Chapter Twenty-Three
Lucy stood with the freezer door open, debating whether to take out the frozen packet of satay chicken or spaghetti Bolognese. The spaghetti won.
Once she’d admitted to herself that she really didn’t want to be in the city, she had some big decisions to make. Her initial reaction had been to flee straight home—because she admitted now, the Pilliga Scrub was home, no matter how the city had sucked her in the past few years. It had been a way of coping with Mum’s death, and the six weeks at Prickle Creek Farm had woken her up to that fact. She’d been totally miserable since she’d come back to Sydney, but even though she’d admitted that to herself, she couldn’t go running back to Garth. He hadn’t called, emailed, nothing since she’d left. He obviously didn’t want her.
She opened the door of the microwave and shoved the frozen dinner on the glass plate just as someone knocked at the door. She frowned and wondered who it was. Seb had stayed at the farm, and Jemima was in Melbourne at the Myer fashion show. After that, she was going straight from Melbourne to the farm for her three-month stay.
Company was the last thing she wanted tonight. She’d lost touch with her girlfriends while she’d been away, but tonight Jenny, her closest friend in Sydney, had called to see if Lucy wanted to go to the movies. She had declined—too much thinking to do. She’d gotten used to the loneliness.
Lucy crossed cautiously to the door and listened, jumping back as the door rattled when someone knocked again.
“Who is it?” she called.
“It’s me. Garth. Open the door, Luce. It stinks out here.”
What?
“Garth?”
Lucy put her hand to her mouth as a maelstrom of emotions surged though her.
Joy. Confusion. Panic. Happiness and dread fought for precedence as she flicked the lock over.
Garth? She was thinking about him and he’d come knocking at her damn door?
The door opened, and she peered around it. The joy surging through her pushed away every other feeling clamouring inside her. She stepped back, and Garth came through the open door into her apartment. She drank in the sight of him as her heart almost pounded out of her chest.
Garth stared at her, his beautiful lips breaking into a broad smile. “Hello, Lucy-Lou,” he said softly. “I came to say sorry.”
Lucy shook her head, unable to believe that Garth was in her flat.
“You took your time,” she said drily.
“I didn’t think you wanted me. I was leaving you in peace.”
“What made you change your mind?” She pointed to the couch and waited till he sat, pushing down the emotion. All she wanted to do was jump into his arms, but she had to be sure.
Lucy sat down beside him, her hands folded in her lap. Disbelief filled her, and she unclenched her hands as Garth held out his to her. He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. Joy shot through her and settled in her chest.
“What made me change my mind?” His voice was quiet, and he didn’t take his eyes from her. “How long have I got?”
“As long as it takes.” She kept the smile from her voice, but it was hard to stay calm.
“First off, the brightness has gone out of my days—and nights. The farm work is just a chore. Without you there, there’s no reason to go out and do anything. There’s no one to look forward to seeing. The bottom line is, Lucy, I can’t go on like that.” His eyes were intent as he looked around the room. “But I tell you what, when I move to Sydney, we’re going to have to find a better place to live.”
“When you move to Sydney?” she repeated, but her voice was shaking as much as the rest of her.
Garth raised his other hand and cupped her cheek in his palms. The rough pad of one thumb rubbed gently over her lips. “If that’s what it takes to be with you, that’s what I’ll do.”
Lucy closed her eyes as his words washed over her.
“I love you, Lucy. I’m not letting you go. No matter what it takes, I’ll follow you wherever you want to be.”
She opened her eyes and met Garth’s loving gaze.
“No matter what it takes,” he repeated. “I can get work down here.”
“You mean you would move to the city for me?” Joy pulsed through her body in time with her fast-beating heart.
“I’ll do anything to make you happy. Anything to be where you are.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Finally she let the smile cross her face. “I was going to come home, anyway.”
“Home?” His voice held a smidgeon of hope. “Home to where?”
“Home to Prickle Creek Farm.” She shook her head. “No, not Prickle Creek Farm. Home to the Mackenzie farm. If the farmer will still have me?”
“Have you?” Garth clutched both her hands in his and stared at her. She’d forgotten how beautiful his eyes were. And they were even more beautiful as his eyes held hers, full of love. “I’ve never wanted anything more. Are you sure, Lucy?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I love you, Garth.” Lucy lifted her hand from his and placed it on his cheek.
Garth’s arms went around her as she hugged him, and they fell back onto the sofa together. “I can’t believe it. Are you really, really sure?”
“I think I hate the city,” she said with a smile.
“I thought you loved your Thai restaurant?” His grin was huge. “Not that I mind one bit. I’ve been teaching myself to cook Thai…and Japanese, too.”
Lucy caught the look of love on Garth’s face just before his lips took hers in a kiss that sealed her future.
Their future.