Chapter 18
It’s a long drive to Gisborne.
I would have preferred to fly, but Pippa’s eyes lit up at the thought of our first road trip. How could I say no to her?
It’s a six-hour drive, and I think she’s just happy to have the reading time in the car while I drive.
I don’t really mind. She takes a break after every chapter and looks out the window. So much of the scenery is paddocks and farms and so many cows—so many cows.
By the time we pull into Tauranga, she’s finished the book she was reading and is onto the next one. I’m not sure how she does it without getting carsick.
“Exactly how big is this Christmas at home?” I ask.
Pippa leans against me. “We’ll be staying with Mum and Dad. On Christmas Day, Lucas will be there.” She pats my arm. “Gran and Gramps, Nan and Poppa.”
“That’s quite a crowd.”
She takes a deep breath. “Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Pat probably too. Which means …”
“No.” I pull up at a red light and turn to look at my girlfriend, who’s busy chewing her nails now. “Not Lizzy.”
Pippa lets out a nervous laugh. Her cousin Lizzy spent one summer staying with them with only one goal on her mind—getting into my pants. When I think back, Pippa saw a lot of girls throwing themselves at me. And over the years, I caught more than one in front of her.
I reach for her knee and give it a squeeze. “You know I never hooked up with her, don’t you?”
She nods. “I know.”
“Did you … keep track?”
When she shrugs and looks out the window, avoiding my gaze, I know the answer.
“I’m sorry, Pip.”
She turns her head toward me. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You weren’t to know what the future would bring.”
The light turns green, and I watch the road, catching glimpses of her out of the corner of my eye. I can’t turn back the clock—she was a child then, but I can make her a promise that she’ll be the only woman I’m with for the rest of my life.
The diamond I bought her sits heavy in my pocket.
Time to turn the conversation to a lighter subject. We’ve still got a few hours left of the drive—we should have just flown, and I don’t want to dwell on this for too much longer.
“That reminds me. I keep getting asked about this high-school reunion next year, and I keep saying no. Did you want to go?” I cross my fingers, hoping my girl feels the same way I do.
“Hell, no.” She laughs.
“Really? I thought you’d be into that kind of thing.”
Pippa laughs harder. “I hated school. It got in the way of my reading time.”
I roll my eyes. “I should have known. You were a nerd.” Nodding toward the book in her hand. “Scratch that. Still are.”
“Hey.” She bats my arm with the book, and I cry out, rubbing my arm as if I’m in pain.
“And I love my little nerd.”
Her eyes light up, and the love she has for me shines. I don’t know how I ever got so lucky as to be reunited with this amazing woman, but I’ll always be thankful for it.
By the time we pull into her parents’ driveway, she’s nodded off to sleep, and I have to give her a gentle nudge.
Her eyes flicker open. “Are we here?” she mumbles.
“We are.”
“Give me a second.” She yawns and shakes her head as if trying to wake herself up.
“Take your time, sleeping beauty. But your mum just opened the front door and she’s waiting.”
Pippa’s whole face lights up.
She opens the car door, and before I know it, she’s sprinting toward her mother.
I laugh, shaking my head. She’s not seen them in months, which is probably unlike her, but when she flings herself into her mother’s arms, I get heart pangs. It’s been so long since I felt like part of a family—and even then, it was part of her family, not my own.
I didn’t realise how much I missed it. Not until right this very moment.
After getting out of the car, I take some tentative steps toward the house when Pippa’s mother looks up and meets my gaze.
“Deacon.” Her warmth washes over me, and for a second I hesitate. I knew coming back here would bring back all kinds of emotions, but I wasn’t prepared for this.
Longing fills me. Yearning for that motherly relationship I never really had with the woman who gave birth to me. I thought I’d feel like a fish out of water, but instead I’m home.
“Mrs Miller,” I choke out.
She walks toward me, and I stiffen as she wraps her arms around my chest. “It’s so good to see you. Call me, Jean.”
“It’s good to see you too, Jean.” I engulf her in a hug, and she kisses my cheek.
“Thank you for bringing my girl home. She’s never been so happy,” she whispers. “You did that.”
“I love making her happy.”
She steps back. “You were always such a good boy. Come inside. I baked a cake.”
“Oh, that has my name on it.” I grin.
“I baked two because I knew that’s how you’d react.” Her expression straightens. “Lucas is inside. I hope you’re okay with that.”
I nod. “It kinda goes with the territory.”
Her brows knit. “I want you to feel at home, Deacon. We’ve all missed you.”
Giving her forearm a squeeze, I take a step toward the house. “I’ve missed you too.”
Pippa waits in the doorway, and I slide my hand into hers.
We walk into the house, her mother right behind us.
In the living room, her father rises from his seat, but I shake my head and hold out my free hand as I approach. He gives me a warm smile and takes my hand, enclosing his other one over it. “It’s good to see you, son.”
“It’s good to see you too.”
He drops my hand.
Pippa gives my forearm a squeeze and lets go, stepping away.
I see why when Lucas moves into the room.
“Deacon.” Lucas holds out his hand to shake.
This feels like a test. I have to get past this for Pippa. I don’t have to be friends with Lucas, but I can tolerate him for her sake.
“Lucas.” I accept his handshake.
Pippa grasps my bicep, and I turn my head to meet her gaze. Tears well in her eyes, and while I still want to punch my former best friend, I’ll keep it to myself because I love Pippa more.
“Thank you,”she mouths.
I press a kiss to her forehead before turning back to Lucas.
“I … I’ve thought about this moment for a long time. Back before you and Pippa were together. I can’t apologise enough for what happened?—”
“I’d rather not talk about it if that’s okay.”
He nods. “Sure. It’s good to see you anyway. I’m glad you’re with my sister. She’s always loved you.”
I wrap my arm around Pippa’s shoulders. “It’s good to see you too.”
She slips her arms around my waist and gives it a squeeze. Making her happy makes everything else pale into insignificance.
“Would you two like a coffee? That drive must be wearing,” Jean asks.
I grin. “I wanted to fly, but Pippa insisted on driving.”
“I like the scenery.” She pokes her tongue at me, and I resist the temptation to suck that tongue into my mouth and kiss her.
“Next time, we’ll fly.” I peck her on the lips instead.
She rolls her eyes. “Deal.”
“It’s not like you can’t afford it,” Lucas says.
I meet his gaze again and chuckle.
Pippa and I haven’t talked about the business or wealth, but Infinity Drinks is a multi-million-dollar company and I’m a 25% shareholder.
Pippa’s a hopeless romantic—it’s all that time spent with her nose in a book. But I’m in a position to give her everything she ever dreamed of.
And I will.