Chapter 8
“Then after Italy, we flew back to London, stayed another few days with my friend Rick, and then flew to Singapore.”
Dan listened to Libby as they strolled back to Are Moana along the main road that ringed the island.
He could’ve headed back along the quicker beach route, but Libby had said she needed to get Karim to sleep in his pushchair, and it would’ve been awkward to have headed back to the same place taking different paths, especially after the surprisingly pleasant lunch they’d had.
“Singapore was amazing but expensive for us,” she said.
“We only stayed two nights, mooched around, then moved on to New Zealand. Where I guess we mooched around some more. You’ve got to take things slow with children.
Well, there’s slow, and then there’s toddler slow.
No climbing mountains for us just yet, but we saw a whole bunch of wonderful stuff and met so many nice people… ”
Libby never seemed to run out of words, but Dan enjoyed the relaxing, soft tone of her accent, and her tales of adventure were just the distraction he needed. His hip was aching again, and he didn’t want Mum and Zeezee to see him stressed.
“You’re frowning again, Cranky. What’s up?”
“Aw, nothing really.” Dan looked around, from the lush green mountains on his right to the glimpses of turquoise sea through the trees on his left. “I’m just working through some stuff.”
“You’ll feel better when your mom arrives.”
“And now I feel six years old.”
Libby snickered. “I hope I can still soothe and comfort Karim when he’s all grown up. I wish I had that kind of bond with my mother.”
Despite all her talking, this was the first time Libby had mentioned any family, and because their conversation had flowed in all sorts of directions, Dan hadn’t yet thought to ask anything direct about her.
“Where does your mum live, Libby?”
“Crescent City, on the north Californian coast.”
“Is that where you’re from?”
“Yeah, my parents still live there in the same house I grew up in.” She strolled on, not elaborating. Dan’s gaze dipped to Karim, still fast asleep in his pushchair.
“And is it just you and Karim?” Dan prompted.
“Yeah.” She looked at her napping son, and her eyes softened. “His father is no longer with us.”
Oh, god. “I’m so sorry.” Dan halted. Libby was a widow? That hadn’t even crossed his mind. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Eh? Oh!” Libby burst out laughing. “Your face! Gosh, no, his father’s not dead or anything.
He’s just no longer with us. When I was pregnant, Elliot didn’t want to know.
” She shrugged, like the guy had passed on an offer of a mint rather than taking responsibility for his child. “I have Karim all to myself.”
“He looks a lot like you.” Her son had the same dark eyes, the same nose and mouth.
His hair was a deep brown, like Dan assumed Libby’s would be, if not for the pink and purple dye.
They began walking again, but her words about Karim’s father had him shaking his head in disbelief. “So, this guy Elliot just walked away?”
“Pretty much.” Libby’s gaze dipped back to her son, but this time, her forehead crinkled, as if her thoughts had just stepped in something murky.
He shouldn’t pry. It was none of his business. But really, what kind of man disowned his child? “Sounds like you had a lucky escape, if that’s how he turned out to be.”
“I know, right? Why would I want someone like him in my child’s life?” Her face brightened. “And look where we are.”
“Living it up on a tropical island.”
“Correct. But I meant more specifically.” She nodded to the sign above their heads. Are Moana. Dan hadn’t seen the front of the place in daylight yet and hadn’t recognized it. He also hadn’t realized they’d walked so far already. No wonder his body ached so much.
“I’ll get my things together,” Libby said. “Serita’s booked a cab to pick Karim and me up at four p.m. It’s almost that now.”
They made their way across the little garden to the bungalow. Libby parked her son up outside and went in for her bag.
“Here, let me get that for you,” Dan said, reaching for her backpack.
“No, I’ve got this, big guy. The bag and I are close friends.”
But it wasn’t in Dan’s DNA to stand around like a lemon while others carried a load.
He hauled the bag over his good shoulder and only slightly stumbled when he put weight on his bad leg.
“I know you’re strong,” he said, “but if my mum and aunt turn up now and see you with the bags, and the pushchair, and the child, they’d really go for me. ”
Just then, Karim woke up. “Mamma!”
“Hi, sweet cheeks. Did you have a nice sleepy?”
The kid grumbled, rubbed his eyes, and then kicked his little legs.
“I’ll get you out, honey.” Libby set him on her hip, kissing and cuddling him. “Need a pee-pee? Okay, baby. Mind if we use the bathroom?”
“No, of course not. Go ahead. I’ll see you out the front.”
Libby dashed back into the bungalow with Karim, and Dan did his best to control his breathing as he carried her bag. Bloody hell, it was heavy and packed tight, but he’d pushed weights far heavier than this, and yet, here he was, breaking out into a sweat and puffing like an old steam engine.
When he reached Are Moana’s reception area, he stumbled the last couple of meters to the window that overlooked the driveway, then dropped Libby’s bag like an anvil at his feet.
His left hip screamed, and those dark clouds gathered over his head again.
Yeah, the sick bug had zapped his strength, but shit, this new body.
He hated it. Busting a gut to get back on his feet again hadn’t been enough. He still had so much more to do.
Accept your limitations.
That’s what his physiotherapist had said last week.
You’re still fitter and stronger than most people.
But that was just the thing, wasn’t it? He wasn’t most people. He was Daniel effing Jones, the Lightning Strike, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion Record Breaker. He hadn’t been most people since he’d been sixteen years old.
Anger and frustration rippled through him.
Get it together, Jones.
Mum and Zeezee would be arriving soon.
Taking deep breaths, he closed his eyes and strived to balance his mind, until Libby’s soft accent drifted from down the hallway. She’d stopped to talk to someone in the kitchen. Karim giggled. Cheerful, carefree. Happy.
Could he ever be like that again?
He expelled another breath, and when he opened his eyes again, a cab had pulled up outside. The driver—a big, beefy guy—was pulling bags out of the car, and his mother was admiring the flowering shrubs.
Dan raised a hand to wave, but the car’s empty back seat caught his attention.
Where was Zeezee?
The driver pulled the last suitcase out of the back. Actually, no, not the driver. Because the real driver was an older Māori woman still sitting behind the wheel.
So who the hell was the guy with the bags?
And why was his thick arm draped around Mum’s shoulders?
“Hey, Cranky.” Libby stepped up to Dan, who was scowling at something out of the window. “Who you staring at?”
“My mother.”
But there were only two people out there—a young, muscly man who looked like he could bend iron with his bare hands, and a very attractive woman with long, dark hair scraped into a braid who…
Who had the same dark eyes as Dan.
“Dude, seriously?” Libby gasped. “That’s your mom? She’s gorgeous and nothing like the grandma I had imagined. And you say she’s had three children? But her stomach, it’s flat!”
“She’s a fitness instructor,” Dan said like a robot. He was still staring straight ahead, still with that deep frown line between his eyes.
Libby glanced back at the muscle guy, who looked like the Incredible Hulk—only not the least bit scary. Nor green. Just extremely hot and sexy as—oh!
Libby’s gaze shot back to Dan. “I’m guessing that guy isn’t your aunt Zeezee?”
“No.”
The Hulk’s hand slid down to squeeze Dan’s mom’s butt.
“Oh, my!” Libby slapped a hand over her mouth.
“Don’t you dare laugh.”
“I’m not… It’s just…you coming here?” Aw, man. She couldn’t help it. Giggles of shock and surprise escaped through her fingers. “You’ve gate-crashed your mom’s sexy time with her lover.”
“Don’t call him that.”
“But what else is he? And what do you think they’ve been doing together, just the two of them on vacation, on a tropical island?”
Go, Grandma!
Libby slapped a hand over her mouth again.
“It’s not funny. How would you feel if your mother turned up with a boyfriend practically the same age as you?”
“I’d sing hallelujah from the treetops. You don’t know my mother. Yours, however? Dude, she’s beautiful. I’d never be able to attract an Adonis like that when I’m thirty-five, let alone…what? Fifty? How old is your mom?”
“Fifty-five.”
“No way! She looks ah-mazing!”
But Dan just stood there, grinding his teeth together. Jeez. What was his problem now? So what if his mom had a younger lover? It wasn’t like his dad was…
Ah, right.
Those memories he’d spoken about at lunch… This was his family’s special place.
Libby grimaced. “Aren’t you gonna say hi?”
“No.”
“But that’s silly. Come on. She’s your mom.” She nudged his elbow, hoping to drag him out of his cave, but Karim had other ideas.
“Cars! Mamma, cars.”
“Not now, honey. We’ve got to go.” But he wiggled free, reaching for her bag on her shoulder. It dropped to the floor and caught Dan’s mom’s attention.
“Danny! Hello.” His mom’s smile was small and sheepish, but her eyes sharpened as she looked over her adult son, twice her size. “I couldn’t believe it when Femi and Gabi told me you were here. What were you thinking, taking on such a long journey? No wonder you got ill. Are you okay?”
Cranky simply stared at his mom, a surly look on his face. Good grief. If he wasn’t careful, he’d make this awkward family reunion a thousand times more awkward for everyone.
“Come on, Cranky,” Libby whispered. “Don’t be such a baby.” She stepped outside. What else could she do? “Hello, Mrs. Jones. I’m Libby. We spoke on the phone. It’s great to meet you.”
“Oh, please, call me Carina.” They shook hands. “It’s lovely to meet you, too, and thank you for your help yesterday.” She bent down to Karim’s level. “And is this your little boy? He’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Carina straightened, and her eyeline shifted up past Libby’s head.
“What happened to Zeezee?” Dan asked behind her.
“She wanted me to bring Malek instead.” Carina squared her shoulders, but her gaze soon dipped to her feet like a guilty teenager caught necking in the back of Dad’s car. “I… We…”
“I’m Malek.” The Hulk held out his hand. Cranky merely looked at it.
For god’s sake. Libby stepped on Dan’s foot. His hand shot out.
“Did you guys have a good flight?” Libby asked while the men’s palms barely touched. “How was Atiutaki?”
“Amazing, thank you.” Carina pushed up a smile. “Your little boy looks so much like you. How old is he?”
“He’ll be three in February. Valentine’s Day, actually.
” Libby glanced at Dan. His lips were set in a firm eat-shit line.
She wanted to kick him. “I guess I should’ve called him Valentino,” she continued.
“But then I figured that would’ve gotten shortened to Val or Tino.
Or worse still—Tiny Tino. Can you imagine? So, I…um…”
Shut up, Libby.
But no one else was talking, and her big mouth always worked overtime in sticky situations.
“You’ll just love the beaches here,” she added.
“And you must try this restaurant about half a mile out that Karim and I passed the other day. It’s right on the beach overlooking the water.
It looked so pretty. Why don’t you book a table for tonight, Dan?
I’m sure Serita will make the reservation for you, and… Ooh, look, here’s my cab!”
The white car coming down the drive was like a white horse coming to the rescue.
And not a moment too soon.
“Well, see you around,” she said brightly. “I hope you all have a pleasant—”
Cranky’s hand touched her shoulder, and his eyes flashed, as if saying, Not so fast.
Libby swallowed. Maybe she shouldn’t have taken the lead and gone out to meet his mom like that, but Cranky would’ve just stood there otherwise, glowering in the corner. She’d only wanted to help break the ice, but had she overstepped her mark?
“Kia Orana!”
All heads turned to the main entrance, where Mr. Hehu appeared.
“Welcome to Are Moana,” he said. “Are you the other Mrs. Jones?”
“Yes.” Carina let out a little laugh. “It’s a pleasure to be back after all these years.”
As Dan’s mom began to tell Mr. Hehu that she’d visited over three decades ago, Libby took her chance to slip away from everyone and settle Karim in the cab.
Well, not everyone.
Cranky was by her side, hovering by the cab’s open door like he wanted to jump into the driver’s seat and drive the hell away.
“So, who’s gonna sleep on the sofa bed?” Mr. Hehu’s question had Dan’s head snapping back to the old man.
Carina and the Hulk spoke at once.
We didn’t know you’d come here, Danny…
We tried to book somewhere else…
So busy…
No rooms…
Libby winced up at Cranky. “The couch…”
“I’d rather sleep on a mosquito-infested beach,” he growled, then he turned to her, serious. Pleading.
“What?” she whispered.
But she knew exactly what he was going to ask.