The wake was held at the pub, where Rick had funded a slap-up late lunch for all the locals. Charlie was like a lost dog, wandering through the crowd without a place to rest. He kept glancing over at the table where Julia had first noticed Lottie.
Montana sat there now, her brow furrowed and her posture stiff. As Julia watched, Chloe sat down beside her and started a quiet conversation. Montana slammed down her drink, leaned forward and started jabbing at the table with her pointer finger. Prickles of alarm crept across Julia’s skin. What had her daughter said to cause such an intense response from her aunt?
She wandered closer to the women, pausing nearby to adjust the solitaire diamond pendant she was wearing. Chloe’s voice came to her first.
‘Yeah, it totally stinks. You shouldn’t have to live your life not knowing. I mean, what if he’s rich and famous? You could come into some real dosh. Think of all the dogs you could buy then!’
Julia stepped backwards in alarm – and trod on poor Ernie’s foot.
‘Ouch,’ he said, endeavouring not to drop the drink tray in his hands.
‘Gosh, sorry,’ Julia said whilst striving to hear Montana’s reply.
‘Would you like a drink?’ Ernie offered, playing waiter.
‘No, no, I’m fine.’
What she’d like was for him to move on. But he didn’t.
‘It’s hard losing someone you love,’ he said with a nod towards poor Charlie. ‘I lost my wife and … well, others, and it doesn’t get any easier. In fact, each loss gets harder to bear.’
Julia wished she could come up with a poignant or insightful response, but she was too busy trying to hear Montana’s reply to Chloe.
‘I don’t want money … my family … well-provided … belonging … roots …’
‘I guess you would know all about loss though?’ prompted Ernie.
She did, but before she could say so, Chloe’s voice reached her ears.
‘Wish I knew who my father was. He could have pots of money and I don’t know about it.’
Montana’s reply was muffled.
‘Stuff your brother,’ Chloe said. ‘He just wants all the family glory for himself.’
Julia couldn’t think of anything further from the truth about Rick. And she was horrified by Chloe’s gold-digging.
‘Obviously this is very upsetting for you,’ Ernie said, and patted her arm with his free hand. ‘I’m so sorry to pry.’
Julia blinked at him, too stunned to reply.
How did Montana know Cormac wasn’t her father? And did Rick realise?
That night Julia agreed to stay at Rick’s, leaving Chloe alone in the cottage. She told the girl she could watch a movie on the television in her bedroom.
‘Will you be alright here on your own?’ she asked as she changed out of the dress she’d worn to the funeral, and divested herself of her jewellery.
‘I’m okay,’ Chloe said, lying across Julia’s bed. ‘You go comfort lover-boy.’
Julia knew she should call Chloe on her outrageousness, but she was too exhausted to care. Besides, this was the first time for a while that she’d seen a sign of Chloe’s usual spark.
Julia met Rick down by the jetty as they’d earlier arranged.
‘All good?’ he queried as he helped her into the little boat.
‘All good,’ she responded with a smile. But as the tender zipped across the calm water, closing the space between the two tracts of land, she worried over her tangled thoughts. What had tipped Montana off about her parentage? Should she warn Rick, or stay out of it? She sighed. She was hardly one to talk about secrets.
Rick must have noticed her preoccupation because after she had diligently tied the tender up at the small jetty as directed, he hauled her out of the boat and along the jetty. ‘C’mon. I’ll show you my island home.’
All thoughts of Montana fled as they made their way across the beach and up the rocky hill, to where a row of huge panes of glass denoted Rick’s place.
‘Those windows are incredible. You must be able to see the whole world!’
‘Just about,’ said Rick. ‘And thanks to the fact the house itself is underground, barely anyone, other than locals, knows I’m here.’
‘But how did you go about it? I mean,’ she cast a hand around, indicating the island and its surrounding body of water, ‘just getting the machinery and materials here would’ve been a challenge. Who built it?’
‘We managed, Charlie and I. And I didn’t get a builder. I built it myself.’
Julia stopped mid-stride. ‘Is there anything you aren’t capable of?’
Rick lifted one lazy, inviting eyebrow. ‘That’s something for you to find out.’
He gave a devilish grin and led her to the front door, which was set into a wall at the side of the house. ‘I’ll give you a tour of the living areas before the bedroom.’
‘You afraid we mightn’t make it to the rest of the house otherwise?’ She couldn’t believe her own audacity.
‘Something like that.’
Half an hour later, after showing her around his incredible house, they finally came to the doorway of Rick’s bedroom. He turned to her and took her hand. ‘Will you come to bed with me?’
The way he asked nearly broke her heart. She smiled. Nodded.
He drew her into the bedroom, where, through the floor-to-ceiling windows she could see out into the glassed-in front passage and then beyond to the brilliantly emblazoned evening sky. It was a multitude of colours, like an artist’s palette across the horizon.
It was stunning.
And then Rick was there. His hands moved to the buttons on her shirt. She placed a hand over his, stopping him. Getting up off the bed, she started to undo them herself.
His eyes became wider as she took her time, slowly unbuttoning them one by one. Power raced through her as she saw his face darken with need. He reached for her, but she dodged and slowly peeled the shirt from her body.
Her bra was next. She slipped down the straps one at a time, Rick watching her every move. Her breasts swung free and she cupped them in her hands, offering them to him.
He buried his head in their deep cleft, then moved to her nipples, sucking, nipping, licking. She flung her head back. Electrical sensations ran through her body, hot sparks of pleasure.
His hands were on her waist, unzipping her jeans, sliding them over her hips, smoothing the soft skin of her backside. Her panties were next, then she felt his warm breath on the deepest parts of her.
He swung her around and laid her down on the bed. He shucked his shirt off and she was treated to the sight of his naked, tanned chest, the dark hair softly curling around well-formed pectoral muscles.
She slipped her hands down his body, tugging at his jeans, and with his help pushed them off. Finally, they were both naked and he was above her, staring down with a slight smile on his face. She had no time to glory in the pleasure of his taut body. Rick slid down her and buried his head in the part of her that was throbbing for his attention.
She writhed beneath him as he slowly brought her almost to a peak; each time, over and over, nearly there, and then it would start again. Until finally, an explosion shuddered through her whole body, like fizzing fireworks right down to the tips of her toes.
Sated, she lay there panting, Rick smiling with satisfaction beside her. Then she reached for him and his eyes darkened again as he drove himself into her. She met him with every thrust, until he cried out, head flung back, and came with an intensity that shocked them both.
The vulnerability and softness of his face as he stared down at her brought tears to her eyes. It was so beautiful. This was the man who had shaped her life.
‘I love you, Julia,’ he said.
The look in his eyes echoed the truth in his words.
‘And I, you.’ Her heart squeezed. How long had she waited to hear those words?
He kissed her long and hard.
Afterwards they lay in each other’s arms, but Julia couldn’t relax.
Things were spinning out of control. Her mind was too busy replaying the conversation between Montana and Chloe that she’d overheard in the pub. She should tell Rick. And she should tell him about Chloe. She should do it right now, before she lost her courage.
‘Rick?’
There was no answer.
She moved slightly sideways and looked up at him. He was asleep, his face completely relaxed, a slight smile on his lips.
She watched him, knowing she would be the person to wipe that smile away.
She couldn’t put off the inevitable much longer.
Chapter 23
‘There is no way you can manage that working dog event, Julia. You’ve barely opened the cafe.’
‘I can manage it.’ Julia almost had to yell to make herself heard over the cattle bellowing in the background. Obviously Rick was phoning from the paddock or cattle yards. So much for him giving her the space to manage her own life!
‘My sister’s asking way too much. When has she organised it for?’
Julia took a deep breath. ‘Next weekend.’
‘Fuck! No way! She’ll have to cancel. I can’t spare Charlie – he’s barely here anyway. And she’s going to need extra yards set up and –’
‘Rick, Rick, stop!’ Julia made her voice as authoritative as she could. ‘It’s all sorted. Montana’s borrowing some sheep yards from the Agricultural Society and she’s organised some of her mates to help her get set up. Plus the little set of cattle yards here are perfectly adequate apparently. Quit stressing. We’ll handle it.’
‘But what about you? How are you going to cater for the school and run the cafe? You’re only just managing now.’
Julia’s hackles went up. She was not ‘only just managing’. With Chloe and Ernie in the kitchen, things were perfectly under control. Well, mostly. In truth, she was concerned how the dog school weekend was going to go, but Montana was incredibly positive and so keen there was no way Julia was going to admit any of her doubts to Rick. Then he would make her cancel the school and it would be all Julia’s fault.
‘I’ve barely got to do anything other than provide the venue,’ she said. Along with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea both days. Montana had roped in Owen to do a fry-up for breakfast.
‘I had this wrap thing at my first working dog school,’ she’d told Julia. ‘Bacon, eggs, pineapple, mayo and sauce. Bloody beautiful.’ She’d smacked her lips together. ‘Chuck in some aioli and it’s heaven. I told Owen about it and he’s going to knock some up.’
Julia only hoped she could meet the same standard.
She’d said as much, which made Montana laugh. ‘Your cooking is as amazing as you are, Julia.’
‘You don’t have to do it if it’s too much,’ Rick was saying. ‘Chloe probably isn’t the kind of cook you need –’
‘Chloe’s fine, Rick, and the dog school will be fine too.’ Her tone was impatient, she knew. If he just wouldn’t try to manage everything.
There was a long silence, except for the cows’ bellows and the sound of a vehicle getting louder.
She added more tolerantly, ‘I’ve got it all organised, and so has your sister.’
‘Hmmm …’
‘Rick, you’re letting me run my own life, remember? I’m fine. You worry too much.’
More silence, then he gave a half-laugh. ‘Yeah, okay. Back off, huh?’
She heard the hiss of airbrakes followed by metal-on-metal screeching.
‘Listen, I’ve got to go. The cattle truck’s arrived. But if you need anything, let me know. I’ll help you out somehow.’
That was the man she loved: so caring and comforting. Trying his hardest not to jump in and fix something just because he saw it as a problem.
‘I love you,’ she said.
There was a pause, then a quiet, ‘I love you too.’
The phone seemed light in her hand, her heart full.
‘See you later,’ he said with an emphasis that turned it into a promise.
Julia put the handset back on the wall, then jumped as Chloe’s voice said, ‘Declarations, hey?’
She turned and saw that her daughter was frowning.
‘Sylvia’s boyfriend used to say the same thing,’ she added, ‘but I reckon he was just after her money.’
Julia laughed. She felt like she was walking on a soft, fluffy cloud and she wasn’t going to let Chloe’s negativity get to her. ‘Rick has way more money than me.’
‘That’s what Sylvia said when we warned her. Funny how the guy’s wife before her died as well. She met Derek on holiday. He must have recognised her as an easy target. Lauren thought so too, but Sylvia wouldn’t listen to us. She finally had a man to love her. Supposedly, anyway. The rest is history.’
‘What happened?’ Julia asked, desperate to know more. ‘Didn’t Sylvia care what you thought of her new boyfriend?’
‘Nope. She was “in love”,’ Chloe made air quotes. ‘Lauren and me both said he was no good. And we were right.’
Chloe was finally opening up. How should Julia put the next question so she didn’t scare her off?
‘So did something happen after Sylvia died?’ she asked carefully.
Chloe’s face scrunched up. ‘What do you reckon? He took most of the money and the house, and kicked me out! Lauren reckoned he would.’
‘Did you go to live with her then?’
‘Nope. She died too – I told you that.’ Chloe looked scornful. ‘Like Sylvia and Lottie, except Lauren was only nineteen.’
Julia stayed quiet, willing the girl to go on.
‘She shot up some ice. It was a bad batch. Had stuff like weed-killer or battery acid or some shit in it.’ Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes. ‘She died the next day.’
Julia was rooted to the spot. Her heart told her to step forward and hold Chloe. Her instincts told her to stay put.
The girl held up her hand, making the decision for her. ‘I don’t need your sympathy. I’m okay about it now.’
Julia could see she wasn’t. ‘So how long ago was this?’ she asked instead.
But Chloe’s face had shut down. Her lips were pressed tightly together, as if she didn’t want any more words to escape.
Julia knew she’d already asked too much but she needed to know. When had things gone so desperately wrong for her daughter?
‘When did all this happen, Chloe?’ she pressed.
A timer rang out on the oven and Chloe turned away towards the kitchen.
‘You want to know more?’ she goaded. ‘You have to tell me who my father is. Fair’s fair.’
Checkmate.
Chloe escaped into the kitchen, and Julia sank into a chair and stared unseeing at the bluebird painting on the wall.
Ernie bustled into the cafe holding his mixing bowl and apron. Julia had suggested he could leave them in the kitchen rather than carting them around, but he’d very politely declined. ‘I usually don’t like to let them out of my sight,’ he’d explained. Julia had let it ride, although she was just itching to jam that cap of his in the washing machine. It was filthy. Thank heavens he usually took it off while he was cooking, revealing a very bald and shiny dome.
‘I’m just leaving these with Chloe,’ Ernie said now. ‘I’m heading into town and I thought she might need them for her first go at scones on her own.’
He walked into the kitchen, and reappeared a few minutes later with a small smile on his face. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can. It might pay to keep an eye on your niece – sorry, on your employee – to make sure she doesn’t burn the place down. The oven has to be hot for scones.’
Just at that moment Montana came thundering across the verandah in her cowgirl boots, making such a racket that Chloe poked her head out of the kitchen and said, ‘Those cows on the loose again?’
Julia rolled her eyes. ‘Nope. Just Montana.’
Ernie was holding the door open to make way for the tornado that was Rick’s sister. Montana kicked off her Ariats and stormed in with her customary haste.
>
‘I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!’ she roared as she headed straight for Julia’s new coffee machine. The company had finally replaced the faulty one and Julia had been able to return Rick’s.
‘How the hell do I get caffeine out of this thing?’ Montana demanded, holding up a cup.
Ernie perched on a stool instead of leaving, obviously as intrigued as the rest of them.
Julia quietly pressed buttons and pulled levers on the coffee machine, waiting for the next verbal onslaught. It came just a moment later.
‘Do you know what he’s done?’ Montana could barely stand still, she was so angry.
Julia wasn’t entirely sure who ‘he’ was, but she was guessing Rick or Owen.
‘He’s a bastard. A complete and utter bastard! I’m so mad with him I want to smash something!’
‘Just make sure it’s not my cafe,’ said Julia drily.
She handed Montana the cup of coffee, made another for Ernie, and with a sigh took up a mug of her own. Obviously her next job – painting the outer wall of the cottage on the lake side – was going to have to wait a while longer.
‘Take a seat,’ she told Montana. ‘What’s happened?’
Instead of answering, Montana bellowed, ‘Chloe, are you there?’
The girl poked her head around the kitchen door.
‘Can I have something sweet to eat, pretty please?’
‘Sure,’ said Chloe.
Julia could see the girl was agog. She usually was whenever Montana appeared. The redhead emitted so much energy that most people took a step back when they were in her vicinity, but Chloe seemed to enjoy it. Regardless, Julia didn’t want these two getting any closer. Not yet, anyway. Although she knew she was putting off the inevitable.
Finally Montana had a piece of sponge cake in front of her, Chloe – much to her disgust – was back in the kitchen starting on the day’s scones, and Julia was looking expectantly at her visitor. There was only one thing she could think of that would cause this kind of reaction.
Lake Hill Page 18
