Page 7 of A Chance to Believe

‘You’re pregnant with my children. That makes you family, of a sort. You’ll have to meet my parents and I expect you’ll spend time out here if your aim is to familiarise yourself with my life.’

Something jiggled in her chest. ‘You have parents? That’s wonderful.’

‘Yes. I guess I’m lucky. We’re lucky. They moved into town when my father had a health scare. My grandmother is still alive and is in the local nursing home. We have a big extended family, although the pioneer Maiden family are no longer around.’

‘You’re related to the original Maiden’s?’ She’d glanced at the historical website, but she hadn’t had time to delve too deeply. Besides, it felt intrusive.

‘My great-grandfather Smith married the last Maiden daughter of this branch of the family. Her older brothers all died in the war. The other Maiden’s had gone into cattle on the other side of town, but they moved away years ago.’

‘You’re telling me there are no Maiden’s in Maiden’s Landing.’

He grinned, lighting up his usually sombre aspect. ‘Technically speaking, no.’

Heat permeated her chest at this reminiscent touch of how they’d related over those weeks in Brisbane. She’d found him to be mostly a serious person, often standoffish with strangers, but the touches of warmth and humour he’d displayed with her had led her to believe they shared a kinship of mind that was rare.

He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s nearly lunchtime. We start early here, so we eat at midday. Would you like to freshen up first?’

She checked her own watch, astonished at how the time had flown. ‘I would appreciate it.’

He guided her back towards the main part of the house, stopping at a discreet door off the back of the main hall under the staircase. ‘Everything you need should be in there.’

Everything she needed and more in a 1920’s style bathroom with vintage porcelain and timber trims around the green Victorian era reproduction tiles. Shelves held toiletries and linen in well-known brands with a vintage look to the packaging. There was even a compact shower, the room lit by a small round window to the outside. It was high in the wall, but she was tall enough to see through the bottom pane to the outside. There must be an entertainment area somewhere at the back of the house, overlooking the glistening blue of the pool and, beyond it, a tennis court. The old clay court style often found on rural properties. Ant bed from the colour of the surface. It must cost a fortune to maintain. An old-fashioned cement roller was leaning against the fence at one end.

Conscious of Shayne waiting for her, she freshened up, checking her hair and washing her face and hands, drying them on a folded peach-coloured hand towel she found on the shelf beside the basin. She wondered who had been responsible for the decor. His mother, perhaps, unless he had another woman in his life he hadn’t mentioned. Not that it was her business. She wasn’t expecting more than an acknowledgement of the information and some planning about co-parenting in the future.

She found Kimberley hovering near the doorway.

‘Dad had to answer a phone call, so he asked me to show you where to go.’

All very polite. Scrutinising the girl as she followed her along a side passage behind the lounge room they’d used initially, she realised this wasn’t a child. How old was she, sixteen, maybe more? The lean body was misleading, but the height might be the more accurate measure. Shayne must have been barely out of his teens when she was born. Cassie knew he’d been going to turn thirty-seven late last year, courtesy of a wry comment about age when they were discussing favourite childhood movies while chilling with the hotel in-house movies. He’d been old enough to see her favourite,Beauty and the Beast, in the cinema whereas she’d only seen it on DVD.

He’d lovedThe Lion Kingbut was too old forToy Story. He had admitted to watching it with his younger siblings, which was endearing. It was odd the things they’d shared while steering clear of more important topics like his parenthood. Kimberley waited by an open door leading into a sunny room overlooking the back of the house. She could see the deck she’d guessed at and the surprisingly large swimming pool.

The room was furnished in what Cassie would call distressed farmhouse, but the real thing not some carefully treated pine dining furniture, with overstuffed couches to one end. This would have been the family room when Kimberley was small, she guessed. There was still a basket of toys in one corner to cater to any children visiting the house.

That twinge of unease about Shayne’s personal life bit into her chest. He had given no details as to his current status. Not even during those two weeks together. He hadn’t acted like a man off the leash. Not that she had a lot of experience with those kinds of men. She’d fended off a few, years ago, when some had seen her newly single status as an invitation, not believing a woman who’d been in a relationship could live without sex. She couldn’t rely on his daughter’s claim that he found his relaxation out of town. He was a man who would be discreet if he wanted to keep things from a teenage daughter, and Bialga wasn’t far away.

The scrubbed pine table was neatly set with placemats and plates and cutlery for four people, leaving a couple of chairs vacant. The question in her mind about the extra place was answered when Ben entered the room from the other end carrying a glass bowl of green salad and another with what looked like coleslaw. He placed them in the middle of the table, where a couple of covered dishes already took up space.

‘Sit down. Make yourself at home.’ The smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes, but there was a suggestion of sly amusement in his expression. Did he find the idea of big brother slipping up amusing? Maybe it would be funny for a younger brother growing up with a sibling a few years older. It was hard to guess Ben’s age with the beard and the weary lines drawn by pain, but she suspected he was closer to her age than Shayne’s.

Kimberley slipped into one of the side chairs and Ben took an end chair with arms matching the other one at the head of the table. It left one place, and Cassie settled into it. She was grateful it wasn’t directly opposite Kimberley, the two empty chairs offsetting the spacing. It was surprising the girl sat nearest her uncle, leaving Cassie the place closest to the empty seat at the head of the table. It brought back the uncertainty of who might be the usual occupant.

The door Ben came through opened, and Cassie’s heart skittered, expecting Shayne. Instead, a middle-aged man came through with a platter, his brown eyes curious as he placed the tray of meat on the table.

Ben did the honours. ‘Parker, this is Cassie Long, visiting from the big smoke. Parker is our treasure, who keeps us all fed and watered.’

‘Go on with you, Ben Smith.’ The man wagged a finger at him with a smile on his round, comfortable face before turning to Cassie. His gaze flicked down to Cassie’s stomach and back up again. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Ms Long.’

‘It’s good to meet you, too. The food looks delicious.’

The man dismissed the praise. ‘A simple salad. You wait until we have a proper meal for guests. Something to get my teeth into.’

As if he was expecting Cassie to be around for some time. Maybe the rumour mill had already reached the housekeeper. Ben wriggled in his chair and Cassie guessed his source. ‘I appreciate you making extra so I can join the family today.’

‘My pleasure.’ He swooped to take the lids off the other salad dishes and trod briskly from the room.

Cassie watched him go. ‘Doesn’t Parker eat with the family?’

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