Baker's Dozen

by Wendy Smith

  I play her with my tongue, her moans growing louder. Straightening up, I insert two fingers inside her. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her breath laboured as I press as deep as I can.

  “Owen,” she cries as I stroke her clit with my thumb. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. I’m never going to give her a reason to regret giving me a chance. Her eyelids flutter as she comes. She’s relaxed and as ready for me as I am for her.

  I lean over and kiss her. Her body shivers underneath mine, and she grips my bicep as I pull a foil package from the box on the bedside cabinet.

  I unwrap it and roll the condom on, maintaining eye contact with her. If I’m right, her nerves are gone. Written all over her face is the adoration we share for one another.

  I love Ginny.

  The thought overwhelms me, and makes me want her even more. Never did I think I’d feel this way, to want and need someone so much it’s filled my heart with more love than I can handle.

  I’ve held nothing back from her so far, and I won’t hold back from this either.

  “Are you okay?” A smile plays on her lips.

  “I hope you know how much I love you.”

  There. The words are said, and her smile widens.

  “I love you too.” She takes a deep breath as I push into her. Any thoughts of anything else but Ginny are gone as we join for the first time. If this is what sex is like when you love someone, I want more. More with her.

  Moving slowly, I keep kissing her. She’s all around me, and I don’t want to lose this feeling.

  In a moment of clarity, I understand Drew and Hayley, Adam and Lily. If there was ever anyone for me, it’s Ginny, and the only regret I have is that it’s taken me so long to find her.

  Now I have her, there’s no way I’ll do anything to risk this.

  She’s mine.

  Tension builds in my body. It’s not a new sensation, but it’s somehow different this time. Maybe it’s because I’ve just told her how I feel, and I know she feels the same way. She’s everything I never knew I wanted.

  And I want this all of the time.

  I pick up the pace. She moans at first, and as I drive in deeper, her expression grows more serious. “Are you okay?”

  Ginny takes a deep breath. “You’re so deep.”

  “Want me to ease up a bit?”

  She nods.

  I slow again, and focus on kissing her. Whatever it takes to make her happy, I’ll do it.

  “That feels good,” she says.

  Our gazes lock. She fights the urge to close her eyes, I can see it. And I lose myself in the moment, warmth washing over me as I come. “God, Ginny.”

  Confusion crosses her face. “What?”

  “Being with you. It’s everything.”

  Tears well in her eyes.

  I kiss her, rolling to her side and pulling her with me. Her skin’s so soft beneath my hands as I stroke her back and thighs. All I want is my hands on her, and she’s not complaining. The smallest of contented sighs catches in her throat, and it bewitches me.

  One night of this will never be enough.

  “No regrets?” I ask.

  She shakes her head.

  “Me either. And I want more. I know you want to move slowly, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. You’re all I want.”

  Ginny nestles in closer, draping her arm across my chest. I grasp her hand and press it to my lips.

  I don’t ever want to let her go.

  11

  Drew

  Keeping Hayley’s pregnancy a secret is tough.

  I understand her reasons, but it takes everything in me not to yell it from the rooftops every single day.

  The hard part has been watching her struggle with morning sickness, though it’s passing now.

  As we reach the end of the first trimester, she glows, and I’m more in love with her than ever. She’s taken a job with a group of independent midwives, and her workload is a lot lighter these days, which leaves me relieved. It’d be tough doing this with the way she used to run around in Copper Creek.

  It’s time for our first scan. After a rough few weeks, Hayley chose a midwife and everything seems well. Now we get to take a look at our baby, and I can see for myself how things are going.

  I grip her hand. “Ready?”

  She smiles and nods.

  The gel’s smeared over her stomach. There’s already a small bump there. I kiss it every time we make love, knowing my child’s inside her. I always wanted a big family, and that we’ve started fills me with more joy than I can say.

  That it’s with Hayley only makes it better.

  Jan, the technician, runs the transducer across Hayley’s skin before settling in one place. The image clears, and there’s our active, kicking baby. At a glance, it’s perfectly formed and very much alive.

  And then I spot it.

  “Hayley?”

  She squeezes my hand. “Yes?”

  I look closer. “Is that …?”

  Jan looks up. “You see that too?”

  I nod. “One appears to be hiding behind the other, but that looks like twins to me.”

  All the colour in Hayley’s face disappears. “Really?”

  “It would explain the more severe morning sickness. Even if you’d had a scan earlier, we might not have picked it up. We’ve got a shy one, babe.”

  She laughs. “I know you wanted a big family, but twins?”

  I chuckle. “It’ll have to be confirmed, but if anyone asked me, I’d say either we have one baby with four legs, or there are two babies.”

  “Let’s see if we can pick up both heartbeats,” Jan says.

  She turns the volume up, and the rapid beat fills the room. I close my eyes, and nod. “The other one’s faint, but it’s there.”

  As Jan moves the transducer around, and the second beat grows in volume.

  “There you are,” she says.”

  I open my eyes at Hayley’s gasp. Sure enough, we’re not having one baby. There are two.

  Hayley’s grip tightens, and I lean over, giving her a tender kiss. “We’re in for a ride.” I chuckle.

  “Two babies. How are we going to cope with two babies?” she asks.

  “We’ll be fine. I’m in shock, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

  She laughs. “You might be. I don’t know how I’m gonna do.”

  I shift my gaze to her. “It’ll be good, babe. We’ll do it together.”

  “Are you going to give birth?”

  “If I could, I would. I’d take the pain over you dealing with it.”

  Hayley shoots me a look that leaves me wanting to drag her out of here and take her home to bed. Instead, I refocus on the ultrasound. We’re at fourteen weeks, and the anatomy scan will come later, but our babies really do look perfect.

  Our babies.

  “So I guess this means we can start telling people?” I ask.

  Hayley grins. “I guess it does. I’ll call my parents when we get home.”

  “Fancy a road trip? I want to see everyone’s reactions in person.”

  “When?”

  “Let’s go and see your mum and dad on Saturday, stay the night, and then see my family on Sunday. Maybe take Monday off to rest up.”

  She laughs. “That’s a lot of travelling.”

  “Yeah, but can you imagine how excited our parents will be? Your mum is going to flip out.” I plant a kiss on her forehead.

  Everything’s perfect.

  We get home, and Hayley heads straight to the couch.

  She’s been quiet in the car, and I know she’s worried. If I could wrap her in bubble wrap for the next six months, I would. I’m worried too.

  “How are we going to cope?” I can see the concern in her eyes.

  I smile, sitting beside her and pulling her into my arms. “We’ll get there. It’s not going to be easy, but you know I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  “I know. It’s just …”

  She doesn�
�t need to finish that sentence. I know her well enough to know what she’s thinking.

  “Our plans don’t need to change. You’ll be on maternity leave and decide what you want to do. And I’ll back you the whole way, whether you want to go back to work or not. We can live on my salary.”

  Her shoulders slump. “I know. It was just going to be a lot easier with one baby.”

  “It could have been worse. At least there are only two.”

  She laughs, leaning her head against mine. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. I’m always right. That’s what husbands are for.”

  Hayley lets out a loud sigh. “I guess I should have ordered one without a big ego.”

  “It’s why you love me. Isn’t it?” I rub her back. “It’s not just my ego that’s big either.”

  She shakes her head. “You never fail to make me laugh.”

  “Constant entertainment. That’s me. Isn’t that how we ended up in this position?”

  Hayley pulls away, looking at me with so much love it takes my breath away. “I love you.”

  “Love you too, princess. More than anything.”

  She grabs one of my hands, pressing it to her stomach. “I don’t know about anything.”

  “Okay. Well, maybe those two have a bit of my heart, but their mother’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “Right back at you, Campbell.”

  I could worry more about multiple pregnancies and increased risk, and given my occupation, maybe I should, but right now I’m on cloud nine knowing that in a few months we’ll have two beautiful babies.

  I’ve got everything I ever wanted.

  12

  Owen

  It’s been nine weeks since Cara died.

  Nine weeks since I met Ginny.

  Graham has passed on my concerns about Ava’s care, but I’ve heard nothing. Meanwhile, the butchery stands closed, though I’ve heard they’ve tempted a butcher from Carlstown to rent the place. Before long, things will be back to being as normal as they’ve ever been around here.

  I’ve got eyes for no one but Ginny. My green-eyed girl has me running around in circles, and I’ve never been happier.

  I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve had to face the idea of my mortality that’s got me so settled with her, or if it’s just that she’s such a good person. She’s big-hearted, and more loving than most people I know.

  She’s spent two nights at my place this week, and even though I want her with me every night, we’re taking things slow.

  It’s Friday, and I get my only real sleep-in of the week. I’ve decided to have a long weekend, and Mel has the new assistant to help her. If she really needs me, she knows where to find me. But today, all the sleep is mine.

  Until the knock on my door.

  I roll over, and open one eye to see the alarm clock. It’s 8:35 a.m. And whoever is interrupting my sleep had better have a good reason for it.

  Tugging on some trackpants and a T-shirt, I drag myself to the back door. It’s Marie, the social worker who picked Ava up that fateful day.

  What the hell is she doing at my house?

  “Hi.”

  “Hi, Owen.” Her tone is soft, as if she has some bad news for me. What the hell else can there be?

  “If you’re here because I complained about the day of Cara and Ryan’s funeral, it’s a bit early in the morning. And late. That was two months ago.”

  She nods. There’s no colour in her cheeks. “Can I come in?”

  “Uhh, sure.”

  She follows me into the living room, and I point at the couch.

  “What’s this all about?”

  Marie licks her lips. “Cara and Ryan left everything in a bit of a mess. There’s been a lot of sifting through documents and trying to get to the bottom of everything. Anyway, I’m here about Ava.”

  “What about her?” I sit in a recliner opposite, but lean forward.

  “There’s no easy way to say this, Owen.” She takes a deep breath. “But you’re her father.”

  I blink in rapid succession.. “I’m her what?”

  “Cara and Ryan had a lawyer who handled a lot of their business stuff. But she had a will lodged with another lawyer, and she named you as Ava’s real father and as the girl’s legal guardian. You should get your lawyer to go through the court and get a parenting order, and if I were you I’d get a DNA test done to change her birth certificate …”

  My chest tightens as my mind whirls, and I stop hearing what she’s saying. “Cara’s family …”

  “That little girl has no family. Just you.” Marie hands me an envelope. “It’s all in here. Cara’s lawyer will also be in touch. With her naming you legal guardian, I thought it best to bring her here straight away.”

  “Don’t you have to vet me too?”

  She gives me a small smile. “Well, Cara naming you as testamentary guardian gives you automatic guardianship of Ava. As well as that, you had a full police background check when you joined the volunteer fire brigade.”

  I shake my head. “I can’t believe this. Surely she would have said something.”

  “Surely you suspected?”

  I shrug. “When it was over, she told me she and Ryan were back together and that they’d been blessed. I was happy for her.”

  “Ava needs you, Owen.” Marie shifts her gaze to the floor. “She’s been so unsettled, and she was onto her fifth family when I got the news. I can try and find something more permanent, but it won’t be close.”

  “Five families? In two months?”

  She nods. “She needs you.”

  If Ava really is my child, I need to do something, but my feet are lead and I can’t work out how to use them. For the first time in my life, I really don’t know what to do.

  “Owen?”

  I nod, pushing myself to stand. “I’m not letting her go to another family. Not when she has one here.”

  Her brows knit. “Are you sure?”

  It’s going to be hard. I’ve never planned a family. I’ve never planned anything like this.

  But I can’t let Ava go on the way she has been. I’m not ready, I’m scared, but I think of Cara and although it’s upsetting she didn’t tell me I was Ava’s father when she was still alive, she ultimately did the right thing making a will that told the truth.

  “If I’m her father, I’d be a shitty one if I let her go somewhere else.”

  She nods. “I’m so sorry I didn’t know all those weeks ago, Owen.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “Where is she?”

  I stop when I see her. Am I the man for this job?

  Ava’s sitting on a chair on the back deck with another social worker. Her feet swing and her head is bowed, her long blonde hair hanging down. This poor kid has probably been to hell and back, and here I am, hesitating.

  “Hey Ava.” My voice cracks, and she raises her face to look at me.

  I never paid attention to Cara’s kid, but now my genes scream back at me when I see her. Maybe it’s because I’ve had the benefit of seeing Max and Rose from an early age, but from what I can see, there’s a family resemblance.

  “You’re going to come and live with me. Is that okay?”

  The poor girl looks terrified, but I know it’s not personal. She’s been shipped from pillar to post the past couple of weeks. I need to give her some stability.

  “So you know what? Remember the gingerbread men I gave you before?”

  She nods, her eyes widening.

  “Maybe we can make a special one just for you.”

  If baking for Ava is what gets through to her, what helps ease her into whatever new life is in store for her, I’ll do it. It’s all I know how to do.

  She gives me a small smile.

  I have a two-bedroom flat. At least I can give her a room of her own, and we can pretty it up for her.

  My stomach sinks. What’s Ginny going to think? I’ve finally found someone I might just want to settle do
wn with, and this happens. She’s already struggling with my history as a playboy, and now I have a daughter with someone from that past.

  “Her things are in the suitcase.”

  I raise my gaze and frown at the small case beside her.

  “That’s it? What about all her toys?”

  Ava bursts into tears, and I feel useless.

  “We packed as much as we could. There’ll be a lawyer in touch with you in the next few days. There’ll be an inheritance for her from the estate. I’m not sure about the exact details. Cara’s lawyer will have all of the information.”

  “As much as you could,” I mutter.

  She places her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Owen. We didn’t have a lot to work with.”

  Shrugging her off, I reach for Ava’s hand. At least she trusts me enough to take it.

  “We can help settle her in.”

  I turn back to Marie. “What you can do is piss off. I’ll take it from here.”

  To her credit, she doesn’t even blink, but she nods. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “Please don’t.”

  I pick up the case, and lead Ava into the house, dropping her bag on the living room floor.

  “Come on.” I lead her out through the bakery kitchen and to the front of the shop. Mel looks up at me, confusion on her face, and nods toward Ava.

  “Long story.”

  I take Ava around to the display cabinet that contains the gingerbread men. “There you go, sweetheart. Pick whichever one you want.”

  Her eyes are so big as I settle her on my hip and slide the glass cabinet open, and she slowly reaches her hand out to take one. I smile. “It’s okay.”

  I need to go through her bag. What does she have in there? Just clothing? Has she got a toothbrush, pyjamas, everything else she actually needs? There’s so much to think about.

  I set Ava down to eat her biscuit.

  “Owen? Why is the Mitchell kid here?” Mel mutters.

  “Because she’s my daughter.”

  Now her eyes widen as she stares at me. “Serious?”

  “Apparently so. She’s my responsibility.”

  Her face falls. “That poor child.”

  “Thanks.”