by Lucy Clark
‘Are you asking me to—?’ She stopped.
Henry smiled. ‘By the scared look in your eyes, I think it best if I don’t, but that is my intention, Rayne. I’ll give you all the time in the world. I’ll continue to restore your faith in men, to let you know that I am the one you can depend on, who’s going to do everything in his power to protect you, to cherish you, to love you for ever.’
‘Henry.’ She couldn’t help it and leaned forward, being careful not to squash Jasmine, and kissed him. She pulled back and looked into his eyes, her heart pounding wildly against her chest. ‘I lo—’ She stopped and swallowed.
‘Shh.’ He put a finger on her lips. ‘It’s all right. There’s plenty of time. We’ll sort it all out.’
‘We will?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t want you to think you don’t mean anything to me. You do but—’
‘I know.’
And she realised he truly did understand.
‘Now, why don’t we get Jazzy to bed and have a relaxing cup of tea?’
Rayne took Jasmine’s temperature again, relieved when it was still down. Henry carried the girl to her bedroom and placed her gently on the bed. Rayne pulled up the covers and they stood there, just watching Jasmine sleep.
‘You’re doing a good job,’ he told Rayne softly. ‘Janey would be proud.’
‘I hope so.’
‘I wish I’d had the chance to meet her, and Jarrod.’
‘I wish you had, too.’ Rayne looked up at him. ‘She would have liked you.’
‘Really?’
‘For sure.’ They went into the kitchen where Earlene and Jarvis were playing a game of cards. Everyone chatted softly as they drank tea but slowly the day started catching up with Rayne and when she yawned, Henry stood, declaring it was time for him to go.
‘I’ll come by tomorrow and we can talk,’ he told her as she walked him to the door.
‘OK.’ Rayne went willingly into his arms, closing her eyes and breathing in the scent of him. ‘I love the way you smell,’ she said.
‘Yeah?’ He smiled down at her. ‘What else?’
Rayne swallowed and looked up at him. ‘I love the way you love Jasmine.’
‘She’s so easy to love. Like you, Rayne.’
‘That’s not how I feel. I’m too insecure, for a start.’
Henry shrugged. ‘You’re working hard at overcoming quite a few years of distrust. That’s an amazing thing to accomplish, and you’ll do it.’
‘With your help,’ she stated.
‘With my help,’ he confirmed, and kissed her. ‘Sleep. Rest. Relax.’
‘Yes, Doctor.’ She smiled at him as he left then went inside to say good night to Earlene and Jarvis.
‘Has he proposed yet?’ Jarvis asked.
‘Oh, shush.’ Earlene sent him a look. ‘Leave them alone, Jarvis. They’ll sort things out in their own time.’
‘I’m just saying that he’s a good one, Raynie,’ Jarvis said firmly. ‘Good breeding. Good stock. Just like Jarrod. He’ll look after you, girl, and it’s quite clear to see he’s mad in love with you.’
Rayne’s smile was bright and uplifting. ‘Yeah. He is.’
‘And it’s quite clear to see you’re mad in love with him.’
Her smile grew. ‘Yeah. I am.’
‘Then what’s stopping you?’ Jarvis wanted to know. Rayne thought for a moment, really thought. Her life had changed all those years ago when she’d come to live with these wonderful people. She’d seen first-hand what a real family was like and she’d blossomed in it. She’d changed, she’d matured and she’d accepted the love she’d been offered. And she was no longer a scared fourteen-year-old but a woman who was loved by a very special man. What was stopping her from telling Henry how she felt?
‘Nothing.’
The next morning when Henry came over to see Rayne, he was stunned when she opened the front door and planted a big kiss on his lips.
‘Good morning, man of my dreams.’
‘Uh…morning.’ He was dazzled by the brightness in her eyes, by the happiness that seemed to surround her. ‘Have a good night’s sleep?’
‘The best.’
‘And Jasmine? How is she?’
‘Putting Ethel to bed and doing just fine.’
‘Good. Good.’ Henry still had his arms about Rayne, her buoyant mood causing his hopes to rise. Was this the day? The day that would be the start of the rest of his life? ‘Can I…er…come in?’
‘Oh. Silly me. Of course.’ She kissed him again before taking his hand in hers and leading him inside.
‘Do you have clinic this morning?’
‘Yes, but it always starts a little later on Monday mornings so I have some time.’ They headed into the lounge room where there were paper and pencils all over the coffee-table.
‘Jarvis and Earlene?’
‘Earlene’s baking. Jarvis is out in the backyard.’
‘And you’re happy.’
‘I’m very happy.’
‘May I ask why? Not that I’m complaining, you understand. I like it when you’re happy.’
‘Good. And, yes, you may ask.’
‘OK. Why are you so happy?’
‘Because I love you.’
Henry was stunned. Just like that. Just like that she’d said the words he desperately wanted to hear. Before he could respond, Jasmine came into the room, all but throwing herself at him.
‘Henry. Henry. Henry.’ She squeezed him tight around the neck and pressed three quick kisses to his cheek. ‘Look what Rayne and I made.’ She climbed off him as quickly as she’d arrived and ran to the table, picking up a ‘chatterbox’ she’d folded out of paper. ‘Pick a colour,’ she said, holding the little squares on her fingers.
‘Uh…’ Henry looked at the colours written on the top. ‘Yellow.’
Jasmine spelt out the word, moving her fingers back and fourth as she did so, the ‘chatterbox’ revealing a set of numbers. ‘Pick a number.’
He had to draw his attention away from looking at Rayne, still unable to believe she’d declared her love for him. ‘Uh…six.’
‘S—I—X,’ Jasmine spelt out, moving the ‘chatterbox’ another three times. ‘Pick another number.’
Henry looked at the new set of numbers. ‘Five.’
Jasmine nodded and opened the paper up to read what message of wisdom was written behind number five. ‘“I love you.” That’s what it says. See, Henry?’
‘Yes, and it’s true. I do love you. What a clever “chatterbox” you’ve made.’
‘I like it when you say that, Henry. It makes me all sparkly with love.’ She jiggled as she spoke and both grown-ups smiled.
‘You have a way with words, Jazzy.’ Henry winked at her but caressed Rayne’s hand while he spoke.
‘She found a book in the library on origami,’ Rayne supplied, feeling as though she should say something, but was totally surprised to hear her own voice sounding so husky. How could she be expected to help it when Henry wasn’t letting go of her hand, was wanting her as close to him as she could get and was almost devouring her with his eyes every time he looked her way?
‘Really?’ He pointed to the other ‘chatterbox’, which was folded more neatly on the table. ‘And who made that one?’
‘I did.’ Rayne leaned over to pick it up then looked down at the hand Henry still held. ‘I’ll need it back if I’m going to show you.’
Reluctantly he released her. She put her fingers into the little squares. ‘All right. Pick a colour.’
Henry scanned the words written on each of the four corners but they all said ‘white’. ‘Uh…white?’
Rayne moved her fingers vertically and horizontally as she spelt out the word. When it landed open on the numbers, she said, ‘Pick a number.’
Again they all said ‘thirty-two’. ‘Uh…thirty-two.’
Thankfully, Rayne didn’t count out the number but instead lifted the flap to read what the message was bene
ath that number. ‘“Will you marry me?”’
‘That’s what it says, Henry. She’s not making it up,’ Jasmine said, pointing to the writing on the paper while she jumped up and down with excitement.
Henry looked at Rayne, then back at the words on the paper, then back at Rayne again. It was then he realised she was actually on one knee and he couldn’t help the smile that came to his face.
She put the ‘chatterbox’ on the floor and took his hand in hers. ‘I do love you so very much, Henry. I want to walk down the aisle in white in thirty-two days’time—as required by law—and I want to marry you. What do you say?’
It was the most courageous thing she’d ever done in her life and when Henry glanced up at the doorway, he wasn’t at all surprised to find Jarvis and Earlene watching and waiting along with Jasmine and Rayne.
He returned his attention to Rayne, seeing the love shining brightly in her eyes. ‘You are amazing, Rayne. Just you try and stop me from marrying you.’
With mounting impatience, which was very unlike him, Henry tugged Rayne into his arms and covered her mouth with his, kissing her with such abandonment she instantly felt light-headed. His lips moved over hers in total possession and she surrendered to him one hundred per cent.
The power of the kiss was deep and extremely hungry. It was as though both of them had been crawling through the desert for far too long and now, finally, they could quench their thirst. Rayne matched his intensity, eager to show him just how much she loved him.
‘Did he say yes?’ Jasmine wanted to know. She turned to face her grandparents. ‘Did he say yes?’
‘I sure hope so,’ Jarvis joked.
Henry pulled back, resting his forehead against Rayne’s before looking at Jasmine. ‘It is most definitely a big, fat yes.’
Whooping with joy, Jasmine threw herself at Henry, smothering him with kisses. ‘You’re going to be my daddy. I wanted you to be my daddy. I really did. I prayed every night that you’d be my daddy and now you will be.’
Henry and Rayne were both laughing at the exuberance of the five-year-old. Henry finally managed to shift and put one arm about Rayne and the other around Jasmine. He kissed his bride-to-be with love and then kissed Jasmine’s cheek.
‘My girls.’
EPILOGUE
THIRTY-TWO days later, Rayne was dressed in white and was ready to walk down the aisle of the historical Deniliquin church to her Prince Charming who was waiting for her. Willard, much to his delight, was best man and Stuie was groomsman.
Henry had returned to Sydney with both Jasmine and Rayne, shocking all the staff at his hospital by putting in for a transfer to Wagga Wagga Base hospital. Deniliquin had willingly accepted his services as a general surgical consultant and already he had a waiting list.
He assisted Rayne with her house calls on a weekly basis and she, in turn, was planning to go back to university the following year to complete her surgical training under the watchful eye of her husband-supervisor.
Earlene was nervously straightening her dress and Tanya was returning from taking Jasmine to the toilet.
‘Are we ready?’ Jarvis asked.
‘Is everyone else ready?’ Rayne questioned back.
Jarvis tut-tutted. ‘You’re the bride, dear. You’re the one we wait for.’
‘I’m ready, Grandpa,’ Jasmine said, giving him another twirl of her pink dress, her blonde hair up in ringlets with little pink rosebuds for decoration. ‘I’ve got flowers in my hair! I’ve never had flowers in my hair before. I like it.’ She paused then said, ‘Rayne, why do Tanya and Grandma have flowers in their hair? They’re not flower girls. Only I am.’
Jarvis laughed and patted the child’s bottom. ‘Time to start, pumpkin. Remember, nice and slow, like in rehearsal.’
‘I know, Grandpa.’ She nodded eagerly and took her place, ready to get this wedding under way. As far as Jasmine was concerned, the sooner Henry was her new daddy, the better.
Jarvis held his arm out to Rayne, ready to walk her down the aisle. ‘We’re proud of you, Rayne. You know that, don’t you?’
‘I do. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me over the years. Taking me in. Giving me a home.’ She kissed his cheek. ‘You are my father in every possible way and I love you.’
‘Ah, come on, girl. You’re going to ruin your make-up if you keep this up.’
Rayne sniffed and nodded, dabbing at her eyes with the white lace handkerchief she’d initially given to Janey on her wedding day. Earlene had put it into her hands earlier and said, ‘Here. This can be your “something borrowed”, even though I want you to keep it.’
‘I just wish Janey was here.’
Jarvis nodded and looked upwards at a ray of sunshine beaming down on them. ‘She is, dear. She is.’
With that, Rayne was ready to walk down the aisle to Henry. When she arrived at his side, he lifted her veil and gasped with delight.
‘You’re…exquisite.’ And then, unable to control himself, he leaned forward and kissed her.
The church erupted into a mass of wild cheers and wolf-whistles, with the minister clearing his throat and saying, ‘I haven’t got to that bit yet.’
Rayne blushed as Henry drew back and looked around sheepishly. ‘Uh…sorry.’
After that, the ceremony proceeded as planned, with Henry accepting the rings from Willard and placing one on Rayne’s finger and then one on Jasmine’s.
‘Are you my daddy now, Henry?’ she asked.
‘Absolutely,’ he replied, and kissed her head.
Later, once the reception was over, Rayne and Henry headed out to the car they were taking on their honeymoon. They kissed Jasmine goodbye, knowing they’d see her the next day when she joined them in Echuca for the rest of the family honeymoon, but tonight Henry was determined to have Rayne all to himself.
Rayne stood back from the kerb and looked at the car she was supposed to leave in. ‘A ute? We’re leaving in a ute?’ She shook her head and smiled. ‘What happened to your snazzy car?’
‘Hey. It’s white. It’s got wedding ribbons on it! It’s also quite clean. No coat of dust.’
‘Not yet. Well, I guess it’s to be expected.’ She shrugged, accepting fate. ‘After all, Deni is the ute capital of the world.’
Henry held the door for her and helped her in then walked round to the driver’s side, waving to everyone as he went. Once inside, he started the engine then leaned over to kiss his bride once more.
‘I love you, Rayne.’
‘I love you, Henry.’
And with that, he put the car into gear and drove off. A Just Married sign was on the tailgate along with a few tin cans and an old boot tied to the bumper—courtesy of the thriving Deniliquin community they were now a firm part of.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisatio
n in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2008
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Anne Clark and Peter Clark 2008
ISBN: 9781408902455
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Copyright
