Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Cabarita Beach
At forty-five years old, Alan Younger looked to Mima like a taller version of her own father.
He was strikingly similar to Mima, or at least how she remembered herself looking when she was the same age, but in a more angular, masculine and tanned body than her own short, plump one.
She sat in the rocking chair on the porch at the Waratah Inn, pitching gently back and forth and watching him interact with the girls.
Kate showed him Nan’s garden while Reeda and Bindi argued over whether or not the sugar peas were ripe enough to pick and eat.
The children ran around the garden, ducking along rows and winding arms around the fence posts that lined it all as they spun and chattered together.
It warmed her soul and tugged at her heartstrings.
If only Alan had grown up with these girls—that’s where he should’ve been.
But he’d missed out on knowing them all, just as they’d missed out on knowing him.
He dutifully tasted a sugar pea for Bindi and nodded his head, murmuring something Mima couldn’t hear. No doubt he was remarking on how tasty it was. Mima knew—she’d eaten more than a few of them herself that very morning when picking the fresh produce they’d needed for the lunch service.
He opened the gate and shut it again behind him, then strode purposefully to where Mima sat.
He lowered himself into the rocking chair beside her. “The peas are delicious.”
“They are,” Mima replied. “I’ve been dying for you to meet everyone.”
“They’re great. So, these are your best friend’s granddaughters. Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“And her name was Edie?”
“Edie and Paul Summer. They were my best friends.”
Together they watched Reeda’s three foster children set up a game of hide-and-seek. Kate held Noah in a cloth carrier against her chest. She bounced gently on her toes as she talked to her sisters in the shade of the Waratah bushes.
Suddenly he spoke up in a quiet voice. “One thing I don’t understand about this whole situation — why they took me away from you? It doesn’t make sense. Why not let you raise your own child?”
Mima sighed. She’d pondered this question herself countless times since the TV show. “I’m sure they didn’t think I could do it.”
“So, instead of waiting to see if you could manage, or if you’d find someone to help you through the hard times, they took me away?” He shook his head. “It’s so unfair.”
Mima felt empty inside. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He reached out a hand and took hers, squeezing it. “It’s not your fault.”
“I already told you this, but I’ll say it again—I wanted you so desperately. I loved you more than you can ever imagine. And I wish with all my heart I’d gotten to be there for you as you grew into this incredible man in front of me. I’m really proud of you, love.”
He blinked. “Thanks, Mum. I wanted you in my life, too.” His voice broke, and he released her hand to cover his eyes. Then he shook it off and inhaled a deep breath before meeting her gaze. “I had a good childhood. So, don’t feel too bad for me. I did okay.”
“You did more than okay.”
He hesitated, looking out over the garden at the children chasing each other around with squeals of delight. “I thought I might buy a place down this way, spend some time here, get to know you better, and everyone else as well. Would that be okay with you?”
“That would be a dream come true. I would love it.”
“Great. I’ll look into that, then. It’ll be good to be closer so we can spend some time together. I’m planning on doing some travel next year, but for now, I’d like to be down this way and see you as often as I can.”
“We have a lot of catching up to do,” Mima agreed.