Conall had been right. The rambling garden of their harbourside mansion really was made for children to enjoy.
Ahead, a ragtag group of them squealed with excitement as they raced through the shrubbery in a game that seemed to combine hide-and-seek and chasing. A smaller group, each clutching a balloon, skipped after an elf, headed for the story time bower set out under a huge purple-blue jacaranda tree. Some little ones, supervised by parents, were fishing for rubber ducks in a pond. Meanwhile the line-up for pony rides snaked along the edge of the grass.
This was the second year Greer and Conall had hosted a spring party for preschoolers, their families and school staff.
Last year Grace had been a preschooler. This year she asserted she was all grown up, since she was in big school. Now Logan was the preschooler. Greer had last seen him racing into the undergrowth with a tribe of other kids, grinning from ear to ear. Grace, of course, was waiting for another ride.
‘They’re all going to sleep well tonight. May will probably be out like a light in the car.’ Amy grinned. ‘Joe and I might even have the whole evening to ourselves.’
‘Enjoy it while you can.’ Amy’s second child was due in a month.
‘I intend to. I…’ A shout drew her attention to the fishing pond where her husband and daughter were holding up a rubber duck. She laughed. ‘It looks like May struck lucky. I’d better go and congratulate her.’ She levered herself out of the chair. ‘While I remember, I’ll give you a lift to stretch class next week, yes?’
‘Absolutely.’ Greer smiled but decided to stay where she was a little longer.
It had been a busy morning and it was good to sit for a while. She’d put in more hours than usual at work this week, helping Conall finalise details of another community project, this time a cooking school with residential accommodation for homeless young people. He’d scolded her about her hours but she, like him, felt personally invested in the project.
Next week she’d go back to her part-time hours. Then the week after that the Lees from Singapore were staying with them.
Movement caught her eye and she turned to see a familiar tall figure stride towards her, a little boy with tousled dark hair clinging to him.
Her heart quickened. Her beloved Conall was more handsome with each passing day. In jeans and a pale polo shirt that accentuated his lean strength, he stood out from every man here. She suspected Logan would be the image of his father when he grew up.
Conall caught her eye and his slowly unfurling smile made her melt in all the usual places. But she focused on her little boy.
‘Here she is.’
At the sound of his father’s deep voice, Logan looked up and instantly Greer held her arms out, seeing his crumpled mouth.
‘Logan skinned his knee and wanted to show you.’
Conall lowered their son onto her lap. Greer gathered Logan in, smiling as he gently touched her baby bump and said, ‘Hello, bub,’ before snuggling close against her.
She shut her eyes, inhaling the scent of little boy and fresh-mown grass. When she opened them it was to meet Conall’s tender gaze.
That familiar sense of connection pulsed between them and she smiled, reaching out her hand so he could enfold it in his. They were a team in every way. Any doubts she’d ever had about him not wanting children, or not wanting her were long gone. There couldn’t be a more devoted husband and father.
She looked down at her son, who so rarely sat still. ‘Are you going to show me your knee, Logan? Is it very sore?’
He lifted his head, all trace of tears vanishing as he smiled. ‘No, Mummy. Daddy put a dinosaur strip on it and now you’ve given me one of your special cuddles.’
‘Your daddy’s very clever, being so prepared.’
Long fingers tickled the palm of her hand as a deep voice said, ‘Years of practice.’
‘Will you kiss it better now, just in case?’ her son asked.
Given the size of her pregnancy bump, bending that far would be hard, so she pressed her fingers to her lips then to the dinosaur bandage.
‘Hey, Logan!’ a little boy called from the garden. ‘Are you coming?’
‘Wait for me!’ Logan shouted then leaned up to give her a kiss. He was already sliding off her lap as he explained, ‘I promised to show Harry my secret cubby. Bye, Mummy. Bye, Daddy.’
Then he was off, whooping as he raced to his friend, injury forgotten.
Conall laughed. ‘I wish I had that much energy.’
Greer leaned towards him, stroking his lean cheek. ‘Poor thing, has the big day warn you out?’
