Jilted (40 page)
‘He really did it!’ Flynn sounded astonished as he passed her, and then came to a stop right in front of her – so close that he invaded her personal space. She inhaled his unique, delicious scent.
‘Who?’ she managed. ‘Did what?’
His lips curled into that famous, irresistible smile. Her heart melted at the sight … one she’d feared she’d never see again. ‘Johno, an old friend of mine. He’s the local cop in Katanning and …’
‘Your
friend
? But that means … Ellie’s voice trailed off. She fidgeted with the hem of her top and held her breath.
Then warmth touched her icy fingers. She looked down to see that Flynn had taken her hands in his. He nodded. ‘I asked Johno to stop the bus and get you off. That bloody train held me up and I was scared I’d miss you and –’
‘Hold on … rewind a sec.’ Her head hurt trying to comprehend it all. ‘What train?’
He laughed a little nervously. ‘It doesn’t matter. I can tell you the whole story later, but right now, there’s something more important than anything and you need to know it.’
Her tummy fluttered as she looked into his eyes and waited. Hope lifted her heart, but she knew life could be cruel. It had been, so many times already, and so recently too, so she did what she could to suppress it, to manage her expectations. Because whatever she wanted – and desperately at that – she had to be prepared for the worst.
‘I love you more than anything, Els. Always have, always will.’
That put her over the edge. She felt herself choking up again but this time she welcomed the tears. Happy tears, tears of absolute glee. Could she possibly let herself believe, if only for one second, that this was really true?
‘But …?’
As if reading her mind, reading her doubts, he tightened his grip and brought her hands close to his face. He touched his lips against her knuckles and spoke again. ‘There are no but’s. I’ve spent ten years trying to get over you, and sure, I could spend another ten trying, but I know it won’t do an ounce of good. I’m a lost cause where you’re concerned. Let’s work out the whole Sydney-Hope Junction thing, because I don’t want to live another day without you in my life. That is, if you still love me?’
She blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay at least until she’d said her bit. ‘Love you? Dammit, Flynn, I don’t care about Sydney. I’m only going back because I don’t want to ruin your life. I never stopped loving you. I was a stupid, foolish girl who didn’t have enough faith. In you, in fate, in myself. But I believe now. I’m so sorry for –’
He pressed his lips against hers and she was silent. Their kiss, which started as a gentle touch, soon became heated and needy. At the same time, it began to rain, likewise starting light but quickly growing into a downpour. But neither of them cared, neither of them noticed as their mouths fed on each other, their tongues entwined in song once again. When Ellie’s lips felt bruised and her jacket was sopping, Flynn finally pulled back.
‘Don’t say sorry to me. We’ve both made mistakes, done things we regret. I almost made another massive one by letting you go, but from now on, this is all in the past. Let’s not waste the next ten years walking on eggshells. You and me, Els, we’re real. That doesn’t mean this is the end of any heartache and pain – there’ll be more disappointment ahead, that’s life. But from now on, we’re in it together.’ He tipped her chin up to capture her complete attention. ‘Are you with me?’
‘Yes, Flynn … one hundred percent.’
Flynn couldn’t stop beaming on the drive back to Hope Junction. He didn’t care. He felt like he’d just won Lotto. He was so stoked he could streak across the oval again. Not bad for the last baby born in Hope Hospital.
Rodger happily migrated to the back tray, but only after taking a good five minutes to lick Ellie all over and revel in the glory as she hugged and kissed him back. This time, however, Flynn wasn’t jealous
of the dog. He knew he’d get plenty of Ellie’s attention as soon as today was over, after the play. In fact, if he played his cards right, he might be able to get a bit of that attention
before
the play too.
As if reading his mind, Ellie leaned across and whispered into his ear, squeezing his hand suggestively. ‘Your place or mine?’
‘Mine,’ he replied, taking care not to swerve off the road at the thought. ‘My bed’s bigger. And for everything I’ve got planned, we’ll need all the space we can get.’
When they got back to Black Stump, Flynn and Ellie spent the rest of the day in bed. They only came up for air to eat and drink, and once to feed Rodger, who’d spent the afternoon whining, unable to understand why he was suddenly on the wrong side of Flynn’s bedroom door.
When six o’clock rolled around, Ellie suggested they migrate to the bathroom and get ready for the evening. Flynn groaned. She punched him playfully in the arm and glared at him. ‘Yes. Get up. Lucy will be devastated if you’re not there. And I want to see the fruits of our labours.’
‘When you put it like that …’ Flynn rolled out of bed and followed Ellie down the hallway, his eyes never leaving the hem of his shirt, which Ellie was wearing.
Only
his shirt.
It hit him then that if he joined her in the shower, they’d never make it to the play. He paused at the bathroom door. ‘There are fresh towels in the cupboard under the sink. I’ll make some coffee and have a cold shower after you.’
Ellie grinned and raised her eyebrows.
‘Hurry,’ he said, turning away before he lost all willpower. He sighed happily as he entered the kitchen, pulling two travel mugs out of the cupboard and making their drinks for the drive into town. It wasn’t that either of them really needed the coffee – the buzz of getting back together, the buzz of knowing this time it was for good, was more than enough – but he needed something to
keep himself occupied, somewhere to funnel his energy. Having Ellie back with him – in his house, in his bed, in his shower – was unreal. And then when he’d asked her if she would …
‘It’s all yours,’ she called, breaking his trance.
He jumped in the shower, and by the time he emerged, Ellie was on the couch. Rodger’s head was in her lap as she rubbed his ears just the way he liked it.
‘Ready?’ he asked, unable to stifle a grin at the sight.
‘Sure am.’ Ellie kissed Rodger on the head and then slipped out from under him.
Flynn whistled to Rodger. ‘Outside, boy, we’ll be back in a few hours.’
‘You can’t leave him outside!’ Ellie sounded outraged. ‘It’s freezing.’
‘But …’ Rodger looked up at him with pleading eyes. ‘Consider yourself lucky, mate. It’s two against one now, and it looks like you’re coming out in front.’
They made sure Rodger’s water bowl was full and then stepped out into the early evening air, ready to show the town they were an item again.
Ellie felt a little guilty when she entered the Memorial Hall – with Flynn at her side, his hand possessively holding hers – and immediately saw Whitney and Lauren in the foyer. Flynn was all hers again, but she couldn’t blame Lauren for crushing on him – the man was gorgeous inside and out. Ellie was coming back to town though, planning to get involved in the community, so she hoped Lauren and Whitney might one day soften towards her. With Rats and Flynn as best mates, they’d be seeing a fair bit of each other. Their kids would no doubt play together, they’d serve on school committees together, they’d …
Good God, her imagination was getting ahead of her. But after today’s events, it was hard not to get carried away. For the first time in a long time, the future looked rosy.
Flynn stopped at the ticket desk to pay for their seats. Joyce grinned at the sight before her, winked at Ellie and waved them on. Flynn looked confused, money half in and half out of his wallet.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Joyce said. ‘You two have done so much to get this happening, just sit back and enjoy.’
‘Thanks.’ Flynn slipped his wallet in his back pocket and Ellie fought the urge to slip her hand in too, to walk as they’d done in high school, with her nestled under his shoulder, not a care in the world. Instead, she gave his hand a squeeze.
He smiled back and her heart melted for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. She felt like a bundle of clichés: walking on air, somewhere near cloud nine, a dream come true.
‘I’m going to slip backstage and wish everyone luck.’ She went to remove her hand but Flynn clung on tight.
‘I’ll come with you.’
Not wanting to barge in on anyone semi-dressed, Ellie knocked on the dressing room door and waited. The door opened and Mrs Ellery poked her head through a tiny gap.
‘Oh, it’s you two,’ she said, suppressing a smirk. ‘Come on in.’
The actors all looked up as they entered, and Ellie couldn’t help but notice their eyes boggle as they realised it was her
and
Flynn. Everyone had no doubt heard about her departure – thank you, grapevine – but no one would have known about her rescue by a knight in a dusty, once-white ute. Luckily they all seemed ecstatic to have her back.
Lucy spoke up first. ‘Oh. My. God!’ She beamed at Flynn and Ellie’s joined hands and then met their eyes. ‘Is this what I think it is?’
‘Sure is, little sis.’ Flynn let go of Ellie’s hand long enough to hug Lucy. ‘Break a leg.’
Ellie gave her a quick hug too. ‘You’re going to be awesome.’
‘Thanks.’ Lucy looked to be tearing up. Ellie knew all too well the nerves that came before a production and she didn’t want to overwhelm Lucy before her big debut.
‘We better go and get our seats. We’ll see you after it’s finished, okay?’
Lucy nodded.
When Flynn and Ellie made their way back into the auditorium, the seats were filling up fast. It looked like the whole town had turned out, and there was still tomorrow’s matinee, and another two shows after that. They scanned the rows for two seats next to each other. They’d almost given up hope when a hand shot up and waved at them.
‘It’s Mum,’ said Flynn, sounding relaxed. Which was strange, because Karina waving them over had the opposite effect on Ellie.
She tightened her grip on Flynn’s hand, halting him. ‘I don’t know if I can face her yet. What’s she going to say?’
The last few conversations with Karina had been like an emotional rollercoaster. One minute she’d been loving and ready to welcome Ellie into the family, the next she was warning her off. Ellie could only imagine what Karina would say when Flynn informed her what he’d asked this afternoon.
If she’d marry him. And that she’d said yes. Unconditionally.
This time the wedding would be in Bali, with close family and friends. ‘You won’t be able to escape in another country,’ Flynn had joked. ‘I’ll be holding on to your passport.’
And Ellie never wanted to escape Flynn again. But she thought it would have been safer to have a wedding band on her finger before facing Karina.
‘Don’t be daft.’ Flynn tugged at Ellie’s hand. ‘Mum knows I went after you. She knows my heart, and she knows I know it too. She only wants what’s best for both of us. She loves you almost as much as I do, Ellie, she’s just scared.’
Knowing his words to be the truth, Ellie took a deep breath and ventured forward.
‘Evening Ellie.’ Karina’s voice was neither cold nor warm as she took her handbag off the seat. Ellie could have shot Flynn when he gestured that she sit first, next to his mother, but her imagination conjured up far worse things than what actually happened: Karina was kind and polite the whole night. Ellie knew she had a long way to go before she regained the woman’s trust, but she hoped in time Karina would see that Ellie loved her son more than anything.
Halfway through the performance, Ellie began to relax.
‘They’re doing so well,’ she whispered to Flynn as the cast launched into their final scene.
‘All thanks to you,’ Flynn replied.
She shook her head. ‘They did the hard work themselves.’
Silence reigned for a moment, before Flynn leaned close and asked, ‘Do you wish you were up there?’
She thought for a second, then shook her head. She could say with all honesty, ‘No. I love it, but I haven’t missed acting as much as I thought I would. Teaching and helping produce gave me a buzz. It’s something I think I’d like to get into.’
‘Really?’
Ellie nodded. ‘Do you think there’s room for a Drama school in Hope Junction?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Flynn motioned to the stage, grinning. ‘Now this lot have the bug, there’ll be no stopping them. You’ll be run off your feet.’
‘Good,’ Ellie said. ‘I like being busy.’
They both turned their attention back to the stage for the finale. Lucy shone as she sang a bittersweet number about unrequited love, while the rest of the cast gathered around her. Ellie thought how perfect the night had been, bar one thing. Mat wasn’t here to see her beloved theatrical society come back to life, or to know
that she and Flynn were finally going to make a go of happily-ever-after. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly swiped it with the back of her hand, not wanting to divert attention from the action on stage.
The crowd stood and applause erupted as the play came to a close. Ellie breathed a sigh of relief, happy that no one would be looking at her. But of course, she was wrong. As she tried to join in the clapping, Flynn’s arm slipped around her back and drew her into his side. He kissed her cheek.
‘She’ll be looking down from above, babe,’ he said. ‘She’ll never leave us.’
Ellie leaned into him. Her luck had well and truly changed. This man was a rock and he was all hers. At last.
As Lucy kissed the male lead in the saucy conclusion, no doubt making Sam’s blood boil, Ellie’s lips met Flynn’s in a kiss that had nothing to do with endings, but instead promised beautiful new beginnings …
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The Co-op, Hope Junction, Western