Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) (6 page)

He stopped, listened, and asked the others. “What’s that sound?”

“A koala.”

Turning, he met his father’s gaze, checking whether he was serious, before he looked up the trees in search for the animal.

Jack came closer and placed his hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t despair. You’ll see heaps of them around the house. Noisy buggers they are.”

Connor chuckled at his father’s expression.

It was such a contrast to his life in England. So different, and yet, he was so much more at ease here than he’d ever been on the other side of the world. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger, he let out a long breath.

At that moment, he knew Australia was a big part of him.

Jack coughed.

“Jack?”

The old man held up his hand. “Don’t. I am okay.” He ran his finger under his nose, wiping it across his upper lip. “I’ve got my boys with me. I’ve been waiting for this for over twenty years. I’m not letting some silly cough take it away from me.”

They sat and started eating their sandwiches.

“Yum,” Connor commented.

“Jacqui does the best sandwiches,” Niall said.

“Jacqui is Emily’s mother,” Jack explained.

“Is there a father?” Connor asked.

Jack nodded. “Miles. Works on one of the fishing boats.”

For a long moment, they ate in silence before Connor asked, “So, Niall, Ethan runs the hotels, what’s your part in the business?”

Niall looked at Ethan, then Jack, who gave him a slight nod. There were a couple of things Connor wasn’t sure how to take. Jack’s slow nod or the simple conversing without words which made him feel like the odd one out.

But why did he need Jack’s approval?

“I’m not asking for secrets,” he said with some disappointment in his voice. “Just trying to start a conversation. Ethan told me you’re managing the bars in the hotels.”

Niall let out a long breath. “Sorry, mate. I wasn’t sure how much you knew and didn’t want to be the one…anyway, yes I’m in charge of that area.” He chuckled. “At least I don’t work directly under Ethan.”

The comment earned him a small slap over his head, and again Connor felt some jealousy within him.

Niall leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs. “Mate, I’m so sorry about what happened all those years ago.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath when Connor leaned forward and placed his hand on Niall’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”

“Damn it, Connor. I heard ‘
It’s not your fault’
for the last twenty years. Show me some respect and give me a chance to apologise.”

Connor was taken aback by the outburst, but deep inside he wasn’t surprised. With all the conflicting stories floating around about what had actually happened, it made sense for Niall to live life with a good chunk of guilt weighing on his shoulders.

After a long moment, he nodded. “I suppose that means you owe me free beers while I’m here.”

He hoped the little bit of humour would break the ice. There’d be a time and place for the two to talk about it more. The time and place was not today, though.

Niall raised his head and met his gaze. Slowly, a small grin appeared on his face before he finally said, “You play a hard bargain, but…okay. Free beer it is.”

***

Emily sat in her mother’s kitchen, enjoying a sandwich for lunch. “Nice sandwiches, Mum.”

“These are a few leftovers from Jack’s order this morning.”

“Jack’s order?” Emily asked without looking up.

Pouring some tea, Jacqui sat next to her daughter. “Jack took the boys out to the waterfalls.”

Stopping the sandwich halfway to her mouth, she stared at her mother. “What do you mean?”

A smile spread across Jacqui’s face. “Don’t be jealous. From what I heard, you had Connor all for yourself last night.”

Emily felt her cheeks burning. She’d been prepared for the local gossip. Nothing was safe, not even the smallest little secret, but to have her mother know about it so soon? Placing the sandwich on the plate, she rested her head in her hands.

“How on earth do you know already?” she whispered.

Her mother leaned forward and rested her arms on the table. “Well, since about a minute ago, not at all, or, well…just a rumour.”

Looking up from the safety of her hands, she met her mother’s gaze.

“Jack mentioned something like Connor left last night to have dinner with you and only returned this morning. Darling—”

“Mum, please.”

“He’ll break your heart. His life is on the other end of the world. I just want you—”

“To be happy. I know.” Emily stood. “I appreciate it.” She let out a long sigh. “Mum, I’m almost thirty—”

“I know. The more reason to start finding somebody. Get settled.”

She knew her mother was right, but deep inside she also knew that until now, she hadn’t been able to settle with just anybody. She’d lived in her own dream world, waiting for Connor. Of course, she’d known how crazy it sounded, or how crazy it made her seem, but in the end, whenever she’d met someone, he’d had no chance to compare to the person she’d made up Connor to be.

Last night, though, she’d found out he was exactly what she’d always imagined him to be. He’d made her feel sexy and desirable, in a way she hadn’t expected to ever feel with a man.

And he’d stayed until the morning. Didn’t run, didn’t hide.

“I’d better go, Mum.”

Jacqui stood and placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Darling, I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy. Being with Connor makes me happy.”

“It’s a fantasy world—”

“It’s not. He’s here. And so am I. Let me enjoy the time with him. I’ve waited so long, tried so hard to like someone else. Give me a chance to finally understand, close the door to that chapter, and move on. But to move on, I need to be with him. Why don’t you understand?”

There was a slow, but hesitant nod from her mother. Emily leaned in and placed a kiss on Jacqui’s cheek. “I’ll catch up with you over the weekend.”

Then she left, her emotions riding a massive rollercoaster, making her feel queasy. How could she make her mother understand when she knew herself that every word sounded silly—the words of a dreamer.

The afternoon dragged along as Emily had only a few more patients to visit and spent most of the time in the office, dealing with the bureaucratic side of her job. She didn’t like it. It made her think too much, gave her mind too many opportunities to drift off.

Her phone buzzed as she was about to call it a day. It was Ethan.

“Hello, pumpkin. How are you?”

She was wary at his question, wondering how much he knew. Was Connor the kind of person telling everyone about their night together? She recalled her mother’s words and remembered Jack had only mentioned the dinner and Connor returning in the morning. For all they knew, Connor could’ve stayed the night because he’d had too much alcohol.

She sighed.

“Emily?”

“I’m here. In the office, having just spent two hours on paperwork and forms and—”

He laughed.

“How was your day at the waterfalls?” she asked.

“You heard?”

“Mum told me.”

“Is that why you’re in a lousy mood?”

The comment stopped her in her tracks. Was she in a bad mood because of her mother?

“Possibly. But doing all this bureaucratic crap doesn’t help either. Anyway, tell me about your day.”

“How about you come over for dinner? Debbie’s brought over a nice stew.”

“Your assistant Debbie? She cooks for you?”

“I know. But hey, it tastes really good.”

“That is weird.”

“Why? She’s kind and helpful.”

She laughed. “And you call me a dreamer.”

Ethan stared at her. “Want to enlighten me?”

“Oh for God’s sake, Ethan. It is so obvious how much of a crush Debbie’s got on you. I mean…” She smiled. “I’m the queen of crushes. I know these things.”

“That’s different.”

“You’re in denial. I know a thing or two about that, too.”

***

An hour later, Emily did her best to keep up with Nicholas on the Wii as he thrashed her in a virtual tennis game.

“So tell me, Nicky, who’s your teacher next year?”

The boy’s shoulder sagged. “Miss Ryker. She’s from Melbourne.”

“Why so disgruntled?”

“I really wanted Mr. Javier. He’s cool.”

“Miss what’s-her-name might be cool as well. You never know.”

Nick shrugged. “Want to have a race on the formula one track?”

Emily laughed. Nick’s subtle hint that he’d had enough of the subject was received. “I’d better beat you in this one.”

“No hope, Auntie Em.”

When Nicolas was finally in bed later that night and the kitchen cleaned, Emily sat next to Ethan on the couch.

“Thanks for getting the kid ready for bed. He’s so excited about the end of the year. About meeting Connor. Christmas.” He chuckled. “Basically about everything at the moment.” Leaning back into the couch, he said, “I booked a motorhome to travel around the south island of New Zealand in January.”

“Oh my God, Ethan, that is great. You’ll love it. Good for you to finally take some time off.”

He nodded, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“But?” she asked in a whisper.

Shaking his head, he replied, “I hope the old man will make it either way.”

“Either way?”

He gazed up to the ceiling, and Emily assumed it wasn’t the easiest topic for him to talk about. Jack’s illness sat heavily on everyone’s shoulders.

“I don’t want him to die before we leave or while we’re away.” Covering his face with his hands, he added, “Or die at all.”

Emily moved closer and rested her head on his chest as he placed his arm around her shoulder. Within her raged a war of early sadness and hope, and she assumed Ethan was consumed with the same emotions.

“Do you think Connor will stay after…after…?” Emily sighed, not able to say the words.

But she didn’t have to. Ethan placed a kiss on her forehead. “I don’t know, pumpkin. I truly believe he likes it here, but for good?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Emily. He’s some hot shot lawyer back in London. Earns well. Bottom line, he’s got a massive life over there. Fermosa Bay would not only be a step back for him, but he’d have to start all over again.”

“He’s told you all that?”

“No, he didn’t. But it’s my conclusion of what he said. I thought you two had dinner last night. Didn’t you talk?”

Glad that Ethan wasn’t able to see her hot cheeks, she replied, “I was more interested in reliving our time as children.”

The gentle motion of his hand up and down her arm felt good. They sat quietly for a long time, each to their own thoughts.

“Why do you think they left?”

“I don’t know. It seems there are different stories around.”

She sat up and met his gaze. “Why can’t he remember anything?”

Ethan shrugged. “How many details of your childhood can you remember? Of course we remember the fall, because it was the event that changed a lot.”

“Or everything.” She corrected him.

His mouth curled in a smile. “Or everything. It seems his mum wasn’t keen on keeping any of his memories of this place alive.”

“Nothing?”

“Pumpkin, I don’t know the workings of the human brain. He knew about his father being Australian, but grew up with the idea that Jack had kicked them out.”

“I remember her and I never liked her.”

He laughed. “Hey, word is he’s taken a year off work and will definitely stay a few months. He will eventually need to head back because of the finances. That’s the official version anyway.”

“Official?”

With a shrug, he stood and said, “I’d say Jack will give him money to live here. He’d do anything as long as Connor stays here.”

Emily watched him as he searched for something in the bookshelf near the window. “Will he take over the hotels?”

Absentmindedly, he shook his head. “I don’t believe so.”

She stood as well and joined him in front of the shelf. “What are you looking for?”

Ethan pulled out a photo album and held it up. “This.”

And for the rest of the evening they reminisced over their childhood, the tears, and laughter they’d shared.

The fun they’d had.

And the heartache they’d felt.

***

Connor checked the time and tried desperately to calculate the correct time difference to England. Was it ten or eleven hours? Or even nine? He didn’t know, but picked up the phone anyway and dialled the familiar number.