What the Paparazzi Didn't See

by Nicola Marsh

  He released her hand to rub his together. ‘Great. I get to ride in the people carrier.’

  ‘You’re making jokes about my car still, even when you know it’s used for a wheelchair?’

  He tapped her on the nose. ‘Hey, we’re genuine from now on, okay? No holding back, no watching what we say. Full disclosure.’

  Liza nodded slowly, wondering how he’d feel if he knew all of it.

  She didn’t have time to find out when he closed the distance between them and kissed her, effectively eradicating all thought and going a long way to soothing the emptiness when he’d walked out earlier.

  She hated being abandoned. Dredged up too many painful memories.

  She never wanted to feel that way again.

  * * *

  Liza didn’t know what she’d expected when she’d invited Wade to accompany them to Luna Park on the spur of the moment.

  She’d wanted to test him. To see how he acted around Cindy.

  For when he’d walked out on her, she’d come to a few realisations. Wade was the only guy she’d ever genuinely cared about and for that reason, after seeing his disgust when she’d withheld the truth, she’d had enough of the lies and the fake life.

  She wanted to be herself around him and that included Cindy. They were a package and if he couldn’t handle her sister’s disability Liza didn’t want to get in any deeper.

  Cindy was the deal-breaker.

  By the way he’d teased and laughed and chatted with her sister, he’d passed with flying colours.

  Liza had seen many people interact with her sister over the years. Some glanced away or pretended not to see Cindy. Some stared at her clawed elbow and wrist, at her scissored thighs, her equinovarus foot. Some patronised by speaking extra slowly or very loud. Some looked plain uncomfortable.

  But from the moment they’d picked up Wade this morning he’d been at ease and, in turn, Liza had progressively relaxed as the morning wore on.

  She liked not having to pretend around Wade. It was a nice change. Something she could get used to given half a chance.

  While Cindy watched the roller-coaster ride with rapt attention, Wade sat next to Liza and bumped her with his shoulder.

  ‘Having a good time?’

  She smiled and nodded. ‘Absolutely. I always have a ball when I’m with Cindy.’

  ‘She’s amazing,’ he said, sliding his hand across her lap to grasp hers. ‘And so are you.’

  He waved at Cindy with his free hand as she glanced their way. ‘Honestly? I don’t know a lot about cerebral palsy. I’d planned on researching it last night but got caught up with conference calls.’

  Liza admired his interest. Hopefully it meant his interaction with Cindy today wasn’t just a token effort and he genuinely wanted to be involved in her life—which included Cindy’s life too.

  ‘It’s basically a physical disability affecting movement, caused by an injury to the developing brain, usually before birth.’

  The corners of his beautiful mouth curved upward. ‘You sound like a medical dictionary.’

  ‘With the hours I’ve spent with the medical profession over the years I reckon I could recite an entire library’s worth of encyclopaedias.’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘What’s her prognosis?’

  ‘Normal life expectancy. The brain damage doesn’t worsen as she gets older. But the physical symptoms can.’

  Cindy laughed out loud as people on the roller coaster screamed when it plummeted and Liza smiled in response, never tiring of seeing her sister happy.

  ‘Cindy’s CP is pretty mild. She’s diplegic, which means it only affects her arm and leg on one side. And she has spastic CP.’

  Wade frowned. ‘I hate that word.’

  Liza shook her head. ‘It’s not derogatory. Spasticity means tightness or stiffness of the muscles. The muscles are stiff because the message to move is sent incorrectly to the muscles through the damaged part of the brain.’

  ‘That makes sense.’ He frowned, deep in thought. ‘Can she walk?’

  ‘A little. At home mainly, in her room, with the aid of a frame. But for Cindy, the harder she works her muscles, the greater the spasticity, so it’s easier for her to get around in the wheelchair.’

  Liza blew Cindy a kiss as she glanced towards them again and grinned. ‘We’re definitely lucky. Many CP sufferers have intellectual disabilities, speech difficulties, seizures and severe limitations with eating and drinking. Cindy’s main problem is mobility.’

  Wade shook his head, as if he couldn’t quite believe her optimism. ‘You’re fantastic.’ He nodded towards Cindy. ‘The way you are with her? It’s beautiful.’

  Uncomfortable with his praise but inwardly preening, she shrugged. ‘She’s my sister. We’ve been doing stuff together for a long time.’

  ‘What about your folks?’

  She stiffened and he squeezed her hand. ‘You glossed over them in your bio and you never mention them...’

  Liza didn’t want to talk about her flaky folks, not today, not ever. But after Wade’s full-disclosure pep talk last night she’d have to give him something.

  ‘I didn’t want to make them look bad in the book. That’s why I didn’t say much beyond the basics.’

  He frowned. ‘How bad was it?’

  ‘Dad took off when Cindy was a year old. Couldn’t handle having a disabled kid. Mum progressively withdrew emotionally over the years, waited ’til I was eighteen, then she did a runner too.’

  Wade swore. ‘So you’ve been looking after Cindy ever since?’

  ‘Uh-huh. The CP association hooked me up with Shar shortly after Mum left and she’s been a godsend. More family than carer.’

  More family than her parents combined. The old saying blood was thicker than water? Give her a long, tall glass of clear aqua any day.

  ‘Do you ever hear from them?’

  She heard the disapproval in his voice and didn’t want to dampen this day. ‘Mum rings on birthdays and Christmas, sends money as a gift, that’s about it.’

  Shock widened his eyes before she saw a spark of understanding. ‘That’s why you took the book deal, isn’t it? You support Cindy financially.’

  Liza struggled not to squirm. She didn’t want to discuss this with Wade, didn’t want him to know her private business.

  There was disclosure and there was disclosure. And for a couple that were only just embarking on a possible future, she didn’t want to muddy it with her sordid past.

  ‘We do okay,’ she said, springing up from the bench and dusting off her butt. ‘Come on, I think Cindy’s ready for that ice cream you promised.’

  Disappointment twisted his mouth before he forced a smile. ‘Sure.’

  But as the sun passed behind a cloud and Liza shivered in a gust off Port Phillip Bay, she wondered if her sudden chill had more to do with Wade’s obvious disapproval at her reticence than the fickle spring weather.

  * * *

  An hour after Liza dropped him off at the office, Wade strode into the boardroom.

  He couldn’t get the sound of theme-park rides and Liza’s laughter and Cindy’s giggles out of his head, or the taste of hot dogs and mint ice cream off his tongue.

  It had been an incredible morning, seeing the real Liza for the first time, and he’d been blown away. By her dedication to her sister, by her level of caring, by her sheer joy in spending time with Cindy.

  None of it was faked and it made him wonder why she’d gone to great lengths to hide Cindy’s identity from him.

  Sure, he bought her excuse about not wanting Cindy exposed to the kind of intrusion she’d faced with her lifestyle over the years and how emotional swings could increase the risk physically, but there had to be more to it.

  He’d thought she might open up
to him today of all days, for he’d seen how she’d looked at him. As if she’d really seen him for the first time.

  It had made him feel ten feet tall, as if he could scale that giant mouth entrance at Luna Park and jog backwards on the roller coaster.

  Then he’d made the fatal mistake of delving deeper and she’d clammed up. Shut him out, as if the last four hours had never happened.

  It killed him, because he had to make some fast decisions regarding his future and he hoped to have her in it.

  He knew what the board were going to say, had been sent a memo by the chairman late last night after Liza had left the office.

  Everything he’d worked so hard for, everything his father had achieved, would continue.

  He’d saved Qu Publishing.

  Liza’s biography had saved Qu Publishing.

  And rather than taking her out for a night on the town to celebrate, he knew when he broke the news neither of them would feel like champagne.

  It meant the end of his time in Melbourne.

  The end of his relationship with Liza before it had really begun.

  For now he’d seen her with Cindy he knew she’d never leave her sister. She was too dedicated. And he wouldn’t ask that of her.

  What if they both came with him?

  The thought exploded out of left field and he rubbed his temple, dazed and excited at the same time.

  ‘Wade?’ The chairman slapped him on the back and he dragged in a deep breath, needing to get back in the game.

  His personal life could wait.

  For now, he had a company to solidify.

  Wade took his position at the head of the table. ‘Thanks for coming, gentlemen.’ He mustered a smile for his stepmother. ‘Babs.’

  Her lips thinned in an unimpressed line.

  ‘As you know, thanks to the pre-orders of Liza Lithgow’s biography, Qu Publishing has cleared all debts and is firmly in the black. And with projected profit margins from book sales, hardcover, trade paperback and digital, we’re looking at enough capital to ensure viability for many years to come.’

  He waited until the noise died down.

  ‘So I propose a vote. All those in favour of selling Qu Publishing, raise your hands.’

  There wasn’t a flicker of movement at the table as a dozen pairs of eyes stared at him with admiration. All except one and he glanced at Babs, expecting to see her hand in the air.

  Puzzled, he saw her hand rise above the table to hover at shoulder height before she let it fall to her lap.

  ‘Well, looks like the vote is unanimous—’

  ‘I want to say something.’ Babs stood and Wade’s heart sank. What would she come up with now to derail him?

  ‘Quentin loved this company and I know many of you blame me for distracting him from the office these last few years.’

  Gobsmacked, Wade stared at the woman who had far more insight than he’d given her credit for.

  ‘The truth is Quentin knew he had a heart condition, one that could prove fatal at any time. He wanted to make the most of our time together and I supported that.’ She paused to dab under her eyes, the first time Wade had ever seen her show genuine emotion. ‘This company reminds me of what I’ve lost and that’s why I wanted to sell. To move on with my life while holding cherished memories.’

  Babs’ gaze swung towards him. ‘Wade, you’ve done a great job saving this company from the brink, but I really want out. You can buy my shares and we’ll call it even.’

  Wade nodded, startled into silence by this turn of events.

  He hated hearing Babs articulate his biggest regret: that his dad hadn’t shared the seriousness of his prognosis. If he’d known about Quentin’s fatal heart condition he never would’ve wasted so many years staying away because of the woman now looking at him with pity.

  He didn’t want her pity. He wanted those wasted years back. He wanted to repair the relationship with his dad, the one he’d fractured because of his intolerance. He wanted his dad to trust him enough to tell him the truth.

  But he couldn’t change the past. He’d have to take control of his future instead and never repeat the same mistakes.

  He didn’t know if Babs genuinely loved his dad, but he could understand her need to move on with her life.

  Selling her shares to him would allow them both to get what they wanted: closure for her, preserving his dad’s legacy for him.

  Finally finding his voice, he cleared his throat. ‘Thanks, Babs, I’ll have the transfer papers drawn up immediately.’

  She nodded, picked up her bag and sailed out of the door, leaving the board members watching him carefully.

  What did they expect? For him to cartwheel across the highly polished conference table?

  He might’ve been tempted if not for the fact he had serious business to conduct after this meeting.

  Business far more important than Qu Publishing.

  Business of the heart.

  TWELVE

  LIZA LITHGOW’S STYLE TIPS

  FOR MAXIMUM WAG WOW IMPACT

  The Bachelorette Party

  Once your sportsman has popped the question, it’s time to move on to important things...like the bachelorette party!

  Keep it classy.

  Ditch the comedy genitalia paraphernalia.

  Ditto strippers.

  No club tours via bus.

  Have fun with your girls without the tackiness.

  Book a swank apartment in the heart of the city, order room service, expensive champagne and watch chick flicks.

  A day spa package.

  A weekend away in a posh B&B.

  Eighties party.

  Hire out a renowned restaurant or use their private party room and indulge in fabulous food.

  River cruise.

  Cocktail party.

  Recommended cocktails:

  Frozen daiquiris

  Millionaire cocktail

  Boomerang cocktail

  Bossa Nova

  Mimosa

  Pina colada

  Brown Cow

  Angel’s Kiss

  Avalanche

  Chi-chi

  Romantico

  Pussy Cat

  Margarita

  Mojito

  Golden Dream

  Cosmopolitan

  Jumping Jack

  Flying Irishman

  Liza hadn’t expected Wade to show up again so soon after their morning outing.

  When she’d dropped him at the office he’d been strangely withdrawn and while he’d mustered a genuine goodbye for Cindy he’d seemed almost disappointed.

  She knew what the problem was. The way she hadn’t been comfortable discussing her parents and supporting Cindy.

  If he only knew how far she’d come in letting him get this close. She’d taken big steps forward today. Allowing him near Cindy, lowering her guard in front of him.

  What did he expect? For her to blab all her deep, dark secrets at once? Not going to happen.

  The fact he was waiting for her in the lounge while Shar and Cindy had a late supper on the back porch? Made her incredibly happy that he couldn’t bear to be away from her for more than half a day. Or made her incredibly nervous that his impromptu visit heralded bad news.

  ‘Drink?’

  He shook his head. ‘No thanks, I’d rather talk.’

  ‘Okay.’

  She perched next to him on the sofa, wondering if he noticed the threadbare patches on the shabby chintz. Seeing those patches made her angry. How hard she’d scrimped and saved, hoarding every cent away for Cindy’s future, going without stuff like new furniture because
she didn’t deem it as important as having a failsafe should anything happen to her.

  Instead, something had happened to her money and, while the advance and royalties would help, the thought of her sizable savings gone made her stomach gripe.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Yeah, why?’ She met his gaze, knowing he was far too astute not to notice her jumpiness.

  ‘You seem distracted.’

  She tapped her temple. ‘Making a to-do list for tomorrow up here. Always makes me seem scatty.’

  He nodded, his grave expression saying he didn’t buy her excuse for a second.

  ‘I’ve got news.’

  Trepidation taunted her, eliciting a hundred different scenarios, each of them worse than the last.

  Pre-orders had fallen through. Bookstores had reneged. Online advertisers had pulled their backing.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘With Qu Publishing in the black, I’m going back to London.’

  The blood drained from her head and Liza’s eyes blurred before she blinked, inhaled, steadied.

  ‘My business is there and I’ve been away long enough.’

  ‘Of course,’ she said, grateful her tone remained neutral and well modulated, not shrieking and hysterical.

  ‘I want you to come with me.’ He took her hand, rubbed its iciness between his. ‘You and Cindy.’

  Shock tore through every preconception Liza had ever had about this guy.

  He was returning to his life and he wanted her and Cindy to be a part of it?

  If she didn’t love him before, she sure as hell did now.

  Love?

  Uh-oh. Fine time to realise she loved Wade when she was on the verge of hyperventilating, collapsing or both.

  What could she say? A thousand responses sprang to her lips, none of them appropriate.

  She couldn’t uproot Cindy. Couldn’t lose Shar. Couldn’t do any of this without the stability she’d worked so damn hard to maintain.

  It had been her priority when her folks, particularly her mum, left. Try to maintain normality. Pretend everything was okay. That the two of them would be fine.

  To tear all that away from Cindy on a whim to follow her heart?