Page 91 of Where She Is
Eight months have passedand here we are. My handsome Australian man is by my side as we stand together… and try to work out how the hell this contraption works!
“Shit. The bloody thing won’t lock in!”
I can’t help laughing when I see Daniel trying desperately to cope with the baby seat his son is sleeping in. We are both a little nervous about leaving the safety of the hospital and being at home alone with this tiny person who will rule our lives for the next twenty years at least.
“Language, Daniel!”
“But it doesn’t work! The stupid arse thing does not work!”
He’s getting angry so I take it away from him and lock it into the cradle on the back seat. His mouth drops and his hands fall to his hips. “How the… how did you do that?”
“I don’t know, it just slotted into place.” He is so sexy when he’s frustrated. I wink at him as I climb in the back of the Range Rover, but screech from the slight sting of his hand as it swipes my arse. “That’ll teach you to be so smug,” he smirks as he pushes the door shut behind me. I can’t help but smirk back. Iangle my seating position so I can look at our son while we travel and Daniel gets in the front with Jack who is waiting in the driver’s seat.
I shiver as I put on my seatbelt. “Thank God for good heating. It’s bloody freezing out there today.”
“I suppose at some point I’ll get used to being cold in January,” Daniel says while turning back to smile with those smouldering eyes, “but I’ll never get used to having a baby out of marriage.” Then he turns back.
DANIEL
Times up, Hannah May. If you think I’m waiting any longer for you to become Mrs Daniel Grant, you have another thing coming. Although we’re not yet married, my beautiful girl will always be mine, and she’s given me the greatest gift; my handsome son. I still think about that crazy girl. Sat on her arse, covered in dirt, swearing at Storm. I could never imagine she would change my life for the better and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without her. She is my crazy girl, my strength, my heart, my love and soon, she will be my wife. Where she is, is where I’ll always be.
HANNAH
Once I discovered I was pregnant, it put the brakes on our original wedding plans. I’ve always wanted the fairy tale with the princess dress, so although I’d found my prince charming, the glass slipper would have to wait. I didn’t want to be an elephant walking down the aisle.
Daniel didn’t like it, but eventually agreed to delay our plans until after Charlie was born.
“Stop being so old-fashioned, Daniel. Not everyone who hasa baby has to get married,” I laugh. I can say these things to him now. There was a time when all I did was worry about what I’d said, or if I messing up. Not anymore. He’s taught me that our life together is equal.
He turns back. “I don’t feel I have to marry you, I want to. I want you to be my wife and I want everyone to know—”
“Know what?” I ask, teasing him.
“That you belong to me. You’re mine and I’m yours and that little fella in there is the result from our love. Come on, Hannah, Charlie is here now, and you’ve had that engagement ring on your finger for far too long. What do you say?”
What do I say?My mind wanders to the time when Danielreturned to Sydney after I’d accepted his proposal. That’s when I realised I’d grown as a person and we had something indestructible. I no longer spent endless days wondering if he would come back. I knew he would. Finally, I’d met a man I could trust with my heart and soul. He wasn’t exactly husband material in the beginning, but now we have this unbreakable bond and love that has no boundaries. We’ve been to war and survived.
Daniel also assisted his dad and Richard in successfully prosecuting Matthew. After that awful day when Matthew showed his true colours in the office, I passed on my findings to Richard and Daniel together. My loyalties are to both of them in unique ways. They could never prosecute Matthew for his original crimes against his colleagues, neither could they do anything about his seedy behaviour. However, after digging a little deeper, some evidence regarding a dodgy bank account in Switzerland turned up. I’m not sure of the details or how they found it, but let’s just say, Jack is very good at his job. Matthew will find it very difficult to work in the building sector again.
After a month sorting out all his business and personal affairs (and this time, I’m not talking about women), Daniel returned, with Jack in tow and to the news there was a bun in our oven. Tosay he was ecstatic would be an understatement. The memory still causes me to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” He eyes me with curiosity, and I realise what my reaction must look like.
“Oh no, nothing… just thinking.”
“About your answer? I’m still waiting.”
“Oh… oh… I can’t make a snap decision now. I’ve only just got out of the hospital and can we have this conversation later, please?”
My chin flicks frantically towards Jack, and Daniel grins.
“Got it,” he mouths, taking the hint. Jack appears oblivious until I catch a wink in the rear-view mirror. As always, he is incredibly discreet. We were so pleased when he agreed to join Daniel in the UK because although he’s our driver and protector, he is also one of our most trusted friends. Having said that, Daniel has to learn some things are best discussed in private.
While we fight our way through the rush hour traffic, I brush the fine, silky strands on my baby son’s head. I can’t believe he is mine and I have the most gorgeous, caring man to share him with.
Our life here is so much more than I thought it could be. Daniel seems so happy, and I’ve seen a whole new side of him. He is free from his moods, worries and fears and it wasn’t until we began our lives here I realised how restricting Sydney had become for him.
We’ve bought an old farmhouse which needs a new… well, everything really. There’s a good amount of land and Daniel plans to build an equestrian centre, eventually. His love of horses is still so evident, and he misses his family home and especially Storm.
