CHAPTER SEVEN
He heard Elizabeth speak as he dashed beneath the protection of the roof and out of the incessant rain. His heart had lurched when he’d seen her fighting for warmth beneath the meager heating. It was like trying to find warmth from the flame of a matchstick. She looked frozen, wet and miserable, and all he wanted to do was bundle her up like he’d done yesterday, take her home and care for her. At least she wore the coat. He was pleased. But then an image of Hanna wearing the coat flittered into his mind, and the satisfying feeling drained away into the familiar pit of emptiness. He wished she was still alive to wear it. Clearing his mind of the thought and associated despondency, he concentrated on the reason for this wet trip into the main street.
She’d been in his thoughts all day, slipping through his concentration when he should have been working. Madeline also hadn’t stopped chatting about her either. Asking if she was coming back, could Daddy go and get her and bring her home. Please, please, please.
Elizabeth couldn’t possibly have known how good she was for Madeline. That Madeline was so bright and skipping around the house like a normal four-year-old should. He’d even caught Madeline singing the same tune Elizabeth had sung to her last night.
He kept looking at the clock incessantly, wondering if Elizabeth had been able to find a lift out of town. Found himself worrying about her, then reprimanding himself that it was none of his business what she wanted to do. She was a grown woman.
But with the weather progressively getting worse and worse, and with the latest grim news that had flashed across town, he couldn’t sit at home wondering anymore, finally berating himself that a real man would check her safety. No way in or out, he couldn’t sit at home and just wonder if she’d been able to make it out of town. There was only one place to go besides the pub, and the chances were high he’d find her at either of those locations if she was still here.
It had been a nervous drive down to the small café, and his heart had tumbled when the first thing he’d seen through the sleet was her slender form bent against the weather, as though that might ward off the frigid wind.
At least now he’d have the chance to do the right thing and offer her shelter, even if she didn’t want to work for him as Madeline’s nanny. It occurred to him this landslide could actually be the best thing that could have happened. Madeline would get to spend some more days with Elizabeth, and a few days spending time with Madeline might be enough to sway Elizabeth to accept his offer.
It was a perfect opportunity.
He ignored the part that was less than altruistic. That there was something about her that intrigued him. That somehow the brightness of her energy changed his. Made him feel lighter than he had in a long time.
But that was absurd.
One woman couldn’t make him feel all these things in just one day. It was the dream of a man who had no heart to light. Hanna took up all the room in his heart and would continue to do so until the day he joined her in heaven. It was more than enough.
He just needed to make his daughter happy. It made him happy to see his daughter happy. That he could understand. That was logical. He’d ask Elizabeth to stay for the sake of his daughter because Elizabeth was good for her.
That was it.
“I thought I’d get Madeline out of the house and come into town for a milkshake,” he said, rubbing at the familiar ache in his chest.
Elizabeth glanced at the torrent gushing from the skies, a look of confusion on her face. “Now?”
“I didn’t think the weather would get so bad,” he offered as way of an excuse.
“Ah, I see.” She clearly didn’t. She tucked her unprotected hands into her armpits, jiggling on her feet.
He frowned at the action. “I should have given you the gloves as well."
“The coat was more than enough, thank you.” She clasped her near-blue lips tightly together in a straight line.
“I’m glad it’s getting used. Far better than just hanging useless in the closet. In fact, I have some other clothes you could have.”
He was surprised he’d voiced that. The coat had hung in Hanna’s side of the wardrobe for years. Hung and discarded and completely useless where he’d kept it. There was no reason for her clothes to be there, except for the fact that he didn’t have the heart to give any of them away. Silly, now that he thought about it.
There were some beautiful gowns in there. Hanna had looked like an angel in them, but when he thought about them, the memories were a little cloudy. The woman sitting in front of him in well-worn clothing was more multi-coloured and real than those expensive, designer gowns.
Giving them to Elizabeth seemed… right. Something he wanted to do.
“You really shouldn’t have given it to me. It’s very… expensive.”
She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. He found he didn’t like to see her that way.
“Elizabeth, everyone deserves a coat in weather like this.”
“I guess.” She picked up her pack. “Well, good to see you again, but I’ve got to get going…”
“Would you care to join us for a milkshake?” James gestured inside the café, cutting off her escape.
“Pleeeaaassse, Liz’beth. Come and have milkshake with us,” Madeline pleaded.
James didn’t miss the way Elizabeth’s expression softened when she looked down at Madeline. Madeline never pleaded with people to spend time with her. She usually only ever wanted James or Maria. Never anyone else. It only supported his opinion.
“At least come in with us so I can get Madeline out of the cold and rain.”
He cupped Elizabeth’s elbow, and before she could protest – because he knew she would – propelled them all into the warmth and cosiness of the café.
Don’t forget about the way she interacts with you, as well as Madeline.
Firmly telling his mind to shut up, he manoeuvred them all into an empty booth at the back of the café. Madeline sat on the same side as Elizabeth, and he sat opposite. A sense of absolute rightness occurred to him, as though this innocuous moment was in fact monumental. However, he wasn’t prone to superstition. He’d already met the love of his life; she was just living on the other side of the veil. He didn’t need a replacement. His heart panged, almost painfully.
He picked up a menu, needing something for his hands do to, and buried his face in lines that blurred. He cleared his throat before he could speak. “So, what do we all want?”
“I want a staw’berry milkshake and a car bikkie,” Madeline said.
He noticed the confused expression on Elizabeth’s face and decided now was the perfect time for her to get to know her future charge. “The café makes these biscuits out of tim tams and fruit tingles. All the parts are stuck together with icing to make it look like a car,” he explained.
“They’re really yummy.” Madeline beamed at him. She fidgeted on the seat, her face lit with a smile, clearly loving sitting next to Elizabeth. He smiled back with indulgence. He couldn’t get enough of the happy Madeline.
A part of him hoped it wasn’t his fault she’d been so unhappy. That somehow his sadness and inability to cope with life after Hanna’s death had unfairly rubbed off on her.
“Then I think I’ll have one too. What about you, Elizabeth?”
She glanced nervously at the menu. “I’ll just have a water. Do they just have tap water? I’m happy with that.”
“Have a car bikkie, Liz’beth,” Madeline said.
“It’s all good, sweetie. I’m not hungry.”
That, he suspected, was a lie. Her eyes drifted to the food counter with a mind of their own, and she’d subconsciously licked her lips four times in the past minute.
“Eat something, Elizabeth. It’s on me,” he said.
He knew he’d said the wrong thing when her back straightened and she pierced him with a steady stare. “I said I’m not hungry.”
A loud, gurgling growl sounded from her stomach at that moment. She flushed and put her hand over her stomach.
“I don’t think that sound had anything to do with the storm. Besides, it was far too loud to be thunder.” He meant it as a joke, but it fell flat.
Her expression faltered into one of bewilderment. She gripped the edge of the table with her fingertips, as though she needed something to cling to, “Why does it matter to you?”
Why indeed? Because she stirred something in Madeline. Made her come alive in a night. She’d also stirred something back to life in him too, if he wanted to be totally truthful, but he wasn’t, so he settled for saying, “You saved my daughter. Let me return the favour.”
“You’ve already let me stay the night. Gave me this coat. That’s more than enough,” she said.
He knew others who would have no hesitation to take him for everything he was worth if they’d been brave enough to do the same, which was a considerable amount. That she thought a night out of the cold and a meal was payment for saving his daughter's life was – unexpected.
She couldn’t know he could never give enough back.
“Don’t think anything of it.”
He gestured to the waitress, not giving Elizabeth time to debate any further. He was beginning to think any fuss made her uncomfortable, and he had to wonder why. A mere coffee and cake was hardly worth mentioning. He’d taken women to dinner who thought nothing of ordering the best on the menu – an expectation.
He eyed the worn backpack Elizabeth had settled against her leg. It looked the worse for wear, much like her clothing. She was also wet and wilted, her shoulders drooping as though life had become all too much. He had a sudden need to make it better for her. If he could just talk her into being Madeline’s nanny, he could.
The waitress came over. “Hi, cutie. Here for one of your milkshakes and special bikkies?”
Madeline smiled. “Yes, please. Staw’berry.”
James smiled. “Hi Josephine, I’ll have a coffee and slice of banana cake, and another coffee, cake and one of your fabulous bagels for my friend.” That he knew the waitress was testament to how often he came here.
“I can’t have all that by myself!” she protested.
“You’re right. I’ll have a bagel too. Would you like a ham and cheese toastie as well, Madeline?”
Her little face brightened as though he’d given her a gold ring. “Yes, please!” He was always amazed how the small things pleased children so much.
“Can I please have my coffee in a takeaway cup? I won’t be staying long. Tell me, do you know anyone heading out of town I can catch a lift with?” Elizabeth said.
“Haven’t you heard? Had a landslide over the main road at Mackeys Point. No way in and no way out. Should make things nice and quiet around here for a few days,” Josephine said with a smile.
A look of horror crossed Elizabeth’s face. James couldn’t help the guilt that flashed through that he hadn’t told Elizabeth himself. “Landslide?”
The waitress nodded cheerily. “Happened last night with all the rain. Few roofs blown away in the storm too. Manager’s lost the house off his garage. More rain to come as well. No one got hurt though. I guess that’s what happens when there’s only one road in and out of a town.” As though on cue, thunder boomed loud enough to make the cups rattle on the table. “You just enjoy your nice, warm coffee and wait until the rain passes before you go home. There’s no rush. Not until likely next week, that is.”
“There’s no way out of town?” Elizabeth asked, a slight quaver to her voice. “Another road. Surely? What about boats? Surely, there’s a water taxi…or something?”
“Can’t say if anyone would try to come in with the waves like they are. There’s no way I’d chance going out on that water anyway. Think of this as an enforced holiday, know what I mean? Anyway, would you still like that takeaway cup, love?”
“Uh…no…no, thanks.”
Josephine bustled off with their order, happily unaware of the stillness that had settled around Elizabeth’s thin frame. She hung her head in her hands, staring at the tabletop.
“It’s okay, Liz’beth. You can stay with us again,” Madeline said.
He could have hugged Madeline. “It’s actually a good suggestion. Good thinking, Madeline.”
His little girl beamed, unaware of the helping hand she gave him. “Thanks.”
Elizabeth shook her head, still folded in her hands. He caught her whispering, “This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.”
“It happened last winter. We were land-locked for a good week,” he said,
“A week!?” Elizabeth lifted her head, eyes wide and disbelieving.
“You’d think they’d have put in a better road by now, wouldn't you?” he said.
“You’d think they would.” Elizabeth dropped an unfocussed gaze to the table, a slight frown on her forehead. “What am I going to do now?
She didn’t know how well he could answer her question. He was unexpectedly surprised how well events were playing into his hands. “I have plenty of rooms, as you know. If you’re uncomfortable in the room you stayed in last night, you can have your pick of bedrooms.” Warmth prickled his insides at the thought that she’d pick his bedroom. He mentally groaned, not the thought process he should be having. He noted her uncomfortable shift.
Had she thought the same thing?
“You can sing to me again. I liked that song.” Madeline started to hum the tune as she took a bite of the biscuit.
“You remember the song?" Her expression relaxed as she regarded Madeline, “You liked me singing to you?”
"Uh huh. Made me dream nice things,” Madeline said.
“It did?” He didn’t understand the perplexed look that drifted over Elizabeth’s face. She had to know how good she was. Had to know how she affected people.
“No one’s ever said that to me before,” she said, sounding a bit shell-shocked.
“I liked it too,” he said, pleased when a blush of colour stole over her cheeks. “Where did you learn to play the guitar like that?”
“I just picked it up here and there.”
“You play very well.”
“It’s amazing what you can learn from You Tube.”
He stared at her a few moments. “Do you mean to tell me you taught yourself?”
She shrugged an affirmative, like it was nothing, like everyone could just learn an instrument without proper tuition. And she was good. Not great. Not yet. A proper teacher would make her that.
The quality of her music came from a place of raw talent. He’d recognised it because Hanna had the same talent, only she’d been polished because of a lifetime of musical education.
“I don’t know anyone who could do anything like that.”
Numerous questions filled his mind, but the waitress brought over their order and he didn’t have a chance to ask them. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as Josephine piled the table with plates. His eyes tracked her movement, which showcased the slender curve of her neck. His gaze flowed over her perfect skin. Smooth, like silk. He narrowed his eyes, looking closer at some marks on her wrist.
“Are those bruises?”
She covered her wrist with her fingers. “Oh, it was… just an accident. At the homestead. Work can get a bit rough, you know?”
Rough, yes, but nothing that should appear like fingers snaking around her wrist. His gut clenched as he watched her tug her sleeve over her wrist. Someone had done that to her, abused her. That he wanted to hunt the guy down and punch his lights out was a startling admission.
“Enjoy.” Josephine left to collect the dishes on the next table.
Elizabeth dove into her bagel, her eyes closed as she chewed. He sat stunned, dismay washing through him. She’d been so hungry. He didn’t like to think of her being hungry. Or cold. Or wet. Or bruised. Or homeless. He absently wondered if he could put some money into her purse without her knowing. She’d know. She was so bad at accepting what she thought was charity.
Then don’t offer her charity.
“My offer still stands. Come and work as Madeline’s nanny. I will provide room, board, food, petty cash and provide an excellent salary with all benefits. You will be able to save every cent you earn. You’ll stay in-house with me,” he cleared his throat, “with us, I mean. It’s a win-win situation.”
He ignored the way her plump, very kissable lips pressed together. Ignored how her eyes tensed at the edges. Ignored the wary line that tensed her shoulders. He decided to press harder. In business, a push in the right direction usually ended favourably, and this was one decision he really wanted to turn to his favour.
“But I won’t be coming back into town, so I need your answer before I leave, Elizabeth. I need it now.”