Not quite trusting Shayne’s impartiality, Cassie turned down the visor and checked her own face. Blotchy and her eyes and nostrils had a touch of pink, as he’d said. Who would have thought a man could be honest? It was too hot to powder her nose so she would have to rely on the time it took to drive into town to settle her colour. If she kept her mind off what happened, it might even work.
‘Who will be at the barbeque? You said family.’
He took a deep breath, and she guessed he was following her lead, putting aside the herd of elephants in the car.
‘Extended family. Mum’s cousin Grace, her husband Ned Cavanaugh and their son and his wife and kids. You might know them. Morgan and Becca both work at the clinic.’
‘Dr Cavanaugh? I met him at my last appointment. Not sure about his wife.’
‘She’s pregnant, so I think she’s only part-time.’ He slowed at the edge of town. ‘I should have thought. We could have asked your brother.’
‘He isn’t usually in town on the weekend unless he’s on call.’
‘You’re in touch.’
‘Only on social media. I’ve been slack with real life socialising.’
‘You were a bit knocked up when you arrived in town. It’s understandable.’
She chuckled, looking down at her belly. ‘In more ways than one.’
There was a pause, as if he wasn’t sure if he should join in, but eventually a low laugh broke the silence.
‘You’re telling me?’
He flashed a grin at her and the tension that had been building at the thought of meeting strangers dissipated a fraction. They were probably nice people being related to Shayne’s family. It would be okay. ‘Anyone else?’
‘Another cousin. Jordan does cattle and grain and his wife Celie works at the school. They’ve had a tough few years with the drought. Things are only just turning around.’
‘Any kids?’
‘Three. All younger than Morgan’s.’
Children were good. They kept people’s attention, so keeping under the radar might be possible. Shayne was turning into a side street, going past a nursing home. It looked new in parts. ‘Is that where your Nana lives?’
‘Yes. Normally I’d pick her up on the way, but Ben and Kimberley would have done that. Kim likes to show off her prowess. It’s within walking distance of my parents’ place so it’s handy.’
He rounded a corner and turned into a wide driveway to park behind his parents’ luxurious compact SUV almost immediately. There were a couple of cars on the street, so the other guests had already arrived. Ben’s Subaru was missing, but maybe they were still picking up his grandmother.
All the same, she’d made them late with her meltdown. Opening her mouth to apologise, she shut it again when Shayne’s hand gripped her knee.
‘It’s all right. It’s a casual affair and they probably haven’t even started the barbie.’
The house was built in an old-fashioned Queenslander style, yet the timber was freshly painted, the ornamental details picked out in a gum leaf green. Larger than she’d expected for a pair of retirees, but when she thought of spacious Maidens Hill and Dawn’s enjoyment of the history, it made sense. She’d probably completely refurbished the house to her own specifications before she’d even moved in.
Shayne steered her down the side of the house. She could hear children laughing and splashing and the indistinct murmur of adult conversation. The yard was a large one with the pool on the far side along the fence. Apart from the group in the pool and a woman on a lounger watching them, there weren’t any others around.
He indicated the house with the wave of a hand. ‘They’ll be inside getting the food organised.’
They paused at the gate in the fence separating the driveway from the backyard and he turned her to face him. ‘Remember, whatever happens between you and me, you are family now.’
You and me. She wondered if there was any meaning beyond the simple fact. ‘What if something happens to the babies?’
‘Still family. You could cross the world and you would remain the mother of my children. We’ve lost people and they are still loved. Still family.’ His knuckles brushed over her hand where it lay on her stomach, heating the skin down to the bone. ‘I know there are risks, Cassie, but they’ve made it this far. Their odds for survival are improving every day.’
‘I know. I’m just …’
He dropped a light kiss on the corner of her mouth. ‘I know. Cursed.’ He dropped another kiss, right on her mouth. ‘We are going to break the curse for both of us.’
‘You can only break curses with true love’s kiss.’
Lifting her chin with his forefinger, he smiled into her eyes.
‘At least I know you’re familiar with fairy tales, even if you don’t entirely believe in them.’
Not good. Knees jelly.
A voice saying Shayne’s name broke into the moment, and she stepped back. She could tell this was a cousin. Despite his dark, almost black hair, he had the same stocky build as Shayne, only taller.
He opened the gate and she went through, Shayne right behind her.
The cousin blocked their way. ‘Time for introductions. I’m Jordan.’ He gestured towards the pool. ‘Celie and the kids are over there. You’ll meet them later.’
Cassie held out a hand and his bright blue eyes gleamed down at her. ‘You’re a cousin now.’
He dragged her into a bear hug and she staggered slightly as he let her go, a little breathless. Shayne was right beside her, offering a steadying arm around her waist. ‘Give the woman a chance, buddy. Jordan is used to handling heifers, not women.’
It was hard to resist Jordan’s grin, but there was something in his eyes that told her he wasn’t the simple bluff farmer she’d assumed. ‘I’m not a cousin.’
He buffeted Shayne on the arm. ‘Not yet.’
With an exaggerated wince, Shayne shook out the damaged limb. ‘Mind your own business, Jordan Taite.’
The other man instantly sobered. ‘Sorry, mate.’ He nodded to Cassie. ‘Not even a single beer, I promise. You should get off your feet. What can I get you to drink?’
‘Something long and cold.’
‘Done.’ He meandered off to where a table was set with glasses and a big glass jug of what looked like iced punch. Underneath were several eskies full of ice studded with bottles and cans. Aussie barbeque standard issue for the drinks. The barbeque setup was sheltered by a large shade sail that extended from the roof of the verandah which stretched the full length of the house and sheltered one end of the pool. There were two sets of stairs, one wide set in the middle and a smaller set within the pool enclosure.
A clump of timber seats with wide arms and thick cushions in the shade between the pool and the far end of the verandah beckoned. ‘Is it all right if I sit there?’
‘Of course. It looks like Jordan has got distracted, so I’ll bring your drink.’
She made her way through the gate into the pool area and sank into a chair, grateful for the relief from the sun.
‘It’s a stinker, isn’t it?’
Cassie eyed the other woman with curiosity. Her colouring was similar to her own, but her build and height were smaller. She looked to be about the same stage of pregnancy as herself, but it was hard to judge. It was a relief to see a friendly face. Weather was always a popular topic at an Aussie barbeque. ‘It’s a different heat than what I’m used to.’
‘You’re from Brisbane?’
‘Yes. I hate the humidity, but I haven’t adjusted to the dry heat this side of the range.’
‘I’m the opposite. When I go to Brizvegas, I feel like I’m breathing through water.’ She wiggled into an upright position. ‘I’m Becca Cavanaugh. If you’re wondering, I’m eleventy months pregnant.’ She patted her stomach. ‘Seriously, it’s more like eight and a bit, but it feels like forever.’
‘I know what you mean. I’m Cassie Long.’
‘I guessed. You’re Shayne’s girlfriend.’ She pointed towards the house with a wry grin. ‘They were talking about you earlier. I understand it’s twins.’
‘Hard to hide.’ She hesitated. ‘I’m not really Shayne’s girlfriend.’
Becca looked like she might want to query that. She smiled past her. ‘Shayne. We were talking about you.’
He wrinkled his nose at the woman. ‘Of course you were. I’m endlessly fascinating.’
‘I don’t know so much. Cassie says she’s not your girlfriend.’
Cassie could feel heat blossoming in her cheeks. ‘I thought …’
Handing her a drink and a second one to Becca, he shook his head. ‘We’re friends. I haven’t had a girlfriend since high school. I’m a grownup.’
Becca darted a glance between them. ‘Riiight. Friends with benefits, or Cassie wouldn’t be sitting here with your twins in her belly.’
Despite her bluntness, or perhaps because of it, Cassie was drawn to the other woman. ‘We met last year and things got a little complicated.’
‘Shayne is used to complicated.’
She wondered if it would annoy him, but he just smiled and headed up the stairs, swinging his legs over the gate at the top, one at a time. Cassie supposed everyone knew of his history, with Kimberley being the obvious result. They’d be thinking he’d done it again. ‘It wasn’t his fault.’
‘It never is,’ Becca sighed. ‘Though in my case, at least this time it was me. Last time, it was too young, too stupid.’
Cassie looked at the kids in the pool. Kimberley was there with a small girl on her hip, talking to some other children, which meant Ben must have come and gone. ‘You have older children?’
‘Twins, so I can sympathise. They’re twelve.’
She didn’t look old enough. It would be rude to ask, but Cassie figured Becca had answered the question with her ‘too young’ comment. ‘What about this pregnancy?’
‘A single. Another boy, so Grace will be pleased.’
‘Is that your daughter?’
The woman laughed. ‘Hells no. My mother-in-law. She had a bit of a thing about sons. Dawn was crowing about your twins and Grace was pleased to reveal we’re having a boy. Numbers still even at three grandchildren each. The boy obsession must be a Taite thing.’ Her mouth twisted. ‘A squattocracy thing.’
Cassie wondered at the edge of bitterness in that last comment. She wasn’t sure if the Longs would count as squattocracy in the other woman’s eyes. They’d been part of the wave of fresh blood into the newly formed colony of Queensland, encouraged by the increased opportunity for gaining a freehold selection in the 1860s once they realised not everyone would make a fortune in the gold rush. Land selection had been opposed by the squatters afraid of having their leases covering vast swathes of country broken up, so maybe not squattocracy in the Long’s case.
The Maiden’s had bought their land freehold a couple of decades earlier, according to Dawn. But they’d been sheep, and the Taites’ were apparently cattle, their landholdings on the eastern side of town where the rainfall was higher.
Becca seemed to have recovered from her momentary dip into some past grievance and was calling directions to her children.
Following her gaze, Cassie picked out a brown-headed boy who had the look of his mother and a tall streak with vibrant red hair hanging in wet ringlets she must have got from her red-headed father. Doctor Cavanaugh must tower over his diminutive wife. The other three must belong to Jordan.
‘Is your husband here?’
‘He and Jordan were supposed to be in charge of the barbeque, but Morgan had to go up to the hospital. Hopefully Shayne is helping cut up the steak Jordan brought in and taking over the barbeque or we’ll never get fed.’ She must have seen Cassie’s confusion. ‘The Taites kill their own meat.’
‘Celie is his wife, is that right?’
‘She’s the one with the hair explosion and the kid on her hip in the middle of the pool.’ She grinned. ‘She had enough problems during the drought keeping the curls under control, but with the wet weather and humidity, it’s a losing battle.’
Cassie stroked her own straightened locks. ‘I used to have a friend who was always envious of my curls. She wouldn’t believe they’re more trouble than they’re worth.’
‘Me and Celie in a nutshell. I couldn’t get a curl to stay in my hair no matter how I tried. Now I’m grateful. I don’t have the time to look after unmanageable hair. Gabby’s is hard enough to keep decent.’
For the second time that day, Cassie wondered if she was overly obsessed with her hair. It was hard to manage, but with twin babies to care for, she might not have the time to spend every morning maintaining her sophisticated style.
‘You’re a nurse, according to Shayne.’ That had to be an advantage with a baby. Though Becca also had two older children.
‘Kind of. More practice manager with a touch of nursing. Morgan insisted on me taking a break once I reached thirty-five weeks. He’s enjoying my pregnancy more than I am. He wasn’t around for the twins. How is Shayne coping with second time fatherhood? It’s been a long time since Kimberley was a baby.’
How was he coping? She hadn’t really shared anything with him, apart from that first day. The basic information about the complications. She’d gone to see the obstetrician in Bialga by herself both times. Next week she’d be having a scan at the local clinic. She scoped out the yard, spotting him over by the barbeque with Jordan. Would he have liked to come with her, or at least been told of the status?
When she’d told him where she was going, he’d been stolidly uncommunicative. If she’d invited him to come, would he have been keen? She flicked her glance back to Becca. ‘I don’t really know. We haven’t talked much. He’s been busy. It’s not like it’s his first child and he was around when Kim was born.’
A conviction came to her he would have wanted to come, but he was giving her space as he’d promised. Rest and recuperation to keep the babies safe. No stress. Maybe he hadn’t had it with Courtney either, if their relationship had remained detached. Not the usual intimacies of feeling the babies move, sharing ideas for names. Had he chosen Kimberley’s name, or had Courtney made the choice?
She hadn’t even thought about names. Real names. In her mind, she’d called them B1 and B2. With all the uncertainty, she’d struggled to remain disengaged, afraid of a bad outcome.
A prickle at her nape made her search again for Shayne. He was flipping steaks on the barbeque while Jordan tossed sausages onto the grill plate.
Had he been looking? As she watched, his head turned and he sent her a reassuring half smile. Yes. Priority number one would be giving Shayne more opportunities to be a part of the pregnancy. If he refused, at least she would know she’d done her part.
* * *
Shayne forced himself to focus on the steaks. No-one would thank him for singeing the tender beef Jordan had supplied.
The back door opened and his mother came out with a bag of bread rolls, followed by Grace and their husbands. The men chivvied into transporting bowls of salad. Nana was already ensconced in her favourite old squatter’s chair on the verandah, brought over from the homestead by his parents when they were furnishing the house.
Dawn stood at the top of the steps. ‘Celie, Kimberley. Time to get everyone out.’
There was a rumble of discontent from the pool, but he could see them scrambling out of the water. The little ones were herded inside by their mother and Kimberley. Edward Cavanaugh hadn’t bothered to dry himself before coming to inspect the food. His sister Gabby, wrapped in a bright pink beach towel, wasn’t far behind, followed by Cassie and Becca.
She dodged past Jordan, who was busy with the bread rolls. ‘Are the sausages ready? We’re starved.’
He knocked her inquisitive fingers away with the tongs. ‘No, they aren’t cooked yet. What they are is hot.’
Gabby screwed up her face. ‘You are such a spoilsport.’
He wiped the tongs with a paper towel before starting on turning the sausages. ‘Morgan would never forgive me if you burnt yourself under my watch.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘I bet you’d let Kimberley have one.’
‘If Kimberley liked sausages, she would have to wait until they’re cooked like everyone else.’
‘She hasn’t gone vegetarian again, has she?’
‘No. It only lasted a week.’
Cassie was smiling down at Gabby, who looked at her with narrowed eyes. ‘Are you the one from the city? The one who did a Courtney on Shayne.’
‘Gabby!’ Shayne’s reprimand came out synchronously with the horrified exclamation from Grace.
‘I was only repeating what everyone else is saying.’
Shayne looked at Cassie, anxious about the girl’s words hurting her, but she was still smiling, though her eyes were serious.
‘I’m pleased Shayne has someone in his corner, but you shouldn’t say it in a way that would be hurtful to Kimberley.’
The girl looked stricken, glancing around as if to search for Kimberley. ‘I didn’t think about it. How Kim might feel. I’m sorry.’
Grace snagged the girl by one arm. ‘You can come and explain to me why you’re repeating scurrilous gossip without considering people’s feelings.’
Jordan stared after them. ‘Does Gabby even understand what scurrilous means?’
Becca joined the group, her hand supporting her back. ‘I imagine she learned it at Grace’s knee.’
Shayne could see Cassie was confused. ‘Don’t worry, Gabby and Grace understand each other.’
‘Too well,’ Becca inserted. ‘I’m on Gabby’s side where the food is concerned. Is it ready?’
The group broke up at her words, falling on the food.
Cassie waited for him to finish piling the steak and sausages onto a platter and tugged his sleeve. ‘Where’s Ben?’
Jordan took the platter. ‘He’s gone to pick up Beth and Hope so they can join us for dinner. It was Beth’s father-in-law who Morgan had to go sort out.’
‘Is he okay?’ Shayne had a lot of respect for the man.
‘Maybe Beth will know.’
Cassie was looking worried again, so he pulled her aside. Everyone else was busy with the food. He was pleased to see Kimberley helping with the youngest Taite child. Both Jordan and Celie were looking strained, though that was par for the course these days.
He turned his attention back to Cassie. ‘Is anything wrong?’
‘I’m feeling a little overwhelmed trying to figure out the connections. Especially now there’s a new one turning up.’
‘You’ve met Beth. She’s my accountant.’
‘The one with the little girl? I wouldn’t say met. We passed in the hallway. Not a family member?’
He chuckled. ‘Not directly. Small town stuff. She’s related to Becca. A cousin, but they don’t really have much to do with each other.’
‘How do you not have anything to do with a cousin in a town this size?’
‘Easy. You don’t invite them for dinner.’
‘There’s no ill-feeling?’
‘Not that I know of.’ He pushed her gently towards the long timber outdoor table and she didn’t resist. ‘You sit down and I’ll bring you something to eat. Any favourites?’
‘A little of everything. Not too much.’
The chairs were filling up, the younger children sitting at a small table supervised by Kimberley. Shayne wondered why she’d decided on being a lawyer when she was so good with children. He’d expected her to look at teaching or childcare. When he’d asked why, she hadn’t really been able to explain it other than she enjoyed fixing things and helping people.
Not a problem for today. She would have plenty of opportunities to think about her choices. Today, he should concentrate on Cassie. There was a spare seat beside her at the end of the table, so he filled both plates and joined her. Ben and Beth arrived as he sat down, Beth with tiny Hope on her hip clutching a stuffed toy. There was a bustle as Dawn and Grace made a place for them, but he stayed put. He could do formal introductions later.
‘You have a nice family.’ Cassie’s hushed tones were meant for his ears only.
‘I’m lucky. I appreciate my luck, too.’
She darted a glance at him. ‘I’m glad. It’s easy to take all this for granted.’
‘Did you?’
‘I was nearly nineteen. Of course, I took it all for granted. You don’t think about mortality when you’re a teenager. You expect everyone to live until they’re a hundred. Apart from my cousin, who was badly injured when I was about fourteen, I’d never known anyone who was very sick or died. Except my gran, who I’d never known other than as old and frail.’
‘Did your cousin survive?’
‘Tess? Yes, she’s the one who lives here.’
‘You should invite her over so we can meet her.’
She hesitated, and he thought for a moment she was going to disclaim any desire to introduce her cousin to his family. ‘I’ll talk to her. She’s always busy and on deadlines with her business.’
‘I thought you said she was an artist.’
‘Artists have deadlines.’ A flush of colour washed her cheeks and a fiery light sparked in her eyes.
He held up his hands. ‘My bad. I simply assumed that as she ran her own business, she would be flexible with times.’
‘Sorry. I get defensive with the general populace thinking people in the artistic community are off with the fairies.’ She grinned. ‘Though when you meet Tess, you might be excused for thinking it. She dresses in clothes that look like sparkly unicorn vomit most of the time.’
A small voice piped up. ‘Is your unicorn sick?’
The soft toy the tiny little girl was clutching was a white unicorn with a multicoloured mane and tail and a horn made of some sparkly fabric coloured like the inside of a shell. Obviously invested in sick unicorns.
Cassie glanced at him, but he had nothing.
She shifted in her chair to talk to Hope more easily. ‘No, he’s not sick. I was joking.’
‘You shouldn’t joke about being sick. Grandy is sick at the hospital.’
‘Is he okay?’
‘Mummy says he needs a loooooong rest.’
That was going to be hard with the farm to run and no man to help. Shayne glanced across at Jordan, but he was focused on his conversation with Ned. Something would be sorted. The man had a lot of good friends and neighbours.
He watched Cassie with the child and knew with a certainty he’d lacked before that she would be a wonderful mother. All these months he’d assumed she lived in an adult world without children. As a music teacher, she would need empathy and patience, and he could see that in her interactions today.
She looked up as the child wandered off and he met her eyes, seeing in them a tenderness he wished was for him. Her smile was tender too, a curve of her generous lips that made him want to taste her. It broadened as he watched and her gaze flicked over the crowded backyard as if to remind him they weren’t alone. He would not let the moment go, so he picked up her hand and pressed his mouth to the pulsing heat where her veins showed on the inside of her wrist.
Her breath caught. ‘Shayne …’
He gave her hand back and turned to his meal. ‘You should finish your steak. Jordan will be offended if you leave it uneaten.’
Obediently she took a bite, the soft moan of pleasure doing dangerous things to him below the belt. It was food. He needed to concentrate on the food.
When she sat back with a sigh, a surge of satisfaction hit him in the chest. He enjoyed caring for this woman. She needed nurturing. For all that she was an independent woman. He knew she could manage her own life, but a little support and TLC hurt no-one.
‘We work well together, you know.’
Her response was a stiffening that warned him she had taken it in the way he meant it and didn’t like it.
‘Is this about your family’s expectations? What Jordan said?’
‘No, it’s about us. You know I don’t let my family make my decisions about my relationships.’
‘I’ve been clear about what I want. A personal relationship isn’t one of them.’
‘Is that non-negotiable?’
She pushed her chair out. ‘Absolutely. Now I’m going to talk to your nana. If she tells me to take the money and run, at least we’ll be on the same page, apart from the money, of course.’
‘Of course.’ It came out dry, and she hesitated.
‘Look, I’m sorry, but you know this isn’t going to work any other way.’
Without waiting for a reply, she made her way to sit beside Nana. His nana cast him a look of triumph, which suggested she’d been watching them for some time.
There were other people looking, and he wondered how much Becca had heard from her place beside Cassie. He shrugged and leaned forward to join the wider conversation. Two months until the babies were born. He still had time.