Jonah stared out the window as the plane descended into Tullamarine airport. It was the first time he’d returned to Melbourne since escaping almost a year ago, and he’d travelled with a heavy heart, not wanting to leave his refuge, the Pacific nation of Samoa.

He’d returned for Kaylah and Felix’s wedding.

Even saying it made his chest tighten and his heart ache. Subconsciously massaging the skin above his heart, he wondered for the millionth time if he’d done the right thing in attending his brother’s wedding.

He was the best man, the one who was supposed to be exuberantly happy, and yet there was no joy inside of him, just resentment and bitterness.

Even a year later, the loss of Kaylah to Felix still hurt. His parents loved her, having welcomed her to their large family.

But he’d never do anything to jeopardise his relationship with his brother. He loved Felix, the older brother who’d always been there when he’d needed advice and protected him from bullies at school.

While he was the geek who focussed on maths and sciences at school, Felix was the champion in sports and with girls. He couldn’t remember a time his brother hadn’t had a gorgeous girl on his arm. But there had been no animosity between them till Valentine’s Day last year.

And this year, he’d have another rotten Valentine’s Day with Kaylah and Felix choosing it for their wedding day.

He fired off a tirade of expletives under his breath while gazing out of the small window, as the large plane landed smoothly before taxying to the terminal.

Being at the front end of the plane meant he was one of the first to exit, and at the gate was welcomed by the lovebirds.

“Jonah, it’s good to see you,” his brother said before giving him a warm hug. “I’ve missed you.”

And then there was Kaylah. He turned to her, the first time since that fateful night, and gave her a weak smile, the best he could under the circumstances. “Hello, Kaylah,” he said.

She took hold of him and hugged him hard. “Welcome home. Felix hasn’t stopped talking about you. He’s missed you while you were away.”

His throat clogged and he could only nod as he looked at the woman whose smile had the ability to make his heart melt with longing.

They walked to the baggage collection area with Felix talking non-stop. The exuberance in his voice lifted Jonah’s heart. “Hope you don’t mind, but Kaylah will drive you home. I have a work meeting nearby so I’ll catch up with you tonight. Mum and Dad have invited everyone over for dinner.” With another man-hug and a back slap, Felix then gave Kaylah a kiss on the lips and departed with a confident wave.

“Thanks for the lift. I could’ve got a taxi,” he said to Kaylah with an unenthusiastic shrug.

If she noticed his lukewarm response, she didn’t say anything. “Your family would’ve flipped. They’re so excited you’re back. You were a little vague on how long you’re staying, but I hope you’ll be here for a while.” She linked her arm through his.

He swallowed hard, reluctant to tell her he was flying out, returning to Samoa, the morning after their wedding. His parents wouldn’t be happy but it suited him not to spend any more time than was necessary.

He grabbed his bag, which gave him the benefit of no longer touching Kaylah and started to walk towards the car park.

Kaylah chatted about the family events organised in the lead-up to the wedding. “You seem a little quiet. Is everything okay?”

“I’m just tired, sorry,” he apologised, in an attempt to cover up his rudeness.

As they sped down the highway towards Melbourne and the family home in the suburbs, he asked, “Tell me about your hacking? And congratulations on your new job.”

She turned to him and gave him a huge grin. “I just love my new job and I have Felix to thank for it. Your brother is amazing. He had a job created for me,” she said with exuberance.

“Felix could charm a nun out of her panties,” he smirked. “Sorry, no disrespect.”

“None taken and you’re right,” she chuckled.

“Tell me about the job,” he said, watching her drive.

“A couple of my social media posts went viral and ended up in the newspapers. Even on the evening news. Can you believe it? Me!” She paused. “Felix turned the story into a PR success before getting me a job interview with the Marketing and Sales Managers of PricePoint. That’s the company where I bought the products.” PricePoint was one of Australia’s biggest retail chains of discount department stores.

“Felix encouraged them to snap me up before another company did. And so each month, I see the products they’re about to release and I create hacks for them.” She paused. “It’s February now, but I’m working on their Christmas catalogue. I’ve got some fantastic ideas that Mums will love.”

“Tell me what you did this month?”

“A doll’s house out of a shoe rack, a dog bed from a planter and two dresses, one from a man’s oversized T-shirt and the other using a large women’s sweater,” she said with her voice filled with excitement and passion. “I still can’t believe I have a job created for me, that I love.” She blushed, glancing at him for just a moment before looking back at the road. “Sorry that I’m gushing.”

“It’s fine,” he said with a wave of his hand. “It’s wonderful to see you so happy. Tell me how your hacks are promoted?”

“In their catalogues, both printed and online,” she said. “They advertise their specials and display the hack next to them. Customers can then log on to the website to see me demonstrate how to do it. We’ve also started a Facebook page which already has tens of thousands of members. We share the videoed hacks there and also provide a shopping list of what viewers will need.”

“The Sales Manager must love the sales.”

“Definitely,” she said with a chuckle. “Customers want those products. I make it easy for them. With the clothing, there’s very little sewing so anyone can do it.”

He cleared his throat. “Does it restrict you from working with products they don’t sell?”

She shook her head. “My job keeps me busy, but if I see something that attracts my interest, I share it on my blog.”

He rubbed his chin, acknowledging her demanding workload and the pressures she was under. “Is it too much for you?”

“No, would you believe I now have my own PA? I have an assistant who helps me with my emails, newsletters, and social media,” she announced, her voice bursting with eagerness.

“It’s impressive.” He leaned back in his seat, recognising that thanks to his brother, she’d achieved a career that so many would be envious of. And yet, she was humble enough to know how fortunate she’d been to get the job.

“I know. I still can’t believe that I, who came from a dysfunctional home—”

“Dysfunctional home?”

The skin between her eyebrows furrowed. “I thought Felix told you. Your family knows.” She shrugged, keeping her gaze focussed on the traffic around her. “My father hung around long enough to impregnate my mother and then one afternoon, he went for a walk, saying he wanted to get a pack of cigarettes and never returned. My mother blamed me for his desertion. I don’t remember a day that she didn’t remind me that if she hadn’t been pregnant, he would’ve stayed.” She rolled her eyes. “As if. He sounds like a total loser. I’m sure he would’ve left whether my mother was pregnant or not,” she added with a roll of her eyes.

His heart ached, hearing about her family life, reminding him of how fortunate he was to be surrounded by loving parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. “Your mother, do you see her much?”

“No, she died when I was twelve. She’d been at some party and was walking along the railway tracks and fell in front of a speeding train.” She did another roll of her eyes, as though she couldn’t believe the stupidity of her mother.

“Not suicide?” He sat straighter in his seat, his jaw clenched.

She waved her hand in the air to dismiss his question. “Based on the train driver’s account of the accident and the level of alcohol in her blood, it was determined to be an accident, a stupid accident.”

With a wayward father and irresponsible mother, how had this kind, hard-working, talented woman next to him not become bitter and twisted after such a horrendous childhood? “What happened to you?”

“I was moved around in the state foster system for a couple of years till a single lady, Elaine, fostered me. Elaine was the mother I wish I’d had.”

“She sounds wonderful,” he said with a nod.

“She is. She’d never married but always wanted children. She was fifty years old and started fostering babies but after a year or two, turned her attention to insubordinate and defiant teenage girls.” A smile touched her lips. “Best decision she made. She’d been a senior manager in a large corporate department and her job became redundant. Instead of looking for another job, she took the payout and invested it wisely. She’d paid off her apartment and by living within her means, she could be a stay-at-home parent for rat-bags like myself.”

“You? A rat-bag?”

“You have no idea how bad I was back then.” She cleared her throat. “Elaine was strict but also kind and loving. She made me work around the house and it was she who introduced me to hacks. She’d grown up in a poor family and learnt from her mother how to make ends meet, so to speak.”

“Your success is inspiring, a real rags-to-riches story that could make a movie.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Not at all. I’m nothing special. I didn’t even finish school,” she added. “When I was growing up, I had no one to guide me, nurture me. I’m not the only one to grow up in a single parent home but my mum…she never showed me love, never spent time with me. My best recollections are of being on my own. I don’t remember spending time with her, doing things together, reading books or even watching a movie.”

His mouth opened but the words were stuck in his throat. She’d been an unwanted child. It wasn’t that she was from a broken home, she wasn’t loved by either of her parents. Sadness settled on his shoulders at the realisation, reminding him of how fortunate he’d been when growing up. Parents who loved him, as well as an older brother who’d protected and been there for him.

An appreciation and respect for her grew in bucket-loads.

She continued to chat. “Your family has welcomed me with such love, and I can’t wait to be a Randall. You’re so lucky to have been born into such a caring family with parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who love you. And a brother. Goodness, I’ve never seen such love between siblings. Felix is so excited you’re here and will be his best man.”

There was exuberance in her voice as well as a rosy glow in her cheeks. Her eyes lit up and her smile extended wide as she talked about his family. Knowing her past made him appreciate what he had, but a niggle wormed its way into his belly. In the past hour, since he’d been met by her and Felix, not once had she talked about love. Not once. Why?

He assumed most soon-to-be married couples sickened everyone with their declarations of love. Or perhaps fatigue had clouded his brain and he was reading into things that weren’t there. More likely, he was looking for a reason to justify the overwhelming feeling that they weren’t a good match and shouldn’t be marrying.

His heart hardened at the thought. That was mean and unnecessary. He just needed to accept it and get over her. Kaylah was marring Felix and there was nothing he could do about it.

“I feel that I’ve done all the chatting. Tell me what you’ve been doing. You don’t post much on social media and I only glean information when you call your parents. Are you happy?” she asked.

What to say? He wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t unhappy. He was content. And that was better than being miserable. “Samoa is a beautiful country, and I’ve enjoyed living there.” It was blah and didn’t really say much, but that’s all he wanted to reveal about himself for now.

They passed the city and sped towards the family home. They would be there soon and despite everything, he was looking forward to seeing his parents.

“How far away is it? I know it’s in the Pacific.”

“It took six hours in the plane to get to Melbourne, if that helps.”

She nodded in reply. “You must get a lot of satisfaction helping children.”

“I do. As you know, I get used computers from Australia and I fix them up so the schools have up-to-date technology,” he explained. “ Most are only two to three years old.” His main concern was the processes, it was all a bit haphazard. He needed to streamline how they were sent, fixed and distributed in a way that helped the Samoans but also reduced costs.

Felix says you’re very clever,” she added with a wink.

“What can I say? You’re good at hacks.” He pointed to her and then himself. “I’m good at IT.”

She turned to look at him. “What’s it like there?”

He leaned back in his seat and thought about the beauty of the Pacific Island and how different it was from Melbourne. As much as he enjoyed living there, he couldn’t see himself staying there permanently away from his family. “It’s a tropical paradise, it’s hot and the people are friendly.” He cracked his knuckles. “I’m not sure if Felix told you but over a year ago I ended up in hospital. I’d pushed myself by working stupid hours and not eating well.”

“He did,” she clarified. “If you don’t mind me saying, you look a lot healthier and happier than you did when I first met you.” She paused. “When I met you, I didn’t recognise you. I’d actually seen photos of you online but you were heavier and”

“I know.” He ran his fingers through his hair, a reminder of how his health had improved. He looked very different now compared with eighteen months ago when he was carrying a substantial number of pounds of weight.

“I’ve focussed on my health and got back into swimming and running. I’d forgotten how good it was to be outdoors. The past year away has reminded me that I shouldn’t focus so much on my work.” He paused and stroked his chin, reflecting on the long hours he used to work. “I didn’t need to push myself to meet such stupid deadlines. I may have made a lot of money but what was the use of it when all I did was sit in front of a computer?”

A vision of him clutching his chest as pains gripped his ribs made him wince. At the time, he truly thought he was going to die.

“You’re very lucky to have the love and support of your family. I can’t wait to have what you have,” she confessed.

There it was again. Her desire for family. Was she marrying Felix for love or family?

The need to protect his brother engulfed him and his palms grew moist with worry.

Within minutes, they’d arrived at his parent’s suburban home, and he knew there wouldn’t be any more talk between them for the time being.

* * *

After being swamped with hugs and kisses from his mum and grandmother, he pleaded for some time alone, citing a headache. It was true, sort of. He’d been travelling for nine hours and wanted a shower and a rest before the family dinner.

Back in his childhood room, his parents had made few changes and he still had copious awards sitting on the shelving that he’d won in maths, sciences and IT.

Perhaps the “love at first sight” with Kaylah had been nonsense. Perhaps he’d been lonely and bored, and Kaylah had made him feel comfortable?

Over the past year, he’d battled with his emotions, wondering if he really was in love with Kaylah or perhaps he’d just liked her?

Did it matter?

He was the best man, not the groom.

An hour later, he sat with his parents in the kitchen reminiscing over a cup of tea.

“I’m so happy to see you,” his mum’s eyes filled with tears of joy. “Did you have to move so far away?”

He didn’t say anything because the answer was no. He didn’t have to. He’d left with a broken heart, needing space between him and his family. And with Felix announcing his engagement within a month of him leaving Melbourne, he had been happier to be away.

He’d lied about being unable to attend their engagement party, blaming a gastro bug. It pained him to lie but he’d been unable and unwilling to attend the party and pretend he was happy.

Over the past few months, he’d watched with admiration of Kaylah’s achievement. Following her on social media had kept him up to date on her career and her smashing success with her easy-to-follow hacks.

She’d found a niche market that was slowly becoming cluttered with wannabes, all trying to get followers on their channels. But Kaylah had a knack, with her bubbly personality and clever insights.

At dinner, Kaylah looked gorgeous in a dress that she’d created herself. “I got this oversized man’s T-shirt, then I tucked in the sleeves here”—she showed his mother—“added a belt, slipped on a cardi, added jewellery, and here I am.”

“You look wonderful,” Eleanor, his mother, said. “Can you do something for us ladies who need something with a bit more coverage?”

Kaylah clapped her hands together. “You should see what’s coming out next month. It’s perfect for you. In fact, I’ll go tomorrow and get the items for you before they sell out.”

His mother’s face glowed with excitement. “We were blessed with two boys, but I have to confess, I’m enjoying having a daughter, especially one as generous and kind as you.”

They hugged and he could see Kaylah had made herself very welcome to his family. They loved her. Did she love them…more than his brother?

“Jonah,” his mother broke his thoughts. “You’re not listening.”

“Sorry, Mum,” he said with sincerity.

“Aunty Sabina and Uncle Frank are coming to Melbourne by bus tomorrow.”

“Why aren’t they driving?” He rubbed a hand across his forehead.

“They sold their car. Remember they moved into the retirement village last year? There is a courtesy bus for short trips and they use public transport as they don’t do much driving anymore.”

“I’ll go and get them,” he offered. “With the new highway, they’re only an hour away.”

“Oh, will you? You’re a darling. They’ll be so happy. Can you take them to Aunty Jeans? They’re staying there for the wedding.”

“Sure, Mum,” he said, looking forward to the drive to the affluent seaside town of Mount Martha.

“I’ll call them now. They’ll be delighted to see you,” she said before kissing the top of his head.

“May I join you?” Kaylah asked.

“You want to come with me to get my aunty and uncle?” He felt his brow furrow. Why? “As the bride, aren’t you busy doing…I dunno, bridal things?”

Her eyes clouded with disappointment. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I just thought I’d come along for the drive.”

Seeing the sharp look his mother fired at him had him apologising immediately. “I’m sorry. I assumed you’d be busy getting ready for the wedding.”

“It’s all organised. Your mother has been amazing and there’s nothing for me to do.” She shrugged. “I took the week off, but I’m bored. I’m used to being busy. Just sitting around isn’t for me. But I understand if you want to be on your own,” she said with a weak smile.

“Of course you can join me.”

“Spending time with my brother-in-law-to-be, and seeing Aunty Sabina and Uncle Frank again sounds like a lovely day to me.” She paused. “I’ll even let you buy me an ice cream. I hear there’s an amazing gelataria at the retirement village.

“It’s a date,” he said.

“Sure is,” she said with a grin that made him wonder if he’d just made the stupidest mistake of his life.