Holiday Affair (4 page)

Pulling her wet hair into a loose roll after a quick shower, she applied light makeup, smiling as she saw the traces of pink marks on her neck, where Nick’s rough stubble had grazed her. Warmth pervaded her—she needed to see him this morning to keep her feelings in perspective.

You can do this; you’re a mature woman of the world.

Enjoy his company over breakfast, kiss him good-bye, and
then go catch your plane.

Stepping out on to the veranda, she looked across to see if there was any sign of life from Nick’s cabin. There was a flurry of activity as two cleaning maids dumped sheets and towels into the trolley, pulling a vacuum cleaner through the front door. Lissy walked down the path and she realized she didn’t even know Nick’s last name. A cold feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Has my friend checked out already?” she asked.

“Yes, he was our first checkout this morning. Gone before sun-up.”

Lissy paused, fighting the tightness in her throat as tears threatened to fall. “I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.

I’m heading for the airport myself.”

The girl gave her a wave and lifted fresh towels from the trolley. “Thanks. Have a safe trip.” Gathering her suitcase and backpack, Lissy glanced at her watch, trying to ignore the hurt of Nick leaving without so much as a good-bye. She had shed enough tears over the past two weeks. By the end of today, she would be home and this interlude would be behind her.

The genes had really kicked in big time.
Mum would be
proud of me. Hah!

It was just as well he had gone. He was probably running, because he thought she would be the clingy type that wouldn’t let go. Nothing could be further from the truth.

She took one last lingering look at the bed and the rumpled sheets before locking the door. Walking through the tropical garden to reception, she took care not to trip over the tree root that had led to her downfall last night.

She made her way to the main building, the wheels of her suitcase disturbing the quiet of the garden.

A good lesson in life, Lissy. A warning that it’s easy to
go with the lust of the moment and get let down every time.

Never again. Just think of Mum. We have Declan, and Greg,
and Lincoln, and Lars…and then whoever Mum marries
next!

She thought back to her last conversation with Gramps. After he had teased her about the white picket fence and the dog named Rex, he had put his gnarled hands on each side of her face.

“Lissy, believe in love. It’s out there waiting for you.”

“Gramps,” she argued, “I don’t believe in romantic love and happily ever after.” Gramps had always said,

“Wait and see. Lissy, my darling, love makes a fool of plans. Wait for your destiny, and promise me you won’t settle for less.” He had constantly teased her about her weekly outing with Tom, a quiet friend for whom she had a steady affection. Gramps had probed her feelings for Tom, and warned her not to settle for the sake of security.

The trip home was exhausting–she had to change flights in Brisbane on her way to Armidale. It was dark by the time the taxi dropped her off in front of her semi-detached cottage on the outskirts of town, and Lissy went straight to bed. Rising early the next morning, she shivered as her feet touched the cold floor. Determined to put the events of the last two weeks behind her and get back into her normal routine, she prepared for her morning run. Pulling on a tracksuit and sneakers, she did some stretches before stepping outside. She gasped as her breath misted in the frosty air and pulled a knitted hat over her head before setting off on her run.

Mrs. McGovern, her neighbor and landlady, was also up early and working in her front garden.

“Hey, Mrs. Mac. I’ll pick up Luney and Sylvester on the way back,” Lissy called out to her neighbor.

Mrs. Mac gave her a wave as Lissy broke into a light jog on the footpath. Breathing in the chilly air, her cheeks tingled from the cold. Autumn leaves crunched underfoot as she picked up the pace and did her circuit across town around the back of the university. She was surprised to see two cars and a large black motorcycle parked outside the history building, even though it was the weekend. Two men came out of the building. One of them gave her a quick wave and she waved back, realizing it was Professor Andrews.

That must be the new professor with him.

As she jogged around the corner, the large motorcycle roared past her and she glanced up, nearly tripping over.

The bike rider reminded her of Nick.
She tried to push thoughts of him from her mind as she picked up the pace.

If every man was going to remind her of him, she had no chance. She had to get over it!

She blocked her holiday from her mind, trying to concentrate on her preparations for her return to work on Monday. By the time she had completed her circuit, she was warm and had shed her hat and sweatshirt. Opening the gate to Mrs. Mac’s cottage garden, she bent as she caught her breath. The old lady came out of the front door, a birdcage in one hand and a fluffy white cat tucked under her other arm.

“I hope Luney behaved this time. No breakages?” The cat provided great entertainment and company for Lissy.

Sylvester, the budgie, chirped as she picked up his cage.

“No worse than usual. Still a mad cat, but settling down a bit. She is well named.” Mrs. Mac was used to the pets, often minding them for Lissy when she travelled down to the coast to visit Gramps.

“By the way, your new neighbour is moving in on the weekend. It’s all been organized by the university. I believe he’s a new professor.”

“Yes,” Lissy nodded. “I heard before I went away there is a new professor coming to finish his doctorate and do some lecturing with our faculty. I’m looking forward to meeting him. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you get the cottage ready. I have the whole weekend free.”

Mrs. Mac had split the old bluestone cottage into two rentals. Lissy loved living in the front half of the old home and looked after the rambling cottage garden, and often helped with renovations and odd jobs around both properties.

“I haven’t forgotten you want the front fence whitewashed. I’ve set tomorrow aside for that. Thanks again for minding these two. I’ll see you later, Mrs. Mac.” She hurried up the front steps; her phone was ringing.

She let herself in the door as she juggled the cat and the birdcage. Putting them down gently in front of the fire, she picked up the phone.

“Melissa McIntyre speaking.” She heard the international tones followed by her mother’s greeting.

“Hi, Lissy, just checking you’re home safely. How was your trip?”

How was the trip? Well, Mum, I learned that foolish
behavior is genetic and I fell for the first good-looking male
who came along. Spent the night with him and moved on.

However, I have more sense than you did and we used
protection, so there won’t be any lonely children growing
up with only one parent.

“Great, thanks, Mum. Got a good tan and I’m relaxed and ready to go back to work.”

They chatted for a while and Lissy was surprised to hear her mother and Lars were planning a visit back to Australia in the spring.

“We’ve timed it with your university session break so we can spend some time together at the coast. I have to wrap up some of Gramps’s business and get his house sorted.”

“It will be great to see you both.” Lissy wondered whether Lars would still be on the scene then and if she would even get to meet her latest stepfather. As soon as she ended the call, the phone rang again, and Luney jumped up and started to run around the room.

“Hello.” She chuckled as she answered the phone, watching her crazy cat run around the furniture. The budgie chirped in encouragement.

“Hello, Melissa, it’s Tom. Welcome home. I’m calling to confirm our date for tonight.” Tom Richards was so predictable. He was nice looking, well-mannered, and a stickler for doing the right thing. His structured life and predictability appealed to her and she always enjoyed their Friday dinner date.

“Yes, Tom, looking forward to it. It’s good to be home and back to normal.” There was no way she would share her holiday stories with him this time.

Tom hesitated and cleared his throat.

“Melissa, I was wondering if it would greatly inconvenience you if we changed our routine.” They usually dined at Ivy Cottage, a restaurant on the river, and had met there at seven o’clock each Friday night for the past six months, apart from the occasions Tom was away on business trips or Lissy was down the coast visiting Gramps.

“There’s a family dinner at my parents’ home tonight that I must attend, as my brother is coming home and we have all been summoned to the family home.” He sounded nervous. “Not that I don’t want to go, of course I do, but I was looking forward to our dinner and seeing you. I missed you while you were away.” Lissy was surprised. Tom didn’t usually touch on anything personal, and it was most unusual for them to have such a conversation. Lissy hadn’t even known that his family lived in town.

“I would love for you to come with me. It would be a great opportunity to meet my family, while we are all together. It doesn’t happen often. I’ll pick you up at your place, if that suits you?”

Lissy hesitated. The emotional rollercoaster of the past few weeks had left her feeling fragile, although it would be nice to meet Tom’s family and see him in his comfort zone.

She made a quick decision and spoke before she could change her mind.

“I look forward to it. Is it formal or casual?” Tom laughed. “Very casual. I will apologize for my family in advance. Melissa, there is also something I would like to discuss with you before we get there, so I’ll come over about five?”

Lissy felt a rush of affection for Tom. He had shown more emotion in the short conversation than he had in the six months she’d known him. He had been a steady friend as she eased into her new position at the university, and although he was always business-like and fostered that image with his dress and fastidious attention to his personal appearance, she enjoyed his company.

She began to look forward to the evening and sang along with the radio as she went hunting through her wardrobe for something suitably casual to wear.

She felt happier than she had since Gramps’s death.

Sylvester chirped along with her and Luney gave them both a disdainful look as she stretched out on the sunny windowsill washing herself. Lissy laid out a light wool suit in forest green, with her ankle-length boots, before settling down to reading through her notes for work on Monday morning. She wanted to be up-to-date and well prepared for the new professor; he would have some input into her promotion that was coming up.

Lissy had worked hard at her research to become the youngest lecturer in the history faculty at the small, rural university. Word was out that she was being seriously considered in the current round for a promotion to senior lecturer and it would be an achievement to get that promotion at her age.

A whole new life was about to open up for her.

Tom arrived at her front door precisely at five o’clock.

Her hair was confined in an elegant French roll and pearl studs in her ears finished off the sedate look. Nice and understated for meeting Tom’s family, and Lissy’s beach clothes were packed away until the next trip to the coast.

Back to sedate Melissa, all ready for work
.

She ushered him in from the cold, and was rather astonished when he pulled a large bunch of roses from behind his back. Reaching over, he kissed her on both sides of her face and handed her the flowers. Feeling surprised and a little bit nervous, she hugged the roses to her chest.

Tom had never kissed her cheek before, let alone bought her flowers. They even went Dutch at their weekly dinners.

“Thank you, Tom, how thoughtful of you.”

“Welcome home, Melissa. I really missed you.” Tom looked happy to see her. “You look wonderful. Great tan.

Did you have a good break?”

Lissy hadn’t told any of her colleagues about her grandfather’s death. She kept herself private and professional at the university. She smiled and attempted to regain her composure. She was unsure of this newly confident and casual Tom. “I’ll get a vase from the kitchen.

Would you like a drink? I have some white wine in the fridge.”

“A small one, please.”

Luney jumped down from the chair and wrapped herself around Tom’s ankles. He moved across to the fire and warmed his back as Lissy went to the kitchen.

Returning with a tray holding a bottle of wine and two glasses, Lissy was pleased to see Tom sitting on the long settee in front of the fire, stroking Luney. She sat down next to them and placed the tray on the low table between the settee and the fire. Tom poured the wine and held his glass up to hers.

“Cheers,” he said. A fleeting image of a tall, tanned sailor flitted through her mind as she looked back at Tom. Similar eyes, similar cheekbones.
Tom looked uncomfortable, fidgeting in his seat and straightening his perfectly straight tie. Luney jumped across to Lissy’s lap.

“Is everything all right, Tom?” Lissy asked, concerned that her thoughts could be easily read.

“Yes.” Tom turned and picked up her hand. “I have something to ask you and I don’t know how to go about it.”

Her neck prickled with apprehension.

“We are really great friends and I know how you feel about love and marriage.” Tom paused and cleared his throat. “I have always had a life plan and I would like to get married and have a family. I intend to do that before I am thirty-five…get married, that is. What I am trying to find out, Melissa, is if you would be interested in considering my proposition.”

“Proposition? Do you mean proposal?” The heat rushed into her face and all she could hear was Gramps’s voice:
Wait for your destiny, promise me you won’t settle
for less.

“Oh, no, Lissy. I am not proposing, merely suggesting that you get to think of me in the light of a future life partner. Come and meet my family tonight and then we will discuss it next Friday night.”