Miracle In March Page 9

  Martin leaned a hand on the kitchen table, while Lizzie took a seat next to James and André rubbed her shoulders.

  ‘She still should have told you,’ Martin said.

  ‘Dad, please. She knew I wouldn’t leave her side and that’s why she couldn’t tell me.’

  ‘Goodness me.’ Marie touched a hand to her heart. ‘The poor lass.’

  Lizzie clasped her hands over her belly. ‘Crap. And while I was being nasty she was probably looking with envy at this huge lump I’m carrying.’

  ‘Wait, what do you mean you were being nasty?’

  ‘She was walking on the beach and came up to me. But I fobbed her off. God I’m an idiot.’ Lizzie lowered her head.

  ‘Great. No wonder she was worried about accepting my dinner invitation.’

  Lizzie groaned with apparent regret.

  ‘I still think she should have explained her reason for leaving. I’m sorry for her, but still. It’s always best to be honest.’

  James didn’t bother rebutting his father’s comments. He wasn’t exactly the king of empathy.

  ‘Martin, just think what the poor girl must have gone through. She must have had a thousand fears running through her mind at a time like that.’ Marie came up to James and placed her arm gently around his back.

  Jackson pressed the screaming button on his Sound Machine and though James was used to random loud sounds invading his eardrums, he flinched. ‘Better go. Looks like the tissues have run out.’ He went to the floor and shoved all the tissues back in the box then placed Owly in front of his son. ‘Time for Owly’s nap at our cabin?’ He flattened his palms together and tilted his head, resting it on his hands in a sleeping position. Communication with Jackson had to be visual, and sometimes he had to draw pictures or use pre-printed flash cards to help his son understand daily routines.

  Jackson made a ‘shh!’ sound with his finger over his lips, cuddling Owly close to his side. He’d started doing that lately whenever he wanted his favourite toy to have a nap.

  ‘I’ll fire up the barbeque at six.’ James stood.

  ‘I’ll help,’ said André.

  ‘I’ll be the one hiding behind the potted plant,’ Lizzie said. ‘Though it will look like more of a garnish in front of me.’

  James chuckled, glad that his sister had lightened up and could see the humour in the situation. Some days humour was his only saviour. He stepped towards the door, then glanced at his dad with a hopeful expression.

  Marie must have noticed. ‘We’ll make her feel welcome, won’t we Martin?’ she sidled next to her husband and grasped his arm.

  ‘See you tonight,’ Martin replied.

  * * *

  James marinated the chicken tenderloins and put them in the fridge, and checked that the sausages were defrosting at a suitable rate on the kitchen counter near the sink. Then as Jackson supervised Owly and adjusted his blanket, James sat at the table with his laptop and mentally turned on the work switch in his mind.

  Right. Time to get this sorted.

  He proofread the web copy on his sales page, checked all the links were working, added the buy now button code into the HTML of his website editor and made sure the check-out system linked properly to his PayPal account. He then crafted a launch email to send to his database, utilising the copywriting skills he’d learned in the marketing course he’d done, the same skills he’d teach to clients of his program. It was amazing how a simple but significant change of words could mean the difference between making a sale and not making a sale. Just like with law, when he’d learned how to give a closing statement, words were everything. But more than that, the way the words were said and the emotion behind them were crucial. It wasn’t about deceiving people, it was about connecting with them to help them find what they were looking for, whether it be the truth, a solution, or an opportunity to improve their life and business. He’d felt the emotion behind Emma’s words last night. She had connected with him, got through to him, even if it had been a bit delayed. Yes, words were very important, and he hoped he’d get the chance to say the right ones with Emma this week.

  James hovered the cursor over the ‘send’ button. Click. Email sent. Product launched. Now to see if it would take off. And now to see where the rest of this week would lead him in the unpredictable, ever-changing journey of his life.

  Chapter 11

  There was nothing quite like the enticing smell of an Aussie barbeque. The aroma of spices, onions and meats cooking on high heat became stronger as Emma walked the pathway to James’ cabin, each step bringing both gladness and apprehension. Glad things seemed to be okay between her and James, and apprehension that his family might not be as forgiving.

  The sky was still bright blue and wouldn’t get dark for another hour or two thanks to daylight saving. People in the distance walked slowly along the shore as many often did at this time, for pre-dinner exercise, though she wasn’t sure strolling counted much as exercise. There’d be yoga on the beach tomorrow evening. Emma decided she might give it a try. She hadn’t done a yoga class in a while but the few that she had done she’d found both relaxing and invigorating.

  ‘Good evening.’ James looked up from his barbeque duties and a thin haze of smoke wafted around him.

  ‘Hello. Hi, André,’ she said, catching the eyes of both men on the porch.

  ‘We’re enjoying our stay very much,’ André said. ‘You have a beautiful place here.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’ She smiled and made her way around the porch to the steps, meeting James at the top.

  ‘I’ve got this,’ André said, and James put down his tongs and wiped his hands, then held a hand out for Emma to welcome her inside.

  ‘This is Emma,’ he said.

  His mother smiled and approached, holding out her gentle hands and clasping Emma’s between them. ‘Nice to officially meet you, Emma. I’m Marie.’ Her eyes held understanding and kindness in their soft gaze.

  She knows.

  ‘And this is my husband, Martin.’

  James’ tall father stepped forwards and held out his hand, taking hers and giving it a firm, confident shake. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Hi. Thanks for letting me join you all for dinner.’

  ‘It’s our pleasure,’ Marie said. ‘You may have met Lizzie already?’ She gestured to her daughter seated at the table.

  Gulp. ‘Yes. How are you, Lizzie?’ Emma held out a hand so Lizzie knew she didn’t have to get up from her chair to greet her.

  ‘Tired but good.’ She smiled. ‘Thanks for the extra towels, by the way.’

  ‘No worries. Anything else you need just let me know.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Her smile arched into her rosy cheeks and she fidgeted with her beaded necklace.

  She knows too.

  Had James told them the details of her secret?

  Jackson burst out of one of the rooms and ran towards the front door. She thought he was going to run outside but he banged on the wall next to the door with his palm, then spun around and ran back down the hallway and banged the back wall, then hurtled back again, making a ‘vvv’ sound, complete with a spray of spittle.

  ‘Jackson, not too loud,’ Martin said.

  ‘It’s okay.’ Emma flicked her hand. ‘I used to teach a classroom full of kids. I learned to become immune to loud noise.’ God, was she calling Jackson noise? She hoped it didn’t come out the wrong way. ‘Hi, Jackson.’ She waved as he rushed past her and banged the wall.

  ‘Would you like a drink?’ James gestured to the kitchen counter. ‘Wine, juice, beer, or lemonade.’

  ‘Lemonade, please.’ Though the wine might calm her nerves, she didn’t want to loosen up too much and lose her cool. Better to have the wine with dinner.

  James handed her the sparkling liquid and handed drinks to his family members.

  ‘So,’ Emma said, trying to think up some small talk to break the ice. ‘What brings you to Tarrin’s Bay?’

  She was met with silence and awkward glances between the
family. James spoke up. ‘It’s my — would have been — my Nonna Bella’s birthday this Sunday. She loved Tarrin’s Bay so we booked the cabins ages ago, but unfortunately she’s not with us anymore.’

  Oh crap. Forget about breaking the ice, she’d shattered it.

  ‘Well, she is in a way.’ Marie pointed above the kitchen cupboards to a wooden urn that was definitely not part of the cabin’s decor.

  ‘Mum,’ groaned Lizzie. ‘No need to show her.’

  ‘We’re spreading her ashes on Sunday afternoon, at the lookout near Tarrin,’ James said.

  ‘Oh gosh. I’m so sorry, I had no idea.’ Emma felt like pulling her shirt up over her head.

  ‘It’s okay.’ James smiled. ‘So, um, how’s your dad?’

  Nice change of subject, one tragedy to another. ‘Good.’ Sort of.

  ‘Oh yes, we heard you’re running this place for your parents. They live nearby?’ Marie asked, eyebrows raised.

  ‘Yes, just up the hill overlooking the beach.’ She gestured in the general direction.

  ‘Well then, perhaps you’d like to invite them for dinner too? There’s plenty of food, isn’t there James?’

  James scratched his head. ‘Um, yes there is…’

  ‘It’s okay, I think they already have dinner sorted,’ Emma said. ‘And Dad, well, he’s in a wheelchair so it takes a bit of effort to get him places.’ Not to mention the fact that he’d make for an uncomfortable dinner guest and would probably tell each person exactly what he thought of their clothing, hair, and attitude.

  ‘Sorry to hear that,’ Martin said. ‘Was he in an accident?’

  ‘Dad.’ Lizzie covered her face with her hand. She was dealing with a lot of embarrassment today.

  ‘He had a stroke recently, hence I’ve taken over things for them. At least until they can sell the park.’

  ‘What a lot you’ve had to deal with,’ said Marie. ‘I mean, having a family member go through such a challenge. Must be a lot for everyone.’ She lightly touched Emma’s arm.

  Yep, she definitely knows.

  ‘Selling this beautiful place?’ André poked his head around the door from outside. ‘Maybe we should buy it, ma cherie!’ He winked at his wife.

  ‘I think we should save our money for this little rascal, I’m sure he or she will suck our bank account dry!’ She chuckled, then glanced at Emma and covered her mouth.

  She definitely knows too.

  ‘Anyway, um.’ Lizzie pointed outside. ‘I might go sit out there in the fresh air.’ She pushed herself up and waddled to the porch, James holding the door wide for her.

  ‘Let’s all head outside,’ Marie suggested, clasping her hands together.

  Emma stepped outside and as the family hovered around the sizzling barbeque to observe the cooking progress, Emma sat next to Lizzie in a wicker deck chair.

  ‘Emma, I’m sorry I was rude the other day,’ she said. ‘I was just —’

  ‘Don’t worry about it at all.’ Emma held up her hand. ‘Seriously, it doesn’t matter.’

  ‘I was just looking out for my brother, I remembered how upset he was when your relationship broke up, and…’ She shook her head. ‘Oh, I should just learn to keep my mouth shut.’

  Emma placed her hand on her arm. ‘Let’s start fresh, shall we?’

  Lizzie met Emma’s gaze and nodded, then leaned a little closer. ‘James told me. I hope that’s okay; we kind of forced it out of him. I’m so sorry about what you went through.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘Yeah, everyone knows. Sorry.’ She shrugged.

  Wonderful. Though after being in hospital she’d gotten used to the fact that her private parts were up for public discussion.

  ‘But he didn’t tell us the type of cancer, just that you…’ She glanced down at her belly and shook her head again. ‘Oh Geez, I’m sorry.’

  ‘Lizzie, it’s okay. I’m okay. It was endometrial — uterine — cancer. I don’t mind you knowing because, well, we’re both women and I know you’d understand.’

  Lizzie clamped her lips together in an apologetic smile, then something happened that surprised Emma. Tears welled up in Lizzie’s eyes. ‘I can’t begin to imagine, I mean…’ She wiped at the corners of her eyes.

  Emma dug into her pocket for a tissue. ‘Here,’ she said.

  ‘Thanks, gotta love these hormones!’

  ‘Everything okay?’ André asked.

  ‘Yep. Damn onions.’ Lizzie laughed, and André returned to the barbeque with James.

  ‘I like your necklace.’ Emma pointed to the long, colourful beads.

  ‘Thanks. My hubby brought it back from his last trip to France. Spoils me rotten, he does.’

  ‘He seems really sweet.’

  ‘He is. I’m a lucky woman. Very lucky.’ She looked down at her belly and her eyes became glossy again.

  ‘Okay, people, eat up.’ James stepped aside. ‘What can I get for you, Emma?’

  She stood and eyed the tender, steaming meats and colourful salads.

  ‘A bit of everything?’ he asked.

  ‘That sounds good to me.’ She smiled, her tastebuds eager. ‘Looks delicious.’

  He placed a selection onto her plate and she grabbed a knife and fork and napkin from the side table. Martin carried out the extra folding table from inside and set it up on the porch, making room for everyone.

  ‘I’ll get Jackson’s, you eat first, darling.’ Marie took a plastic plate and filled it with food. ‘All suitable for him, I gather?’

  ‘Yes, all gluten- and dairy-free. Except the bread rolls.’

  Marie took the plate, and James loaded another for his mother. ‘I’ll eat inside with Jackson, he’s not great with a crowd,’ said Marie to Emma.

  ‘It’s okay, I understand,’ she replied. Marie went inside and sat Jackson on the table, then started cutting up his meat.

  They sat around the two tables on the porch and dug into the balsamic glazed chicken thighs with rosemary, thin lamb sausages with browned onions, and the sweet potato salad, fried rice, and bread rolls.

  ‘So, Emma,’ said Martin. ‘You’re a teacher? Have you taken some leave while you’re helping out here?’

  Emma swallowed her mouthful of food and dabbed her lips with a napkin. ‘Yes, I’m actually on leave until next year. I’d planned it a while ago and Dad’s turn just happened to occur around the time I left.’

  ‘Right.’ He took a sip of beer. ‘So what had you planned to do for the year, before your dad’s stroke?

  Man, he was almost as direct as her father. Must be the lawyer in him, like James, though she assumed he might be retired by now.

  ‘Dad, she probably just wanted some time off to relax,’ said Lizzie.

  ‘True, but I’d actually been about to book a European holiday when I got the call about Dad. So my trip will have to be postponed, I’m afraid.’ Here she was, telling people she barely knew something she hadn’t even told her own parents yet.

  ‘Oh that is a shame!’ André said. ‘I hope you will be able to make it over there one day.’

  ‘I’m sure I will. Dad’s getting a little more used to his situation each day, and Mum is getting the hang of things. Once I know they’re settled and have all the help they need and the place is sold, I’ll reassess.’

  James took a sip of wine. ‘Where would you go?’

  ‘Paris, Tuscany. Maybe London too.’

  ‘I can advise you on lots of beautiful, hidden places to see in Paris,’ André said with a smile.

  ‘Thanks. There’s a lot I’d like to see, and I always said I’d do it one day. I figured now was the perfect time. At least, it was, but life tends to surprise you and change your plans sometimes.’ She exchanged a knowing glance with James.

  ‘It sure does,’ he said.

  ‘I’ve learned to be flexible,’ she added, then took another mouthful of food.

  ‘I’d love some flexibility around now,’ said Lizzie. ‘Enough to put on my own shoes would be handy!’ She laughed.


  ‘That’s what you’ve got me for,’ said André, leaning over and kissing her on the lips. God he was sweet. She was right, she was very lucky indeed.

  James noticed the romantic moment too and cleared his throat, and Marie came back outside, taking the spare seat next to her husband.

  ‘How did you two meet?’ Emma asked the soon-to-be-parents.

  ‘It was like a fairytale,’ said Lizzie. ‘I was in Paris for a conference, and I met him at the hotel. He was staying there too.

  ‘Oh, so you weren’t living there, André?’

  He shook his head. ‘No, I had moved to Australia as a teenager, but was back home for a family wedding. The weddings in Paris are not fancy, it’s really just signing some papers at City Hall, but we hired a function room in the hotel for a small family gathering.’

  A wedding in Paris… Emma’s mind wandered.

  ‘The hotel had double-booked our rooms,’ Lizzie added to the story. ‘Obviously we didn’t want to share with a complete stranger, but by the end of the day we’d exchanged numbers and had a nice conversation while waiting for our rooms to be sorted, and the rest is history!’

  Lizzie’s life seemed more amazing by the minute. Emma tried to quell the annoying touch of envy that surfaced in her chest.

  Marie glowed, her hands clasped together under her chin. ‘Such a lovely story. More romantic than how we met, right Martin?’ She nudged him.

  He cleared his throat. ‘I’ll have you know that meeting your future wife while analysing a lengthy terms and conditions statement is quite romantic.’ Was that a brief smile? He didn’t appear to be the smiley type, but maybe he was just cautious.

  ‘Mum and Dad met in the university library,’ explained Lizzie.

  ‘That’s right,’ said Marie. ‘I was a librarian, you see, until my retirement a couple of years ago. I was young and studious, working in the university’s library, and along comes equally studious and dashingly handsome law student Martin Gallagher.’ She smiled and nudged him again, and he held his drink up to hide his face. ‘He made everything seem so fascinating, even that wretched terms and conditions he was analysing. Every time I have to agree to one I always remember that day.’