Licence to Dream (29 page)

‘I never did learn to obey orders. So sue me.’

‘Meriel, it’s a worse mess than I thought. You don’t want to be involved.’

‘I do.’ She tugged him to sit down on the wooden garden bench and kept hold of his hand. ‘Whatever it is, I won’t let you shut me out any longer. That’s the sort of woman I am. A bully. Get over it.’

He stared at her as if he’d never seen her before, then pulled his hand away from hers. ‘There’s nothing anyone can do to help, even you. You told me it was dangerous to form a partnership and you were one hundred per cent right. I’m ruined and I’ll lose everything I own.’

She watched him close his eyes in pain. ‘We still have my house and land, so we’ll have somewhere to live.’

‘You
still have it, thank goodness. I think if I’d lost your land for you, I’d have thrown myself off the nearest cliff.’

She let him talk for a while, realising he needed to get it out of his system. Then she put her hand over his mouth. ‘Look, Elless, you’re not going to turn all noble on me, are you? Because I tell you frankly, I won’t have it.’

‘I don’t intend to be a burden on anyone, especially you.’

‘Yeah, well, you’re not riding off into the sunset, either. I need you – not your money, or your land, but
you
, Ben Elless, the man I love.’ She put her arms round him. ‘I love you so much.’ She could see that his eyes were bright with unshed tears and her own eyes were also brimming over.

All the times she’d told herself she didn’t need love, she’d been fooling herself. Everyone needed love. It was the most important thing in the world.

His hand came up to caress her cheek and he bent forward to kiss her other cheek. Then he drew back and his voice was husky. ‘I think that’s the most wonderful thing anyone ever said to me.’

They sat hand in hand for a few moments and she saw his stiff shoulders ease a little. When she judged that he was feeling a little better, she said, ‘I hope this is an honest neighbourhood.

‘Why?’

‘I left my suitcase outside your front door. I was going to break in if you weren’t home.’

‘You can break into my house any time. I’ll go and get the case for you.’ He came back a couple of minutes later and took her inside, leaving the case in a room near the front door. ‘I’m sleeping in here at the moment. Or do you want to go to a hotel?’

‘Of course I don’t. This’ll be fine.’ She suddenly became aware of how hungry she was. ‘Do you have anything to eat in the house?’

‘Some bread and jam.’

‘I’m feeling more like red meat and a luscious dessert. Let’s get a shower and go out.’ She could feel him tensing up again, moving away from her. ‘What? What’ve I said?’

‘I can’t afford to take you out. The bank’s cancelled my credit card.’

She pulled him close. ‘Well, I can afford it and I’m not having any stupid heroics about who pays. Take me out somewhere selling food, Elless, or there’ll be major trouble. Hell hath no fury like a hungry woman.’

‘All right. Just this once you can pay.’

But she could see his black mood returning and knew that nothing she said or did would dispel it completely. For the rest of the evening he put on a brave front and she went along with it, telling him about Ria and the others, chatting about her latest book cover.

When they were in bed, she tried desperately to stay awake, but a huge yawn overtook her, in spite of the time differences.

‘Go to sleep,’ he said. ‘You’ve fought enough dragons for today.’

‘You won’t leave me, Ben?’

‘No.’

‘Promise.’

‘I promise. I don’t think I could leave you. I love you and need you.’

‘Me, too.’

* * * *

In the morning he got out the bread and jam, which were all he had in the house, then suddenly said, ‘Wait! I’ve got some tomatoes growing wild on one corner and I think the passionfruit vine still has fruit on it.

He came back with misshapen tomatoes and a pile of dark purple globes, which they cut open to scoop out the seeds and flesh.

She sighed blissfully. ‘That’s delicious. I’ve never had passionfruit freshly picked before.’

‘I keep forgetting you’re a Pom.’

‘Watch it, Elless. Some people use that word as an insult.’

‘Would I ever?’ He pulled her close and said in her ear, ‘Thank you.’

‘What for?’

‘Everything. Coming here. Helping me pull myself together. Loving me. When this is all over, I’ll find myself a job and start again. If possible over in the west, if not, over here in Queensland. Will you put up with that?’

‘I’ll put up with anything as long as we’re together. And if necessary, I’ll sell up and move over here with you. I’m not letting go of you now, Elless.’

His smile was dazzling. ‘When it comes to love, I’m the luckiest man on earth. Others think they are. I know it for certain. I’ll get over the other stuff, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over you.’

‘Good.’

‘I’m going to ring my mother now. I want her to meet you.’

‘I’d like that.’

He put the phone down a minute later. ‘I forgot. It’s not working.’

She got out her mobile. ‘Here. Use this.’

He phoned his mother and arranged for them to meet that evening.

Meriel put her mobile back into her shoulder bag. ‘What happened to your mobile, Elless?’

‘I don’t know. I think someone must have picked my pocket. I had it at the office on my first day over here and haven’t seen it since.’

‘That secretary probably stole it. She has mean eyes. She didn’t pass on my messages, did she?’

‘No. I caught her and Phil kissing one day, so I guess she’s been aiding and abetting him. But she’s going to be disappointed if she thinks he’ll stay around once she’s no use to him. He lets everyone down sooner or later.’

He stared at the ground for a moment or two, sighing as he added, ‘You know, what hurts most is how naïve a fool I’ve been, how I’ve let Phil use me and rob me blind for
years
.’

She took his hand and raised it to her lips. ‘I like you exactly the way you are, Elless, naïve or not. I can be suspicious enough for the two of us from now on, so don’t change on me.’ She reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘I think I’ll just check that everything’s all right back at the ranch, then you can show me the town.’

‘Shouldn’t we be doing something in preparation for the hearing?’

‘We have to go there and tell the truth. What’s to prepare about that? Let’s just chill out for an hour or two. You look like you need a break.’

So they went into the City and took the Riverwalk, stopping now and then so that Ben could explain how a piece of land had been modelled and once, with much gesticulating, he described what he’d have done instead. The sun was shining, there were cafés and displays of art, smiling people, and most of all, the two of them were together.

‘We’ve never done this,’ she said as they sat drinking cappuccinos outside a café.

‘Done what?’

‘Enjoyed ourselves away from home, relaxed, chilled out together.’

His smile had a hint of sadness. ‘Making lemonade, huh?’

‘Why not?’

‘We did have dinner twice in York.’

‘That was before we were together and I was very much on my guard. I was terrified at how attracted I was to you.’

* * * *

That evening as she got ready Meriel admitted to herself that she felt a little nervous about meeting Ben’s mother. It mattered so much that they got on, given how fond of her he obviously was.

But she needn’t have worried. Louise was as warm and friendly as her son, looking far younger than her age. She hugged Meriel and took her outside to see her beautiful garden. She said immediately how delighted she was that Ben had found someone to love. ‘My boy needs to love someone and be loved. He’s not hardwired to be a loner.’

‘No. I’ve discovered that.’

‘And I gather you’re the practical one. You know he isn’t?’

Meriel rolled her eyes. ‘Yes. I definitely found that out.’

‘Good. He needs keeping on track about details. Sandy wasn’t much like you, but she was very practical about everyday life. You don’t mind me talking about her?’

‘No, not at all.’

‘I’ll show you some photos of Ben as a boy after we’ve eaten.’

‘I’d love that.’

‘He was a delightful child.’

Meriel smiled. ‘He’s a pretty wonderful man, too.’

* * * *

When they got back to his house, Ben hugged Meriel suddenly. ‘I really needed you to make me see that this isn’t the end of the world. Will you come with me to the hearing tomorrow?’

She hid her joy at this with a flippant, ‘I thought you’d never ask.’ But it seemed like another step on their path together, so she grinned and confessed, ‘Actually, I was coming with you whatever you said or did.’

‘Don’t push your luck, Ingram.’

She grinned. ‘You’re all talk, Elless, but you’re a pussy cat underneath.’

He purred then kissed her fingertips slowly, one by one. Who would have thought that such a small action could be so sexy? She sucked in air and dragged her hand away.

He gave her a smug look and mimed a meow.

The next day Ben grew very quiet as they got ready to go to the rescheduled preliminary hearing. Meriel kept an eye on him, but didn’t try to cheer him up. He had a right to feel upset and worried. She was worried too.

She hadn’t told him about Rod Hantley’s phone call because she didn’t want to raise any false hopes. Sandy’s uncle might not be able to sort this out and then Ben really would lose everything.

She wouldn’t let him be noble about it, though. They were together and they were staying together, whatever happened, wherever they wound up.

They had trouble finding a parking spot and were only just in time for the hearing. Phil was sitting in a corner of the waiting room. He looked across at Meriel with a scornful expression. ‘Brought the blond bimbo along to hold your hand, have you?’

Ben stiffened and Meriel kept tighter hold of his arm, but fortunately a door opened just then and the same woman as before called ‘Elless-Hantley. Ms Parnahan is ready for you’.

Phil sauntered across the room and pushed in first, so didn’t see the outer door slide open and a man in a wheelchair enter. Ben did and stopped in his tracks.

The old man rolled forward, holding out his hand. ‘I hope my son’s behaviour won’t come between us, lad.’

Ben grasped the hand, not only shaking it but clasping it in both his. ‘Definitely not, Uncle Rod.’

By this time Phil had heard the voices and come back out to join them. ‘Dad! Great to see you.’

Rod Hantley’s whole expression changed and his voice became icy. ‘It’s not great to see you here, Philip. Your mother and I are bitterly disappointed in you. Now, let’s go inside. We don’t want to keep the hearing officer waiting, do we?’

Phil’s mouth fell open in shock, then he snapped it shut, looking sulky.

When they were all settled, Rod took charge, and for all his frail looks, there was an authority in his tone. ‘If you’d kindly outline the financial situation to me, Ms Parnahan, we can discuss what to do about it.’

Phil smirked at Ben.

Ms Parnahan read through a list of his liabilities, ending, ‘Normally we would suggest that Mr Elless and Mr Hantly declare themselves bankrupt. The court would then arrange to take whatever assets they have, within the specifications of the law, to apply towards payment of the debt incurred by one partner.’

‘Which seems rather unfair when only one partner incurred the debts,’ Rod said quietly. ‘And in this case, I believe I can help you come to a settlement without such drastic measures.’

‘I can’t let you do that, Rod,’ Ben said. ‘I was stupid and naïve. You shouldn’t have to pay for that.’

‘You can’t stop me, Ben. He’s my son, even though he’s broken his promises in a multitude of ways. I’ll feel better if I try to make amends. My wife and I will deal with our relationship with him on a personal level, but I’m not having you suffer financially because of his irresponsibility.’

‘I could have worked my way through this if
he
hadn’t tried to break up our business,’ Phil said at once.

‘Keep silent if you want my help, and stop blaming others for your own mistakes.’ Rod’s voice was as quiet as ever but sounding like fractured ice. He turned back to Ben. ‘Phil isn’t and never has been your responsibility. The family was wrong to persuade you to set you up in business together, so we bear part of the blame. I doubt he’ll ever change, so we need to rid you of him.’

He turned to Ms Parnahan. ‘I’ll give you my personal guarantee that all debts which need to be paid to release Mr Elless from any obligations will be paid. My lawyer,’ he gestured to the man who had pushed the wheelchair in, ‘will deal with this for me. I believe you and he are already acquainted?’

She nodded.

Rod turned to Ben. ‘Will you wheel me out, please? My chauffeur is waiting to take me home afterwards, but there’s a café nearby where we could discuss the rest of this. Phil! You’ll need to be there too.’

Phil stepped forward quickly. ‘Of course, Father. And
I’ll
push you.’

‘I don’t want you to do that. In fact, after today, I don’t want to see you again, ever. And I don’t want you pestering your mother for money after I’m dead. I’ve left instructions on how that should be dealt with if you’re stupid enough to try.’

Flinching as if he’d been struck across the face, Phil took a step backwards.

Ben glanced quickly at Meriel, who flapped one hand to urge him on. He didn’t feel sorry for Phil, but he felt enormously sorry for his Uncle Rod, as well as grateful to him. He was still trying to take it in that he wasn’t going to lose everything, could hardly believe this wasn’t a dream.

Taking hold of the wheelchair, he pushed it towards the lift. Meriel fell in beside him and Phil walked a short distance behind them, scowling.

By the time they were settled in the café, Rod was grey-faced with exhaustion, but he again took charge.

‘What I have to say to you, Phil, is quite short, so don’t bother ordering anything. I’ve changed my will so that this settling of your current debts will be considered your inheritance. Apart from that you’ll get nothing from me.’