Chapter 11 #2
And in that moment, Ethan knew he had never stopped loving Chelsea McGinnis.
***
Chelsea’s heart raced as she let go of Ethan’s hand to open the next cabin to clean. Was she making a huge mistake letting Ethan into her heart again? She hadn’t been able to resist his earnestness or his gentle touch.
She wanted to believe he was telling the truth. It made sense when she thought about the people they had been. His fear of rejection and her insistence on saying what a great home they would build together.
Perhaps neither of them had been emotionally ready for the commitment it would take or the hard conversations they might need to have.
She could acknowledge how vulnerable she felt at the time, and how she might have doubted what Ethan was up to during the time he was away.
Her father had cheated on his wife and he’d used work as an excuse to spend time with her mother.
Chelsea sighed, trying to rein in her emotions. Though the kiss had heated her body and made her feel at home all at once, it was just a kiss. There was so much more to a relationship.
Only time would tell if they’d changed too much to make it work.
He had loved her.
Part of her was angry for the despair she’d gone through, but perhaps it had made her stronger. She was damned sure she would question any decisions going forward and not be so meek about it.
“Same deal in here?” Ethan asked. “A good airing and cleaning?”
She brought her attention back to the room and nodded. “These are the family cabins, so if I can take photos when we’re done and throw up a quick website, we might get some interest from people who come down for the fair.”
“Great idea.”
Chelsea put on her favourite playlist and the music added cheer to what was already a good vibe. She caught Ethan mouthing the words to the songs and smiled.
He’d never liked to sing aloud because he couldn’t hold a tune, but he knew all the words.
Some things didn’t change.
It took only a couple of hours to clean the cabin and they moved to the next one.
As they worked, she mentally reviewed her next priority. She wanted to make sure she had a couple of social media accounts ready to go when Barry arrived. Then all they needed to do was tidy the outside and the cottages would be ready for guests.
Perhaps she’d give a restoration discount and offer a return customer discount as well. And if the social media accounts took off, she could add a page where people could donate to the restoration.
Ethan chuckled and she glanced up.
“What new idea did you just have?”
She flushed. “Just thinking about social media and bookings.”
“That brain of yours is such a turn-on, Chels.”
Her whole body flushed. “Don’t tease.”
“Trust me, I’m not teasing.”
She didn’t have a response. The few men she’d dated in the past said she over thought things and didn’t like her lack of spontaneity. But it was hard to be spontaneous when you grew up counting every cent.
She finished cleaning the kitchen and glanced around the space. “Aunt Maggie will have linen somewhere.” She hadn’t found it in the rooms she’d been through, but maybe it was in the linen cupboard in the house.
“Will you make up all the beds?” Ethan asked.
“Not yet. I’ll just do the cabin Barry is staying in.” She’d figure out what was best as she had more guests.
Together they left the cabin and she locked it. The day had been productive. They’d cleaned the cabins inside and outside and she’d taken photos to add to her social media and website.
“What’s next?” Ethan asked.
“I need to work on the marketing, so you can take a break.” She was a little concerned about his limp, which had become more pronounced as the day had worn on.
“I’m good for another couple of hours,” he said. “It feels great to be doing something again.”
He winced as he took an awkward step.
Chelsea raised her eyebrows. “You don’t look like you’re good for another couple of hours.”
“Nothing a couple of painkillers won’t fix.”
She recognised that expression. That was his stubborn, going-to-do-what-he-wanted-to-show-he-could look. “What have the doctors told you?”
He scowled. “The fracture is healed, but I’m only allowed light exercise for another month.”
“Did you need crutches?”
“I had a walking frame and then a cane.” He didn’t glance at her.
“Did you bring your cane with you?”
He grimaced. “It’s in my car.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “I know you hate being injured, but pushing through it won’t make it heal any faster.”
“What if it never heals properly?”
She heard the fear in his voice. “Then you make the required adjustments to your life. You might not be deployed, but surely there are other roles you could go into.”
“I need to protect my team.” There was genuine pain in his words.
She squeezed his hand. “Tell me about them.”
They climbed the stairs at the back of the house and entered through the laundry.
“Dobby’s my team leader. He recently got engaged.
He met Mila on the mission where I got hit by the tsunami.
I’ve never seen him happier.” He grinned.
“Mila’s great. She called me every day when we got back to Australia and I was in hospital.
” He glanced at his feet. “I call her Angel because she was the one who found me in the jungle. I thought I’d died and she’d come to fetch my soul. ”
Chelsea ignored the flash of jealousy and focused on the important aspect. “You almost died?”
“The wave swallowed me whole and then flung me all over the place before it spat me out. I think I lost consciousness once, but I remember grabbing onto a branch which might have been what slowed me enough to escape the wave’s pull back to the ocean.”
Her stomach clenched at how close he’d come to dying. She brushed his shoulder to comfort herself he was still here. “You’re all right now.”
“Yeah. I just need to convince command I am.”
She kissed his cheek and then put on the kettle and placed the packet of biscuits on the table even though it was late afternoon. She really had to find Aunt Maggie’s recipe books. “I’d like to meet Mila. I’m glad you had someone to help you.”
“We kept each other company while we were waiting for the team to get back.” He lowered himself gingerly into a chair. “She and Dobby were talking about visiting on the weekend, if you’re all right with it.”
Nerves fluttered in her stomach, but she said, “Sure. That sounds nice.” What would they think of her?
Ethan continued talking. “Radar doesn’t suffer fools, and is happiest when we’re on a mission or training.”
“Radar?”
“His real name is Noah. We use nicknames on missions.”
His team. That’s right. “He likes action?”
Ethan paused. “He gets bored easily. Heath is the joker of the team. He sees the good in everything and everyone. He’s a real protector, particularly of women and children.” Ethan smiled. “Then there’s Rhys, who looks like a preppy rich kid, but he can be ruthless when he needs to be.”
She imagined they could all be ruthless when required.
“Finally there’s Mitch. He missed the tsunami mission because he was injured.”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s the best of us all. Seriously good at everything, it’s crazy.” There was only admiration in his tone, no jealousy.
“You trust them.” It wasn’t a question.
“We’ve got each other’s backs always.”
Chelsea was glad he had them in his life. She poured their drinks and then sat at the table with a sigh. “I’m getting more exercise than I’m used to.”
“So what about you?” Ethan asked. “Tell me about your friends.”
She sipped her tea, wishing he hadn’t asked. “You know Lauren, and I still keep in touch with my friend Libby from primary school.”
“What about your friends in Sydney?”
What could she say? “I’ve been pretty busy with work.” She’d tried to keep in touch with her friends from university, but she’d been the one to organise get-togethers and eventually she decided if they wanted to stay in touch, they would call her. They never did.
Ethan frowned. “What about on weekends?”
“I’ve worked most weekends for the past couple of months, and before that… I read a lot of books.” It sounded sad when she said it out loud.
“Chelsea, surely you see people outside of work.”
She nodded, not liking the incredulity on his face. “I visit Mum and the kids a couple of times a month.” She sipped her tea, trying to think of a change of subject. “Do you still play football?”
He shook his head. “Not so fast, Chels. Why don’t you have any friends?”
Why did he have to be so direct with his questions? She took her mug to the sink.
“Chelsea?”
The quiet, gentle way he asked made tears burn in her eyes.
She swallowed. “It’s not through choice.
I’m just not someone who people want to hang out with.
” She couldn’t look at him. Instead she opened a few of the top cupboards looking for Aunt Maggie’s recipe books.
She didn’t hear him get up or walk closer, but she definitely felt his warm hands on her arms as he gently stopped her from reaching for the next cupboard and turned her around.
“Who told you that?” Though the question was quiet, there was a hardness in his eyes.
“No one. But when you’re the one always making arrangements and no one calls you, you have to wonder whether they’re busy, or if it’s you.” She shrugged. “My track record with people wanting to stay in my life is pretty dismal.” And didn’t that make her sound pathetic?
“Christ, Chelsea. I’m sorry for ever making you feel unwanted.” Ethan rubbed her arms.
“You weren’t the first.” She took hold of his hands to stop him from soothing her like she was a child.
“I’m reconnecting with Lauren, and when I spoke with Libby recently, she mentioned they were considering a trip back to Australia soon.
” Which reminded her she should tell Libby she was back in Western Australia for the foreseeable future. “I’m happy in my own company.”
He nodded though he didn’t seem convinced.
She smiled. “I need to get some social media done before Barry gets here. Why don’t you see if the hammock will still hold your weight?”
He chuckled. “Maybe I will. Can I help you with any of the internet stuff?”
“Are you any good with website design?”
“No, but my friend Noah is a technology whiz.”
It was nice of him to offer. “It will be quicker if I do it myself.” She kissed him and then shooed him towards the door. “Now, I need to work.”
He gave her a salute. “Call me if you need me.”
She watched him leave, her heart swelling at his easy offer.
She smiled.
Wasn’t it nice she could call him now?