21

 

Hattie sat on the bottom stair looking over to where Cal was sanding down the new doorframe.

He glanced at her. “Penny for your thoughts.”

“They aren’t worth it.”

“OK, a quid then.”

“Not even that. Ha’penny perhaps. I was thinking about Steve. Maybe I just go out. That way I’m not here when he arrives in a bit.”

“Coward.” He wiped the wood down with a cloth and ran his hand over it. “Running away doesn’t solve anything.”

She scrunched her nosed up at him. “Don’t care. I love my brother, but really don’t want to see him right now.”

The doorbell went. “Hattie, can you get that?” Aunt Laurie called from upstairs. “I’m trying to make the beds.”

“OK.” Hattie pushed up and headed to the door. She opened it and for a moment she was tempted to shut it again. Help me be nice to him, Lord. “Hi, Steve.” She held out her arms to him for a hug.

He ignored them, staring at her. “Hattie.”

She dropped her arms, and moved to one side. “You’d better come in. Aunt Laurie is just making the beds.”

Steve stepped over the threshold and stopped short at the sight of Cal coming into the hall.

Hattie smiled, her heart turning cartwheels at the sight of her fiancé. The tight shirt did nothing to hide his six-pack. “Steve, this is my fiancé, Cal. Cal, this is my twin brother, Steve. I know you two already know each other, but figured I’d do a proper introduction.”

Cal held out a hand and smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you formally. Hattie talks about you a lot.”

“Fiancé?” Steve’s eyes remained ice. His hand barely made contact before he dropped it. Hattie was about to call him on it when his phone rang. “Excuse me.”

Cal moved to Hattie and slid an arm around her. “It’s all right,” he whispered.

“No, it isn’t. He’s being downright rude.”

Cal gently turned her face to his and kissed her. “I said its fine, love, and I meant it.”

Her heart fluttered in her throat and her breath caught. He’d called her that in the church, but she’d thought she’d misheard him. “What did you call me?”

“Love,” he repeated. “Because you are.” He fingered the engagement ring on her right hand. “I can’t wait to see this on the finger it belongs on.”

Hattie smiled. “Actually in some European countries they wear it on the right anyway. But I can’t wait to wear it on my left hand. It’s beautiful. Can’t believe you got the size right.”

“Just a good guess. Just bear in mind your left ring finger may be a different size.”

Steve hung up. “I have to go. I’ve got some business to attend to. I’ve got a meeting with Markus Kerr.”

“Oh?” Her heart sank. “I thought you’d come to see me, not Markus.”

“You’ll keep. This is business and a potential investment. It’s important.”

“Thought I was,” she whispered, tears burning her eyes. She blinked them away, not wanting him to know how deeply hurt she was. “Nothing changes does it?”

“And when I get back, we’ll discuss the return of my money.” Steve headed out, shutting the door behind him.

Hattie just stood there. “I don’t believe that just happened. He didn’t even want to see the ring.”

Aunt Laurie came down the stairs. “Was that Steve?”

“He came, he saw and he left.” Hattie sucked in a deep breath. “He’s gone to see Markus on ‘business’.” She put brackets around the word business.

“I thought he was coming to see you?” Aunt Laurie hugged her.

Hattie hugged her back. “So did I, but I was wrong. What’s the betting he’ll still try to marry me off to Markus?”

Cal raised an eyebrow. “Wait a sec. You’re already getting married. To me.”

“And we told him that, just now. But Steve has some ulterior motive here. Everything is business and has a price. Markus already said Steve approved his proposal.” She pushed her hands through her hair. “Steve never listens to anything I say, anyway.”

“Don’t worry about him.”

She turned to Cal and hugged him, then ran a hand down his face. “I’m marrying you and nothing is going to stop me from doing that.”

He leaned into her touch, catching her fingers with his lips. “Good. Maybe we elope.”

“Or just post the banns today and marry in three weeks’ time in which ever church can fit us in.”

Cal’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Very.” She held his gaze. “If it has to be in a registry office, then so be it. Or we catch the next flight to Vegas and get married in twenty-four hours.”

“Where will we live?”

“Your place.” She smiled. “This was your idea. Don’t you back out on me now.”

He chuckled. “I’m not. So when do we go to the registry office?”

Hattie looked at Aunt Laurie. “Is three weeks all right with you?”

“It’s your wedding, sweetheart, so do whatever makes you happy. Three months would be better—give me time to find a hat and dress to match.” She smiled. “But if you do decide to elope, take me as a witness.”

“You’re on.” Hattie looked at Cal. “How about now?”

“Vegas or the registry office?” he quipped.

“Both.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

Cal hung back. “First, can I borrow your phone? I need to speak to your dad. His is the only permission I need.”

 

****

 

An hour later, they arrived back. Hattie hung up her jacket and followed Cal through to the room he was working on. She looked at the door frame he’d been working on painting and pointed. “You missed a bit.”

“Honestly, woman, we just got back indoors having booked the wedding and you’re criticizing my work already.”

Hattie laughed and put a thumb on his head, pressing down with a gentle touch. “I’m just keeping you in your new and rightful place.”

“It’s a good thing I love you.” He laughed.

“Definitely a good thing.”

Cal put an arm around her and pulled her in for a deep, mind blowing kiss. When he pulled back he smiled. “It sure was a blessing running into Pastor Kenny like that and booking the church after we left the registry office. Are you sure you don’t want to get married in Headley Cross?”

“I’m sure. I don’t even have to register the wedding there as I’m living here now which is also a good thing. I’ll ring Pastor Jack at some point, see if he can come up and take part in the service somehow. Maybe he’ll marry us and Pastor Kenny can preach or the other way around. I’d like him involved somehow.”

“Sounds like a plan. Give him a ring now.”

Steve appeared in the doorway. “So you’re hanging out in here. I’ve been waiting for you to get back.”

Hattie looked at him. “We had important business to attend to.” She threw his own words back at him.

He looked scathingly at Cal. “If you don’t mind, I want a word with my sister. In private.”

She scowled. “Don’t you talk to Cal like that. He’s my fiancé. That makes him family. Whatever you have to say to me, can be said in front of him, because I’ll only tell him later anyway.”

Cal hugged her. “It’s OK, love. I need to go and get some nails. Forgot to pick some up when we were out.” He kissed her soundly. “I won’t be long.”

“Love you.” She watched him head across towards the door.

“He’s only after one thing,” Steve said. “And I don’t mean just your money.”

“How dare you!” Hattie smacked him. And instantly regretted it. She might be angry at him but they weren’t children any longer and the anger in Steve’s eyes frightened her.

He raised his hand to return the blow.

Cal caught it before it made contact with her face. Hattie hadn’t even realized he was still there. His eyes blazed fire and his voice was low and threatening. “You hit her, or lay one finger on her, and I will have you arrested. Is that clear?”

Steve looked at him. “Crystal.”

“Good. And for your information, I don’t need Hattie’s money. I have enough of my own.” He let go of him. He leaned against the wall, pulling Hattie into his arms. “Are you all right, love?”

“I’m fine.” She leaned against him, safe in the knowledge he was protecting her.

“Good.” He looked at Steve. “I’m staying right here. So talk away.”

“That’s my money.”

“Is that why you came?” Hattie asked. Yes he’d said it, but part of her didn’t want to believe it. “To get the money back?”

“Of course. That and to catch up with Markus.”

“Penny just gave me what the accountant said I was owed.”

“She what?” Steve’s face froze and then hardened, his eyes glittering with barely concealed anger.

Oh no, had she dropped Penny in it now as well? She hoped not. “Then I guess you’d better go take it up with her,” she said quietly. “Just don’t hit her.”

Shock flitted on Steve’s face for a moment before belligerence replaced it. “I…”

Hattie lowered her voice. “You gave me two hundred quid a month. I couldn’t afford to leave and you liked it that way. It took me years to save enough for the car. Even longer to go anywhere or do anything and then you’d cancel it for me or make me cancel it. If you ever employ anyone else, you’ll have to pay them properly.”

“I don’t want anyone else. No one else cooks like you do.”

Hattie put her hand on her hip, Cal’s arms still securely around her. “Tough cheddar. There is no way I’m coming back. Besides Cal’s work is here. So this is where we’ll live.”

“With him?”

“Well obviously. We’re getting married.”

“No, you’re not. Not to him.”

“I’m wearing his ring. We’ve posted the banns, booked the church, and told Mum and Dad.” Her voice wobbled. “I thought you loved me, hoped you’d be happy for me.”

“I do love you.”

“Then why can’t you be pleased I finally found someone who loves me?”

“He’s beneath you.”

She shook her head. “A few weeks ago you were raving about how wonderful he was, and now? You love money more than me. Money and power and profit. Because Cal is a carpenter now and not a footballer, you don’t want to know him. He’s so much more than that. He’s the man I love and the man I’m going to marry.”

Cal’s arms tightened around her. His lips brushed the back of her neck and she felt the rivers of energy pour through her. His breath was warm on her skin as he spoke. “I think you should leave now, Steve.”

“You can’t tell me what to do!” Steve spat.

“Maybe Cal can’t, but I can. I’ve heard enough out of you.” Aunt Laurie’s icy voice filled the small hall. It matched the hard look in her eyes. Hattie had never seen her aunt look so angry and upset. “Leave. Now. And don’t come back unless it’s to apologize and then congratulate your sister properly.”

For a moment, it looked as if Steve was going to argue. Then he flung open the door and stormed out, letting it slam behind him.