Intensive Care: Escape to the Country (26 page)

“Close your eyes.”

“Why?” Kate asked dubiously.

“Just do it, Kate!”

Kate tried to maintain a serious face but couldn’t help laughing at the expression on Joel’s face. He had pulled over to the side of the road and was trying to look stern.

“C’mon, Kate love, be a good sport. If you don’t close your eyes I’m going to have to blindfold you.”

“You think you’ve got me bluffed but I already know where we’re going,” Kate said, indicating the road they had been driving on that led back toward Sydney.

“Well it wasn’t like I could make you drive nearly four hours with your eyes closed – that wouldn’t have been fair,” Joel replied.

“So, why do I have to close my eyes now?” Kate asked.

“Because I want to see the expression on your face when we pull up at the final destination.”

“Okay. Okay. You win.” Kate closed her eyes with a mock sigh of resignation. “How much farther?”

“Only another fifteen minutes and we’ll be there. Trust me, Kate. The surprise will be worth it.”

“Last time you told me to trust you I ended up naked in the back of your car,” Kate teased.

“Oh come on now, that’s not fair!”

Kate laughed. “Well you have to admit I was unconscious – I have no idea what really happened.”

“I can promise it was all above board.” She heard the laughter in his voice as he restarted the engine and shifted her little car into gear. He quickly picked up speed and for the next few minutes there was only the soft sound of music playing from the car’s stereo system.

“I’m missing all the beautiful views,” Kate said, her eyes still closed. They had been driving through the Blue Mountains – the first time Kate had driven that way since moving to Birrangulla in May that year.

“Not long now, and I promise the views will be even more breathtaking than what you’ve seen so far on the drive up here.”

“I hope this is worth it, Joel!”

Although Kate was still frustrated with Joel’s tendency to pull away from her whenever she attempted to become intimate, she had to admit, he was constantly surprising her with how serious he was about pursuing her. He was romantic and thoughtful and the longer he went without kissing her, the more she actually wanted him. He was treating their relationship like an old-fashioned courtship. Over the past six weeks since they’d been officially dating there had been flowers, love notes, dinner dates and picnics. And even on the nights when they stayed home, cooked a meal and snuggled together on the couch to watch a movie, there was something sweet and innocent about the way he was taking his time getting to know her. It was as though he was in no rush.

Some 
days they simply grabbed a bite to eat at the pub, other days they ambled slowly around the river with Baxter, walking hand in hand, enjoying each other’s company. They’d been to the movies and one night he’d even taken her to a performance of
Cats
put on by the local theater company. He’d planted seedlings in her garden and when the veggies had grown, enjoyed eating them with her. Unfortunately the opening of his organic farm café had been delayed with his illness, but it didn’t seem to bother him. It just meant they had more time to spend
together. 

 “Nearly there now,” Joel said, and the sound of gravel flicking up underneath the car could be heard.

Suddenly Kate felt the car begin to slow and she heard the indicator click on before feeling the car veer sharply to the left. A few minutes later, after driving over what felt like potholes and speed humps, Joel came to a stop, pulling on the handbrake before turning off the ignition. The music stopped and they were enveloped in sudden silence.

“I’m very proud of you Kate – you haven’t peeked once.”

“I’m actually a bit nervous to look now.”

“Don’t be. Sit tight, I’ll come around and open your door.”

Joel opened the driver’s door and Kate heard the sound of loose stones crunching under his feet. He opened her door and she felt his hand reach for hers. He helped her out and closed the door behind her. Spinning her around once, Joel placed his hands on her shoulders and bent close enough that she smelled his aftershave and his breath tickled her left ear. A shiver of anticipation went through her body.

“Open your eyes, Kate!”

Kate did as she was told and found that she was staring up at an enormous, magnificently restored mansion set amidst acres of green grass and immaculate gardens. The two-story house had a massive balcony that wrapped its way around the front of the building and a tower formed the centerpiece of the property. With clear blue skies framing the building, it was picture postcard perfect.

“Oh my goodness! What is this place? Can we go inside?”

“Absolutely. That’s why we’re here. We’ll have a tour of the house, then afternoon tea in the conservatory followed by a walk through the gardens where you will see some of the most spectacular views across the mountains – the best in Australia, so they say.”

“Have you been here before?” Kate asked.

“Once. I came for a wedding in the gardens but didn’t tour the mansion. I’ve always wanted to come back.”

They walked across the grass toward the main building and as Kate stepped through the double front doors she was taken back in time. The sixty-room Victorian mansion had been built between 1874 and 1879 and was in perfect condition. Greeting their arrival was a huge hallway and a marble staircase that must have measured five meters in width. It was evident that the whole house had only recently been restored.

They toured the entire house, listening as their personal guide explained the intricacies of each room. It was a living museum – a documentation of a time gone by when wealthy pastoralists lived in the home with their children. Family items including books, clothing and furniture were all on display. Finally they were allowed to walk up the narrow circular steps to the watchtower and Kate gasped with surprise when she saw the extensive views over the gardens and farther toward the mountains.

In the distance, she could see a large white tent had been set up. Guests were mingling around white chairs and a red carpet cut a sharp contrast across the green grass.

“Look Joel! A wedding. How perfect.”

He followed the direction of her gaze.

“It’s a gorgeous day to be getting married,” he agreed.

They made their way back down the narrow steps and out onto the second floor where the main balcony was situated. Narrow doors opened onto the balcony and Kate stepped through them and walked over to the ledge. Leaning her arms on the sandstone balustrade, she looked out across the gardens toward where the wedding was about to take place. She could make out the groom standing alongside his two groomsmen at the front of the small gathering. Something about the way he was standing seemed familiar and Kate gasped in shock when she realized why.

“What’s wrong, Kate?” Joel asked.

“It’s Marcus!”

The words came out sounding slightly strangled and she found herself struggling to breathe. It was such a ridiculous coincidence she almost laughed out loud at the irony of it but the sound caught in her throat, coming out more like a sob. If she was to write a trashy romance novel she couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario than what was right in front of her eyes. But then again, it also rang true. Marcus and Cindy getting married in a luxury mansion in the Blue Mountains. If Marcus could find a way, he’d make sure their wedding photos ended up in the society pages of some glossy magazine.

“What? Here? Where?” Joel again followed Kate’s line of sight until he too saw Marcus standing under the shade of the trees.

“Oh Kate, I had no idea. I never would have brought you here—”

“It’s okay, Joel.” Kate turned and faced him. “You weren’t to know they were getting married here.”

“But you knew it was today?”

“Yes. I RSVP’d and said I wasn’t going to the wedding and then threw the invitation in the bin. But I knew it was today. How could I forget?”

Joel pulled Kate toward him and crushed her in a hug. He kissed the top of her head and let his head rest there. “I’m so sorry, Kate. Do you want to go home?”

“No. No. I don’t want this to ruin our day,” she sighed, “but I sort of feel like I’m watching my life play out in front of me with someone else in the starring role. That should have been my wedding party.”

Joel pulled back and looked down at Kate. “Kate, are you still in love with Marcus? Do you wish it was you walking down that aisle toward him right now?”

“Oh no! Of course not,” Kate reassured him, “but I wanted to get married so badly I overlooked the fact that I would have been marrying the wrong person. It’s just that I had dreamed of a wedding in a place just like this.” Kate indicated the gardens and beautiful surroundings. “I always wanted a garden wedding.”

At that moment they watched as Cindy stepped out from the bridal car and straightened her figure-hugging dress. Even from a distance it was clear that Cindy was heavily pregnant, and the dress was cut to accentuate her expanding belly. Although she didn’t want to watch, she couldn’t look away and Kate found herself mesmerized as Cindy walked up the grassy aisle on her father’s arm. Joel stayed by Kate’s side, holding her hand in his. Kate was thankful that he remained silent as they both watched the scene unfold before them. As Cindy finally took her place beside Marcus and took his hands in hers, Kate turned away. Seeing Cindy was hard enough, but seeing her pregnant was almost more than Kate could bear. Marcus was such a liar!

“I’m not going to watch anymore.” Kate turned toward Joel and buried her head in his chest.

“Katie?” Joel lifted her chin so that she was looking into his eyes. “Talk to me. What do you want me to say?”

“Oh Joel. Thank you. There’s nothing you
can
say. It doesn’t hurt anymore, I just feel quite numb about the whole thing. Just watching it feels odd and a bit voyeuristic to be honest. Anyway,” she pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin up, trying to swallow the taste of bitterness, “it’s their day and I hope they are happy together.”

She reached for Joel’s hand again and pulled him back inside. Together they walked through the old house toward the café that had been built in the conservatory at the rear of the building.

*

“This is not how I pictured this day to be,” Joel said when they were seated across from each other and their afternoon tea orders had been taken. He looked disappointed and his shoulders slumped slightly.

“Forget it, Joel. I’m putting it out of my mind right now. It’s the past.
Marcus
is the past. I feel nothing for him. Yes, I’m shocked to have seen him today but seeing him has reminded me how much I don’t miss what I had with him. I’m excited about now. About the future.” Kate looked Joel in the eyes and hoped he believed her. “I’m excited about
us
.”

“So Kate, where do
you
see
us
?” Joel asked, putting her slightly on the spot. It was the first time he’d raised the topic of their future.

Her hot chocolate and scone arrived. She took some time to cut the scone in half and cover it with jam and cream before replying.

“Joel, I like you a lot. Honestly you have become my best friend—”

“But?” Joel interrupted.

“There’s no but!” Kate said.

“So, you
do
see a future together between us?”

Kate frowned. How could he not know how she felt? “Yes, Joel, I do. But honestly, sometimes I feel like you’re holding back from me and I don’t know why. I’m not sure how
you
really feel about
me.
I see a future for us, but the question is, do you?”

“I’ve just wanted to take things slowly,” Joel replied.

Kate shook her head in confusion.
Why?
“Am I pushing you into this relationship, Joel?” she asked.

 “No, not at all,” Joel assured her.

 “So let me ask you this – are you still in love with Rebecca? Is that why you’re holding back?”

“I was.”

“Was,” Kate repeated.

“I was in love with Beck until the day you bumped into me in the elevator in Sydney.” Joel looked at her intently without blinking.

Kate blushed. “Oh.” She hadn’t expected that answer. She grinned cheekily. “The first time or second time?”

“Kate Kennedy, I was totally smitten from the very first time I laid eyes on you.” Kate blushed again when she saw the passion in his eyes. He pushed back his chair and stood up. “How about we go for a walk, eh love?”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

Joel took Kate by the hand and they followed the path back around the side of the house toward the gardens that overlooked the mountains. Kate was relieved to see there was no sign of Marcus and Cindy and their wedding party. She only hoped they wouldn’t bump into them having their photos taken. They strolled hand in hand toward a large sandstone wall where Kate was rewarded with incredible views.

“Oh wow! Imagine this view at sunset.”

“The wedding I attended was in this exact spot at sunset,” Joel said, “and you’re right, it was absolutely spectacular.” They stood in silence, taking in the vista. Joel stood behind her, wrapping her in his arms. After a while, he spoke and she felt the brush of his breath through her hair. “Kate?”

“Mm.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

Kate turned to face him, a curious look on her face, wondering what he was going to ask. “Of course.”

“May I kiss you?”

There was a heartbeat of silence before Kate nodded, not trusting her voice to speak.
Finally!
The day was full of surprises and this one was certainly better than the last. Joel held her face in his hands and dipped his head, leaning down to place a slow gentle kiss on her lips. His lips were cool but the kiss was warm. Kate closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, entwining her fingers in his hair. She returned his kiss, allowing her body to press slightly into his when they were startled by the sound of applause. Joel pulled quickly away, the mood momentarily broken. They saw an elderly couple wearing matching shorts and sneakers with large cameras strung around their necks watching them.