CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

“Oli, you got a minute?”

I turn, fingers to my ear, securing the little silicone back to my earring.

“Sure, come in.”

My dad walks into my room, his tall, solid frame making my larger-than-average childhood bedroom appear marginally smaller.

“What’s up?”

He sits on my bed and pats the spot beside him for me to join him.

“Hamish seems like a nice guy.  Brooky has a lot of good things to say about him.”

Ah! My dad’s fishing for information.  Not surprising, really, considering I’ve always been a daddy’s girl, but also because I’m his daughter who is pregnant by a guy who wants nothing to do with the baby.  And now I’m dating someone new.  Of course he’s going to be wary.

“Yeah, he’s nice.  I really like him.”

He nods thoughtfully.  “So, he’s picking you up from here tonight?”

“He is.”

He nods again slowly.

“Dad, did you really come in here to ask me about Hamish and my plans for the night?”

He chuckles.  “No, not entirely.”

“So, what’s up?”

He scratches the scruff on his cheeks before meeting my eyes.  “I’ve been thinking about something.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“If you take the job at the new clinic in town, I think you should move into the cottage.”

Besides the odd renters here and there, the cottage has practically been empty since my Aunt Jules moved out when I was a baby.

“It’s funny you’re mentioning this, Dad, because I was going to ask you if I could move in there.  I think I’m going to take the job… I’m pretty sure I’m going to take it.”

I’m still going back and forth, but I feel like it would be the right move for me.  Having family surrounding me when I have the baby is super important to me and this opportunity just seems like fate.  Dad tells me he will spend time with Jeremy doing the cottage up for me over the next few weeks.  Then when I go on maternity leave in two months, I can move in and that way I’ll be settled in time for the baby’s arrival.

“Hamish is here,” Aubree says, poking her head into my bedroom.

“Thanks, hun.”

I slip my feet into my high-top cowgirl boots and walk toward the kitchen where I can hear voices coming from.

“…amazing town. A real hidden treasure,” Hamish says.

“That’s fantastic.  I’m glad you’re loving it,” Mum replies.

“If you’re serious about my daughter, mate, we’ll have to make time to have a beer and a chat.”  Oh, my god, Dad!

I walk into the room and Hamish’s eyes instantly swing to take me in.  My skin heats as his deep blue eyes lazily travel from my head to my toes and back up again.

“Hi.”

“You look… you look beautiful,” he murmurs.

“Thank you.”  I’m wearing a flowy white dress with a plaited brown belt under my stomach.  My long, dark hair hangs over my shoulder in a loose fishtail braid.  I’m going for the casual country girl look, and by the way Hamish is eating me up, I’m guessing I pulled it off.  “Shall we go?”  Before my father saying anything else to embarrass me.

“Absolutely.” 

I walk to Hamish and he takes me hand. 

“Oh, Jackson, about that beer and chat—name the time, I’ll be there.”

Dad gives him a stern nod and I tug Hamish out the front door.

“So, where are we going?” I ask when he opens the passenger side door of his black Holden Crewman. 

“Actually, I thought you could tell me.”  He closes the door and I watch as he rounds the car and climbs inside.  He looks really good.  Dressed in jeans that are worn around the heels and sit just right on his hips, and a navy blue polo shirt that outlines his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

“I packed us a picnic and I was hoping you’d know of a good spot to eat it,” he tells me.

“I know just the place.”

We drive down the dusty dirt road until we reach the Katherine River that runs through our property.  On a rise above the calm water below, Hamish lays out a blanket under the shade of a Coolabah tree.  He unpacks the wicker basket of food while I watch the crocodiles sunning themselves on the muddy riverbank below. 

“He’s a big fella,” Hamish says, pointing to a croc that looks to be at least fifteen-feet long.  Almost in slow motion, he moves toward the water before sliding down the mud and disappearing beneath the surface.  “Are they a danger to the stock?”

“They can be.”  I pop a grape in my mouth.  “Especially the huge ones.”

“Orange juice?”

“Yes please.  This sandwich is delicious.”

“I’d love to take the credit, but the ladies at the Coffee House in town put it together for me.”

“My mum and aunties own that place,” I tell him.  “So, Mr. Tyler, tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”

“Hmm.  I’ve never eaten a meal surrounded by man-eating beasts before,” he jokes.

“Oh, you’re missing out!” I laugh.

“Tell me about it.”  The way he looks at me, the tenderness in his eyes, the soft smile on his lips, has me thinking he’s no longer talking about the crocodiles.  He puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer, positioning me so my head is lying in his lap.

A slight breeze blows through the leaves above me and Hamish runs his fingers through the stray strands of my hair.  The baby rolls in my stomach, giving me the feeling it will burst out of my skin if it tries any harder.  My hands automatically cradle my belly.  I don’t think I’ll ever tire of feeling my child move.

“Is he moving?” Hamish asks.

“He?”

“It’s my expert opinion that you’re having a boy,” he tells me, making me laugh.

“Yes, she’s kicking,” I retort.  “Would you… do you want to feel?”

“Yeah.”

I take his hand and rest it under my own on my stomach.  Right away, my baby puts on a performance, kicking and punching, rolling around and… are those hiccups?  I can’t help but start laughing.

“I think she’s got the hiccups!”

“That’s amazing,” he replies in wonderment. 

“It is pretty special,” I agree. 

We stay like that, Hamish’s hand on my stomach, my hand on his, my head in his lap, not speaking just feeling.

“It was a one-night stand,” I find myself saying.  Hamish doesn’t speak, but he does turn his hand to give mine a reassuring squeeze.  “He’s a biker whose life is complicated.  He doesn’t want anything to do with the baby.”

“That’s a damn shame, sweetheart,” he says softly.

“I know it’s his loss, but I can’t help thinking it’s my child’s loss, too.  Because she won’t have a father.  I have a great dad.  The best.  I want my child to have that, too.”  The blue sky and leaves above me blur together as tears fill my eyes.

“I’ve never known my real father, but my stepdad has been part of my life since I was one.  If it’s any consolation, I don’t feel like I’ve missed out.  In fact, I feel like I gained so much with him.  I don’t know how different my life would have been if my biological dad had been around, but I can’t imagine it being any better,” he says.

“That’s really, really sweet, Hamish.”

“I’m serious about you, Olive.  I want to be the man in your life, and if you let me, I’d be honoured to be involved in this one’s life as well.”  He rubs my stomach. 

“I’ll understand if you’re hesitant about… you know… getting involved with me,” I stammer.

“Getting involved?  Sweetheart, I’m already in so deep with you I can’t see straight.”

With Dek, it was lust at first sight.  But with Hamish, it’s been a slow and steady burn, deep in my gut, consuming me more entirely with every moment that passes by. 

“Don’t you think it’s a little soon to be so… invested?” I ask softly, silently hoping he says no because I have a feeling I’m in just as deep as he is.  Which is ridiculous… right?  It’s too fast.  Too soon to be having these kinds of feelings.  Right?

“Do you?”  He looks into my eyes, hypnotising me, consuming me.

“No,” I answer honestly.  “It just feels right.”

“Yeah, it does.”

He leans down and my eyes flutter closed right before his lips brush against mine.  My mouth opens for his tongue to sweep leisurely inside.  I reach up and cup his neck, holding him to me as he softly kisses me.  Deep and sweet.  Oh, so sweet.

“So, what now, Mr. Tyler?” I ask, a cheeky grin on my well-kissed lips.

“Now, we repeat the last few minutes.  Over—” he pauses to peck me—“and over—” another peck—“again.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

And that’s exactly what we do.