by Lucy Clark
‘Fool?’
‘She’s good for you. You’re good for her. She needs to be loved. You can see it in her eyes. I don’t know what she’s been through but there’s something there and she needs you just as much as you need her.’
Joshua clenched his jaw. ‘I asked her to marry me and she said no.’
‘Did you ask properly? Romantic, like? Get down on one knee? Tell her how much you love her? How much you can’t live without her? Girls like that stuff. I tell you, even after almost thirty years of being married to my missus, she still likes a spot of romance.’
Joshua was silent and as he looked out the window, the sky seemed to clear, the clouds opening as the sunlight appeared to shine down. ‘Romance?’
‘Oh, for Pete’s sake, boy. At least tell me you told her you loved her, right?’
‘Love? I don’t…’ Joshua stopped, unable to deny the emotion, realisation dawning but with a loud resounding thump on his heart. ‘I. Love. Abbey.’ The words were spoken in utter amazement. ‘I love Abbey,’ he breathed, and in that one split second his world made sense once more.
‘Of course you do, you twit. Any fool could see that just by looking at the two of you together. Go and fix things with Abbey, son.’
‘But…she said no. She doesn’t want me.’
‘Sure she does.’
‘I don’t know how to fix this.’
‘Sure you do. Believe in yourself. Believe in her. Now, get out of here. We can discuss rig business another day.’
Joshua was out of the door before Pierre had finished his sentence. On the drive back to Yawonnadeere, he thought back over everything Abbey had said the other night when she’d declined his offer of marriage. He thought about the way he felt when he touched her, when he held her, when he kissed her, and couldn’t believe his stupidity at not realising that he had been in love. He thought about the way he’d felt, watching her with his children, his heart swelling with love at the way she seemed to light up when Jimmy had put his arms about her. Abbey was meant to be a mother, there was no doubt about that, but she hadn’t wanted to be a mother without love from the father.
‘I love Abbey.’ He whispered the words out loud, then laughed as he realised just how right they sounded. ‘I love Abbey,’ he yelled to his car, and as there were no speed limits out here, he put his foot down. He had some romancing to do.
Joshua’s heart was beating wildly in his chest as he raised a hand to knock on her door. He checked his bowtie was straight and brushed a hand down the lapels of his dinner jacket. He knew he was about to make an absolute fool of himself but he didn’t care. He needed Abbey in his life and if that required him to break out of his comfort zone to win her back, that’s exactly what he would do.
Rapping his knuckles on the wooden door, he waited, fidgeting with his tuxedo jacket, brushing fluff from his trousers and tapping the top of the white box he’d placed on the step beside him. He picked up the single red rose and waited. Everything was in place. He was ready.
Abbey didn’t come to the door.
Joshua frowned and checked his watch. It was almost seven o’clock. He’d left the kids with Rach and Dustin, the twins excited to be having a sleepover at the pub. He wanted to be free this night, to let happen whatever was going to happen, and all because he loved Abbey.
Why wasn’t she answering the door?
Concern began to flood him and this time he knocked louder. Where was she? Was she all right? Had something happened to her? He clenched his jaw as he imagined her lying on the carpet after tripping over and accidentally knocking herself out on the coffee table. He knocked again, his agitation increasing as a few different scenarios played out in his mind.
Automatically, his hand went to the doorknob and although he found it unlocked, he didn’t want to go in. He needed her to come to the door so he could be all romantic and make this night a special one for her.
He knocked again, this time more like an insistent pounding, his impatience to know she was all right rising with alarming speed. She was his Abbey and he wanted to protect her, no, he needed to protect her, and that was why he’d come here tonight, why he’d organised such an elaborate romantic evening. So he could win her back, to show her and to tell her just how much he loved her. But if she didn’t open the door soon, she was in danger of having him forgo all his planning just so he could get to her. She was his Abbey.
He was raising his hand to knock yet again, the mental pictures of Abbey in complete distress flicking through his mind one after the other. She could be hurt. She could be unconscious. She could be bleeding.
When the door was finally wrenched open, she stood there in a bath robe, her hair wrapped in a towel.
Or she could have been in the bath.
‘Joshua?’ Abbey glared up at him, her hands on her hips. ‘What are you doing? I thought someone had been murdered out here with the insistent way you were pounding on my door.’
‘Hmm.’ This was not the way Joshua had thought the evening would begin. ‘No. Uh…no accident, no murder, just me…being impatient.’ And worried, he added silently.
Abbey frowned, giving him a steady appraisal, taking in the tuxedo. ‘Going to a function? It’s like thirty degrees.’
‘Huh? Function?’ It was then he realised he was still holding the rose in his hand. ‘Uh…sort of. This is for you.’ He thrust the rose out towards her.
‘For me? Joshua? What’s going on?’
He shrugged then sucked in a deep breath before exhaling it slowly. ‘I missed you.’
‘You missed me? You only saw me this morning. Briefly, I might add, but you still saw me.’
‘I still missed you.’ His words were heartfelt and insistent and Abbey’s heart started to flutter. ‘And I also wanted to say that I’m sorry.’
Abbey took the rose and brought it to her lips, breathing in its sweet but subtle scent. Joshua watched her, their eyes locking, and he hoped, he prayed, he wasn’t too late, that he was able to undo the damage he’d caused yesterday evening.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ he murmured, and Abbey selfconsciously fingered the lapels of her towelling robe.
‘Well…er…thank you. Um…would you like to come in?’ She still held the rose near her lips, the smooth velvet touch sweet and seductive.
‘Thank you.’ He stooped to pick up a large white box and came into her house.
‘I’ll just go and change.’ She smiled nervously, her brain finally clicking in to recall that she was naked beneath the robe. She blushed a little at the thought.
‘Here.’ He held out the box. ‘This is for you.’
Abbey took the box. ‘What is it?’
‘A dress.’
She stared at him. ‘You bought me a dress?’
‘I did. I’m madly hoping I guessed your size correctly.’
‘How? There are no designer shops in Yawonnadeere.’
‘I am a man of many talents, Dr Bateman.’ He tapped the side of his nose and she decided to simply go along with whatever it was he was doing. The last thing she’d expected tonight was to find the man of her dreams standing on her doorstep, wearing a tuxedo, giving her a rose and then buying her a dress! What was next?
‘OK, then.’ She smiled brightly at him, accepting the box, thankful the rose stem had no thorns as she juggled the two. ‘I guess I’ll go and change.’
Joshua paced around her living room, noting the changes she’d made to old Dr Turner’s residence since she’d arrived. There were quite a few photos and pictures on the walls as well as some dried wild flowers. The old weatherboard house seemed quite different from when Dr Turner had lived here and he knew it was simply Abbey’s ability to make it her own that made it now so heart warming.
He looked at the paintings, mainly watercolours but all of them very good. Most were scenic paintings and then he looked closer at one of them when he recognised the view of the main street in Yawonnadeere as seen from Abbey’s verandah. Then he looked at the next one and fou
nd it was of his home, covered in twinkle lights.
‘Joshua.’
At the sound of his name, he turned slowly, his eyes still drawn to the painting. ‘Your artwork is astounding, Abbey. You really are quite—’ He stopped, almost swallowing his tongue as his gaze drank in the sight of Abbey in the long, snug-fitting red dress he’d bought for her. ‘Abbey.’
Her name was a caress on his lips and her stomach churned with knots of anticipatory delight. She had no idea what was going on but she liked it. Whatever was happening now most definitely had something to do with his apathetic proposal of marriage, she was sure, and as he obviously had something planned, she wasn’t going to spoil it.
She’d had next to no time to get ready with an impatient Joshua prowling around her living room, but Abbey had opened the box and gaped with delight at the most glorious dress she’d ever seen. Scarlet, strapless and seductive, she’d slid the smooth fabric over her head and been astonished that it fitted her to perfection. In fact, there was very little that was left to the imagination.
Quickly applying some mascara, blush and a bit of lipstick, she’d twisted her hair around and clipped it up off her nape, leaving a few loose tendrils. She’d smiled seductively at her reflection, knowing how much Joshua liked to nuzzle her neck and hoping she would drive him completely insane by tempting him all night long.
She clipped on the diamond circle pendant she always wore, a gift from her parents because she’d survived ovarian cancer, and found it enhanced the dress to perfection. Black strappy sandals were all she had for her feet and she was pleased that she’d decided to pamper herself tonight with a pedicure and a bubble bath.
‘It fits,’ she remarked, sliding a hand down her hip.
‘I can see that.’ Joshua nodded, his mouth dry as he stared at the woman before him. ‘I know I’ve called you beautiful before, Abbey, but…’ He took a few steps towards her. ‘You’re exquisite.’
Her smile brightened, her eyes alive with happiness. ‘Thank you.’
He cocked his arm towards her. ‘Shall we?’
Abbey slid her hand nervously around his elbow. ‘I gather it isn’t worth my while asking where we might be going?’
‘You are correct, even though it shouldn’t take you too many guesses, given the lack of five-star restaurants in town.’ He pulled the door closed after them. He was definitely Mr Attentive tonight.
‘We’re not going too far,’ he murmured, and then proceeded to walk her across the road to his house.
‘We’re here already? You weren’t kidding when you said we weren’t going far.’ She raised an eyebrow and laughed as they walked down the corridor, past their consulting rooms, past the little operating theatre, stopping at the door that led to his living quarters.
‘This is all…’ Abbey laughed, smoothing her hand down the gorgeous dress. ‘It’s so amazing. Thank you.’
‘You haven’t seen half of what I have planned.’
‘I don’t need to,’ she said, and placed her hand on his arm. ‘It’s just wonderful that you’re here, with me, doing this…whatever this turns out to be.’
‘Ahh, so you are a romantic at heart.’ He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. ‘There’s still so much I don’t know about you, Abbey.’
‘And I you.’
Joshua let go of her arm to unlock the connecting door between surgery and house. It was kept locked to ensure the twins didn’t accidentally get into any part of the surgery. ‘Close your eyes,’ he whispered, his hand on the doorknob.
‘What? Why?’
‘Shh.’ He put a finger across her lips and then, as though he was unable to resist, brushed his mouth across hers. ‘All shall soon be revealed.’
Abbey dutifully closed her eyes, allowing him to lead her through the door, loving the feel of his body so close to hers. She kept hoping this wasn’t a dream, that she wasn’t about to wake up and find that she was all alone in her house, crying herself to sleep yet again. She’d had so many sleepless nights from cancer, from worry, from sadness, but lately her sleepless nights had been because of Joshua.
The man she loved had proposed to her but he hadn’t proposed because he loved her. Now, though, here she was, in a gorgeous dress, being led by Joshua into his home, her eyes closed as she carefully felt her way forward, the high-heeled sandals she wore feeling foreign on her feet after weeks of flat shoes.
Once they were through the door, he stopped and relocked the door and she admired him for his diligence. She had no idea where the twins were and given the level of silence in the house, she wondered whether they weren’t perhaps next door at the pub with Rach and Dustin.
‘Ready?’ he asked, close to her ear.
‘Yes. Can I open my eyes?’
‘You may.’ Joshua stood and held his breath, hoping she liked what he’d prepared.
Abbey gasped with awe and wonderment as she walked into the house. It was obvious right from the start that she’d guessed correctly with regard to the twins. They were most definitely not here. Joshua had gone all out, turning the inside of his home into a magical fairyland. The entire entryway, living room and dining room had been decorated with tiny tea candles, making the room glitter and glow so beautifully, it literally took her breath away. Dried rose petals were on the floor, their scent encompassing and welcoming her.
Joshua smiled at the way she kept opening and closing her mouth like a fish, pleased he’d managed to stun her. ‘And now, if you’d like to come this way…’ He led her to a meticulously laid table, set for two. It was then Abbey realised there was a delicious aroma in the air and turned to look at Joshua.
‘You’ve cooked me dinner?’
He took her hands in his as they stood, surveying the room. ‘It was either this or the pub,’ he joked, then immediately sobered. ‘I wanted tonight to be special. I can’t do that, can’t do right by you, in a rowdy room full of people.’
‘I presume the twins are with Rach and Dustin?’
‘Having a fantastic time, excited to the hilt with their special sleepover at the pub. Giselle and Mark were going to make them a special dinner of noodles and cheese—’
‘Their favourite,’ she interjected.
‘And then Rach and Dustin were going to turn their spare room into a tent complete with cardboard stars, covered in aluminium foil to make them shine and sparkle when they hang them from the roof.’
‘I don’t think the twins are going to want to come home after that.’ Abbey bit her lips as she took in what he was saying. ‘So, everyone knows we’re here, together?’
‘They do.’
‘And you’re all right with that?’
‘I am.’
‘Are you? Joshua.’ Abbey let go of his hand and caressed his cheek. ‘This is so strange, so different. Lovely, but it’s not really you.’
‘Yes, it is.’ His words were vehement. ‘Tonight, I am more me than I have been in a very long time and I’m this way because of you.’
‘Me?’
‘Abbey.’ He stopped, pulling out a chair and urging her to sit. ‘When Miriam died, a part of me died, too. I know, it’s natural. We were married, we were connected. The fact that I blamed myself for her death was…well, it was what I did. Since then I’ve tried to piece my life together, trying to make it fit again, and it wasn’t until you told me that the pieces of my life have changed that I realised you were right. My life had changed, dramatically, and it changed even more when you came back into it.’
‘Me?’ she said.
‘Abbey, the pieces, the strange puzzle pieces of my life, are almost back together, fitting in different ways, but there’s one piece, one very important piece, that’s missing. That’s you, Abbey. I need you in my life.’
‘You do?’
‘Abbey, you’ve opened me up. You’ve talked to me, you’ve seen right through to my heart. You’re such a caring, giving, wonderful woman and I love you for it.’
‘You…you…?’ Her eyes widened at his
words and her mouth dropped open when he went down on bended knee, gathering her hands into his once more.
‘Love you? Yes. Most passionately. You have helped me to face some of the toughest fears I’ve ever had and I’ve gathered strength from you. Last night, when I asked you to marry me, I hadn’t realised then exactly how I truly felt about you. I saw you with my children, witnessed just how much they loved you and I just wanted to give you the opportunity to always have such a love surround you. You deserve it. You’re a wonderful woman and you’ll be an incredible mother. All I was really sure of last night was that I needed to have you near me, near us. The thought of you leaving me at the end of your six months here has been keeping me up at night. I had to find a way to keep you here, keep you close, although it wasn’t until earlier today that the penny finally dropped why.’
He stopped and brought her hands to his lips, kissing them again. ‘You’ve been through so much, my darling Abbey. I could tell, when you were with the twins, just how much being a mother really means to you. But it could have been so much worse. If they hadn’t found your cancer in time, it could have taken your life.’ Tears welled in his eyes as he spoke the words. ‘And that…that would have been a real tragedy.
‘You are special, my beautiful, wonderful Abigail. You have a precious gift of giving and despite what you’ve faced, what emptiness you may carry around inside you, you continue to give to others. You gave to me…you’ve helped to make me whole again. Now, please, let me give to you. Let me give my love to you and let me share the love of my children. My life, without you, is meaningless. Sure, if you don’t feel the same way, I will go on. You’ve taught me how to do that, how to not close myself off from those who care about me. You’ve shown me that my children need me very much and for those things alone I will be forever grateful but please, please, tell me that I’m not too late. Tell me that you feel the same way about me as I feel about you?’
‘Joshua.’ Abbey swallowed over the lump in her throat, the tears in her eyes spilling over and dropping from her lashes to her cheeks. Joshua stood, tenderly scooping her into his arms and kissing away her tears.
