Lizzie had dozed for most of the flight from Alice Springs to Sydney, her fingers gently linked with Caden's. He'd allowed her the window seat which was ironic considering she was too tired to take advantage of it. They touched at shoulder and knee, pressing against each other with new found intimacy. The rightness of him took her breath away, as if a piece of her personal puzzle had clicked into place. There you are! She wanted to say. I've found you.
Instead she took simple delight in being with him, in the dissolution of doubts which had plagued her. He did care for her. He did want her. As much as she wanted him. Of course this development contributed nothing positive to the dilemma facing her. She still kept her secret. The clock ticked on, pushing her into a decision. Lizzie kept hoping something would happen, a sign would appear. Just exactly what that might look like she couldn’t say but she kept hoping all the same. She wanted to make the right decision, to be able to look back in her old age and know she hadn't made a mistake, especially if old age included Caden.
She dropped her head onto Caden's shoulder. The powerful male scent of him filled her senses, so familiar to her now she'd know him anywhere. There was no doubting he'd make a fantastic father to Luke. Yet the niggling thought that Luke should know his blood family lingered. He should know he was a Langtree and all that implied. Still the decision appeared before her as an insurmountable challenge so she quietly tucked it away, preferring to doze and dream about innocuous things like painting and Caden.
Before she knew it the plane was landing in Sydney. It was like arriving on another planet. Rain ran in rivulets down the plane windows and marched in grey sheets across the tarmac. Lizzie didn’t mind. The weather fitted the solemnity of the occasion. Caden said little, merely squeezing her hand conveyed everything worth saying. Luke wriggled with excitement in his seat. She noticed Caden held his hand too, bridging the Langtrees and holding them together.
The airport reminded her of every major airport in the world; expanses of white walls plastered with advertisements, throngs of people, disorientating pathways leading to endless gateways. They collected their luggage and found a taxi to take them to their hotel. Luke found delight in everything. He'd never been to Sydney before and had never seen so many people gathered in one place. His eyes were enormous as he took it all in. Lizzie smiled at him as he sat in the taxi with his nose pressed up against the glass not put off by the bad weather in the least.
Caden checked them in at the hotel while Lizzie and Luke inspected the lobby.
"Wow! Aunty E look at this! Real fish!" Luke knelt at the indoor fountain watching the brightly coloured koi swim lazily about, impervious to the bustle around them. Lizzie stood by him more to keep his enthusiasm in check and ensure he didn’t end up in the fountain with the fish. She checked her phone. Her father was yet to answer the message she'd sent him saying they'd arrived and where did he want to meet. Gerald Langtree would respond in good time, one which would best suit him. No doubt he was strategising location right at that very moment, forever the lawyer, always looking for the upper hand.
"I've got us adjoining rooms. Luke and I will share one and you take the other." Caden appeared at her side. "I thought it best in the circumstances we didn’t share a bed."
Lizzie blushed, images of their earlier lovemaking fresh in her mind. "Of course! Luke is too young to be left on his own anyway."
"Let's go up get settled, have a shower and change. Luke are you ready?" Caden asked.
"Sure thing." The little boy leaped to his feet, the fish forgotten. "Can I push the button in the elevator?" Lizzie forgot there were no elevators in Luke's world.
"No problems, little mate. Off you go. Just don’t run anyone over."
Luke scrambled ahead thrilled for the simple adventure which lay ahead. New York was going to be sensory over load for him! She threaded her arm though Caden's. One step at a time. New York was still a long way off from Sydney. All depended on her father.
Five minutes later Luke was inspecting the door leading from his room to Lizzie’s, thrilled by the idea the rooms interconnected. "I can come and see you whenever I want!"
"Yes you can but right now I need to take a shower and get changed. Maybe you should do the same thing?" She ruffled his hair. "You ought to be nice and clean when you meet your grandfather for the first time."
Luke screwed up his face. "I don’t want to meet my grandfather. He just wants to take me away. I don’t care if I never see him."
"Come on mate, don’t be like that. We'll just meet him and say hi. Get to know him a little. No one is saying you have to leave right away." Caden's tone was gentle and Lizzie noted he didn’t lead Luke to believe he didn’t have to go at all.
"Don’t want to." Luke was obstinate.
"Not a choice I'm afraid. Shower, now!" Caden hadn't raised his voice yet the force behind his words was enough to galvanise Luke who took off across the room like a pack of wolves were on his tail. Caden turned to her and shrugged. "Boundaries."
She nodded. "I'm impressed. I think I'll take a shower myself. Meet you in your room in half an hour."
Caden kissed her tenderly, pulling her to him and running his hand down her back. She pushed him back through the door into his room.
"Half an hour," she said wagging her finger at him.
"Okay, okay," he laughed holding up his hands in defeat. "You win."
She shut the door firmly, not bothering to lock it. There was no need. Humming off key she stripped off her travel-weary clothes and left them lying on the floor. Heading to the shower she cranked up the hot water before inspecting the hotel's toiletries. She had a soft spot for hotel soaps and body wash. Opening a tube she sniffed. Lemon myrtle. Delicious. Lizzie stepped into the steaming shower and let the hot water do its work. Her shoulder maintained a little stiffness to remind her she was no longer as young as she used to be. And perhaps she needed to revisit horse riding lessons. The body wash soaped up a treat and soon the entire room smelled fresh and lively.
There was a text message from her father by the time she emerged:
Meet me in the bar at 4pm.
No mention of Luke, no enquiry, no love sent. Some things remained the same. She threw her phone on the bed and turned to the serious issue of dressing. All her clothes were "Elizabeth" clothes. Lizzie hadn’t managed to go shopping for new ones, that joy still lay ahead and she was determined to squeeze some retail therapy into the trip. Right now she needed an outfit to make her feel confident, in control because Gerald would do his best to strip away her confidence and maintain the upper hand.
She dug out her black sheath dress, the one she’d nearly worn to Richard’s party. What a life time ago that seemed! She shook it out and inspected it carefully. Nothing a quick press with an iron couldn’t manage. While formality of the dress might be a little overkill for a reunion with her father it sent a no-nonsense message as well. Never for a moment could she forget she was dealing with a shark of a lawyer, even if they were flesh and blood.
Half an hour later she was dressed and ready. Hair blow-dried, makeup on. Lizzie inspected her image in the mirror. “Elizabeth” stared back at her. She was as ready as she’d ever be. Checking her watched showed ten minutes to go. She knocked at the dividing door and pushed it open. Caden and Luke were sprawled on the bed with the television on. Both had wet hair and were half dressed.
“Wow! Where are you going all dressed up like that?” Caden sat up, his eyes alight.
“Meeting Dad in the bar at four. I think it’s best if Luke stays here with you. I want to get the lie of the land.”
“Sure. I don’t think Luke will mind.” Luke gave every indication he hadn’t heard their conversation.
“Right.” Lizzie stood up straight and took a deep breath. “Wish me luck.”
***
“Dad.” Lizzie leaned in and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. He’d been sitting at the bar with his back to the room confident she’d find him. Gerald Langtree turned and released on of his movie-star smiles. He smelt good.
“Elizabeth! Good to see you. Where’s Luke?” His visage clouded for a nanosecond before he regained control.
“Upstairs.” She offered no explanation or apology.
“You left him alone?”
“Not exactly. He’s with Caden.” She slid onto the stool next to her father.
“What’s he doing here?” Gerald made no effort to hide his displeasure this time. “That bastard has no right…”
Lizzie laid her hand on her father’s arm. “He practically raised the boy and he was there at Angela’s death. He has every right.” She spoke firmly hoping he wouldn’t challenge her.
“You know he’s after the money don’t you? I can see he’s got to you just like he got to Angela,” Gerald muttered as he signalled the bar tender. “He seduced her and I bet he’s seduced you too.”
Lizzie blushed under her father’s scrutiny.
“I knew it!” Gerald brought his fist down on the bar.
“No one is seducing anyone,” Lizzie said. “He didn’t know about Luke’s inheritance. Nobody did.”
“Yeah, right!”
“Dad! What’s got into you?” Annoyance surged through her. She’d had enough of her father’s show pony tactics. “What I want to know is how did you know about the money?” She crossed her arms and waited.
“Investigator,” he said simply busying himself with his drink.
“Mmm…so you say.” She wasn’t convinced.
“Look, the money doesn’t matter to me. I just don’t want some grubby farmer getting his hands on it.”
“Caden Carlyle is far from a grubby farmer as you so eloquently put it. He has a ranch the size of a small European country.”
“Never did like Europeans.”
“Dad! Honestly, you are being impossible. How’s Mother?” Lizzie changed the subject.
“Anxious to have you and Luke home where she can take care of you.”
Lizzie looked at him open mouthed. You’re kidding! “Shame she couldn’t come along.”
“Commitments. You know how she is with those charities of hers.”
“Such a dedicated woman.” Sarcasm dripped from Lizzie’s words. She was having none of it.
Gerald spun on his stool and faced her, taking one of her hands in his. “Look Queen Bess, all your Mother and I want is the chance to make up for the past. We know we could have done better with you girls. Lord knows you told us often enough. Maybe we can do better with Luke.”
Lizzie’s vision clouded with unexpected tears. For the first time in her life her father was admitting he could have done better. Words she’d waited a long time to hear. “Let’s take it slow,” she said in a voice thick with emotion.
“Not too slow,” Gerald laughed, “I’m not getting any younger.”
“How about we take a few days for Luke to get to know you. It’s a big shift for a little boy and he’s been through a lot.”
Gerald nodded. “Sounds reasonable. But I don’t want that Caden character hanging about.”
“Too bad,” she said coolly. “He’s part of the package. Luke needs stability and whether you like it or not right now that’s Caden.”
“Fine,” said Gerald with poor grace. “What do you suggest?”
“Let’s start with a day at the zoo? Everybody loves the zoo.”