For me, partner meant an equal. Someone you were willing to build a future with. In business, or life. I’d never used the term lightly.
After only two days, I was willing to call JoJo my partner. Be introduced as her partner. Make plans for New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and even next Christmas.
As her partner, not boyfriend.
What did JoJo want for Christmas?
Two days hadn’t been a lot of time to build a relationship, but once the ideas took hold, I couldn’t stop.
We’d talked, gotten to know each other better than I probably knew anyone other than my closest staff.
I purchased a biography on Jane Fonda, not caring if JoJo liked or admired the woman. But because Jane, like JoJo, lived life on her terms. The second gift was a gift card for music. Not because I didn’t know what she liked—basically anything I didn’t. But because I wanted her to know that we could like different things and still live happily together.
On a roll, I found a stall selling handmade fudge. The sticky stuff that I hated, but JoJo could take an hour to eat. Savoring each tiny bite until it dissolved. A bag of the fudge and then far more of the rocky-road than my abs would thank me for. On the way into town, we’d spent almost half an hour discussing the best ratio of marshmallow to chocolate to nuts.
The final gift was for both of us.
A leap of faith.
Something I’d been thinking about for years. Wanted for years but had never been willing to make the commitment. Until now.
Now, like the compromising schmuck I’d always been, action would speak louder than words. Searching online while waiting to pay for Christmas gifts not only for JoJo but her family, half a dozen phone calls and offers to pay double, triple if need be.
Matt: Collect or home delivery? Ready in six weeks.
I checked the address from the advertisement. Snowy mountains in southern New South Wales. We could go there to celebrate getting rid of her moon boot, and come back with—
Noel: Collect. Forget the deposit. Paying in full.
Matt: Congratulations. Look forward to meeting you.
All I needed was to get a rush order to print the photograph and get back to JoJo.
Oh, and get more emergency supplies, and clothes.
I’d almost forgotten to get a card.
JoJo: I need you.
Her message came through after I’d dropped the bags back at my car. I initially panicked, fingers flying over the keys to the point that autocorrect couldn’t cope. Need was such a strong word; I couldn’t imagine JoJo using it unless there was an emergency. Finally, I strung my own words together.
Noel: Where are you? Are you okay?
JoJo: At the Fudge House. Need help carrying.
Going back to the same place that had sold out of rocky-road only half an hour ago, I couldn’t find my girlfriend.
Did I just use that word!
“JoJo?”
“Over here!” Her giggles hid behind a giant gingerbread house. Fully decorated with hundreds of lollies and kilos of icing. Windows asking to be snapped off and a porch complete with mistletoe.
“I need help.” Her bleating so pitiful and cute, I tried to hide my relief behind a dismissive smirk and shrug. Not a real emergency—JoJo just needed me!
“Eating or carrying it.”
“Will it fit in your car?”
“Yes, but I don’t know how you expected it to fit in yours.”
“I just ordered the largest one they made.”
“Lucky I’m here to save you.”
“Always my white knight?”
“Only when you want me to be.”
Peace reigned. I knew it wouldn’t last for long, but damn it, we were magic together.
“Mummy!”
JoJo’s squeal almost burst my eardrums. No sooner had we pulled into the driveway and two young boys in matching Santa costumes flung open the door. Stopping at the sight of her moon boot and sling. The boys were closely followed by a woman who could have been JoJo’s older sister. Blonde hair with the same curls, only cut above her shoulders. The same blue eyes that sized me up.
“Does your friend have a name?”
“Can we go inside, and I’ll make the introductions after we save the gingerbread house.”
Within seconds, my Jeep was surrounded by small bodies helping with packages, three burley men who fought over who could swing their sister the highest, and an older version of them who stood back, needing to hold himself against the car for balance.
“You remembered.”
“Daddy.” I watched as JoJo’s shaking body couldn’t hide her sobs as she ran into his arms. Our two days of fighting were worth witnessing this moment, and I felt humbled by their embrace. “I told you I’d get you the biggest gingerbread house I could find.”
“With rocky-road?”
“They’d sold out, but I’ll make some. With hidden surprises, just the way you like it.”
Between all the willing hands, it only took one trip for us to clean out the car and then their interrogation began.
“Everyone, this is my partner, Noel Roberts.”
JoJo shrugged as I mouthed, “Partner? Not boyfriend?”
“Noel, it’s very nice to meet you, I’m Isabella.” JoJo’s mother was the first to introduce herself and I struggled to match names to faces. Wives to brothers and as for the kids, they refused to stand still long enough to count.
“Don’t worry,” JoJo laughed, not letting go of my arm. “You’ll have them all figured out by tomorrow.”
The gingerbread house took pride of place on the coffee table to the side of the Christmas tree. I’d never seen a home so totally devoted to the Christmas spirit. Over each doorway hung mistletoe, each cabinet or table surface was covered in Christmas themed cloths and figurines. The house was full of noisy children laughing over the top of Christmas carols.
“Daddy, this is Noel. Noel, this is my father, Robert Methven.” JoJo led me to the frail man who’d returned to his chair in the middle of the lounge room. He tried to get up as we approached.
“Sir, please don’t get up.” I knelt, “It’s a pleasure to meet my girlfriend’s family.”
There, if JoJo could call me her partner, I could call her my girlfriend.
“Noel. Welcome to my family’s Christmas.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When we arrived, JoJo’s family were still in the middle of breakfast that had morphed into brunch and as more food appeared from the refrigerator, morphed again into lunch.
I still got the three brothers confused until I associated them with footballers. Bradley, not Brad, was the oldest and with a tinge of British accent, he reminded me of David Beckham because of his hair, and the polished brunette wife, Pippa. Three of the children were theirs, but other than the baby attached to its mother, the only way I could pick apart their children were from the accent.
Paul was only a year older than JoJo and determined to put me through the third degree despite his sister’s best efforts to save me. Only her suggestion of back yard cricket could distract him from finding out how we met, what I did for a living and my intentions for his sister.
To the first question, JoJo and I hadn’t agreed on a response. She hated the idea of lying and the truth couldn’t be explained. The second, I didn’t want to share until they’d accepted me as a person instead of a potential bank balance.
As for the third, well that would become obvious with my Christmas gift.
“Bat or bowl first?” JoJo offered me a choice.
“What’s your preference?” I’d played rep cricket at boarding school, even toured South Africa with the team. But, I’d played the game for something to do and a way to belong. I never had the competitive look JoJo and her brothers wore as casually as sunscreen on a summer’s day.
“I can’t wait to hit you for a six,” she teased as I snuck in a quick kiss. JoJo could pretend it was about keeping up the pretense of our fake relationship
or come to terms with what we were. Emerging. New. Exciting. Real.
“You’ve done that every day since we met.” Around us, her brothers groaned, and I heard one of the wives complain about her husband never saying things like that anymore.
It took a few overs to get my arm loosened up. Her brothers didn’t take it easy on me, and their home-ground advantage meant perfectly judged hits to the fence. Giving away fours on my bowling would have been demoralizing except I knew the reason for my lack of focus.
JoJo’s tanned legs teasing me underneath her bright red sundress. Perfectly Christmas.
Perfectly mine.
“JoJo, ready to face your boyfriend?” Paul handed her the bat as she did her best to stand at the crease. Ignoring her crutches and lame arm. “Or are you going to go easy on him?”
“I can handle whatever he throws at me.”
“Poor guy.” The third brother, Sean, or Shane tossed me a bottled water. “I’m surprised you lasted the drive from Sydney. Remember the time mum and dad thought we could survive a family road trip to Darwin?”
The game paused while the three brothers teased their sister with love and the subtle warning. They could tease, out-bowl and give her hell. After sharing bathrooms and holidays, they had that right.
If I hurt her, there would be hell to pay. First by JoJo, then by her family.
“You ready for it?” Bradley asked, as JoJo assumed her batting position. I knew he wasn’t talking about the game of cricket.
“As sure as I’ve ever been.” I remembered the story JoJo told me about her parents. That her mother had always known Robert Methven was the one.
“Don’t go easy on her. She won’t thank you and won’t respect you.”
“That’s my girl.”
Girlfriend.
Partner.
Love.
JoJo
I hadn’t expected to be playing cricket when I packed the short red sundress. Either I could bend over to bat and risk the skirt blowing up and showing off my underwear to my brothers—not going to happen—or stand and bat like an amateur.
The first ball Noel threw down was slower than he’d been bowling to my brothers. Still, without being able to swing the heavy, wooden bat properly, between my leg and right arm, I barely hit the bloody thing.
My brothers thought it was hilarious. Mocking Noel and I in equal measures about what love could do to a person.
To hell with them. The Adelaide sun was all heat and no breeze. I adjusted my stance for business.
“Do your best.” I challenged Noel and from his smile, I knew I was in trouble.
“Phew! Mate.” As wicket keeper, Paul had front row seat to the bouncer that almost took my head off. “She’s only a girl, and an injured one at that.”
I shook my head, “Should have been watching the ball better. He won’t get me again. Red paling for bonus points?”
“What does that mean?” Noel called as my brothers whistled and their wives became interested. Even calling their children to come outside and watch Aunty JoJo go for the red paling. I loved those kids and would rather cut off my right leg than let them down. Not that my right leg was any good at the moment. I’d probably be able to bat better without it.
“It means no fielders. Just batter and bowler. You get to bowl three balls.” Paul whistled. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
“Doesn’t sound so hard.” Poor Noel was still so innocent.
“See the red paling behind you?” I pointed the bat to the far end of the backyard. The bat uncomfortably heavy in my left hand. What the hell had I been thinking? “That’s what I’m aiming for.”
“If you hit it?”
“She gets to boss you around for a day. Twenty-four hours of hell.” Shaun shook his head. “Believe me, it’ll be the worse day of your life.”
My brothers and I rarely invoked the red paling, but when we did, things got ugly.
“And if she misses?”
“You get one wish.”
“Anything?” I could only imagine what Noel could come up with. Given my chance of being able to hit the ball at all one handed, I hoped he would use his wish wisely.
“Chill, dude, she’s still our sister.” Paul called out before whispering to me, “Does he know?”
“Know what?” I smirked, of course my brothers knew something that their wives and Noel didn’t.
“If you pull this off, he’ll never underestimate you.”
“Have you got a lighter bat?”
Paul handed me one of the plastic three quarter sized bats. Great for the kids, and for swinging one handed. “Mate, we should warn you.” Shane called to Noel.
“Don’t you dare!” My eyes flamed. Noel needed to learn the hard way.
“Know what? Is she a world cricket champion or something thing?” Noel looked between my smiling brothers while I feigned innocence. “JoJo—my love—are you keeping secrets from me?”
My love. He could bowl me over right then and there with those words.
“JoJo was left-handed until high school. The nuns made her change to right-handed in the classroom, but with sports she’s always favored her left.”
Noel strode down the makeshift pitch. “Any other secrets you want to share?” He kissed my nose and my heart sang.
“Millions, but I’m only sharing one a day.”
“Duly noted, now prepare to grant me my wish.”
“Gotta beat me first.”
“Oh, baby, you want me to beat you.”
Luckily, only Paul heard, and he gave Noel a sympathetic shrug. “You two deserve each other.”
Noel’s first ball whizzed past me. The second, I sent flying in the wrong direction.
But as he was about the bowl the third and final attempt at my red paling challenge, a piercing scream from the house stopped the game.
Noel
“Ambulance, someone call an ambulance!”
Robert Methven had collapsed trying to walk outside to watch the game.
The wives immediately collected their children who had responded to the adults’ panic in the only way they knew how; with tears and intelligent questions no one knew the answers to.
“What happened?”
“Is grandpa okay?”
“Is grandpa going to die?”
I did the only thing I knew how to do; made phone calls back home to board members from hospitals to make sure someone called someone to make sure that Robert Methven’s medical care wasn’t about to be compromised because of the date.
Christmas Eve.
Shit. JoJo hadn’t spoken in depth about her father’s condition. The topic, understandably, led to her questioning mortality and guilt. Whether he’d survive and whether she should have sucked in her pride and gone home more often. We’d talked broadly about different care and treatment options, with me realizing I’d picked up far more knowledge than I thought from the various hospital board meetings and charity events.
Right now, my connections were as valuable as my bank balance. By the time the ambulance pulled out of the Methven driveway, Australia’s best oncologist was contacting the Adelaide hospital to offer support and I had three others on standby in Melbourne and Canberra who were willing to fly to Adelaide if needed. I was willing to handsomely reward them with a delayed Christmas as long as the woman I loved got the day with all her family.
Yes, loved.
I might not have bowled her over on the backyard cricket pitch, but she’d hit me for a six, metaphorically of course. In meeting her family, seeing what a family could be like, put all her pieces together. I could understand her fierce determination, pride, and independence. She’d needed all three to survive in a household with those brothers. To be part of their games, she needed to compete on their terms.
Her parents may have been on her case to find a husband and raise a family, but that was because of the strength and happiness they had found together. They only wanted their precious daughter to have the same. Not to prioritiz
e her career and money over the only thing that mattered.
I also saw the truth in JoJo, how she was so terrified of failing in love, that her parents had set such a high standard, that she didn’t try.
Which was why we were so bloody perfect together.
My expectations of love and marriage were so low, that we were bound to surpass them.
Yes, I wasn’t ready to put a ring on her finger, but I could see there would be a day. A day when we’d argued over something little or debated the intricacies over some topic that neither of us really cared about but enjoyed the challenge of playing our own word games. Finding a passion in each other’s wit and intelligence.
I could see the day when I would resort to the ultimate conversation stopper, even better than a kiss—which only brought me time to gather my thoughts. As JoJo was midflight, building her case with logic and ration, I would collapse on one knee and ask her to continue the discussion for the rest of our lives.
“Sweetheart, get your brothers.”
“Why?”
Her mother had ridden in the ambulance and her brothers were in a dither. Men of action and control, seeing their father vulnerable had hit each of them hard. Worse, their mother had taken the car keys and all of them had flown into town.
“Consider me your personal valet.”
“But parking is always a nightmare at the hospital.”
“I think I can afford a couple of parking tickets. Look, get a bag for your mum and dad and we should be at the hospital before he’s even been triaged.”
“Thank you.”
Of the four siblings, JoJo had been the one in control. Floating between her sisters-in-law, making sure the television was set to Christmas cartoons to distract the older children, and quickly making sandwiches to take to the hospital.
In less than fifteen minutes, we were ready to leave.
My new family.
“You don’t need to stay.” JoJo’s eyes were stoic and glued to the door leading from the emergency waiting room through to triage areas. Her father and mother were already swept up in the assembly line of care, and now I wished I could find out whether the prioritization was because her father’s condition warranted the panic, or my contacts.
Her Surprise Christmas Noel: Four women, one pact: find a date for Christmas (Christmas Kisses Book 2) Page 9
