Or maybe it was simply that she’d wanted to be in somebody else’s.
If he’d had any doubt she’d moved on, it evaporated when he finally left the hall to see her only a short distance away with the guy that was currently the name on everyone’s lips. Seeing her standing close to Ryder O’Connell, all flush-cheeked and smiling as she held a massive bunch of flowers that were clearly a gift from the man himself, had felt like a knife to the heart and now he wanted to be anywhere but here.
He was halfway to the carpark when someone shouted his name.
‘Where do you think you’re going, Mr McWilliams?’
Ferg slowed his steps, closing his eyes as he contemplated pretending not to hear. In the end, common courtesy got the better of him and he turned to see his colleague Haylee and her husband. There was a flock of kids trailing behind her, but she didn’t seem to mind.
‘Hey Haylee, Brad,’ Ferg said, hoping he’d got the bloke’s name right.
Brad offered his hand as Haylee replied, ‘Hello yourself. You’re not leaving, are you? The day’s barely kicked off. Most of the fun happens after dark, doesn’t it, kids?’
Her fan club loudly chorused their agreement.
‘You have to stay for the fireworks, Mr McDuck,’ said a boy he thought belonged to the massive Wellington clan.
‘Um.’ He glanced longingly towards the makeshift car park that was now so jam-packed he wasn’t even sure he’d be able to find his wagon, never mind escape in it.
‘I’ve been trying to get to the hall to see all the kids’ work,’ Haylee said, ‘but I keep getting stopped by someone or tempted by delicious smells.’ She lifted an open paper bag and offered it to him. ‘Caramelised cashews. Made locally. You won’t get better anywhere else, I promise.’
He took a couple to appease her; teachers were always bossy—especially those who taught the early years as she did—and bad at taking no for an answer.
‘Have you had lunch yet?’ she asked and Ferg made the mistake of shaking his head. Call him a chicken, but all the food offerings were near Tabitha’s van and he’d steered clear on purpose.
‘Come with us,’ Brad said, thumping him on the back, ‘and we’ll get a meat pie or something. Everyone’s distracted by Ryder O’Connell at the moment, so the food vans are practically deserted.’
‘Okay,’ he found himself saying. He was hungry, so he’d have a bite to eat with Haylee and Brad and then leave.
An hour later as he sat on hay bales alongside Brad and Haylee watching a hilarious cow-milking competition, he saw his chances of escape rapidly diminishing. It was clear these two had taken him under their wings, deciding it was their responsibility to educate him in the ways of a country ag show, and to his surprise, he found himself enjoying their company and the whole experience much more than he’d imagined possible.
A few months ago, he’d have laughed if someone told him he’d have liked looking at vintage farm machinery or strolling through a manure-smelling shed admiring cattle, but the town of Walsh had snuck under his skin and this show was a representation of everything it stood for. He loved the community spirit and the pride the locals had in their land, their livestock and their industry. He’d even grown accustomed to the fact that everyone seemed to know everything about everyone else.
If things had been different with Tabitha, he’d have considered putting down roots here, but no way that would ever be possible now. Even if he hadn’t accepted the job up north, even if Carline wasn’t coming back to school and there was a job going here, Ferg couldn’t stay after what had gone down between himself and Tabitha. It would be too painful.
Although maybe she wouldn’t stay herself. Maybe Ryder planned to lure her to the big smoke. Ferg couldn’t rid his head of the image of them embracing, and the size of those flowers spoke volumes about Ryder’s intentions.
Ferg only hoped he’d treat Tab right and take care of her and her baby. As long as she was happy in her life, he would somehow manage to get on with his.
In addition to the milking contest and the vintage farm machinery, Brad and Haylee made it their mission to ensure he experienced everything the Walsh show had to offer. Whip-cracking and wood-chopping, dog trials, even sheaf-tossing—there was not a moment to get bored, and that was even without venturing into the CWA pavilion where apparently competition was rife over who’d made the best pavlovas, lamingtons and scones. The showgrounds were packed, but although Ferg ran into many people he knew, he didn’t get even a glimpse of Tabitha again.
He guessed she was busy in the ice-cream van, or worse, somewhere with Ryder. He didn’t know what he’d do if he saw her again—the previous time was awkward and painful enough—but, a sucker for punishment, he couldn’t help looking out for her.
When the sun started to fade, he once again decided it was time to go, but this time it was kids in his class lingering nearby who objected.
Lisl gave him a stern look. ‘You can’t go now!’
‘The fireworks are the best bit!’ agreed Milly.
‘Why don’t we grab a beer?’ Brad suggested, grinning at the girls.
‘Just the one,’ Ferg relented. That way as soon as the last firecracker exploded colour into the night sky, he could be out of there. No way was he hanging around to hear Ryder O’Connell sing—he now had an even greater aversion to country music than he did before.
Not wanting to lose their prime position on the edge of the oval, Brad said he’d go get the drinks and left Ferg and Haylee to keep his seat warm. He returned ten minutes later with two bottles of beer.
‘You’re not having one?’ Ferg looked at Haylee.
She blushed and leaned in close so that only he could hear her say, ‘We’ve just found out we’re having a baby.’
‘Wow. Congrats,’ he said and they both beamed ridiculously as Brad put his arm around Haylee and kissed her cheek.
As the first firework shot up into the sky, Ferg couldn’t help feeling a twinge—okay it was more like a painful spasm—at the thought that Haylee and Brad were about to have what he’d, albeit briefly, fantasised about having with Tabitha. He took a long sip of his beer and tried to focus on the sparkles and bursts of colour painting patterns in the darkness above. All around him, kids shrieked with glee and in the distance he heard dogs barking. In another reality it could have been the perfect ending to the perfect day, except there was one vital component missing.
He wanted to be experiencing all this with Tabitha.
As the last rocket soared upwards and shattered into a million tiny red and blue lights, Ferg stood. He thanked Haylee and Brad for hanging out with him and then made a mad dash through the crowd in the direction of the cars.
He’d almost made his escape when someone grabbed his arm. ‘Fergus!’
‘Joanne. Hi.’ He halted in his tracks as she eased her grip.
‘You made it. Can’t believe I haven’t run into you yet today. Have you had fun?’
‘Ah huh.’ He nodded, not wanting to be rude but not wanting to linger either.
She turned to the woman beside her who was wearing a beanie on her head despite the warm evening air. ‘I don’t think you two have met yet. Carline, this is Fergus McWilliams, the wonderful young man who has been taking care of my class.’
Carline gripped his hand in something that was halfway between a handshake and an embrace.
‘It’s so wonderful to meet you,’ she said, as another woman stood up on the stage and her voice boomed out of the microphone.
He tried to focus on what Carline was saying, not on the cheers that were erupting around him for Ryder O’Connell, and his head started to throb with the struggle.
‘I was so worried about having to desert my little school, but everyone’s had nothing but praise for you. I’m so sorry I haven’t been in to visit yet, but my doctors warned me to stay away due to the risk of germs. Still, I want to say thank you. Knowing her class was in your good hands has meant Joanne has been able to take on my role and focus o
n that. And that has left me able to focus on getting better.’
Finally, Fergus managed to get a word in. ‘It’s lovely to meet you too, Carline, and I’m glad you’re able to come back next year. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Walsh. It’s a wonderful school and a great community.’
She opened her mouth but her reply was lost as a fancy guitar riff filled the air.
Both Joanne and Carline forgot him as their heads snapped towards the stage where Ryder was now leaning into the microphone as if he were about to give it mouth to mouth.
‘I’m stoked to be back here in Walsh, a town that will always hold a large part of my heart, probably because it’s where a very special girl lives.’
Good God. Fergus felt sick. Every word the guy said made him want to punch him in the mouth, and he really wasn’t a violent person.
‘No other woman has ever come close to this one, and so tonight, I wanted to kick-start this very special show by asking her to come up here with me and sing one of our old songs together. Tabitha Cooper-Jones,’ called Ryder, glancing off to the side of the stage, ‘will you join me for old times’ sake?’
The crowd gasped and Joanne grabbed hold of his arm as if to steady herself, as Tab stepped out onto the makeshift stage in a cute knee-length blue dress. It was the first one he’d ever seen her wear and the first time her bump had been clearly visible when she wasn’t naked. He’d lust after her if she were wearing a garbage bag, but up there in front of the lights, she simply glowed as she crossed the stage and kissed Ryder.
Although she only grazed her lips against his cheek, Ferg’s chest burned as he wished he could un-see it. What the hell was he still doing here? This was torture!
As Ryder’s band kicked into gear, Tab picked up a microphone and smiled out at the crowd. Seconds later, her voice came through the speakers and everyone around Ferg was mesmerised. What she sang was definitely a love song—something about love’s young dream and the sky being the limit—and when Ryder’s voice joined hers and he gazed not at the crowd but at Tabitha, Fergus knew he had to get out of there.
He started again towards the car park and this time, nothing was going to get in his way of leaving. Not the kids in his class, not friendly locals, not even his boss. The way he was feeling right now, he wanted to drive out of town and never come back.
It wasn’t long before the music grew quieter behind him. He was inhaling deeply, trying to regulate his breathing, when he rounded the corner of a building and heard a deep voice. It sounded somewhat sinister, and instinctively he slowed his steps as a shadow appeared not too far ahead.
Fergus didn’t know what it was that made him eavesdrop, but something about this guy being out here when everyone else was back with the music made him uneasy. Was he planning on breaking into some of the cars? And then he heard the man mention Tabitha.
‘Relax, she doesn’t suspect a thing,’ he said. ‘This was a rock-solid plan of yours. Granted, the baby thing threw a bit of a spanner in the works, but as Ryder said, maybe this’ll work out even better than we originally planned. He’ll look like a saint hooking up with his one-armed ex anyway, but a one-armed ex who’s pregnant with someone else’s child? We couldn’t have planned things better ourselves—his reputation will be more than restored. But listen, I’ve got to get back there. I think they’ve started playing and I want to take some photos while the disabled chick is on stage with him.’
The disabled chick?
Ferg’s fingers curled into fists, his nails digging into his palm. How dare this conceited jerk speak about Tabitha like that.
‘Look, I’ve got to go, but I’ll be sure to send through some photos you can leak to the press later. People will be uploading all over Instagram and Twitter anyway, but …’
The man turned around and met Fergus’s eye. A scowl filled his face as Ferg recognised him as the man who’d been with Ryder O’Connell earlier that day. He had to hold himself back from grabbing him and pummelling him to the ground. Tonight he’d had more violent thoughts in half an hour than he’d had in his whole life, but violence wouldn’t solve anything. If he beat this guy to a pulp, he’d be the one in the wrong and likely nobody—least of all Tabitha—would listen to him when he tried to tell them what he’d heard, the words that would reveal Ryder as the scum he really was.
So instead he turned and strode back towards the music.
The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Tab, but neither could he walk away knowing that Ryder was only pretending to care about her. How long would the bastard keep up the facade? Was he planning on following it through until the baby was born? How long after that? What lengths exactly would he go to for his reputation and his career?
Ferg’s heart pounded and heat flushed through his body at the thought of Tab and her baby being a pawn in his game. If the man could be so selfish and conniving, who knew how he would treat the poor baby when Tabitha wasn’t around.
Tab might not thank him for what he was about to do, but at least he wouldn’t have the guilt on his conscience. She may not even believe him, but if he planted seeds of doubt, she’d at least be aware and on the look-out. It was the least he could do.
Chapter Thirty-Four
As the crowd in front of her gave a standing ovation, Tab’s eyes filled with tears. She was shaking but she’d done it. She’d sung with Ryder one last time and proved to herself she still had it in her.
‘Isn’t she phenomenal, ladies and gents?’ Ryder said as he closed the distance between them and pulled her to his side. ‘Let’s give Tabby another round of applause, and who knows, if we’re lucky, maybe I’ll even be able to convince her to do an encore later.’
He kissed her on the cheek and whispered that he’d see her soon.
High on the thrill of performance, Tab felt a little drunk as she walked off the stage. She wasn’t surprised to see a little group waiting for her as she descended the stairs, but she almost tripped when she saw Fergus among them.
‘Aunty Tab, you were so good!’ Ned shrieked as he threw his arms around her waist.
Lawson, Meg, even Adeline, joined him in congratulations, but she barely registered any of them.
‘What are you doing here?’ she spat at Fergus. He’d already ruined show day for her, but singing had lifted her spirits and she wanted to hold onto the buzz a little longer.
‘I really need to talk to you,’ he said almost apologetically as Ryder’s pesky manager grabbed hold of his arm.
‘I’ll get rid of him for you, Tabitha,’ Shaun exclaimed, glancing around. ‘Security?! We need your assistance over here.’
‘Let him go,’ Tab ordered. It wasn’t that she was overjoyed by his presence but she could fight her own battles. She glared at Fergus as Shaun loosened his grip. ‘Well? Out with it. What do you need to say?’
Fergus glanced around them, meeting Lawson’s furious eyes, before he looked back to her. ‘I think it would be better if I say this in private.’
Tab sighed. If it were just Lawson and Meg here, she’d have told him that anything he wanted to say he could say in front of them, but Adeline and Shaun’s presence had her relenting. She didn’t like or trust either of them.
‘Fine. Come to my van. You’ve got two minutes.’
‘Thank you,’ Fergus breathed.
Her heart suddenly racing for entirely different reasons, Tab marched towards her van with Ferg striding beside her. She switched on the light as she let them inside and then pulled the door shut behind them. Ryder’s voice faded and the air felt stifling as she realised how close she was to Fergus again. ‘This better be good.’
‘Good’s not exactly the word I’d use,’ he said, anguish squeezing his features. The miniscule hope she’d been harbouring that he was here to declare his love evaporated. ‘I’m really sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t say something.’
Tab threw her hand up in the air. ‘Say something about what, Fergus? Stop beating around the bush.’
>
He cleared his throat. ‘I just heard one of Ryder’s blokes on the phone to some PR person or something. He was talking about you. I know how much Ryder means to you and I get why you’re back together with him, but he’s using you. He’s using you and the baby as some kind of publicity stunt to try and restore his reputation.’
‘What?’ Tab took a step back trying to register what he was trying to say. If it were true, it would be a kick in the guts, but also the least of her concerns right now. ‘Why on earth would you think I was back together with Ryder?’
‘I saw you. I saw you hugging him at your place last Sunday afternoon.’
Tab could barely remember last Sunday afternoon, let alone hugging Ryder or seeing Fergus there.
‘And then there’s the flowers he gave you today, the way you guys looked at each other on the stage. I’m not an idiot, Tabitha.’
‘Actually, I think you’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever met. Because Ryder and I are not together and nothing he could say could ever change that, because as I told you last week, I’m in love with you. Lord knows I wish I wasn’t, but it is what it is.’
Fergus blinked. ‘You and Ryder? You’re not together?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I’m not that shallow. I’m offended that you think I could just switch my affections from one guy to the next, but I also wonder why you even care? You made it clear you don’t want anything to do with me and my baby, so what’s it to you if Ryder is trying to use me?’
‘I care because I’m in love with you!’
The temperature around them suddenly dropped. ‘What did you say?’
‘I love you. I should have told you earlier but I was terrified. I still am.’ He glanced down at her stomach and she placed a hand on it protectively. ‘I came to Walsh fresh out of a relationship that I thought was going to last forever. I was hurting and I felt like a fool. I certainly didn’t plan on putting my heart on the line again, but then I met you.’
‘Except I’m pregnant and you don’t want to father another man’s child!’
Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2) Page 31
