26. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lachlan
Lachlan tilted back, all five inches the airplane chair allowed. The nighttime take-off had gone smoothly, and the plane leveled. So far, no turbulence. The captain dimmed the cabin lights, and the static hum of the engine clogged Lachlan’s ears. An unusually quiet Beth sat beside him, her eyes shut. He wanted to hold her hand, but sitting close was good enough for now.
In the last few days, Lachlan hadn’t found a reason to touch her, only at the ice-skating rink. She’d seemed impressed when he’d faced her, skating backward, and guided her around the arena. The other opportunity came when he’d steadied her once, holding her waist. Unplanned, but satisfying. He grinned to himself.
Strange, how they practically dated all week, but neither of them had pointed it out. On the last day, they’d crammed in as much as they could. Walked the treetop bridge, ate messy tacos at Salud, rode a double-seated go-cart from waterfront rentals, and played arcade games at Coin-up. Sleep should come easy enough during the flight. But who could sleep with twenty hours of one-on-one, side-by-side, uninterrupted time together? He was as giddy as a kid on their birthday morning—should be sleepy but bursting with energy.
Beth adjusted her travel pillow and faced him, eyes closed. A wisp of copper eyeshadow remained from the day. No use trying to pry his gaze from her, not that he wanted to. He angled toward Beth, tucking a hand under his head. Who would’ve thought he’d be following this beautiful creature back to Australia? Should he take a photo for Mark? He stifled a chuckle.
Beth’s lashes swept up, and she blinked. “How am I to sleep with you watching me?” She smiled, her face only a few inches from his.
“How can I sleep with you being in my personal space?” He circled his finger between them.
“I think you’re actually in my space, mister.”
His gaze flittered to her lips, and he longed to brush his thumb across her mouth, and more.
“Lachlan.” She feigned a frown. “Close your eyes. Sleep.”
“Yes, dear.” He loved to tease her. Anyway, once she drifted off, he could watch her again. He closed his eyes and grinned, and she softly giggled.
A few moments later, he cracked one eye open, to find those aqua blue eyes of Bethany’s holding a nebulous gaze.
“Now, I can’t sleep,” she said.
“That makes two of us.” He winked. “What’s on your mind?” Him, by chance? Beth wouldn’t admit it, even if it were true.
“I’m a little apprehensive of facing everyone.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’ll eventually go back to Youth Connect and face my students. They’ll be glad to see me, but it’s embarrassing after the speech I gave them.”
Lachlan’s heart ached for her. It would be humbling.
“Then I’ll visit the Fremantle Herald . I’m not sure if they’ll let me return. Likely, they’ve found a replacement. My boss is a grump and he’ll make me beg to get the same position.”
“Do you have to work there?”
“I will need to find some work. Dad might increase my days at Harbor of Hope. I did a lot of extra hours for free, which is typical for charities.” She rearranged her pillow. “How many shifts will you work with Chris?”
“My working visa starts in two weeks. But I’ll earn my accommodation. Chris has a granny flat, and he made it part of the package.”
“Melissa used to live there. When her daughter grew into a toddler, she wanted more space, and we got a rental together. Thankfully she hasn’t found a boarder.” She tucked a loose wisp of hair behind her ear. “So, do you like working in a restaurant, or it’s just something to do for income?”
“I’d rather use my other qualifications as a counselor.”
“Youth Connect may have some work for you. Chris’s wife runs the charity. Cassie.”
“Cool. I’ll be living in their backyard, so I’m sure I’ll get to know Cassie. Maybe the subject will come up.”
“She’s a great woman. Only ten years older than me, but she’s like a mother figure. Cassie was probably the only one who warned me about rushing things with Nick. And the first person I called when I was abandoned in L.A.”
“A good friend.”
“The best,” Beth said.
He gave a lop-sided grin. “And I was the second person you called.”
“The second best.” She sniggered.
“I hope to change that. Become first place.”
She gave a cautious smile. “That won’t be hard if you stick around long enough.”
“I’ll stay as long as you want me to.”
Her gaze searched his. “Do you mean that?”
He traced his finger down her cheek. “Actions speak louder than words, so I’ll have to show you. Then you’ll trust me.”
“I do want to trust you.”
“I know. It’s okay.” He grazed her chin. “I understand.”
Beth gave him an affectionate smile and let her eyes drift to a close.
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered.
Blurry vision, fuzzy teeth, and clammy armpits summarized his state of affairs twenty hours later. Lachlan got in line at customs and blinked in a daze. The Australian accents from airport staff told him he was the odd one out now.
The security personnel acted way friendlier than any airport staff he’d encountered before. Lachlan placed his backpack and cell in a tray. He glanced over his shoulder. Beth unloaded her laptop, half-asleep. Invasive artificial lights lit up every part of the open space. Shiny white tiles gleamed without a speck of dirt. Other than the beeps of the scanners and murmurs from staff, lack of a crowd left Perth airport particularly quiet.
They’d left San Diego around midnight, but due to travel and a fifteen-hour time difference, it was early morning, not bedtime. He would be asleep before noon.
They meandered the corridors, glass doors opening and closing behind them like a ‘Get Smart’ scenario with his sidekick, Ninety-Nine, behind him. The clomp of his boots and the click of Beth’s sandals bounced off the walls. He rounded the corner. Clusters of family members and partners waited to greet loved ones.
Lachlan scanned the faces. Chris! He wore a contagious smile on his tanned face. An older gentleman stood next to him—Beth’s father.
A boost of adrenaline increased Lachlan’s strides. His long-lost buddy, the man giving him another opportunity to win Beth. Boom. They knocked shoulders and fist-bumped, the high-school handshake they’d done a thousand times in a by-gone era.
Chris scuffed Lachlan’s hair. “Mate! Good to see ya.”
“You say, ‘mate,’ now? How long have you lived here, bro?”
Chris laughed. “You’ve gotta become like the natives.” He winked.
Beside them, Beth plunged a hug into her dad. Winston swayed her, cupping her head, whispering consolations in her ear. It warmed his heart to see they had a great relationship. Chris thinned his lips, shook his head, and whispered, “A shame.” Beth would likely get a lot of such reactions. Chris wouldn’t know the extent of Lachlan’s interest in Beth, but it wouldn’t take long for everyone to figure it out.
Tears shone in Beth’s eyes as she pulled back. “Dad, you remember Lachlan, don’t you?”
Winston clasped Lachlan’s hand and gripped his arm. “Thank you so much, and thanks to your family for looking after my girl.” Genuine appreciation emanated from his warm, hooded eyes.
“Our pleasure. My sisters and mother adore Beth, and I think your daughter had a fun week of distractions touring San Diego.” He winked at her. “Am I right?”
She gave a mischievous grin. “Yes, I had plenty to distract me.” She faced her father. “I’m so glad to be home. I love my simple life back here. Why did I get caught up in bigtime dreams and travel?” She shook her head. “I don’t know. That’s not even me.”
Winston rubbed his daughter’s shoulder. “That’s all behind you now. Left in the States. Today is a new day.”
“I agree,” Lachlan added.
Beth smiled and hitched her laptop strap, then they all made their way to the baggage claim area.
Twenty minutes later, when Lachlan had no reason to stay, he reluctantly said goodbye to Beth. An emptiness hung in the pit of his belly. Although, she’d stayed at his parents’ house, he’d spent every spare minute he had with her. Beth would be busy this week, putting her life back together. He promised to accompany her to face her community and answer any questions people might have about Bipolar and what had happened with Nick. He’d studied a myriad of personality disorders and mental health illnesses. While working alongside a psychologist, one lady diagnosed with Bipolar told them she was healed sixteen years ago and no longer needed medication. Her folder of legal action and incident reports said otherwise. Would Nick admit he needed help? Could Nick convince Beth to give him another chance?
Lachlan dismissed the thought and rolled his luggage bags into warm sun rays. He gazed into the crisp blue skies. Good morning, Australia.
Bayside Manna worked like a Navy ship. Chris had worked in kitchens around the world and must’ve merged the best systems and structure ideas to create a seamless flow in the back of house.
Lachlan zipped the rosemary needles from its stem, then rubbed them into the oil-coated lamb shank. He didn’t mind starting as line cook this week. It had been years since he’d worked in a commercial kitchen. Chris had done him a favor by sponsoring him to work in Australia. Once other opportunities opened, he could change direction then. But that’d only be viable if a relationship with Beth developed.
“Order up!” Kyle called through the server window.
Emily, a waitress, swished past Lachlan’s back carrying a pile of dirty dishes. She stacked them next to a junior at the wash station.
The noise level became hectic. Kitchen hands chopped produce, the grill sparked and spit dangerous obscenities, waiters buzzed in and out like wasps to a nest, and two chefs barked continuous orders.
Lachlan was more than happy to stay out of the way and focus on the mundane task of prepping meat. His second shift was almost done. What would Chris have in mind once he went full-time?
Another rub of rock salt and Lachlan added the aluminum tray to nine others lined against the white-tiled splashback.
He called over to Marcus. “Chef, twenty lamb shanks here, ready for the oven.” It astounded him how Chris had trained troubled youth into award-winning chefs. Marcus, only eighteen, had won the Golden Chef’s Hat award last year. Impressive.
Marcus ordered a kitchen hand to take the meat for roasting. The young chef towered over everyone in the kitchen and could pass as a wrestler. The neck tattoo added to his authoritative dominance. When they’d chatted earlier, Marcus seemed like a gentle giant. He’d professed Chris as a father figure. Maybe Lachlan would eventually build friendships and impact the lives of Australian teens in a positive way too.
Chris burst through the swinging doors. “Right, lunch rush is nearly over. How’s dinner prep going?” He glanced at Lachlan.
“Twenty lamb shanks are slow cooking. How many more do you need?”
Chris strode toward him, his black beret slightly off-center. “Another forty.”
Lachlan blinked. “Bayside must be doing well.”
“I’m talking to my head chef, Samuel, about branching out to the northern suburbs. Kyle and Marcus can go with him, and I’ll take on more apprenticeships here.” He gripped his shoulder. “There’s plenty of work for you if you want it. Line-cook is only temporary until you get familiar with how we do things here.”
“Good to know.” He grinned. “I’ll take care of these shanks.”
Chris moved to another station, inspecting stock levels. Kyle approached Lachlan, packets of raw shanks in his gloved hands. He heaved them onto the stainless steel counter.
“You finished the last lot pretty quickly. How long have you been working in kitchens?” Kyle leaned his skinny frame against the edge.
“I haven’t for eight years. I’m a qualified chef but changed career paths. It’s great to have this trade as a backup.” He unloaded the meats. “What’s your story?”
“That’d take a long time to tell. Cassie believed in me and landed an apprenticeship here when I was fifteen. That’s before Chris swept Cassie off her feet.” He chuckled. “One day, I’ll run my own restaurant. I have a five-year savings plan.” He pushed off from the counter. “Gotta keep moving.” Kyle nodded in Chris’s direction. “Catch ya, later.”
Lachlan could imagine Kyle being a scallywag at fifteen. The ginger hair and freckles added to his charm and ambitious ways. Youth Connect must have some great testimonies. Friday, he’d pop in and check it out. Beth volunteered that day, so maybe he could take her to lunch during her break. Cassie seemed open to him offering counseling services for the interns. Opportunities were starting to unfold. Who knew what his life would look like in six months?