A Taste of Honey (16 page)

She cried as though she would never stop. Her father never said another word, just patted her back and kissed the top of her hair. Eventually the tears subsided.

“I’m having a baby, Dad.”

“A baby. Oh, Charli girl, that’s wonderful.”

“Everything is wrong and so damn awful.” She drew in a quivering breath. “Oh, Dad I feel lousy.”

“Tell me everything,” he said.

Charli told her father about Will. Hesitantly at first, then like it would never stop until she had talked the hurt away. She left nothing out, and she colored nothing. She told her father exactly how it was. How much she loved Will, and what the loss of him was doing to her life.

“I don’t know what to do, Dad,” she said.

They had reached the porch and sat down on the stoop. Her father picked up a stick and drew swirling patterns in the dirt.

“I think you underestimate the man, and besides, he has a right to defend himself.”

“No he doesn’t,” she said crossly. “He was almost salivating over that blonde, couldn’t keep his hands off her.”

“That doesn’t sound like the Will I know.”

She sighed. “I want to hurt him, Dad.”

“That’s because he’s hurt you, love. Only natural we want to strike back, but it won’t get you anywhere, only add embarrassment to the hurt.”

“You’re such an old know-it-all.”

“Takes practice.”

She looked at her father. “What can I do?”

“Well, if you won’t talk it out with Will, give him a chance to defend himself — ”

“Dad!”

“As I see it you only have one choice. You stay here in Rich River and, after the baby’s born, find yourself a job. You can stay with me until you feel you can manage on your own.”

“I thought I’d buy property up around here near you.”

“Sounds like a good idea. There’s the old Martin place going cheap. Not much property but enough for you to look after. You’ll have a lot on your hands, love, raising a baby on your own.”

“I’ve got you and Ester.”

“Too bloody right, you do.”

She sighed deeply. “I love him so much, Dad.”

“I know, I know. Now how about us going inside and see what we can rustle up for lunch. I’m starving,” he told her.

“Are you ever anything else?” She grinned. “I suppose I have to prepare lunch.”

“I can make ham and cheese sandwiches.”

She laughed. “That’s about my limit too, Dad.”

“I might even slice up a tomato or two. How about that, eh, love?”

“Sounds delicious.”

He placed his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug. “Have I ever told you how lucky we were to get such a wonderful kid as you? I love you, Charli girl.”

“I love you too, Dad. Very much.” Charli’s voice was barely a whisper. And suddenly the pain of yesterday was washed away with the promise of tomorrow. Maybe everything would work out and she could begin a new life with her child?

With her arm wrapped around her dad’s waist, she walked with him into their warm, inviting kitchen.

The ideal silhouette of the time demanded a narrow waist, which was accomplished by constricting the abdomen with a laced corset. Physicians turned their attention to the use of corsets and determined that they caused several medical problems; compression of the thorax, restricted breathing, organ displacement, poor circulation, and prolapsed uterus.

Her dad had gone to Portsea to visit Ester and bring her back to the farm for a few days. Charli was looking forward to Ester’s visit. She knew her dad would tell Ester all that had happened between Will and her, and she knew that Ester would be upset. She hoped eventually she’d understand and accept their separation.

She was feeling so much more relaxed since talking with her dad. He always had a way of making the terrible seem not so bad after all. That everything had a purpose. She really couldn’t see the reason behind her meeting and falling in love with Will. She touched her tummy. Maybe this baby had a reason to be born. Maybe he would be Prime Minister of Australia, or some wonderful doctor who could find the cure for cancer or maybe just an ordinary bloke who’d meet a woman and court her until she fell in love with him.

She filled the sink with hot water and detergent and began washing dishes.

Her dad was insisting that she stay with him until after the baby was born. She’d rather get a place of her own and begin her life; without Will, her heart cried.

The day was cool and frosty as Charli worked in the kitchen. She was startled by the sound of violins and guitars playing “I Will Always Love You.”

“What the hey — ”

She moved to the kitchen door and looked out. An unbelievable sight of Will, holding a huge bunch of white roses, a massive box of candy under one arm, stood with a man playing a violin and a woman playing a guitar; behind them a table was set with white linen, candlesticks, sparkling crystal glasses and a silver bucket holding a chilling bottle of champagne. There was a waiter clad in black and a chef in a white top hat holding a large wicker basket presumably full of food.

And then, to her utter amazement and delight, Will sang the words of the song, his voice so off-key the sound hurt her ears.

She raced outside to stand in front of him. “Will, oh Will, you sweet adorable idiot.”

He laced his hands on his lean hips in a rambunctious stance. A soft wind had blown his black hair into disorder; he hadn’t shaved, and his jaw had a faint stubble shadow.

They stared at each other and Charli was losing control of her senses. Her heart beat very fast and hard. She stood still and straight, her eyes locked with his.

“You wanted to be courted. I’m a’courtin’.” He shoved the candy and flowers into her arms and gathered them all into his arms and they danced, slowly, seductively. Her heart trembled.

“How did you do it? How did you arrange all of this?”

“I hired a plane.”

“You’re wonderful.”

He grinned. “I’m forced to agree with you.”

She saw every line of his skin, every hair of his eyebrows, but most of all she could see the promise in his gaze and in the soft lines of his mouth.

He drew her in closer to him. Tears pressed her throat and behind her eyes. Being in his arms had melted the pain from her heart, and she felt warm again.

He whispered her name, oh, so very softly and suddenly they were a fraction apart.

She couldn’t speak. She stood there swallowing back those ridiculous tears. The candy and flowers dropped to the ground. She was heedless of everything except the man she loved.

He took her hand and, at his very touch, all the worries and heartache of the past few days disappeared.

“Could you really say goodbye? Never see me again?”

“Will, oh Will.”

“Did you imagine I’d ever let you go? Did you believe I wouldn’t come after you?”

Still unsure of him and her own frailty where he was concerned, she spoke harshly. “There are those who love and those who love too much. I’m one of the latter. Please, whatever you do, don’t pretend anymore. I can’t take it.” She turned and raced back inside the house. He followed her.

“Let’s go home.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

He had to admit the truth that he didn’t really want to be married to her. That he needed other women in his life. Then she could be rid of him and the ghost of him that haunted her day and night and she might find peace and contentment here in Rich River with her father and her child.

“I’m not coming back with you, Will. Don’t pretend anymore,” she said. “There’s no one around to see you play the perfect husband. Admit the truth, Will.”

“The truth,” he said husky voiced. “You wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you fair in the face.” He brought her to him. “You stupid little fool. Don’t you know? Didn’t you ever know? Why did you leave me?”

“Because other women mean more to you than your child?”

“That’s a bloody mean thing to say to me.” His eyes were as cold as cut glass.

“But true.”

“I haven’t the foggiest what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about a beautiful blonde, in Belgini’s, when I was having lunch with mum.”

“Blonde?” he said vaguely.

He drew her to him and this time she didn’t resist him. His arms entwined around her waist and they felt good there. The sweet warmth of his breath fanned her face and her heart lost some of its ache.

“Listen to me carefully. That’s Stan McPhee’s wife.”

“Stan McPhee?”

“He’s running my publishing house in Darwin. Lauren, that’s his wife’s name, made a special trip down to Melbourne to talk to me.”

“About what?”

“About Stan. It seems Stan has a chance of opening his own business but he won’t take the opportunity because he doesn’t want to let me down.”

“Oh Will.”

“I met Lauren at the restaurant and told her I’d fix it so Stan could have his dream.”

“What did you do?”

“I fired him.” He chuckled. “Boy, was he surprised, and then he knew and thanked me.”

“Who’ll run the show in Darwin?”

“Me, until I sort things out. Find a suitable person to take over the reins.”

“And Knight Books. What will happen there?”

“You, my love, will handle everything while I’m gone. I know you can do it, Honey. You could run Knight Books with one hand tied behind your back.”

“Oh, Will, I was so jealous.”

“Don’t you know? Didn’t you ever know? Couldn’t you just once, especially when we were making love, sense that I was in love with you?”

“You love me?”

He breathed into her hair. “Honey, you beautiful, impossible, wonderful woman, I was crazy about you from the first moment I saw you.”

She entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me, Will? Why did you go on letting me believe you were … ”

“Some kind of sex monster?” He kissed her eager mouth. “Only with you. There is not and never will be another woman in my life.” He kissed her again. “I want to give you the moon, the sun, the stars. All I have is my heart. It’s yours if you want it.”

“I want it, I want it. You never told me you loved me, Will. Not once.”

“I was afraid you’d throw it back in my face if I bared my soul — my real feelings for you.”

“I can’t believe this is all happening. That you really love me.”

“I love you and I shall never love anyone but you,” he told her huskily. “I love you as far as my life shall reach.”

Her voice was low and hoarse. “I love you with all my heart.”

“I have something that’s yours,” he said, and reaching into his hip pocket, he withdrew her wedding ring and placed it back in its rightful place. He bent his head and kissed the finger where his ring lay.

“I’ll never take it off again,” she whispered.

He slipped his arm around her and bent his head down until his lips met hers in a kiss of unutterable sweetness. A wave of tenderness and love swept over her.

The pressure of his mouth increased on hers. The hand on her cheek slid down to grasp her own eager hand.

Suddenly the world was a wonderfully warm place. In the background she could hear the birds singing, the swish of the trees as they bent and swayed toward the winding river.

And love was hers for eternity.

On May 1st, to Charli and William Knight, a son, Michael William, weighing in at seven pounds, eight ounces. Family deliriously happy. Daddy still a little shaken.

Iris Leach lives with her husband Michael in Wandin in the Yarra Valley, a small community around 50 kilometeres from Melbourne, where grapes are grown and made into delicious wine. She likes talking with her friends, movies, knitting, and reading romance.

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