A Family This Christmas

by MacKay, Sue

  Aha. That’s what the throat movements had been about. He’d been stumped by her shocking red hair. No doubt the sun was highlighting all the tones and her head would be looking the colour of a cooked lobster. She called after him, ‘I’m easily found in a crowd, that’s for sure.’

  ‘You don’t like it?’ Surprise registered on his face as he popped his head out of the kitchen window. ‘Or is it that you don’t like standing out in said crowd?’

  As she’d said, too damned astute for his own good. ‘I tried blonde once. Had lots more fun.’

  A quick flick of those lips into a brief smile. ‘Redheads don’t have fun?’ he asked.

  Did he want to know if she was into fun? ‘Definitely not. We’re very serious people.’ There was no stopping the grin splitting her mouth wide. Cam had some magic power that made her smile more than she had in for ever.

  ‘But they drive fast sports cars.’ He approached with plates, glasses of juice and the bags from the bakery. ‘Bread rolls with smoked chicken and cranberry salad okay with you?’

  ‘Just what I was about to ring out for.’

  ‘So, how’s that foot?’

  She watched as he bit into his roll, noticing for the first time what perfect, white teeth he had. So what? They’re teeth. Everyone has them. But not everyone’s teeth had her wondering how it would feel to be nibbled on her breasts or down her stomach.

  ‘Jenny? A guy could be insulted with the number of times you go space tripping around him.’

  Oh, I’m not insulting you, believe me. ‘The foot’s doing as well as expected. In other words, it’s not ready to play football or do a tango. It does complain quite sharply at any sudden movement but, hey, we’re still getting along.’

  He shook his head at her. ‘You are something, you know that?’

  There really wasn’t an answer to that. She bit into her lunch. ‘How’s your day going? Lots of patients?’

  ‘The usual run of blood-pressure tabs, antihistamine scripts and general health checks. We’re rarely rushed off our feet at this centre.’ Was that longing in his eyes? ‘But then there are the days when an emergency throws everything up in the air, and around here those tend to be messy.’

  ‘You ever miss the busier practice in Wellington?’

  ‘Do I?’ He chewed thoughtfully. ‘You know, I’ve been too busy making sure the boys get established in their new life and are happy to stop and think about it. Two friends from med school and I started that practice. We were doing very well. Then one day Greg went for a run after work and had a massive coronary on the side of the road.’

  ‘He didn’t make it?’ It was a reminder that other people had bad stuff happen to them and didn’t run away.

  ‘Yes, he did. But it was a huge wake-up call. Sometimes we seemed to be working more hours than we had in the ED as interns. We brought in more partners, but it was never the same. So the long answer is, no, I don’t miss that particular practice. Though I now work so far at the other end of the stress scale I’m almost horizontal.’

  ‘Yeah, right. That explains the shadows under your eyes.’

  ‘I knew I’d forgotten something. Didn’t put any make-up on this morning.’

  Had his wife disliked the slow pace of Havelock? She wasn’t asking. Instead she tried, ‘Where do the boys go after school?’ Maybe she could look after them until Cam got home.

  ‘Amanda, the mother of one of their friends, takes them. She also takes their swimming lessons.’

  Disappointment tugged at her. Of course he’d have everything organised. He hadn’t been waiting for her to fall into his life to help out. ‘Does she look after the boys in the school holidays, too?’

  ‘No. They go to my parents on the farm. They love it out there so much it’s always a battle to bring them home at the start of term.’

  Parents. Parents. She missed her mum and dad. They understood what she was doing and why. Didn’t they?

  Cam stood up. ‘Time I headed to Blenheim. Anything you want before I go?’

  ‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’ Oh, for pity’s sake, it won’t hurt to ask a favour of him. Swallow. ‘Um, you couldn’t get my tablet for me, could you?’

  ‘Of course.’ He looked puzzled that she had to ask. ‘Where is it?’

  ‘At the bottom of my bag.’ Which meant he’d have to dig through all her clothes, including her underwear. If he even found her slightly attractive he’d only have to remember the boring, plain white knickers and bras he’d find there and he’d sober up fast.

  Within minutes Cam had placed a bottle of iced water, some fruit and her tablet on the table beside her. He added a notepad with his email address at the top. ‘In case you need anything.’

  A hug wouldn’t go astray. Gulp. What? A hug? Why?

  Because she felt a wee bit lonely right now. Being forced to stay put so wasn’t helping her cause. Instead she was doing stupid things, like considering emailing Mum and Dad and telling them where she was and how she’d managed to end up here when usually she only said enough for them to know she was still alive and kicking.

  A deep breath and her shoulders went back. ‘Hopefully, I won’t be annoying you. Have a good afternoon, and I’ll see you later.’

  A finger lifted her chin and knowing brown eyes locked with hers. ‘Believe me, an hour after we get home you’ll be wishing for the peace and quiet again. School doesn’t tire my boys. Instead, it winds them up even more.’

  ‘They’re like those battery bunnies from the TV ads.’

  ‘Sometimes I wish I could just take out their batteries.’ Cam’s thumb slid across her chin before he dropped his hand to his side.

  If she hadn’t known better she’d have said it had been a caress. But she did know better. Cam had enough on his plate to deal with, without having the time or the need to be caressing her. ‘Cam?’ When she had his complete attention again she said, ‘I really appreciate all you’ve done for me. Don’t say you have to either, because you don’t.’

  ‘My lips are sealed.’

  Her lips tipped up into a smile. ‘Why did you bring me into your home?’

  ‘My lips are sealed.’

  Lips. Cam’s lips. What would they feel like on hers? She watched as he stepped off the deck and headed for the front of the house without a backward glance. This whole scenario was alien to her, and yet it was tugging her in, wrapping around her, making her feel comfortable for brief moments of time. She tapped the tablet into life.

  Hi Mum and Dad. That’s great news about your trip to Sydney in the New Year.

  This was where she’d normally sign off. But her fingers kept tapping the keys.

  I am currently in Havelock. It’s a quaint little town on the Pelorus Sound, famous for the green-lipped mussels grown in the sounds and packaged here at a small factory.

  She stared out across the lawn to the hills beyond the Sound. According to her hiking book there were some walking tracks over there. Not that she’d been planning on doing any of those as she hadn’t intended stopping here for longer than it took to eat lunch. But now she’d love the opportunity.

  Mum, Dad, don’t panic but I’ve broken my ankle. A silly little accident that has rendered me next to useless for a few days. The local doctor has kindly put me up until I’m ready to move on.

  She chuckled. That made Cam sound old and avuncular.

  He has two boys he’s bringing up on his own. They’re just adorable. Sigh. That’s about it this time. Love you both heaps, Jenny.

  She didn’t hesitate, touched Send, and the longest email she’d written in a year headed off into cyberspace.

  *

  ‘Jenny, where are you?’

  ‘We’re home. Are you better?’

  No way could she tell the twins apart by their voices. ‘Hi, guys. I’m on the couch with a cat. Who does it belong to?’ The black and white moggy had made itself very comfortable on her thighs an hour ago and she hadn’t had the heart to send it packing.

  ‘That’s Socks. S
he lives at Mrs Warner’s house, but Dad says we feed her more times.’

  One boy appeared by the couch. Andrew? Fingers crossed she’d got it right, she said, ‘Socks is quite heavy, isn’t she? Andrew, can you lift her off so I can shift my legs?’

  ‘Okay.’

  Got the name right. Great. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘That cat’s far too fat,’ came an acerbic comment from the kitchen.

  ‘Should I have put her outside, Cam?’ Like that would be easy in her current situation.

  ‘Good luck with that.’ Cam strolled into view. ‘How was your afternoon?’

  ‘Excellent.’ Joined the local theatre group and did a turn in the mussel-opening shed. ‘It’s unbelievably quiet here. I haven’t done anything to help with dinner, I’m sorry.’

  ‘You weren’t expected to,’ Cam glanced at her.

  ‘We’re having a barbecue.’ Marcus bounced around the room until he found the TV remote.

  ‘We always have barbecues,’ Andrew explained in a bored tone.

  Every time one boy spoke the other added his say. So like her and Alison it made her heart crunch. She’d stopped talking very much in those first months after Alison had left her because she’d found herself pausing and waiting for Alison to speak. Every time she hadn’t, it had hurt all over again.

  ‘Barbecuing is the easiest way to cook,’ Cam muttered. ‘Especially in summer.’ Did he feel pressured about the meals he provided for his boys? They weren’t exactly looking malnourished.

  Licking her lips exaggeratedly, Jenny said, ‘Barbecues are my favourite. Yummy food and no slaving over a hot stove.’ Like she ever slaved over any kind of stove.

  ‘Turn that TV off, Marcus. You haven’t done your jobs yet. The washing needs bringing in.’ Cam reached for the remote, tugged it from Marcus’s hand. He raised his voice. ‘Andrew, empty the dishwasher. Now. Bring your lunchboxes out to the kitchen first.’

  Jenny grimaced. ‘Can I do anything? Make a salad or peel some potatoes?’ Sitting here while everyone else did the chores made her uncomfortable. She hadn’t even noticed the washing on the line.

  Cam was already returning to the kitchen. ‘Stay where you are. We have a routine.’ He turned and gave her a reluctant smile. ‘For want of a better word.’

  ‘I’d be in the way.’ She got it. But tomorrow surely she’d be able to get around a bit better, and then she’d make herself useful.

  ‘You would,’ Cam agreed too easily.

  The man looked so tired she wanted to insist on helping in one way or another, but she could see any interruption to his routine might be more of a hindrance than a help so she stroked the cat, which had returned to sprawl across her thighs, instead.

  Marcus staggered in with an overladen washing basket and dropped it on the floor in the middle of the lounge.

  ‘Push that over here and I can fold everything.’ She nudged the cat aside and got a hiss for her effort.

  ‘There’s a novelty,’ quipped the man himself, as he strode past to the glass doors opening on to the deck and that barbecue he was so fond of.

  ‘Dad tips the clothes onto the table in the laundry and we take what we need when we want it.’

  She had noticed the rumpled look worn by all three males in this house. Tomorrow she’d balance on her cast and iron some shirts.

  ‘Give away all my secrets, why don’t you?’ Cam returned, ruffling his son’s hair on the way past.

  ‘I don’t know anyone who likes ironing.’ Except Alison had, driving her crazy with her fussiness when it had come to clothes. The memory tugged, sent a small wave of warmth through her. She held her breath, waited for the explosion of pain that followed such memories. It didn’t happen. Now, there was a first. The day was going from weird to weirder. First she’d sent an email to Mum and Dad that had involved more than hello, how are you. Now she’d recalled something about Alison that hadn’t sent her heart plummeting to her toes.

  Marcus said, ‘Dad says it’s a waste of time.’

  ‘Your dad’s a busy man.’ She didn’t dare look around to see if Cam had heard. She’d bet her crutches he had. The man had ears everywhere. Putting a folded towel on the couch beside her, she reached into the basket for another one. ‘I bet he does the most important things first, and then there’s probably no time left for other jobs like ironing.’ Sticking up for Cam now, eh? What was that about? Plain old empathy for a man who at times appeared overwhelmed with everything, that’s what.

  Despite her determination not to look for him, her gaze drifted sideways, searching, finding him standing in the middle of the kitchen, a plate of chops in one hand, a bottle of cooking oil in the other, and a bemused expression on his face.

  She winked.

  His bemusement intensified.

  Astonishment made her mouth gape. Since when did she do winks? Never, ever. So she’d just proved what a moron she was, winking at the man who’d opened up his home to her. Winks and lechery were synonymous.

  ‘You’re dribbling.’ Cam winked back.

  A deep-bellied laugh rolled up her throat and spilled between them. A muscle-relaxing, heart-warming, pants-wetting-if-she-wasn’t-careful laugh. Smudging her moist eyes with the back of her hand, she struggled to contain the merriment before she embarrassed herself.

  Cam probably already thought she was nuts.

  But when she finally looked at him he wore that smile, only this time it was wider, softer, more heart-melting than she’d seen before.

  He said, ‘You’re nuts.’

  See? ‘I know.’ And I haven’t laughed like that for a year.

  Caution, Jenny. Two days after meeting Cam you’re lightening up on the stress levels, the gloom is lifting and you’re starting to see the world in colour rather than a grey monotone. Be very careful. You could be in for a fall.

  ‘You’ve got a message,’ Marcus called from out on the deck. ‘Want your tablet?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ She hadn’t meant to leave it outside but when she’d realised what she’d done she’d been comfortably ensconced on the couch. Not that she ever got much in the way of emails these days. She had to stay in touch with people for that.

  Mum had replied. No surprise there. She’d be worried about her accident, had probably booked a flight up to see her and make sure she was looking after herself. I shouldn’t have told them.

  Darling Jenny, sorry to read about your broken ankle. That can be debilitating. The doctor sounds nice, taking you in like that when he’s probably already very busy. I expect that you’re doing all you can to help him. Big hugs and lots of love, Mum.

  Huh? Where were the questions? The demands to be careful? The details of the flight she was arriving on? Was this Mum’s way of telling her it was time to stop moving and settle somewhere?

  ‘Who emailed you?’ Marcus asked.

  ‘My mother.’ I think.

  ‘You’re lucky.’ That sweet little face turned sad.

  ‘Yes, I am. But you’ve got your dad and Andrew.’ Neither replaced his mother. She got that. She had her parents but they didn’t fill the gap left by Alison. ‘They love you heaps.’ She wouldn’t say they’d always be there for Andrew because no one could predict that with absolute certainty. Look what had happened to her for believing she’d have Alison in her life for ever.

  ‘I love my mum heaps.’ Marcus stared at the floor, his hair falling across his eyes.

  Reaching out, she pulled him near and sat him on the couch beside her, away from the washing. ‘Of course you do. Mums are special.’

  Still staring at the floor, he nodded slowly. ‘Ours is.’

  ‘So are dads and brothers.’

  The nodding continued. ‘Mine are the best.’

  ‘See? You’re very lucky. I bet they think you’re the best, too.’

  Finally Marcus raised his head and looked at her. ‘Are you really a twin?’

  CHAPTER SIX

  CAM HELD HIS breath and waited for Jenny’s withdrawal from Marcus. He should in
terrupt, tell Marcus to stop asking questions and get his homework, but something in the way Jenny didn’t sink in on herself the way she had that morning made him pause. Besides, if he was being honest, he wanted to hear this, too. Letting Marcus do his dirty work?

  ‘Yes, I am. I…’ She stopped, swallowed hard, then kept going. ‘My parents had two girls. I’m the oldest. Alison was the bossy one, always telling me what to do.’

  ‘I’m the bossy one and the oldest.’

  True.

  ‘Who’s the brainiest?’ she asked. Deflecting the twin subject?

  Marcus’s chest puffed out. ‘I am.’

  Not quite so true.

  ‘No, he’s not,’ Andrew yelled across the kitchen, where he was still slowly putting the clean dishes away, one piece of cutlery at a time. Why didn’t he understand that if he just got on with the job it would be finished and he’d have more time for fun things? ‘I got ninety-five for maths, you got eighty-one.’

  Here came the war. Cam intervened, ‘You’re both intelligent in different subjects. Now, Marcus, set the table for dinner. Andrew, put four plates on the bench and get that dishwasher unpacked, will you? Before Christmas, if possible.’

  Jenny stood up. ‘I’ll start hobbling towards the deck and hopefully I’ll make it by dinnertime.’ The smile she sent him was full of understanding and gratitude and warmth. She’d diverted the boys from asking more questions and he’d kept them diverted.

  That’s how it should be between parents, each backing the other subtly. Yet Jenny wasn’t the boys’ parent, didn’t have kids of her own, and she’d managed to do that. Margaret had never done it, always looking for ways to come between him and the boys, finding an excuse for an argument. Was his main problem with Margaret that he’d chosen the wrong woman for himself? He’d loved her, deeply. Had he expected too much from that love? Something to think about when next he started getting serious about a woman. Huh. He’d better start thinking about that now then.

  The knife fell from his hand to clatter into the sink. What the hell?

  ‘You okay?’ asked the woman responsible for his crazed brain.

  ‘Sure.’ Picking up the knife, he began slicing cucumber with a healthy regard for his fingers. Then he smiled.