Love or Money? (14 page)

“Oh mate, have you seen the new bird that serves behind the bar in the Duck and Dog? Stunner. Big tits and tight arse. I’d have a go at her given the chance.” Andy took a long slug of his beer, nearly emptying his pint glass.

Dan finished the last of his own pint and wiped
his mouth appreciatively. “I’ll have to get down there this week and have a look. It’s been a while since I’ve drank in the Dog actually.” 

“
Stacey got you under the thumb already?” Andy laughed, holding up his empty pint glass and catching the eye of the busty barmaid. “Same again, babe.” He signalled to Dan’s glass also.

“
Funny you say that. She’s been ok this past couple of weeks. She’s beginning to know her place.” Dan winked confidently. 

The barmaid set down two overflowing pints in front of the men, the beer splashing against the sticky bar top.

“Thanks, Bertha” Dan said, eyeing her voluptuous behind as she sauntered away.

“
I swear her arse is getting bigger every time I see it” Andy said, nodding in Bertha’s direction and picking up a handful of salted peanuts.

“
I heard Micky had her last weekend.”

Andy raised his eyebrow. “
Really? I wouldn’t have thought Bertha would have given Micky a second look. Fair play to him.” He took another handful of nuts, crunching loudly. “So how’s the engagement? She still giving it up three times a day?”

Dan chuckled. “
It’s going so well I’m wondering why I didn’t cotton on to this engagement lark sooner. She’s like a dog on heat. All I have to do is mention something about the wedding and she’s like putty. I can’t thank you enough mate. Sound advice getting engaged.”

Dan looked up toward the sports screen and checked out the rugby score. He wasn’t comfortable discussing Stacey further. He was aware that Andy’s new girlfriend had become friendly with her of late. Andy wasn’t known for his tact at the best of times. He didn’t want the wrong thing getting back and causing trouble between them.
He was enjoying his new set-up. 

It helped that Stacey had started her own creative nails business. She was already taking on a list of clients and it meant she was less clingy. He was beginning to enjoy coming home to a quieter household. The extra income helped too. She’d already treated them to an upgraded surround sound HD television.
 

His mobile rang. Taking it out of his pocket, he looked at the caller display and Stacey’s photo flashed at him.
 

“
It’s the wifey.” Andy chuckled. “Better answer it if you know what’s best for you.”

Pressing the ignore key, Dan turned the phone face down. She would have to wait. He had more important things to do. He picked up his remaining half pint and downed it in one.

“Got to be off mate. Got an important meeting.” 

Andy nodded. “
Ok, buddy. I’ll catch up with you in a few days and we’ll have a swift one in the Dog and Duck?”

“
Sounds a plan.” Picking up his jacket and mobile, Dan patted Andy on the shoulder and made his way out of the pub and towards his car. He checked his watch, ensuring he wasn’t going to be late.

“
Should make it there on time” he muttered to himself with a smile. 

It had been an unexpected message, but a welcomed one, especially after he hadn’t heard from her in weeks. Still, he wasn’t one to pass up an opportunity. Sylvia had obviously missed
him.

Chapter Eighteen

“But why is that so extraordinary?” Owen asked, popping his head through the kitchen hatch. “I mean, it’s a great gesture but from what you’ve said he can certainly afford it.” He disappeared again from view.

Felicity picked up her laptop and walked across the living room to the kitchen hatch.

“No, I wasn’t referring to the money. Of course he can afford to donate thousands to charity. It’s the fact he’s donating to a charity in the first place. This is a man who has always said that charity begins at home and ends in Prada.” She scanned the email from Maurice once again, shaking her head in bewilderment.

Owen laughed. “
Sounds a lovely boss you’ve got yourself there. How do you put up with working for someone like that?” 

“
He’s not all bad. A bit selfish but his heart is in the right place. Otherwise he wouldn’t have donated to the children’s hospice would he.” 

Felicity looked on as Owen picked up an onion from the vegetable tray and began chopping.
“Must have changed him – getting cancer. Perhaps he’s realised it’s not all about money.”

“
I guess so. He’s also written here that he’s going to donate a large sum to Cancer Research and he’s thinking about taking a trip with his wife to visit her family.”

Owen retrieved a frying pan from the sink and added a small amount of olive oil.
“I thought you said he doesn’t have much of a relationship with his wife?”

“
No he doesn’t, which is why that’s so odd. He once told me he would have preferred it if she was an orphan, then he wouldn’t have had to suffer the annual family dinner.”

Owen looked up, shocked
and disgusted. “Seriously? Fee, I can’t believe you have been singing this man’s praises. Quite frankly he sounds a bastard. How can you listen to comments like that?”

Felicity kept quiet. It was the first time she’d spoken openly and honestly of Maurice to someone close to her. Hearing herself repeat his views aloud, she was disturbed to find that they weren’t as amusing and blasé as she’d always assumed. She felt embarrassed.

“How much chilli can you handle?” Owen asked, changing the subject. He picked up a fresh red chilli and with great concentration, set about deseeding it.

“
Not as hot as the last time. You nearly blew my head off.” Felicity closed her laptop. She would reply to Maurice later. It was reassuring to hear that he was embracing his situation and that the office was still running efficiently. Yet it was also a little disheartening to realise that she wasn’t sorely missed. She felt a little bereft. 

“You ok?”

Felicity stopped staring
into space and looked at Owen. “Yes fine. Just thinking about work.” She got up and walked into the kitchen to join him.

“
What about work? I thought you were enjoying your freedom from the corporate world?” 

She leaned against the counter top, watching as Owen
stirred the frying vegetables. “Yes I am. The last three weeks here have been great. I love it here in Cairns, I really do. But I just feel a bit… I don’t know…” She looked down at the floor, unable to find the right words to express herself.

“
You do know. You’re just reluctant to say whatever it is.”

I
gnoring him, she continued staring at the food. He was right, she did know what the problem was, but it wasn’t anything she could fix. And it certainly wasn’t anything she could share with him.

She was in love. There was no mistaking it. She was in love with Owen.
 

It had come as a big surprise to find herself falling for him, there wasn’t anything about him that she would have set out looking for in a man, a
part from his sense of self-assurance. Yet, there was no denying it. Since moving to Cairns together, she had found herself developing stronger feelings by the day. It was the little things that made the biggest impact. The way he always wanted to know about her day and was interested to hear every detail. The way he would always find the time to meet her for lunch despite being busy with his butterfly project. Especially the way he would try to help her work through her dilemmas.  And then the evenings, cozied up next to one another on the sofa. He possessed her every thought. She wanted nothing more than to spend every moment with him.

She knew he genuinely cared about her.
  And that was where the problem lay. He genuinely cared about her… as a friend. After leaving Brisbane, she’d been sure that moving into the one bedroom house he’d found was a natural progression for things developing in a more physical way between them. She hadn’t bargained on him making up the sofa bed for her. Thinking that he didn’t want to take advantage, she’d gone along with the role play of ‘friends’ but three weeks later and  it was wearing a little thin. She had to face the harsh reality that Owen saw her as no more than a good friend.  The thought was making her feel sick and miserable, she could no longer imagine her life without him in it. Aidan’s name kept popping into her head, taunting her. Was this how he had felt?

“Well?”
Owen turned off the frying pan and faced Felicity.

She shifted uncomfortably. His expression wa
s so intense it was unnerving. “Well what?”

“
How do you really feel at the moment, Fee? You’re holding back on saying it, I can tell.” He gazed at her knowingly and she felt her stomach flip. It would be so easy to say the words and wait for his reaction but she daren’t. She had never found herself in this situation. Owen hadn’t given her any signal or small sign that he wanted her as more than a friend.  She couldn’t possibly tell him she was developing feelings. Or could she?

“
I’m thinking of leaving Australia.” She’d been toying with the thought for the past two days, but saying the words aloud filled her with relief. She couldn’t go on living in a compromising situation, silently falling in love with a man that didn’t want her. It would destroy her.

Owen looked taken aback. “Crikey
. Well I wasn’t expecting that.” 

‘I know it’s a little out of the blue. I just don’t see what is here in Australia for me.’ Felicity replied in honesty, noticing
Owen’s crestfallen expression. “I have really loved being with you the last few weeks but my life is in the UK and I feel it’s time to go home.” She looked into his eyes, hoping to see something that might give her a reason to stay. 

“
I see. Well I guess you’ve made up your mind.” He reached out, leaning toward her and for a moment Felicity held her breath thinking that he was going to kiss her. Instead, he moved her aside and took two plates from the rack behind her. “When are you leaving then?” 

He clattered the plates against the worktop and opened the utensil drawer to retrieve a ladle, closing it with force.

“I don’t know. Soon I guess.” Felicity bit her bottom lip, sensing his irritation and anger. 

“
Ok.” Picking up a plate, he ladled a generous amount of food onto it. “I’ve made it less spicy than last time so it should be fine for you.” He passed her the plate and cutlery.

The conversation was over. Felicity stared at the food and felt her eyes water. Why couldn’t he open up to her? If he didn’t care, why was he angry? It was so confusing trying to decipher whether she was hoping for something that would never happen. He was a man used to expressing his thoughts and emotions on every subject. So why, if he felt the same way as she, wouldn’t he give her a sign?
 

“
Don’t just stare at it, eat up. Time’s running out and we’ve still got to finish that series of Doctors NYC before you leave” Owen joked, smiling. Felicity noticed the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

She watched as he ate hurriedly, seeming to want the meal over as quickly as she did. Her heart felt so heavy realizing it was one of their last meals together. Her entire body was screaming at her to reach across the table and kiss him, to tell him how she really felt. Instead, she picked up her fork and began to eat slowly.
  It was pointless kidding and torturing herself further; Owen didn’t want her. She had to get away from him soon.

Sylvia stared at the scan photo and tried to decipher how the miniscule white dot on the black background represented her baby.  It still didn’t seem real. Despite seeming to work through a range of emotions in the past couple of weeks, she’d finally arrived at a contented place. Hours spent pouring over internet sites reading about pregnancy and babies had been invaluable. She might not have been prepared for a child but she’d come to realise that she had all of the necessary tools. There was never going to be a right time to become a mother. She may as well embrace the opportunity, even if the question of the baby’s father hung in the balance.

Her phone beeped. Putting down the scan photo, she walked over to her handbag on the sofa and searched inside for her mobile, ignoring her stomach rumbling.

“Hurry up Phillip” she muttered to herself, thinking about the Chinese takeout he’d gone to collect. Although she’d read that cravings didn’t start until later in pregnancy, she was certain her eating habits were already changing. She usually didn’t like spicy food but within the past week she’d developed a sudden need for anything with a kick.

She opened her text message.

We need to talk. Dan

Her heart racing with panic, she deleted the message instantaneously, thankful that Phillip wasn’t beside her. She felt nauseous, her appetite vanishing.

It had been a huge mistake meeting Dan and telling him about the pregnancy. She bitterly regretted her rashness; if only she’d thought it through before contacting him. In hindsight she’d have weighed up the consequences first. She shuddered rethinking the experience.

From the moment he’d arrived at the park in which they’d agreed to meet, she’d known from his lustful look that he thought she intended to pick up where they’d left off. Repulsed at the idea, she’d been quick to set him straight. Although she hadn’t expected him to be thrilled about the situation, she hadn’t been prepared for his outburst. A week later and she was still revolted by the words he’d uttered.
  She wondered how she’d ever found him remotely attractive. His real self was a far cry from the caring, concerned Dan that she’d encountered at the hospital on the night of Fee’s accident. The real Dan was an egotistical swine.   

She couldn’t understand why he was continuing to message her in order to meet. He’d made it more than clear to her already that he had no interest in her pregnancy. As far as he was concerned, a termination was the best way forward.

Hearing footsteps outside the front door and a key being turned in the lock, Sylvia hastily returned her mobile to her handbag. 

“
Sorry it took a while, there was a big queue. They missed the Chicken Kung Po off the order, so I had to wait for it to be cooked.” Phillip shook off his coat and set down the spicy fragranced bag of food on the dining table.

“
Smells delicious” Sylvia said, taking the foil cartons of food from inside and removing the lids.

“
Guess who I saw whilst getting the Chinese?” 

Sylvia sat down and began spooning food generously onto her plate, her appetite reappearing as the gentle aromas surrounded her.

“You’re always bumping into people in that place. Who?”

“
Caitlin. Do you remember her? She presented Live on Five for a while. I think you may have done her makeup?” Phillip bit into a prawn cracker, crunching loudly.

“
Oh yes, I remember. She was lovely. Didn’t she leave to try to crack the US? I thought I’d heard that she went to live in LA.” Sylvia poured two glasses of orange juice and pushed one in Phillip’s direction. Sitting down at the table opposite Phillip, she picked up her cutlery.

“
She did but she was saying it wasn’t really for her. She missed London apparently.” Phillip raised an eyebrow. “If I’ve heard that once, I’ve heard it a thousand times.”

Sylvia giggled. She had always found it fascinating that despite his huge success in the UK, Phillip had never been tempted to try his luck at breaking into the American market. She knew he’d certainly had the opportunity; only recently he’d been put forward to present Pop Rivals US. She
harboured a suspicion he wasn’t willing to take the risk for fear of failure or rejection. His ego was stroked extensively thanks to the UK media. She wasn’t sure how he would handle being known as a mediocre presenter stateside.

“
I was telling her about us. She’d heard we were together. She couldn’t believe it when I told her about the baby.”

Sylvia stopped chewing mid mouthful and looked up from her food in surprise.

“You told her about the baby?”

Phillip put down his fork.
“I know we agreed to wait another month but I couldn’t help myself. Besides, we can trust Caitlin; she’s in the industry herself. She’s hardly going to sell the story to the press is she.”

Feeling her throat tighten with anxiety, Sylvi
a found it difficult to speak. “But we agreed, Phillip.”

Getting up from his seat,
Phillip made his way around to her and propped himself beside her chair, brushing her hair tenderly from her face. “Darling, I’m so excited about this baby – I want to scream it from the rooftops! I’m sorry I told Caitlin. I shouldn’t have and I know that. But it slipped out.”