Chapter Ten #3
We’re greeted with hugs and kisses from Diana and Peter.
I love the way they are so together. He escorts her around the room; his hand to the small of her back, as if he doesn’t want to let her go.
They are obviously still very much in love.
While I watch them, a strange thought runs through my head.
What if things work out with Daniel? What would I do?
Could I live in Australia permanently? I’ve never thought about it as my intention was always to go home one day.
I’m away with the fairies and getting ahead of myself when I’m quickly brought back to reality.
Joe walks in, his inky hair short, smart, and neat, and I note the sparkle in his hazel eyes.
I think he’s pretty sexy, but I’ll keep that thought between me, myself, and I.
It makes me wonder why he settled for a girl he might not love when he didn’t have to.
“You look lovely tonight, Han. My little brother is a very lucky man.”
Daniel cuts in. “Hands off, mate. She’s spoken for and so are you.”
“And don’t I know it,” Joe mumbles under his breath just loud enough for us to hear before he smiles politely.
“Is Freya not with you?” I ask, not really interested because I don’t feel comfortable when she’s around.
“She’ll be here shortly. She’s still getting ready.”
Oh, that’s a bugger , I think to myself, but hope my face doesn’t give away my obvious disappointment. Joe continues to chat with no awkwardness, so I think I’m home and dry. He’s so easy to be with and I enjoy our conversation until a tap on his shoulder interrupts us.
“Miss me?”
“You made it then. Good, I’m starving,” he replies with raised brows.
From that moment, the mood shifts. Joe seems irritated by his wife’s appearance when he calls over to Diana.
“We’re good to go Mum.” Diana signals for everyone to go through to dinner and Daniel appears at my side to hold my hand.
I feel Freya’s glare burning my skin when she sits opposite me.
Every time I glance her way, her smile is placed to perfection.
I’m self-conscious and there’s a strange feeling in the air.
Her silence is welcome, yet I sense something brewing.
I attempt to concentrate on conversations around the table and our delicious meal.
Daniel looks between us as I try to ignore her and he whispers, “Are you all right?”
I’m uneasy as Freya’s bulging eyes note my every move and as soon as Daniel turns in her direction, she visibly relaxes.
A calmer, happier Freya smiles at him, but he is not fooled.
He shifts in his chair to face me and shields his mouth from her view.
“Take no notice. She’s trying to mark her territory. ”
Again, I know there is more to this, but before I have time to speak, my phone buzzes.
Without a second thought, I reach in my bag to see who is calling, but when I look back around the table, I’m so embarrassed.
All eyes are on me. I feel awful for two reasons.
Yes, it was rude of me to grab my phone during dinner, but I also feel terrible because I had to press the red button and cancel a call from my mum.
I haven’t spoken to her in a while. Coyly, I place my phone back in my bag.
I look towards Daniel and mouth, “Sorry.” Then I see the rest of his family, and do the same to them, “Sorry… sorry…”
I can’t leave the table, but I’m desperate to speak to mum. I hate cutting her off like that. He notices my flushed cheeks and worried expression. “Was it important?”
I brush it off. “No, no. It’s fine. It was only Mum.
” Then he says, “Baby, if you want to speak to her, go do it.” He seems genuinely concerned and he called me baby…
again. I control my sudden urge to snog his face off and touch his arm.
Just as I lean in and open my mouth to speak, Freya interrupts, her voice dripping with sarcasm across the table.
“Oh, look at the two lovebirds, aren’t they sweet! ”
Joe’s eyes widen as his chair scrapes across the floor and he races to her side. “Come on, sweetheart, that’s enough wine for you.” He attempts to pull her from her seat to prevent another outburst, but Freya refuses to move.
“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve told this gold digger to take her hands off him. Who the bloody hell does she think she is.”
I swallow hard as the scene before me unfolds.
Is that what she thinks? I’m after his money?
I wonder if the other members of the family think the same.
Oh God, this is awful, I wish I could get out of here, but I’m glued to my seat with fear.
Daniel slides his arm around my waist and squeezes my side.
Joe isn’t angry. He appears unfazed by his wife’s behaviour.
“Come on, love. Up to bed now.” He attempts to haul her up from her chair once more, but Freya literally throws herself on the table, slides her body back and forth then hurls whatever she can reach in my direction.
Wine glasses shatter to the floor and Freya screams like a wild animal.
Peter joins Joe to calm her and move her to another room.
Her flailing arms and legs slap and punch. Her fight is monumental.
“She doesn’t deserve him! I want her out of this house! Get that bitch out of here! Get her out!”
I’m scared as Freya violently spits her words and lashes out. Peter grabs her arms to give Joe some control. “How dare you talk like this in my house! Who the hell do you think you are? This has got to stop.”
“Don’t Peter. We have to stay calm,” Diana says while making her way around the table.
Freya is as still as stone. With the realisation of what she’d done slowly sinking in, her eyes are wide, spilling hot angry tears. She collapses into a sobbing heap only held together by her husband’s arms.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” she repeats while Peter barks the order.
“Joe, get her out of here.”
Diana takes his arm. “That’s enough, love.
Shouting won’t help.” Joe lifts Freya like a rag doll and I notice Daniel silently offer to help.
Joe looks to his brother with understanding.
He wants to do this alone. As they walk away, the only sound is Freya’s pitiful sobs.
It’s almost heartbreaking. Peter, on the other hand, has fire in his eyes and Diana is clearly embarrassed by the display from her daughter-in-law.
She sits by my side and offers an apologetic explanation.
“Hannah, I can’t apologise enough. She didn’t mean any of that, I promise you.”
My head is awash with confusion. What is happening here?
I nod anyway, “It’s all right, Diana. No harm done.
” My stomach is sore from its clenched state.
I don’t know if I should swallow the lump in my throat, or blink away my impending tears.
Thankfully, Daniel saves me. “I’ll take Hannah back to the cottage, Mum. ”
And then I hear Peter faintly whisper to his wife, “Bloody bitch, how dare she!” His language shocks me because he is normally so passive.
His eyes shut tight and he blows out a deep breath.
“Sorry you had to witness that,” he says, squeezing my shoulder and I smile sympathetically.
Daniel takes over and leads me out of the room.
I can hardly breathe when we get outside.
Daniel knows I’m more than a little upset by what has happened and pulls my shaking body in close as we walk to the cottage.
Once we get inside, I release all my pent-up emotion, I can’t help it. “What the hell was that?” I choke out.
“Hannah, I’m sorry. It’s not the first time she’s lost control like this, but I swear it was directed at me.”
“I don’t think so, Daniel. That woman is dangerous, especially when it comes to you! What exactly, is going on with you two?”
He looks worried, but I can’t walk on eggshells with him any longer, I have to know what her problem is. “Tell me, Daniel. Have you two had an affair?”
His look of horror gives me the answer before he does. “What? No! Don’t be ridiculous!”
“What is it then? For God’s sake! Nobody hits out like that unless they have a damn good reason. She didn’t want me to touch you. She’s not happy I’m here, and to top it off, she called me a gold digger! What am I meant to think?”
His hand rubs over his tired features and a deep sigh escapes his lips. He reaches for my hand and guides me to sit with him.
“Hannah—” His thumb rubs nervously over my knuckles. “I was looking for a diversion from my life, but nothing or rather nobody could distract me. I mindlessly floated from one woman to the next for months until—”
I raise my brow in irritation. “Until what Daniel.”
“I met someone who I thought could help me. I was convinced I could make a life with her.”
“I don’t need to know this.”
“Yes, you do. I have to tell you, okay?”
My eyes close to guard me against what’s coming next as I nod and swallow hard.
“I soon found out she wasn’t strong enough to stand up to Freya.”
“And you think I am?”
“I know you are. ”
“Daniel, you don’t know me well enough to make that judgement. I’m far from strong.”
“That’s not what I see. It takes a strong woman to up and leave her family and everything she knows to take a chance on the other side of the world.”
“That has nothing to do with what happened tonight. I don’t want to fight anyone, especially not Freya. Just tell me why she acts like a scorned lover around you?”
Daniel growls as he rubs his hands across his chin. “Christ, Han, this is difficult.”
I sink back into my seat, hold my breath and nervously chew the top of my fingernail while he continues.
“You’ve got to know, I tried to stop Joe, but he married her anyway.
For all her sins, my brother cares about her.
” I take a baby step towards the actual question.
Mainly because I’m dreading the answer. “Are you telling me there is no love between them?”
He finds it difficult to look at me when he answers. “Yes.” And here goes the question I already know the answer to, but I need to hear him say it.
“Is she in love with you?”
He’s hesitant to answer, but eventually says, “Yes.”
The room spirals in my path as I hold my head in my hands.
What on earth have I got myself involved in?
Surely, he can’t hold back on me now. He has to give me something.
I take the plunge because I can’t guess my way through any longer.
I look towards him and our eyes immediately lock.
“I’m trying to understand, Daniel, but you need to start from the beginning.
A resigned breath leaves his body while he nods.
“I introduced them. Freya and I have known each other for years. We went around in the same crowd. Joe had always liked her, so I encouraged him to ask her out. It was a real slow burner, but they got together about a year later and before you ask, it felt strange to me at first. One of my closest friends was now my brother’s girlfriend. ”
“You were close? So what changed?”
His eyes cast downwards, then back towards me. “I’m not sure where to begin with that question, Han. She’s not the same person anymore.” I give him a sympathetic smile before he continues, “I can barely stand to look at her and regret getting them together. Every. Single. Day.”
What the hell did she do? “What about your relationship with Joe?”
“It’s fine now, but it was strained for a while. He doesn’t blame me for what’s happened. She blinded him and convinced him what they had was real and nothing could get in their way.”
“I just don’t get it. Now he knows the truth, why the hell is he still with her?”
He sighs, “My brother has the biggest heart and is the most loyal person I know. He feels she is his responsibility, and that’s something he takes seriously. He doesn’t love her anymore, but he cares for her. He cares about us all and that’s why he stays with her.”
I nod, “Okay, Daniel. I still can’t understand it, but… okay.”
He loops his pinkie finger with mine. “Enough now. I think we both need some rest.” He’s right and I don’t argue anymore.
I’ve had my fill for one night and I’m exhausted as I walk with him, zombie style, to the bedroom.
He undresses me then lifts my limp body onto the bed.
Throwing his own clothes to one side, he slowly slides next to me and covers us both with a thin cotton sheet.
Daniel tentatively pulls my body to his.
I can feel his relief when I don’t fight against him, but curl my arm around his waist instead.
I close my eyes and hope my mind shuts down.
As one very famous heroine said, tomorrow is another day.