Chapter Twelve
The intense atmosphere lightened considerably when they all sat around the dinner table, and it was easier for Isabella to believe in happy families again. The pasta sauce she’d made had been a hit, and even the children had asked for more. They were excited, and after they’d finished eating, Sebastian egged the two girls on, much to Jemima’s displeasure.
“Don’t encourage them, Seb. You’re as bad as they are.”
He was showing them how to balance a spoon on their noses, and they were in awe when it fell off his nose three times in a row. Isabella couldn’t keep a straight face.
Ryan tugged at Sebastian’s jeans, and they shared a look. A minute later they had both disappeared under the table.
Helena rolled her eyes as she bounced baby James on her knee. “Honestly, Harry, that boy will never grow up. He reminds me of you more and more every day.”
Harry and Isabella’s father were discussing the football at full volume, and Harry turned to his wife one hand cupped to his ear. “What did you say, love?”
“Never mind.” She waved her hand. “Go back to your football.”
Isabella sat back and let the happy noise wash around her. For the first time since she’d arrived in Spring Downs, the empty feeling of being in an unfamiliar environment disappeared.
Something tickled her leg and, lifting the tablecloth, she peeked under the table. She smiled as she spotted the little brown spaniel that Liam usually had nipping at his heels. He looked up at her and licked her foot.
Next minute, a pair of brown eyes, and a younger pair of blue eyes peered at her. “I hope you didn’t think that was us,” Sebastian said with a grin.
“I think Ryan has much better manners than that,” she replied.
“What about me?” Sebastian asked in a mock hurt tone.
“I’m not so convinced about your manners. The spoon on the nose during dessert has made me wonder.”
“It was a clean spoon,” he protested. “It didn’t have any custard on it.”
“Just as well.” Isabella giggled. “You’re quite mad, you know.”
Ryan ran off to play with the girls when Ned told them they could leave the table; Sebastian crawled out and sat beside her in the chair that Kelsey had vacated.
“Having a good time?” he asked.
“I am. What about you?”
“You need to ask that? I love kids,” he said.
“You are still a big kid,” Liam said from across the table. “I doubt if Seb will ever grow up,” he added for Isabella’s benefit.
“And I’m happy like that,” Sebastian said, picking up the spoon again and tipping his head back.
“No.” A chorus of groans sounded.
“You will make a great father,” said her father, and Isabella tensed as he looked at her with a calculating glint in his eye. She glared at him, willing him not to say anything more but he ignored her. “I am so looking forward to having my own grandchildren running around like this one day. It will be wonderful.” He put his hand on his chest and let out such a loud sigh, Isabella was hard pressed not to pick up her spoon and bop him on the nose.
Sebastian reached over and squeezed her hand sympathetically as silence descended around the table. Unfortunately, his grandmother leaned forward and saw him take her hand, and she nudged Harry.
“It will be.” Isabella decided it was easier not to react. “Now let’s get these dishes done and I can see how this kitchen work space flows. Lucy and Angie said that the helpers will be from the CWA, Helena?” She pulled her hand out of Sebastian’s warm clasp. Altogether too many people were jumping to the wrong conclusion.
They were not a couple. And wouldn’t be, ever.
She glanced down at him as she stood and began to clear the table.
Sebastian was like a forbidden dessert. If she was honest with herself, she knew she was tempted, but he would be bad for her in so many ways.
She was only here for a few weeks—he was here to stay. Besides, he was too lightweight for her tastes. She preferred a man who— A man who what?
Maybe someone who had a stronger work ethic? Maybe someone a little bit more serious about life?
One who was more serious about setting a goal and working hard to achieve it?
When she found a partner—or a soul mate—it would be someone who had a work ethic that matched hers. It was all very well to talk about love at first sight, but life didn’t work like that. You had to share common interests and be similar in what you wanted out of life to make a relationship work.
Her life goals were set, and she was on her way to achieve them. Isabella wasn’t sure if Sebastian even knew what he wanted.
But in the scheme of things, that didn’t matter because once she went to England, she would probably never see him again.
Why did that make her feel so sad?
…
Sebastian could pinpoint the exact second that Isabella judged him and he was found wanting. A spark of temper sizzled for a second, and then he shrugged it off. He didn’t care what people thought about him.
He knew what he wanted out of life, but he also knew he had to do the right thing by his family. If they were two different things, so be it. He would do what was right and what was expected, but he wasn’t prepared to take the judgment that came along with it. Luckily, no one picked up on his mood, and he managed to join in on the laughing conversation as it turned to the wedding.
“As well as being my best man, Sebastian is going to take the photographs, Gran,” Liam said after the girls had cleared the table. Pop was in there helping them wash up.
“So you brought your cameras and gear with you?” Gran asked. “That was thoughtful of you.”
He stayed calm.
Thoughtful!
“Yes. I had all my gear sent from the airport by a courier. You obviously haven’t been in the spare room yet, Gran. It’s full of my stuff, and I’ve got my computer set up there. If it’s in the way, just let me know.”
And I’ll move out. Find a place to rent. But it wasn’t the right time to say that. It was already starting to feel claustrophobic being in the house with Gran and Pop. As much as he loved them, he hadn’t planned on living in a house with a couple in their seventies.
And they’d been home less than a day.
“Tell me about your photography, Sebastian. Bella tells me you took photos in Italy.” Con’s voice broke into his musing.
“Yes, I was working with the Firenze tourist agency.”
Con nodded. “And now you have work here, too, and my Bella is going to help you with a photo shoot?”
Damn, I didn’t want that out yet.
“What photo shoot?” Liam stared at him.
“Don’t worry, it’s only nights and weekends.” Sebastian waved a casual hand. “It’s just a contract taking a few shots of stars.” He played it down before Liam started in on him. “I was going to tell you about it later.”
“Photos of the stars? Now that sounds romantic,” Gran said.
“Yes, I’m doing an Outback series.” He turned to his grandmother. “Don’t worry, it’s only a weekend thing. It won’t take away from me working on the property. Not one bit.”
“I wasn’t worried,” she said. “It’s always good to have other interests. Liam and Garth have the alliance. Ned has the children, and all of their activities.”
Ned laughed. “It sure keeps me busy. Did I tell you that Ryan scored his first goal in the under-fives at soccer last weekend?”
Sebastian relaxed as the focus of the conversation moved away from him as everyone congratulated Ryan, and then the conversation moved to the races next weekend.
“Are you coming to the CBC races, Isabella?” Gran asked.
“CBC?”
“Come-by-Chance. It’s a tiny town about thirty kilometres down our road. The racecourse is on one of the cattle properties.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I saw the sign about the races when we were out the other night, but I hadn’t really thought about going.”
Everyone spoke at once. “You have to come.”
“It’s the social event of the season.”
Her father looked at Isabella. “Of course we’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Isabella looked up and her gaze connected with Sebastian’s as she smiled. “Okay, I guess I’ll be there then.”
Sebastian stood and crossed to the verandah railing and looked out over the paddocks. It was a clear night, and the array of stars lit up the night sky. His fingers itched to hold his camera.
What Gran didn’t know was that the farm was his other interest. His photography was his heart and soul.
But he wasn’t going to set that cat amongst the pigeons.