It’s been two weeks since the weekend in Royal Harbour. The weekend where lines blurred with my boss’s brother. The one where I fell asleep next to him on the plane.
When I woke up, he was gone, but the sheets beside me were warm and wrinkled, and his cologne clung to the fabric. I may have buried my nose in it.I definitely buried my nose in it.Some men can smell like money. Like sin or sex. Gage smells like comfort. Like heavy arms wrapped around you. Like making love in the middle of the night, slow and deep and—
“What are your plans for the rest of the day, Iz?” The dish slips from my hands as Mum joins me by the sink. Bubbles fly up and cling to the front of my dress.
“Sorry.” She laughs. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
I grab the tea towel from the bench and wipe away the mess I’ve made. I really need to get a handle on these rogue thoughts about Gage before they become dangerous. And why are they always sexual? I suppose it has been a while since my last relationship… Maybe I’m feeling lonelier than I realised.
“That’s okay, Mum. I was away with thefairies.”
“Are you still free to help me with the fundraiser in a few weeks?” Mum works at the cutest garden centre, Thistle Theory. They have a little café on site, and host a craft night twice a month.
“Yep, count me in.”
Now that spring is here, the nursery is hosting its annual fundraiser for its charity, Life Vine. That’s how Mum got the job at the nursery—she was attending group counselling at Life Vine.
Mum had been recently divorced, having escaped an abusive relationship, unemployed, and a mother of three. Life Vine helps survivors rebuild their lives after experiencing grief and trauma. For Mum, that was gaining employment. Something she hadn’t had since before she met my birth father. The man who actually earned the title, Dad, is Joe. He stepped up and loved not only Mum, but Chelsea, Madeline, and me as if we were the greatest gifts to ever walk into his life.
The fundraiser will have entertainment for kids, market stalls, workshops, and a live band. Mum, my sister Chelsea, and I are doing a fairy floss and DIY fairy bread stall.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Mum says as she wraps an arm around my back and squeezes me into her side.
“Group hug!” Two huge arms come around us both, making us laugh as Dad lifts us slightly off the ground. He puts us down with a kiss on top of our heads.
“I don’t know about you ladies, but I need a nap,” Dad says.
“Joe, it’s ten-thirty in the morning.”
Dad pauses with a hand on the refrigerator handle. “That was a big breakfast. I need to sleep off this food baby,” he says, patting his big belly.
“We’re heading off.” Chelsea and her husband, Evan, walk into the kitchen.
“Have a good week. You’re sure you don’t mind helping with the fundraiser?” Mum asks with her hands on Chelsea’s shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Ev and I will be there.”
“Yep,” Evan says, shaking Dad’s hand. “I booked that day off so I won’t be on call at the hospital.”
“Good man,” says Dad.
Dad was the first man we all felt real love from. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his girls, to the point where we grew up thinking we could get away with almost anything. And then, the teenage years hit.
My sister, Madeline, was the first to bring a boyfriend home, and it didnotgo down well. We’ve never seen Dad so gruff. He’s always such a teddy bear, but he takes our happiness and safety seriously, especially knowing what Mum went through before they met.
He showed us what to expect in a relationship and wanted to make sure that any boys we brought home held themselves to the same high standard.
The first guy didn’t even last until dessert, and it was a good year before any of us tried to bring someone over again.
Evan won Dad over pretty quickly, though. Chelsea and Evan were both at a charity event. She’s a lawyer, he’s a doctor, and their social circles often mixed. The date Chelsea had brought with her got drunk and handsy, and Evan stepped in. Chels tried to insist she didn’t need a man to help define her boundaries, and Evan just raised a brow at her and said,“You’re more than welcome to tell him where your boundary is, and then I’ll throw him over it to make sure he gets the message.”I don’t even know who fell first after that. They’ve always felt destined for each other.
“Bye, sis.” Chels comes over to hug me, then Evan swaps with her until we’ve all said our goodbyes.
Madeline and her husband, Jacob, sneak down the hallway, my sister holding a baby monitor in one hand.
“Okay,” Maddie whispers. “Wren’s down. We should be back in a few hours.” She kisses Mum on the cheek, handing the monitor over to her.
“Take your time, darling. I’m in no hurry to say goodbye to my granddaughter.” My fourteen-month-old niece is my greatest love, one I never knew was possible. I’m secretly relieved she ended up with our golden curls instead of the fiery red hair of her dad. Not that that wouldn’t have been super cute. I just love that all of us girls have it in common.
