and grasped hers. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be … I’m sorry. You deserve to be happy.’
‘Time for another round, this is getting maudlin,’ said Lauren, rising to her feet.
‘Ask Donna for a bottle of champagne,’ Flynn said. ‘The good stuff. I think we’ve all got something to celebrate.’
‘You shouldn’t be drinking, you’re an invalid,’ said Antonia.
‘I’ll risk a sip. I’d risk anything for you,’ he said and the smile he received in return washed away the aches in his ankle and ribs and filled his heart with warmth.
***
Simon shovelled the last of the compost into the new garden plot and straightened, rubbing his back. Sweat ran into his eyes and trickled down his back. Bloody hot today, and still hot even though the sun was just about to disappear behind Mount Taylor.
‘Haven’t you finished yet? Slacker.’ Lauren down at the bottom of the slope, shading her eyes as she looked up at him. The golden sunlight bounced off her hair, making it shimmer like copper. The shorts showed off those long tanned legs, shapely from working. He hadn’t noticed how good she looked before, not really. A sudden flash popped into his head of her
in her flimsy pyjamas that night he’d wanted to talk and she’d chucked him out. Maybe he had noticed …
‘Just done the last of it.’ He slung the shovel into the wheelbarrow and headed down hill to where she waited by the shed.
‘Interesting meeting last night,’ she said.
‘Yeah. Surprising. I didn’t think Flynn would give up a cash bonus and all the rest of it.’ He studiously kept his eyes away from her boobs in the tank top.
‘I guess he found out that some things are worth more than money.’
‘Yeah.’
Lauren opened the shed door and he stowed the shovel and barrow away.
‘Did you know?’ he asked her.
‘What?’
‘About Flynn and Antonia?’
‘I had an idea. So did a lot of other people. He’ll be good for her. And vice versa.’
‘I thought you hated Flynn.’ A lot of other people? Was he really so clueless as to miss what everyone else could see?
‘No, I don’t. I don’t like some of his principles but as a man he’s a pretty good bloke. She’s lucky. He’ll treat her well. He’s kind.’
‘How come I didn’t know?’
‘You didn’t want to. You expected Antonia to be like she was at sixteen, with her teenage crush on you.’
‘I didn’t!’
‘Well, as near as. I don’t know what she’s been through, I suppose she’ll tell me one day, but whatever it was made her grow up fast.’
Simon paused, his hand on the shed door, ready to slide the catch across.
‘You may as well know. She was abducted and held captive for five years. The trial will come up soon and everyone will see it on the news and in the papers anyway.’
‘My God!’
He’d never seen Lauren lost for words but it happened now. She stared at him, completely stunned.
‘I suppose you’re right,’ he said into the silence. ‘I wanted to go back to before, even though we’d actually broken up. I thought she’d need me and I could help her and the twins but …’ He shrugged. ‘I can’t. She’s outgrown me.’
Lauren shook her head. ‘You helped her brilliantly, Simon. You accepted her and the twins instantly, without a moment’s thought, and you’ve proven to her that their father is there for them regardless. What more can you give them than that? A loving, kind father.’
Tears pricked his lids and he swallowed and turned away to walk to his house in the gathering gloom of evening. Lauren walked beside him, a comforting presence, familiar and not familiar at the same time.
‘Are you leaving the co-op?’ he asked.
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Don’t,’ he blurted.
She walked a few paces.
‘Why?’
‘I’d miss you.’
‘Oh. Got a better reason?’
He stopped and she stopped too. He smiled.
‘You’d miss me.’
‘Would I?’
‘Yes. And I need someone to help weed the carrots, and shovel manure.’
‘Fool.’ Smiling she stepped close and held his face between her palms. ‘I’ll stay, Simon, on one condition.’
‘What?’ His breathing hitched and jerked in his throat. Her face was close, lips inviting. Was she about to kiss him? The thought sent hot blood coursing through his body and he leaned in, ready to meet her.
‘God, you stink of manure.’ She dropped her hands and strode away, grimacing, but laughing at the same time.
‘What condition?’ Simon followed her and she increased her pace till he was almost running to keep up.
‘Have a shower,’ she said.
‘Is that it? The condition?’
‘Right at the moment, yes.’ She slowed enough for him to draw level but kept her distance, wrinkling her nose.
‘Okay. If I cook dinner for us, will you tell me the other one?’
‘I’ll help cook. What time?’
‘Give me twenty minutes to clean up.’
‘You’ll need longer.’
‘I won’t.’
‘Righto. See you in twenty.’ She waved a hand and walked away towards her own house.
Simon continued on to his A-frame, pondering the condition she might come up with, but by the time he’d pushed the door open he’d decided he didn’t much care what it was. He wanted her to stay.
Thanks for reading The House at Flynn’s Crossing. I hope you enjoyed it.
Reviews can help readers find books, and I am grateful for all honest reviews. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you’ve read, and what you thought.
If you liked this book, here are my other books: Find Her, Empty Heart, Evidence of Love, Mango Kisses, E for England and The Ripple Effect.
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ISBN: 9781489256690
Title: The House At Flynn’s Crossing
Copyright © 2018 by Elisabeth Rose
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Limited, Level 13/201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000.
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