24. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
BETH
The smell of parmesan cheese, garlic, and bacon mingled in the air. Beth stood comfortably in the Peters’ kitchen, peeling apples. At least she could be helpful. Cooking had become second nature, growing up in a big family. Judging by the number of dishes on the counter, Lachlan’s family must be large too. When all five of her siblings eventually had children, family get-togethers would become a massive affair. Her niece needed some cousins.
A perfect spiral of unbroken apple skin dropped into the bowl. Hmm. Who’d be the next sibling to have a baby? Perhaps after Trudy got married, Beth would have another baby shower to organize.
“How many more apples do you need?” Beth looked to Mrs. Peters, who had opened the oven and retrieved another ceramic dish.
“All of what’s in the bag. Thanks, darling.” She placed the meatloaf on a heat mat.
“No worries.”
Mrs. Peters let out a small laugh.
Beth smiled. “Did I say something funny?”
She shook her head, grinning. “I just love your accent and the Australian phrases you use.”
“Oh, should I say, ‘no problem’ instead? We use that term also.”
“Don’t change a thing. You’re perfect the way you are, dear.” Mrs. Peters covered the dish with aluminum foil.
She’d welcomed Beth into her home like an old friend. Not a single condemning word or action for the predicament Beth had found herself in. Girly knick-knacks had transformed the spare room. Fresh flowers had dazzled in a vase on the dresser, and guest soap was placed on top of fluffy towels were positioned at the end of the bed.
Lachlan strode into the kitchen. “Smells delicious, Mom.” He placed his arm over his mother’s shoulder and kissed her cheek as he picked a buffalo wing.
“Lachie! Hands off until the guests arrive.”
“I am a guest.” He tore a piece of meat with his teeth.
“You’ll keep.”
That was where Beth had heard the saying. She caught it from Lachlan two years ago and adopted it as her own.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” Lachlan made his way to the front room.
Beth slipped the apron over her head and used her palm to smooth her hair back
“Don’t be nervous.” Mrs. Peters smiled. “They’ll adore you as I do. I’ll finish the apple pie. How about you put drinks on the table?”
The calming effect Lachlan had on people must come from his mother. Mr. Peters seemed super relaxed too.
Beth fetched the carafes from the double-door fridge. The kitchen gleamed under the downlights. White marble counters, glossy white cupboards, and stainless steel appliances told her that their real estate business was doing well. Beth carried the jugs to the walnut square dining table. A ten-seater. Leather padded the high-back chairs, adding to the opulence.
Girly giggles came from the entrance, and Lachlan put on a funny voice. He came limping into the dining room, a little blonde girl clinging to his leg and another hanging from his shoulder, squealing.
“I seem to have lost someone. Beth, have you seen a cute girl in pigtails anywhere?”
She played along. “No. Maybe she’s under the table.” She bent down and pretended to look intently. “No little girls here.”
Lachlan continued to limp toward the kitchen. “Kayla, where are you?”
The girl sitting on his shoe eyed Beth and mouthed “shh,” as if Lachlan remained oblivious to her whereabouts. Beth gave her a thumbs up and followed them.
Mrs. Peters gushed over the grandchildren, unwinding Kayla from Lachlan’s leg. Beth turned at a new voice. Kayla’s mother?
“They’ve been hyped up from the moment we got in the car.” The woman looked at Beth. “Hi.” She glanced at Lachlan, her eyes full of questions.
“Kayce, this is Beth. My friend from Australia.”
His sister’s green eyes widened. “G’day.” Kayce offered a hand.
Beth smiled as she shook it. “Y’all are so friendly—speaking my language.” She drawled her words. “I’ll have to come back here, right now.”
Kayce raised a brow and burst out laughing. “Nice try.”
“I’m better at British impersonations.”
“Lachlan met Beth on an island off Australia’s coast two years ago, and they kept in contact.” Mrs. Peters explained. “We offered for her to stay a few days while she’s visiting the States.”
Kayce’s blonde head nodded. “Mom’s an awesome host. She literally had to kick me out of here when I turned twenty-five. The cooking is that good.”
Mrs. Peters waved her hand and huffed. “I did not kick you out. But, yes, you needed to leave the nest.”
Kayce crossed her arms. “Mark stayed ’til twenty-seven.”
Mr. Peters walked into the room, tall and broad shouldered. “When will Mark and Lizzy arrive? Smells like dinner’s almost ready.”
“They’re on their way,” his wife answered.
The second blonde girl hid behind her grandmother, peeking at Beth. Lachlan seemed to notice and swung his niece onto his hip. “My friend won’t bite you, Sasha.” He winked at Beth. “She sounds kinda strange, but she’s really nice.”
Beth gave her sweetest smile to the girl. “Nice to meet you, Sasha. I’m from Australia. Do you know where that is?”
Sasha straightened her neck. “Where kangaroos come from?”
Beth clapped her hands. “Yes. That’s right. Clever girl.”
A man’s voice boomed around the corner. “And Quokkas, I’ve heard.”
“Uncle Mark!” Sasha wriggled out of Lachlan’s arms.
“I see I’m not the favorite uncle.” Lachlan crossed his arms.
A shorter, rounder version of Lachlan entered the room, followed by a woman and three kids.
Mark collected his niece and nodded at Beth. “I’ve seen you before, on Lachlan’s phone’s screen saver.”
“She’s not on my screen.” His face flushed as he slid out his phone and flashed it to Mark.
Mark chuckled and mumbled something like “was.” His wife stepped forward and bumped into her husband. “Ignore him. I’m Ann.” She gestured to the older children. “This is Sammy, Emily, and Jonathon.”
“Hi, kids.” Beth waved.
“Well, dinner’s ready.” Mrs. Peters called. “Everyone in the dining room! Children, wash your hands.”
Once they were seated, Mr. Peters started handing the dishes in a clockwise direction. Across the table, snippets of conversation rose with steam from Pyrex dishes. Beth wasn’t sure about eating meatloaf or Brussel sprouts. On the American sitcoms, children complained about having to eat them. She’d do her best not to offend the cook and take small portions. Lachlan handed her a platter of cubed yellow cake. Dessert with dinner?
He smiled, amused. “Cornbread.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She took a piece and passed the plate to Kayce.
Lachlan leaned close. His spicy aftershave made her heart skip a beat. “You okay with my crazy family?”
She tucked some hair behind her ear. “No crazier than mine. I like them.”
“Good.” He turned and took another dish from Ann beside him.
To Beth’s left, Kayce struggled to please the girls’ complaints about the healthy options. The girls won, their small plates holding only cornbread, one buffalo wing, and a scoop of macaroni and cheese. No greens.
Amazingly, the whole family fit at one table. Lachlan’s arm often brushed hers, sending unrelenting shivers over her skin. Why did his closeness always have that effect on her? Truly annoying. Nick never caused tingles or flutters. They’d found their relationship on an airy-fairy fantasy of making a difference in the world.
Instrumental jazz played from a sound system in the living room. His parents had style. They must be rich too. French doors to a separate theatre room connected to the living area. And the bedroom she was staying in had an adjoining bathroom with a spa bath. Lachlan mentioned they owned a real estate business, so it made sense they had immaculate home décor.
Once her plate was full, Beth carefully cut the smallest amount of meatloaf and placed it in her mouth. Lachlan gave her an appraising glance.
The flavor, similar to meatballs, spread over her tongue, and had the texture of bread. Unusual, but delicious. She nodded her approval to Lachlan. His eyes wandered to her mouth, then flickered elsewhere. He began a conversation with his sister-in-law to his right. Beth wiped her forefinger across her lips, hoping she hadn’t left crumbs.
She scanned the people around her, animated in conversation. Did they use cutlery to eat the buffalo wings? Mr. Peters had one in his hand, so she collected her piece and nibbled as gracefully as she could, using a napkin at regular intervals. The marinated sauce had a kick to it, but she wanted another. Before she’d finished, Lachlan added a second one to her plate. He seemed quite observant of her tastes. Mark too. He flicked a glance between Lachlan and her, then grinned. He obviously didn’t know she’d just come out of an engagement. And had Mark joked about Lachlan having their Quokka photo on his screen saver? At least for a while? Lachlan had mentioned the photo popped up as a memory. Had that been the reason he’d accepted Chris’s offer? He’d said he wanted to see her when he came to Australia. Would he still want to, after she’d fallen for another man?
She bit into another wing. Had she really loved Nick? She cared about him. Still worried about him. But that wasn’t the same as love. True love.
“Can I pour you a drink?” Lachlan interrupted her thoughts.
“Yes, please. Lemon soda.”
His chiseled hands held her glass firmly, and she became entranced by his movements, the liquid fizzing, and his low voice as he whispered, “Here you go,” and placed the soda between them. She met his gaze through her lashes. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
She pulled at her sweater. Was it warm in here, or just her? Likely, Lachlan’s unmerited kindness not only warmed her heart, but did crazy things to the rest of her body too. Sitting so close to him wasn’t a good idea. Who had placed her next to Lachlan? She glanced at his mother, who flicked her gaze elsewhere. Did Mrs. Peters notice how she responded to her son? Women had that sixth sense, and a mother even more so. Beth bit her bottom lip. She needed to get a grip on reality and focus elsewhere. For the rest of the meal, she did just that—kept her back to Lachlan and chatted with Kayce and the girls.
LACHLAN
After the extended family left, Lachlan scrubbed the oven dishes while his mother stacked the dishwasher. Beth helped until Lachlan dismissed her to make the necessary phone calls to her family.
Mom clicked the dishwasher door closed and pressed start. Then she grabbed the lemon spray and wiped the counters. “I like her, Lachlan.”
“What’s that?” His hand slipped, and a splash of soapy water hit his arm.
“Beth is a lovely girl.”
“I know. She comes from a good family. Her father runs a charity. Beth was very involved too.” He placed a Pyrex dish on the rack. “Surprised her dad encouraged Beth to marry a guy after no more than a few weeks of being acquainted.”
“He likely got caught up in the grandeur as well.”
He glanced over his shoulder. Mom wiped with circular strokes, causing the marble to shine.
“Must have. I remember him seeming a tad suspicious of me when I visited their charity. He was very protective of his daughter.” How would he act around Lachlan now, knowing he’d also come from the Navy?
Mom placed her cloth next to the sink. “I can tell you have feelings for Beth.”
“What?” He scrubbed harder. “I’m just helping her out. Couldn’t leave her abandoned in a country she’s never been to before, not knowing a soul—except for me.”
She crossed her arms and cocked one eyebrow. “True. But the way you look at her and how she responds is adorable.” She chuckled.
“I’m glad you’re amused by it all.” He gave a wry grin. “I’ll keep my distance from Beth in the future, so you don’t get any ridiculous ideas.”
She touched his arm. “Lachlan, look at me, son.”
He frowned. “What, Mom?”
“Beth will get over Nick and this drama as quickly as it started. She’ll be ready in good time.” She tilted her head. “Do you remember telling me about Beth two years ago?”
“I told you about her?”
“Yes. You said you’d met a sweet girl with a heart of gold. One who looked out for others.” She hesitated and dipped her chin to the floor, then cleared her throat. “All I can say is . . .” She met his eyes. “Don’t miss the opportunity again. She’s worth waiting for. You’re what she needs, Lachlan. Faithful. Dependable.”
Footsteps echoed from the hallway, the sound bouncing off the high ceilings. Mom pulled away and got busy in the kitchen.
He turned to Beth. “I’m nearly done.”
She walked over and straddled a bar stool behind the counter.
Mom touched her forehead. “Oooh. I’m feeling fatigued after all that cooking and cleaning. You can finish up, can’t you Lachlan? I need to lie down for a while.” A curl to the corner of Mom’s lips started to form as she left the room. Beth didn’t seem to notice.
Lachlan pulled the plug and let the water swirl down the drain. He gave the sink a quick wipe and put the dishtowel aside.
“So, how’d your family take the news?”
“As you might expect.” She shrugged her rounded shoulders.
“Shall we go in the living room and talk?”
She gave a solemn nod and followed him to the front room, barely lit. Saxophone music played on repeat. Not the atmosphere he was going for. He turned the light up a notch and changed the track to one of Mom’s classical piano albums.
Beth sank onto the white three-seater sofa. Her voice held a tinge of sadness as she described her father's response, a combination of anger and disbelief.
“No surprise, then.” He slumped into a single-armchair and squared a leg over one knee. “It’s only natural for him to be angry at himself for not seeing through Nick’s grandiosity.”
“Dad said to thank you and your parents for looking out for me. He’s relieved that I have people to support me until I return home.”
“It’s the least we can do. Who else did you call?”
“Amy, my sister. She liked Nick too.” Beth shook her head. “She can’t believe it.” Her voice cracked on the last words, causing his own heart to splinter.
“This might be inappropriate to ask, but if I were in Australia, I’d have my sisters, my friends, or my dad to comfort me. Someone to hold me and say, ‘you’ll get through this. It’s going to be okay.’” Her almond-shaped eyes implored him with vulnerability. “I remember being on the island, flustered and upset about my lack of progress on the Quokka story. But in your arms, I felt calm.” Her gaze swept up, meeting his. “Lachlan, can you hold me?”
Should he dig his grave now and hop in? This woman would kill him. Beth spoke of the island hug, but what about on the foreshore, the day he’d left? That simple hug undid him, flicked on every switch and awakened desire for her. How could he keep it together, and pretend holding a beautiful woman didn’t affect him?
He opened his mouth, ready to make a lame excuse, but out came, “Sure, of course.” He stood, and Beth came to him. He hugged her stiffly, making sure he didn’t hold her close enough to feel her soft body, and instead rubbed her back with rapid swipes.
What next? Should he say some consoling words she expected him to say?
Beth pulled away. “Um, Lachlan, it’s okay. It’s not working.” She smiled, but a tear hung in the lower lid of her eyes.
“Sorry.” He needed to keep it real, be himself, and share his heart. Lachlan gently held her shoulders. “Beth, I’m here for you. I’ll stay by your side, accompany you to Australia—face your family and friends. Defend you if anyone asks why this happened.” He softly squeezed. “It’s not your fault. You got caught up in someone else’s dream, and it wasn’t real.” His gaze turned intense. “Forgive yourself.”
Her lashes swept up, and her eyes became round. “Do you forgive me, Lachlan?”
He blinked, surprised that she would even ask that question. “Yes. I do.”
“That’s all I need to know.”
He wiped a tear from her cheek. “Now, how about a real hug?” He opened his arms wide and grinned.
Beth’s face softened. Without hesitation, she embraced him and rested her head against his chest. He had nothing to be afraid of. Lachlan relaxed his arms around her and enjoyed the bond between them.
He held her until she made a move to separate, and they sat together on the sofa.
“Shall we look at our flight options?” he asked.
“You’re really coming to Australia to work for Chris?”
He turned to face her, leaving ample space between them. “I’d like to. Do you mind?”
She raised a brow and angled her head. “It’s not my country to refuse you.”
He laughed. “Well, it matters to me. If you feel comfortable with me hanging around.” His voice faded. “After what nearly happened last time I was there.”
Beth let out a small laugh. “Yeah, you said next time you saw me, you’d kiss me like there’s no tomorrow.”
His face heated. “Oh, you remembered. Boyish dreams.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Anyway, I can’t fulfill my promise given the circumstances.”
She smiled. “But this morning, I did hug you like there was no tomorrow. I was so glad to see you. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“I should add ‘hero’ to my resume.” He chuckled. “Seriously, it’s no problem. That’s what friends are for.”