His Miracle Bride
His Miracle Bride
Marion Lennox
An only child, Shanni Jefferson doesn't do family. But temporarily homeless and jobless, she jumps at the offer of a live-in nannying position.How hard can it be to look after one little baby? Pierce MacLachlan has been economical with the truth instead of one child, there are five! He's out of his depth with the unruly yet lovable brood.But every night, once the children are all safely tucked in bed, Shanni wonders whether family lifewith gorgeous Piercemight suit her after all.
His Miracle Bride
Marion Lennox
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PROLOGUE
BLAKE, Connor, Sam, Darcy, Dominic and Nikolai. And Pierce. Her self-contained sons.
Ruby looked along the long line of men and she sighed. Shed tried so hard, but they didnt get it. The gift in her pursetheir combined gift for her seventieth birthdayspoke of failure more than anything else.
But her sons were wonderful, she thought, blinking back tears as she tried to see the happy side of the equation. Each one was making a difference in the world. What a transformation from the waifs shed rescued from so many forms of neglect.
They were listening avidly to the speaker. So should she. The Earl of Loganaich was speaking at the opening of his refuge for disadvantaged children. As the past head of Foster Parents Australia, Ruby had been asked for advice. Shed been overjoyed at the concept. A place where kids could regroup
Advice for Ruby was never enough. Shed talked her boys into contributing, with expertise as well as funds. Theyd agreed without hesitation. Today theyd flown in from round the world, taking time out to share her pleasure. And using the occasion to give her their special birthday gift.
Rubys birthday had been the week before. They hadnt forgotten, theyd told her, but theyd said they knew she hated family gatherings.
But it wasnt Ruby who hated family gatherings, she thought sadly. It was her boys. Her men. They saw emotion and they ran a mile.
The Castle at Dolphin Bay was a family enterprise. On stage now was the Earl of Loganaich and his LadyLord Hamish and Lady Susan. With them was their extended family: kids, friends, dogs, the whole domestic muddle. These people had come together to build something they believed in, and the joy of their shared enterpriseplus the joy of belonging to such a close-knit familyshone through.
The earls speech was coming to a close. For the family on the stage it was hugs all round. Ruby looked sadly along her line of grown-up foster sons and there was none of that joy about them.
Todays gift had been as unexpected as it was unwantedthe deeds to a Sydney apartment overlooking one of the most glorious views in the world.
ButAnyone who wants to stay with you for more than a couple of weeks needs our consent, her sons had told her. Were protecting you from yourself. Its time you stopped taking in the strays of the world.
They didnt understand, she thought again sadly, an errant tear slipping down her wrinkled face. Shed fought so hard for all of them, and theyd succeeded, but theyd succeeded on their terms.
She sniffed, trying desperately to focus again on the owners and employees of this extraordinary castle. They seemed so happy. She just knew this place would be successful.
Would her boys ever be successful? On her terms?
Successful in love?
Pierce had seen her tears. He was frowning, reaching across to take her hand. At thirty-six, Pierce was a brilliant architect, lean, craggy, and confident in his dealings with the world. But to Ruby Pierce would always be the starving, ill-used kid shed rescued over and over again.
Pierce more than anyone had contributed to this day, designing the extensions to the castle buildings free of charge so it could more easily accommodate those it was designed to help. She knew Pierce had enjoyed the work, but still he held himself distant.
And where was this baby hed told her about? The things hed told her this morning had left her stunned. Hed been married but now his wife was dead? He was caring for a baby? She hadnt heard any of this until now, and it was only because shed overheard Pierce talking to his foster brothers that hed been forced to tell her.
What is it, Ruby? he asked her now.
Its justIm so confused. I so wanted you to have a proper family.
He gave a rueful smile. I do.
It nearly killed him to admit even that much, Ruby thought. And family? Ha. One baby youre hiring a housekeeper to look after? You wont even let me near.
Its not as if this childs mine, and youve done enough. I cant let you.
But I want to.
No, you dont. Pierce was a professional in charge of his world and she was a frail old lady who didnt know any better. Beloved but past her use-by date. You need to rest.
Ive got all the time in the world to rest, she whispered. But nowall I want is to live.
She looked again along the line of her boys. Her outstanding men.
Not one of them knew how to live, she thought sadly. Not one.
Shed failed.
CHAPTER ONE
SHED psyched herself for farm terrorsbut not for this.
Shanni steered her car onto the verge, but she didnt drive in the gate. No way.
Shanni wasnt a farm girlin fact her best friend had burst out laughing when shed divulged her destination. But Jules had grown up on a farm, so shed talked Shanni through what she might face.
Cows will ignore you as long as you dont interfere with their calves. Calves are curious but harmless, and most modern farms employ test tubes instead of bulls. Check if a cow has a dangly bit, and if it does dont go near it. HorsesBig doesnt mean scary. Say boo to a horse and itll take itself off. Most farm dogs are all bluster. Look them in the eye and shout sit. Oh, and watch for cow pats. Theyre murder on stilettos.
So shed left her stilettos at Juless chic Sydney bedsit. Shed rehearsed her sit command and she was ready for anything.
Anything but this.
There were kids sitting on the gate. Multiple kids. One, two, three, four.
They were watching her. Well, why wouldnt they? Shannis car might well be the only car along here in a week. The meandering gravel track followed a creek that came straight from the snow melt. Distant mountains were capped with snow, even though spring was well under way. Undulating paddocks were dotted with vast red gums. The beauty of New South Waless high country was world renowned.
But
The cows looked safely enclosed in paddocks. She couldnt see a horse or a dog. What she saw was far more terrifying. Girl, boy, boy, girl, she decided, running down their ranks. Matching grubby jeans, T-shirts, sensible boots.
Siblings? Maybe, though there was a redhead, a blonde and two brunettes.
Forget the hair. They were sitting on the gate of the farm where shed agreed to work.
Shed stuck her Aunty Rubys letter on the dashboard so she could read the directions. Ignoring the kidswho were clearly waiting for her to do somethingshe reread it now, holding it like she was handling a scorpion.
Aunty Rubys letter read like she talkedso fast she hardly paused for breath.
Pierce wont let me help him. He was always the sweetest boy. Im sure you thought so, too, and hes had such a bad time. And now this. His wife died six months ago. His wife! He didnt even tell me he was getting married, thats how much he doesnt want to bother me, and now shes dead. And the boys are worrying about him. They say hes falling behind in his work. Hes cutting corners, the boys say, and theres a huge contract hes risking losing. Mind, I think losing a wife makes any other loss irrelevant, but the boys wont talk about that. No one will. They treat me as if Im ancient, not to be bothered.
Anyway dear, I know Michael broke your heartat least your mother said he did though how you can love a man with a ponytailbut worse, youve lost your sweet little London gallery. If you were thinking about coming homeCould you bear to help with a baby for a few weeks until Pierce gets this contract sorted? Hes been looking for a housekeeper but the boys say hes having trouble. I could gobut of course they wont let me.
Rubys frustration sounded through the letter. Beloved Ruby, whod spent her life helping others, was being held at arms length by her foster sons, but she could no sooner resist sticking in her oar than she could breathe.
If she couldnt help, then she was sure that Shanni could.
And Shanni just might.
Housekeeper to a sort-of-cousin and his motherless baby? On a farm on the other side of the world from her life in London? In the normal scheme of things, shed laugh at the suggestion.
But this was Pierce MacLachlan
Pierce was one of Rubys many foster kids. At any family celebration, thered always been three or four of Rubys waifs.
There were three things affecting Shannis decision to help him.
Number one was sympathy. She did remember Pierce. Twenty years ago, Pierce had been fifteen to her almost ten. Shed met him at her Uncle Erics wedding and shed been shocked. Ruby had just taken him infor the fourth time, shed told Shannis mother. Hed looked far too skinny, far too tall for his clothes, far toodesolate.
And now hed lost his wife. That was awful.
Shanni was a soft touch.
And, okay, admit it. Twenty years ago shed thought Pierce had the makings ofgorgeous. Her hormones had just been waking up. Pierce was a tall, dark and mysterious fifteen-year-old, all angular bones and shadows. In truth hed probably just been excruciatingly shy and malnourished, but hed run rings round the rest of her rowdy cousins. So added to sympathy waslust?
Yeah, right. She was a big girl now. Pierce was probably a five-feet-two midget with a pot belly. And she was supposed to be broken hearted.
But then there was number three, and that was the biggie. She didnt have enough money to stay in London. Shed lost her gallery and her lover. Ruby said Pierce had a farm. She could just pop in and see what the set-up was, and if it wasnt suitable then she could retreat to her parents spare room and lick her wounds.
Only, the option of her parents spare room was no longer available.
So she was here. Facing four kids.
Four kids? She was scared enough of one baby.
She couldnt stay, she thought, staring again at the four kids. But where to go? Where?
She hadnt done her homework before shed headed home. Shed received Rubys letter and suddenly shed just come. To find that her parents were overseaswell, shed known thatbut to her horror theyd sublet their house. Hadnt they known their daughter was intending to need it? They might have guessed shed flee to Australia without asking questions, to be met by strangers having a barbecue in their back yard.
She sniffed, but she didnt cry. When had she ever?
She should have cried when shed found Mike in bed with one of his stupid modelsbut even then
Shed come home mid-afternoon with the beginnings of the flu and had walked in and found them. Just like in the sitcoms, they hadnt seen her. Well, theyd hardly been looking.
Shed retreated to the laundry and filled a bucket. Then, while her whole body had shaken with suppressed rageas well as the first symptoms of a truly horrid dose of influenzashed decided water alone wasnt enough. Shed stalked into the kitchen and hauled out the ice. Even then they hadnt heard her, though her hands were shaking so much shed dropped two ice trays. It had taken five minutes before enough ice melted to bring the bucket of water to almost freezing, but it had definitely been worth the wait. Throwing it had been a definite high point.
Though, in retrospect, maybe tears would have been better. For, although shed been ruthless with the ice bucket, she hadnt moved fast enough with the shared credit card. By the time shed emerged from influenza and betrayal, Mike had revenged himself the only way a low-life creep with the morals of a sewer rat knew how.
It had been enough to tip her over the edge financially. Her tiny mortgaged-to-the-hilt art gallery had ceased to be.
But she was still irrationally pleased that Mike hadnt seen her cry. If I can cope with Mike without tears, I can cope with this, she told herself, staring out at the kids on the gate while her stomach plummeted as far as it could go and then found a few depths she hadnt known existed.
The kids were puzzled that she wasnt turning in. The oldest kida pre-adolescent girl with short, copper-red hair that looked like it had been hacked with hedge clippershad jumped off the gate in preparation for opening it.
Surely shed got it wrong.
She wound down the windowjust a tadadmitting nothing.
Is this Two Creek Farm? she called.
Yes, the oldest boy called. Are you Shanni?
Yes. Her voice was so faint it was barely a squeak.
Finally. The girl with the bad haircut hauled the gate wide while the three kids still sitting on the top rail swayed and clung. Dad says we cant go inside until you get here. What are you doing, parking over there?
Your dads expecting me?
You rang. Didnt you?
UmYes.
The girl looked right, looked left, looked right againhad there ever been another car up here?and crossed the road to talk. Dad said, Thank God, Rubys come up trumps. Weve got a babysitter.
I see. She swallowed and looked again at the kids on the gate. I guessyour dads name is Pierce?
Hes Pierce MacLachlan. The girl poked her hand in the open car window. She was all arms and legs and a mouthful of braces. Im Wendy MacLachlan. Im eleven.
I see, Shanni said faintly, while her hand was firmly shaken.
The others are Bryce and Donald and Abby, Wendy told her. Bryce is nine. Donalds seven. Abbys four. Theres Bessy as well, but shes only eight months old so she doesnt talk yet, and shes away with Dad. Shes actually Elizabeth, but shes too cute to be an Elizabeth.
Bessy. The baby. One true thing.
Wheres your dad?
He had to take Bessy to the doctor. We think shes got chicken pox. She hasnt got any spots yet, but shes grizzling so much she must be sick. Dad didnt get any sleep last night. When you rang he looked like he might cry.
Oh, Shanni said. Even more faintly. She looked over to where the other three children were swinging on the opened gate. Have you all had chicken pox?
Oh yes, Wendy said blithely. I had it first and then Donald and Abby and Bryce got it all together. Dad said he was going round the twist, but I helped.
Im sure you did.
We didnt want Bessy to catch it, but she did anyway. Dads buggered. She blinked. Whoops, Im not supposed to say that. Dad says. But when you rang and said you were coming Dad said, Thank God, Im so buggered Ill pay half my kingdom for decent help. And then he looked at all of us and said hed pay all his kingdom.
A lesser woman would turn around right now, Shanni thought. A lesser woman would say whoops, sorry, theres been a dreadful mistake, and go find a nice homeless shelter rather than face this.
We shouldnt be here by ourselves, Wendy admitted, her voice faltering just a little. But the station wagons got a flat tyre, and when Dad pulled out the spare it was flat, too. Mum must have had a flat tyre and not told DadShe swallowed. Before. before she died. Anyway, Dads cars only a two-seater, and he really needed to take Bessy to the doctor and we wont all fit. So I said wed be fine, only he worries about Abby cos she keeps doing stuff like getting her toe stuck in the sink. So I promised wed sit on the gate and not move until you came. Abby promised faithfully not to fall off.
Ruby, Shanni said to herself under her breath. Dear, dotty Aunty Ruby
How could she cope with this? What she wanted was breathing space. Time to get her head clear, paint a little, take time to think about where she wanted to go from here. A bit of wandering on a farm, taking in the sights, maybe with a cute little baby in a pram. Winning the gratitude of a boy shed once felt sorry for.
And solitude, solitude and more solitude.
There was a shriek from the other side of the road. The boys had swung the gate hard and, despite her promise, Abby had fallen backwards. The four-year-old was hanging by the knees, her blonde pigtails brushing the dirt. Her hands were dragging on the ground, trying to find purchase, while the gate swung wildly to and fro.
Help, she yelled. Wendy, heeeelp.
Wendy sighed. She looked to the right, looked to the left, looked to the right again and stomped back across the road. The kids boots look too tight, Shanni thought. Her feet looked like they hurt.
Wendy yanked Abby backwards into her skinny arms, staggering under her weight. The gate sung wildly again with its load of two little boys.
Are you coming in? Wendy called across the road, still staggering. Abby was far too heavy for her.
Shanni met her look head on.
It was a strange look for a child. She doesnt think Im coming in, Shanni thought. It was a look of a child whod needed to grow up before her time. Despite herself, her heart lurched.
Oh, help. Stop it, she told herself. Stop it.
Youre such a soft touch, her friends told her, and she knew they were right. Before shed left London shed had to find homes for the three cats shed taken in against her better judgement, plus twenty cacti her elderly neighbour had persuaded her to water when shed gone away for the weekendonly the weekend had turned out to be a decision to join her son in the Riviera for ever.
A lesser woman would have ditched the cacti. She hated cacti.
Shed boxed them up and taken them halfway across London to a batty cactus lover shed found on the internet.
Even MikeHe hadnt had anywhere to stay, and hed been such a promising artist. Had she mistaken sympathy for love?
So dont you dare feel sorry for this family, she told herself. Leave. Now.
But Wendy was watching her, her small face closed. She wasnt expecting help. And then she stopped looking at Shannidecision made.
It doesnt matter what Dad said, she told her little sister. Ill take you inside. She hugged her little sister in a gesture that was pure protection, turning her back on Shanni. Youve scraped your fingers. Well find a plaster.
Oh, heck.
What did you say your names were? Shanni called.
Bryce, the oldest boy called. Bryce and Wendy and Donald and Abby. And Bessy at the doctor.
Okay, Bryce, Shanni said wearily. Where do I park?
Definitely chicken pox, the doctor told Pierce in a tone of deep disapproval. That makes the whole family. The older children should have been immunized. We do standard immunization at twelve months. Bessy will be paying the price of your failure to get that done.
If he was less tired hed slug him, Pierce thought wearily, but slugging would involve energy, and energy was something that was in short supply.
Heres a prescription, the doctor said, still cool. Twice a day, just like the older children. Can I rely on you to give it?
Yes, Pierce snapped. Maybe he did have enough energy. But Bessy was clinging to his neck. It was pretty difficult to slug when holding a whimpering baby.
The child welfare officer says you seem to be struggling, the doctor said. He peered at Pierce as if he wasnt too sure. I can call them in, if you want. I told you that when their mother died.
I dont want. And I have help coming.
Excellent. I hope its somebody competent. These children have suffered enough. The doctor closed Bessys patient file with a snap. Consultation over. Let me know if you change your mind. I can get Welfare in tomorrow.
The house was a tip.
Shanni walked into the kitchen and nearly walked out again.
It was a vast farmhouse kitchen, one wall almost taken up by a huge green Aga. The cupboards and benches were made of a deep, rich wood, and the floor was planked with something that looked like oak. An enormous wooden table dominated the rooma table big enough to
To hold every eating utensil in the house, Shanni thought incredulously. When had they ever washed up?
Itsits a bit messy, Wendy said, following Shanni in. She hadnt put Abby down. She was still staggering under her weight. Bessy was really sick yesterday.
The two little boys were bringing up the rear. They at least looked like brotherscurly black hair, matching freckles, matching expressions of distrust.
The kitchen was cold. It was a glorious spring day but the place felt damp.
We ran out of wood last night, Wendy admitted, as she touched the cold stove. Dad ran out of time to chop it. But Dad said just as well, cos he wouldnt have gone to the doctors and left the fire burning. We had cereal and orange juice for breakfast, so we didnt need the stove.
I see, Shanni said. She didnt see.
Wendy staggered forward and plonked her little sister on a kitchen chair. Ill find a plaster.
This at least was a place to start. Abbys finger was grazed. We need to clean it, she told Wendy. Can you find me a face cloth and some soap?
I think so, Wendy said cautiously. Are you going to look after us?
I have no idea, Shanni told her. Or, not in the long term. But for now it looks like I need to look after you at least until your father gets home. Lets start with one sore finger.
Bessy went to sleep somewhere between the doctors surgery and the pharmacy. Finally. Shed sobbed practically all the previous night. Shed sobbed in the doctors waiting room and in the surgery. The silence as she slid into sleep was almost deafening.
Pierce was lucky enough to find a parking space just outside the pharmacy. Yes! There was no way he was going to wake her.
But here was another occasion where he could be censured by child welfarenever leave your child alone in a car.
It wasnt like this was a closed-in car. His cute little sports coupa bright yellow MX5 he loved almost more than life itselfwas open to the sun. It was a gorgeous spring day. Hed be able to watch Bessy though the window of the pharmacy as he dived in and grabbed the prescription.
But there were ten prescriptions before him.
Itll be twenty minutes, the pharmacist said, and Pierce almost groaned.
Ive got kids at home and the baby in the car.
Dont leave your child in the car.
Look, can you fast track?
Twenty minutes.
Fine. He sighed. He couldnt slug everyone in this town even if it was starting to feel like everyone was conspiring against him. Ill sit in the car and wait.
He tried to stalk out, but his legs were too tired to stalk. As he walked past the window on the way out he caught a look at himself in its reflective glass.
He hadnt shaved for two days. Hed slept in these clothes.
He looked like death. A little old lady entering the pharmacy gave him a wide berth, and he didnt blame her.
He slid into the drivers seat of his cool little car. Beside him, Bessy was still soundly asleep.
Twenty minutes, Bess, he said, but she didnt stir.
He empathized. He sighed. He closed his eyes.
The warm spring sun was a balm all by itself. It was quiet. So quiet.
Twenty minutes.
He could just fold his arms on his steering wheel and let his head droop.
It was so warm.
How long did you say your dad would be?
He said an hour. The appointment was for half past ten.
Its now well after eleven. Shouldnt he be back by now? Shanni said cautiously.
Yes, Wendy said, and her bottom lip trembled. Just a bit. She caught herself almost before the telltale quiver happened, but Shanni had seen.
She felt like quivering herself.
Uh-oh.
She was only staying here until Pierce got home, she told herself. Then she was out of here fast. But these kids were starting to look more scared than she was. She couldnt leave them. Nor could she sit round in this appalling mess worrying about where Pierce was.
They were all staring at her, and Wendys poorly disguised quiver was reflected on each of their faces.
Theyd lost their mum. Pierce was late.
Their world wasnt as stable as they might like.
Right, she said. Ill ring the doctors surgery, shall I?
Yes, said Wendy, sounding relieved.
So she rang. Yes, hed been at the doctors surgery.
He has to collect a prescription before he goes home, the receptionist told her. And hes probably taken the opportunity to go shopping. Has he left those poor children by themselves?
There was enough censure in her tone to make Shanni back off.
No. Theyre with me.
If theres a problem
Why would there be a problem?
The child welfare people arent all that happy about the way hes coping.
Her voice was loud enough for Wendy, clinging to Shannis side, to hear.
Tell her were coping fine, Wendy said, her face flushing. Yeah, Dadll just be shopping. Were okay.
Were okay, Shanni said, and put the phone down.
They want to take us away from Dad, Wendy said.
Maybe they, whoever they were, had grounds.
But meanwhileShe could hardly phone the police and report Pierce missing. Not yet. Shed give him a bit of leeway.
But there was still fear on four little faces.
Theres no earthly use looking like that, she told them, mentally rolling up her sleeves, girding her loins, doing whatever a girl had to do before launching into battle. If youre worried about child welfare, then we need to show them were coping.
How are we coping? Wendy asked.
By cleaning. She stared at the mound of dishes. First thing first. This is a big job, so we need a major battle plan. Ill chop enough wood to light the fire and get some hot water. Lots of hot water. A sink isnt going to cut it. Lets fill the bath. Donald, can you find us a pile of clean towels? The rest of you carry every dirty dishexcept the knives, well leave the knives for meinto the bathroom. Boys wash and girls dry. I want the whole bathroom filled with clean plates, so clean they sparkle. Ill clean in here, and then well bring the clean things back in.
We cant, Donald said. Were not old enough to wash dishes. Only Wendy.
Nonsense, Shanni said with a lot more briskness than she felt. Big doesnt mean clever. Take your boots and socks off so if you get wet it doesnt matter. Washing in the bath is fun. Do you have a sound systemfor music?
PDad has one, Wendy said. Hes got lots of CDs.
Then lets put on a bouncy work CD, she said. Something like Abba. Do you know Dancing Queen?
Yes, Abby said, her eyes lighting up. Our Mummy liked Abba. Thats why she called me Abby.
Then well put on Abba.
I dont know whether Dads got Abba, said Wendy.
Huh?
No matter. Questions could wait.
Lets look then, shall we? Shanni said, sounding a lot more decisive than she felt. Cos this house looks like it needs about a hundred Abba CDs to lick it into shape.
At four oclock the sun slipped behind the Craggyburn Post Office clock tower and Pierce and Bessy lost their sunshine.
Bessy woke first. She wiggled in her car seat, reached across to Pierce, put her pudgy hand into his mess of unkempt brown curls and pulled.
Pierce woke like hed been shot.
Mmmphf, Bessy said in deep satisfaction at the results of one small tug.
Bess, Pierce said, coming to and trying to stop his eyes watering. Boy, you dont know your own strength.
He winced and rubbed his head. He stirred and he stretched.
He gazed sleepily up to the clock tower.
The world stilled.
Surely he hadnt. Surely
Oh, God, he had. Hed been away for over five hours. Almost six.
He reached for the ignition, his fingers fumbling in haste. A woman from the pharmacy was restocking shelves in the window. She saw him backing out of the parking space, and she waved to him frantically to stop.
He paused and she came to the door.
Your prescriptions filled, she called. We wondered when youd wake up. You should be more careful. Mr Connelly, the pharmacist, says the babyll probably be sunburned.
Not bad at all.
Shanni stood back and surveyed the pencil sketch shed just done with a tinge of admiration. Her very first cow. It even looked like a cow.
Its leg looked a bit funny.
She checked her line of kids. Four kids. Four boards with paint, four brushes, four makeshift easels. Intense concentration. Good.
Four oclock. How long before she called someone in?
She looked across at Wendy who was working with almost desperate absorption.
Donald, Bryce and Abby were silent, too.
Damn him. What was he playing at?
She should call
Wendy looked across at her, her eyes pleading.
Not yet.
Pierce was struggling to stay under the speed limit as he and Bessy flew homeward. Bessy was rested and cheerful, crowing in delight at the soothing feeling of wind against her increasingly itchy skin.
Pierce might have rested but he didnt feel rested. Hed left them for an hour hoping the womanwho was it? Shannon? No, Shanniwould arrive.
Even if she had arrived, shed be long gone by now. The kids would be terrified.
He turned the last curveand there was a police car in the yard.
The police
Itd be the pharmacist, he thought, remembering the prissy set to the mans mouth as hed handed over Bessys medicine. The whole town thought these kids would be better off in care. And now
Ive stuffed it big time, he told Bessy as he lifted her from the car. I dont deserve to have you guys.
Where was everybody?
Two policemen appeared from behind the hayshed.
Accompanied by a redhead.
A woman. Small. Slim. Faded jeans. Bright red windcheater, splodged with green paint. A yellow bandana catching back shoulder-length flaming curls. Green paint smeared on a snubbed nose. Freckles.
Memory stirred. One of Rubys family weddings. A nightmare of being alone. A kid the same age as him, taunting, Hes one of Aunty Rubys strays. Hes a bastard. Bastard, bastard, bastard.
Then a skinny little girl, dressed in a scarlet party frock and with a huge pink bow in her flaming hair, marching up to her big cousin and stomping hard on his foot. So hard the kid had yelped.
Gee, Im sorry, Mac, shed said, and she hadnt sounded sorry at all. Then shed turned to him and smiled. Hi. My names Shanni. Whats yours?
Hed remembered. That tiny piece of kindness and bravado had stayed with him, to be used as an inward smile at need.
Could this really be her?
Pierce, dear, were over here, she said, smiling brightly and waving to him like he was her long-time cousin. Hows our darling Bessy? Did you get the things I wanted from the store?
Umhi, he said weakly, and the memory of the stomping was suddenly crystal clear.
Amazingly the cops were smiling as well. Pierce recognized theman older cop who had family in the town, and a younger guy whose stock in trade was aggression. Theyd been here two weeks ago with the child welfare officers.
Theyd left then looking grim. They werent looking grim now. The younger guy was smiling almost fatuously, and the older guy was looking on with benign amusement.
So, Friday night the young cop said to Shanni.
Can I let you know? Shanni said. I need to sort out rosters with my cousin. It wouldnt do to leave the kids by themselves.
Ouch.
Well see you round, then, the older cop said benignly. Good luck with that cow, miss. Im sure youll get that leg right in the end.
Ill ring you on Friday, the young cop said, waving a slip of paper. Thanks for your number. I wont lose it.
They waved to Pierce in friendly salute. They climbed into the police car, and they were gone.
Leaving Pierce with Shanni.
CHAPTER TWO
UMYOURE Shanni, he said, and he sounded dumb.
You think? Shanni said, arching her eyebrows. Shed stopped walking toward him the minute the police car left the yard. She didnt come one inch closer. You might want to check. After all, its important to be sure who you leave in charge of your children.
Look, I
The bouncing smile and the charm were put carefully aside. What the hell are you playing at? Wendys terrified. I came within an inch of telling those policemen that these kids would be better off in foster care. What sort of a father are you? Where the hell have you been?
He focused on the one tiny thing he had control over. Do you mind watching your mouth? Im teaching them not to swear.
She took a deep breath. You are kidding? she said at last. Abandoned, starving kids being taught not to swear.
Theyre not starving.
So what did you leave them for lunch?
I dont know, he said, forcing his dazed brain to think. Theres eggs, steak, sausages, frozen chips
All of which require a stove, she said dangerously.
Weve got a stove.
And the kids were going to light it how? Shanni was looking at him like he was something that had crawled out of cheese.
Look, I went to sleep.
Really? She raised one quirky eyebrow. You had a little nap. So your kids starved.
Kids dont starve from missing lunch.
She glared.
Dad, said a small voice, and it was Wendy, approaching from behind Shanni.
She stayed behind Shanni. She didnt come near. It was like she was using Shanni as a shield.
The weight around his heart grew heavier. Hed let Wendy down. This puny kid who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Hed been gaining her trust. A little.
Hell, Wendy
Dont swear in front of the children, Shanni said icily.
Look, I fell asleep, he said desperately. I didnt sleep at all last night. Wendy, tell her I didnt sleep. I had to take Bessy to the doctors, and then I had to wait for the prescription to be filled. I sat in the car and waited because you cant leave kids alone in the car, and I just slept. He spread his hands. He might never convince Shanni, he thought, but it was Wendy who was important.
There was a lengthy pause while Wendy considered. Shanni remained silent.
He really didnt sleep last night, Wendy said at last, talking to Shanni. Maybe he didnt sleep the night before, either, she added. I had a nightmare and woke up. He made me hot chocolate.
Shannis iciness thawed, just a little. Youre saying he has an excuse?
He looks awful, Wendy said.
He does, Shanni agreed. When did he last shave?
He looks okay when hes shaved, Wendy said. Or when hes a little bit bristly. Hes too bristly now.
This sisterhood thing was getting scary. But they were coming down on his side. Maybe.
Oooohh. It was Bessy, beaming at Wendy.
Wendy walked forward and snatched Bessy from his arms. Then she retreated behind Shanni again. They werent completely on his side. Wendy must have been terrified.
Im really sorry, he told her, while Shanni practised her glare some more.
I thought youd run away, Wendy said.
I wont. I told you.
Men tell lies. Mum said that. Men always tell lies.
There was another lengthy pause, worse than the last. Pierce tried to think of what to say. Nothing came.
The silence extended. The three of them were gazing at him like he was a maw worm. Wendy and Shannieven Bessy.
Then, You know, my dad doesnt tell lies, Shanni said, thoughtful. Honest. And Ive known my dad for twenty-nine years. He makes mistakesonce he even left me at the ice rink for five hours cos he was reading a really good bookbut he doesnt tell lies. Are you hungry? she asked him.
Food was the last thing he was thinking of. Though, come to think of it
I guess I am a bit.
Theres cold sausages, Wendy said. We cooked a lot for lunch cos we thought youd be home. And Shanni made choc-chip cookies.
Shannis made choc-chip cookies? He stopped looking at Wendy. Yep, hed betrayed a trust, and somehow he had to figure out a way to retrieve himselfbut there was nothing he could do about that right now. But somehow Shannis ice-rink story had lessened the tension. And sausagesChoc-chip cookies
Theyre my specialty, Shanni said modestly. You didnt have choc chips so we had to squash a block.
The fires not lit.
We lit it, Wendy said. We had to light it to get hot water to do the dishes. And Ive eaten five choc-chip cookies.
You lit the fire? But the wood
Shanni chopped it. The boys stacked it. The wood box is full.
Shanni had chopped the wood. Shed lit the stove. Shed made choc-chip cookies. He stared.
I know, she said, pseudo-modest. Call me Wonderwoman.
Ruby said youre an artist. His tone was almost accusatory. He heard it, and tried desperately to retrieve himself. I mean
I think Im converting to wood chopping, Shanni said. Ive failed cows legs, and chopping vents anger.
Anger
Now, why would I be feeling anger? she said, to Wendy rather than him. To be brought here under false pretences
Whoa. Things were spinning away from him. False pretences? he said weakly.
One baby, she said, and tugged Wendy against her in another display of the power of sisterhood. Men, the gesture said. The despicable species. One baby does not equate to five kids. Ruby told me one baby. I rang you from my friends and you said one baby.
Uh-oh.
I didnt say one baby, he said weakly. But, yeah, Ruby would have told you one baby. To be honest, when you rang I thought Id get you here any way I could and try and bribe you into staying once you got here.
Beam me up now, Scotty, he thought bleakly. Im an outright bastard.
But suddenly they had a diversion. Bessy had been nestling against Wendys shoulder, content from her drive. But Bessy was eight months old. She hadnt been fed since breakfast. She was a young lady with chicken pox.
Bessy suddenly recalled all this in one huge momentous wash of outrage. She opened her mouth, and she yelled.
Can you stay at least until weve fed Bessy? Pierce asked over the yells.
Im staying until youve done some explaining, Shanni said grimly. I need to murder you or I need to murder my Aunty Ruby, and I cant figure out which.
She should leave.
Since Bessys initial howl thered been no time to do anything but run. There certainly hadnt been time for explanations.
Bessy had needed feeding, bathing, soothing, more soothing, more feeding. The kids had needed baths and dinner. The cattle had needed feeding. Okay, Pierce had done that one on his own. Shanni had stayed in the kitchen and supervised the kids dinner while watching Pierce out the window.
There was a huge cowa bull?in the paddock closest to the house. Pierce had wheeled a vast bale of hay to the gate on a hand cart, opened the gate and spread the hay.
Wasnt that dangerous? The cow had lookedlooked
Cute, shed decided as Pierce had scratched it behind the ear. The big creature had almost purred, leaning its big body against Pierce until he staggered. Really cute.
Actually, not as cute as Pierce.
He was tall and lean and angular. His deep brown curls were unkempt and too long. He hadnt shaved for a couple of days and he had shadows under his eyes. His jeans and windcheater looked like hed been sleeping in them. He looked almost gaunt.
Her impression of Pierce aged fifteen had been that the guy was hot.
Nothing had changed.
What wasnt hot was five children.
But she did feel sorry for him. To be stuck with five kids
It was his choice.
It was hardly his fault that his wife had died.
No, but
What are you thinking? Wendy asked shyly. The kids were tucking into scrambled eggs like there was no tomorrow.
Im thinking you guys have hollow legs. What have you been eating?
PieDads not a very good cook.
Do you call him Pierce?
Yes, but not in front of people, Bryce told her, scooping up another mouthful of scrambled egg and closing his eyes in bliss. This hasnt got a single bit of black on it.
Scrambled eggs is my second specialty, after choc-chip cookies.
Pizzas Dads specialty, Wendy said. But the last time we ordered it Dad forgot we didnt have any cash and the pizza guy wouldnt take a cheque or credit card and now he wont come back.
I can make pizza.
Youre kidding. It was Pierce, standing in the doorway, surveying the domesticity before him with amazement. You cook pizza?
She means she gets those boxes in the supermarket and thaws them out, Bryce said wisely.
I do not, she said, taking umbrage. I can cook them from the ground up.
Will you cook us one? Abby asked.
Maybe tomorrow. If I get the ingredients.
Will you stay then? Donald was the quietest of the kids. Hed hardly spoken since shed arrived. Hed simply watched her. Even when shed set them all to painting, shed been aware that Donald had never stopped watching her. Now he asked his question and it was like a challenge.
For tonight. She blinked. Yeah, okay, she was committing herself, but where else was she going to sleep? Tell me you have a spare bed.
We have a spare bedroom, Pierce said.
Its Mummys bedroom, Donald said, still gazing at her with that unwavering stare.
Mummys bedroom. Oh, heck. Um, doesnt Daddy sleep there?
He sleeps upstairs in Bessys room, Abby said.
She keeps waking up, Bryce added.
Wendy used to get up to her when Mummy was sick, Donald said, tilting his chin. Cos Mummy didnt want Pierce to. But Pierce does it now.
Didnt your mummy die when Bessy was born?
Just after, Donald said.
This was stuff she didnt understand. She wasnt sure that she wanted to try. Isnt it bedtime? she asked weakly, and Pierce nodded.
It surely is.
Will Shanni tell us a bedtime story? Abby asked.
I will, Pierce said gruffly.
We want Shanni, Wendy said.
Im washing up. Shanni was feeling completely confused. What was going on here? Pierce looked defeated. Battle weary and exhausted. And hed slept today.
Your dad reads you bedtime stories, she managed. Thats his job. Im the housekeeperI keep house. Its up to Pierce to keep kids.
Pierce took almost an hour to read them their stories. When he finally came downstairs, Shanni was sitting on the kitchen floor surrounded by stuff.
The more he looked at her, the more he remembered that ten-year-old Shanni. Shed made him smile then and she had that power still, just by sitting in the middle of his kitchen floor. Which was dumb. Dangerous, even.
What you doing? he managed.
This isnt a fridge, its an ecosystem. She carefully didnt look at him. Instead she held up a jar where purple fuzz fought with green slime. Didnt Fleming invent penicillin this way? Are you searching for a patent cure for chicken pox?
Leave it.
Hand me a rubbish bag, she said. Left to breed, this could take over the world.
He found a rubbish bag and held it out. She scooped in so much stuff that even he was hornswoggled.
Im usually neat, he said defensively, and she nodded.
I remember you at fifteen. You wereneat.
He glowered. I believe I was wearing a suit.
Blue pinstripe if I recall.
That the rest of the boys thought was
Poncy. Yeah, I remember you were teased.
He gazed down, trying to figure things out. Where did she fit? He couldnt remember. Ruby had simply referred to her as our Shanni. Our Shanni would love to come and help out.
All he could remember was the oversized bow and the stomping foot and the smile. Mostly the smile.
I cant exactly remember the connection, he said apologetically.
My dad is Rubys younger brother.
So you are?
Lucy and Wills daughter. Theyre academics. Theyre currently in Switzerland.
I dont remember Lucy and Will. But I remember you.
Gee, thanks.
You stood on Macs toe.
I did, didnt I? she said, and grinned at the memory. Hes grown up to be a used-car dealer. Ruby says he married a woman whos a real harpy. Good old Mac.
Why did you come?
Aunty Ruby asked me. She held up something greenish. Courgette?
Cucumber.
A bit past its use-by date, wouldnt you say?
IYes.
Why didnt you tell me you had five kids?
I dont believe I told you anything.
But Ruby didnt say.
Ruby doesnt know.
Ruby doesnt know you have five kids?
No.
You didnt tell Ruby?
I barely see Ruby. Theres no need to tell her everything.
Yeah, so omit a little something. Like four kids. Somethings rotten here and I dont know what. Shed been foraging in the rear of the fridge and now she emerged triumphant. No, this is dried out. Im sure its a courgette.
Could we cut this out?
Cleaning?
The inquisition. He raked his fingers through his hair. And will you get off my floor? I hardly know you.
You know me enough to trust me with your kids.
I had no choice. I had a doctors appointment and there was no other available appointment until tomorrow. I loaded the kids in the car, then realized the tyre was flat and so was the spare. You were coming. Ruby said you were trustworthy. So I trusted.
You left me alone deliberately?
No, he roared, so loudly that there was a whimper from above their heads.
Youve woken Bessy, Shanni said.
Shush.
They both shushed. Bessy whimpered again, and then settled.
Take that outside, Shanni said, motioning to the rubbish. Its disgusting.
He did. It gave him room to take a few deep breaths. He stared up at the night sky and counted to ten. Then he decided to count to a hundred.
Finally he figured hed better return. Shanni was still cleaning his fridge. All he could see of Shanni was one very cute, denim-clad butt emerging from his refrigerator.
He took a couple of moments to admire the view. Hell, he missed women. Twelve months now of enforced celibacy. Twelve months down and how many to go?
Not months. Years. What had he let himself in for?
You want a whisky? he asked the butt, and the butt stilled.
A whisky?
Dont say it like Im the local lush, he said. I allow myself one whisky when all the kids are in bed. Surely a man can have that without being accused of child neglect?
Hey, I didnt say She was backing out of the refrigerator, butt wiggling.
You didnt have to say. You were implying.
Actually I wasnt, she said, sitting up and wiping a strand of wilting lettuce from her nose. I wasnt implying anything. I was about to say that a whisky would be very nice indeed. And if it turns into two then Im not going to report anyone to Social Welfare. Just so long as I can share.
She smiled.
He stared. It was the cutest smile. Wide and white and cheerful, green eyes dancing behind it.
Hey, cut it out. This was not appropriate.
Hell, hed lost sense of what was appropriate or not. He ran his fingers through his hair againyeah, hed meant to get a haircut but when was there ever time? Then he decided he was staring at her and wondering about haircuts when he should be pouring whisky.
He turned on his heel and headed for the living room. He poured two decent tumblers, decided ice was for sissies and headed back to the kitchen.
She was still on the floor.
You want to sit at the table?
If I get up I might never get down again.
The fridge can wait. Youve done so much cleaning Im feeling like a He hesitated. He didnt know what he felt like, he thought. Out of control? Yeah, maybe even more out of control than when his house had been full of dirty dishes.
You must really miss your wife.
Hed reached down to give her a hand up. He stilled and Shanni stared at his hand, shrugged and heaved herself up. He shook himself.
Sorry.
Hey, dont apologize. I only lost my boyfriend and Im doing dumb things, like not contacting my parents and making sure they hadnt changed the locks before I come all the way to Australia.
Theyve changed the locks?
And put in tenants, she said grimly. Youd think a daughter would know.
Youre not close?
See, theres the thing, she said, sitting at the table and taking her first sip of whisky. She wrinkled her nose in appreciation. I thought we were. I phone once a week. Youd think changing locks would be something theyd mention.
II guess.
Sorry. She took another sip. We were talking about you. Your wife.
You lost your boyfriend?
He didnt die, she said darkly. Mores the pity.
Right, he said, distracted. She looked really cute when she talked darkly. So you just lost him?
He went to bed with a model. She glowered some more. In my bed. And then when I threw ice water over the pair of them he went out and spent our shared credit card to the hilt, and he isnt even sorry.
She glowered at the absent boyfriend and model. But were talking about you. You and the five kids and the dead wife and Social Welfare. Ive never seen such a mess.
Thank you.
She blinked. Then she put the whisky very carefully on the table.
Im sorry, she said. Ive had a long day. I landed in Sydney at five this morning. I took a cab to my parents and found theyd absquatulated. So I took my dads car and drove to my girlfriends apartment, to find a bedsit smaller than a shoebox. Then I remembered Rubys letter and rang you and asked if you still wanted a housekeeper, and you said yes, itd be fine if I came straight away, so I ended up here. To find youd absquatulated as well.
Absquatulated? he said, distracted.
Taken yourself off to points unknown, generally leaving a mess behind. My mothers a linguistics professor. Get over it.
Right, he said, feeling dazed. I didntabsquatulate.
You just went to sleep.
Ive said Im sorry.
The kids were terrified. They were thinking theyd get carted off to care. She wrinkled her nose some more, perplexed. See, thats the part I dont get. Why is Welfare so interested in you? Have you done something awful? I mean, today was appalling, but that sort of mess happens in the best families. If I told you how many times my parents forgot meAnyway, thats beside the point. I understand your wife dying was awful but Social Welfare isnt usually a monster. She paused, thinking things through.
You know, unless things are really dire, the authorities dont take kids from parents. I cant see them dragging children off to foster care just cos their dad went to sleep in the sun after a night with a sick baby.
No. I
So have you done something ghastly? I mean, not that youd confess. But Ive been scrubbing the fridge and thinking that I should just leave. Except that Im broke and I dont have anywhere to go. Except Aunt Rubys.
You dont want to go to Rubys? He was having trouble keeping up.
Ruby has macram meetings in her kitchen every weekday morning. Shes offered to teach me. And she says she has to get your permission anyway if she wants to have me for more than just a couple of weeks. Which is weird. She hesitated. But youre sidetracking me. I keep thinking of Wendy. Wendy like she was when I arrived. Terrified. Expecting the worst. There must be something horribly wrong for her to look like that. I dont know what it is, and maybe I should leave, but Ive decided I need to figure it out. Because now Im hooked. If youre hurting these kids Ill
Youll what?
I dont know, she confessed. I cant figure out why theyre terrified. Because the way you cuddle BessyYou even seem nice.
Thank you.
You know what I mean. You look normal.
Yet I was a fifteen-year-old in a pinstripe suit when first you met me.
Youre distracting me. She looked at his whisky glass. He looked at it too.
You do think Im a drinker.
Hey, I just wondered. I mean, if I had five kids and a dead wife I might crack as well. And it would explain.
It explains nothing.
Then you need to give me some other explanation, she said. Because I want to know why your kids are terrified.
He stared into his whisky glass.
Tell me or I retreat to macram.
His eyes flew to hers. He expected to see laughter, but he didnt. She was deadly serious.
She really cared, he thought. She was worried about these kids.
The sensation was so novel that he blinked.
Theres a simple explanation, he said, meeting her look head on.
Which is?
These arent my kids. Theyre nothing to do with me. Until twelve months ago Id never seen any of them before in my life.
CHAPTER THREE
THERE was a long pause. Shanni had pulled open the fire door of the oven, to let the warmth of the flames give comfort to a kitchen that was only just warming up. The fire crackled behind them. He should put music on or something, he thought inconsequentially. The atmosphere was too intimate.
Maybe music would make it worse.
Theyre not your kids, she said at last. She wasnt taking her eyes off him, seemingly ready to judge by how he looked as well as what he said.
No, he said. There was nothing else to say.
I did wonder, she said mildly. They dont look like you. They keep forgetting to call you Dad. And they didnt know if you had Abba.
Abba?
Never mind. I thought maybe theyd been calling you Pierce and youd made them change for the welfare people.
I made them change for the welfare people.
But She sighed. She downed the dregs of her whisky, looked at the bottle and sighed again. Ive got jet lag and a muddled head, she confessed. Dont give me any more whisky.
And Bessys likely to be up in the night. He rose and took the whisky bottle into the next room, returned and closed the door firmly behind him. They both looked at the door with longing. But no. They were mature adults, and there were no answers in a whisky bottle.
Ill make coffee, he said and she nodded. Mature adults. Coffee. Right.
Youd better tell me, she said, while he fiddled with cups and kettle and instant coffee. Instant. Shed come from the coffee centre of the world. Agh.
I married their mother, he said.
Right. She thought about it. So Bessys yours?
No.
So Bessys not yours.
Theyre none of them mine.
So when did you marry their mother?
Seven months ago. Just after Bessy was born. Three weeks before Maureen died.
Oh, she said in a small voice. I see.
Do you? He sounded angry. He had his back to her but she could hear tension and angerand resentment.
Hey, I cleaned your fridge, she said. Im the patsy in this set-up.
Anger faded. His shoulders shookjust a little. The patsy?
The pig in the middle. The girl with the soggy cucumber. Shoot around me, but not at me.
Im sorry.
Thats better, she said approvingly as he carried mugs of coffee across to the table. He really was good looking, she thought absently. And that hair was so ruffled. She could just reach over and touch it
Cut it out, she told herself fiercely. What is it with you and long-haired men?
Tell me about Maureen, she said instead and took a mouthful of coffee, swallowing regrets about a magnificent coffee maker shed left behind in London. Okay, it was Michaels, but it had been bought with her credit card and it made the best coffee. And that rat
She wasnt thinking clearly.
Maureen, she said again, and Pierce looked confused.
Look, Im jet lagged, she said. Im not making sense to me.
You suddenly looked a long way away.
I was mourning coffee. Tell me about Maureen.
She was my foster sister sort of.
There was a pause. Sort of foster sister. Hmm.
Ruby only fosters boys.
You think Im telling lies?
Im not thinking anything, she said. Thinking hurts.
Shes great, your aunt Ruby.
Shes lovely to everyone.
I guess.
Whoops. Im sorry, Shanni said repentantly. I dare say you and Ruby have a lovely, personalized, meaningful relationship and I wouldnt dream of disparaging it.
He choked on his coffee.
Shes a bitbatty, he said, and Shanni grinned.
Were together on that one. But youd better tell me the rest.
Its not much use.
You want me to finish the refrigerator?
I
Okay, Ill finish the refrigerator anyway, she said, and gave him a rueful smile. Im a sucker for a job well done. But tell me or Ill bust. She pulled up a spare kitchen chair, put her feet up, had a couple of sips of coffeeughand forced herself to relax. Youre one of Rubys strays. That must have been hard.
I guess. He shook his head. No. I had a mother who didnt want me but wouldnt put me up for adoption. The times with Ruby were not the hard times. You come from a nice normal family.
Are you kidding?
Well, a family with a mum and a dad, and Id imagine you were wanted.
She thought of her eccentric parents and she grinned. Yep. They wanted me. They werent quite sure what to do with me when they got methey still arentbut they wanted me.
I was a mistake.
She looked at his stern face. There was a curl dripping over his left eye. She could just
Cut it out!
You were a mistake?
My mother got pregnant during an affair with a very wealthy man. She thought getting pregnant would force him to marry her. She was wrong.
Oh.
And he denied everything. I can imagine my mother might have been a bit He sighed. Anyway, there wasnt DNA testing back then. She was screwed. So she put me into foster care, but every time she started a relationship she pulled me out again. To play happy families. And one of those relationships included Maureen.
I dont understand.
No, well He shrugged. You have no idea what drop kicks my mother used to fall for. Jack was maybe the worst. But he had a kid, too. Maureen. He ended up abandoning her, but when he met my mother Maureen was nine and I was seven.
So? Shanni prodded. He looked like he was a long way awayremembering. He was staring straight through her. Now he gave himself a slight shake, as if tugging himself back to now.
Okay. Dreary story. Jack was a sadist, but my mother thought everything he did was wonderful. So we were at his mercy. But Maureen was older and a bit harder than me. And for some reason she decided she liked me. He shrugged. Okay, lets be honest. I loved the idea of having a big sister, and she thought having a brother was cool. It wasnt like we had anything else.
The words chilled her and she winced, but Pierce didnt notice. He was seeing back, a long time ago.
She was there for me, he said softly. It was the longest of any of my mothers relationships. We were together two years. And every time he Once more a shrug. Well, she was always there for me. Shed fly at Jack like a tigress, biting, scratching, yelling. Shed end up as badly beaten as me but it got soWell, he knew when he raised a hand to me he had us both to contend with, and it helped.
Oh, hooray for Maureen, Shanni said shakily, and Pierce nodded, faintly smiling.
She was great.
And then?
Then my mother and Jack split, and we were put in different foster homes. We tried to stay in touch, he said sadly. Maureen used to write. Every six months or so Id get a scrawly letter telling me what she was doing in her life. Then when we reached adulthood the letters ceased. The last letter said shed met the man of her dreams and was moving to Perth.
But he wasnt? The man of her dreams?
Whod know? Pierce said bitterly. All I do know is that Maureen was wild as be damned. From what Ive learned since, she seemed bent on self-destruction.
Drugs? Shanni thought of the five children. No
She didnt do drugs. That would have been suicide. She was diabetic.
Oh.
She just wanted kids, Pierce said wearily. All her life she wanted a familymaybe that was why she was so defensive of meand she was going to get a family no matter how much it took.
But the diabetes
Thats what I meant about self-destruction. Every time she got pregnant her body seemed to disintegrate. Only she just couldnt seem to stop herself. He hesitated. Shed meet some lowlife and think he was the answer to her prayers and end up pregnant.
But not with you?
Shed been in Western Australia, he said. Wed lost touch completely. Only then, just under a year ago, she came to find me. I was doing very nicely as an architect in Sydney. Id bought this place as a weekender. Im a confirmed bachelor, and I was pretty content with what life was dealing me.
But?
But Maureens kidneys were failing. She was pregnant and refusing to terminate, but shed been told the pregnancy would destroy what was left of her kidneys. She sat in my office in Sydney and she told me everything about her life. She spelled it all out, and she asked for my help. She hated asking, but she was desperate.
Oh Pierce.
Maureen was so ill she was facing having to have the children fostered. She couldnt bear subjecting them to the life shed had. Shed brought it on herself but, well, maybe I could see what was driving her. And, while she was talking, that timethe times she took the beating for me came back. I didnt have a choice. Theres a dialysis unit at Murribah, half an hour north of here. I offered her a home here for as long as she needed.
Silence. She stared across the table at him for a long, long moment. Then she smiled. I always thought you were a nice boy, she said warmly. Despite the pinstripes.
He smiled back, but it cost him a bit, that smile. It was hard for him to tell this story, she thought.
Okay. Moving on. You asked for the whole story so youll get it. I was already having trouble with the neighbours here. What I didnt realize when I bought this place was that one of the bidders was a huge dairy corporation. Theyd been looking for a site for their new factory, which would have meant the locals didnt have to pay cartage for their milk. But Id fallen in love with the place and paid more than it was worth. So the factory went somewhere else. Then Id no sooner taken possession when along came four kids and a mother who looked desperately sick and was pregnant again. I drove a bright yellow sports car when the kids looked starving. Maureen wouldnt talk to anyone about her background, and no one ever asked me. Ive been judged and found wanting in just about every respect.
She swallowed. Im so sorry.
Dont be. Im sorry enough for myself. Anyway, Maureen had Bessy and she grew even more ill. We were hoping against hope for a transplant but it didnt happen.
Somarriage?
You see, Social Welfare had taken care of these kids before, in periods when Maureen was desperately sick. So the kids were on file. Its not hard to understand. There are good people in the department who were genuinely worried. Then we had the community bad-mouthing us. Maureen started believingand maybe she was rightthat as soon as she died theyd send the kids to foster homes, regardless of what I wanted.
There are some good she started cautiously, but he was before her.
You dont need to tell me there are some great foster homes, Pierce said explosively. Foster parents are some of the best people in the world. Generous, big hearted, taking on all comers even though getting attached comes at the price of having their hearts ripped out over and over.
Goodness, she said. Did I hit a nerve?
He managed an apology for a smile. Yes, he said, consciously lowering his voice. Sorry. If I hadnt had Ruby Id be in such a mess now. But I was on my own, and these kids arent. Despite Maureens often incompetent care, they love each other, and theyll defend each other to the death. They should never be separated, and theres the problem. You think therell be a foster parent wholl take on five kids?
I guessMaybe not.
Theyd be put into a group home, he said. The welfare people told Maureen that, as if it was something good. A house in the community with paid carers. Thats what Maureen couldnt come to terms with. A series of people employed to care. Maureen hated the idea, and by the time she became desperately sick I hated the idea as well. Youve seen Wendy. Shes been Maureens principal carer for years. It took so long to teach her that I could help. Even now she doesnt completely trust me. Why should she? But I couldnt bearI just couldnt bear
So you married their mother.
Yes. We moved fast, in the window of opportunity before Maureen became too ill. We married. I applied to legally adopt them. Maureen filed everything saying she approved, and she assigned me as their legal guardian.
Oh, Pierce.
Its not noble, he said. At least, it wasnt supposed to be noble. Im paid ridiculous amounts for the work I do. I thought Id house the kids, employ a housekeeper, someone to run the farm and come down here on weekends.
But?
Have you any idea how hard it is to find a housekeeper for five kids? In this community? I found a woman who did intermittent babysitting for a while, but the kids hated her and she quit two weeks ago. And now weve had chicken pox followed by school holidays. Im going round the twist.
I see that you are.
And then Ruby said shed contacted you and persuaded you to give us a try. Hence Ive had one day of child care, a clean kitchen and a sparky clean fridge. And kids who werent taken away from me today. For which Im eternally grateful. He hesitated. Shanni, dare I ask that youll stay?
Im not a housekeeper.
Youre excellent at scrubbing.
Thats only because Im suffering severe loss of pride. I need to vent my spleen. Scrubbing works.
Ruby says youre an artist.
Im not.
No?
I love dabbling with paints. Did you see my cow this afternoon? Perfect, except for one leg looking longer than the others. I measured it. Its not. Its perspective, but I cant work it out.
So youre an abstract artist?
I did a degree in fine arts. I worked as a curator for a tiny gallery here and an even tinier one in London. Then I scraped up enough money to open my own. It was miniscule, but it was devoted to one particular kind of art that I love. My parents lent me money. I didnt eat. I put everything into it that I had.
And?
And like I said, I caught my artist boyfriend in bed with one of my models. I tossed ice water on them, and he retaliated by using my credit card to spend a fortune. I had the choice of risking my parents money and keeping on trying or bailing out. I bailed out.
Ouch. He hesitated. You never tried recovering your money?
He said hed have me for assault.
I see, he said cautiously. So you fled home.
Yep. To you.
And now?
Ill go to Rubys. Ill get a job somewhere and move on.
But itd help if you could stay here for a bit while you regroup?
It might, she admitted. But I dont intend to fall in love with these kids.
Of course not.
So dont even think I might be a long-term proposition.
Im not looking for a long-term proposition.
I dont fall for kids. I dont fall for you.
Uh-oh. Why had she said that? It had come from nowhere but suddenly it was important that she say it.
He so needed a shave. He looked so vulnerable.
Stop it. She gave herself a sharp metaphoric slap to the side of the head. Do not fall for Pierce MacLachlan because you feel sorry for him.
Just because Im a soft touch she whispered, and he smiled.
Two of us. Two soft touches. Were doomed.
Speak for yourself.
There was another whimper from above his head, but this time it didnt stop. It built fast to a wail. He winced, set his coffee mug down with a sigh and rose. She slept for three hours. I cant expect much more.
What will you do now?
Cuddle her until she goes back to sleep.
Ruby said youre not getting work done.
The yells from upstairs were getting more insistent. Define work. But I guess it doesnt matter. I just take one dayone momentat a time. He walked to the door and then paused. Shanni, youve helped me enormously today and Im deeply grateful. If you leave right now Ill still be grateful. I wont put any more pressure on you. But you do need a bed for at least tonight?
Wendy showed me her mothers bedroom. Shed already made up the bed.
Wendy wants you to stay. He put up his hands in mock defence. I know. I said no pressure. He raised his gaze to the ceiling. Okay, Bessy, Im coming. Well leave Shanni here to make up her mind.
IIll think about it.
Please.
CHAPTER FOUR
SHE cleared the dishes. She finished wiping out the fridge and replacing the few things that were actually edible. Then she made her way through the darkened house to her bedroom.
She could hear footsteps upstairs, pacing back and forth. There was a soft male rumble. Pierce was comforting Bessy.
He was a bachelor. Hed taken on five children he didnt know. The enormity of what hed done left her gasping.
Hes a very nice boy, she told the dark, and she giggled.
But then her giggle faded. This was deadly serious. Pierce was fighting to keep these kids together. The least she could do was help.
But she didnt do kids. And she had a career to resurrect.
Youve stuffed up big time, she told the dark. She walked over to the bed and gave a tentative bounce. This must be the master bedroom. Pierce had let Maureen have the master bedroom?
Why had he bought a house with so many bedrooms? Had he thought of having a big family himself?
He really was
A hunk. The thought of him pacing back and forth above her head with a baby cradled against his shoulder
It was a very, very sexy image.
Whoa. Thats exactly the attitude that gets you into trouble over and over again, she scolded herself. And thats the scary thing about staying. Hes extraordinarily attractive and hes up to his eyeballs in domesticity, and you feel sorry for him, and if youre not careful youll be installed as chief cook and bottle washer with your only payment a bit of snogging on the side.
He hasnt got time for snogging.
Just as well. She said it out loud.
His footsteps paused right above her head. I know it itches, she heard him say. But we all need to sleep.
A whimper.
In with me again? Bess, we need to cut this out.
He was more than a hunk, she decided. He was gorgeous.
And up to his neck in kids.
So go to bed and stop thinking about him, she told herself, and crossed to the window to pull the blind.
There was a cow six inches from her nose.
She managed to stay silent. The cow gazed in, and she felt extraordinarily pleased with herself that she hadnt yelped. The last thing she needed was for Pierce to come racing downstairs because she was scared of a cow. The cow was outside and she was inside.
Fine.
It was a very large cow.
Its face was enormous. And its eyes looked sort of wild. It wasnt placidly gazing. Its head was moving back and forth, as if it was terrified.
Did cows get scared?
Upstairs Bessy started howling again. Obviously not even the enticement of sleeping with Pierce could placate her.
There was a moments silence as Bessy paused for breath to start the next yowl.
Git out.
For a moment she thought she was imagining things. Who?
Git out of our garden. It was a childs voice, yelling. It sounded like an attempt to be commanding, but there was an edge of fear showing through.
She pulled up the windowjust a littlenot so much that the cow could put its head in. The cow had shifted aside, turning to face whoever was shouting.
The moon was almost full. She could see clearly into the garden.
It was seven-year-old Donald. The skinny one with the scared eyes and the look that said he distrusted the world. The rest of the kids had enjoyed painting this afternoon, but Donald had painted like he was performing a duty. He looked like a kid who was waiting for the axe to fall.
What are you doing out there? she called, and the cow turned to look at her. Still with the wild eyes.
It was a really big cow.
Huge.
It shouldnt be in the garden, Donald said, struggling to sound brave. Someones left the gate open. I saw it out the window. Itll eat the rose Pierce planted when our mum died. He hiccupped on a sob, bravery disappearing. Im shooing it out the gate, but it wont go.
Donald, youre too little be shooing cows. Ill get Pierce.
Hes busy with Bessy. She saw his small shoulders stiffen in resolution. And Im not too little. I can do it.
But
Git on out, Donald said, but hed moved backwards behind a camellia bush and she could no longer see him.
Despite his defiance, he sounded terrified.
Cows are harmless, she told herself, recalling the words of her farming-type friend.
Right.
Shed go upstairs and offer to take Bessy while Pierce sorted this, she thought, but Bessys howls were becoming frantic.
Two perils. Crying baby. Or cow.
Each equally daunting.
Shoo, Donald yelled but the cow didnt move.
.
.
, (https://www.litres.ru/marion-lennox/his-miracle-bride/) .
Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, , , , PayPal, WebMoney, ., QIWI , .
Marion Lennox
An only child, Shanni Jefferson doesn't do family. But temporarily homeless and jobless, she jumps at the offer of a live-in nannying position.How hard can it be to look after one little baby? Pierce MacLachlan has been economical with the truth instead of one child, there are five! He's out of his depth with the unruly yet lovable brood.But every night, once the children are all safely tucked in bed, Shanni wonders whether family lifewith gorgeous Piercemight suit her after all.
His Miracle Bride
Marion Lennox
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PROLOGUE
BLAKE, Connor, Sam, Darcy, Dominic and Nikolai. And Pierce. Her self-contained sons.
Ruby looked along the long line of men and she sighed. Shed tried so hard, but they didnt get it. The gift in her pursetheir combined gift for her seventieth birthdayspoke of failure more than anything else.
But her sons were wonderful, she thought, blinking back tears as she tried to see the happy side of the equation. Each one was making a difference in the world. What a transformation from the waifs shed rescued from so many forms of neglect.
They were listening avidly to the speaker. So should she. The Earl of Loganaich was speaking at the opening of his refuge for disadvantaged children. As the past head of Foster Parents Australia, Ruby had been asked for advice. Shed been overjoyed at the concept. A place where kids could regroup
Advice for Ruby was never enough. Shed talked her boys into contributing, with expertise as well as funds. Theyd agreed without hesitation. Today theyd flown in from round the world, taking time out to share her pleasure. And using the occasion to give her their special birthday gift.
Rubys birthday had been the week before. They hadnt forgotten, theyd told her, but theyd said they knew she hated family gatherings.
But it wasnt Ruby who hated family gatherings, she thought sadly. It was her boys. Her men. They saw emotion and they ran a mile.
The Castle at Dolphin Bay was a family enterprise. On stage now was the Earl of Loganaich and his LadyLord Hamish and Lady Susan. With them was their extended family: kids, friends, dogs, the whole domestic muddle. These people had come together to build something they believed in, and the joy of their shared enterpriseplus the joy of belonging to such a close-knit familyshone through.
The earls speech was coming to a close. For the family on the stage it was hugs all round. Ruby looked sadly along her line of grown-up foster sons and there was none of that joy about them.
Todays gift had been as unexpected as it was unwantedthe deeds to a Sydney apartment overlooking one of the most glorious views in the world.
ButAnyone who wants to stay with you for more than a couple of weeks needs our consent, her sons had told her. Were protecting you from yourself. Its time you stopped taking in the strays of the world.
They didnt understand, she thought again sadly, an errant tear slipping down her wrinkled face. Shed fought so hard for all of them, and theyd succeeded, but theyd succeeded on their terms.
She sniffed, trying desperately to focus again on the owners and employees of this extraordinary castle. They seemed so happy. She just knew this place would be successful.
Would her boys ever be successful? On her terms?
Successful in love?
Pierce had seen her tears. He was frowning, reaching across to take her hand. At thirty-six, Pierce was a brilliant architect, lean, craggy, and confident in his dealings with the world. But to Ruby Pierce would always be the starving, ill-used kid shed rescued over and over again.
Pierce more than anyone had contributed to this day, designing the extensions to the castle buildings free of charge so it could more easily accommodate those it was designed to help. She knew Pierce had enjoyed the work, but still he held himself distant.
And where was this baby hed told her about? The things hed told her this morning had left her stunned. Hed been married but now his wife was dead? He was caring for a baby? She hadnt heard any of this until now, and it was only because shed overheard Pierce talking to his foster brothers that hed been forced to tell her.
What is it, Ruby? he asked her now.
Its justIm so confused. I so wanted you to have a proper family.
He gave a rueful smile. I do.
It nearly killed him to admit even that much, Ruby thought. And family? Ha. One baby youre hiring a housekeeper to look after? You wont even let me near.
Its not as if this childs mine, and youve done enough. I cant let you.
But I want to.
No, you dont. Pierce was a professional in charge of his world and she was a frail old lady who didnt know any better. Beloved but past her use-by date. You need to rest.
Ive got all the time in the world to rest, she whispered. But nowall I want is to live.
She looked again along the line of her boys. Her outstanding men.
Not one of them knew how to live, she thought sadly. Not one.
Shed failed.
CHAPTER ONE
SHED psyched herself for farm terrorsbut not for this.
Shanni steered her car onto the verge, but she didnt drive in the gate. No way.
Shanni wasnt a farm girlin fact her best friend had burst out laughing when shed divulged her destination. But Jules had grown up on a farm, so shed talked Shanni through what she might face.
Cows will ignore you as long as you dont interfere with their calves. Calves are curious but harmless, and most modern farms employ test tubes instead of bulls. Check if a cow has a dangly bit, and if it does dont go near it. HorsesBig doesnt mean scary. Say boo to a horse and itll take itself off. Most farm dogs are all bluster. Look them in the eye and shout sit. Oh, and watch for cow pats. Theyre murder on stilettos.
So shed left her stilettos at Juless chic Sydney bedsit. Shed rehearsed her sit command and she was ready for anything.
Anything but this.
There were kids sitting on the gate. Multiple kids. One, two, three, four.
They were watching her. Well, why wouldnt they? Shannis car might well be the only car along here in a week. The meandering gravel track followed a creek that came straight from the snow melt. Distant mountains were capped with snow, even though spring was well under way. Undulating paddocks were dotted with vast red gums. The beauty of New South Waless high country was world renowned.
But
The cows looked safely enclosed in paddocks. She couldnt see a horse or a dog. What she saw was far more terrifying. Girl, boy, boy, girl, she decided, running down their ranks. Matching grubby jeans, T-shirts, sensible boots.
Siblings? Maybe, though there was a redhead, a blonde and two brunettes.
Forget the hair. They were sitting on the gate of the farm where shed agreed to work.
Shed stuck her Aunty Rubys letter on the dashboard so she could read the directions. Ignoring the kidswho were clearly waiting for her to do somethingshe reread it now, holding it like she was handling a scorpion.
Aunty Rubys letter read like she talkedso fast she hardly paused for breath.
Pierce wont let me help him. He was always the sweetest boy. Im sure you thought so, too, and hes had such a bad time. And now this. His wife died six months ago. His wife! He didnt even tell me he was getting married, thats how much he doesnt want to bother me, and now shes dead. And the boys are worrying about him. They say hes falling behind in his work. Hes cutting corners, the boys say, and theres a huge contract hes risking losing. Mind, I think losing a wife makes any other loss irrelevant, but the boys wont talk about that. No one will. They treat me as if Im ancient, not to be bothered.
Anyway dear, I know Michael broke your heartat least your mother said he did though how you can love a man with a ponytailbut worse, youve lost your sweet little London gallery. If you were thinking about coming homeCould you bear to help with a baby for a few weeks until Pierce gets this contract sorted? Hes been looking for a housekeeper but the boys say hes having trouble. I could gobut of course they wont let me.
Rubys frustration sounded through the letter. Beloved Ruby, whod spent her life helping others, was being held at arms length by her foster sons, but she could no sooner resist sticking in her oar than she could breathe.
If she couldnt help, then she was sure that Shanni could.
And Shanni just might.
Housekeeper to a sort-of-cousin and his motherless baby? On a farm on the other side of the world from her life in London? In the normal scheme of things, shed laugh at the suggestion.
But this was Pierce MacLachlan
Pierce was one of Rubys many foster kids. At any family celebration, thered always been three or four of Rubys waifs.
There were three things affecting Shannis decision to help him.
Number one was sympathy. She did remember Pierce. Twenty years ago, Pierce had been fifteen to her almost ten. Shed met him at her Uncle Erics wedding and shed been shocked. Ruby had just taken him infor the fourth time, shed told Shannis mother. Hed looked far too skinny, far too tall for his clothes, far toodesolate.
And now hed lost his wife. That was awful.
Shanni was a soft touch.
And, okay, admit it. Twenty years ago shed thought Pierce had the makings ofgorgeous. Her hormones had just been waking up. Pierce was a tall, dark and mysterious fifteen-year-old, all angular bones and shadows. In truth hed probably just been excruciatingly shy and malnourished, but hed run rings round the rest of her rowdy cousins. So added to sympathy waslust?
Yeah, right. She was a big girl now. Pierce was probably a five-feet-two midget with a pot belly. And she was supposed to be broken hearted.
But then there was number three, and that was the biggie. She didnt have enough money to stay in London. Shed lost her gallery and her lover. Ruby said Pierce had a farm. She could just pop in and see what the set-up was, and if it wasnt suitable then she could retreat to her parents spare room and lick her wounds.
Only, the option of her parents spare room was no longer available.
So she was here. Facing four kids.
Four kids? She was scared enough of one baby.
She couldnt stay, she thought, staring again at the four kids. But where to go? Where?
She hadnt done her homework before shed headed home. Shed received Rubys letter and suddenly shed just come. To find that her parents were overseaswell, shed known thatbut to her horror theyd sublet their house. Hadnt they known their daughter was intending to need it? They might have guessed shed flee to Australia without asking questions, to be met by strangers having a barbecue in their back yard.
She sniffed, but she didnt cry. When had she ever?
She should have cried when shed found Mike in bed with one of his stupid modelsbut even then
Shed come home mid-afternoon with the beginnings of the flu and had walked in and found them. Just like in the sitcoms, they hadnt seen her. Well, theyd hardly been looking.
Shed retreated to the laundry and filled a bucket. Then, while her whole body had shaken with suppressed rageas well as the first symptoms of a truly horrid dose of influenzashed decided water alone wasnt enough. Shed stalked into the kitchen and hauled out the ice. Even then they hadnt heard her, though her hands were shaking so much shed dropped two ice trays. It had taken five minutes before enough ice melted to bring the bucket of water to almost freezing, but it had definitely been worth the wait. Throwing it had been a definite high point.
Though, in retrospect, maybe tears would have been better. For, although shed been ruthless with the ice bucket, she hadnt moved fast enough with the shared credit card. By the time shed emerged from influenza and betrayal, Mike had revenged himself the only way a low-life creep with the morals of a sewer rat knew how.
It had been enough to tip her over the edge financially. Her tiny mortgaged-to-the-hilt art gallery had ceased to be.
But she was still irrationally pleased that Mike hadnt seen her cry. If I can cope with Mike without tears, I can cope with this, she told herself, staring out at the kids on the gate while her stomach plummeted as far as it could go and then found a few depths she hadnt known existed.
The kids were puzzled that she wasnt turning in. The oldest kida pre-adolescent girl with short, copper-red hair that looked like it had been hacked with hedge clippershad jumped off the gate in preparation for opening it.
Surely shed got it wrong.
She wound down the windowjust a tadadmitting nothing.
Is this Two Creek Farm? she called.
Yes, the oldest boy called. Are you Shanni?
Yes. Her voice was so faint it was barely a squeak.
Finally. The girl with the bad haircut hauled the gate wide while the three kids still sitting on the top rail swayed and clung. Dad says we cant go inside until you get here. What are you doing, parking over there?
Your dads expecting me?
You rang. Didnt you?
UmYes.
The girl looked right, looked left, looked right againhad there ever been another car up here?and crossed the road to talk. Dad said, Thank God, Rubys come up trumps. Weve got a babysitter.
I see. She swallowed and looked again at the kids on the gate. I guessyour dads name is Pierce?
Hes Pierce MacLachlan. The girl poked her hand in the open car window. She was all arms and legs and a mouthful of braces. Im Wendy MacLachlan. Im eleven.
I see, Shanni said faintly, while her hand was firmly shaken.
The others are Bryce and Donald and Abby, Wendy told her. Bryce is nine. Donalds seven. Abbys four. Theres Bessy as well, but shes only eight months old so she doesnt talk yet, and shes away with Dad. Shes actually Elizabeth, but shes too cute to be an Elizabeth.
Bessy. The baby. One true thing.
Wheres your dad?
He had to take Bessy to the doctor. We think shes got chicken pox. She hasnt got any spots yet, but shes grizzling so much she must be sick. Dad didnt get any sleep last night. When you rang he looked like he might cry.
Oh, Shanni said. Even more faintly. She looked over to where the other three children were swinging on the opened gate. Have you all had chicken pox?
Oh yes, Wendy said blithely. I had it first and then Donald and Abby and Bryce got it all together. Dad said he was going round the twist, but I helped.
Im sure you did.
We didnt want Bessy to catch it, but she did anyway. Dads buggered. She blinked. Whoops, Im not supposed to say that. Dad says. But when you rang and said you were coming Dad said, Thank God, Im so buggered Ill pay half my kingdom for decent help. And then he looked at all of us and said hed pay all his kingdom.
A lesser woman would turn around right now, Shanni thought. A lesser woman would say whoops, sorry, theres been a dreadful mistake, and go find a nice homeless shelter rather than face this.
We shouldnt be here by ourselves, Wendy admitted, her voice faltering just a little. But the station wagons got a flat tyre, and when Dad pulled out the spare it was flat, too. Mum must have had a flat tyre and not told DadShe swallowed. Before. before she died. Anyway, Dads cars only a two-seater, and he really needed to take Bessy to the doctor and we wont all fit. So I said wed be fine, only he worries about Abby cos she keeps doing stuff like getting her toe stuck in the sink. So I promised wed sit on the gate and not move until you came. Abby promised faithfully not to fall off.
Ruby, Shanni said to herself under her breath. Dear, dotty Aunty Ruby
How could she cope with this? What she wanted was breathing space. Time to get her head clear, paint a little, take time to think about where she wanted to go from here. A bit of wandering on a farm, taking in the sights, maybe with a cute little baby in a pram. Winning the gratitude of a boy shed once felt sorry for.
And solitude, solitude and more solitude.
There was a shriek from the other side of the road. The boys had swung the gate hard and, despite her promise, Abby had fallen backwards. The four-year-old was hanging by the knees, her blonde pigtails brushing the dirt. Her hands were dragging on the ground, trying to find purchase, while the gate swung wildly to and fro.
Help, she yelled. Wendy, heeeelp.
Wendy sighed. She looked to the right, looked to the left, looked to the right again and stomped back across the road. The kids boots look too tight, Shanni thought. Her feet looked like they hurt.
Wendy yanked Abby backwards into her skinny arms, staggering under her weight. The gate sung wildly again with its load of two little boys.
Are you coming in? Wendy called across the road, still staggering. Abby was far too heavy for her.
Shanni met her look head on.
It was a strange look for a child. She doesnt think Im coming in, Shanni thought. It was a look of a child whod needed to grow up before her time. Despite herself, her heart lurched.
Oh, help. Stop it, she told herself. Stop it.
Youre such a soft touch, her friends told her, and she knew they were right. Before shed left London shed had to find homes for the three cats shed taken in against her better judgement, plus twenty cacti her elderly neighbour had persuaded her to water when shed gone away for the weekendonly the weekend had turned out to be a decision to join her son in the Riviera for ever.
A lesser woman would have ditched the cacti. She hated cacti.
Shed boxed them up and taken them halfway across London to a batty cactus lover shed found on the internet.
Even MikeHe hadnt had anywhere to stay, and hed been such a promising artist. Had she mistaken sympathy for love?
So dont you dare feel sorry for this family, she told herself. Leave. Now.
But Wendy was watching her, her small face closed. She wasnt expecting help. And then she stopped looking at Shannidecision made.
It doesnt matter what Dad said, she told her little sister. Ill take you inside. She hugged her little sister in a gesture that was pure protection, turning her back on Shanni. Youve scraped your fingers. Well find a plaster.
Oh, heck.
What did you say your names were? Shanni called.
Bryce, the oldest boy called. Bryce and Wendy and Donald and Abby. And Bessy at the doctor.
Okay, Bryce, Shanni said wearily. Where do I park?
Definitely chicken pox, the doctor told Pierce in a tone of deep disapproval. That makes the whole family. The older children should have been immunized. We do standard immunization at twelve months. Bessy will be paying the price of your failure to get that done.
If he was less tired hed slug him, Pierce thought wearily, but slugging would involve energy, and energy was something that was in short supply.
Heres a prescription, the doctor said, still cool. Twice a day, just like the older children. Can I rely on you to give it?
Yes, Pierce snapped. Maybe he did have enough energy. But Bessy was clinging to his neck. It was pretty difficult to slug when holding a whimpering baby.
The child welfare officer says you seem to be struggling, the doctor said. He peered at Pierce as if he wasnt too sure. I can call them in, if you want. I told you that when their mother died.
I dont want. And I have help coming.
Excellent. I hope its somebody competent. These children have suffered enough. The doctor closed Bessys patient file with a snap. Consultation over. Let me know if you change your mind. I can get Welfare in tomorrow.
The house was a tip.
Shanni walked into the kitchen and nearly walked out again.
It was a vast farmhouse kitchen, one wall almost taken up by a huge green Aga. The cupboards and benches were made of a deep, rich wood, and the floor was planked with something that looked like oak. An enormous wooden table dominated the rooma table big enough to
To hold every eating utensil in the house, Shanni thought incredulously. When had they ever washed up?
Itsits a bit messy, Wendy said, following Shanni in. She hadnt put Abby down. She was still staggering under her weight. Bessy was really sick yesterday.
The two little boys were bringing up the rear. They at least looked like brotherscurly black hair, matching freckles, matching expressions of distrust.
The kitchen was cold. It was a glorious spring day but the place felt damp.
We ran out of wood last night, Wendy admitted, as she touched the cold stove. Dad ran out of time to chop it. But Dad said just as well, cos he wouldnt have gone to the doctors and left the fire burning. We had cereal and orange juice for breakfast, so we didnt need the stove.
I see, Shanni said. She didnt see.
Wendy staggered forward and plonked her little sister on a kitchen chair. Ill find a plaster.
This at least was a place to start. Abbys finger was grazed. We need to clean it, she told Wendy. Can you find me a face cloth and some soap?
I think so, Wendy said cautiously. Are you going to look after us?
I have no idea, Shanni told her. Or, not in the long term. But for now it looks like I need to look after you at least until your father gets home. Lets start with one sore finger.
Bessy went to sleep somewhere between the doctors surgery and the pharmacy. Finally. Shed sobbed practically all the previous night. Shed sobbed in the doctors waiting room and in the surgery. The silence as she slid into sleep was almost deafening.
Pierce was lucky enough to find a parking space just outside the pharmacy. Yes! There was no way he was going to wake her.
But here was another occasion where he could be censured by child welfarenever leave your child alone in a car.
It wasnt like this was a closed-in car. His cute little sports coupa bright yellow MX5 he loved almost more than life itselfwas open to the sun. It was a gorgeous spring day. Hed be able to watch Bessy though the window of the pharmacy as he dived in and grabbed the prescription.
But there were ten prescriptions before him.
Itll be twenty minutes, the pharmacist said, and Pierce almost groaned.
Ive got kids at home and the baby in the car.
Dont leave your child in the car.
Look, can you fast track?
Twenty minutes.
Fine. He sighed. He couldnt slug everyone in this town even if it was starting to feel like everyone was conspiring against him. Ill sit in the car and wait.
He tried to stalk out, but his legs were too tired to stalk. As he walked past the window on the way out he caught a look at himself in its reflective glass.
He hadnt shaved for two days. Hed slept in these clothes.
He looked like death. A little old lady entering the pharmacy gave him a wide berth, and he didnt blame her.
He slid into the drivers seat of his cool little car. Beside him, Bessy was still soundly asleep.
Twenty minutes, Bess, he said, but she didnt stir.
He empathized. He sighed. He closed his eyes.
The warm spring sun was a balm all by itself. It was quiet. So quiet.
Twenty minutes.
He could just fold his arms on his steering wheel and let his head droop.
It was so warm.
How long did you say your dad would be?
He said an hour. The appointment was for half past ten.
Its now well after eleven. Shouldnt he be back by now? Shanni said cautiously.
Yes, Wendy said, and her bottom lip trembled. Just a bit. She caught herself almost before the telltale quiver happened, but Shanni had seen.
She felt like quivering herself.
Uh-oh.
She was only staying here until Pierce got home, she told herself. Then she was out of here fast. But these kids were starting to look more scared than she was. She couldnt leave them. Nor could she sit round in this appalling mess worrying about where Pierce was.
They were all staring at her, and Wendys poorly disguised quiver was reflected on each of their faces.
Theyd lost their mum. Pierce was late.
Their world wasnt as stable as they might like.
Right, she said. Ill ring the doctors surgery, shall I?
Yes, said Wendy, sounding relieved.
So she rang. Yes, hed been at the doctors surgery.
He has to collect a prescription before he goes home, the receptionist told her. And hes probably taken the opportunity to go shopping. Has he left those poor children by themselves?
There was enough censure in her tone to make Shanni back off.
No. Theyre with me.
If theres a problem
Why would there be a problem?
The child welfare people arent all that happy about the way hes coping.
Her voice was loud enough for Wendy, clinging to Shannis side, to hear.
Tell her were coping fine, Wendy said, her face flushing. Yeah, Dadll just be shopping. Were okay.
Were okay, Shanni said, and put the phone down.
They want to take us away from Dad, Wendy said.
Maybe they, whoever they were, had grounds.
But meanwhileShe could hardly phone the police and report Pierce missing. Not yet. Shed give him a bit of leeway.
But there was still fear on four little faces.
Theres no earthly use looking like that, she told them, mentally rolling up her sleeves, girding her loins, doing whatever a girl had to do before launching into battle. If youre worried about child welfare, then we need to show them were coping.
How are we coping? Wendy asked.
By cleaning. She stared at the mound of dishes. First thing first. This is a big job, so we need a major battle plan. Ill chop enough wood to light the fire and get some hot water. Lots of hot water. A sink isnt going to cut it. Lets fill the bath. Donald, can you find us a pile of clean towels? The rest of you carry every dirty dishexcept the knives, well leave the knives for meinto the bathroom. Boys wash and girls dry. I want the whole bathroom filled with clean plates, so clean they sparkle. Ill clean in here, and then well bring the clean things back in.
We cant, Donald said. Were not old enough to wash dishes. Only Wendy.
Nonsense, Shanni said with a lot more briskness than she felt. Big doesnt mean clever. Take your boots and socks off so if you get wet it doesnt matter. Washing in the bath is fun. Do you have a sound systemfor music?
PDad has one, Wendy said. Hes got lots of CDs.
Then lets put on a bouncy work CD, she said. Something like Abba. Do you know Dancing Queen?
Yes, Abby said, her eyes lighting up. Our Mummy liked Abba. Thats why she called me Abby.
Then well put on Abba.
I dont know whether Dads got Abba, said Wendy.
Huh?
No matter. Questions could wait.
Lets look then, shall we? Shanni said, sounding a lot more decisive than she felt. Cos this house looks like it needs about a hundred Abba CDs to lick it into shape.
At four oclock the sun slipped behind the Craggyburn Post Office clock tower and Pierce and Bessy lost their sunshine.
Bessy woke first. She wiggled in her car seat, reached across to Pierce, put her pudgy hand into his mess of unkempt brown curls and pulled.
Pierce woke like hed been shot.
Mmmphf, Bessy said in deep satisfaction at the results of one small tug.
Bess, Pierce said, coming to and trying to stop his eyes watering. Boy, you dont know your own strength.
He winced and rubbed his head. He stirred and he stretched.
He gazed sleepily up to the clock tower.
The world stilled.
Surely he hadnt. Surely
Oh, God, he had. Hed been away for over five hours. Almost six.
He reached for the ignition, his fingers fumbling in haste. A woman from the pharmacy was restocking shelves in the window. She saw him backing out of the parking space, and she waved to him frantically to stop.
He paused and she came to the door.
Your prescriptions filled, she called. We wondered when youd wake up. You should be more careful. Mr Connelly, the pharmacist, says the babyll probably be sunburned.
Not bad at all.
Shanni stood back and surveyed the pencil sketch shed just done with a tinge of admiration. Her very first cow. It even looked like a cow.
Its leg looked a bit funny.
She checked her line of kids. Four kids. Four boards with paint, four brushes, four makeshift easels. Intense concentration. Good.
Four oclock. How long before she called someone in?
She looked across at Wendy who was working with almost desperate absorption.
Donald, Bryce and Abby were silent, too.
Damn him. What was he playing at?
She should call
Wendy looked across at her, her eyes pleading.
Not yet.
Pierce was struggling to stay under the speed limit as he and Bessy flew homeward. Bessy was rested and cheerful, crowing in delight at the soothing feeling of wind against her increasingly itchy skin.
Pierce might have rested but he didnt feel rested. Hed left them for an hour hoping the womanwho was it? Shannon? No, Shanniwould arrive.
Even if she had arrived, shed be long gone by now. The kids would be terrified.
He turned the last curveand there was a police car in the yard.
The police
Itd be the pharmacist, he thought, remembering the prissy set to the mans mouth as hed handed over Bessys medicine. The whole town thought these kids would be better off in care. And now
Ive stuffed it big time, he told Bessy as he lifted her from the car. I dont deserve to have you guys.
Where was everybody?
Two policemen appeared from behind the hayshed.
Accompanied by a redhead.
A woman. Small. Slim. Faded jeans. Bright red windcheater, splodged with green paint. A yellow bandana catching back shoulder-length flaming curls. Green paint smeared on a snubbed nose. Freckles.
Memory stirred. One of Rubys family weddings. A nightmare of being alone. A kid the same age as him, taunting, Hes one of Aunty Rubys strays. Hes a bastard. Bastard, bastard, bastard.
Then a skinny little girl, dressed in a scarlet party frock and with a huge pink bow in her flaming hair, marching up to her big cousin and stomping hard on his foot. So hard the kid had yelped.
Gee, Im sorry, Mac, shed said, and she hadnt sounded sorry at all. Then shed turned to him and smiled. Hi. My names Shanni. Whats yours?
Hed remembered. That tiny piece of kindness and bravado had stayed with him, to be used as an inward smile at need.
Could this really be her?
Pierce, dear, were over here, she said, smiling brightly and waving to him like he was her long-time cousin. Hows our darling Bessy? Did you get the things I wanted from the store?
Umhi, he said weakly, and the memory of the stomping was suddenly crystal clear.
Amazingly the cops were smiling as well. Pierce recognized theman older cop who had family in the town, and a younger guy whose stock in trade was aggression. Theyd been here two weeks ago with the child welfare officers.
Theyd left then looking grim. They werent looking grim now. The younger guy was smiling almost fatuously, and the older guy was looking on with benign amusement.
So, Friday night the young cop said to Shanni.
Can I let you know? Shanni said. I need to sort out rosters with my cousin. It wouldnt do to leave the kids by themselves.
Ouch.
Well see you round, then, the older cop said benignly. Good luck with that cow, miss. Im sure youll get that leg right in the end.
Ill ring you on Friday, the young cop said, waving a slip of paper. Thanks for your number. I wont lose it.
They waved to Pierce in friendly salute. They climbed into the police car, and they were gone.
Leaving Pierce with Shanni.
CHAPTER TWO
UMYOURE Shanni, he said, and he sounded dumb.
You think? Shanni said, arching her eyebrows. Shed stopped walking toward him the minute the police car left the yard. She didnt come one inch closer. You might want to check. After all, its important to be sure who you leave in charge of your children.
Look, I
The bouncing smile and the charm were put carefully aside. What the hell are you playing at? Wendys terrified. I came within an inch of telling those policemen that these kids would be better off in foster care. What sort of a father are you? Where the hell have you been?
He focused on the one tiny thing he had control over. Do you mind watching your mouth? Im teaching them not to swear.
She took a deep breath. You are kidding? she said at last. Abandoned, starving kids being taught not to swear.
Theyre not starving.
So what did you leave them for lunch?
I dont know, he said, forcing his dazed brain to think. Theres eggs, steak, sausages, frozen chips
All of which require a stove, she said dangerously.
Weve got a stove.
And the kids were going to light it how? Shanni was looking at him like he was something that had crawled out of cheese.
Look, I went to sleep.
Really? She raised one quirky eyebrow. You had a little nap. So your kids starved.
Kids dont starve from missing lunch.
She glared.
Dad, said a small voice, and it was Wendy, approaching from behind Shanni.
She stayed behind Shanni. She didnt come near. It was like she was using Shanni as a shield.
The weight around his heart grew heavier. Hed let Wendy down. This puny kid who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Hed been gaining her trust. A little.
Hell, Wendy
Dont swear in front of the children, Shanni said icily.
Look, I fell asleep, he said desperately. I didnt sleep at all last night. Wendy, tell her I didnt sleep. I had to take Bessy to the doctors, and then I had to wait for the prescription to be filled. I sat in the car and waited because you cant leave kids alone in the car, and I just slept. He spread his hands. He might never convince Shanni, he thought, but it was Wendy who was important.
There was a lengthy pause while Wendy considered. Shanni remained silent.
He really didnt sleep last night, Wendy said at last, talking to Shanni. Maybe he didnt sleep the night before, either, she added. I had a nightmare and woke up. He made me hot chocolate.
Shannis iciness thawed, just a little. Youre saying he has an excuse?
He looks awful, Wendy said.
He does, Shanni agreed. When did he last shave?
He looks okay when hes shaved, Wendy said. Or when hes a little bit bristly. Hes too bristly now.
This sisterhood thing was getting scary. But they were coming down on his side. Maybe.
Oooohh. It was Bessy, beaming at Wendy.
Wendy walked forward and snatched Bessy from his arms. Then she retreated behind Shanni again. They werent completely on his side. Wendy must have been terrified.
Im really sorry, he told her, while Shanni practised her glare some more.
I thought youd run away, Wendy said.
I wont. I told you.
Men tell lies. Mum said that. Men always tell lies.
There was another lengthy pause, worse than the last. Pierce tried to think of what to say. Nothing came.
The silence extended. The three of them were gazing at him like he was a maw worm. Wendy and Shannieven Bessy.
Then, You know, my dad doesnt tell lies, Shanni said, thoughtful. Honest. And Ive known my dad for twenty-nine years. He makes mistakesonce he even left me at the ice rink for five hours cos he was reading a really good bookbut he doesnt tell lies. Are you hungry? she asked him.
Food was the last thing he was thinking of. Though, come to think of it
I guess I am a bit.
Theres cold sausages, Wendy said. We cooked a lot for lunch cos we thought youd be home. And Shanni made choc-chip cookies.
Shannis made choc-chip cookies? He stopped looking at Wendy. Yep, hed betrayed a trust, and somehow he had to figure out a way to retrieve himselfbut there was nothing he could do about that right now. But somehow Shannis ice-rink story had lessened the tension. And sausagesChoc-chip cookies
Theyre my specialty, Shanni said modestly. You didnt have choc chips so we had to squash a block.
The fires not lit.
We lit it, Wendy said. We had to light it to get hot water to do the dishes. And Ive eaten five choc-chip cookies.
You lit the fire? But the wood
Shanni chopped it. The boys stacked it. The wood box is full.
Shanni had chopped the wood. Shed lit the stove. Shed made choc-chip cookies. He stared.
I know, she said, pseudo-modest. Call me Wonderwoman.
Ruby said youre an artist. His tone was almost accusatory. He heard it, and tried desperately to retrieve himself. I mean
I think Im converting to wood chopping, Shanni said. Ive failed cows legs, and chopping vents anger.
Anger
Now, why would I be feeling anger? she said, to Wendy rather than him. To be brought here under false pretences
Whoa. Things were spinning away from him. False pretences? he said weakly.
One baby, she said, and tugged Wendy against her in another display of the power of sisterhood. Men, the gesture said. The despicable species. One baby does not equate to five kids. Ruby told me one baby. I rang you from my friends and you said one baby.
Uh-oh.
I didnt say one baby, he said weakly. But, yeah, Ruby would have told you one baby. To be honest, when you rang I thought Id get you here any way I could and try and bribe you into staying once you got here.
Beam me up now, Scotty, he thought bleakly. Im an outright bastard.
But suddenly they had a diversion. Bessy had been nestling against Wendys shoulder, content from her drive. But Bessy was eight months old. She hadnt been fed since breakfast. She was a young lady with chicken pox.
Bessy suddenly recalled all this in one huge momentous wash of outrage. She opened her mouth, and she yelled.
Can you stay at least until weve fed Bessy? Pierce asked over the yells.
Im staying until youve done some explaining, Shanni said grimly. I need to murder you or I need to murder my Aunty Ruby, and I cant figure out which.
She should leave.
Since Bessys initial howl thered been no time to do anything but run. There certainly hadnt been time for explanations.
Bessy had needed feeding, bathing, soothing, more soothing, more feeding. The kids had needed baths and dinner. The cattle had needed feeding. Okay, Pierce had done that one on his own. Shanni had stayed in the kitchen and supervised the kids dinner while watching Pierce out the window.
There was a huge cowa bull?in the paddock closest to the house. Pierce had wheeled a vast bale of hay to the gate on a hand cart, opened the gate and spread the hay.
Wasnt that dangerous? The cow had lookedlooked
Cute, shed decided as Pierce had scratched it behind the ear. The big creature had almost purred, leaning its big body against Pierce until he staggered. Really cute.
Actually, not as cute as Pierce.
He was tall and lean and angular. His deep brown curls were unkempt and too long. He hadnt shaved for a couple of days and he had shadows under his eyes. His jeans and windcheater looked like hed been sleeping in them. He looked almost gaunt.
Her impression of Pierce aged fifteen had been that the guy was hot.
Nothing had changed.
What wasnt hot was five children.
But she did feel sorry for him. To be stuck with five kids
It was his choice.
It was hardly his fault that his wife had died.
No, but
What are you thinking? Wendy asked shyly. The kids were tucking into scrambled eggs like there was no tomorrow.
Im thinking you guys have hollow legs. What have you been eating?
PieDads not a very good cook.
Do you call him Pierce?
Yes, but not in front of people, Bryce told her, scooping up another mouthful of scrambled egg and closing his eyes in bliss. This hasnt got a single bit of black on it.
Scrambled eggs is my second specialty, after choc-chip cookies.
Pizzas Dads specialty, Wendy said. But the last time we ordered it Dad forgot we didnt have any cash and the pizza guy wouldnt take a cheque or credit card and now he wont come back.
I can make pizza.
Youre kidding. It was Pierce, standing in the doorway, surveying the domesticity before him with amazement. You cook pizza?
She means she gets those boxes in the supermarket and thaws them out, Bryce said wisely.
I do not, she said, taking umbrage. I can cook them from the ground up.
Will you cook us one? Abby asked.
Maybe tomorrow. If I get the ingredients.
Will you stay then? Donald was the quietest of the kids. Hed hardly spoken since shed arrived. Hed simply watched her. Even when shed set them all to painting, shed been aware that Donald had never stopped watching her. Now he asked his question and it was like a challenge.
For tonight. She blinked. Yeah, okay, she was committing herself, but where else was she going to sleep? Tell me you have a spare bed.
We have a spare bedroom, Pierce said.
Its Mummys bedroom, Donald said, still gazing at her with that unwavering stare.
Mummys bedroom. Oh, heck. Um, doesnt Daddy sleep there?
He sleeps upstairs in Bessys room, Abby said.
She keeps waking up, Bryce added.
Wendy used to get up to her when Mummy was sick, Donald said, tilting his chin. Cos Mummy didnt want Pierce to. But Pierce does it now.
Didnt your mummy die when Bessy was born?
Just after, Donald said.
This was stuff she didnt understand. She wasnt sure that she wanted to try. Isnt it bedtime? she asked weakly, and Pierce nodded.
It surely is.
Will Shanni tell us a bedtime story? Abby asked.
I will, Pierce said gruffly.
We want Shanni, Wendy said.
Im washing up. Shanni was feeling completely confused. What was going on here? Pierce looked defeated. Battle weary and exhausted. And hed slept today.
Your dad reads you bedtime stories, she managed. Thats his job. Im the housekeeperI keep house. Its up to Pierce to keep kids.
Pierce took almost an hour to read them their stories. When he finally came downstairs, Shanni was sitting on the kitchen floor surrounded by stuff.
The more he looked at her, the more he remembered that ten-year-old Shanni. Shed made him smile then and she had that power still, just by sitting in the middle of his kitchen floor. Which was dumb. Dangerous, even.
What you doing? he managed.
This isnt a fridge, its an ecosystem. She carefully didnt look at him. Instead she held up a jar where purple fuzz fought with green slime. Didnt Fleming invent penicillin this way? Are you searching for a patent cure for chicken pox?
Leave it.
Hand me a rubbish bag, she said. Left to breed, this could take over the world.
He found a rubbish bag and held it out. She scooped in so much stuff that even he was hornswoggled.
Im usually neat, he said defensively, and she nodded.
I remember you at fifteen. You wereneat.
He glowered. I believe I was wearing a suit.
Blue pinstripe if I recall.
That the rest of the boys thought was
Poncy. Yeah, I remember you were teased.
He gazed down, trying to figure things out. Where did she fit? He couldnt remember. Ruby had simply referred to her as our Shanni. Our Shanni would love to come and help out.
All he could remember was the oversized bow and the stomping foot and the smile. Mostly the smile.
I cant exactly remember the connection, he said apologetically.
My dad is Rubys younger brother.
So you are?
Lucy and Wills daughter. Theyre academics. Theyre currently in Switzerland.
I dont remember Lucy and Will. But I remember you.
Gee, thanks.
You stood on Macs toe.
I did, didnt I? she said, and grinned at the memory. Hes grown up to be a used-car dealer. Ruby says he married a woman whos a real harpy. Good old Mac.
Why did you come?
Aunty Ruby asked me. She held up something greenish. Courgette?
Cucumber.
A bit past its use-by date, wouldnt you say?
IYes.
Why didnt you tell me you had five kids?
I dont believe I told you anything.
But Ruby didnt say.
Ruby doesnt know.
Ruby doesnt know you have five kids?
No.
You didnt tell Ruby?
I barely see Ruby. Theres no need to tell her everything.
Yeah, so omit a little something. Like four kids. Somethings rotten here and I dont know what. Shed been foraging in the rear of the fridge and now she emerged triumphant. No, this is dried out. Im sure its a courgette.
Could we cut this out?
Cleaning?
The inquisition. He raked his fingers through his hair. And will you get off my floor? I hardly know you.
You know me enough to trust me with your kids.
I had no choice. I had a doctors appointment and there was no other available appointment until tomorrow. I loaded the kids in the car, then realized the tyre was flat and so was the spare. You were coming. Ruby said you were trustworthy. So I trusted.
You left me alone deliberately?
No, he roared, so loudly that there was a whimper from above their heads.
Youve woken Bessy, Shanni said.
Shush.
They both shushed. Bessy whimpered again, and then settled.
Take that outside, Shanni said, motioning to the rubbish. Its disgusting.
He did. It gave him room to take a few deep breaths. He stared up at the night sky and counted to ten. Then he decided to count to a hundred.
Finally he figured hed better return. Shanni was still cleaning his fridge. All he could see of Shanni was one very cute, denim-clad butt emerging from his refrigerator.
He took a couple of moments to admire the view. Hell, he missed women. Twelve months now of enforced celibacy. Twelve months down and how many to go?
Not months. Years. What had he let himself in for?
You want a whisky? he asked the butt, and the butt stilled.
A whisky?
Dont say it like Im the local lush, he said. I allow myself one whisky when all the kids are in bed. Surely a man can have that without being accused of child neglect?
Hey, I didnt say She was backing out of the refrigerator, butt wiggling.
You didnt have to say. You were implying.
Actually I wasnt, she said, sitting up and wiping a strand of wilting lettuce from her nose. I wasnt implying anything. I was about to say that a whisky would be very nice indeed. And if it turns into two then Im not going to report anyone to Social Welfare. Just so long as I can share.
She smiled.
He stared. It was the cutest smile. Wide and white and cheerful, green eyes dancing behind it.
Hey, cut it out. This was not appropriate.
Hell, hed lost sense of what was appropriate or not. He ran his fingers through his hair againyeah, hed meant to get a haircut but when was there ever time? Then he decided he was staring at her and wondering about haircuts when he should be pouring whisky.
He turned on his heel and headed for the living room. He poured two decent tumblers, decided ice was for sissies and headed back to the kitchen.
She was still on the floor.
You want to sit at the table?
If I get up I might never get down again.
The fridge can wait. Youve done so much cleaning Im feeling like a He hesitated. He didnt know what he felt like, he thought. Out of control? Yeah, maybe even more out of control than when his house had been full of dirty dishes.
You must really miss your wife.
Hed reached down to give her a hand up. He stilled and Shanni stared at his hand, shrugged and heaved herself up. He shook himself.
Sorry.
Hey, dont apologize. I only lost my boyfriend and Im doing dumb things, like not contacting my parents and making sure they hadnt changed the locks before I come all the way to Australia.
Theyve changed the locks?
And put in tenants, she said grimly. Youd think a daughter would know.
Youre not close?
See, theres the thing, she said, sitting at the table and taking her first sip of whisky. She wrinkled her nose in appreciation. I thought we were. I phone once a week. Youd think changing locks would be something theyd mention.
II guess.
Sorry. She took another sip. We were talking about you. Your wife.
You lost your boyfriend?
He didnt die, she said darkly. Mores the pity.
Right, he said, distracted. She looked really cute when she talked darkly. So you just lost him?
He went to bed with a model. She glowered some more. In my bed. And then when I threw ice water over the pair of them he went out and spent our shared credit card to the hilt, and he isnt even sorry.
She glowered at the absent boyfriend and model. But were talking about you. You and the five kids and the dead wife and Social Welfare. Ive never seen such a mess.
Thank you.
She blinked. Then she put the whisky very carefully on the table.
Im sorry, she said. Ive had a long day. I landed in Sydney at five this morning. I took a cab to my parents and found theyd absquatulated. So I took my dads car and drove to my girlfriends apartment, to find a bedsit smaller than a shoebox. Then I remembered Rubys letter and rang you and asked if you still wanted a housekeeper, and you said yes, itd be fine if I came straight away, so I ended up here. To find youd absquatulated as well.
Absquatulated? he said, distracted.
Taken yourself off to points unknown, generally leaving a mess behind. My mothers a linguistics professor. Get over it.
Right, he said, feeling dazed. I didntabsquatulate.
You just went to sleep.
Ive said Im sorry.
The kids were terrified. They were thinking theyd get carted off to care. She wrinkled her nose some more, perplexed. See, thats the part I dont get. Why is Welfare so interested in you? Have you done something awful? I mean, today was appalling, but that sort of mess happens in the best families. If I told you how many times my parents forgot meAnyway, thats beside the point. I understand your wife dying was awful but Social Welfare isnt usually a monster. She paused, thinking things through.
You know, unless things are really dire, the authorities dont take kids from parents. I cant see them dragging children off to foster care just cos their dad went to sleep in the sun after a night with a sick baby.
No. I
So have you done something ghastly? I mean, not that youd confess. But Ive been scrubbing the fridge and thinking that I should just leave. Except that Im broke and I dont have anywhere to go. Except Aunt Rubys.
You dont want to go to Rubys? He was having trouble keeping up.
Ruby has macram meetings in her kitchen every weekday morning. Shes offered to teach me. And she says she has to get your permission anyway if she wants to have me for more than just a couple of weeks. Which is weird. She hesitated. But youre sidetracking me. I keep thinking of Wendy. Wendy like she was when I arrived. Terrified. Expecting the worst. There must be something horribly wrong for her to look like that. I dont know what it is, and maybe I should leave, but Ive decided I need to figure it out. Because now Im hooked. If youre hurting these kids Ill
Youll what?
I dont know, she confessed. I cant figure out why theyre terrified. Because the way you cuddle BessyYou even seem nice.
Thank you.
You know what I mean. You look normal.
Yet I was a fifteen-year-old in a pinstripe suit when first you met me.
Youre distracting me. She looked at his whisky glass. He looked at it too.
You do think Im a drinker.
Hey, I just wondered. I mean, if I had five kids and a dead wife I might crack as well. And it would explain.
It explains nothing.
Then you need to give me some other explanation, she said. Because I want to know why your kids are terrified.
He stared into his whisky glass.
Tell me or I retreat to macram.
His eyes flew to hers. He expected to see laughter, but he didnt. She was deadly serious.
She really cared, he thought. She was worried about these kids.
The sensation was so novel that he blinked.
Theres a simple explanation, he said, meeting her look head on.
Which is?
These arent my kids. Theyre nothing to do with me. Until twelve months ago Id never seen any of them before in my life.
CHAPTER THREE
THERE was a long pause. Shanni had pulled open the fire door of the oven, to let the warmth of the flames give comfort to a kitchen that was only just warming up. The fire crackled behind them. He should put music on or something, he thought inconsequentially. The atmosphere was too intimate.
Maybe music would make it worse.
Theyre not your kids, she said at last. She wasnt taking her eyes off him, seemingly ready to judge by how he looked as well as what he said.
No, he said. There was nothing else to say.
I did wonder, she said mildly. They dont look like you. They keep forgetting to call you Dad. And they didnt know if you had Abba.
Abba?
Never mind. I thought maybe theyd been calling you Pierce and youd made them change for the welfare people.
I made them change for the welfare people.
But She sighed. She downed the dregs of her whisky, looked at the bottle and sighed again. Ive got jet lag and a muddled head, she confessed. Dont give me any more whisky.
And Bessys likely to be up in the night. He rose and took the whisky bottle into the next room, returned and closed the door firmly behind him. They both looked at the door with longing. But no. They were mature adults, and there were no answers in a whisky bottle.
Ill make coffee, he said and she nodded. Mature adults. Coffee. Right.
Youd better tell me, she said, while he fiddled with cups and kettle and instant coffee. Instant. Shed come from the coffee centre of the world. Agh.
I married their mother, he said.
Right. She thought about it. So Bessys yours?
No.
So Bessys not yours.
Theyre none of them mine.
So when did you marry their mother?
Seven months ago. Just after Bessy was born. Three weeks before Maureen died.
Oh, she said in a small voice. I see.
Do you? He sounded angry. He had his back to her but she could hear tension and angerand resentment.
Hey, I cleaned your fridge, she said. Im the patsy in this set-up.
Anger faded. His shoulders shookjust a little. The patsy?
The pig in the middle. The girl with the soggy cucumber. Shoot around me, but not at me.
Im sorry.
Thats better, she said approvingly as he carried mugs of coffee across to the table. He really was good looking, she thought absently. And that hair was so ruffled. She could just reach over and touch it
Cut it out, she told herself fiercely. What is it with you and long-haired men?
Tell me about Maureen, she said instead and took a mouthful of coffee, swallowing regrets about a magnificent coffee maker shed left behind in London. Okay, it was Michaels, but it had been bought with her credit card and it made the best coffee. And that rat
She wasnt thinking clearly.
Maureen, she said again, and Pierce looked confused.
Look, Im jet lagged, she said. Im not making sense to me.
You suddenly looked a long way away.
I was mourning coffee. Tell me about Maureen.
She was my foster sister sort of.
There was a pause. Sort of foster sister. Hmm.
Ruby only fosters boys.
You think Im telling lies?
Im not thinking anything, she said. Thinking hurts.
Shes great, your aunt Ruby.
Shes lovely to everyone.
I guess.
Whoops. Im sorry, Shanni said repentantly. I dare say you and Ruby have a lovely, personalized, meaningful relationship and I wouldnt dream of disparaging it.
He choked on his coffee.
Shes a bitbatty, he said, and Shanni grinned.
Were together on that one. But youd better tell me the rest.
Its not much use.
You want me to finish the refrigerator?
I
Okay, Ill finish the refrigerator anyway, she said, and gave him a rueful smile. Im a sucker for a job well done. But tell me or Ill bust. She pulled up a spare kitchen chair, put her feet up, had a couple of sips of coffeeughand forced herself to relax. Youre one of Rubys strays. That must have been hard.
I guess. He shook his head. No. I had a mother who didnt want me but wouldnt put me up for adoption. The times with Ruby were not the hard times. You come from a nice normal family.
Are you kidding?
Well, a family with a mum and a dad, and Id imagine you were wanted.
She thought of her eccentric parents and she grinned. Yep. They wanted me. They werent quite sure what to do with me when they got methey still arentbut they wanted me.
I was a mistake.
She looked at his stern face. There was a curl dripping over his left eye. She could just
Cut it out!
You were a mistake?
My mother got pregnant during an affair with a very wealthy man. She thought getting pregnant would force him to marry her. She was wrong.
Oh.
And he denied everything. I can imagine my mother might have been a bit He sighed. Anyway, there wasnt DNA testing back then. She was screwed. So she put me into foster care, but every time she started a relationship she pulled me out again. To play happy families. And one of those relationships included Maureen.
I dont understand.
No, well He shrugged. You have no idea what drop kicks my mother used to fall for. Jack was maybe the worst. But he had a kid, too. Maureen. He ended up abandoning her, but when he met my mother Maureen was nine and I was seven.
So? Shanni prodded. He looked like he was a long way awayremembering. He was staring straight through her. Now he gave himself a slight shake, as if tugging himself back to now.
Okay. Dreary story. Jack was a sadist, but my mother thought everything he did was wonderful. So we were at his mercy. But Maureen was older and a bit harder than me. And for some reason she decided she liked me. He shrugged. Okay, lets be honest. I loved the idea of having a big sister, and she thought having a brother was cool. It wasnt like we had anything else.
The words chilled her and she winced, but Pierce didnt notice. He was seeing back, a long time ago.
She was there for me, he said softly. It was the longest of any of my mothers relationships. We were together two years. And every time he Once more a shrug. Well, she was always there for me. Shed fly at Jack like a tigress, biting, scratching, yelling. Shed end up as badly beaten as me but it got soWell, he knew when he raised a hand to me he had us both to contend with, and it helped.
Oh, hooray for Maureen, Shanni said shakily, and Pierce nodded, faintly smiling.
She was great.
And then?
Then my mother and Jack split, and we were put in different foster homes. We tried to stay in touch, he said sadly. Maureen used to write. Every six months or so Id get a scrawly letter telling me what she was doing in her life. Then when we reached adulthood the letters ceased. The last letter said shed met the man of her dreams and was moving to Perth.
But he wasnt? The man of her dreams?
Whod know? Pierce said bitterly. All I do know is that Maureen was wild as be damned. From what Ive learned since, she seemed bent on self-destruction.
Drugs? Shanni thought of the five children. No
She didnt do drugs. That would have been suicide. She was diabetic.
Oh.
She just wanted kids, Pierce said wearily. All her life she wanted a familymaybe that was why she was so defensive of meand she was going to get a family no matter how much it took.
But the diabetes
Thats what I meant about self-destruction. Every time she got pregnant her body seemed to disintegrate. Only she just couldnt seem to stop herself. He hesitated. Shed meet some lowlife and think he was the answer to her prayers and end up pregnant.
But not with you?
Shed been in Western Australia, he said. Wed lost touch completely. Only then, just under a year ago, she came to find me. I was doing very nicely as an architect in Sydney. Id bought this place as a weekender. Im a confirmed bachelor, and I was pretty content with what life was dealing me.
But?
But Maureens kidneys were failing. She was pregnant and refusing to terminate, but shed been told the pregnancy would destroy what was left of her kidneys. She sat in my office in Sydney and she told me everything about her life. She spelled it all out, and she asked for my help. She hated asking, but she was desperate.
Oh Pierce.
Maureen was so ill she was facing having to have the children fostered. She couldnt bear subjecting them to the life shed had. Shed brought it on herself but, well, maybe I could see what was driving her. And, while she was talking, that timethe times she took the beating for me came back. I didnt have a choice. Theres a dialysis unit at Murribah, half an hour north of here. I offered her a home here for as long as she needed.
Silence. She stared across the table at him for a long, long moment. Then she smiled. I always thought you were a nice boy, she said warmly. Despite the pinstripes.
He smiled back, but it cost him a bit, that smile. It was hard for him to tell this story, she thought.
Okay. Moving on. You asked for the whole story so youll get it. I was already having trouble with the neighbours here. What I didnt realize when I bought this place was that one of the bidders was a huge dairy corporation. Theyd been looking for a site for their new factory, which would have meant the locals didnt have to pay cartage for their milk. But Id fallen in love with the place and paid more than it was worth. So the factory went somewhere else. Then Id no sooner taken possession when along came four kids and a mother who looked desperately sick and was pregnant again. I drove a bright yellow sports car when the kids looked starving. Maureen wouldnt talk to anyone about her background, and no one ever asked me. Ive been judged and found wanting in just about every respect.
She swallowed. Im so sorry.
Dont be. Im sorry enough for myself. Anyway, Maureen had Bessy and she grew even more ill. We were hoping against hope for a transplant but it didnt happen.
Somarriage?
You see, Social Welfare had taken care of these kids before, in periods when Maureen was desperately sick. So the kids were on file. Its not hard to understand. There are good people in the department who were genuinely worried. Then we had the community bad-mouthing us. Maureen started believingand maybe she was rightthat as soon as she died theyd send the kids to foster homes, regardless of what I wanted.
There are some good she started cautiously, but he was before her.
You dont need to tell me there are some great foster homes, Pierce said explosively. Foster parents are some of the best people in the world. Generous, big hearted, taking on all comers even though getting attached comes at the price of having their hearts ripped out over and over.
Goodness, she said. Did I hit a nerve?
He managed an apology for a smile. Yes, he said, consciously lowering his voice. Sorry. If I hadnt had Ruby Id be in such a mess now. But I was on my own, and these kids arent. Despite Maureens often incompetent care, they love each other, and theyll defend each other to the death. They should never be separated, and theres the problem. You think therell be a foster parent wholl take on five kids?
I guessMaybe not.
Theyd be put into a group home, he said. The welfare people told Maureen that, as if it was something good. A house in the community with paid carers. Thats what Maureen couldnt come to terms with. A series of people employed to care. Maureen hated the idea, and by the time she became desperately sick I hated the idea as well. Youve seen Wendy. Shes been Maureens principal carer for years. It took so long to teach her that I could help. Even now she doesnt completely trust me. Why should she? But I couldnt bearI just couldnt bear
So you married their mother.
Yes. We moved fast, in the window of opportunity before Maureen became too ill. We married. I applied to legally adopt them. Maureen filed everything saying she approved, and she assigned me as their legal guardian.
Oh, Pierce.
Its not noble, he said. At least, it wasnt supposed to be noble. Im paid ridiculous amounts for the work I do. I thought Id house the kids, employ a housekeeper, someone to run the farm and come down here on weekends.
But?
Have you any idea how hard it is to find a housekeeper for five kids? In this community? I found a woman who did intermittent babysitting for a while, but the kids hated her and she quit two weeks ago. And now weve had chicken pox followed by school holidays. Im going round the twist.
I see that you are.
And then Ruby said shed contacted you and persuaded you to give us a try. Hence Ive had one day of child care, a clean kitchen and a sparky clean fridge. And kids who werent taken away from me today. For which Im eternally grateful. He hesitated. Shanni, dare I ask that youll stay?
Im not a housekeeper.
Youre excellent at scrubbing.
Thats only because Im suffering severe loss of pride. I need to vent my spleen. Scrubbing works.
Ruby says youre an artist.
Im not.
No?
I love dabbling with paints. Did you see my cow this afternoon? Perfect, except for one leg looking longer than the others. I measured it. Its not. Its perspective, but I cant work it out.
So youre an abstract artist?
I did a degree in fine arts. I worked as a curator for a tiny gallery here and an even tinier one in London. Then I scraped up enough money to open my own. It was miniscule, but it was devoted to one particular kind of art that I love. My parents lent me money. I didnt eat. I put everything into it that I had.
And?
And like I said, I caught my artist boyfriend in bed with one of my models. I tossed ice water on them, and he retaliated by using my credit card to spend a fortune. I had the choice of risking my parents money and keeping on trying or bailing out. I bailed out.
Ouch. He hesitated. You never tried recovering your money?
He said hed have me for assault.
I see, he said cautiously. So you fled home.
Yep. To you.
And now?
Ill go to Rubys. Ill get a job somewhere and move on.
But itd help if you could stay here for a bit while you regroup?
It might, she admitted. But I dont intend to fall in love with these kids.
Of course not.
So dont even think I might be a long-term proposition.
Im not looking for a long-term proposition.
I dont fall for kids. I dont fall for you.
Uh-oh. Why had she said that? It had come from nowhere but suddenly it was important that she say it.
He so needed a shave. He looked so vulnerable.
Stop it. She gave herself a sharp metaphoric slap to the side of the head. Do not fall for Pierce MacLachlan because you feel sorry for him.
Just because Im a soft touch she whispered, and he smiled.
Two of us. Two soft touches. Were doomed.
Speak for yourself.
There was another whimper from above his head, but this time it didnt stop. It built fast to a wail. He winced, set his coffee mug down with a sigh and rose. She slept for three hours. I cant expect much more.
What will you do now?
Cuddle her until she goes back to sleep.
Ruby said youre not getting work done.
The yells from upstairs were getting more insistent. Define work. But I guess it doesnt matter. I just take one dayone momentat a time. He walked to the door and then paused. Shanni, youve helped me enormously today and Im deeply grateful. If you leave right now Ill still be grateful. I wont put any more pressure on you. But you do need a bed for at least tonight?
Wendy showed me her mothers bedroom. Shed already made up the bed.
Wendy wants you to stay. He put up his hands in mock defence. I know. I said no pressure. He raised his gaze to the ceiling. Okay, Bessy, Im coming. Well leave Shanni here to make up her mind.
IIll think about it.
Please.
CHAPTER FOUR
SHE cleared the dishes. She finished wiping out the fridge and replacing the few things that were actually edible. Then she made her way through the darkened house to her bedroom.
She could hear footsteps upstairs, pacing back and forth. There was a soft male rumble. Pierce was comforting Bessy.
He was a bachelor. Hed taken on five children he didnt know. The enormity of what hed done left her gasping.
Hes a very nice boy, she told the dark, and she giggled.
But then her giggle faded. This was deadly serious. Pierce was fighting to keep these kids together. The least she could do was help.
But she didnt do kids. And she had a career to resurrect.
Youve stuffed up big time, she told the dark. She walked over to the bed and gave a tentative bounce. This must be the master bedroom. Pierce had let Maureen have the master bedroom?
Why had he bought a house with so many bedrooms? Had he thought of having a big family himself?
He really was
A hunk. The thought of him pacing back and forth above her head with a baby cradled against his shoulder
It was a very, very sexy image.
Whoa. Thats exactly the attitude that gets you into trouble over and over again, she scolded herself. And thats the scary thing about staying. Hes extraordinarily attractive and hes up to his eyeballs in domesticity, and you feel sorry for him, and if youre not careful youll be installed as chief cook and bottle washer with your only payment a bit of snogging on the side.
He hasnt got time for snogging.
Just as well. She said it out loud.
His footsteps paused right above her head. I know it itches, she heard him say. But we all need to sleep.
A whimper.
In with me again? Bess, we need to cut this out.
He was more than a hunk, she decided. He was gorgeous.
And up to his neck in kids.
So go to bed and stop thinking about him, she told herself, and crossed to the window to pull the blind.
There was a cow six inches from her nose.
She managed to stay silent. The cow gazed in, and she felt extraordinarily pleased with herself that she hadnt yelped. The last thing she needed was for Pierce to come racing downstairs because she was scared of a cow. The cow was outside and she was inside.
Fine.
It was a very large cow.
Its face was enormous. And its eyes looked sort of wild. It wasnt placidly gazing. Its head was moving back and forth, as if it was terrified.
Did cows get scared?
Upstairs Bessy started howling again. Obviously not even the enticement of sleeping with Pierce could placate her.
There was a moments silence as Bessy paused for breath to start the next yowl.
Git out.
For a moment she thought she was imagining things. Who?
Git out of our garden. It was a childs voice, yelling. It sounded like an attempt to be commanding, but there was an edge of fear showing through.
She pulled up the windowjust a littlenot so much that the cow could put its head in. The cow had shifted aside, turning to face whoever was shouting.
The moon was almost full. She could see clearly into the garden.
It was seven-year-old Donald. The skinny one with the scared eyes and the look that said he distrusted the world. The rest of the kids had enjoyed painting this afternoon, but Donald had painted like he was performing a duty. He looked like a kid who was waiting for the axe to fall.
What are you doing out there? she called, and the cow turned to look at her. Still with the wild eyes.
It was a really big cow.
Huge.
It shouldnt be in the garden, Donald said, struggling to sound brave. Someones left the gate open. I saw it out the window. Itll eat the rose Pierce planted when our mum died. He hiccupped on a sob, bravery disappearing. Im shooing it out the gate, but it wont go.
Donald, youre too little be shooing cows. Ill get Pierce.
Hes busy with Bessy. She saw his small shoulders stiffen in resolution. And Im not too little. I can do it.
But
Git on out, Donald said, but hed moved backwards behind a camellia bush and she could no longer see him.
Despite his defiance, he sounded terrified.
Cows are harmless, she told herself, recalling the words of her farming-type friend.
Right.
Shed go upstairs and offer to take Bessy while Pierce sorted this, she thought, but Bessys howls were becoming frantic.
Two perils. Crying baby. Or cow.
Each equally daunting.
Shoo, Donald yelled but the cow didnt move.
.
.
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Marion Lennox
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: An only child, Shanni Jefferson doesn′t do family. But temporarily homeless and jobless, she jumps at the offer of a live-in nannying position.How hard can it be to look after one little baby? Pierce MacLachlan has been economical with the truth– instead of one child, there are five! He′s out of his depth with the unruly yet lovable brood….But every night, once the children are all safely tucked in bed, Shanni wonders whether family life–with gorgeous Pierce–might suit her after all….