Thirty
Lunch in the other house on the bluff was a much more subdued affair. To Luke’s delight, the turkey breast Rachel had recommended had been easy to cook and earned compliments from Josh and Abby. He’d chosen to accompany it with roast potatoes and salads which seemed okay too, and to finish with a Christmas pudding he’d bought ready-cooked and served with ice cream. For a first effort, Luke thought he hadn’t done too badly, though it was far from Ness’s standard.
They’d exchanged gifts before the meal, and Luke was thrilled to receive a year’s subscription to a favourite magazine, while both Josh and Abby seemed pleased with Luke’s gifts to them, perfume for Abby and a voucher for the craft beer brewery for Josh.
When lunch was over, they took coffee out into the courtyard then, just as Luke was thinking he might take a nap, Josh said, ‘Why don’t we all go to the beach for a swim?’
Abby was keen, and unwilling to be a wet blanket, Luke agreed too. The young couple were only here for a few days. He should make the most of their time together. Nelson agreed too, emitting a ‘Woof’. He’d soon realised that the word beach meant walk and a chance to play in the ocean. Before long they were all making their way down to the beach.
When they reached the foot of the steps, there were already some people there, and Luke’s heart suddenly raced when recognised Rachel and her family.
‘Look!’ Josh said. ‘Isn’t that the people we met at the carol singing, the woman you said was your neighbour? Wonder if we can get a game.’
‘I don’t think…’ Luke started to say, but Josh and Abby were already racing across to join the group, followed by Nelson who had no doubt spotted Molly and caught sight of a ball being thrown around.
By the time Luke reached the area where the cricket game was taking place, Josh and Abby had already been absorbed into the group, and Nelson was vying with Molly and the humans to gain possession of the ball. A small child was seated in a pram, and three little girls were building a sandcastle. Rachel was standing to the side watching.
‘Merry Christmas!’ he said, joining her.
‘Merry Christmas!’ Rachel smiled and Luke’ s heart turned over.
Rachel was looking amazing in an orange dress which skimmed her figure. ‘You’re wearing the earrings,’ he said. ‘They look good on you.’
Rachel put one hand up to her ear. ‘Thanks. I love them. They make me feel like a different person.’
‘Not too different, I hope. I like the one I took to dinner.’
Rachel blushed.
‘That the rest of your family?’ Luke asked, gesturing towards the cricket players and the children on the sand.
‘Yes. Alexander and Verity, you’ve met. The tall man bowling, and the wicket keeper are Paul and Jess, my oldest and her husband. The two women batting are my younger daughter, Steph, and her partner, Chloe. Steph’s the one with the short dark hair. She and Alexander take after their father. People say Jess is like me.’ She shrugged.
‘I can see the resemblance.’ Although Jess was younger and slimmer, Luke remembered what Rachel had been like as a teenager. ‘And I’m guessing the two building a sandcastle with Verity are the terrible twins you told me about.’
‘Gemma and Indie, yes.’
‘So, what’s the story about Verity? Not exactly the surprise you were expecting?’
Rachel laughed. ‘Definitely not, but she’s lovely, definitely Alexander’s daughter. Her mother died. It’s all so sad.’
‘Quite a responsibility for your son.’
‘Mmm.’
Luke glanced at Rachel who was keeping an eye on her granddaughters while they were speaking. Then he looked across to where Alexander was jumping in the air to catch the ball and shouting, ‘Out!’ He wondered what the young man was thinking, what his intentions were. It clearly hadn’t occurred to Rachel that her son might have a reason for bringing the girl here, other than to spend Christmas with his mother, but he decided not to say anything. It was none of his business. ‘I enjoyed the carols last night,’ he said. ‘I’d forgotten how Pelican Crossing always turned it on for Christmas Eve.’
‘It’s a very special event. I love it.’
‘Thanks for the tip about the turkey, went down a treat.’
‘I’m glad. Your son seems like a nice lad and his partner is lovely.’
‘Yes, they’re only here till the end of the week. What about your crew?’
‘Well, Jess and Steph live here. Alexander? Who knows. I haven’t been game to ask. But I hope he stays for a bit. I’d like to get to know Verity. She’s been through a lot and is very shy with us.’
The game seemed to be winding up. It was time to go back. They hadn’t had their swim, but maybe Josh and Abby would be satisfied with the cricket game. Luke wished he could stay here longer with Rachel. Back at Bob’s, Josh and Abby would no doubt find something to do, and he’d be left on his own. It would be like it had been in Sydney, feeling awkward in his own home. At least Nelson would keep him company.
‘Why don’t you all join us?’ Rachel asked. ‘There’s lots of food and a few more people won’t make any difference. The more the merrier at this time of year.’
‘Are you sure?’ Luke couldn’t believe his luck. This was a lifesaver… and would give him more time with Rachel too, albeit surrounded by her family. It would give him a chance to see a different side of her – the mother and grandmother.
‘Hey, guys,’ he yelled to Josh and Abby who were taking their leave of Rachel’s family. ‘Rachel has invited us back to hers. What do you say?’
*
Rachel saw the astonishment on Jess and Steph’s faces. While Alexander had met Luke the previous evening, they hadn’t. As far as they were concerned, Josh and Abby were just two strangers who had joined in the game. It happened all the time at Christmas. Luke was an unknown quantity.
‘Meet Luke Findlay, guys,’ she said. ‘He’s our neighbour. He’s looking after the vet clinic while Bob’s off overseas. Josh is his son, and Abby’s Josh’s partner.’ She smiled a welcome to the young couple.
Jess and the others chorused a “hello” to the pair they’d been playing cricket with, and the whole company made their way up the steps to Rachel’s house, the youngest members of the party and the two dogs leading the way.
When they arrived home, Alexander took on the role of man of the house and, helped by Paul, poured drinks for everyone, while Jess made sure the children had plastic tumblers of juice. Steph joined Rachel in the kitchen, loading leftover food onto platters which they carried out to the courtyard.
Luke, Josh and Abby were already there, chatting to Chloe with whom Abby seemed to have things in common. It was all very amicable.
As the evening progressed, Luke revealed that he had grown up in Pelican Crossing, leading to the further revelation that he had known Becky – neither he nor Rachel mentioned he had been her sister’s boyfriend. This resulted in both Luke and Rachel reminiscing about what the town had been like in what the younger members of the group considered to be the Dark Ages, and everyone had a good laugh at how things had changed – not always for the better.
It was turning dark when Luke and his family rose to leave, the sea roaring on the other side of the bluff, the sky red and orange from the setting sun. Emily had already fallen asleep, and the three little girls were trying hard stifle to their yawns. When Rachel ushered them to the door, Josh and Abby headed off first, leaving Luke to follow with Nelson.
‘I’ll let you know when they’ve gone,’ Luke said, ‘then, maybe…?’
‘I’d like that.’ Rachel felt her stomach lurch at the prospect of her and Luke alone together. Then he bent his head, and his lips captured hers, more demanding than before, making her wish he didn’t have to leave, and her family weren’t waiting inside.
Rachel stood in the open doorway waving him off, and when she turned back to go inside, it was to see a small face peering at her.
‘Is he your honey, Grandma?’ Gemma asked when she joined the others.
Everyone stared at Rachel who felt herself redden. Was that what Luke was? Had the innocent comment of a child revealed what she had tried to hide, even from herself.