William shook his head as he threw his cellphone down on the foldout table he’d set up on the terrace at the back of the smallcottage. It offered a spectacular view of the sea. He’d only been there a few days, but he’d already started to enjoy the ever-changing view offered by the ocean vista. Today it was a hard, iron gray under a restless sky. He didn’t think it was overstating things to say that it matched his mood perfectly. As much as he thought his sister had been wrong about most of what she’d said on the phone, she was right about one thing; stuck in a pretty seaside town was not the worst place to be right now. Being in Sydney with the work demands, the social life, the bar hopping, the dating, it all just seemed so meaningless. So empty. He heard the sound of a truck trundling up the steep track and gave himself a mental shake. Time to put his game face on.
William stood on the beach in Blessed Inlet, the warm sand between his toes, the hot breeze ruffling his hair. The sky was a clear, cloudless blue with a summer brightness that almost hurt the eyes. The ocean was calm, the waves washing in gently to the shore before pulling out, the endless pattern somewhat mesmerizing. It had been a long three years since he had last been in town. So much had happened. His father’s stroke, although not lethal, had left him a shell of his former self, unable to fulfill his commitments to the family business. His mother, ever the devoted wife, had also stepped back from the business as much as she could, to look after her husband. It was endless rounds of physiotherapy, osteopathy, speech pathology, pretty much anything the medical team and William’s mother could come up with. He was in much better condition than his doctors had originally advised. His dad could walk now, with the aid of a frame, and his speech was only slightly slurred. But he tired easily and sometimes found it hard to stay focused. Consequently, William’s role in the business had changed, practically overnight. He’d stepped up, of course. He loved his family and would do anything for them. But that creeping ennui he’d begun feeling afew years back, had grown into a gnawing restlessness that churned in his gut. He felt caged but confused because even if he managed to break out of the cage, he had no idea where he would want to go. He heaved a sigh, turning to walk along the waterline, oblivious to the waves swirling around his ankles, wetting the bottom of his slacks.
He thought about the last time he’d been in Blessed Inlet and of the woman, Juniper. What an experience that had been. He wondered about her sometimes, hoped that she’d made it to her grandmother in Byron Bay.
“William!” The warning tone was unmistakable and had him confused.
He looked up to see a woman running towards the ocean, honey-colored legs flashing under a blue skirt, blonde curls streaming behind her. She was chasing a small child, who shrieked with laughter as she scooped him up and spun him around. “I said stay away from the water! We’ll go swimming in a little while.” She put him back on his feet and glanced up, catching William staring at her. As their eyes met, William felt the breath leave his lungs in a whoosh. It was Juniper. Here. In Blessed Inlet. She looked at him uncertainly for a long moment. He must have looked like an absolute psychopath, standing on the beach just staring at her. He watched as comprehension dawned and uncertainty turned to recognition. She bent and said something to the boy, giving him a nudge and watching for a moment as he headed to a picnic blanket further up the beach. Then she turned to William again and smiled. Christ. She was absolutely stunning. She moved towards him, and the beach faded away, the sounds, the smells, the heat. It was just her. The sun gilding her hair a bright gold, her pale green eyes never leaving his. She looked like a woodland nymph, wild and earthy. Then she was there, in front of him, stepping closer, winding her arms around his neck. Of their own volition, his armswent around her, pulling her close. He held her for the longest time and felt, for just a moment, that ever-present churning in his gut eased. She pulled back and looked up at him.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“Me either. I thought you were going to Byron Bay.”
“Well, plans change.” She laughed and took his hand in hers. “Come and meet your namesake.”
He tightened his grip on her fingers. “You named your baby after me?”
“I did. Of course, I did.” She gave him a dazzling smile. “We call him Billy, but his full name is William Archer Bell.”
“Juniper, I…”
She tilted her head to one side, looking up at him doubtfully. “You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…wow.” He felt a lump form in his throat and swallowed hard. “It’s amazing.”
She smiled in relief. “Will you come and meet him?”
“I’d love to.” He followed as she led the way to the picnic blanket laid out under a beach tent, where the toddler was sitting, munching on some watermelon. The two adults with him got to their feet and he felt another start of recognition. Mikky and Rafe.
“William!” Mikky threw her arms around his neck and squeezed tight. “Amazing! Fancy seeing you here.” She moved aside as Rafe stepped forward.
“Hey, mate.” Rafe extended a hand and shook William’s enthusiastically.
“Hi.”
“Billy, come here baby.” The toddler, who had been watching the exchange from behind Mikky’s leg, came over to his mother, who picked him up. “This is William.” The boy gazed at him for a long, unnerving moment. He had blonde curls like his mother, but where her eyes were green, his were a bright, soulful blue. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a painting of cherubs.
CHAPTER 2
Juniper
Juniper
Juniper watched as William reached out and ran a finger down her baby’s cheek, ever so gently, and her heart overflowed. Moments like this were the stuff of life. To be able to stand here, on this beach, and see this man again, it was really something. She still didn’t have the words to express to him how much it meant to her that he had stayed with her that night, and how grateful she was that he had taken such good care of her. She refused to dwell on what might have happened if he hadn’t doubled back after zooming past the site of her accident, but every now and then, it grabbed her, that feeling of dread; of what would have become of her and Billy if he’d kept on driving. Now, to be here, on this bright sunny day, introducing him to her son, her cup was overflowing.
“Would you like a drink?” She gestured to the picnic rug where a fold out table was laid out with chips, crackers, dips, fruit and nestled in the icebox were cans of soft drink.
“Sure. That’d be great.”
They all settled around the low table as an awkward silence fell. Mikayla broke it immediately by calling it out. “Well, this is a bit awkward, hey.” A laugh rippled through the group. “So, tell us, William, what the hell are you doing in Blessed Inlet?”
Juniper handed him a can of Coke, her breath hitching a little as he smiled his thanks. He was hot, to put it simply. Dark, silky hair that gleamed in the sun like sable. Warm brown eyes, long lashes. A good straight nose, full lips that made her think of kissing. She toyed with that idea for a moment. Hmm, yes, she imagined that kissing him would be quite lovely. He wasn’t dressed for the beach, she thought, as she eyed his expensive business shirt and suit pants. He’d taken his shoes off, at least, as he’d walked along the sand.
“I, ah, I’ve got business in the area.”
“For real? What kind of business? There’s pretty much only caravan parks and water equipment rentals around here and I gotta say, that doesn’t really look like your jam.”
Bless Mikayla and her unashamedly inappropriate questions.
