Wed in the outback volum.., p.35
Wed In the Outback, Volume 1, page 35
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‘Rose! Rose!’
Nate chased the woman across the yard, gave no thought to the fact he was wearing the same clothes from the night before. His only thought was Eve and the fact she had disappeared into thin air.
He’d spent the night in her father’s study, seeking a way to release the sisters from the marriage clause. Ploughing his fitful energy into something that could help rather than hinder the woman that he loved.
Rose stopped, her shoulders sagging, her head dropping forward.
‘Rose?’
He came up behind her and she turned to face him. ‘What is it?’
His nerves pricked at her tone, the look in her eye...
‘Where is she?’
‘So, you care where she is, but you don’t care enough to love her?’
His frown was sharp, the spear through his heart sharper still. ‘What?’
‘I rang her this morning, after I found her note.’
‘Her note? What note?’
‘Telling me where she’d gone. I rang her and she told me how you couldn’t love her.’
‘That’s not—it’s not—’ God, it sounded so awful, so cold and callous. ‘I had no choice, Rose. You know Eve. You know what she’s like. I feared she’d run.’
‘And in your fear, you what? Lied to her?’
‘I was lying to myself, too. Please, Rose. I’ve spent the night trying to find a way out of this marriage clause. Determined to give her something, a thread of hope, anything! I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I didn’t mean to let her slip away. I can’t...’ He thrust both hands into his hair. ‘Please, Rose, I need to get to her. I need to make this right.’
‘You mean tell her the truth?’
‘Yes!’
‘Because you do love her, don’t you?’
‘Yes! With all my heart, I love her. And I know she doesn’t want to hear it, but I can’t go another day without her knowing it.’
Like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, Rose grinned. ‘In that case I’ll do more than tell you, I’ll fly you. To Adelaide at least, then you’re on your own.’
‘Why? Where is she?’
‘Melbourne. Visiting Ana.’
His heart eased just a little. She was continuing her journey, making amends with her family... He was glad of it. Even if he’d rather have her in his arms right now.
‘Are you coming?’ Rose said, when he didn’t move.
‘Absolutely!’ He fell into step beside her.
‘But, Nate...’ She paused, tilting her Akubra up so that she could pin him with her eyes. ‘Break her heart again and I’ll break you, is that clear?’
‘Break her heart...?’
How could he break her heart if she refused to give it to him...?
‘I mean it, Harrington.’
So did he...
‘I’d rather die than hurt her again.’
* * *
Eve was so full.
Emotionally and physically.
Ana’s grandparents, Dori and Zoltan, were firm believers that a full stomach made for a happy heart, and she did her best to oblige. Though she knew, without Nate, her heart would never be so again.
‘Now, you should try our apple strudel, it’s delicious,’ Dori was saying, her wise old eyes bright and encouraging.
‘I don’t think I could eat another bite.’
‘I think we’ve fed her enough,’ said Lili, coming to her rescue. The other woman’s continued kindness moving Eve to tears when she thought of how she’d once hated the faceless woman. Dad’s mistress.
But reading Mum’s journal, then hearing it from Lili herself. The way she had genuinely loved her father. How their relationship had been born of circumstance and misunderstanding. A belief that his marriage had been over and there had been nothing left to ruin, nothing left to save either.
How wrong they had all been.
But the biggest thing was Lili’s lack of regret. Because meeting Holt had given her Ana and she wouldn’t change that for all the world.
‘Thank you,’ Eve blurted. ‘All of you. For taking me in, for letting me talk and explain and fix things.’
Lili took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
‘We’re family,’ Ana said, scooting into her side. ‘Family always has time to listen and be there for one another. And I’m so happy to have sisters. Three sisters!’
Eve touched her head to Ana’s. ‘Me too.’
‘Who on earth...?’ Dori frowned at the window. ‘Zoltan, there’s a man peering through the glass. Go tell him we’re not open for another hour.’
Zoltan stood up with a grumble. ‘I don’t know why we bother putting signs up in the window when people just—’
‘Wait!’ Ana’s head lifted. ‘Eve, isn’t that—?’
‘Nate!’ Eve shot to her feet, her heart soaring with her, scarce able to believe it was him, but her heart would know those eyes, that hair, that mouth anywhere. He looked harrowed, desperate...was it all for her?
He’s here, isn’t he? Tracking you down?
‘As in Nate the lawyer you were engaged to?’ Lili asked, but Eve was already moving, numb to anything but him.
‘Yes, Mum,’ Ana said for her. ‘And I think we should give them some privacy.’
Chairs scraped back as Eve pulled open the door.
‘Eve!’ He launched forward, his tortured gaze lighting a fire beneath her feet that had her backing up.
‘Nate?’ So soft, so confused. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I had to see you.’ He hesitated. ‘But I can leave and talk to you later. Once you’ve done what you came to. I don’t want to intrude. I just—I had to see you.’
Eve looked to the back, to the swinging door that marked the mass exodus of Ana and her family. Though she had the oddest sense that there were four sets of ears straining to listen on the other side.
‘If you’re worried about me, you needn’t be,’ she said, eyes coming back to him, shoulders righting as she found strength in the presence of her extended family. ‘I’m grateful that you told me the truth and—’
‘That’s just it, Eve, I didn’t tell you the truth and it’s been killing me ever since. Even more because I know you struggle to trust, but I was lying to myself too. I was scared. So scared you were going to run, and I was this close to having everything. You, the baby, a family of my own. I couldn’t risk it.’
‘Risk what, Nate? I don’t understand.’
He closed the gap between them, his hands gentle on her cheeks as he tilted her face to his. ‘Then let me be clear. No lie. No twisting of the truth to suit some ancient clause, or duty to our baby... I love you, Eve. I loved you the moment we met and I will continue loving you whether you want me to or not. Because love isn’t something that we get to choose or get to control, it just is.’
Her lips parted as her breath left her. Both head and heart struggling to catch up with all he had said, to believe all he had said.
‘It just is?’ she repeated dumbly.
‘I’m sure there’s a better way to put it, but right now...’
She shook her head to try and clear it. He loved her. He truly loved her.
‘You can refute it all you like, Eve! Refuse it, reject it, all the r’s, but it doesn’t change the fact that I love you!’
She covered his hands on her cheeks, found her voice. ‘Can I return it?’
His brow furrowed, his hands slipping away. ‘As you would an item from a store...?’
‘No, silly...’ She choked on a laugh—disbelief, happiness, love filling her chest to the brim. She looped her arms around his neck, breathed in his glorious scent. ‘Maybe I should have used the word reciprocate, that’s an “r”.’
‘Reciprocate?’ he rasped, eyes widening. ‘You mean...’
She nodded and smiled and cried. ‘I mean, I love you, Nate. I think my heart has known for a while but my head took a while to catch up.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because I was confused and I was scared. Scared of trusting my heart and having you break it. Scared I wouldn’t be enough for you and I would trap you into a marriage that you’d one day regret and resent me for.’
‘Never, Eve. I swear it.’
She smiled softly. ‘I’ll remind you of this conversation again in ten years’ time...’
His mouth twitched and she leaned that bit closer, wanting so much to kiss him. ‘You can remind me of it every decade here on in and I’ll tell you the same.’
She toyed with the hair at his nape. ‘Is that so?’
‘Yes.’ He hooked his hands around the base of her spine. ‘But what about you? Will you regret it, resent me for it?’
‘Never, Nate.’ She pressed her body into his, purposely using his words. ‘I swear it.’
‘In which case, Evelyn Waverly, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
He’d used her full name intentionally, she knew it, bringing something of her father into the moment, and her heart bloomed—no regret, no pain. ‘Yes, I’ll marry you.’
And then she kissed him, long and deep, right up until the point that the rear door swung open, and Ana and her family fell through it.
‘I’m so sorry, Eve!’ Ana exclaimed. ‘Nagypapa, I told you not to lean on the handle!’
Nagypapa blushed and Eve laughed. Her adoration swelling for them all. She glanced up at Nate, who was blushing almost as much as the rest of them.
‘Everyone, this is Nate. Nate, this is Ana and her wonderful family.’
‘Hi, everyone,’ he said as Ana came forward and did the introductions properly, keeping Eve tucked into his side as if he’d never let her go again.
And that suited her just fine. She was exactly where she belonged.
She touched a hand to her stomach...
We both are.
EPILOGUE
Garrison Downs,
South Australian Outback,
late November
‘EVIE, ARE YOU ever coming out of there?’ Rose called through the dressing room door. ‘Nate’s going to think you’ve fled on the mail plane again if we don’t hit the aisle soon.’
‘I’m coming! I’m coming!’ Eve looked over her shoulder at Lindy, who was still fussing over some detail at the rear. ‘Am I ready?’
Lindy backed away and gave a nod. ‘You look ready, but only you can decide if you’re truly ready. Marriage is a huge step.’
Not the effusive answer Eve wanted to hear, but then Lindy was right. This was a huge step. Massive!
And it wasn’t helping her nerves...or her jelly-like legs. If she wasn’t careful, Bambi was going to make a return and that was the last thing she needed.
Taking a breath, she tugged open the door. ‘Rose, you’re going to have to hold onto me tight because these legs aren’t feeling so hot right now and—what’s wrong?’
Her sister was doing a fine rendition of Munch’s, The Scream.
‘Rose?’
She gave the smallest shake of her head, her glossy brown hair quivering with the move.
‘Oh, no, what is it? What have I done?’
Eve teetered up to the full-length mirror and froze, finding herself doing the exact same. Munch would be proud.
‘I look like...’
‘Mum,’ Rose said, joining her before the mirror, the satin of her blush pantsuit barely rustling.
It had been Rose’s idea for her to wear their mum’s wedding dress. They were similar in so many ways—tall, slim, blonde, blue-eyed. But it was more than that, it was a sense of feeling. A bond. A bond Eve had so desperately wanted to regain and she finally felt as though she had.
‘It’s perfect on you.’
The strapless mermaid dress had been inspired by Mum’s love of Old Hollywood, the ivory satin handstitched by her favourite designer in Paris, too. With the pointed sweetheart neckline, ruched bodice, and flowing skirt, it was everything her mum had been—cultured, elegant and beautiful beyond words.
And now Eve was wearing it.
‘She’d be so proud.’ Rose swept a loose curl over Eve’s shoulder. ‘I’m so proud.’
Her voice cracked and Eve balked. ‘Don’t be starting with the waterworks, Rose! You’ll—’
‘Is she ready yet?’ Tilly burst into the room, surprisingly swift considering the floor-length satin blue dress she wore. Her gaze lighted on Eve and she came to an abrupt halt, rocking on her heels as Ana followed suit, her dress identical in style to Tilly’s but mint green.
Now they were both staring at her, tears welling.
‘Not you guys as well!’
‘I’m sorry, I can’t help it.’ Tilly flapped a hand over her face. ‘Seeing you in Mum’s dress... I always thought you looked like her but this...this is so poignant and I’m... I’m...’
Ana stepped forward, taking Tilly’s hand in hers.
‘You do look beautiful, Eve.’
And they looked like sisters. Ana’s brown hair flowing as free as Tilly’s blonde waves, their obvious love as uniting as their Waverly blue eyes.
‘I want to hug you!’ Tilly said. ‘But I’m scared I’ll crease you!’
‘I can take some creasing.’ Eve held out her arms. ‘Especially if it’ll stop you all crying.’
They hugged and, darn it, Eve felt a tear escape. ‘My make-up is never going to survive the day.’
‘Something tells me your groom won’t care,’ Ana said as they all broke apart. ‘Not if that display in Nagymama and Nagypapa’s restaurant was anything to go by.’
‘Ooh, do tell us more,’ Tilly said and Eve blushed.
‘Let’s not do that.’
Rose laughed. ‘Oh, we’re definitely doing that, but later. First we need to get you married.’
‘And before we do that, I have something for you!’ Tilly reached into the front of her gown and pulled out a blue pocket square. ‘It was Dad’s...’ Tears fresh in her eyes, she handed it to Eve. ‘I figured it could be your something blue.’
‘Oh, Tilly!’ Eve fed it through her shaky fingers, raised it to her lips and closed her eyes. ‘Now I have them both with me...’
‘You have us all,’ Tilly said, wrapping her arm around Ana to make sure she knew they included her too. ‘Now you have your something blue from Dad, your something old from Mum—what’s your something new?’
‘My—my underwear...?’
They all laughed, and Ana offered out her hand. In it was a small velvet pouch with the logo of Ana’s handmade jewellery store. Something Eve had learned all about after her and Nate’s extreme PDA in Melbourne.
‘I was going to save this as a leaving gift for your honeymoon, but...’
Eve took it from her, marvelling at her sister’s generosity, her talent too.
‘You already made our wedding rings, Ana, you really shouldn’t have—oh, my!’ In her palm fell a silver chain with a white diamond-embellished swan. ‘It’s—It’s...’
‘It was something Nate said to me when he came to Melbs and I thought—well, I hope you like it.’
‘Like it? I love it!’ She tugged her sister in for a hug. ‘And I love you!’
‘I love you, too.’
‘And I love you all, but we really need to get moving.’ Rose took the necklace from Eve and looped it around her neck.
‘Best stick that hanky where I had it, sis,’ Tilly said. ‘You’re gonna need it.’
Eve eyed the front of her gown and shrugged—if it was good enough for Princess Tilly...
‘And don’t forget your flowers,’ Rose instructed.
Plucking their rose bouquets off the bed, Eve’s the largest of them all, they left the room. Ana and Tilly first, then Eve and Rose. All quiet with their thoughts.
It wasn’t far to the ballroom, but it felt like an eternity as Eve took in the hallway and the memories of old, a smile touching her lips as she focused on the good. The echoes of happy chatter, her mother tinkling on the piano, her father’s deep and rumbling laugh...
Family. Memories. Love. And hope. She’d let them all in and she’d found happiness.
The only person not here to witness it was Granny, but Eve and Nate would see her very soon. The first stop on their honeymoon across Europe was London. And they’d fill her in on every glorious detail...
‘Here we go, sis,’ Rose murmured as they reached the entrance to the ballroom.
The double doors swung open as if by magic, and though the grand room with its ivory panelled walls, subtle gilt detailing and twin chandeliers was decorated as she’d planned, it still took her breath away. Blush and cream flowers adorned every surface, every chair, every set of French doors that showcased a glorious end to spring outdoors.
The music changed tempo, the officiant signalled the room and row upon row of guests stood and turned, but all Eve saw was Nate. Waiting for her.
He looked over his shoulder and caught her eye, his mouth lifting to the side—a look she had come to know well. He liked what he saw. And so did she.
I love you, she mouthed.
I love you, too.
And then Tilly and Ana stepped between them...
‘Patience, Bambi.’ Rose eased her back as she tried to follow. Too eager. Too quick. ‘You know you get to spend the rest of your life with him, right?’
‘I know. I just can’t wait.’
And she couldn’t.
I get it, Mum, she mentally whispered. Love and all its many peculiar facets. I finally get it.
* * *
IMPRINT: Special Releases
ISBN: 9781038916549
TITLE: WED IN THE OUTBACK: VOLUME ONE
Published in Australia 2024
Outback Princess © 2024 by Ally Blake
Outback Bride’s Baby Bombshell © 2024 by Rachael Stewart
