Her Outback Surprise (Prickle Creek series)

by Seaton, Annie

  …

  Liam ran down the back stairs, followed by Willow as the door slammed on the unfamiliar car. “What are you two doing at home? We didn’t expect you till next week?” He reached out and hugged his grandmother and then shook Pop’s hand, before he turned back to Gran.

  “Look at you!”

  Gran wore a stylish dress, and her hair fell softly around her face. A matching handbag and smart shoes completed the outfit. A soft pink flush ran up her cheeks and Pop smiled.

  “Pretty swish, isn’t she? I took her shopping and we’ve filled a suitcase with a new wardrobe.”

  “Get away with the pair of you.” Gran flapped her hand and then pointed at the car. “It wasn’t the only shopping we did. Do you like Harry’s new car?”

  “I do.” Liam whistled and walked around the luxury sedan. “I’m surprised you brought that out on the dirt roads.”

  “It’ll clean.” Pop walked around to the back of the car with Liam to unload the boot as Gran bent down to pat Willow. “What’s with the padlock on the front gate?” he asked. “Been having some trouble?”

  “No, just a precaution. I’ll tell you all about it over a cup of tea.”

  “Just as well Harry had a key to open it.” Gran looked at him. “You’re in early from the paddocks. Were you heading out?”

  “I was just going to take Willow into town for her needles.” Liam wasn’t sure whose eyebrows rose the highest. He managed to keep the disappointment from his voice. It looked like he wasn’t meant to catch up with Angie today.

  “Willow?” Pop’s mouth opened in a wide grin. “What breed of working dog is she?”

  “Another story to tell you over a cup of tea.”

  Liam reached over and hugged Gran again. “Honestly, Gran, you look amazing. The months away have done you a world of good.”

  “And she’s learned how to shop. I had trouble keeping her away from the stores. There’s a whole suitcase full of baby clothes there.” Pop put his arm around Gran.

  “After we have a cuppa and get changed we’ll go over to the Mackenzies and see our first great grandson.” Gran’s smile was wide. “I can’t wait to see him. Don’t call Lucy. I want to surprise her.”

  Liam headed for the kitchen to put the kettle on.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Angie snuggled James against her shoulder and buried her face in his soft downy hair as she watched Lucy roll out the pizza dough. He smelled of baby powder and sweet milk, and a pang of longing shot through her.

  One day. When her surgery was up and running and she paid off her loans. And when she met someone she wanted to share her life with. Someone who would stay with her. Maybe there was someone out there for her.

  “There’s nothing like the smell of clean baby, is there?” Lucy reached over and popped a kiss on James’s head on her way to the fridge. “Never thought I’d be married and a mum by twenty-five.”

  “So we’re the same age. I was twenty-five in June,” Angie said.

  “You’re doing well to have your own business.” Lucy chopped the basil she’d got from the fridge and the pungent aroma surrounded them.

  “My mum left me some money when she died. My grandparents’ house was sold as a part of the estate and it gave me a good deposit for the business once the rest of the debts had been cleared. Although I still have a pretty hefty business loan.”

  “Where’s the rest of your family?” Lucy wiped a hand over her face and Angie smiled as a white streak of flour coated her forehead. She shook her head.

  “I don’t have any. Just me.” She looked up at Lucy. “I have a father somewhere but he didn’t want any contact with me after he left Mum.”

  “Oh, sweetie. That’s so sad.”

  “I’m used to it. He has another wife and a couple of kids now but he wanted to cut all ties. I didn’t even call him to let him know Mum died.”

  “Oh, Angie.” Lucy—bless her—had tears in her eyes.

  “It’s okay. It made it easier to understand, and cope, when Liam let me go without a fight. I’m used to being on my own. It’s not a drama.” She shrugged and Lucy shook her head.

  “Liam was always a bit selfish but he’s grown up over the past few months. Since he’s been home on the farm.”

  “He kissed me the other night. At the show.” Angie spoke quietly. It was time to spill to Lucy. Girl talk was girl talk and she knew she could trust her. It wouldn’t go any further.

  “And?”

  “Oh, Lucy.” Angie put her free hand to her eyes. “It was wonderful. It was as though the year and a half we’ve been apart just disappeared.”

  Lucy walked across to the sink and washed her hands, her back to Angie. For a while she didn’t say anything. “So what are you pair going to do about it? You both obviously still have feelings for each other.”

  “That may be so, but it won’t work. I’m here to stay, and Liam will go back to the city. He will.”

  Lucy shook her head. “Maybe not.”

  Angie didn’t argue; there was no point. She knew how dedicated Liam was to his career. She’d seen it firsthand, but he was Lucy’s cousin and she would stick up for him.

  “So what sort of pizza are we having?” she said with a smile.

  Lucy looked at Angie, her gaze narrowed. She nodded, obviously accepting that the topic was now closed. Fifteen minutes later, the aroma of baking pizza filled the kitchen, and Angie opened the bottle of red wine while Lucy fed and changed James.

  She picked up her glass and wandered into the living room. One wall was covered with family photos and she smiled. Some of the photos were outstanding; Lucy had mentioned that Sebastian, one of the other cousins, was a world-class photographer. The four cousins were all good-looking adults. And she’d heard that Jemima was a model in New York. Good family genes there.

  She put her wine glass on a coaster on the coffee table, leaned forward and looked at a photo of Liam sitting on a bale of hay. He was staring past the camera and his expression was somber. A tingle started at her toes and worked its way up to her lower belly.

  Damn it all. What chance did she have when just a photo of Liam could get her warm and tingly?

  “Oh my God.” Lucy’s high-pitched squeal reached her and Angie grabbed her glass and hurried back into the kitchen.

  “What’s wrong, did you hurt yourself? Is James okay? What happened?” Angie put her glass on the countertop and hurried across to Lucy who was standing still, looking through the kitchen window. She turned to face Angie, her eyes sparkling and her face wreathed in a huge smile.

  “Gran and Pop are here! I had no idea they were coming home!”

  Angie stepped back as Lucy headed for the door and pushed it open. She disappeared down the steps, her ponytail swinging behind her. Angie took a deep breath, folded her arms, and leaned back on the bench. Not only were the grandparents here to visit, but Liam was holding the gate open for them. Angie’s heart thudded, and she swallowed, trying to grab hold of the tendrils of panic that were winding themselves around her heart. As soon as she was introduced, she’d say her good-byes and leave the family to catch up. It wasn’t the place for her to be. It was intrusive. She tipped her wine down the sink and rinsed her glass and put it in the drainer, surprised to see her hand shaking. It would be the first time she’d faced Liam since he’d kissed her.

  And I kissed him back.

  She stood at the window and watched as Lucy hugged the older couple, one at a time. Liam was still by the gate and staring at the window. It was too late to step back out of sight, so she lifted her hand in an acknowledgement. Whether Lucy had told him she was in there or whether he had sensed her…

  God, don’t be stupid. Her car was parked by the shed, and he would have seen that. Of course he knew she was in here. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the kitchen, picking up her handbag on the way. She pushed open the screen door and stood to the side of the veranda as the chatter washed around her.

  “Oh, Gran, wait till you see James. He
is so big and the most beautiful boy in the world.”

  “And your grandmother wore a hula skirt in a concert on the cruise ship.”

  “I have a whole suitcase of presents in the car. Liam, get them out for me, please.”

  Angie wiped her hands down the sides of her jeans. They were damp with perspiration as her nerves kicked in. She just wanted to get in her car and make a hasty retreat back to town.

  Lucy and Liam noticed her at the same time. Liam smiled and butterflies took up residence in her stomach instantly. Lucy frowned.

  “Angie, put your bag away right now. You’re not going anywhere!” Lucy linked her arm through her grandmother’s and walked up the steps with her, smiling at Angie. Sympathy underpinned the smile on her face. It was almost as though Lucy was trying to tell her, “You can do it.”

  “Gran, this is my friend, Angie. She’s come out to have dinner with me. Angie, this is my gran, Helena.”

  Helena smiled at her and reached for her hand. Her skin was soft, and her nails were manicured and painted a soft shell pink. “Hello, Angie, it’s lovely to meet you.” Her voice was cultured and held a trace of an English accent. Angie smiled back at the graceful woman.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, too, Helena.”

  Liam came over to the steps carrying a suitcase in each hand. “And this is Pop—Harry to his friends.”

  Harry smiled and shook her hand and Lucy giggled.

  “Have you pair decided to move in with me and Garth?” she said.

  Her grandmother laughed. “No, the suitcases are full of presents. Don’t worry, they’re not all for James. There’s some for you and Garth, too.”

  Angie felt more like a third wheel with each passing moment. She leaned over to Lucy. “I’ll head back to town now, Lucy. We’ll catch up another time.”

  Lucy took her by the shoulders and steered her towards the screen door. “Oh no you don’t, my dear girl. You’re not going anywhere. I need someone to watch the pizza while I show off my lovely boy and open all my presents.”

  Angie shook her head and knew that her face was getting pinker by the minute as Liam and Harry followed the three women into the kitchen. She was stuck here. In a room with Liam and half of his family. “I feel like I’m intruding. This is a family night. I’ll come back another night.”

  It was Liam who insisted she stay this time. His deep voice was full of warmth. “No way, Angie. We’d feel really bad if you left because we’d arrived. Besides, that pizza smells good, and knowing Lucy, she will be more interested in her presents than feeding me.”

  “There’s another one in the freezer, Angie. Can you pop it in the oven while I go and get James?”

  Angie nodded and headed to the kitchen as Liam and his grandparents walked into the living room with the suitcases.

  Freezer? All that was in the kitchen was a double door fridge with an icemaker in the door. She looked across the room, and spied a door leading to the veranda. She poked her head through the doorway. It was a large utility room with two chest freezers, and boxes of vegetables on the floor. Lucy’s call followed her out. “Freezer on the left, bottom left basket.”

  Angie lifted the lid and leaned in. There were three frozen pizzas in the basket. The boxes were as wide as the basket, and they were hard to get out. She leaned in and muttered as she tried to remove the jammed corner of the box from the basket, holding the freezer door open above her head with the other hand.

  Suddenly, she was aware of warmth at the backs of her legs as someone stood behind her and a large hand held the freezer door open for her.

  Without looking, she knew it was Liam. “Thank you,” she murmured as she used both hands to free the pizza boxes. She lifted two out, and finally lifted her gaze to meet his as he let the door go and it shut with a loud thud. “Supreme or Ham and Pineapple?” she asked softly.

  His green eyes were full of mirth. “What do you think, Ange?”

  “I think both, because your grandfather looks like he would have a hearty appetite.” She grabbed both of the boxes and went to move past him, back to the kitchen, but Liam grabbed her on the way past, putting his arm around her waist.

  “I was on my way to town to see you, when the olds arrived.”

  “Oh?” she said, lifting her brows in a question.

  “Willow is due for her shots.”

  “Oh.” Wow, what scintillating conversation. She stepped back, away from Liam’s reach.

  Disappointment flared briefly in his eyes and he lowered his voice. “And I want to talk to you about the other night.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Liam. Forget it ever happened.” She lifted her chin and stared at him. “I have. Now please excuse me. I have pizzas to put in the oven. And then I’m going back to town. And don’t try to talk me out of it.”

  She flounced past him and went back to the kitchen, keeping herself busy as she took the first pizza from the oven and put it on the cooling rack on the sink. She took the other two from the boxes and put them on the benchtop. She needed to find some more oven trays.

  The afternoon light had faded, and she flicked the kitchen light on. Liam followed her into the kitchen.

  “I can do this. You go in with your family,” she said.

  “No. I’ll help you and then we can both go into the living room. I’m giving Lucy some time with Gran and Pop. They were so disappointed that they were overseas when James arrived early. They’ve cut their cruise short to come and see him.”

  “Are they home to stay?” Angie tried to hide the real curiosity in her voice. If they were staying Liam might leave sooner.

  He obviously picked up the intent in her question. “No, they’re only here for a few days and then they’re flying to Perth to rejoin the cruise ship.”

  “Oh.”

  “But they’ll be back for Christmas and then they’re going to England for a few months to catch up with Gran’s relatives.” He took a step closer and Angie had nowhere to go. “Are you sure you’re okay, Ange?”

  “Of course I am. Why does everyone keep asking that?”

  “Because we all care about you. Lucy does, and of course I do, too.”

  “Huh. Do you?” she muttered beneath her breath as she tried to tear open the plastic cover of the pizza box. Looking around, she opened a drawer and pulled out a knife and slit the plastic. “Do you know where Lucy keeps the oven trays?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Would you go and ask her please? I don’t want to poke around in her cupboards.” Angie was proud of the control she was keeping. Having something to do kept her mind focused and held her burgeoning emotions at bay.

  “Oh, look.” Lucy’s squeal reached them and cut the tension that was building. “Oh, Gran, it’s gorgeous. Angie, Liam, come and see what Gran and Pop brought home for James.”

  Angie stepped past Liam and walked into the living room, but she was aware of him close behind her.

  A stand with a mobile of multi-coloured fabric animals sat on the floor with a rainbow-coloured mat at the base. “He will love that. He’s already starting to take notice of things. Thank you so much Gran and Pop!”

  Angie looked across at Helena; she was holding James and looking down at him with a look of pure love on her face.

  Angie’s throat closed at she shifted her gaze from one family member to another. Liam was laughing at something that Harry had said, and Lucy had her arm around her grandmother’s shoulders. The love in the room was obvious and Angie had never felt more alone in her life. Her mother’s parents had died before she was born, and her paternal grandparents had not been in touch since her father had left her and Mum. Now that Mum was gone, she had no one in her life.

  Angie fought for breath as a huge lonely chasm seemed to open in her chest and she had no idea how she managed to speak normally.

  “It’s beautiful. He’s a very lucky little boy. To have so many people who love him.” Her voice was bright and strong and she amazed herself with the even tones s
he managed to get out. “Now Lucy, tell me where your oven trays are and then I am going to leave you and your lovely family to catch up. I wasn’t going to stay late because I have a heap of paperwork to do tonight.” Her words almost ran over each other and she was pleased when Lucy didn’t argue. “We’ll catch up another night, okay?”

  “The trays are in the huge slide-out drawer under the stove,” Lucy said as she took James back from his great-grandmother. Angie noticed a look and a quick nod between Liam and Lucy as she turned back to the kitchen.

  She crouched in front of the drawer and pulled out two oven trays, conscious of someone standing behind her. She couldn’t—just couldn’t—deal with Liam the way she was feeling. Her nerves were stretched tight like a rubber band about to snap, and one word from him would bring her undone. She pushed herself slowly to her feet and turned around but it was Lucy’s voice that reached her.

  “Angie, I do understand why you want to leave. I’d rather you stayed but I know how hard it is for you to be around Liam.”

  Angie nodded mutely, not game to speak or she would burst into tears.

  “Leave those pizzas. I’ll sort them in a while.” Lucy walked over and held her arms open. “Give me a hug, girlfriend. I’ll come into town in a day or two and we can finish our natter.”

  Angie hugged Lucy back and this time her voice shook. “Thank you for understanding. Say good-bye to your grandparents for me. I’m sure I’ll get to meet them when they come home again.” She picked up her bag, dug her keys out, and put her head down as she pushed open the kitchen door. She drove away without looking back, and managed to keep the tears at bay until she was on the main road back to town.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Liam looked up as Lucy walked back into the living room. At the same time he heard a vehicle cross the cattle grate and the dogs barking. “Is that Garth home already?”

  “No.” Lucy looked at him long and hard. “Angie went back to town. She said she wanted to give us some family time.”

  “Sh—” He cut off the swear word as Gran frowned at him.