by Smith, Wendy
“I love it,” she whispers, clinging to my arm. “I had no idea this place was here.”
“Jack Kirby built it, but he prefers living at the cove. I asked him about the garage and when we came to take a look, I realised there was so much more. As soon as I saw it, I knew this place was you.”
Max screams past, sliding in his socks on the polished wooden floor. “Zoom, zoom.”
“Max, be careful.” Lily’s laughter captivates me. I never thought it would be possible to be so in love again, but here I am, a little battered, but back with the love of my life. I slide my arms around her waist.
“It’s all ours, Lily. All ours. We can move in straight away.”
Her smile grows, and I let go of her waist, grasping one of her hands. “Want to explore?”
Max has already checked out every room, and by the time we get down the hallway he runs along behind us, panting, explaining what each room is.
“We’ll need furniture. Our house is a mix of the old stuff from Mum’s place and what was already there. Some of it doesn’t belong to me.”
“I already thought about that. We’ll go for a drive to the city and shop.” I lower my voice. “Just imagine. A new bed for a new start.”
She flings her arms around my neck.
“We’re finally going to get our happy ending, sweetheart.”
Her eyes shine. “This is exciting. More than I ever thought possible. It’s beautiful, Adam.”
I drop my head to kiss her, and Max runs circles around us as we embrace.
Lily laughs. “This is perfect.”
* * *
After an afternoon of checking out the new property, I drop Lily and Max at home with a promise of a takeaway dinner, but I’ve got unfinished business elsewhere.
As I head down the long and twisted driveway toward Eric’s place, all I can think about is Lily, and how she told me of the nights when she hid in her bed while he hammered on the door, trying to get her to let him in. Of his hounding her to marry him. Of his harsh words where Max was concerned.
He answers the front door, beer in hand, sighing at the sight of me.
“Eric.”
“Adam. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He takes a sip of his beer, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m just here to let you know that Lily and Max will be moving out in a couple of weeks. You can have your land back.”
One of his eyebrows creeps up. “She’s leaving?”
“I just bought a house. She’ll be moving in with me.”
He smirks, and for the first time it registers just how glazed over his eyes are. That’s not his first beer. Is this one of those nights when he’d likely end up at her place, begging to be let in? “How long is that gonna last?”
I bite down my temper. Before I came, I knew I might have trouble keeping my cool. But he’s not worth it. Being with my family is. “I’m going to marry her, Eric.”
He sneers. “You’ll play happy families for a while, then disappear and leave her struggling again. I’m the one who’s been there for her, the one who wanted her when you didn’t.”
“You wanted her but without any strings attached. I want her, strings and all. Because her strings are my strings.”
Eric takes a step forward, but I stand my ground as we eye each other, Eric taking a swig from his beer.
“She’s mine. Always has been. Now she always will be.”
He shakes his head and takes a step back. “Whatever. You’re welcome to her. Her and that idiot kid of yours.”
I grit my teeth, fisting my hands, and it takes all my willpower to resist punching him. Instead, I turn and walk back toward the car.
Opening the door, I lean on it. “You know, Eric, the way I see it, Max is a hell of a lot smarter than you are.”
He rolls his eyes. “Why’s that?”
“He knew his mother wasn’t interested in you. It’s a shame you still don’t get it.”
At that, I get into the car, start it, and back down the driveway. Eric stands motionless. I smile at getting that last jibe in. Once we sort out the furniture, I’ll get Lily and Max out of that damn house and away from him.
* * *
In the morning, I go out to get supplies and return to find Lily on the deck with her arms crossed. She’s stone-faced as I exit the car and walk toward her.
“You okay?” I ask.
“What did you say to Eric?”
Damn. Caught.
“I told him you were coming with me. That’s all. Why?”
“He’s offered to buy the sheep.” The look in her eyes softens. I know how much all of this means to her, and I don’t want her to have to give up everything she’s worked for. Whatever it took, I’d have found some way for her to keep the flock if she wanted it.
“We’ll find somewhere else for them if that’s what you want. Maybe clear some of that bush behind the house.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I drop the grocery bags on the deck and hold my hands out, grasping her arms. “Then tell me what you want.”
“He offered me a really good price for them. More than I ever thought I’d get.” She’s torn. It’s written all over her face.
“Lily, you’ve worked so hard for everything. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. If you want to sell the sheep, do it. If you want to keep them, we’ll find a way. All I want is to give our family a home. You, me, and Max.”
Lily sighs and wraps her arms around my waist. “I sold them.”
“You mean you made me go through that for nothing?”
She shrugs. “It was worth seeing you wriggle.” The smile on her lips as she raises her head is worth my previous discomfort.
“I’m sure it was. I’ll get you back tonight.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I run my hands down her back until I reach her waist, and I grip her as she holds me. “It means I’ll make you wriggle in return.”
The flush that hits her cheeks is sweet and sexy. She has no idea what she does to me, never did.
“Where’s Max?”
“In the kitchen having a snack. Why?”
I lower my head to brush my lips down her neck. “Because the thought of going all day without touching you is driving me crazy.”
“You’ll just have to wait.” She laughs softly, but not for long as my mouth seeks hers, the first lips I ever kissed and now the only ones I ever will.
“Adam,” she whispers as we break apart.
“Every second that goes by, I only want you more.”
She reaches up, gripping my shoulders. “I know the feeling. What are you doing to me, Adam Campbell?” Her eyes are filled with love, so much love.
“Not what I’d like to do. Let’s get this food inside and plan our day. When does Eric take the sheep?”
“As soon as he transfers the money. Once we’re gone from here, he’ll move the fencing around and reclaim this part of the property, just as his mother intended.”
She lets go and I bend to pick up the bags. “She did such an amazing thing for you two. I wish she was around for me to thank.”
Lily opens the door, ushering me through. “I wish she was around to see us back together. She loved Max so much.”
I hate that I’ll never be able to thank Eric’s mother for what she did.
Almost as much as I hate what my own mother did.
30
Adam
Our journey to the city is Max’s first, and we borrow Corey’s canopied ute so we can load it up with things for the new house. The settlement on the apartment left me with a decent profit, and I have enough to get what we need and live for a while.
We all have plans. The sooner I can replace that old TV of Lily’s the better. I haven’t told Max yet, but I’m getting a gaming console, too. There are so many things I want to do with my son.
It doesn’t take long for Max to get bored, and he fidgets in the back seat of the double cab. “How far away is it?”
“Can we stop and take a break?”
“If we stop it’ll take longer to get there, sweetheart,” Lily says.
He crosses his arms and pouts. “Fine.”
We get past the winding roads and onto the straight. In the wing mirror I see him leaning against the door, boredom written all over his face.
“What do you think we need for the house, Max?” I ask.
“I dunno.”
“What about a new TV?”
His eyes widen and he sits up, a bit more interested. “A big one?”
“Bigger than the one at home.”
“How big?”
“How big is the back of the ute?”
Lily nudges me. “You’re not filling the living room with a giant TV.”
I laugh. “The living room is huge. There’s heaps of space.” I glance at her. “I’m good for it. I won’t neglect other parts of the house for a big television. It’ll all come in under budget.”
She sighs. “It’s hard to break the habit of a lifetime. I’m so used to watching my spending.”
“We’ll still have to, but you’ll have your house, just the way you want it.”
“My house.” I shoot her another glance, and she’s looking straight at me with a satisfied smile on her face.
“Yes, your house. It’s all for you.” I grab her hand and raise it to my lips, grateful that my brother bought an automatic vehicle and that I don’t have to worry about changing gear. I flick a glance at the rear-view mirror.
Maybe I’ll get Max an iPad too, or something to keep him pre-occupied on the drive back. Lily couldn’t get internet to the old place unless she stumped up for satellite, but it’s being installed at the new house during the week. Max uses the internet at school, but to have it at his fingertips will grow his world by so much.
“Want to play with my phone? There are some games on it.”
Max leans forward as far as his seat belt will allow. “Can I?”
Lily lets go of my hand and plucks the phone out of the centre console, passing it to him.
“If you can work it out.”
Max laughs. “It’s an iPhone. We use iPads at school.”
“There you go, then.”
No more bored boy in the back seat, and no more fidgeting. Lily smiles at me, and I take her hand in mine again. Nearly there.
* * *
Lily was nervous about bringing Max to the city, with all the noise and the people, but he handles it like a pro. We go bed hunting first to get the things we’ll need to have delivered out of the way.
Max just about blows a gasket at the sight of the bunks, and I ruffle his hair as he fixes his gaze on the beds.
“What do you think?”
He nods. “Maybe I can have a sleepover with Karl?”
I frown. “I don’t know about that, bud.”
“He’s soooo nice to me since you saved him. We’re friends now.”
Lily’s eyebrows creep up at that news. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“He told me he’s sad he doesn’t have a dad. But I’ve got one now, and he’s the best.” Max wraps his arms around my waist, and I hold him tight, painfully aware of his reluctance to be given affection in public. Although, since I met him, that seems to have improved.
“If you want the bunks, they’re yours. Now to find Mum and me a new bed.”
Max lets go and walks down the aisle, looking at each bed carefully. As if he’s taking his time to pick us out a good one.
“So …”
“So what?” Lily asks.
“Is it just his room we’re sorting out? Do you think they sell cots here?”
Her jaw drops, but I’m only half teasing. The thought of us having a baby together swells my heart more than I can say.
“I want the whole thing with you, Lily. To experience everything I missed out on with Max. If you want to.”
She blinks away tears. “We haven’t been back together long. Besides, I don’t even know if I can,” she whispers.
“What do you mean?”
“I told you I’m on the pill because my body’s a bit haywire. Those months messed with me in so many ways.”
I shrug. “Then we wait and see what happens. I’m not going to pressure you into something you don’t want. I just wanted to make sure I told you how I feel as I think we’ve both had enough of being in the dark.”
She gives me a smile and wraps her arms around me, snuggling into my chest. “I hate the dark.”
“I know.”
“Mum, Dad, check this one out.”
Lily gazes up at me. “What do you reckon, Dad?”
“I think we need to go and find out what our son wants, Mum.”
She chuckles. “Once we get the internet we can always order a cot online if or when we actually need it.”
As she lets go of my waist, I lace my fingers with hers. “I like the way you think.”
“I like you.”
I bend my neck a little and brush her lips with mine. “Let’s go find the most comfortable bed ever.”
“Mum, Dad.” Max calls again.
“Come on.”
* * *
Two beds and one lounge suite later, we make our way over to look at televisions. Lily rolls her eyes as Max and I zoom in on the sixty-five-inch one with the curved screen, complete with a sound system and Xbox. We’ve already picked up an iPad which caused Max to get over-excited.
“We don’t need this,” she says.
“I need it.” I grin.
“Yeah, Dad needs it,” says Max, eying up that console.
“I notice he’s always taking your side now.” She doesn’t sound annoyed, more amused.
“He’s my boy, that’s why.” I hold out my hand, and Max high fives it. “What do you think, Max? Can we fit this in the back of the ute?”
He nods.
“Yeah, I do too. Let’s get this one. We can even install it at Mum’s place until we move into the new house.”
“Can’t we move into the new house now?” Max asks.
I laugh. “Next weekend. They should deliver the beds then, but we’ll move everything else and sort out what we need and what to get rid of once we get there.”
“If we take this home, I won’t see either of you for the rest of the weekend.” Lily sighs.
I can’t help but smile. “Well, I was thinking that after I pay for this, we’d grab some lunch, and I’ll give you my credit card and PIN to go buy some clothes.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t do that.”
“Sure I can. There’s that little lingerie shop by the food court. And when I say little lingerie …” I chuckle to myself as she goes a deep shade of pink.
“Fine. If you insist.”
“Make the most of it before I run out of money.”
The colour drains from her face. “Adam?”
I place my hands on her arms. “We’re good, Lily. Buying property in Copper Creek is ridiculously cheap. We’ve got enough to splurge now and to live on for at least six months. By then we should have the garage up and running. Jack’s already started contacting his old customers for me. They’re over the moon there’ll be a local mechanic.”
She nods. “I guess we’ll have the money from the sheep, too.”
“There you go. You can get what you need. Don’t hold back,” I say. The worried look in her eyes gives way to a smile as her lips curl. “You deserve it.”
Lily leans over and pecks me on the cheek. “Love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll spend forever showing it.”
As we keep walking, the food court comes into view.
I turn to look at my family. “What do you two want?”
Max tugs on my hand. “Can we have McDonald’s? I’ve never had that.”
“Seriously?” I look down at him. If they’ve barely left town, I guess that’d be right.
“We don’t usually go further than Callahans and the surr
ounding shops. It’s too far,” Lily says.
“If it’s okay with your mother, sure.” I shift my gaze to her and she nods.
“We just eat Mum’s cooking. She makes burgers, but I bet these ones are better.”
Lily fights a laugh as she clamps her lips together. If nothing else, Max speaks his mind. Diplomatic or not.
We walk up to the counter, and I cast my eyes over the menu. “What sort of burger do you want, Max?”
In the end, he decides on a Big Mac, just like Dad is having. We also end up with what I can only describe as a metric shit-ton of McNuggets. Either his eyes are bigger than his belly, or he’ll hoover them up.
If it bothers Lily, she doesn’t let on. Me? I love spoiling my kid.
Lily gets through her burger and fries, but I know where her mind is already. She keeps looking at the lingerie shop near the food court, and casting her eye across to a couple of clothing stores farther down.
“Go.” I nudge her arm and pull my wallet out, handing my credit card to her.
“This still makes me feel awkward.”
“PIN is 1907.”
Her lips twitch as she takes the card.
“Yes, it’s your birthday. That’s always been my PIN. Nineteenth of July.”
From the look on her face, she’d jump me then and there if there weren’t people around. What I’d said was the truth. I’d kept that as my PIN for years. It had become habit, evidence of my lingering reluctance to let her go. Thank God I hadn’t.
“Told you. Never stopped.” I don’t even have to finish the sentence. She knows what I mean.
“Be good for Adam,” she says to Max.
“His name’s Dad.” Max pokes his tongue out, and Lily raises her eyebrows.
“Fine. Do you want to get some clothes too, while we’re shopping on Dad’s credit card?” She looks at me with her eyebrows still raised, and I grin in response.
“Yep,” he mumbles, eating his way through what I think is his twentieth chicken nugget.
“We’ll stay here and open up your iPad. Let’s download some games to keep you occupied on the way home.”
