by Iris Blobel
Murray leaned back, yet not taking his eyes off the photo. “As you all know, Hollie’s mother died during childbirth, because of some complications. The labour was exceptionally long and difficult, and when I heard the baby cry, I was told there was another one.” He sighed and then lovingly gazed at Hollie. “The thing is,” he hesitated, and his gaze wandered back to the photo again. “The thing is, she gave birth to twins.”
There was a silence in the room as everyone hung on Murray’s every word.
“Dad?” Hollie whispered in confusion.
Murray’s face showed the years of pain as he turned to Hollie. “I am sorry I’ve never told you, Hollie. I truly am.”
Hollie looked at Jeremy, who seemed to be just as surprised. Then her gaze turned to Sam and Davo, and she saw them staring at her dad.
“Her last words were, ‘You will take care of my girls, won’t you?’” Tears welled up in Murray’s eyes as he moved his thumb over the photo, caressing his late wife’s face. “But I didn’t have a hope of caring for two young babies and running a farm on my own. Money was sparse already.” He rubbed the temple of his forehead with his finger. “A good friend of ours,” he turned to Hollie, “Auntie Madeleine, who died a few years back, was running a little bed and breakfast down the road and told me about this couple who had just lost their baby and were here to find some rest, before heading back to Ireland.”
Sam watched him warily.
He returned her gaze. “I got to meet them. Joyce and Graham.”
“Oh my goodness,” Hollie whispered.
Sam could hardly talk. “That’s Mum and Dad.”
The women’s eyes met, neither quite sure how to process the information which had been provided to them, or what to think of it. Even with everything they had been through in Ireland, this was something neither of them had expected.
“Yes, it is.” He took a deep breath and said, “You are Hollie’s twin sister.”
Hollie was speechless. She saw her dad crying and went over to him and placed her arm around him. “Why did you never tell me?”
He shrugged and got his old hanky out of his pocket. Davo and Jeremy grinned when they heard the roaring sound of Murray blowing his nose.
He hesitated, searching for a reasonable explanation. “I suppose I was afraid of your reaction. Afraid of losing you.”
“But—”
He nodded. “I know. I thought it was the easy way out for me. Not confronting the guilt. The not knowing. Just everything.”
Hollie’s head moved to meet Sam’s eyes. Sam’s blue eyes. “That’s why I dreamt of you,” she said slowly.
Sam stared wordlessly across the room. Hollie could see she was still trying to comprehend the situation as well.
“You know, as in…they say twins can pick up on each other’s souls in a time of need,” Hollie added.
“Unbelievable,” Sam said. “Well, I’m glad you listened and didn’t give up.”
Murray turned to Sam again. “I never, ever wanted to hurt you. Giving you away was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. But I wasn’t able to cope with twins. I had no help. Those days were different. You were the stronger, the more determined one already, after only a few days, and I knew in my heart you would do well.”
“But I was born in Sydney,” Sam suddenly said.
Murray shook his head. “Your mother had just lost a baby in Sydney and your parents came to Tasmania for a bit of a break before heading back to Ireland. Those days weren’t as bureaucratic as they are today.” He choked back a smile. “The doctor in Sydney was more than happy to reissue the birth certificate.”
He gave Sam the photo of him with the baby twins.
“That’s my little teddy bear,” Sam said as she wiped the tears on her cheeks.
Murray’s mouth twitched into a smile. “You remember the teddy bear?”
“I’ve still got it,” Sam said proudly. “I gave Hollie a photo of me and my teddy.”
“I had asked your parents for that small favour: for them to keep the name Samantha and the teddy bear. Your mum made it for you.” Murray was visibly delighted that the requests were fulfilled.
“When Jeremy told me about the real reason for Hollie’s trip to Dublin…”
Hollie stared at Jeremy, who just gave her an innocent shrug.
Murray tried a smile when he saw Hollie’s face. “Anyway, when he told me about these dreams I was worried, but when he mentioned something about a little teddy bear, my gut feeling told me that just had to be it! They say blood is thicker than…well, whatever it is they say.” He waved his arm.
They all shared a smile.
“Don’t be angry with Jeremy,” Murray said softly to Hollie.
****
“I’ve got a sister,” Sam whispered. She leaned back into the seat and let this thought sink in—a sister! She gazed around the room and took everything in: the wallpaper, the furniture—as Dave said, once you get to a certain age, this kind of pattern seemed to be compulsory—the open fire crackling along, the photos on top of the fireplace, the small old telly, books…I could’ve been living and growing up here. A wave of guilt rushed through her straightaway, and she thought about her parents, who had brought her up as best as possible. Her heart was still pounding in her throat, as the joy of having a sister didn’t want to settle. Yet, at the same time sadness rushed through her because she had missed out on so much time she could have spent with her.
Dave stood up in one fluid motion. “I need a beer,” he declared. “Double trouble on the Anderson farm. Unbelievable!”
Jeremy couldn’t help but smile. “Get me one as well. Thanks, mate.”
The atmosphere was joyous, though everyone was still overwhelmed about what had just been revealed.
****
Hollie met her dad’s gaze. He smiled at her contently. Then she shot a glare at Jeremy. She frowned. “So…no more secrets, eh? Wait till I get you on my own.”
“Hey, I swear—”
Murray placed his hand on her arm. “Hollie, darling. Jeremy did not know anything. He helped me get this phone number. That’s it.”
She looked from her dad to Jeremy. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die!”
“Apparently, there aren’t any secrets between Hollie and me. So if you don’t treat her right, I’ll find out!” Sam said with a smile.
Davo stood in the door. “Told you, Jez. Double trouble!”
Jeremy shook his head and sighed, but Hollie came over, sat next to him and gave him a hug.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Hollie gave Sam a hug. “Okay, one o’clock tomorrow, barbeque here on the farm.”
Sam nodded with a smile on her face. “We’ll be here. I can’t wait.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Hollie saw Murray watching them.
“What?”
There was a glint of humour in his eyes. “You both have that stubborn strand of hair just like your mother.”
“I saw it, too,” Davo whispered to him. “A bit scary.”
Murray’s mouth curved into a smile.
Hollie glanced over at Davo and Murray, but the old man just winked at her.
“I will get Alex to come, too. Holy macaroni! Alex!” Hollie screamed and everyone’s eyes widened, startled by her outburst. “I’ve got to ring her. I’ve got to tell her we’ve got a sister!”
“We?” Jeremy asked.
Hollie rolled her eyes. “Yes, we,” she overemphasised.
“I can’t wait to finally meet her,” Sam said and hugged Hollie again. “I can’t believe I’ve a sister,” she said quietly. “And such a nice and determined one at that.”
Hollie smiled. “Ditto!”
****
Hollie went upstairs with Jeremy, still contemplating what she had been told. I’ve got a twin sister. A sister who asked for help through my dreams. Amazing!
“Amazing.”
“What?” Jeremy asked.
Hollie was
startled as she had talked more to herself than to anybody, while getting into her pyjamas.
“Hollie?”
“Amazing. I’ve got a sister, a twin sister,” she whispered.
Jeremy smiled as he took her hand and gently pulled her down onto the couch.
“Hey, Twinkles?” Jeremy whispered.
“Yes,” Hollie answered absentmindedly.
“I love you.”
Hollie turned towards him and gazed into his eyes. “I love you, too,” she said with a big smile on her face.
Jeremy held a little red box, and Hollie just stared at him.
“What’s this?”
“I know it’s not the perfect timing. Nothing can ever match the news you received today, but I’ve wanted to ask you since you came back, and I just can’t wait anymore.”
Emotions rushed through her, but she remained silent.
“Twinkles. I missed you so much while you were gone. Every time I went into the bathroom and saw your Snoopy PJs it was like a knife cutting into me. I missed walking through the house and finding semi-empty cups of tea everywhere—”
Hollie elbowed him in his ribs. “I do not,” she protested.
Jeremy leaned closer to her. “You do so,” he said quietly. “And I like the way you showed me the humble side of life again.”
Hollie blushed.
“But most of all I like that rush going through my body when I see you, and know I can take you in my arms.”
He kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Hollie, I know there are probably more appropriate and better places to ask you this, and I know this farm is your life, but I was wondering whether you would share this beautiful life of yours with me.”
Jeremy gazed at her, and she was strangely aware he was hanging on to every breath she took, catching every move of hers out of the corner of his eye, patiently waiting for a reply.
“Jeremy, is this a proposal?” she asked carefully.
Jeremy chuckled. “Not the best one, I know, but Hollie, would you like to marry me?”
Hollie opened the box, and as soon as she saw the beautiful diamond ring, she gazed back at him and said, “Yes, Jeremy. Yes, I couldn’t think of anything more I would wish for.”
Epilogue
Hollie sat in front of the fire in the lounge room reminiscing about the last twelve months. What a year it had been! She played with the ring on her finger as her gaze wandered through the room.
Murray had been over the moon when he heard about the proposal. He was more than happy to move into the apartment upstairs, and for Hollie and Jeremy to rebuild the farmhouse to make it their home. She loved Jeremy and saw he tried his best to back off work to establish their life as a couple on the farm. She adored him and appreciated the way he helped her cope with all the changes in her life.
Sam had gone back to Dublin, though only for a short period of time. Padraic wasn’t happy about her decision, but he had known something like this was coming and didn’t create any hassles for Sam. He had used the time she spent in Australia thinking about his marriage and finally figured out he was much to blame for the breakup. Sam had been grateful for that.
Her decision to leave her mum and dad behind had been difficult, but she knew she had to do what she thought was right for her. She returned to Launceston and gave the relationship with Davo a try—with success as their bond blossomed beautifully.
She felt stronger with Davo by her side. She knew she was loved for the right reasons. She enjoyed the new friends she was making every day without having to worry about what she wore, or what kind of job she held, and she didn’t worry when Davo had a beer or two. As a result, she had found an inner balance—she had found the main path again, as her father had said.
Most of all, though, Sam was together with Murray and Hollie—the three of them grew closer every day, with Hollie and Sam loving the idea of being sisters.
Hollie and Sam had been catching up on the twenty-something years without each other, spending weekends away on their own, having sleepovers with Alex—and even though it was initially hard for Hollie to share Murray with someone else, she grew more used to the idea of being a part of a growing family, and with the idea of Sam as part of the household, as well.
Hollie stared into the fire. She gently rubbed her tummy. The journey to her dreams had been testing at times, but eventually led her to a dream of her own—a family!
About the Author
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and immigrated to Australia only in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland and London, as well as in Canada, where she actually met her future husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only recently emerged, but now her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters, as well as her two dogs. In addition to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.
Also from Iris Blobel
Chapter One
Jared's gaze wandered around as he took in the people attending the wedding. The small chapel was packed to the very last seat. Surprising, he thought, as he'd been told it'd be a small ceremony, with only close friends attending. More surprising was that he had received an invite as well.
Zach and Natasha weren't even on his phone speed dial and there were ten speed dial buttons. Or even twelve? He wasn't really sure.
Natasha had come to see him a few months earlier and asked him whether he would be able to help out with the floral arrangements. He'd told her he was a landscaper and not a florist, but in the end gave up when she ignored the explanation of the difference and simply said yes.
Jared stretched his neck and hooked his finger inside his shirt collar, trying to get more comfortable. He'd never liked wearing a suit so he'd never owned one. Sophie had helped him choose a nice outfit for the day from a local shop. He'd laughed when she said the suit needed to be right. It needed to go along with his brown eyes and dark blonde hair, but it also needed to emphasise his physique. Nonsense! When she'd insisted he get a haircut as well, he plain refused. He couldn't believe the amount of time and effort he had spent on buying a suit for one day.
Smoothing the lapels of his jacket, he took in the flowers in the chapel. He felt a touch of pride at how well it'd come up after all. Natasha had been so determined to use roses, but the way he'd arranged the November Lilies, including the bouquet, it looked stunning yet humble. Exactly what she'd wanted.
"You did well with the flowers," Mia whispered into his ear.
"Thanks. I thought so, too," he replied. "Had to dig deep to remember how to do all of it."
"Isn't that your job?" Josh asked.
Josh was Mia's boyfriend. They'd been going out for the last three years and were still going strong, considering their teenage years.
Jared was tempted to explain the difference between florist and landscaping to Josh as well, but decided to leave it be.
He didn't have to, after all.
"He's a landscaper," Sophie added to the conversation. "There's a big difference."
Jared cocked an eyebrow towards Sophie, who was desperately trying to get her three-year-old daughter, Hope, to drink her milk before her afternoon nap. He knew very well she never understood the difference either.
Josh chuckled. "Yeah, mate, but green is green, and plants are plants. Right?"
Mia let out a loud laugh, which earned her a glare from Mark, who stood at the front next to Zach. It had surprised everyone that Zach had asked him to be his best man. Although what could one expect from a family which was pulled together in so many odd circumstances. Mark O'Connor was Sophie's husband, Mia Levesque's brother-in-law, and little Hope's dad. Oh yes, and Jared's good buddy.
"For what it's worth, there's a huge difference," Jared said, but he was instantly shushed by Mark's parents who sat one row behind them.
He rolled his eyes and went ba
ck to admiring his floral arrangements.
"The bride is late," he heard someone say behind him. He had a guess it was Olivia, Mia's best friend. She was always straightforward.
However, the bride entered the church a few minutes later.
Natasha looked beautiful in her lace-up, white chiffon dress. It was ruched at the back and emphasised her slim figure. She'd let her black hair grow and wore it in a French twist with pearls breaded into it. A delicate tiara graced her hairstyle.
Of course, he wouldn't have known all the details if she hadn't told him. She'd shown him pictures and sketches so he would have had an idea for the flowers. Now that he saw her walking down the aisle, he had to admit she looked stunning, and it gave him goose bumps. He still believed the Lilly-bouquet looked much better than any roses would have.
Zach, who lived across the road from the Levesque/O'Connor clan in Chestnut Avenue, had met Natasha a few years earlier when he took Mia to her sports day. Natasha used to be Mia, Olivia and Josh's teacher until she moved on to a different school. One lucky duck that Zach was, because Natasha was not only beautiful with her now-long, black hair and dark blue eyes, but also intelligent and very kind.
Jared's gaze moved to Sophie, who smiled at her little girl. Then he caught Mark with a big smile plastered on his face watching his wife and daughter. Blowing out a little sigh, he noticed out of the corner of his eye how Josh took Mia's hand into his own.
And that was it. He'd had enough. It was kind of the last drop in a full bucket. He was sick of everybody else around him being happy except him. No doubt, he was pleased for them, but it was about time that he took matters into his own hands and got out of his daily routine.
