Thirty-seven
Luke wondered what was wrong with Rachel. She’d sounded upset when she’d called the previous evening to cancel the dinner they’d planned, arranging instead to meet on the beach that morning. ‘What do you think, boy?’ he asked Nelson, but the dog had nothing to suggest.
Rachel was already there when Luke reached the beach, Nelson padding at his heels. She was standing gazing out towards the horizon, seemingly unaware of his arrival. For a moment he stood watching her, stunned by how amazing she looked in a pair of cut-off jeans and a loose shirt, her hair a mass of wild curls.
‘Hey,’ he said, tapping her gently on the shoulder and turning her towards him, shocked to see her eyes filled with tears. Hoping it was nothing he had done, Luke pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as he felt the tension in her body gradually lessen. Realising this wasn’t the time for passion, he kissed her gently then said, ‘What’s the matter?’
‘It’s Alexander,’ she said.
‘He’s leaving?’ Luke couldn’t understand why the news her son was returning to London would cause her to be so upset.
‘Wednesday… and he’s going alone.’
‘He’s…’ For a moment, Luke didn’t understand what she meant, then the penny dropped. ‘Verity?’
‘He’s leaving her with me.’
‘And…’
‘The poor little mite can’t understand. She’s still grieving for her mother, becoming accustomed to having Alexander in her life, to having a father. Now he’s leaving her too.’
‘But she’ll have you.’ Luke couldn’t think of a better person to care for the little girl. Rachel was such a warm, loving person – as he had discovered. She’d be able to provide the sort of family life her son couldn’t.
‘Yes, but…’ She sniffed. ‘I’m sorry, Luke. It was such a shock. I never expected to have to care for a young child at my time of life. I know I spend a lot of time with Jess’s girls, but I’m able to hand them back, whereas with Verity… It’s a huge responsibility.’
‘Which you’ll cope with admirably.’
‘You think?’
‘I do. I haven’t known you very long, but one thing I do know is that you’d never shirk your responsibility. Verity’s lucky to have you.’
‘Thanks.’
‘How is she taking it? I presume Alexander has told her?’
‘Yesterday.’ Rachel sighed. ‘She was upset, refused dinner, went to bed in tears.’ She gave a watery smile. ‘I turned a blind eye when Molly snuck into her room. They were both curled up asleep in her bed when I left.’
‘Having Molly around will help.’
‘You’re right,’ Rachel said sounding more cheerful. ‘She loves that little dog, and the feeling’s mutual. But I could wring Alexander’s neck. He should have given us more warning.’
‘Our children don’t always do what we want them to,’ Luke said ruefully, remembering the situation in his own home. At least Rachel wasn’t going to have to cope with a baby.
‘You too?’ she asked.
‘Josh and Abby are having a baby, and it seems they’re going to be a permanent fixture in my Sydney house.’ It was the first time he’d actually put into words what he knew he’d tacitly agreed to.
‘Oh, I didn’t know. That will be hard.’
Luke pulled on his beard as a vision of his tidy home being filled with baby clothes, nappies and bottles formed in his mind. ‘Who was it who said, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”?’
‘Nietzsche.’
‘Looks like we both have our challenges, and of the two, I think I’d prefer yours.’
‘You’re right, of course.’ Rachel was smiling now. ‘Why don’t you join us for breakfast? I think Alexander and I might need a buffer this morning.’
‘If you’re sure…’ The prospect of breakfast with Rachel filled Luke with delight but how would Alexander react? And what about Verity?
‘I am, very sure. And thanks for listening.’ Rachel reached up to kiss Luke on the cheek. His heart leapt. He knew he should be thinking about how this new situation would impact on his time with Rachel, but for now, he was glad to be with her.
When they arrived back at Rachel’s house, Alexander was already in the kitchen which was redolent with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
‘Morning, Luke,’ Alexander said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to walk in with Rachel. ‘I suppose Mum’s told you? It’s for the best, better for everyone. Coffee?’
‘Thanks.’ Luke accepted a mug and took a seat at the table, while Rachel busied herself with eggs and bacon. He wasn’t sure what to say, whether to agree with Alexander or suggest it was a selfish move on his part. But was it? As he’d said to Rachel, she’d cope. He had the impression she always did manage to cope with what life threw at her. And the child would probably be better off – and happier – being raised by her grandmother than by her single dad.
At that moment, the object of his thoughts slid silently into the kitchen, Molly padding behind her. She stared at Luke warily before making for Alexander who picked her up in his arms. ‘Morning, sweetheart,’ he said, giving her a kiss. ‘I’m going to miss you when I go back to London, but you’re going to have a lovely time here with Grandma.’
‘And Molly?’ Verity asked, as the dog followed her into the kitchen. Nelson chose that moment to make his presence felt too, moving from Luke’s side to join Molly.
‘Molly is looking forward to spending more time with you,’ Rachel said. ‘Shall we give her some breakfast?’ She left the stove to hold out her hand to the little girl.
‘Can I feed her?’ Verity slid out of her dad’s arms and took Rachel’s outstretched hand.
The sense of relief on Alexander’s face was unmistakable. Luke sympathised. It may have seemed selfish, but it must have been a difficult decision. Luke wondered about Alexander’s relationship with Verity’s mother. Had she really only been a former colleague, or had Alexander had stronger feelings for her, ones which were unreciprocated? He supposed they’d never know, but it was clear he loved his daughter.
Once Molly was fed, and Nelson had licked the empty bowl, Rachel finished cooking breakfast and they all sat down to eat. Luke noticed Verity merely picked at her food and clung to Alexander’s side. It wasn’t going to be easy for her to let him go.
Breakfast over, Luke wasn’t sure what to do. Should he leave or… He was saved from making a decision by Alexander saying, ‘What would you like to do today, Verity?’
Verity thought for a moment, her finger in her mouth, then said, ‘Can we go to see the pelicans, Daddy, just you and me? The twins told me about them.’
Alexander looked helplessly at Rachel.
‘She means the pelican feeding, Alexander. At Pelican Plaza. Don’t you remember?’
‘Of course!’ Alexander snapped his fingers. ‘I remember going there with you and Dad. But isn’t it in the afternoon?’
‘It is. Two o’clock from memory. What about the park in the morning?’
‘How about that, Verity? We can go to the swings in the morning, have lunch by the marina, then see the pelicans have their lunch afterwards.’
‘Yay!’
Alexander raised an eyebrow in Rachel’s direction.
‘It’s the twins’ influence,’ she said. ‘It’s one of their favourite expressions.’
‘Hmm. Okay, sweetheart. Why don’t you clean your teeth and put on your shoes, then we can go.’ He grinned at Rachel and Luke, as if to say what a good dad he was.
When they had gone, Rachel made more coffee and she and Luke took their mugs out to the courtyard where the dogs were already lying in the sun.
‘That son of mine!’ Rachel said. ‘He always manages to come up smelling of roses. I’m willing to bet that by the time they get back, Verity will have accepted that he’s leaving and she’s staying, and will be looking forward to living in Pelican Crossing. I don’t know how he does it.’ She shook her head.
‘Difficult to imagine, but you know your son.’
‘One thing I’m sorry about…’ Rachel put her hand on Luke’s. ‘It’s going to mess up our time together. Once Alexander leaves, I won’t be able to sneak over to Bob’s. You can come here, but…’
‘It’s okay. I understand.’ Luke turned his hand to clasp hers and squeeze it. ‘We’re not young kids. We don’t need to…’ He cleared his throat. ‘We can pretend we’re teenagers again on our first dates.’
‘Some teenagers,’ Rachel laughed.
Luke laughed too. ‘Anyway, since it seems we’ve been left alone for the day, why don’t we do something special too?’
‘Do you have anything special in mind?’ she asked.
‘As it happens, I do. And I can’t think of anything more special.’ Still holding Rachel’s hand, Luke rose.
‘Oh,’ Rachel said. ‘You don’t mean…’
Luke smiled at the beautiful woman gazing up at him. ‘Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.’
He pulled a blushing Rachel to her feet and led her to the bedroom.