Harkett's Haven (24 page)

‘Grandparents?’

Eric sat beside her and took her hand.

‘You’
ve grandparents Esme. My mother and father.’

‘Why.....w
hy....didn’t you tell me? Why’ve I never met them? Mum said I didn’t have any grandparents.’

Tears welled up in her eyes.

‘Esme. Your mother and I didn’t act very much like grownups during the time we were together. We did some stupid, stupid things. I’m sure there were faults on both sides but your mother......she didn’t like your grandparents. She found it easier to pretend they didn’t exist and I.....well....I went along with it because at the time...well....at the time it was the easiest thing to do. I was foolish and I regret the decisions we made more than I can say’

‘I’d have don
e anything to have grandparents,’ she whispered through tears.

Eric rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes, his daughter’s words cutting him deep. Rachel wanted to reach out, to give them both the love and reassurance that they needed but she knew the conversation, as painful as it was to hear, had to happen.

‘There’s no excuse for what’s happened Esme. None at all. But I want to put it right. After your mother died I wanted us to start again. That’s why we moved to Scotland. And that’s why we’re here now. That’s why your grandparents are arriving today to stay for a little while.....and you should know that they always wanted to meet you, to know you. Always. You were never far from their thoughts.’

He put his arm round her daughter and held her close, kissing her hair.

Esme’s tears came freely and she sobbed into her father’s chest.

Rachel closed her eyes, finding the sight of the two people she loved struggling with this emotional fallout, hard to bear.

‘I’m sorry Esme. I’m so sorry,’ he whispered.

Esme
swiped at her tears with the back of her hand.

‘
I love you Dad.’

Rachel’s heart went out to this brave little girl who had more sense and understanding than all of them put together.

She sniffed and Rachel took a piece of kitchen roll and passed it to her.

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Esme
smiled at her.

‘I shouldn’
t cry...... I’ve got grandparents’ She tried to smile and a sob escaped and a few tears rolled down her cheeks

‘
Esme,’ Rachel sighed and hugged her close. Holding the little girl she felt more complete and content than she ever had done..

Eric took
Esme’s hand and pulled her to him.

‘
Esme. I’ve got something else to tell you...... I’ve asked Rachel to marry me.’

Esme
sobbed again and threw herself back at Rachel, arms round her waist, holding her tight.

‘I
knew you were the one for Dad and me,’ she whispered, burying her head into Rachel’s stomach.

Rachel shot Eric a warning glance. Why did he tell her after she had warned him not to?

Eric smiled apologetically.

Rachel bent to pick her up, kissing her.

‘Come and help me finish off these pancakes. You have to keep your strength up. Today of all days.’

Esme
went to her seat and took another pancake. Her smile was open delight and she watched Rachel and her father closely, unable to take in all that had just transpired.

‘
Esme. Once you’ve eaten, get changed and I’ll take you to the airport.’

Her face fell immediately.

‘I don’t want to go home Dad.’

‘We’re not going home. We’re going to collect you
r grandparents.’

She just about choked on her mouthful of food.

‘I have to go and get changed...’ she spluttered.

‘Hey. Slow down. We don’t have to leave for a while. And you need to eat something.’

She sat down again and took a drink of her orange juice but her legs kicked a quiet beat impatiently against her chair leg.

Eric smiled and rolled his eyes.

‘Oh go on then Esme. I don’t think you’ll be able to eat anything now will you?’

Esme
shot out of her chair and bolted out of the door.

‘I’m sorry Rachel. I just had to tell her about us.’

Rachel nodded, closed her eyes and sighed.

‘You’ll
have to take it easy with her today.....after all that’s happened this morning she’s going to tire quickly.’

He moved to stand behind her, rubbing her shoulders again.

‘I love you Rachel Christensen. You’ve just made me the happiest man alive today.’

She tu
rned her head to kiss his hand.

‘I can’t
believe this Eric. I’m scared to believe it.’

He pushed her vest down her arm and kissed her bare shoulder.

‘I feel my life has come together since I met you.....that the way ahead is clear. It’s like walking out of the fog when you’ve just about given up hope of ever getting home.....’

H
e kissed her slowly, deliciously, inviting more, wanting more

‘You’ve things to do.’ She turned to him and smiled, ‘
but tonight....well....we’ll have much more time tonight..’

‘I want to
got to bed with you tonight and wake up with you tomorrow morning. You make me complete Rachel.’

His words made her heart fill and her happiness soar but she kissed him briefly and nodded to the door.

‘Go and get ready. Esme will be running down the stairs any minute to ask when you’re going.’

He walked to the door and turned back to face her.

‘Make yourself at home Rachel. Catch up on some sleep or explore the place, whatever you feel like doing. We’ll just be a few hours.,’ he added, ‘I’m just about as nervous as I’ve ever been. I want this first meeting with her grandparents to be special for Esme.’

She had never seen him anything but assured and poised and to see this side of him only served to endear him more to her.

‘I think this’ll be one of those days that Esme will remember for a lifetime,’ she reassured him, smiling at him. Not knowing how prophetic her words would be.

‘See you soon Rachel. I love you.’

He bent to kiss her and then he was gone.

Rachel
sighed and leaned back in her chair. Delighted as she was to be here with Eric and Esme, she relished the chance to catch her breath and have some time to herself. The revelations and drama of the morning left her feeling the need for a brief period of solitude to reflect on what had happened. She topped up her cup of tea and sipped slowly. She wanted to give Eric time to leave the house. She decided that she’d take a shower and freshen up. Maybe a short nap and then she thought she would take a walk on the beach and check out what Canada had to offer.

When all seemed quiet, she went to the door and peeked out into the hall. The house was silent and Rachel made her way back up the stairs to her bedroom.

The windows had been opened and the bed linen changed. The room had been cleared and cleaned and Rachel marvelled at the efficiency with which the house was run.

She went to the window, drawn by the sound of the sea. The breeze through the open window was fresh and invigorating, a light sea salt tang that reminded Rachel of home. She inhaled deeply and decided to shower and have a brief nap before taking a walk to the shore.

The hot water scoured her skin pleasingly and she kept the water jet on high and the water as hot as she could [as 1em">

‘Rachel....Rachel....’ She woke to a gentle
knocking on the door. It was Agnes.

Rachel sat up. She couldn’t have been asle
ep for more than twenty minutes, she thought.

‘Rachel...’ The knocking persisted.

‘Yes Agnes?’ she moved to go to the door.

‘Sorry to bother you Rachel but you have a surprise in the living room. Could you come down please?’

Rachel’s curiosity aroused, she checked her reflection quickly in the mirror. Her hair was gently tousled but it looked good. Her mind raced and she wondered what the surprise was. Had Eric left her something? She couldn’t imagine what it could be.

Agnes waited for her outside the door. She was obviously excited.

‘I’m under strict instructions not to tell you anything but I think you’ll be delighted.’

Agnes held her arm and ushered her along the hallway and down the stairs.

‘Aren’t you going to give me any clues Agnes?,’ she smiled.

‘I couldn’t spoil the surprise but I really can’t believe it. You’ll be delighted Rachel.
Just delighted.’

Rachel couldn’t help
get caught up in Agnes’s excitement.

Agnes approached the door to the living room and asked her to stand still.

‘Let me cover your eyes.’

Rachel stooped slightly for the smaller woman who placed her soft h
ands gently over her eyes and pushed the door open, guiding Rachel carefully into the room.

‘Surprise!’

She removed her hands and Rachel glanced round the room, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the sunlight flooding through the windows.

On the sofa, sitting back relaxed and smiling was Tom Sullivan.

Rachel felt the room spin and then her world went black. Her legs gave way under her and she crumpled to the floor. Somewhere in the distance she could hear Agnes’s cry of shock.

She was vaguely aware of being lifted from the floor and la
id somewhere soft.

She heard his voice, low and soft,

‘Yes, she’ll be just fine. I’ll take care of her Mrs Atherton I promise....’

Her hair was smoothed back, a firm, familiar hand stroking her hair.

A soft whisper in her ear,

‘I’ve waited a long time for this moment Rachel.’
A kiss on her neck.

She opened her eyes, her breathing fast and panicked. He was sitting beside her on the sofa, devouring her with his eyes. He was as cool and assured as he always was.
A mannequin from a high class tailor; so perfect, so handsome and so confident. His short blonde hair was swept back from his face and his steel blue eyes cut into her. He was clean shaven, his jaw strong and determined

‘What are you doing her
e?’ she whispered.

‘Rachel.’ He shook his head.’ Is that any way to greet your fiancé?’

She tried to sit up but he pressed her shoulders pushing her gently back on to the sofa.

‘You did a pretty good job of giving me the slip......but I never gave up looking for you.’ His voice was soft and low. He traced his finger down her arm.

Silence hung in the air between them so thick that the air seemed to have a gel like quality.

Rachel daren’t
move, her mind and body frozen with shock. She had imagined this moment for so long; imagined the moment that he found her, as she always instinctively knew he would. She had imagined what she would do. Played out conversations they would have. She thought she would be strong, assertive, tell him to leave her alone, that there was a reason she had left him in the way that she had. That he scared her. But that was the problem. He scared her and an imagined conversation bore no relation to real life, to the strong powerful man that now sat beside her. So close

He bent his head and kissed the slope of her breasts
.

His touch broke the spell she was under.