17. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Lachlan
Lachlan swung back his hammer and slammed it into the concrete encasing the rusted bathtub. A small crack formed. He brought it down again. Smash. A deeper break stretched across the sidewall. He wiped his brow with the back of his flannel shirt. Not an ideal job, but it gave an outlet to his frustrations.
Helping his brother renovate bathrooms wasn’t his idea of a promising career. Slam. A chunk of concrete flew across the floor.
He’d applied for over twenty jobs in the last three weeks. No call backs. Nothing. His old mentor had no leads—no word of any positions for a counselor.
Whack. Whack. Slam.
His brother glanced over his shoulder with a frown that turned into a grin. “You having fun over there?”
“Just dandy.” Lachlan rolled his eyes.
Mark chuckled and turned back to the cabinet he’d recently installed. He had already completed a row of tiles around the mirror above the sink. The customer wanted tiles to the ceiling. Lachlan needed to get a move on so they could set the new tub in concrete at the base and let it dry overnight.
He hammered the floor around the bathtub like a woodchopper in a carnival competition. Sweat trickled down his back, his heart pounding in his chest. At least he didn’t need a gym membership. This job gave him a healthy workout. The bathtub tilted, free from any support. He scuffed his steel-toed boot against the last bit of rubble from the base. He lowered his hammer to the floor in a squat and rose again, arching his back. Argh, he’d be sore in the morning. How did Mark work year in and year out in this industry? Intense.
Mark had a wall of tiles in place. “Ready for a lunch break?”
“Yeah, I’m ready to call it quits.” Lachlan rolled his shoulders.
“Your muscles just for show, bro?”
“I’ve got no one to show them to. A sad, sorry story.” He joked, but at thirty-two, single status and lonely evenings had long turned old and stale. Time for a change.
The owners of the house weren’t home, so after washing their hands in the laundry room, they moved to the backyard to have lunch. Their clothes were too dusty to sit inside. Mark placed his lunch box on the glass patio table and unloaded homemade blueberry muffins.
Lachlan’s mouth watered. “Care to share some of that?” He gestured toward the muffins. Mark didn’t need three. Surely, he could share one of them.
With reluctance in his gaze, Mark handed one over.
Lachlan grinned. “I see the pain in your eyes, bro. But look at my pathetic bachelor lunch.” He held up the pizza bread roll he’d grabbed on the way to work.
Mark smiled and continued to unpack two sandwiches, a container of trail mix, and a yogurt.
“Has Lizzy got you on a diet?”
“No, it’s similar to the kid’s lunches. Easy for her.”
“Right.”
The fresh, cool air was drying his sweat. Lachlan shivered. He’d need a jacket soon, but with his meager fare, he wouldn’t stay outside long. Mark got out his phone and started scrolling. Lachlan took a bite of the moist muffin, and a blueberry squashed between his back teeth, filling his mouth with flavor. Freshly baked. Mmm. He used his free hand to grab his cell, more out of habit than having anything important pending. Unless an interview opportunity.
His photo app had a notification. This Day Two Years Ago. He clicked on the tab. Lachlan took in a breath, causing cake to lodge in his throat. He coughed and grabbed his water bottle.
Mark glanced his way. “You okay, bud?”
Lachlan’s eyes watered, and he nodded, unable to speak. The image faded from the screen, and he tapped it again to see those captivating eyes. Bethany Michaels. A wide grin, delicate freckles, tendrils caressed her cheek—and behind Beth, a cute face of a Quokka with its nose in the air. Her head laid tucked under his chin. His eyes were bright—one of the happiest photos he’d seen of himself in a long, long time. He shook his head and whispered, “Bethany Michaels.”
“Did you say something?” His brother gave him an assessing stare.
He took another sip of his drink and gulped hard as the memory hit his chest. He turned his screen to show Mark. “Australia. This is when I went to one of the islands, found this cute creature.”
A playful smile slid up Mark’s face. “You dawg.”
Lachlan retracted his phone and scowled. “The Quokka. A rare marsupial. Endangered species.”
“Who’s the woman?” Mark’s crow’s feet deepened.
Now it was his turn to smile. “She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? I wish Beth was more than a friend.” He clicked the side button and flicked his hard-cased phone to the table. “But we’re not even that anymore. Plus there’s oceans and oceans between us. Just a photo memory now.”
Mark ran a hand through his black hair. “Don’t have her number? Friends on Facebook?”
“There’s no point. I doubt Beth would move to the States. Her family-run charity seems to rely on her. And we didn’t keep in contact. Only for a while.”
“You seemed pretty taken by the photo. Did something happen between you two?”
Had something happened? They’d formed a friendship. A connection between them. There’d been an undeniable chemistry reaction whenever they got close. His neck heated.
“You’ve taken too long to answer that question.” Mark smirked. “Which gives me the true answer.”
Lachlan gave a small laugh. “Nothing physical happened. I didn’t want to pine over her for two years. That’s why I brushed off her emails, didn’t give her much response. She must’ve got the hint and moved on. Sounds mean, but I was saving us both a world of disappointment. It couldn’t go anywhere.”
“What about now? What’s holding you here? You have no job, career . . . attachments.” Mark took another bite of his sandwich.
“Thanks.” Lachlan straightened and playfully rubbed a chill from his arms. “I’ve been back two months, and you’re already trying to get rid of me.” He huffed. “I belong here. With my family. Don’t I?” Did he? He hadn’t settled, but that had to be normal after being absent for several years.
Mark wiped some mayonnaise from his mouth. “Hey. I didn’t mean it like that.” He leaned forward and tapped Lachlan’s shoulder. “We’re always family. But things change. We move on. I’ve got my own family, Kayce has hers, and you need to start yours eventually.”
Lachlan scratched at his one-inch beard. “I hope to meet someone in San Diego.” He flicked a piece of pizza roll in the air and tilted his head back. Leaning right, he caught it in his mouth. “Surely I don’t have to travel to Australia to find Mrs. Right.”
“Chris did.”
“Chris?” Lachlan frowned. “Oh, Chris Evanson. Yeah. He looks like one happy guy. Got it made.”
“He has now, but remember when his first wife cheated on him? Devastated. He didn’t date for years. Traveled the globe. Then he met the Aussie girl.”
“Cassie.”
Mark’s forehead lined. “You know her?”
“No, but Beth sees her as a mentor. She volunteers at the youth center. Well, she did when I knew her. Don’t know what she’s up to now. Beth was trying to get into journalism.” He shrugged. “Maybe she’s the one traveling now.”
A dog barked from the neighbor’s yard. Were they talking too loudly for others to hear? The houses were close in this street.
“You won’t know unless you contact her.”
“She’s probably with someone by now.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Two years is a long time.” But Beth hadn’t mentioned anything in her emails.
Mark guzzled from his eco water bottle, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Chris has a restaurant. You could go on a working holiday.”
A smile started at the corner of his mouth. “He did make me an offer.”
Mark jumped in his seat and pointed at him. “There you go! What are you waiting for? You loathe bathroom renovations, and you have plenty of cash. Why not treat yourself to a trip to Australia?”
“It does sound tempting.” And seeing Beth again was even more so. Why was his heart racing?
Mark slapped the table, sending vibrations across the glass. “Do it, man. Live life. Travel while you can. Before you’re tied down with kids.”
“Tied down?” Lachlan shook his head. “You love being a dad.”
“It’s the best. But if I didn’t have ’em, I’d be making the most of my freedom.”
He nodded. “If I don’t get a qualified position soon, I might give Chris a call.”
Mark scraped his chair back and stood. “Chris would be an awesome boss. Love that guy.” He collected his lunch box. “We need to get back to work. Gotta set that new bathtub.”
“I finished lunch ten minutes ago.” He patted his empty stomach. But Lachlan felt full—full of anticipation for possibilities.
BETH
The airport’s intercom echoed flight numbers through the sterile white corridors. The hum of conversation filled the open space. Beth leaned down to her niece and engulfed her in a bear hug. “I’m going to miss you, sweetie. My favorite niece in the whole wide world.”
Talicia circled her thin arms around Beth’s neck, nearly choking her. “When will you come back?”
Beth pulled away a little and smiled, determined to shed no tears. “I hope to visit next Christmas.”
Amy rubbed the little girl’s back. “Come on, Talicia. Aunty Beth needs to get on the plane.”
The little girl turned sad eyes away from Beth. She leaped into her mother’s arms and buried her head in Amy’s golden locks. Beth’s heart tightened. She didn’t want to leave her family. The skin under her eyes remained puffy from last night’s crying session with her pillow. She wouldn’t admit that to anyone. They saw her as the oldest and bravest, and she didn’t want them to think any different of her.
Simon and Jacob hugged her next. She planted kisses on their cheeks, and they gave her awkward pats on the back. Typical of her brothers. But Trudy lunged toward Beth and clung like a koala. A laugh bubbled in her throat, but a clog of mixed emotions stifled any sound.
“Can you fit me in your suitcase?” Trudy said.
Michael tugged on Trudy’s ponytail. “Hey, you’re not going anywhere, baby.” He wrapped his arm around his fiancée, and kissed Beth on the cheek. “And you make sure you return for our wedding.”
“Whenever that is.” Beth tossed her head.
The couple smiled and stood back so the next person could say goodbye. Dad. Beth touched her mouth. Tears stung the back of her eyes. Dad edged forward, dressed in gray suit pants and a buttoned-up shirt. He lifted his palms to her. Daddy’s girl. His brown eyes shone, the overhead lights reflecting off unshed tears. She rushed forward, gave him a fierce hug, and nuzzled into his chest. Her lower lip trembled as she resisted a sob. A familiar place where she’d cried many a tear. When boys had broken her heart. As she’d shared frustrations and disappointments. And when people misunderstood her and spoke behind her back. Dad had been her rock to lean on.
Dad stroked her hair. “I’m proud of you, Beth.” His voice crackled. “Thank you for serving your family and all your hardwork at Habor Hope.” He pulled back and cupped her shoulders, meeting her eyes. “Now, it's your turn to live out your dreams. Spread your wings and fly.”
“Thanks, Dad. I intend to. I’ve learned so much from you. Now I can take that and help others in need in a different country.”
“I believe it, my girl. I’ll be with you in spirit all the way.”
She kissed his cheek. He kissed her forehead, then let her go. Her flight number called over the speakers. Time to find her footing in the big wide world. Smiling, she turned slowly in a semi-circle, memorizing everyone's faces. Then she stepped backward and collected her carry-on bag. Several suitcases had been checked earlier. All she needed to do was board the plane. Nick would be waiting for her in Los Angeles. They’d go to the marriage office the next day and replan a ceremony. But first, she had to get through twenty hours of flying.
To her right, a long line of passengers formed at gate nineteen. Her gate. Oops. She flicked her head back to her family. “That’s me. I’ll message the group chat as soon as I land. And I’ll send you the zoom link to the wedding ceremony as soon as I confirm the date with the registrar.”
“Bye, Beth. We love you,” Amy called.
One by one, they shouted their well wishes as she backed away, waving goodbye. Trudy’s eyes glazed with tears. Dad kept a smile in place, but his eyes were bloodshot. He was a softie under all that sternness. He cared too much—that was his problem. But Dad trusted her to go and make the right choices. And she would continue to make him proud.