Chapter Twenty-Two

“Let’s go back for some kai, boy,” Luke called as he turned alongside Thomas.

The boy released the mainsheet and let his sail flap. He threw back his head and closed his eyes, his face glowing.

“Having fun?”

The eyes turning to Luke were sparkling. He wasn’t surprised when Thomas burst out laughing.

“This is sweet as.”

Luke grinned. He’d often seen similar exhilaration on men’s faces. “Not quite as good as sailing but—” Luke let his voice fade.

“It’s as close as I’m likely to get for now.”

Luke recognized despair behind the words. His eyes narrowed. Finally he was onto something plausible for Thomas’s attitude. Here’s my chance to understand what makes this boy tick. “You were pretty good?”

“Pretty good?” the boy scoffed, his chest expanding before Luke’s gaze. “I was going to be the best. Coach said in a couple of years I’d be ready for Nationals.” His body deflated quicker than a pricked balloon. He turned his head aside. Spitting the words out showed how distasteful they were. “That was before we came down here.”

Sympathy flooded through Luke. Poor kid, no wonder he’s so tied up in knots. “Bummer. That’s tough,” Luke commiserated.

He then remained quiet while options which might ease the boy’s frustration raced through his mind. His gaze flicked toward the sea. Colac is a huge bay, reasonably safe. If Thomas had a boat, he could at least sail. Perhaps I can find someone to coach him… Something hit him right in the gut. The air sucked out of him and he struggled to recapture it. What?

His heart pounded so loud the sounds of the squawking seagulls milling around seemed to quieten. Am I considering Thomas being part of my life?

He swiped an unsteady hand across his face and eyed the now-morose boy beside him. Luke slumped farther into the canvas seat of the yacht, his frown slowly morphing into a smile and then a grin as his mind churned. Too bloody right I am. Shannon, Thomas, Jake, Amy, and me—what better family could any man want? What better woman?

Okay, I still have to figure out how to convince Shannon, show her we’d blend well together.

Doubt crept into Luke’s thinking. Would Shannon be interested in blending our families? Is she even interested in me? Just because she’s responded to a couple of kisses doesn’t mean she’d consider marriage.

The heat encompassing his body turned to ice.

Marriage! Hell, the word had never entered his mind before. Never. Not once. No previous relationship had ever evoked any consideration of marriage. He sucked some air into his tight chest. I don’t even have a relationship with Shannon.

His fingers tightened on the mainsheet. Not yet I don’t, but I will soon.

“Race you back, last man stinks,” he called to Thomas.

****

Shannon paid only enough attention to Jake and Amy to ensure their safety. She absently spoke to them a couple of times but had no clue what about. Her focus was on her son. Her gaze darted from farther up the beach, back to the children, but instantly returned to the little white sail in the distance.

Is Luke right? Is Thomas really keen on his sailing? She frowned as her mind slipped back over the last couple of years. Is that something else important I’ve taken from him? She groaned, unable to bring to mind any sign that either supported or denied this. Was I so wrapped up in my own anger and misery I didn’t even see what was important to my son?

Thinking harder, she did recall Thomas’s disappointment his father was away over that last summer. But Eric had always disappointed Thomas. Always disappointed us both. Why would I have considered last summer any different from the other times?

Shannon clasped arms around her churning stomach. No surprise Thomas hates me. I’ve taken everything he cared about away from him and given nothing back.

She sank to her knees, her chin bouncing onto her chest. Her arms tightened. What can I do? How can I begin to make it up to him?

It was a subdued group assembled on the blankets to eat their picnic lunch. Jake and Amy had eventually stopped chattering when no one else joined in.

Shannon watched Thomas, knowing he didn’t notice her attention. She fluffed around handing out sandwiches and biscuits, or refilling glasses of cordial.

Luke appeared unusually quiet, too, but he wasn’t the center of Shannon’s thoughts.

No doubt about it, Thomas was glum. He didn’t even interact with the children, something she’d come to expect. His gaze kept slipping away out to sea as if a magnet was tugging it.

The yearning she witnessed knotted her stomach as secure as macramé-entwined rope. Oh Tommy, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t understand.

“Luke, I’ve been thinking…” Shannon chewed her bottom lip. Her words had to come out right or Thomas might react differently than she hoped. “With all the advertising for Jase’s mud run…some of those people will want to visit your park.”

She’d gained Luke’s attention. Now to collar Thomas’s.

“We’ll need some extra help. You’re going to have to think about employing people soon.”

Shannon smiled at Luke’s twisted expression. He made no secret of his distaste for the practical needs of his venture.

“Thomas might want to help out a bit.” Her son’s head shot up in her peripheral vision. “I know he’s still young, but he’s pretty smart. We’ll need someone who can whip about between the various sites. If Thomas could ride either a horse or the quad bike, he’d fit your needs. You know, until we see about permanent staff.”

She dared to look at Thomas. “And I guess he wouldn’t mind earning a little more pocket money, would you?”

She gulped as his face reddened.

Just for a moment, his eyes sparkled before he schooled his expression to blank. “Is this for real?” he asked dubiously. “You’re going to let me on a quad?” His voice rose. “And a horse?”

Her throat clogged up. Words jammed, so she nodded.

“And not freak out? Yeah, right!” The depth of his contempt for her stance up until now surfaced. “I won’t hold my breath.”

“I’m serious.” She turned to Luke who watched with a supportive light in his eye. “Once we’re home, can you take Thomas—?”

“Great idea. We’ll give the four-wheeler a burn tonight. And then tomorrow after school, we’ll see how Alice’s horse feels about a new rider.”

No one missed Shannon’s shudder, but she kept herself in hand and didn’t mutter a sound. She did catch Luke’s gaze and warmth raced through her at his congratulatory wink.

Luke veered the subject in a different direction. “Jase has some sort of arrangement with the high school. If we had a yarn with him, we might hear of some local kids looking for work.”

The tension eased from Shannon as easily as water through a colander.

“Or you could try outdoor education students. I’d have loved this type of summer job during my studies.”

“Good idea. Can I leave that with you? Uni students would probably be a better fit than high school.”

By mutual consent neither she nor Luke looked Thomas’s way. Shannon attacked the job of clearing away their picnic things.

While she’d done something right in Thomas’s eyes—for the first time in over a year—she wasn’t expecting a complete return to the lovely boy he’d once been. That would be too much to hope for.

She took a deep breath as she closed the chilly-bin lid. But I’ve taken a step. Time would show her other ways to restore a relationship with her son.

****

They’d had an enjoyable day, but now the younger two children were tired. Amy was nearly asleep against Thomas’s shoulder.

Thomas, on the other hand, reeked of suppressed excitement. He fidgeted, he wriggled, and one knee kept bouncing up and down. He kept shooting overt glances her way.

He thinks I’m going to change my mind, go back on my word. As much as part of Shannon wanted to do exactly that, she couldn’t.

She had to trust someone and, adventurer though he admitted being, Luke’s attitude toward danger was more acceptable than Eric’s had ever been. Shannon had to believe he would instruct Thomas with as much care as possible.

And Thomas deserved some consideration. He’s growing up so fast. Breath caught in her throat and she concentrated on the farmland whizzing past the truck window. Luke’s right. I can’t keep treating him like a baby.

The truck was soon unloaded and Shannon again chewed on her bottom lip. She ignored the emptiness invading her. I can do this. I can. It was time to unravel at least one of those apron strings.

“Will you mind the kids for a while?”

She nodded in acknowledgement of Luke’s request.

“But I’m coming with you, Uncle Luke.” Jake headed toward the kitchen door.

“No, not this time, buddy. Go and watch TV, or something.” Luke grinned at Jake’s sour look as he stomped off into the lounge.

“Let’s go, Thomas.”

Thomas took off at a run. Shannon grasped Luke’s arm before he followed. “You will explain…you will show him…it’s so dangerous…you will—”

Luke covered her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I will explain exactly what he may and may not do. And the probable consequences if I find out he’s ignoring the rules. Don’t worry.” He solemnly traced his finger down her face. “I will call attention to the dangers. He’s a smart kid, Shannon. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Shannon lifted one shoulder as he stepped away, trying to control a chin gone wobbly.

He turned at the door. “You ought to give him more credit, Shannon. He’s got your genes, too.” He paused as if to consider the wisdom of saying more. A hand clutching the door tightened until his knuckles turned white. “Trust me. He’s not like his father.”

Shannon slumped against the table as the door swung shut. So Luke did know Eric.

Over the months, Shannon had wondered how often the two adventurers had crossed paths. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to ask. She wasn’t proud of Eric and his ways.

****

“Thomas?” Shannon intercepted her son on the way to his room later that night. “You will be careful, won’t you?” She refused to allow any tears to show although they choked her throat. She mustn’t appear weak in front of him. “There are so many accidents with quad bikes. Even experienced riders can—”

“Don’t worry, Mum. Luke was strict as. He says he’ll have my guts for garters if I don’t keep to his rules.” A little smile played around his lips. “He means it, too.”

Shannon nodded, only slightly mollified, and turned back to the sink and tonight’s dishes. As long as Thomas realizes how dangerous these things can be. And Luke would have stressed the safety points.

She didn’t notice Thomas hadn’t continued on up into his room until he spoke.

“Mum?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyebrows rising. It had been a long while since he’d initiated any conversation with her.

“Thanks, aye?” he mumbled, his face turning red.

He disappeared up the remaining steps before her brain had a chance to analyze or respond. She stood glued to the floor beside the kitchen sink, only shutting her mouth when she caught sight of the incredulous expression on her face in the darkened window.

As she watched her reflection, a tentative smile played around her lips. It grew until she was grinning like some idiot. Life was beginning to take on an even brighter shine.

The time was fast approaching for decisions. Only what were the right decisions?