Page 56 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Hi!’ I said, letting go as I half stood to hug my brother. ‘Please just go with it. I’ll explain later,’ I whispered.
Ned hugged me back, a brief tightening telling me he’d got the message but as he pulled back, his eyes sparkled with glee. He shifted his gaze to Gabe, sticking out his hand.
‘Nice to see you again, mate.’
Gabe returned the smile, another tiny headshake at the private look he’d been given.
‘And you. Thanks for this, Ned, it’s great. My parents are just over from home for a couple of weeks visiting and they love this place so we really appreciate you squeezing us in.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Ned said, leaning over to greet Gabe’s parents, his genial disposition perfect for this aspect of the job. ‘I’m so glad you chose to visit us. Just let us know if want to come again anytime during your trip. Anything for our Gabe here,’ he said, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘I mean, he’s practically family anyway.’
George nodded and smiled, thanking Ned, and Martha gave us all the biggest smile, and I felt my heart hit my boots. I didn’t dare look at Gabe. Sophia reappeared at the table bearing a bottle of champagne and four glasses.
‘On the house!’
‘Oh, Ned, you didn’t have to do that.’
‘I know. I wanted to.’ And for a moment the teasing look was gone. I couldn’t argue.
‘I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that, Ned,’ Martha continued. ‘You know we did so worry about our boy here until he met Holly. But knowing he’s got this love around him now, a family this side of the world too, it’s just wonderful. Your grandmother was so kind to him, and he’s told me how lovely you and your wife have been to him.’
‘Oh, Gigi loved him to bits, that’s for sure.’
‘We were so thrilled to find out that Holly here is down for the whole summer. They’ve spent so much time apart.’
‘They’ve definitely spent a lot of time apart, that is true.’ Ned nodded, deftly moving his leg as I went to kick it.
‘But they’ve made it work, which says something.’
‘Doesn’t it just?’ he agreed, enjoying this all far too much.
‘We’re so excited to get the chance to know everyone better. It’s all worked out so perfectly.’
Gabe nodded at his mum as Ned handed out the drinks.
‘Aren’t you having one?’ I asked.
‘No. I’m on constant alert with the whole pregnancy thing so I never want to be in a position when I can’t just bundle Carrie into the car if needs be.’
I reached out and took his hand, giving it a brief squeeze. This baby meant so much to them and sometimes, with all the teasing and smart-arsery my brother excelled at, I forgot that inside was a bloke who would do anything to make the woman he loved happy and who had wanted children for as long as I could remember. Carrie being so ill at the beginning of the pregnancy had scared him and, despite all the reassurances that everything was progressing fine, he’d never really come off high alert.
‘Gabe said you were expecting. When’s the little one due?’
‘End of the summer,’ Ned said, his grin giving away his excitement. ‘Cheers!’ Ned, having now expertly poured all our glasses, made a swoop with his hand, indicating for us to drink. We tapped the glasses, repeating Ned’s toast, and each took a sip. It wasn’t technically champagne, as it wasn’t made in the region and therefore was unable to use the name, but the local vineyard Ned bought from had been making sparkling wine for several years now and consistently won top awards for it. I could see why. It was smooth, and delicious and preferable to some pricey actual champagnes I’d had in the past.
‘How exciting! Well, best of luck and maybe we’ll even get to meet him or her before we go.’
Ned nodded his thanks, as Gabe replaced his glass on the table. ‘Carrie has a little while to go yet, Mum. Like Ned said, she’s not due until the end of the summer so you’ll be home by then, but I’ll be sure to send you some pictures.’
‘But we’re here for the whole summer, Gabe, love. I thought your dad had mentioned it?’
‘The whole summer?’ Ned grinned. ‘Oh wow, that’s brilliant! Well, I’d better get back to the kitchen, but I’m sure we’ll see you again sometime. Enjoy your meal!’ Giving us a wave, he headed off across the restaurant.
I felt Gabe still beside me and didn’t dare look at him. Oh God. This was so not the plan! It was supposed to be a couple of days at the most, not a whole summer. I couldn’t fake this for a whole summer. Not that faking fancying the whatsit off Gabe McKinley was hard – but the rest of it? I wasn’t girlfriend material. I’d made a point of not being so and the one time I’d tried it had gone up in flames, which only served to prove my point. This wasn’t me – real or faked. I couldn’t do this. I wasn’t going to spring it on him now but I’d talk to him tonight and he’d have to find some way out of it. He and Gigi had got me into this mess and he could get me out again. I picked up the glass, knocked the entire thing back and stood.
‘Excuse me, I just need to ask Carrie something before I forget … about borrowing a … thing.’ Without waiting for a reply, I turned, heading in the same direction as Ned. When I got towards the kitchens, I saw Ned at the back of the restaurant, stood on the doorway to their private patio. He was, as I had suspected, laughing his arse off.
‘Don’t! It’s not even funny!’ I said, stalking up to him, as I took in Carrie resting back on a lounger, bathed in the warm, rosy light of the setting sun. It made her pregnancy glow look almost luminescent.
