Thirty-one
Next day was Boxing Day and, as per tradition, it was Jess’s turn to host the family. Rachel awoke early, while Alexander and Verity were still asleep. Pleased the house was silent, she dressed quickly in her swimsuit and a caftan and took Molly out and down to the beach. Once there, she discarded her caftan and leapt into the water, a delighted Molly joining her as she swam out to sea.
The dog soon gave up, returning to the shallows, but Rachel ploughed on, finally turning to float on her back and think about what Gemma had said last night. Out of the mouths of babes , she thought. Gemma had seen her and Luke kissing, but even so, it had taken the words of a four-year-old to force Rachel to accept the truth. She was falling for Luke Findlay, for the boy she’d had a crush on at the tender age of fourteen, for her big sister’s boyfriend. Of course, it was a long time ago, when they’d been different people. But was the situation any different now? He was only here for a short time. She’d always known that. But she hadn’t anticipated the flash of desire that flooded her at his touch, and last night when she’d have given anything to stay in his arms.
The sound of Molly barking brought Rachel back to the present. She turned over and struck out for the beach. Molly was hungry. Alexander and Verity would be awake. It was time to shower and dress, to make breakfast and start the day. There would be time to examine her feelings for Luke – and what to do about them – later, much later.
To Rachel’s surprise and delight, Verity was quite chatty over breakfast, asking why Gemma and Indie didn’t have a dog. In the short time she’d been there, after her initial strangeness with the dog, she’d become attached to Molly. The feeling was mutual, and Molly was now her faithful follower.
By popular request, Molly accompanied Rachel, Alexander and Verity to Jess’s house where she enjoyed the fuss the twins made of her.
Everything went well until lunch was finished, the girls were playing in the yard with Molly, and the adults were relaxing with their preference of wine or coffee.
‘Who’s Luke Findlay, Mum?’ Steph asked.
Rachel felt herself redden. ‘What do you mean? I told you who he was.’
‘But Gemma’s comment last night, about Luke being your honey… That didn’t come out of nowhere,’ Jess said.
Clutching at straws, Rachel said, ‘She may have seen us saying goodbye and misunderstood. Where on earth did she get that term, anyway?’ she asked trying to distract her.
‘It’s my fault,’ Chloe said. ‘I was trying to describe my relationship with Steph to her and I said Steph was my honey.’
Steph squeezed Chloe’s hand and the two smiled at each other.
But Jess wasn’t finished. ‘It must have been some goodbye,’ she said with a grin.
This time, Rachel blushed furiously.
‘I thought he was only here for a short time, some sort of locum?’ Alexander said.
‘That’s right. He’ll be off back to Sydney at the end of March. So, you see, there’s nothing to talk about.’
‘A lot can happen in three months.’ It was Jess this time, smiling at Paul.
Rachel had forgotten their sudden courtship and marriage.
‘There’s nothing wrong with your mother having a relationship,’ Paul said, much to Rachel’s surprise – her son-in-law rarely gave an opinion. ‘She’s still an attractive woman.’
Rachel didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted at the still , but at least he hadn’t added for her age – though he’d probably thought it.
‘I say go for it, Mum.’ It was Chloe who spoke next. ‘You’ve been on your own for a long time. It would do you good to have a bit of fun.’
Rachel stared at her. What exactly did she mean? What was she suggesting? Rachel was glad none of the grandchildren were within earshot though if they had been, this conversation might never have taken place.
*
At Bob’s house, Luke was experiencing a similar grilling. He had just returned from the clinic where, to his relief, Lady’s blood test revealed that the clotting time had improved. There had been no opportunity to question Agnes about his grandparents, but he’d arranged to visit her at her home after the holidays, when she said she’d be happy to chat.
‘So, Dad,’ Josh said with a grin. ‘Looks like you fell on your feet returning to your old stomping ground. Did you and Rachel… back when you were teenagers?’ He wiggled his eyebrows.
‘Don’t be stupid, Josh. Rachel’s a lot younger than me. She was only fourteen when…’
‘When what?’ Josh stared at him.
Luke shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and Nelson rose from where he had been lying at his master’s feet, to put his head into Luke’s lap. Luke let his hand fall onto the dog’s head for comfort. ‘When I was dating her sister,’ he said with a sigh. They might as well know now. They’d soon find out, Pelican Crossing gossip mill being what it was. According to Troy, there were quite a few still around who were familiar with his history. It wouldn’t take much probing for Josh to find out if he tried. And what did it matter now? It was old news.
‘Really?’ Abby said. ‘That’s weird. Where’s her sister now?’
‘In Adelaide… suffering from Alzheimer’s sadly.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry!’
‘Yeah.’ Luke sighed. It must be difficult for Rachel. He still hadn’t told her that he knew about Becky.
‘So, Dad,’ Josh said, getting back to his earlier comment, ‘you and Rachel. Is it a thing?’
Is it a thing? Where on earth did Josh get a phrase like that? Sometimes he wondered about his son, about young people in general. ‘If you mean a relationship, then the answer is “No”. Rachel is a neighbour, a good friend. She’s good company. We get on well,’ he lied.
‘Sounds like a thing to me.’ Josh grinned. ‘I wouldn’t blame you. She’s not bad looking for someone her age. She must be… what?’
‘Fifty-eight.’
‘There you go.’
‘That’s enough, Josh. I don’t know how we got started on this.’
‘You’re too set in your ways, Dad. It’s about time you had some fun. Mum’s been gone a long time and…’
‘Don’t bring your mother into this.’
‘Josh…’ Abby put a hand on his arm. ‘Maybe you should let it go.’
Josh looked as if he wanted to say more but seemed to think better of it.
Abby nudged Josh and whispered something.
‘Abby and I have something to tell you, Dad,’ Josh said, taking Abby’s hand in his.
Luke gazed at the pair who were now smiling. Maybe they’d found the money for a deposit, and he could have his home back when he returned to Sydney.
‘Abby and I… we’re having a baby.’
Luke felt his mouth fall open. He was going to be a grandfather. His first thought was that Ness would have loved to be a grandmother. She’d been denied this privilege.
‘Congratulations! When is the happy event?’
Abby glanced at Josh before replying. ‘The baby’s due in July. We didn’t tell you before you left as we wanted to wait till we were sure, but it means…’ She looked at Josh again.
Josh cleared his throat. ‘It means we may need to stay at the house for longer than we’d planned, Dad. A baby costs money. We had intended to save for a one-bedroom apartment. Now we’ll need more room and…’
He didn’t need to finish. The family home would be perfect for a young family with a baby. But how would Luke adapt? He tried to hide his shock at this bombshell, knowing that if Ness was alive, she’d be delighted. But she wasn’t, and Luke had visions of all the challenges of living with a young baby. He’d done it once, but he’d been younger then, more able to cope with the broken nights and everything else involved. He’d never expected to face it at sixty-two. ‘Of course you must stay,’ he said.