Miracle In March (12 page)

‘Thanks.' Her smile arched into her rosy cheeks and she fidgeted with her beaded necklace.

She knows too.

Had James told them the details of her secret?

Jackson burst out of one of the rooms and ran towards the front door. She thought he was going to run outside but he banged on the wall next to the door with his palm, then spun around and ran back down the hallway and banged the back wall, then hurtled back again, making a ‘vvv' sound, complete with a spray of spittle.

‘Jackson, not too loud,' Martin said.

‘It's okay.' Emma flicked her hand. ‘I used to teach a classroom full of kids. I learned to become immune to loud noise.' God, was she calling Jackson
noise
? She hoped it didn't come out the wrong way. ‘Hi, Jackson.' She waved as he rushed past her and banged the wall.

‘Would you like a drink?' James gestured to the kitchen counter. ‘Wine, juice, beer, or lemonade.'

‘Lemonade, please.' Though the wine might calm her nerves, she didn't want to loosen up too much and lose her cool. Better to have the wine with dinner.

James handed her the sparkling liquid and handed drinks to his family members.

‘So,' Emma said, trying to think up some small talk to break the ice. ‘What brings you to Tarrin's Bay?'

She was met with silence and awkward glances between the family. James spoke up. ‘It's my —
would
have been — my Nonna Bella's birthday this Sunday. She loved Tarrin's Bay so we booked the cabins ages ago, but unfortunately she's not with us anymore.'

Oh crap. Forget about breaking the ice, she'd shattered it.

‘Well, she is in a way.' Marie pointed above the kitchen cupboards to a wooden urn that was definitely not part of the cabin's decor.

‘Mum,' groaned Lizzie. ‘No need to show her.'

‘We're spreading her ashes on Sunday afternoon, at the lookout near Tarrin,' James said.

‘Oh gosh. I'm so sorry, I had no idea.' Emma felt like pulling her shirt up over her head.

‘It's okay.' James smiled. ‘So, um, how's your dad?'

Nice change of subject, one tragedy to another. ‘Good.'
Sort of.

‘Oh yes, we heard you're running this place for your parents. They live nearby?' Marie asked, eyebrows raised.

‘Yes, just up the hill overlooking the beach.' She gestured in the general direction.

‘Well then, perhaps you'd like to invite them for dinner too? There's plenty of food, isn't there James?'

James scratched his head. ‘Um, yes there is…'

‘It's okay, I think they already have dinner sorted,' Emma said. ‘And Dad, well, he's in a wheelchair so it takes a bit of effort to get him places.' Not to mention the fact that he'd make for an uncomfortable dinner guest and would probably tell each person exactly what he thought of their clothing, hair, and attitude.

‘Sorry to hear that,' Martin said. ‘Was he in an accident?'

‘Dad.' Lizzie covered her face with her hand. She was dealing with a lot of embarrassment today.

‘He had a stroke recently, hence I've taken over things for them. At least until they can sell the park.'

‘What a lot you've had to deal with,' said Marie. ‘I mean, having a family member go through such a challenge. Must be a lot for everyone.' She lightly touched Emma's arm.

Yep, she definitely knows.

‘Selling this beautiful place?' André poked his head around the door from outside. ‘Maybe we should buy it,
ma cherie
!' He winked at his wife.

‘I think we should save our money for this little rascal, I'm sure he or she will suck our bank account dry!' She chuckled, then glanced at Emma and covered her mouth.

She definitely knows too.

‘Anyway, um.' Lizzie pointed outside. ‘I might go sit out there in the fresh air.' She pushed herself up and waddled to the porch, James holding the door wide for her.

‘Let's all head outside,' Marie suggested, clasping her hands together.

Emma stepped outside and as the family hovered around the sizzling barbeque to observe the cooking progress, Emma sat next to Lizzie in a wicker deck chair.

‘Emma, I'm sorry I was rude the other day,' she said. ‘I was just —'

‘Don't worry about it at all.' Emma held up her hand. ‘Seriously, it doesn't matter.'

‘I was just looking out for my brother, I remembered how upset he was when your relationship broke up, and…' She shook her head. ‘Oh, I should just learn to keep my mouth shut.'

Emma placed her hand on her arm. ‘Let's start fresh, shall we?'

Lizzie met Emma's gaze and nodded, then leaned a little closer. ‘James told me. I hope that's okay; we kind of forced it out of him. I'm so sorry about what you went through.'

‘We?'

‘Yeah, everyone knows. Sorry.' She shrugged.

Wonderful. Though after being in hospital she'd gotten used to the fact that her private parts were up for public discussion.

‘But he didn't tell us the type of cancer, just that you…' She glanced down at her belly and shook her head again. ‘Oh Geez, I'm sorry.'

‘Lizzie, it's okay.
I'm
okay. It was endometrial —
uterine
— cancer. I don't mind you knowing because, well, we're both women and I know you'd understand.'

Lizzie clamped her lips together in an apologetic smile, then something happened that surprised Emma. Tears welled up in Lizzie's eyes. ‘I can't begin to imagine, I mean…' She wiped at the corners of her eyes.

Emma dug into her pocket for a tissue. ‘Here,' she said.

‘Thanks, gotta love these hormones!'

‘Everything okay?' André asked.

‘Yep. Damn onions.' Lizzie laughed, and André returned to the barbeque with James.

‘I like your necklace.' Emma pointed to the long, colourful beads.

‘Thanks. My hubby brought it back from his last trip to France. Spoils me rotten, he does.'

‘He seems really sweet.'

‘He is. I'm a lucky woman. Very lucky.' She looked down at her belly and her eyes became glossy again.

‘Okay, people, eat up.' James stepped aside. ‘What can I get for you, Emma?'

She stood and eyed the tender, steaming meats and colourful salads.

‘A bit of everything?' he asked.

‘That sounds good to me.' She smiled, her tastebuds eager. ‘Looks delicious.'

He placed a selection onto her plate and she grabbed a knife and fork and napkin from the side table. Martin carried out the extra folding table from inside and set it up on the porch, making room for everyone.

‘I'll get Jackson's, you eat first, darling.' Marie took a plastic plate and filled it with food. ‘All suitable for him, I gather?'

‘Yes, all gluten- and dairy-free. Except the bread rolls.'

Marie took the plate, and James loaded another for his mother. ‘I'll eat inside with Jackson, he's not great with a crowd,' said Marie to Emma.

‘It's okay, I understand,' she replied. Marie went inside and sat Jackson on the table, then started cutting up his meat.

They sat around the two tables on the porch and dug into the balsamic glazed chicken thighs with rosemary, thin lamb sausages with browned onions, and the sweet potato salad, fried rice, and bread rolls.

‘So, Emma,' said Martin. ‘You're a teacher? Have you taken some leave while you're helping out here?'

Emma swallowed her mouthful of food and dabbed her lips with a napkin. ‘Yes, I'm actually on leave until next year. I'd planned it a while ago and Dad's turn just happened to occur around the time I left.'

‘Right.' He took a sip of beer. ‘So what had you planned to do for the year, before your dad's stroke?

Man, he was almost as direct as her father. Must be the lawyer in him, like James, though she assumed he might be retired by now.

‘Dad, she probably just wanted some time off to relax,' said Lizzie.

‘True, but I'd actually been about to book a European holiday when I got the call about Dad. So my trip will have to be postponed, I'm afraid.' Here she was, telling people she barely knew something she hadn't even told her own parents yet.

‘Oh that is a shame!' André said. ‘I hope you will be able to make it over there one day.'

‘I'm sure I will. Dad's getting a little more used to his situation each day, and Mum is getting the hang of things. Once I know they're settled and have all the help they need and the place is sold, I'll reassess.'

James took a sip of wine. ‘Where would you go?'

‘Paris, Tuscany. Maybe London too.'

‘I can advise you on lots of beautiful, hidden places to see in Paris,' André said with a smile.

‘Thanks. There's a lot I'd like to see, and I always said I'd do it one day. I figured now was the perfect time. At least, it was, but life tends to surprise you and change your plans sometimes.' She exchanged a knowing glance with James.

‘It sure does,' he said.

‘I've learned to be flexible,' she added, then took another mouthful of food.

‘I'd love some flexibility around now,' said Lizzie. ‘Enough to put on my own shoes would be handy!' She laughed.

‘That's what you've got
me
for,' said André, leaning over and kissing her on the lips. God he was sweet. She was right, she was very lucky indeed.

James noticed the romantic moment too and cleared his throat, and Marie came back outside, taking the spare seat next to her husband.

‘How did you two meet?' Emma asked the soon-to-be-parents.

‘It was like a fairytale,' said Lizzie. ‘I was in Paris for a conference, and I met him at the hotel. He was staying there too.

‘Oh, so you weren't living there, André?'

He shook his head. ‘No, I had moved to Australia as a teenager, but was back home for a family wedding. The weddings in Paris are not fancy, it's really just signing some papers at City Hall, but we hired a function room in the hotel for a small family gathering.'

A wedding in Paris…
Emma's mind wandered.

‘The hotel had double-booked our rooms,' Lizzie added to the story. ‘Obviously we didn't want to share with a complete stranger, but by the end of the day we'd exchanged numbers and had a nice conversation while waiting for our rooms to be sorted, and the rest is history!'

Lizzie's life seemed more amazing by the minute. Emma tried to quell the annoying touch of envy that surfaced in her chest.

Marie glowed, her hands clasped together under her chin. ‘Such a lovely story. More romantic than how we met, right Martin?' She nudged him.

He cleared his throat. ‘I'll have you know that meeting your future wife while analysing a lengthy terms and conditions statement is quite romantic.' Was that a brief smile? He didn't appear to be the smiley type, but maybe he was just cautious.

‘Mum and Dad met in the university library,' explained Lizzie.

‘That's right,' said Marie. ‘I was a librarian, you see, until my retirement a couple of years ago. I was young and studious, working in the university's library, and along comes equally studious and dashingly handsome law student Martin Gallagher.' She smiled and nudged him again, and he held his drink up to hide his face. ‘He made everything seem so fascinating, even that wretched terms and conditions he was analysing. Every time I have to agree to one I always remember that day.'

Emma smiled, trying to imagine them as young and in love. ‘That's a lovely story too.'

She didn't remember the exact day she met James in high school, probably because they didn't officially meet, she just knew who he was and would occasionally pass him and his crazy, mop of wavy hair in the halls.

A moment of silence hung in the air while they chewed their food, and Emma wondered if James was also thinking about their past. Did random thoughts of her ever pop up into his mind like they did in hers? Or maybe he just focused on the present and the future, as parents of young kids often do.

‘Hey, Emma, has anyone said you look a bit like that actress, oh what's her name?' Lizzie circled her hand in the air, scrunching up her face. ‘The one that was in, oh what was she in?'

James chuckled. ‘Been working on your memory skills, have you?'

Lizzie nudged him. ‘Baby brain is what it is. At least I have an excuse.'

‘Hey, my memory is perfect, thank you,' he said.

Don't I know it.

‘Oh! I know!' Lizzie clicked her fingers. ‘Kate Beckinsale.'

‘Oh, I think I know her, she was in…you know, that one with…' Marie said.

‘Yeah, I know what you mean but I can't think of the name either!'

‘Like mother like daughter,' Martin said. ‘Now that's given me an idea. Remember we used to play that Celebrity Head game with Bella? We should play it tonight, as a little tribute.'

‘Oh that's a lovely idea, Martin,' said Marie.

James ran his hand over his head. ‘We don't have to, we can just have conversations over food like regular people,' he said.

‘Boo to that, I wanna play!' Lizzie slapped the table with her hand.

James shook his head, and eyed Emma with an apologetic but resigned look on his face.

‘I'd love to play the game, and honour your Nonna.' Emma smiled. Sometimes a break from having to keep thinking up topics to discuss was welcome, and games provided a structured way to lighten the mood. Plus she had good memories of her own family trying to lighten her load by playing them between chemo treatments. To her, doing things like that was what regular families did.

‘Then it's settled. I'll get the materials after dessert.' Martin clapped his hands and stood.

* * *

While everyone ate dessert, James put Jackson to bed. Emma had wandered inside at one point to refill some drinks and overheard him reading to his son. She couldn't make out all the words, but the tone and softness in his voice made her heart melt. Though she couldn't see through the gap in the door, she imagined he was sitting on the side of the bed, Jackson tucked up under the blanket with Owly, and James' strong but tender hand rubbing his son's back. She got some ice from the freezer just so she could hang in the kitchen a while longer and listen to him.